Village Tweet - November 2020

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Issue No. 120

@VillageTweet

www.villagetweet.co.uk

See page 6

November 2020

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESS Billingshurst • Barns Green • Five Oaks • Ifold • Kirdford • Loxwood • Plaistow • Slinfold • Wisborough Green

Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

I

t’s hard to believe that Christmas will soon be upon us. No one knows what effect COVID-19 will have on this year’s festive activities. However, let’s remain optimistic and hope our villages’ pubs, restaurants and shops will remain open, albeit with the usual stay safe restrictions in place of course.

To this end, if your business is running a special Christmas promotion please be sure to contact Village Tweet by 6th November for inclusion in the December issue.

Stay safe!

Grahame Cover: due to COVID-19 there are fewer outlets selling poppies this year yet the Poppy Appeal remains the Royal British Legion’s main source of income so please be especially generous. Can’t find a poppy? Donate by phone: 0845 845 1945.

Every Poppy Counts! See page 6. Photo taken at Billingshurst War Memorial by Graeme McAlpine

Contents COPY DATE FOR DECEMBER ISSUE: 6th NOVEMBER Published by A272 Design, PO Box 371, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 4AS

Editorial and Advertising: Grahame Pearson 07762 767084 editor@villagetweet.co.uk Website Design: Stephen Pearson

www.villagetweet.co.uk Printed by: The Lavenham Press, Suffolk Disclaimer: All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith. However, A272 Design cannot take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. © No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

The paper used for Village Tweet has been responsibly sourced

Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 6 Royal Britsh Legion: Remembrance Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Recipe: Jambalaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Billingshurst Cricket Club: A Short but Successful Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Billingshurst Rotary Club: 50-mile South Downs walk for Chestnut Tree House . .14 Barns Green Run: New title, new sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Stop the Clay Pit: Petition to prevent landfill site being built in Loxwood . . . . . . .17 Renegades Youth Group: Thinking outside the bat box in lockdown . . . . . . . . . .21 Miranda Rijks Short Story: The Golden Loot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 A Good Read: Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Local author: Petula Mitchell’s ‘At The Crossroads’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Local author: John Grigg’s ‘The Little Robin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Scout Movement: Phoenix Explorers back up and running! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Scout Movement: 1st Billingshurst Scouts in lockdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Sussex Green Living: New recycling hub launches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 St Catherine’s Hospice: Every Kid Needs a Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Barnardi Music Group: First face-to-face youth music in Sussex since March . . .34 St Catherine’s Hospice: Margaret’s Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Billingshurst Lions Club: Who are the Lions? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Wey & Arun Canal Trust: Fully accessible trip boat added to the fleet . . . . . . . . .41 John Nash: Where the Eagles Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Yvonne Fleece: Autumn/Fall on the Small Farm in Billingshurst . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 The Spaniel Diaries: The continuing adventures of Billy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Garden View: Rhubarb Rhubarb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Spot the Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49, 51 What’s On near you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52, 53 Billingshurst Fire Station: Please avoid home firework displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Kids Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Recruitment / Insurance

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GOVERNORS WANTED Billingshurst Primary School are looking for people to join their governing body in the role of Co-opted Governor.

School Governors are volunteers who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education and the local community. They, alongside senior leaders, are responsible for agreeing the strategic direction and vision of the school, as well as monitoring the educational and financial performance of the school.

The most important qualities for being a governor are a willingness to learn, sound communication skills, and commitment. You don’t need experience in education, but it’s useful to bring skills from other areas of your life, for example working with others, strategic oversight, analysing data or the ability to listen and ask probing questions.

Being a school governor is a rewarding role, however, it does require a commitment to being part of a team and attending governing body meetings, school visits and training (some during school hours).

Training is provided.

To find out more about this exciting volunteer opportunity at Billingshurst Primary School, please email Jo Newton-Smith, Chair of Governors: jo.newtonsmith@billingshurstprimary.org.uk

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Coffee break / Legal services / Art *

Village Tweet Quick Crossword

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Solution on page 6

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Remembrance / Private hire / Out & about

A COVID-19 Remembrance Day 2020 Royal British Legion Every year the nation unites to make sure that noone is forgotten and to remember and honour those who have sacrificed their lives to secure and protect our freedom. However, because of COVID-19, this year’s remembrance will be very different.

Poppy Appeal It has been difficult to plan ahead, but our aim has been to protect our Poppy Appeal collectors and members of the public to the best of our ability, while following Royal British Legion guidance. Though there has been no door-to-door collection this year, we are continuing our poppy appeal (both cash and contactless) from our usual position outside Billingshurst Station each morning. This year Sainsburys and many other large supermarket chains have come on board as corporate partners to aid the Royal British Legion and are collecting for the Poppy Appeal at their stores nationwide.

Sunday 8th November To adhere with the Government regulations and Royal British Legion guidelines, there will be no

parade through the village. There will also be no memorial service at the War Monument, with only a limited wreath laying service led by the Branch President for invited guests at 11am. Everyone is invited to pay their respects, or leave wreaths, at the memorial in Billingshurst at any other time during the remembrance period.

Morning Service Due to church guidelines and the restricted numbers allowed, the normal morning memorial church service at St Mary’s will be open to invited guests.

There will be no evening Songs of Praise service this year. For further details please contact St Mary’s church.

Local Act of Remembrance 11th November Branch President Colin Banks has proposed that the residents of Billingshurst join in a ‘door step’ remembrance, with a two-minute silence on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.

Colin Banks, Branch President and Remembrance Coordinator.

E-mail: colinbanks1940@yahoo.com

Village Tweet Quick Crossword Solution Puzzle on page 4 Across: 1, HALF. 4, RECURRED. 8, STATIC. 9, EAT OUT. 10, DRUG. 11, PARTY BAG. 13, OBJECTIONABLE. 16, RESCUERS. 19, OATH. 20, AFFIRM. 22, NODDED. 23, ODDBALLS. 24, DATA. Down: 2, ALTERABLE. 3, FATIGUE. 4, RECAP. 5, CHEERIO. 6, RETRY. 7, EMU. 12, ALLOTMENT. 14, THERMAL. 15, AVOIDED. 17, CLIMB. 18, SONGS. 21, FAD.

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* Sport / Out and about / Christmas

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Food and drink / Toys

Jambalaya

A spicy Cajun classic

Preparation time: 15 minutes.

Cooking time: 50 minutes plus 10 minutes resting time.

Serves 4-6

METHOD

1. Turn the heat to high and in a small dry pan toast the peppercorns, paprika and cayenne.

Grind them in a pestle and mortar until smooth. Add the thyme, bay leaves and salt then set one side.

2. Lower the heat to medium and heat the oil in a lidded frying pan. Add the sausage slices and cook until golden. Remove to drain on kitchen paper. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, remove and place with the sausage.

3. Add the onion, green pepper, the white parts of the spring onions, and garlic to the pan.

Cook until soft and translucent, then stir in the spice mix and cook for another couple of minutes. Return the chicken back into the pan and pour stock and Tabasco over everything.

4. Lower the heat to allow the mixture to simmer for about 15 minutes until the chicken is tender. Stir in the rice and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Stir everything once then cover with a tight lid, reduce the heat and steam gently for 15 minutes. Remove the chicken. Add the prawns and sausage, stir again, then replace the lid and leave to rest for 10 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, shred the chicken then fold into the rested jambalaya, season to taste with salt and more Tabasco. Garnish with the spring onion greens

INGREDIENTS

½ tsp white peppercorns ½ tsp black peppercorns 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp cayenne (or more if using a very mild sausage) 1 tsp dried thyme 2 bay leaves ½ tsp salt 2 tbsp neutral oil 2 smoked pork sausages, ideally andouille, but fresh Polish smoked sausages, smoked chorizo or Toulouse would also do, cut into thick slices 4 bone-in chicken thighs 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red pepper, finely chopped 1 celery stick, finely chopped 4 spring onions, chopped, green and white parts separated 3 garlic cloves, crushed 800ml chicken or pork stock 1 tsp Tabasco or other hot sauce, plus extra to serve 300g long grain rice 300g large raw prawns

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

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Religion / Aircraft noise / Accountancy

Autumn Comfort

he comfort of a steaming drink that warms on a chilly day. The crackle of a log fire with dancing flames. The softness of a favourite woolly jumper. The rustling of autumn leaves as you make pathways through them. The view of red and golden trees magnificent in their seasonal colour. These are just some of the comforts we can find in this season. What would you add to the list?

For many of us the need for some cheer and comfort is even more necessary after many months of struggle through the pandemic and the changes it has bought. Around us we will have found people who by their actions and understanding have bought comfort to us when times have been hard. That friend who remembers to phone. That neighbour who offers help. The stranger who walks carefully past us with a warm smile. A grandchild who draws us a picture. For some it may have even been a person prepared to sit beside us in our grief.

Perhaps a professional who went above and beyond. Comfort bought into our life strengthens

and enables us to keep on. Our community is full of people who choose to contribute to the well-being of others. This is something the pandemic has not changed.

It may be that you have many who make your life brighter or perhaps your life seems isolated but there is a promise in the Bible of a heavenly comfort offered to all of us. The eternal gift of God’s loving presence alongside us in our daily lives. Always with us through all seasons. In times of joy, sadness, challenge and change.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3.

In this season may you know the comfort of God’s love.

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Cricket / Health and wellbeing

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A Short but Successful Season

C

ricket seemed a distant prospect for much of the early summer and many at Billingshurst Cricket Club wondered whether we’d simply skip 2020! By the end of July, however, with an enormous effort by our groundsman (and president) Jim Burroughs, we were ready for what turned out to be an enjoyable and progressive two-month season.

Sussex Cricket incentivised competitive cricket with two minileague competitions. Our first team competed in the August Cup over the five Saturdays finishing comfortably mid-table while the second and third teams competed in the newly formed Sussex Slam. With early evening fixtures in the 20/20 format, Billingshurst, led by Connor McCarney, progressed through to the regional finals day at Horsham CC. Although falling at the semi-final stage seven of the team were under 20 years old. The development of young players has always been a priority for the club and the latest batch of so called ‘colt’ cricketers are now showing real promise at adult level.

The Third XI and Sunday side also managed a healthy number of fixtures. The Sunday XI usually contains a mix of 1st, 2nd and 3rd team members with the strongest players within the club regularly assisting the younger players in their cricketing development.

During the forthcoming 2021 season the club plans to

run youth teams for various age groups.

Perhaps the on-field highlight of 2020 was the introduction of women’s cricket to the club. Initiated and organised by Rachel Gosling, an enthusiastic group of women cricketers, many who had not played the game before, attended training sessions leading up to a successful women’s cricket festival in late September. Teams from Barns Green and Crawley travelled to Jubilee Fields for the festival with nearly 40 players of all ages and abilities competing.

Our president Jim Burroughs hosted another successful ‘President’s Day‘. Prior to the interclub fixture we had the opportunity to officially ‘open’ the club’s new electronic scorebox, a fantastic addition to our facilities and the club are very grateful for the donation that made it possible.

As always the club welcomes new men and women players of any ability. The club can be contacted by e-mail at billingshurstcc@gmail.com or by text to Richard on 07887 603458. For women’s cricket contact Rachel on 07554 008117 or e-mail rachelgosling13@ hotmail.com. For youth cricket information e-mail Clive at cliveheyward@whsmithnet.co.uk Richard Bown Photo: The magnificent new scorebox was made possible by a small Sport England grant and a very generous donation from Ray Chick, in memory of his cricket loving parents Walter and Joan

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Charity / Health and wellbeing

50-mile walk over the South Downs supporting Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice

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ver the years Billingshurst & District Rotary Club has supported Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, who have suffered a devastating loss of 70% of their fundraising income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has severely restricted the support they can provide to very sick children and their families.

No one is ever charged for the care they receive from Chestnut Tree House but, with less than 6% of their funding coming from the Government, they depend on the support of the local community through donations and income from fundraising activities.

Our Rotary Club was determined to do something to help in a COVID-19-safe way, and during August and the first half of September as well as arranging the Scarecrow competition which was a great success (as reported in last month’s Village Tweet), we organised a sponsored walk along the South Downs Way from Amberley to Birling Gap at Eastbourne.

The walk entailed some 50 miles over 7 days so

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that walkers could choose to do from one to seven of the stages. Two of our Rotarians, Sandy Duck and Tony Priestley, completed all seven stages with a collection of walkers from our club together with friends and members of Chestnut Tree House Fund Raising Team on one or more of the stages. It was especially good to meet and walk with the team as it enabled us to get first hand information on how they support the children and families who need the charity’s help.

Great walking, great company and fabulous views. We managed to raise a further £3,500 for Chestnut Tree House, and would like to say a HUGE thank you to our many generous sponsors without whom this would not have been achieved.

Sandy Duck, Billingshurst & District Rotary Club Photo: mid-way pause. Rotary’s Tony Priestley and Sandy Duck, with Chestnut’s Jayne Todd and Symon Todd (husband)

Whatever place you’re into

“Great new memberships.”

We have had a rethink about our membership packages and we are now offering the following memberships: Student membership from £27.00 Senior membership

from £31.00

New Gym Only price from £23.00 To find out more please call the membership team on 01403 879666 www.billingshurstleisurecentre.co.uk

Places for People Leisure working in partnership with Horsham District Council

Run / Community / Health & wellbeing

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Run Barns Green launches with new title and new sponsor

R

un Barns Green is the new name for the Barns Green Half Marathon and 10k races. The event also has a new main sponsor, Architectural Plants, which is a specialist horticultural nursery in Pulborough, West Sussex, who specialise in Garden Design and Planting.

September would have seen the 38th anniversary of the Barns Green Half Marathon, but the cancellation of this year’s events forced upon us by COVID-19 (as reported in June’s Village Tweet), has given the organising committee the time to rebrand the races which for the last five years has included a 10k race and from 2021 will include a new race specially for children.

Architectural Plants’ Pulborough nursery is set within 32 acres of open fields and surrounded by farmland overlooking the South Downs.

It is home to the exotic and tropical, the rare and unusual.

Managing Director Guy Watts and his team are experts in plants that are both shapely and exotic – Japanese and European topiary, hardy palms, bananas, bamboos, plants for screening, and an ever-expanding range of rare and evergreen trees.

Speaking about the new sponsorship, Guy Watts said, “Running and being active outdoors is an integral part of my lifestyle; it helps me clear my mind and maintain my discipline and focus on running the business. Exercise has proven health benefits as does horticulture which is why we feel this is the perfect partnership.

“Every Saturday I run the race route with my brother and have done so for many years. Race day

is an important date in my calendar. I have always wanted to support this great local event and we can do that next year by greening up the route and promoting horticulture to my fellow runners. We are delighted to be the main sponsor of Run Barns Green”.

Vernon Jennings, Chairman of the Run Barns Green Committee, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Architectural Plants as our main sponsor. Their close links and understanding of our event has been so refreshing and they have shown tremendous enthusiasm and creativity in how they have approached this partnership which I am sure will be very successful. The new sponsorship with Architectural Plants is very timely as we launch our new Run Barns Green name and logo.

“The Barns Green Half Marathon has become a very established event in the local area over the last 38 years.

However, in order to grow the event and provide greater options and variety for our runners, we introduced a separate 10k race in 2016 which has proved incredibly popular, and next year we will have a new race for the youngsters. It therefore seemed like the right time to introduce a more generic name for our events and we look forward to establishing the Run Barns Green name over the next few years”.

This year’s races were due to take part on Sunday 27th September and, pandemic permitting, Run Barns Green will launch on Sunday 26th September 2021.

Nigel Currie, Run Barns Green Committee Photo: Ally Baker, Run Barns Green Committee Member with Guy Watts, Managing Director, Architectural Plants

e Homecare S g a l l erv Vi Home help, companionship, shopping, light housework, meal prep, and lots more…

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Stop the Loxwood Clay Pit Residents in Loxwood have learned of a scheme to extract clay from a site in Pallinghurst Woods and then to use the hole for a landfill site. An application is expected from Loxwood Clay Pits early in the new year.

Some of the associated impacts would include increased HGV traffic, permanent loss of valuable wildlife habitats, noise, air pollution and disturbance.

Residents have formed an objectors group, email: join@stoptheclaypit.org. Sign the petition at ‘no to loxwood clay pit’ http://chng.it/xFbRD4s5Zd. Full details see www.stoptheclaypit.org Not online? Write to Jill Sutcliffe, Ivyhurst, Loxwood Road, RH14 0RW enclosing a stamped SAE. Dr Jill Sutcliffe, Chair, KKWG

Katy Clayton-Turner 01403 730663 or 07922 425157 www.villagehomecareservice.co.uk thevillagehomecareservice@gmail.com

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A Time To Remember For all of us, 2020 has been a year of significant change in many unexpected ways. The team at Freeman Brothers Funeral Directors had anticipated spending the year celebrating the business’s 165th year of trading via organising a variety of events, but this was not to be.

The end of 2019 was marked by a first for the company – a Community Remembrance Service, hosted by the Hurstpierpoint branch, which was to become an annual tradition. Although an in-person event is not possible in 2020, it is important to the team to provide this particular service digitally, as Community Co-Ordinator Becky Hughes explains: ‘We are putting together a series of readings, and there will be an opportunity for members of the public to submit their own thoughts too.’ Becky continues, ‘We will be reading the names of those who are to be specifically remembered, and are happy to mark the life of anyone who is missed, whether they died recently or not.’

Freeman Brothers is ideally-placed to create the new offering of an Online Remembrance Service, thanks to having signed the lease on Hills Cemetery Chapel. ‘We have been working on this for some time now,’ Abi Pattenden, Manager of Freeman Brothers tells us. ‘The Chapel is being fully-renovated to a high standard, so that it can support in-person services – including social distancing measures – when appropriate. Due to the technology that we have installed, plus some help from another local business, we will be able to host our Remembrance Service digitally for the first time ever.’

‘With many changes to our services necessary this year, and the amount of people who have been bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to ensure that we thank the community for their support, as well as providing a space to remember their loved ones,’ Becky says. ‘In 2020, this is going to involve us as a company making some significant developments, and I’m pleased to say that we are embracing this challenge.’

As with the service in 2019, this year’s will be non-denominational in order to welcome people from all faiths and beliefs. It will also be broadcast in early December, in order to highlight the second annual National Grief Awareness Week, organised by the bereavement charity, The Good Grief Trust. In recognition of this, Freeman Brothers has chosen to use the service as an

rsvp@freemanbrothers.co.uk

01403

opportunity to fundraise for Jigsaw South East, who support children through the loss of a loved one.

‘Whilst it won’t be quite the same as spending time together and sharing the experience directly, we are looking forward to welcoming guests virtually, and providing a space online to ensure that nobody feels alone,’ Becky concludes.

The company are preparing packs to send to participants free of charge. ‘Those who get in touch will be able to participate in an interactive element of the service,’ Abi says. ‘Whilst we will all be doing this at home this year, we hope that those taking part will appreciate the opportunity to pause and reflect.’

Instructions for how to mark the moment will be provided during the service.

If you would like to get involved – this could be to submit names to be read out, receive a free pack, view the service online, or contribute your own message of remembrance as a video clip – call 01403 254590 or email rsvp@freemanbrothers.co.uk referencing the Online Remembrance Service.

Independent and family-run since 1855

YOUR INVITATION Online Remembrance Service A virtual gathering to remember our loved ones Wednesday 2 December 2020 Join us as we honour and remember our loved ones in an uplifting, non-denominational celebration.

‘We are stronger together than we are alone’ - Walter Payton

01403 254590 rsvp@freemanbrothers.co.uk

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One stop wellbeing for 2020/21 Bringing you a wide range of new courses and programmes - many of which are free, the Health and Wellbeing Team are here to help you put yourself first and focus on your goals.

1-2-1 Appointments Whether you’re looking to lose weight, get fitter, deal with stress, kick a habit, or simply improve your general wellbeing, our team offers one-to-one advice and support to help you access local services and improve your health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Package Through three separate sessions this new free programme focusses on emotional wellbeing (managing stress, anxiety and sleep issues), healthy eating and nutrition and physical activity. Our Advisors will tailor the package to you to ensure you get the best out of the sessions and help you to achieve your goals.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions some of the workshops and activities listed below will take place online or by telephone.

Please keep an eye on our website for updates.

Ready for your WoW Our new 12 week Weight Off Workshops (WOW) are focused on nutrition and healthy eating plus learning strategies to help you change habits and behaviours to live a healthier lifestyle.

Move More To support anyone who would like to take their first steps to getting active we offer a range of courses such as Learn to Run, Exercise to Music, Swim4Health and Outdoor Fitness that aim to improve your confidence in a fun and friendly environment whilst increasing your activity levels.

Quit the sticks Trained advisors are able to provide Stop Smoking Advice, where they’ll be able to offer one to one support if you want to quit smoking – this includes advice on Nicotine Replacement Therapy and providing this where appropriate.

Alcohol Advice Support is now on offer to help anyone who is worried about their drinking or drinking at levels that may be putting their health at risk.

Our Alcohol Wellbeing Advisor will provide non-judgmental one to one support to help you modify your drinking to lower risk levels.

To find out more or book an appointment you can call 01403 215111, email info@horshamdistrictwellbeing. org.uk or fill out a contact form online here: www.horsham. westsussexwellbeing.org.uk/ contact-us.

@HorshamHealth @HorshamDistrictWellbeing www.horshamdistrictwellbeing.org.uk

Little Tweeters! / Health and wellbeing

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Renegades: thinking outside the bat box

A

s COVID-19 restrictions stretch into the autumn, The Renegades Youth Group has gone into overdrive to keep its members active.

“COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst for creativity,” says Group Leader Gareth Miller. “The restrictions have made us think harder about ways to safely entertain them together. As a result, we have moved from bat box kits at home to running numerous smallgroup activities each week.”

Socially distanced night hikes, astronomy and bushcraft have joined archery, art, drama and carpentry as activities being run.

Bushcraft Officer Becci Coombes organises fascinating bushcraft and foraging expeditions, from trips along the Arun to campfire cooking. She is passionate about getting children away from screens and out into wildlife. “It is joyous sitting round a campfire at night and I want the children, especially when they have been shut in for months, to experience the delight of discovery in nature,” she said.

“I want them to identify the things they walk past every day but never look at and understand their history and uses.” They played Plant or Poison, learnt things coming into season, such as water mint, and the medicinal history of the meadowsweet. They also went foraging, made blackberry cobbler in a Dutch oven and cocoa on a campfire – which they lit without matches.

And while hiking may be the peak of chic, night hiking is a whole different – and magical – world. “I got the idea dog walking. I shone my torch on the hedgerows and I was being watched by an audience of eyes – I knew they would love it,” says Gareth.

“Whether it’s nocturnal wildlife or stargazing, there’s something magical about walking by moonlight. Stars and planets feel close overhead while a beautiful world lies beneath your feet – you feel like an explorer.

“Your eyes take 30-45 minutes to adapt to darkness, so no one touched their red-light head-torches until their vision adjusted. We go out at dusk and discovering how the world changes from day to night is fascinating – owls become active, bats fill the skies.

“We also saw some poisonous giant hogweed and at night you can really smell it; it’s like green acid, a pungent grass and lemon smell. The kids wouldn’t go near it!”

The Renegades is a local youth group for all children in The Weald catchment area aged 10-16.

Membership costs just £10 a month, contact Gareth Miller on 07801 862550.

Vanda Rumney Photo: equiped with red-light head-torches Amelia, Noah and Lilly plus Dixie (Renegade mascot) at the start of their night hike

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Short story

The Golden Loot A short story written exclusively for Village Tweet by local author Miranda Rijks

“G

o faster!” Lenny hisses at Pete.

They’re already driving at 90mph.

Pete’s knuckles are white as he grips the steering wheel. And then they hear the sirens.

“It’s the coppers,” Pete says. The three men keep their eyes down as the police car speeds past them in the opposite direction, heading towards Wisborough Green.

“Maybe not for us,” Lenny suggests. But then they hear more sirens.

“What if they’ve set up a roadblock?” Jim asks. He’s sitting on the back seat with the loot.

Jim can’t stand it anymore. He didn’t want to be involved and had tried his best to avoid this initiation, but when Lenny says you’ve got to do something, you’ve got to do it.

He lowers the window and chucks the bag out of the car.

“What the hell have you done?” Lenny screams.

Pete takes his foot off the accelerator. “No point in getting done for speeding,” he mutters to himself.

Seconds later he sees the flashing lights in his rear mirror and the policemen gesticulating for him to pull over.

“Don’t forget we’re doing the sponsored rubbish collection this morning,” eleven-year-old Flora announces brightly, as she sits down to her bowl of Coco Pops. “The whole class are doing it, and their parents too. I think fly tipping is disgusting.”

Her mother Jenny sighs. She had totally forgotten about it and it’s the last thing she feels like doing, going out in the cold drizzle and picking up other people’s litter along the side of the road on her day off work. But Flora is self-righteous, environmentally aware and very competitive. Jenny has no choice.

“Whoever collects the most rubbish wins,” Flora announces. They are all wearing fluorescent yellow bibs over their anoraks, hands stuffed in rubber gloves. The school has organised it well. Teachers are positioned along the road and at key junctions, waving at cars to slow down to a crawl. Flora and her friend Emily race along the verge, shoving rubbish into their black bin bags, eager to collect the most. An hour later, their bags are bulging.

“This is really heavy,” Flora says, as she bends to pick up a Sainsbury’s carrier bag that has been tied at the top.

“What’s in it?” Emily asks.

But before they can look, the girls are interrupted by Miss Smith who announces it’s the end of the sponsored litter collection. To her delight, Flora’s bag is both the fullest and the heaviest.

After lunch, while Jenny relaxes on the sofa with a magazine, Flora whispers to Emily. “Shall we see what’s in the Sainsbury’s bag?”

They tiptoe out to the back of the house and open the black bag that Jenny left next to the recycling bins.

Together, the girls remove the Sainsbury’s carrier bag from the black bag. Flora tips it upside down and the contents clatter onto the ground followed by a torn piece of paper floating down like a feather. Flora picks it up and reads what is written: If you find these please call this number. A mobile phone number was scrawled below the message.

The girls bend down, their mouths agape, as they pick up the big coins.

“Looks like gold,” Flora says.

22

“Let’s call the number,” Emily says. Flora isn’t so sure. But Emily has a mobile phone and has already whipped it out of her pocket, putting it on loudspeaker.

“We found your bag of coins on the side of the road.” Emily’s voice quivers.

“Where are you?” A man’s voice asks, gruffly.

“Billingshurst.”

“Where in Billingshurst?”

“You can’t give him our address!” Flora hisses, eyes wide with horror.

“You still there?”

“Yes,” Emily says quietly.

“Take them to the police station. You’ll get a finder’s fee.”

“Why did you leave your phone number in the bag?”

Flora asks. But the man has hung up.

Jenny is furious with the girls, although she’s not quite sure why. She stares at the shiny gold coins. “Right, I’ll call the police.”

Some hours later a policeman knocks on their door and introduces himself as DS Withers. Jenny explains that her daughter found the coins when they were doing a school litter collection.

“We’ve got two suspects in custody for a theft from the museum and they’re suspects for a string of other burglaries in the area.”

“Will I get a prize?” Flora asks.

DS Withers smiles but doesn’t answer.

Over the next few days, Jenny and Flora watch the News avidly. Flora and Emily boast how they found stolen loot.

But they hear nothing more; neither on the News nor from the police. After five days and fed up with her daughter’s pestering, Jenny calls DS Withers.

“I’m afraid that the coins your daughter found were fakes. The originals had been put in a drawer underneath the museum display cabinet. No crime was committed.”

“Have you released the suspects?”

“No. Two of the three have been charged with breaking and entering a number of premises. They’ve been on our radar for a while. They’re awaiting bail. The third is a minor and no charges are being brought against him.”

What no one knows is that things have panned out exactly the way Jim planned it. Nicking the coins was meant to be his initiation into the gang, but Jim doesn’t want a life of crime like his older brother. He wants to work in the animal refuge centre. When they broke into the museum, he followed Lenny’s orders and lifted the coins. But rather than putting them into the carrier bag, he shoved them into a drawer, popping the cheap replicas he bought off the internet into the Sainsbury’s bag that Lenny had given him to carry the loot. He tipped the police off too with a text from a burner phone. He’s relieved that Lenny and Pete will be charged. The only thing he feels bad about is the young girl who found the loot. Once he’s worked out what he can give her as her finder’s fee, he’ll send her a text. A kitten from the animal centre, perhaps.

Miranda Rijks writes psychological thrillers set in West Sussex, published by Inkubator Books. Paperbacks and ebooks are available on Amazon. Find out more at www.mirandarijks.com.

Funerals / Health and wellbeing

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Books

A Good Read November’s selection from book reviewer Willow Coby Me Before You – Jojo Moyes 26-year-old Lou Clark still lives with her parents in the quiet market town she grew up in. Almost deserted in the winter, the town’s one draw is an old castle and when we meet Lou, she works in the local tea shop serving the coachloads of tourists who come to visit.

With a quirky dress sense Lou never really feels as if she fits in and as a teenager longed to travel the world. However, circumstances meant that she could never bring herself to leave. After losing her job she reluctantly takes a job caring for Will, a young quadriplegic man injured in a motorcycle accident several years earlier. She is told the job is just for six months and despite a rough start she decides to stick it out and soon an unlikely bond develops between Lou and Will.

A romantic novel, Me Before You also deals with the sensitive issue of disability and the descriptions of Will’s day-to-day life are well-written with brutal honesty and little sensationalism.

Things take a darker turn when Lou learns the reason why her contract is only to be for six months and she sets out to bring Will new experiences and remind him of the simple joys of life: not easy for a wheelchair-bound man whose ideal way to pass the time before his accident was skydiving or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a reader you are drawn into the lives of these characters and the development of their relationship is believable. In the hands of the wrong writer this plot line could turn out to be very twee and cliché but Moyes does not fall into this trap. The resulting novel is engaging, difficult to put down and will lead you to appreciate the small wonders of life.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green Continuing with the theme of personal relationships in the face of illness comes The Fault in Our Stars, the hugely successful teen novel exploring the impact of teenage cancer on the lives of two individuals. 16-year-old Hazel has cancer and is, reluctantly, convinced by her parents to attend a support group for others in her situation. Among the other patients there is Augustus, a 17-year-old boy who lost a leg to cancer. The two begin talking and agree to read each other’s favourite books. Hazel’s book is a novel by a Dutch writer about a young girl with cancer: Hazel sees many parallels to her own life here. Augustus is angry after reading the book and discovering that it doesn’t have a nicely wrapped up ending. There is no conclusion, no neat package, no ending: happy or otherwise.

Of course, life has an ending, but it often isn’t happy or neatly wrapped up. Hazel becomes aware of her fears about getting close to others.

She is afraid that when she dies it will hurt them, and this naturally affects her relationship with Augustus.

This moving novel deals with issues that most of its teen readers won’t have yet faced in their lives. As a teenager you often feel immortal. You feel as if life is stretching out ahead of you and death is the furthest from your mind. Hazel and Augustus, along with the other young people at the support group view life differently. There is no expectation that everyone will make it to the next meeting. No one is immortal.

With a huge teenage following and a successful movie adaptation this novel stays with you long after the closing paragraph.

At The Crossroads At The Crossroads is is a collection of short stories by local author Petula Mitchell. Originally from Horsham, she now lives and works in Billingshurst.

A lifelong fan of ghost stories, Mitchell enjoys reading tales that have a twist in them and draws inspiration from classic writers such as M.R. James.

At The Crossroads covers many different aspects of the supernatural from haunted houses to a ghost ship, from pagan worship to ghost hunting and one

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or two undesirable spectres along the way.

At The Crossroads is available direct from the publishers Beul Aithris in their online shop or from Amazon. It’s available on Kindle also. RRP £4.99.

There are links to Petula Mitchell’s other work (short stories, poems and a story based around the old POW camp in Daux Wood in Billingshurst) on Facebook on her author page Beyond Twighlight’s Borders.

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Books

The Little Robin A delightful children’s tale by local author John Grigg perfectly timed for Christmas

H

ave you ever wondered why we see more robins in the months before Christmas? It turns out they are secretly helping a very important person, as Amelia and Johnny find out...

Local author John Grigg has written a new and enchanting story for the winter season. The Loxwood writer and his wife have encouraged good behaviour in their own children by telling them that the little robin they often see in the garden is checking up on them and reporting back to Father Christmas!

This forms the premise for John’s book in which Amelia and Johnny try their best to behave, just in case a robin is watching!

The book is beautifully

illustrated and would make the perfect gift for children aged 3 to 7.

Available from FairKind Child in Horsham, Fishers Farm Park, Antique Tables in Newbridge, The Petworth Bookshop, The Haslemere Bookshop, The Cobham Bookshop, Amazon and eBay. For your chance to win a copy worth £7.99, just e-mail your name and phone number to editor@villagetweet.co.uk along with your answer to the following question: What are the names of the two children in The Little Robin?

Be sure to type ‘Little Robin’ in the e-mail subject box. Closing date is 14th November.

The winner will be the first correct entry drawn at random.

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Scouting / Accountancy / About the house

Phoenix Explorers is back up and running!

A

fter a gap of six months while in lockdown Billingshurst’s Phoenix Explorer unit are back with a Social Distanced programme of activities.

Explorers are a go-getting group of young people aged 14 to 18. Together, they make up the fourth section of the Scout movement. Week in, week out, they gather in groups called units to try new things, make new friends and conquer the small task of changing the world.

Being an Explorer is all about making the most of what they have. Alongside their new friends, Explorers master the skills that will make them feel stronger and happier in the long run, and try things they would never get the chance to do at home or at school.

Phoenix Explorers have been a part of the Billingshurst scouting family since 2002 and are part of a bigger district explorer provision for all 14to 18-year-olds in scouting in the Petworth and Pulborough Scout District, in an area covering Midhurst in the West, Ashington in the east, Ifold to the north and Storrington and Pulborough to the South.

Phoenix Explorers runs on Wednesday evenings and the young people get to take part in a whole host of activities from Fire lighting to hiking, quiz nights to taskmaster challenges, archery to cooking; all planned

by the young people working in partnership with the leaders. Youth-led scouting is the core of how Phoenix Explorer unit works – it’s the young people who are in charge, deciding what they do and when they do it.

We have put measures in place to ensure that our young people and leaders can continue scouting even in this difficult new world. After a period of online scouting via Zoom we are really excited to be face-toface scouting again. Even with social distancing, smaller groups sizes and handwashing; the unit can enjoy all the same activities and events they used to with slight adaptations.

Phoenix Explorers is looking to grow, so if you have a young person aged 14 to 18 who wants to give Explorers a go, try a new challenge and get out and about, we are happy to have them come along and see what it is all about. Further details about what Explorer scouting is all about can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/explorers while for details about the unit please contact Matthew Pike, Phoenix Explorer Unit Leader, via email: phoenix@pandpscouts.org.uk.

We look forward to new members joining us.

Matthew Pike, Phoenix Explorer Unit Leader

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Scouting / About the house

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1st Billingshurst Scout Group remains active during COVID-19 lockdown

M

arch 2020 saw the Country in lockdown due to COVID-19. For our young people this meant no school, no contact with friends and extended family, limited time outside… a very isolating and testing time. Our young people also felt scared and unsure of what was going on in the world. The whole country had ground to a halt, but this did not stop the 1st Billingshurst Scout Group!

During this period, Scouts went online. We used Zoom to meet each week. We were able to do lots of fun things over Zoom: quizzes, games, scavenger hunts, cooking, Nerf gun games in the garden, compass coding, making paper aeroplanes; the list was endless! We also had some special sessions such as Pet Care with the Blue Cross, an online drumming session and even a virtual magic show at the end of term. We never expected to be running our sessions in this way, but all our Leaders stepped up to the challenge and became dedicated to providing members with enjoyment and stimulation when everyone needed it most. The sessions were a lifeline for many members, chatting with their friends, taking part in activities, trying different things and most of all, getting back to something fun, enjoyable and ‘normal’ for that hour every week. We helped to bring the groups together and reassure them during this worrying time.

In addition to the Zoom meetings, all members were able to complete Badges at Home. Our members became involved with cooking, housework, cycling, walking, arts and crafts, sewing etc. It also benefited parents, giving them a chance to get their children outside and having fun with a purpose. Lots of parents struggled with home

schooling but when it comes to badges, we saw that many children were happy to do different activities (often educational, without them even knowing it!) in order to be rewarded with a badge. Parents could even get their children making tea and doing ironing in return for a badge – a win-win situation!

The continuity of the weekly Scouts, Cubs and Beavers virtual sessions was invaluable for a vast amount of our members.

During the VE Day celebrations we organised a virtual camp. Lots of children took part in enjoying a night under the stars with lots of different activities: cooking, hiking, sports, etc all taking part throughout the day and with regular Zoom calls you really felt like you were taking part in something special; something fun and rewarding, a far cry from the boredom and isolation of being at home on your own.

In the last few weeks the guidance has changed, and we are now able to meet face-to-face. This has been great for all our groups but the highlight of the coronavirus lockdown for a lot of our young people will have been the weekly Beavers, Cubs and Scout sessions. Coronavirus may have stopped a lot of things from taking place, but it didn’t stop 1st Billingshurst Scout Group!

Well done to all our Leaders and members for taking part in these sessions during this challenging time. For full details of our weekly sessions and how you can get involved in this fantastic group, please have a look online at 1stbillingshurst.org.uk.

Monica Frisby, Leader, 1st Billingshurst Scout Group Top: A Scout meeting – lockdown style

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Billingshurst Parish Council Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre Roman Way, Billingshurst, RH14 9QW

Christmas Best Dressed Shop Window Competition 2020 2020 will be the 15th year of the Parish Council’s best dressed shop window competition. Judging will take place during the week commencing Monday 14th December and the winner will be notified as soon as possible afterwards. A certificate will be given for display in your shop and the commemorative shield engraved with the winner’s name and year. All shops and businesses have an equal chance of winning the competition and there is no need for you to formally enter – our judge(s) will consider every High Street and Jengers Mead window which has a Christmas display. what you can do about it on the Sussex Goodbye & Thank You The Council says goodbye and thank you to Sue Rogers for the service offered to the community since she joined the Council last year.

Cold Alert This is a free service for residents of Sussex providing cold weather alerts to vulnerable individuals. It is open over the winter from November 2020 through to March 2021.

To find out more or to register your interest, please telephone (01273) 484337, drop an email to information@coldalert.info or visit the website www.coldalert.info

Vehicle nuisance incolving cars, bikes and mopeds Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution – though this can be the most noticeable problem. You can find out more about the different kinds of vehicle nuisance, their long-term effect on a neighbourhood and

Police website. See link below:www.sussex.police.uk/advice/advice-andinformation/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/ vehicle-nuisance-involving-cars-bikes-andmopeds

School Admissions for September 2021 Was your child born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017?

The School Admission Application process is now open and applications will need to be submitted by 15th January 2021 at the latest. For more information call 03330 142903 or to apply online visit www. westsussex.gov.uk/admissions.

Winter Resilience Plan The Parish Council has a Winter Resilience Plan in place which links volunteers with those who need help during severe weather conditions. Please consider joining our volunteer list if you are able, and join the ‘help required’ list if you might need a helping

www.billingshurst.gov.uk Email: council@billingshurst.gov.uk 01403 782555 / twitter@BillingshurstPC

Billingshurst Parish Council

@BillingshurstPC

hand. Contact our office on (01403) 782555 and speak to Sarah for more information.

Our volunteers are able to offer help with snow clearing, shopping, prescription collections and similar. The Parish Council and its volunteers are keen to offer help to those who may need it but are not an emergency service and are limited in what they can do.

Please look after yourselves and help vulnerable or elderly neighbours. It is worth considering keeping a good stock of candles/ matches and spare torch batteries in case of power cuts and some non-perishable food stocks if you might be unable to leave your home in adverse weather.

Large bags of salt/grit will be delivered to various locations throughout the Parish in the event of heavy snowfall. This is for use on the public highways and is NOT for private paths and driveways; the decision on when these bags of salt/grit can be distributed rests with West Sussex County Council.

Lloyds Bank Mobile Banking Lloyds Bank has resumed its mobile banking service fortnightly in the Billingshurst Centre car park on Wednesdays between 10:15 am - 12:00 pm. At the time of writing, visits will be starting from Wednesday 7th October and fortnightly thereafter. For further details please contact Lloyds Bank directly on 0345 6016943.

Billingshurst Watercourses Do you know your rights and responsibilities as a riparian land owner for watercourses, ditches, streams, rivers or culverts alongside or within your property boundary?

Keeping your watercourse well maintained benefits the community as a whole. Watercourses such as ditches and culverts are designed to drain surface water away, before the water levels increase to an extent that puts property, roads, land and infrastructure at risk of flooding. The cost of maintaining a watercourse is minor compared to the costs that can arise from flood damage, not to mention the distress and inconvenience caused if your property is flooded. If a watercourse is carefully maintained, it can create an excellent habitat for wildlife. Check the website for the Environment Agency for more advice. The basic principles of keeping your watercourse running clear are very simple: • Keep growth of vegetation such as trees, weeds, reeds and grass under control.

• Keep watercourses free of debris, e.g. litter, grass cuttings, fallen branches and trees • Remove excess silt

Neighbourhood Warden Drop-In Sessions

Highway Trees Update Readers may remember that in previous Village Tweet publications, the Parish Council asked residents for suggestions for new locations for highway trees. We had an excellent response and West Sussex County Council has confirmed that 27 new trees will be planted in the winter season of 2020/2021. Check out the NEWSFEED section of the Parish Council website to see the map and list of tree types.

Neighbourhood Warden Barry has recommenced the weekly Warden Drop-In sessions between 12 – 2pm at the Billingshurst Centre each Tuesday. If you have any concerns or would like to chat with Barry, either pop along to one of the sessions or give him a call on 07795 051516.

Billingshurst & District Lions Club You can keep up to date with the Lions Club by following their website www.eclubhouse.org/sites/billingshurst. The Lions Bookshop is open in Jengers Mead and residents are being encouraged to collect any surplus change to help the Club with their fundraising.

Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Community

Sussex Green Living launch new recycling hub

S

ussex Green Living would like to thank the Horsham District community and local churches for their recycling efforts which have resulted in the opening of a new recycling hub on 30th September.

Joy Carter, ‘Chief Womble’ at Sussex Green Living has continued to co-ordinate the sorting and dispatch of ‘hard-to-recycle’ twaste accepted by TerraCycle during the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent period and would like to encourage local residents to keep on recycling.

Given the current situation with COVID-19 and the government’s restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus, our day-to-day lives have changed, and our priorities have shifted.

But it is not all bad news! Green issues remain a key topic, and Sussex Green Living, along with TerraCycle would like to remind everybody that recycling is as important now as ever before! By disposing of waste correctly or storing it to send to TerraCycle when things get back to normal, we can collect now and have an impact forever.

With this in mind, Joy Carter and the rest of the team at Sussex Green Living have been working hard this summer to raise money to build a facility at the Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham to expand their recycling capacity. Many thanks to donations from Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Horsham; St. Mark’s Church, Holbrook; Horsham Quakers; Horsham Unitarians and other donors, £2,000 was raised for the new recycling hub. Thanks also go to Berkeley Construction team who have been incredibly helpful with providing skips to remove the old wooden shed.

In 2012 Sussex Green Living set up a public access drop-off location in Horsham Quaker Meeting House in Worthing Road, RH12 1SL and the William Penn School in Coolham. Over the last couple of years eleven other parish locations have set up drop-off locations for their villages and Sussex Green Living, enabling the community of Horsham District to collect otherwise unrecyclable waste such as baby food pouches, home care products, used toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes, crisp packets, beverage ring carriers, used pens, pet food pouches, biscuit and snack wrappers and personal care & beauty products which cannot be recycled by the local council, and would otherwise end up in landfill or incineration.

TerraCycle also awards a charitable donation for each parcel of waste sent in for recycling. Councils cannot accept these waste materials as they are complex and costly to recycle, meaning the end value of the recycled material is worth less than the cost of the

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recycling process. To make the economics of recycling this waste work, TerraCycle partners with large brands such as McVitie’s, BIC and Garnier who cover the costs of processing these materials. This typically involves shredding the waste, washing it and then turning it into flakes or pellets which can then be moulded into a huge range of products, often outdoor furniture or various objects for use in construction.

Joy Carter commented, “We are so grateful for all the support we’ve received for the residents for continuing to recycle for us and to the churches, faith groups and individual donors who have funded our new recycling hub.

“We couldn’t have done it without you and your efforts have meant that more than 400,000 pieces of waste have been diverted from landfill and incineration, and you have helped raise almost £4,000 for various local causes including Sussex Green Living, William Penn School and Air Ambulance Kent, Surrey, Sussex. We are always looking for more support both people to collect these TerraCycle hard to recycle material and also people to help us sort, package and dispatch off. Find your nearest drop-off location on our website www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk/recyclingzone/single-use and tell your friends and family to do the same. Or contact us to volunteer.”

The result of months of fundraising, the new recycling hub has been made possible thanks to the efforts of the local community who have come together to help Sussex Green Living recycle as much waste as possible. The organisation was also the winner of £80 through a competition run by TerraCycle to find the best tips for recycling during the lockdown.

The new recycling hub is important not only as it will help Sussex Green Living expand their single-use plastic recycling capacities, but it is also a great demonstration of how the local community and different faith groups have come together during a difficult time, to help fundraise the costs of building and installing the new hub.

For more information about the Unitarian Church recycling hub, or to get involved and help Sussex Green Living in their recycling efforts, head to www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk.

Carrie Cort, Founder, Sussex Green Living Photo, left to right standing: Helen Whittington, Horsham Quakers; Rosemary Couchman, Development Co-ordinator for Horsham Churches Together; Patrick Wynne Jones, Horsham Unitarian Church. Left to right crouching: Joy Carter, Sussex Green Living lead for recycling; Mark Francis, Trafalgar Road Baptist Church at the new Sussex Green Living recycling hub, Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham displaying some of the single-use plastic waste donated during lockdown

About the house

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Charity / About the house

Every Kid Needs a Hero

T

o mark National Grandparents Day (Sunday 4th October), Marco Quasimodo relates how St Catherine’s Hospice helped his Grandad and supported his family at the time it was needed most…

“My grandad, known to all as ‘Bambi’, was my hero. I, as the eldest grandchild, gave him the name. He wanted to be called Gramps but as a toothless toddler I couldn’t say it, so Bambi he became! Bambi was full of love for all his family. He was the glue that held us together. He would make us laugh, give us guidance and was my very best friend. Bambi didn’t wear a cape or his pants outside his trousers, he didn’t need to, his just being there for all of us meant the world.

“In the summer of 2006, Bambi had started acting a little oddly, and we all thought it was because of the malaria tablets he was taking for a forthcoming trip with Nan to South Africa. I offered to drive them to Heathrow and became extremely worried when Bambi was dropping things and not himself. Nan and Bambi had only been in South Africa for two days when my Mum got a devastating call telling us that Bambi was in hospital and they had found a brain tumour. Nan and Bambi came home. For Bambi return to the UK was the start of a lot of hospital visits, and a spell in St Georges. We all spent as much time as we could with him.

“Bambi lost his independence, not able to drive or make simple decisions. In March 2007, Bambi went into St Catherine’s Hospice for medication review. After a couple of days, it was evident that Bambi was deteriorating quite fast. We, as a family, made sure he was never alone, and the staff at St Catherine’s also made sure that he was comfortable and loved. He was always clean shaven and took pleasure in a good, old fashioned wet shave. During his stay at St Catherine’s, he was in desperate need of a freshen up and one of the nurses volunteered to make sure he looked his best.

Things didn’t exactly go to plan as she managed to leave the plastic safety cover on his disposable razor, but she still gave him a full makeover. We laughed as he was none the wiser, and the gesture was attempted with the best intentions.

“In the early hours of 2nd April 2007, Bambi lost his fight, surrounded by most of his family. Our family were offered the love and care we needed from St Catherine’s staff, but that day our music died.

“I remember after Bambi passed away we retreated to the lounge area at the hospice while the nurses did what they had to do.

“Shortly, one of the senior nurses came through and knelt down next to my Nan, who was sat in a comfy chair. She took Nan by the hand and, ever so gently, placed Bambi’s wedding ring inside her hand, while using her other hand to cradle over Nan’s. The nurse told Nan to cherish Bambi’s ring for ever and keep it safe at all times.

“My Nan was left without Bambi for nearly 13 years – we sadly lost her on 1st June this year – she was 84 and had lived a long and happy life.

“St Catherine’s were on hand, once again, to offer us support in the days following Nan’s passing. They offered my family any help and counselling if we required it. We, as a family, hold St Catherine’s very dear to our hearts, and we won’t ever forget how much they were there for us when we needed them most.

“Hopefully Bambi and Nan are now reunited where they can carry on where they left off, happy in the knowledge that we think about them every day.”

To make a donation to support St Catherine’s, so they can continue to care for more people like Bambi and his family in the future, please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate.

Laura Mitchell, St Catherine’s Hospice Left: Bambi and Nan on their wedding day Right: Bambi and Marco, 1987

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Community / About the house

First face-to-face youth music in Sussex since March

T

he Bernardi Music Group’s String Academy were excited to be creating live music for the first time since March.

Working side by side, while remaining the socially distanced two metres apart, the talented students, along with the professional musicians who form the teaching faculty, rehearsed together in the airy Sullington Tithe Barn – the largest tithe barn in Sussex.

Complying with all COVID-19 rules, the gifted young musicians with musical accomplishments ranging from Grade 3 through to the advanced Grade 8, came together to practise and perform at the end of September.

Led by Andrew Bernardi, students were drawn in from across the county.

Throughout lockdown, many of the young musicians had taken part in the Academy’s animated online concerts, which were created as part of the Shipley Festival’s online programme. And some of these pieces, as well as some new scores were brought together in the perfect, airy, 500-year-old barn.

Andrew said. “We very much hope to be able to make the String Academy permanently live and face-toface once again. However, our future dates are still to

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be confirmed as we work to ensure that we keep in line with the government’s legislation updates.

Going forward, we will be providing a blended learning format, so that we can continue online in a second wave, or work live, or have a mixture of the two should a String Academy member need to be at home in quarantine.”

Following the inspiring and uplifting afternoon rehearsal, and after being fortified with cake and refreshments provided by The Café at the Old Workshop, Sullington Manor Farm, the youth orchestra performed live to their families.

Andrew finished “I was especially proud of the way each student abided by our strict distancing policy and made sure that they did not compromise each other’s safety.”

The Bernardi Music Group is delighted to have Tooveys, NFU Henfield, Nyetimber, Kreston Reeves, Wakefields and Luxury Cave as sponsors and are proud to be working in partnership with Yu Yuan Arts.

To support or join the String Academy, please call (01403) 741685 or e-mail Andrew Bernardi: andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com.

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Charity / About the house

I’m like a new woman – Margaret’s story

M

argaret, who recently stayed on St Catherine’s wards, shares how the local charity helped her…

“I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at East Surrey Hospital a few months ago. After my diagnosis I went home but the news knocked me for six, like it would anybody. I live alone and was in awful pain – I’d never known anything like it, and my daughter, Janette, was really worried about me.

“Nobody could come in and visit because of COVID-19 so everything was all on my daughter and my illness was getting worse. I was in so much pain and I wasn’t eating and drinking as everything just tasted like tin. I laid on my bed alone for four days, unable to do anything, before I was sent back to hospital. They checked me over and sent me home again but then I started being violently sick.

“Meanwhile Janette had been speaking to Jackie, the Welfare Adviser at St Catherine’s, and she put us in touch with other people at the hospice.

We were told someone would call me, but Janette said I couldn’t speak very well, and we wanted someone to visit me. I just wanted someone to hold my hand and tell me it would be okay.

The hospice arranged for a community doctor to come out and see me at home. They took one look at me and told me I needed to come into the hospice. I was a bit wary when I heard the word hospice, but I was so depressed and in so much pain I didn’t care what happened. I honestly didn’t think I’d go home from here again.

“Today, I’m like a new woman. After eight days at the hospice I feel completely different. As soon as the doctors and nurses got their hands on me, well, I’ve never known anything like it – the doctors, nurses, cleaners, cooks, they’re all absolutely marvellous. I didn’t believe a place like this, that could help you so much, existed.

“All the doctors and nurses take the time to sit and listen which makes so much difference. They answer my questions in plain English and they’re so patient.

One doctor explained why I kept being sick at home, and they always let me know what medication they’re

K BOOLY! EARparkling r as For ven fo! o s a m X

trying and why. In just eight days they’ve nearly got my pain under control. When I first came in, I wasn’t sleeping through the night because I had a pain in my neck. It was my nerves, but the doctors have tried a new patch which has helped take that pain away.

“Since I’ve been here, I have begun to taste fruit again. The menus here are marvellous and the way they present the food is out of this world.

“Jackie, the hospice Welfare Adviser, has given Janette so much advice and support – she’s been marvellous. When I was diagnosed, there was so much paperwork to handle but I was too ill to manage it, so it all fell to Janette.

Neither of us had any idea where to start. It hit us like a bullet, but we knew we had to get things in order. Jackie has helped us so much – I don’t know where we’d be without her.

“The whole hospice helps you, it’s not just the doctors, nurses and the cleaners – but the admin staff too.

Everybody is there to help and I’m so grateful the hospice is around.

“People think hospices have one purpose but nobody should feel frightened to come here.

Until you need a place like this you don’t stop and think about it, but there’s no better place to give your money.

“I sit in the chair by the bed after my shower, and I’ve even been able to get out into the hospice garden to sit and read my paper. Before I got ill, I loved my garden, so it was lovely to get a bit of fresh air. When I came back in, I was immediately offered a drink, ‘What would you like, Margaret?’, the staff wait on you hand and foot.

“The hospice’s help has made such a difference to my family too. It’s eased Janette so much to know how well I’m being looked after.

“I’ve been asked the question about where I want to be for my final days, and I want to be here at the hospice.”

Your support has never been more needed. To make a donation to support St Catherine’s, so they can continue to care for more people like Margaret in the future, please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate.

Laura Mitchell, St Catherine’s Hospice Photo: Staff Nurse Ami Salisbury, one of many who enabled Margaret to “feel like a new woman’

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Charity / About the house

Who are the Lions?

How did it all begin and what do Lions do in the world today?

B

illingshurst & District Lions Club is well over here, from Lions Clubs in Canada. known in the area from our Jengers Mead To thank them, the then Queen sent her equerry, Charity Bookshop, projects at local Primary Colonel Edward Wyndham (later Lord Leconfield) to Schools and Santa at Christmas, but many Canada. He was so impressed that Windsor people remain unaware of the extent of (Ontario) Lions Club agreed to sponsor the the organisation, how it started, how it first Lions Club in London with Lord came to the UK and how it is spread Leconfield as its founder Charter President. around the world…

Today, Her Royal Highness Countess of The Lion movement was formed in 1917, Wessex is Royal Patron of the 800 Lions when Chicago business man, Melvyn Clubs in the UK. Jones, along with others, wondered what Billingshurst & District Lions Club was ‘We serve’ would happen if people put their talents to formed in 1974 and in the subsequent 46 work in providing help to poverty stricken years, as many will know, the Club has provided communities. The idea spread throughout America financial and practical help for many causes in the and Lions Club International (LCI) was created on area. For example in the last two years to June the formation of the first Lions Club in Canada.

2020, the Club donated £53,000. Typically, in the Today, LCI is a worldwide service organisation in proportion 70% local, 30% international, often for 235 countries with 48,000 clubs and 1.4 million disaster appeals from LCI, where funds provided are members worldwide: “Where there is a need, there is all administered by the local Lions Club in that area. a Lion”. Each Lions Club is unique with the object of A truly worldwide service organisation. encouraging volunteers to serve their immediate You can keep up to date with Billingshurst & community with whatever it needs.

District Lions Club through their Facebook page and Lions came to Great Britain following intervention on their website www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/billingshurst

by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Harvey Holmes Mother. After the war, on morale boosting visits to NEWS FLASH. Santa and his Elves are looking at poor areas of London with King George VI, she ways he can safely tour Billingshurst and nearby learned of orphaned children receiving food and villages this year and bring Christmas cheer clothing through Canadian servicemen stationed in these difficult times. Watch this space.

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About the house

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WACT / About the house

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Wey & Arun Canal Trust adds a fully accessible trip boat to its fleet

he Wey & Arun Canal Trust has added a Mk III Wheelyboat to its fleet, a boat specially built to take disabled passengers and carers on canal cruises.

The purchase of the secondhand boat has been made thanks to a generous donation from supporter Peter Grove in memory of his great grandfather Walter Grove, who was master carpenter on the Wey Navigation from 1885-1930.

Flexible seating means that up to five wheelchairs can be accommodated in comfort, making the pleasure of cruising the canal accessible to a greater number of adults and children.

The boat was supplied and refurbished by The Wheelyboat Trust, a charity set up in 1984 to remove barriers to water-based activities and allow mobility, learning and sensory impaired people of all ages independent access to activities such as powerboating, nature watching, pleasure boating and angling.

The Wheelyboat Trust director Andy Beadsley said the benefits of getting disabled people out on the waterways were huge. “There are lots of health

and wellbeing advantages to being out in the open air and on the water. We’ve worked with many disability groups, SEN schools and charities, and we’re delighted to be able to work with the Wey & Arun Canal Trust on this project now too.”

The aluminium Mark III craft was originally built in 2007 and has been refurbished to give it many more years of service. An outboard motor, seating and a bimini canopy (generously provided by the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust) will be fitted over the winter months and it is hoped the boat will be in service next spring.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust director John Reynolds added, “We’re sure trips onboard the Wheelyboat will bring immense pleasure to many people and we look forward to being able to offer cruises along the Wey & Arun Canal on the Wheelyboat in 2021.”

Gill Davies, Press and Publications Assistant Photo: Wey & Arun Canal Trust director John Reynolds (left) with The Wheelyboat Trust director Andy Beadsley

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Community

Where the Eagles Fly John Nash is a retired, well sort of retired, fruit farm manager in Kirdford who enjoys scribbling about life on the farm from the now to days gone by.

On my fiftieth birthday my family gave me a surprise gift: a weekend of lessons on hang gliding.

These consisted of throwing myself off a particularly steep part of the South Downs while strapped to a mixture of canvas and aluminium framing. I think the general idea was to get me – as the song goes – up there where the eagle flies.

Alas, no. Each launch inevitably ended in a particularly well established field of nettles and thistles and I quickly realised, as I nursed my rashes, scratches and bruises, that I was never going to be a Cats Eyes Cunningham or Douglas Bader! (For those of you who are of a young persuasion… look them up.)

A decade later came a gift of a balloon ride over the Sussex countryside.

This involved just missing chimney pots, tree tops and barbed wire fences, as the pilot practised his emergency landing techniques in fields along the way.

Somehow I got the feeling that a message was being delivered to me in a none too subtle way!

So it should have been no surprise really when my son and his family, this time for my eightieth, attempted once more to get me airborne.

There on the card presented to me by my eager grandsons: a glider flight.

I must confess straight away, I was thrilled.

To be given the chance once more to head for the clouds was a wonderful surprise and I was like a kid with a kite waiting for the wind to blow.

Came the day.

A drive down to the Gliding Club at Parham on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.

Sign in, receive a short introductory course on what to expect and then down to the far end of the airfield to greet the instructor and his beautiful, sleek and glistening glider.

After a quick walk through the controls and assortment of dials that would be in front of me he helped me to strap on my parachute – yes, you really do wear one!

Then it was climb into the front of this most elegant of machines and with six straps clasping me to the seat, the completely clear cockpit canopy was lowered down over me. The reassuring voice of the pilot seated behind me came loud and clear

42

via my earphones and he operated the joystick so I could feel the movement myself as I followed him through using the dual controls in front of me. I should add here that one further piece of equipment was handed to me just before I was sealed in: a large paper bag, along with a knowing look from the instructor. I refrained from saying that many years previous on a particularly bumpy ride into Athens I had found to my discomfort that the darn things leak!

We were coupled up to the tow plane in front of us, the line tautened and… we were off. A bumpy start at first as the field rumbled beneath us, then absolute smoothness. Even the tow plane in front of us seemed muted, just a gentle rushing of air through the small air vent beside my shoulder.

As we climbed the wonderful Downs spread out before me. Being in the front seat the view is absolutely magical.

Nothing to block your vision from one shoulder to the other. The sea down at Worthing glistened in the distance and we were soon crossing the ridge of the Downs beneath us.

Then the tow was released and we were left alone with just the soft hissing of air over the wings and the pilot’s voice informing me of the various villages and features spread below me.

Then, for ten minutes or so, he took his life in his hands – or rather, my hands – and gave the control to me. I can only say that I had the thrill of my life.

To have that wonderful machine in my control was magical, even if I knew any problem would have been instantly corrected by the man in the seat behind me. Banking gently over Pulborough and following the glittering Arun as it wriggled its way through the green meadows below was breathtaking and so utterly peaceful. Gliding really is flight in its purest form.

I could waffle on for hours about the rest of the flight and the thrill of the steep approach landing that gliders need to land safely, varying speed with amazingly effective air brakes, but I feel enough is enough, and editor Grahame would have to go and get his scissors out. (On the contrary, I am enjoying every word having done rather a lot of gliding myself! Ed.) All I would say is that if you get the chance to go up in a glider, grab it! For a half hour or so you will be Biggles, whatever your age.

P.S. Just noticed the letter ‘E’ is missing from the serial code on the glider’s tail fin!

John Nash

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About the house

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Little Tweeters! / Fencing

Autumn/Fall*

Once upon a time on a small farm near Billingshurst…

R

esident Crow sat in his crow’s nest on top of roof, got booted off and spent the first few nights in the tall pine and allowed his gaze to rove the trees next to the chicken run. For two nights a around the small farm. His beady black eyes frustrated Anne had to hunt them down by torchlight noticed everything, not always with approval. and return them to the henhouse. However, after The oaks were full of acorns and the shotgunGary clipped their wings they finally wised up. As it like sound of their landing on the stable’s tin roof was getting darker earlier, after several requests heralded the yearly battle between the Jays and the Nanny finally changed the timing on the door squirrels. Resident Crow wondered who would get opener. She made a note to herself to remember the most this year. to change it back when The triangle paddock with daylight saving finished. red oaks growing had been Resident Crow often rolled invaded by Aaron and his his eyes at the antics of the harem.

The oaks had non-flying two-leggeds, but recovered but the chestnut most of all the young ones. hadn’t. Fortunately there were One of them waited till it was a couple coming along nicely nearly dark to plug her ears to replace them. Resident and walk the circuit a couple Crow blamed Nanny for that of times. He only ever saw since she hadn’t mended the another when she did her fence soon enough. All it need watering chores. One he was a little crack and those never saw and the one with a sheep took advantage. bit of a beard played in the The pond that Nanny had At last the Five got along… Famously footie field occasionally. The been boasting about still old ones were away a lot and wasn’t quite finished and the tree which turned out the others were quite often seen getting in and out to be willows (plain) were growing over it. But the of cars speeding away alone and returning soon Michaelmas daisies had bloomed just in time and after with the youngsters. He’d heard they went to lifted that corner with colour. college sometimes or to town but he didn’t care The biggest change, however, had been the about that. arrival of three more chickens (to replace the two From his pine tree lookout post Resident Crow that Foxy Loxy had eaten) and that had not gone watched as the autumn/fall storms shook the trees down very smoothly in the coop. Firstly Brenna and and flung wrinkled leaves into swirls in protected Queenie were absolutely livid not to be top corners. Over time they would become compost chickens any more and had been seriously nasty and earth. He watched the swallows leave and the to the newcomers. To protect them Anne had ratted other birds making use of the avian snack bar. out a couple of dog transportation cages to protect As the nights drew in and the air grew colder, them as she gradually got acclimatised to one despite the few rough edges, Resident Crow another. approved of the state of his domain.

Secondly the newcomers were not very And the whole world waited for winter to arrive cooperative. The henhouse door was on an on that little farm near Billingshurst… automatic timer to keep them safe at night but no Yvonne Fleece *Autumn/Fall – see ‘Pluto Living’ (YouTube) for the difference one had told the newbies. They perched on the

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44

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Pets / Vets

The Spaniel Diaries

W

ell, what a busy time it’s been for us Spaniels, we finally got to visit the mysterious Wales place mum kept harping on about! Oh my it was wonderful, we had so many lovely long walks in the Elan Valley. Mum was really happy as some parts of Wales were locked down whatever that means, I suppose it’s like us dogs being put in our kennels as the humans have to stay in!

We saw lots of woolly things called sheep so mum was extra careful and kept us on our leads and shut all the gates behind us. The only thing I did disapprove of was that we were firmly banned from the warm swimming pool mum called a hot tub – that’s so not fair as me and Mav absolutely love water; we could have had so much fun in there but no, we were confined to quarters while they lolled around in the thing! I did exact my revenge by being really, really naughty during a training session though, I’m sure mum will get her own back but it was fun while it lasted!

The weather has changed and us dogs are quite pleased as we do feel the heat a bit. Mum is not looking forward to the dark nights, having to squeeze so much into shorter hours must be a pain. To be totally honest I would rather sleep by the fire on cold wet nights but no, she insists we go out. We have to feed the ponies anyway so we get taken too. Mav loves going out whatever the weather but then he is an idiot… I don’t know why the ponies can’t just sort themselves out, I mean they eat grass and there’s plenty of that, but no, mum has to take them a feed each. Their food looks horrible, it’s all boring looking and has carrots in it. Mind you, it must be good as the

pony poo tastes exquisite and it’s amazing to roll in too, even though I get hosed off before going in the car it’s totally worth it!

It won’t be long before the bang-bang season starts again – mum calls them fireworks. Me and Mav don’t actually mind them; we are from working stock and I especially think bangs are great fun as I always get to fetch something!

I know some of my doggy friends are really scared of bang-bangs, so please make sure they have a safe and comfortable den to hide away in if they feel the need and leave the picture box on or the noise box for some background music, make sure your canine friend can’t escape from the house if they do panic. And if they are really anxious speak to a vet or animal health adviser about products that may help them feel calmer.

Mum is really pleased when I bring her things, and she’s teaching Mav to do the same, but that idiot just parades around with whatever he’s fetched, he’s too stupid to work out the quicker he gives it to mum the quicker he’ll get another one!

It’s not long until Christmas when the weird humans insist on dragging a tree into the house and covering the thing in lights and then spending the next two weeks moaning about needles falling off – I shall be avoiding needles, those ones at the vet’s are horrid! One good thing about Christmas though is all the tasty treats so I’m looking forward to it, and the humans need something good to look forward to as they really have had a difficult year.

Take care until next time. Billy.

Jeannette Douglas

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Garden Tweet! / Pest control

Rhubarb Rhubarb

R

hubarb is a reasonably easy trouble-free plant to grow. It is also a handsome plant, with large leaves and striking red stems, and who doesn’t love a rhubarb crumble?

The trick is to choose the right spot. Ideally it needs to be planted in full sun but if your garden is very sheltered it will tolerate partial shade.

Don’t plant it anywhere where it might be in the way, disturbed, or need to be moved from.

Rhubarb has an extensive root system and prefers to stay put, for at least a decade, so give careful thought to the spot.

Rhubarb dislikes wet soil, so make sure it’s well-drained. Dig in plenty of organic matter a month or so before planting. It’s generally easier and more productive to grow rhubarb from crowns (divided plants) rather than seed, and from now until Christmas is the perfect time to plant.

Dig a hole a little wider than the rhubarb crown in your prepared ground. Plant so that the growing tip is about an inch / 2.5 cm below the surface. Firm the soil well around the roots to removed air pockets. Water well and mulch with organic matter, avoiding the growing tip.

During the growing season keep the area around the plant free of weeds and give an occasional good soaking in prolonged dry periods. Remove any flower heads that appear in the spring. Flowering will weaken the stems. If the crown rots, your soil was too wet, but

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46

s, ve ted s, ol ct ce on ha la er to ta la cti u -re ow s, on ll p se yo n (fl ed c wi n If rde ss sh ase e rde ga e s, le . W a a sin se c) p ay r G a u bu ho , et tod pul n s t o e e e r ee p gr ow Tw our m ge in lla d Vi r a u yo

Garden View

following all the advice I’ve given earlier should prevent this happening!

Harvest time is May until July, but rhubarb is a long-term investment so don’t harvest it during the first year.

It needs that full first year of growth to establish a strong root system. In the second year leave at least five strong stems when you harvest. After that you can leave three or four stems each time.

You should get 2-3 crops per season.

Remove only the largest stems when picking and wait till the leaves have fully opened. Pull gently from the base with a slight twist. The leaves are poisonous but can be safely composted.

Once your rhubarb is established you might want to try a forced crop for sweeter more tender stems. Rhubarb is forced by growing it in the absence of light in a microclimate slightly warmer than the outside temperature. You can start forcing in January for best results. Remove dead leaves and weeds from around the crown and add a layer of straw or shredded paper to warm the emerging shoots and to protect them from frost. Then cover the crown with an upturned dustbin or large crock pot to cut out all the light.

The rhubarb should be ready for harvesting eight weeks later.

Happy gardening.

Rachel Leverton

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Garden Tweet! / Logs

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Kids of all ages / Garden Tweet!

Village Tweet Spot the Difference

Can you spot the 12 differences in these Guy Fawkes night cartoons?

Solution on page 51

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RATE CAknRowD... For our Rate Card visit to d All you nee...ab out advertising in www.villagetweet.co.uk V eet tw t V and click on the twee ‘Advertise’ tab or call 07762 767084 today!

VILLAGE

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t.co.uk www.villagetwee

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BILLINGSHURST MOT

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Motoring

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51

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What’s On near you

What’s On – November Every Mon

Table Tennis. St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst, 2-4pm. An informal sociable group for all ages.

Newcomers welcome, tea & biscuits included, £1 (goes to church funds). Tony, tel: (01403) 783496 Every 2nd Rotary Club. Blacksmiths Arms, Adversane. 7.30pm. Supper (£13) & talk. Visitors welcome. Social activities & 4th Mon & occasional business meetings. Stuart Pullen, Attendance Secretary, tel: (01798) 873791 or 07967 159034 Every Mon, Shipley Men’s Shed. Shipley football ground off Dragon’s Lane. Part of the international Men’s Shed Tues & Weds organisation. For men interested in woodwork or wish to spend time with like-minded, local chaps. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Tel: Philip, 07786 070939 or email: info@HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org Every Mon Wisborough Green Short Mat Bowls Club. Village Hall. Mons 2.30-4.30pm, Weds 1.30-3.30pm. & Weds New members & visitors welcome. £2.50 (includes Tea/Coffee & biscuits). Trial session free for newcomers. Further information: www.wisboroughgreen.org or contact Keith Carter on 01403 700502 Every Tues Stitch & Knit. Six Bells, Billingshurst. 7-9.30pm. Welcoming & helpful, just bring your project & make new friends. No fees. Sarah, tel: 07817 699865 (leave message) Every Tues Billingshurst Short Mat Bowls. Suspended until further notice due to coronavirus Every Tues Billingshurst Choral Society rehearsal. Billingshurst Primary School, 7.30-9.45pm during term time.

New members always welcome. For details see www.billingshurstchoralsociety.org Every Tues Slinfold Concert Band rehearsal. Slinfold Village Hall from 7.30-9.30pm. Brass, woodwind and percussion players all welcome. www.slinfoldconcertband.org Every Tues Billingshurst Youth Club. Women’s Hall, High St, Billingshurst, 7.30-9pm, term-time. 11-16 years. Varied activities such as indoor obstacle course, miniature football tournaments and crafts. £1 per session. Contact Ben Sheldon, Community Youth Worker, tel: 07763 302456, e-mail: ben.sheldon@horsham-matters.org.uk Every Tues Walking Football. 10-11.30am. Shipley football ground off Dragon’s Lane (Holbrook Club in mid-Winter).

Followed by refreshments. Men & women welcome. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org.

Tel: Philip, 07786 070939 or email: info@HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org Every Tues Drop in Baby Zone! St Mary’s Room, East Street, Billingshurst. 1.30-3pm. Meet other parents and their babies. Every week except between Xmas & New Year. Emma: babies@stmarysbillingshurst.org Every Tues Neighbourhood Warden drop-in sessions. Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre. 12-2pm Every Tues Preschool Ballet and street dance classes. Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. VMA Dance run fun, friendly & Thurs classes for preschool children. Free trial then £4pw pre-booked. 07879 773705 www.vmadance.co.uk Every Tues Pétanque Club. Meets at Shipley Football Ground, 10.15am for 10.30 start (*in the Spring/Summer/ & Fri* Autumn months meet Friday, 6.30pm). Coffee after. All equipment provided. All ages and abilities welcome. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Tel: Russell, 07803 259190 or email: info@HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org Every Weds Horsham Accordion Band. Practises in Slinfold Chapel from 7.30-9.30pm. Varied repertoire. Band Leader Mags Fisher tel: (01403) 790717 or email: magsfisher@btinternet.com Every Weds The Millennium Bridge Club. Storrington Village Hall, 1.30-4.30pm. All abilities. Please contact: Barbara: (01903) 741365 or daisy.campling@btinternet.com Every Weds Line dancing. St Gabriel’s Church Hall 7-10 pm. All levels welcome, beginners from 7pm. Details from Maureen 07774 828282 Every Weds Billingshurst Bell Ringing practice. St Mary’s Church, Billingshurst. 7.30-9.15pm. New learners and visitors welcome, just turn up. For information email Kathy at kathyfitzp@hotmail.co.uk Every Weds The Leconfield Singers. United Reformed Church, Petworth. 8-10pm. Mixed voice non-audition community choir. Newcomers welcome. More details and term times see www.leconfieldsingers.co.uk Every Weds Billingshurst Rock Choir. Primary School. 7.30-9pm, term times. No experience required. A friendly choir singing upbeat pop, rock and Motown. Book a FREE taster session at www.rockchoir.com Every 2nd BilliUke: Billingshurst’s Own Ukulele Jam! The Six Bells, from 7.30pm. If you already have a & 4th Weds ukulele, or are thinking about getting one, please come along and join us. It’s a fun couple of hours and you also get to make new friends from the village and beyond. www.billiuke.com Every Thurs Stitch & Knit. 10am-12.30pm. We rove round local cafés & car share, lifts may be possible. Welcoming & helpful, just bring your project. No fees. Sarah, tel: 07817 699865 (leave message) Every Thurs HDC Health Walk. Billingshurst (2). All HDC walks cancelled due to coronavirus Every Thurs Wildlife walkabouts. RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve, Wiggonholt, RH20 2EL. 10am-12 noon.

Our regular gentle ramble is an ideal introduction to some of our very special wildlife. £8 per person (£2.50 for RSPB members). (01798) 875851. www.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks Every Thurs Spy Café. Temporarily closed due to coronavirus Every Fri Open days at The Blue Idol. Temporarily suspended due to coronavirus. Updates: www.blueidol.org VMA Dance classes for children 2-18yrs. Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. Classes in Ballet, Street Dance Every Fri & Contemporary. Free Trial available then £5pw pre-booked. 07879 773705 www.vmadance.co.uk Every Fri Nationwide Building Society. Billingshurst Community Centre. Cancelled due to coronavirus Every Sat Indoor table top sale and market. Ansell’s Yard, Kirdford Road, Wisborough Green, RH14 0DD. 10am-2pm. No entrance fee. Tables £5 (must be pre-booked). Tel: (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940 Every Sun The Emmanuel Fellowship meet every Sunday at ‘The Chapel’, Spy Lane, Loxwood. 10.30am for about an hour with refreshments afterwards. www.emmanuelfellowship.co.uk SPACE IS TIGHT IN THE WHAT’S ON PAGES. IF ANYONE HAS TRIED TO TAKE PART IN ANY OF THE REGULAR ENTRIES (ABOVE) AND FOUND THEM TO BE NO LONGER AVAILABLE PLEASE LET VILLAGE TWEET KNOW

52

What’s On near you

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16 Oct-1 Nov Petworth Festival Special. A special online COVID-19-proof mix ‘for 2020 only’ of stellar performances and literary events. Further details: www.petworthfestival.org.uk 1 Nov Indoor Antiques Market & Collectors Sale. Ansell’s Yard, Kirdford Road, Wisborough Green, RH14 0DD. 10am-2pm. No entrance fee. Tables available £8 (must be pre-booked). Telephone (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940 3 Nov Trefoil Guild Meeting. St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst. 7.30-9pm. First Tuesday of the month.

Open to all ex-Brownies, Guides & Guiders. Hillary, tel: (01403) 783792 4 Nov The Arts Society – South Downs Pandemic Online Talk by Sian Walters: ‘Raphael – A Master in the Making’. 10.30a.m. We regret this online Zoom talk is for members only. If you are interested in joining the lecture please contact Hilary, tel: (01403) 785302. We look forward to returning to Fittleworth Hall as soon as it is safe to do so. www.theartssocietysouthdowns.org.uk 4, 11, 18, Billingshurst Wednesday Group Talks. Regretfully suspended until further notice due to coronavirus Nov restrictions. Please contact (01403) 780660 for further info 5 Nov Billingshurst Horticultural Society Meeting. Cancelled due to coronavirus 5 Nov Wisborough Green WI Evening. Wisborough Green Village Hall. 8pm. Every first Thurs (except Jan: 2nd Thursday). No August meeting. Visitors welcome. Ruth Isaacs, Secretary: (01403) 785402 5 Nov Reading Friends. Temporarily suspended due to coronavirus 5 Nov CDC Health Walk: Wey & Arun Canal (Loxwood West). Meet in the Canal Centre car park, behind the Onslow Arms, RH14 0RD, 10.30am. A level 4.7 mile walk. 2¼ hours. Due to coronavirus 5 people max, pre-book at www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart or (01243) 521041 up to 1 week in advance 7 Nov Macmillan Table Top Sale. 26 Coombe Hill, Billingshurst. 10am-12 noon. Home-made cakes, jam, honey, marmalade, books, Jill’s Crafts 11 Nov Billingshurst Carers Group (for carers of people with dementia or long-term condition). Longfield Manor, West Street, RH14 9LX. 2.30-4pm. (Every 2nd Weds.) info@carerssupport.org.uk or www.carerssupport.org.uk 11 Nov Messy Church! Billingshurst Village Hall. 3.30-5.30pm. Billingshurst churches welcome families to have fun with games, crafts, singing and stories. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sit-down meal, donation. www.messychurch.org.uk 12 Nov Billingshurst WI. Cancelled due to coronavirus 12 Nov Billingshurst and District Wine and Beer Circle AGM. Billingshurst Community Centre, Roman Way. 7.30 prompt-8.30pm. Please bring your own refreshments, social distancing, masks to be worn. If you are new to the village please join us! Chris, Members Secretary, e-mail: cdeefholts@yahoo.co.uk 13 Nov Billingshurst and District Wine and Beer Circle meeting. Cancelled due to coronavirus.

13 Nov Macmillan Film night. ‘Military Wives’. Billingshurst Conference & Community Centre. 7pm for 7.30pm start. Refreshments, raffle and Macmillan stall. Tickets £6.50 from www.touringcinema.com or Austens Home Hardware, 48-52 High Street or Terri Ashpool, tel: (01403) 588996 or on the door (subject to availability) 14 Nov Billingshurst United Reformed Church Dementia Café. Temporarily suspended due to coronavirus 16 Nov Macmillan Film night. ‘Military Wives’. Pulborough Village Hall. 7pm for 7.30pm start. Refreshments, raffle and Macmillan stall. Tickets £6.50 from www.touringcinema.com or Pulborough Village Hall or Terri Ashpool, tel: (01403) 588996 or on the door (subject to availability) 16 Nov Billingshurst Lions Club Meeting. Sports Pavilion, Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. 8pm. For information about the Club contact Alan Ridout on (01403) 871370 or call in at the Lions Bookshop, Jengers Mead 17 Nov St Mary’s Guild Members’ talk by Gordon Price: ‘Flower Arranging for Christmas’. St Mary’s Room, East Street, Billingshurst. 10.30am. We are a friendly women’s group and we welcome visitors.

Beryl Peacock (01403) 782835 17 Nov Loxwood Jazz & Blues Club. Cancelled due to coronavirus 19 Nov Barns Green & Itchingfield Women’s Institute Meeting. Barns Green Village Hall. 2.30pm followed by tea. New members welcome. Meetings 3rd Thurs of the month. For more information contact Annette Relph (01403) 732580 19 Nov CDC Health Walk: Wey & Arun Canal (Lurgashall). Meet Noah’s Ark pub, GU28 9ET, 10.30am.

5 miles, some stiles. 2¼ hours. Due to coronavirus 5 people max, pre-book at www.chichester.gov.uk/ heartsmart or (01243) 521041 up to 1 week in advance 25 Nov Quiet Garden Afternoon at The Blue Idol. Temporarily suspended due to coronavirus. See website for details: www.blueidol.org 26 Nov Sing for Pleasure. Billingshurst Community Centre. 3.00-4.30pm. We are a friendly, informal group who enjoy a sing-along. If you are a lady or gentleman in the more mature age group, even if you think you can’t sing, we’d love you to join us for an enjoyable afternoon. £3, includes tea and biscuits 28 Nov Pulborough Village Market. Pulborough Village Hall, Swan View, RH20 2BF. 9am-12.30pm. Fresh produce, bread, delicatessen, local honey, organic condiments, plants, local crafts, fairtrade goods and much more. Café serving a full English breakfast, tea/coffee and cakes. Free entry. Please like us on Facebook. Market Coordinator Terri Ashpool, tel: (01403) 588996, e-mail: terriashpool@uwclub.net IF ATTENDING A MEETING YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S ‘RULE OF SIX’ i.e. A MAXIMUM OF SIX PEOPLE AT ANY MEETING OR GATHERING. YOU RISK A £100 FINE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

We have been notified of some events being cancelled due to coronavirus – these have been marked in red. For other events, where a phone number or e-mail is given you are advised to check.

With Press lead times and government guidelines changing almost daily the onus is for the organisers to contact Village Tweet if your event is cancelled; we cannot make that decision for you!

Village Tweet will publish details of local events in this free What’s On section.

Please email brief details to editor@villagetweet.co.uk together with contact or website details

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Fire Station / Advertisers Index

Please avoid home firework displays!

D

ue to current Government guidelines resulting in many public displays cancelled, Billingshurst Fire Station are urging people to avoid having their own firework displays at home.

Although it’s disappointing that bonfire night will not be the same this year, your safety is more important.

Some people will think its fine to set up a display from home. We would advise that you don’t do this for yours and your family’s safety.

We do not want to be called out to firework related incidents, when we know they could have been avoided, so please pass on this information to family and friends. Fireworks should be set off from trained personnel and in a controlled environment.

And it’s not just the risk of injury and burns from fireworks – the temptation to invite friends and neighbours to a home firework party is currently illegal as it could result in infection through COVID-19.

We understand this year has been difficult for everyone, but we have to stick together through this pandemic, and look forward to things

returning to ‘normal’ next year. Everyone’s safety and well-being is the most important thing, so please, avoid playing with fireworks this year.

The Fire Service across the county have been working hard following the continued governments guidelines and putting in safe systems of work across the service for the past six months. It means that we have had to adapt to change, but it is working well. Our community work will continue over the winter which includes safe and well visits to vulnerable people, smoke alarm fittings and medicine drop-offs to ease the workload on the NHS. We would like to thank the NHS for their amazing hard work, and it’s our pleasure that we can help out. The less time we spend on fire call-outs mean we have more time to help with this necessary work.

We really are looking forward to hosting car washes, open days and station visits next year, as long as we all do our bit now to make 2021 a better year for us all.

Twitter: @Station49Fire Facebook: Billingshurst Fire Station Dan Game, Billingshurst Fire Station

ADVERTISERS INDEX November 2020 A-Team Mechanics............................51 A/c’s Direct, Accounting ....................12 AC Decor...........................................41 Alba Plumbing...................................39 Ansells Market.....................................6 Apex Aerials ......................................43 Arlo’s Toy Shop .................................10 Best Choice Roofing .........................41 Billingshurst Butchers........................11 Billingshurst Leisure Centre ..............16 Billingshurst Parish Council ........28, 29 Billingshurst Primary School ...............3 Billingshurst Service, Repair & MOT Centre ..................................50 Bluecoat Sports.................................15 Bygone Gardening ............................47 CAGNE .............................................12 Chiro Practical...................................13 CJ Sewage Treatment ......................41 Dandelion Farewells, funerals...........23 DGS Logs..........................................47 Daisy B Fitness .................................23 DM Handyman ..................................37 DW Gardens .....................................46 ECF Services, cushion replacement.31 Evans Electrical.................................33 Feeling Amazing Nutrition .................13 Flackwoods Solicitors..........................4 Flow-serve Plumbing, Drainage, Heating..........................................32

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Freeman Brothers, funerals ........18, 19 GB Glazing Ltd..................................33 GJ Coles, builder ..............................26 Goring Road Carpet Centre..............38 Hamilton Cole TV & Satellite Equipment .....................................43 Heritage Decorating ..........................37 Holly Stone Hypnotherapy ................21 Horsham District Council (Capitol)......9 Horsham District Council (Wellbeing) ....................................20 JC Plumbing......................................35 Jim Hills Sports Warehouse................8 Jonathan Carter Tree Surgery ..........49 Just Care...........................................23 Katherine Finn Hypnotherapy ...........14 Kings Head pub.................................11 KJ Lammas Plumbing & Heating ......27 Lavenham Press ...............................25 Lee’s Locks .......................................43 Little Robin Publishing ......................25 Mac’s Private Hire...............................6 Meadow Hall Veterinary Practice ......45 Meadows Wellbeing ..........................23 Menace Scaffolding...........................31 Mike Lord Building ............................31 Miss Mop Domestic Cleaning ...........43 MW Wingate Painting & Decorating .35 MPS Home Improvements Ltd..........35 Myriad Change..................................14

N Francis Electrical Ltd.....................39 NFP Forestry.....................................48 NFU Mutual Insurance ........................7 Omni Davis Insurance.........................3 Oven Cleaning Direct........................36 Oven Rescue ....................................35 Ovens & More ...................................26 P&W Jordan Upholstery....................32 Park House Kitchens.....................OBC Pest Man...........................................46 Petworth MOT Centre .......................50 PJM Building & Property Maintenance..................................39 Rebecca Beauty Therapist................21 REM Landscapes..............................48 Re-Nu Kitchens.................................34 Rudgwick Fencing.............................44 Scriven Arboriculture.........................47 Seasons Art Classes...........................5 St Mary’s church ...............................12 Sussex Carpet Brokers .....................40 Sussex Exteriors ...............................33 Sussex Free Range Turkeys...............9 Sussex Towing Brackets ...................51 The Works Gifts ..................................9 Titchmarsh Services, tree surgery ....48 TM Heating Engineers ......................37 Tulip Accounting................................26 Village Homecare..............................17 Village Nurseries ...............................49

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