elcome to the July issue of Village Tweet. Horsham District Council and Billingshurst Parish Council have been working together towards improving Billingshurst. I am sure we all could list several areas in the village in need of improvement. Now is your chance to have your say and be part of the consultation. See page 10 and the back cover. Plenty to enjoy in July as a flick through the events in the What’s On pages will show (pages 34-36).
Why not give your business a summer boost? Download our Rate Card at www.villagetweet.co.uk or call me on 07762 767084 for a no obligation chat. Grahame
Editorial and Advertising: Grahame Pearson: 07762 767084 editor@villagetweet.co.uk www.villagetweet.co.uk
Boco (’bo-co’): Old West Sussex dialect meaning ‘lots of’/’much.’ From French, ‘Beaucoup’.
Step Into Another World This August
The Loxwood Meadow, Loxwood, West Sussex RH14 0AL 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th August, 10am-6pm
The Kingdom of Loxwood returns this summer –brimming with drama, quests, and royal intrigue
From 2nd to 17th August 2025, weekends only, Loxwood Joust cracks open a portal to a parallel realm – where knights ride for glory, queens face impossible decisions, and no two paths are the same. For three weekends, this spellbinding kingdom opens its gates, and you’re invited!
Across the kingdom, visitors cheer as armoured knights clash in heart-pounding jousts, tread forest trails on quest-driven adventures, and meet a cast of bold, eccentric characters. In the Royal Quarter, the air hums with challenge – axe throwing, crossbow, archery, and knights’ training await all ages. Nearby, falconry displays take flight, storytellers whisper tales, and live music drifts through the trees. Go at your own pace: savour a feast in the banqueting hall, roar from hay bales, or plunge into a quest brimming with surprises.
suitor before the final joust of the summer – or risk losing her crown. Expect suitors, spectacle, and storylines fit for a royal court, all building to a dramatic conclusion in the final jousting tournament of the day.
Set in a richly detailed kingdom of pageantry and plot twists, Loxwood Joust is no ordinary day out. This year, all eyes turn to Queen Helena, whose time to marry is fast running out. By ancient law, she must choose a
New for 2025, the kingdom unfolds even further: camp for the full weekend – whether under canvas or in your campervan – and become part of the night-time realm; savour elevated feasts in banquets that now feature an all-new menu and immersive entertainment woven into every course; try your hand at our brandnew leather-craft workshop, crafting a coin pouch, card wallet, glasses case, or even a riveted axe frog; and encounter returning characters with fresh agendas, mysterious motives, and a storyline that evolves across each weekend. Whether you’re joining for a day or staying the weekend, Loxwood Joust offers a festival like no other – where families, friends, and fantasyseekers can truly escape the everyday.
Follow the royal announcements on Instagram @loxwoodjoust
Photo: The Loxwood Joust
Photo: Martin Bamford
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Wednesday 2 July 7:30pm nd
Origami with Charlotte
Come along for a fun, relaxing evening of creativity!
Learn the art of origami—no experience needed.
We'll guide you step-by-step as you fold beautiful paper creations and enjoy great company.
billingshurstbeckwi@wsfwi.co.uk to book your place for £6
Room, Billingshurst Community Centre & Conference Centre, Roman Way, Billingshurst RH14 9QW
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…
July brings with it (we hope!) the promise of warm summer days. It’s also the start of the long summer holiday season as schools break up at the end of the school year. For many in our community, that will bring with it change.
For some, the change will be leaving primary school, and going to a larger secondary school. For others, the change will be leaving school, and going on to further education. For still others, the change will be that of leaving education altogether, and looking for work – no easy matter, given the challenging and uncertain economic climate of today.
Change is an inevitable feature of life, and one that affects us all. It isn’t just tied to specific times and events; it’s a constant feature of life. In his marvellous chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13, St. Paul describes this process of change in these words: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Change is inevitable; we can’t escape it.
even long for it. At other times, we may fear change, and wish that things could stay as they are. But whether we embrace change, or try to shun it, in the end we have to accept that change is part of life, because it is a part of being human.
So how do we cope with that everpresent feature of life, change? Back to St. Paul: he was a man who lived life on the road, going from place to place. Change, and danger, were constant features in his life. For him, his answer was to anchor his life on something he knew to be both sure and unchanging: the love of God. In his letter to the Romans, he says this: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.38-39)
These are words that I have found helpful in facing change; maybe they’ll help you, too.
At times, we might welcome change; we might
Village
David Beal
Tweet Quick Crossword Solution on page 8
QuicheLorraine
A creamy delicacy with very few ingredients, and surprisingly no cheese!
METHOD
1. Sift the flour with a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Grate the chilled butter into the flour. Gently squeeze everything together so the flour combines with the lumps of butter until it looks ‘rough’ – not like breadcrumbs.
2. Sprinkle a little iced water and stir it into the mixture. Continue to add just enough water to bring it into a dough but don’t over mix it, then cover with clingfilm and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
3. Lightly flour the work surface and shape the dough into a rectangle. Roll it out until it’s about three times its original length. Fold the top third over to the centre, then fold the bottom third over the top third, so the dough has three layers. Turn it a quarter turn and roll out again until three times the length, repeat the folding, wrap in clingfilm, and chill for another 20 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven along with a baking tray to 180°C / fan 160° / Gas mark 4. Roll out the chilled pastry and line a deep 20cm diameter tin. Leave an extra couple of centimetres of pastry to overhang the tin for shrinkage. Line with foil (shiny side down) and weight down with baking beads or rice. Place the tin on the baking tray and blind bake in the oven for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and beads. Bake for a further 8 minutes, then brush the base with egg white and put back into the oven for 5 minutes. Carefully trim the overhanging pastry to neaten.
5. Fry the bacon for 8-10 minutes, until cooked through, but not crisp. Drain and spread half over the hot base.
6. Place the cream along with the eggs and yolks into a large bowl with a pinch of salt, and beat together slowly until combined, then give it a fast whisk for 30 seconds until frothy. Fill the cooked pastry case, then sprinkle over the rest of the bacon. Bake for 20 minutes but keep checking – it’s cooked when it puffs up but remains wobbly at the centre. It tastes best at room temperature so allow to cool before serving.
Down: 2, BEAUTY. 3, SQUARE BASHING. 5, HOLE IN THE WALL. 6, REGENT. 7, STAIR. 8, STYLE. 11, TAIL OFF. 14, BLEAK. 15, IN TIME. 16, WICKET. 17, OGLED.
Funerals / Health and wellbeing
Judith Dandy Independent Funeral Director
Dandelion Farewells warmly invites you to contact us if you have any questions about the funeral you need to arrange.
We are committed to enabling families to plan a funeral that is personal, meaningful and affordable. We will support you to create a farewell that is appropriate and unique, thereby taking away much of the strain of planning such a signi昀cant event. We will be with you every step of the way.
Church View, Billingshurst Road Wisborough Green, West Sussex RH14 0DY
Help us deliver exciting improvements for a Better Billingshurst.
Earlier this year councillors at Horsham District Council agreed to spend some £2.5million to deliver exciting new improvements for Billingshurst’s village centre, sports grounds, recreation areas and community buildings. This investment is made up of a £1million contribution from the District Council and £1.5 million in developer contributions from new homes development in the village over recent years.
• Sustainable travel improvements for pedestrians and cyclists
Which facilities do you want to see?
The Council has been working with Billingshurst Parish Council and a range of local community groups to create a shortlist of facilities and improvements to include in our community-wide consultation.
The shortlist of improvement projects includes:
• Improved community meeting facilities
• Improved playing pitch surfaces
• Better facilities at Jubilee Fields such as a new pavilion and changing facilities
• New and improved recreation and play spaces for children and young people. Have your say
Horsham District Council now wants your views on which improvements you would like to see as part of this Better Billingshurst Community Fund and Investment Programme. You have until 21st July 2025 to respond.
More information, including links to the consultation and the eligibility to participate is available at www.horsham.gov.uk/betterbillingshurst
What’s next
Once the consultation findings have been analysed, the recommendation for improvements will be considered by representatives from Horsham District Council, Billingshurst Parish Council and Billingshurst Community Partnership with a view to begin delivering projects from autumn 2025 into 2026 and 2027.
Sarah Hogben, Horsham District Council
Because we work in our clients’ homes, not on building sites, we employ a different breed of builders. Our team are local tradesmen who care about the quality of their work and your home. Cooper Homes are members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen A home we have recently completed. Large photos show front and back of the completed property, small photos show ‘before’ Cooper Homes is a traditional family run local builder with a difference. We specialise in home extensions, from conception to creation
Weald School Greenpower Racing Team
The Weald School Greenpower Racing Team have had a great start to the 2025 season competing in two races at Goodwood, one at Mallory Park and a test for Greenpower at Thruxton.
The first F24 race on a very chilly Sunday in February allowed us to run three of our cars and give some new drivers a chance. We were very pleased with the results, our #2 and #3 cars, Purple Predator and Black Bullet, completed a full race distance and gave us lots of data to work through while our #1car, Bluebird, finished the race on the podium in 2nd place.
We returned to Goodwood in late April with two cars running in the shorter F24+ format (for older drivers). Bluebird ran well finishing 5th while X was further back due to a limit with the gearing. Both cars ran again at Mallory Park finishing ‘best of the rest’ behind the three quick Renishaw Team cars.
Purple Predator ran again at Mallory Park but a slightly aggressive strategy didn’t pay off as the batteries faded too soon and a podium place ran away from us.
Our next race will see a return to the Lotus test track at Hethel in Norfolk with Bluebird and Purple Predator, both cars ran really well there in 2024 and we are
looking forward to another good race. During the Easter holidays we were invited to test the suitability of Thruxton for Greenpower cars. We gave it a huge thumbs up and decided we should have a race track all to ourselves more often! Team Weald is a Greenpower Racing Team that runs as an after-school club for the Weald Secondary School. There are two formulas that we race in: F24 for ages 11-16 and F24+ for ages 1625. The aim of both is to see how far you can get your car to go on a single set of batteries (2 x 12V lead acid). F24 has pit stops and lasts for 1.5 hours, F24+ is a single driver for 1 hour.
The team is run by volunteers with a small budget and we are currently looking for sponsors to support us throughout the season as well as building a new workshop at the Weald to house our cars and support equipment. If you would be interested in learning more about this then please contact cevans@theweald.org.uk.
See Team Weald at www.teamweald.org.uk or on Instagram @teamweald
Thank you to all of our sponsors which includes CEVAC, Forza Cloud and Universal Trailers.
Chris Evans, Greenpower Car Coordinator
Top: Black Bullet Centre: Bluebird Bottom: Purple Predator
Celebrating a Summer of Success
As the summer term draws to a close, we’re excited to share some of the highlights from a fantastic few weeks at school.
Our Year 6 pupils recently returned from their residential trip to Tile Barn, where they spent a fantastic week embracing the great outdoors. The children had a brilliant week learning new outdoor skills, tackling challenges, and stepping out of their comfort zones. They showed courage in abundance and embraced every opportunity with ambition and determination. We couldn’t be prouder of the way they represented our school.
This term also saw our KS1 and KS2 Sports Days take place –always a highlight in the school calendar! The children gave their all in every race, jump and throw, showing great team spirit and a drive to succeed. It was fantastic to see every child taking part with enthusiasm and pride. The competition for the House Cup was fierce, but above all, it was a wonderful display of belonging and encouragement across all year groups.
We were also thrilled to be part of the
Billingshurst Show this term. It was a fantastic opportunity for our school to celebrate our sense of belonging within the wider community. Our choir and dance groups performed with enthusiasm and pride in the main arenas, bringing joy to the audience and showcasing the wonderful talent we nurture in school.
As we prepare to say goodbye to our amazing Year 6 children, we celebrate all they have achieved during their time with us. They have shown ambition, belonging, and courage throughout their journey, and we know they’ll continue to shine as they move on to their next chapter.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome our new Reception children in September. We can’t wait to meet them and begin their learning journey together.
Wishing everyone a restful and sunny summer! Website: www.billingshurstprimary.org.uk Facebook: @billingshurstprimary Instagram: @BillingshurstPrimaryAcademy
“Pupils feel happy in their nurturing and vibrant school. Each morning, confident and resilient pupils arrive eager to start their learning. Forging positive relationships is at the heart of daily life.” Ofsted 2024
At Shipley our rich and exciting curriculum equips children with the skills and knowledge to be lifelong learners. There are high academic expectations but learning is also fun and experiential. Children are nurtured and supported by experienced staff. We make the most of our beautiful and peaceful location by providing meaningful opportunities for learning outside the classroom.
“Leaders create a nurturing culture where people are cherished and supported.” SIAMS 2025
Come and see for yourself what makes Shipley such a special place to learn and grow – we look forward to welcoming you. Call the office team on (01403) 741298 or email office@shipley.w-sussex.sch.uk to book a visit.
Headteacher: Mrs Jen Harvey, School Lane, Shipley, Horsham, RH13 8PL www.shipleyceprimary.com
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vibrant and nurturing co-educational setting from Nursery to GCSE.
To book a tour of the school, please visit our website or contact us on 01483 277313. Taster days and childcare vouchers available. Duke of Kent School, Peaslake Road, Ewhurst, Surrey, GU6 7NS www.dukeofkentschool.org.uk
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• Groundworks • Landscaping
“Very professional, highly skilled carpenters and builders. Attention to detail is remarkable. No hesitation in recommending.” Rachel “Meticulous attention to detail! Over the moon!” Hayley “Extremely impressed. Very high standard. Great attention to detail and take a lot of pride in their work. Highly recommend.” Karen
A Good Read
Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig
Reasons to Stay Alive is a deeply personal memoir that explores the author’s journey through depression and anxiety.
At the age of 24, Haig found himself on the edge of a cliff in Ibiza, contemplating suicide. The book recounts what led him to that moment, and more importantly, what brought him back. Written in a mix of narrative, short reflections, lists, and quotes, it captures the raw, chaotic nature of mental illness while offering hope and perspective. Rather than a linear story, it’s an intimate, fragmented look at surviving the darkest moments, embracing vulnerability, and finding meaning in life again.
Haig writes with striking honesty and simplicity, making complex feelings feel understandable and shared. What sets this book apart is its lack of pretension – there are no grand prescriptions or onesize-fits-all cures, just a gentle, persistent reminder that pain passes. Haig touches on love, literature, and the little things that make life worth living. This isn’t a how-to book – it’s a how-I-did book, and that makes all the difference. Poignant, uplifting, and at times humorous, it’s a must-read for anyone navigating their own darkness or supporting someone who is.
The Grand Hotel of Feelings – Lidia Brankovich
In the award-winning The Grand Hotel of Feelings, Lidia Brankovic invites young readers into an imaginative establishment where emotions are personified as guests, each with their own unique characteristics and needs.
The attentive hotel manager ensures that every feeling, from the boisterous Anger who requires ample space to vent, to the soft-spoken Sadness who occasionally floods the bathroom, is accommodated with care and understanding. The creative narrative serves as a gentle metaphor for acknowledging and managing one’s own emotions, emphasizing that all feelings are valid and transient.
Brankovic’s whimsical illustrations bring each emotion to life with distinctive visual traits that will resonate with readers of all ages, sparking the imagination and prompting further discussions about the nature of feelings. The book is great for reading aloud and provides an accessible entry into discussions on the complexity of emotions, encouraging children to recognise and articulate their own experiences.
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‘My Mother Said I Never Should’ – tickets on sale now!
Billingshurst Dramatic Society are delighted to announce their summer production, a presentation of My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley.
The play is about the relationships between mothers and daughters and explores the sacrifices that each generation makes for the next. Doris, the matriarch, born in 1900, is played by Sue Pollard, who makes a return to the stage after directing the autumn production Make ‘Em Laugh 2. BDS favourite Claire Hiley plays her daughter, Margaret. Rachel Down and Amy Wright make their BDS debuts. Rachel performed as Kitty Fisher at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham for Lights & Bushels, and Amy is studying for A-levels, including Theatre Studies. The production is directed by Ted Gooda Explaining why she chose this particular play, Ted says, “I first saw it more than 30 years ago at the National Theatre and immediately loved its playful theatricality as well as its powerful scrutiny of motherhood. I taught the play to A-level Theatre Studies students for many years, and later to GCSE English Literature students, always hoping that I might one day have the chance to direct it with an adult cast. I’m thrilled to have that opportunity now, and with such a brilliant group of actors. They play four generations of the same family, and we have become like family while rehearsing.”
While it packs an emotional punch, there are plenty of challenges in staging My Mother Said I Never Should. Firstly, the changing time periods; the play moves between 1923 and 1987, taking in the fashions of all those eras. Luckily, Natalie van de Braam and Pamela Rua are heading up the wardrobe department. In addition, the actors all have to play themselves as children at different points in the play. But the complexity of relationships between mothers and daughters is what is at the heart of this story.This is a play which has stood the test of time because the tensions between mothers and daughters repeat themselves. Do women have to choose between career and parenthood?
The play runs from Thursday 17th July to Saturday 19th July at the Women’s Hall. Doors open at 7pm and curtain up at 7.45pm. There are still some tickets available online at billingshurstdramaticsociety.com or in person at Mansell McTaggart Estate Agents in the High Street. Ted Gooda
Photo: Claire Hiley, Rachel Down, Sue Pollard and Amy Wright rehearsing My Mother Said I Never Should
Theatre / About the house
Peter James’ ‘Picture You Dead’
Ore Oduba stars in stage adaptation of Peter James’ ‘Picture You Dead’, Worthing Connaught Theatre, 15th-19th July
Ore Oduba has joined the world premiere tour of Picture You Dead, adapted from the UK’s number one crime writer Peter James’ bestselling novel about Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.
Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba takes on the role of Stuart Piper, an eccentric millionaire art collector who gets tangled up in the dark underworld of stolen art.
Actor and presenter Ore Oduba joins Emmerdale star Fiona Wade. Wade plays Freya Kipling, who naïvely attracts the attention of dodgy dealers after buying a potentially multi-million-pound masterpiece at a car boot sale.
based on Henty – has history with DSI Roy Grace, having previously been nicked for forgery.
One of the nation’s favourite TV doctors George Rainsford, star of Casualty and Call the Midwife, returns to the role of Peter James’ protagonist DSI Roy Grace, which he played in the 2023 hit production of Wish You Were Dead.
Never before seen on stage or screen, Picture You Dead’s story was inspired when Peter James met real-life former master art forger, and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty. Henty was arrested in the 1990s for forging passports and learnt how to copy major artworks while in prison. The character David Hegarty –
Set in Brighton, Picture You Dead – the seventh of Peter James’ bestselling novels to be adapted for the stage – sees DSI Grace investigate a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art, but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a murky underworld of greed, deception and murder.
Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books. I am so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people around the UK who have come to their local theatre and enjoyed the plays over the last ten years. Now that I have seen Picture You Dead performed, I am thrilled to say I think this new play is the best one so far!”
Ore Oduba said: “I’m so excited to become part of the fantastic cast of Picture You Dead. It’s great fun and full of twists and turns, comedy and shocks. I am thrilled to be in it!”
Picture You Dead visits Worthing Connaught Theatre 15th-19th July. For tickets, please visit www.peterjames.com/plays/picture-you-dead Produced by Peter James and JAS Theatricals
Aerial/Satellite Custom Installer
TV Wall Moun ng
NICEIC Domes c Electrician
PAT Tes ng
Electrical Vehicle Charge Points
Replacement Watch Ba eries
Copying of VHS Tapes to DVD
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Freestanding/Built In Ligh ng and Hea ng
Billingshurst Parish Council
Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre Roman Way, Billingshurst, RH14 9QW
Re-opening of The Depot
We need your help
The Parish Council is pleased to announce the re-opening of The Depot, the Council’s own youth community building on the High Street, opposite Rhodes & Sons shoe shop. The Depot is available for hire by community groups within the parish, predominantly with a youth focus. Organisers should contact the Parish Office for bookings and further information.
Jubilee Fields Fishing Lake
After a very dry spring, we would really appreciate help from our residents in keeping an eye on and watering our highway trees planted last year and those planted back in 2020. A map showing locations of the majority of the trees can be found on the NEWSFEED section of the Parish Council website. Any help you can give by watering those trees closest to where you live would be very much appreciated
Billingshurst Activity Day –
Saturday 9th August
Billingshurst Parish Council, supported by the Neighbourhood Wardens and Billingshurst Lions are once again hosting a free Family Activity Day at Jubilee Fields on Saturday 9th August, between 12.00pm-4.00pm. The aim is to give visitors of all ages a taste of some activities to tempt them out of their armchairs and into doing something active and fun! Activities on offer include skateboarding, a climbing wall, bushcraft, dancing, fishing and much much more! Pop it in your diary and come along and try something new, we look forward to seeing you on the day!
Billingshurst Community Transport
Do you have some spare time? Are you able to drive? Do you live in the parishes of Billingshurst, Shipley, Loxwood, Ifold or Plaistow? If so, the Billingshurst Community Transport Scheme need volunteer drivers and would like to hear from you. To find out more about the scheme and see whether you can help, please contact the scheme manager Graeme Acraman on 01403 787696.
Swimming in the lake is DANGEROUS and could result in death or serious illness. It also damages lake life. Swimming in the lake is an OFFENCE as it breaks a local by-law and those caught doing so will be dealt with by the Police. Please call the Police on 101 if you see someone swimming in the lake. Please do not allow your dogs to swim in the lake.
80th Anniversary of VJ Day –15th August
In commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, the Parish Council and the Billingshurst branch of the Royal British Legion have arranged for the RBL Horsham Band to play on Friday 15th August between 7pm and 8.30pm in Station Road Community Gardens. Refreshments will be available but feel free to bring your own picnic and blanket and enjoy what should be a very pleasant evening.
Upcoming Council meetings
All meetings are held at the Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre (normally commencing at 7pm but are occasionally subject to short notice change). Agendas and supporting documents, where applicable, are always posted on the Parish Council’s website www.billingshurst.gov.uk
Upcoming Meetings (July)
1st: Planning & Environment Committee
2nd: Full Council & Trustees
9th: Property Committee
30th: Billingshurst Centre & F&GP Committees
Renegades have aweigh to go!
Expect waves of laughter and a hull of a good time all round as the Renegades and Rascals Youth Clubs have finally taken possession of their first sailing boat.
“It’s fantastically exciting,” says Group Leader Gareth Miller. “Sailing is normally expensive but we can finally begin to offer it as part of the monthly subscription to the club. A Renegade mum had a dinghy she no longer used so offered it to us. Once we have rigged and updated a few bits on it, we’ll be teaching the kids the basics and then we’ll be out on the water!
general session with cooking on Tuesdays (both in Kirdford) – in our last session we made fajitas, salsa and guacamole from scratch. Thursdays are swimming (thanks to the kindness of local supporters) and Sunday is canoeing on the Wey & Arun canal.
“I have loved sailing for most of my life and wanted to share the experience, the importance of teamwork and the camaraderie that goes with the sport with the youngsters, no matter what age. And we’d really appreciate some help – we’d love to hear from anyone with any sailing experience, and who is willing to devote some spare time to work with the kids.”
Thanks to the support of parents, the Hyde Foundation and the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund, the Renegades is back to operating five days out of seven. Mondays are a
Fridays are now general sessions in Alfold. We are also looking into the possibility of running some holiday clubs over the summer, so watch this space!
“The kids are continuing to build the Renegades teepee, which will be used for camping when it is ready,” says Gareth.
“Because of the increase in activities and our ambitions for the children (and to just cover some of the overheads), we have decided to reinstate a subscription of just £5 a month per child (though discounts are available for bigger families) from 1st September.”
The Renegades is a charity and open to all children aged 7 to 18. If you would like a taster session, visit www.renegadesyc.org or ring Gareth on 07801 862550.
Vanda Rumney
Photo: poolside fun!
Loxwood Jazz Club
New season launched!
15th July – Simon Bates Organ Trio featuring Pete Whittaker and Dave Tandy. The trio have been performing at many of the UK’s major jazz clubs over the past 12 months. The repertoire comes from the 1950s and 60s Blue Note era and is guaranteed to get your feet tapping and your mouth smiling!
16th September – Jools
Holland’s lead saxophonist, Derek Nash, and Simon will recreate the unforgettable sound of the albums
Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond recorded together.
21st October – Redtenbacher’s Funkestra; this original Jazz Funk Collective of world class players have clocked up over 10 million streams on Spotify.
18th November – Simon Bates Big Band in November is always a sell out.
16th December – Christmas Party; featuring the amazing vocals of Shane Hampsheir and Crystal Cimaglia.
Doors open at 7.30pm with music starting at 8pm in North Hall, Loxwood RH14 0SF. Tickets £15 available at John Murray Butchers in Loxwood (cash only) or online at: www.loxwoodjazz.co.uk.
If you have any queries or to be added to Simon’s mailing list, please email: tickets@loxwoodjazz.co.uk.
Find out more about Loxwood Jazz from www.loxwoodjazz.co.uk or Facebook: Loxwood Jazz
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SPRAY FOAM REMOVAL FROM £995
IMPORTANT,
This needs to be removed
If spray foam is fitted to your property it can mean that it may be un-mortgageable, meaning when you come to sell your property the new owners may not be able to secure a mortgage due to the spray foam installed between your rafters. If you have spray foam fitted in your roof, if left it can cause rafters and timbers to rot. The spray foam in your roof can be removed by our professional roofing team, rafters will be sanded down and wood filled and treated. Spray foam will be removed from your property and disposed of safely.
Dear homeowner, my name is Cliff and I am the owner of C&S Roofing Specialists Ltd. My team and I are professional roofing contractors. I am a great believer in prevention is better than sure. So my team and I are offering a moss removal service which entails all moss removed and to repoint any defective cement works from the ridge line and re-cement any broken gables, we always allow up to 15 broken or slipped tiles. What this offer ensures is a overall roof clean and minor repairs, all gutters and downpipes will be cleaned once job is finished. This service is from as little as £295 and will 100% prevent you from having large roof repairs or roof replacement.
Summer Reading Challenge
Every year, the Summer Reading Challenge runs in libraries across the country to encourage primary school children to keep reading over the holidays.
We are excited to share that this year’s theme is Story Garden, inspiring a love of reading, nature and exploring the outdoors. It will be launching in all 36 libraries across West Sussex on Saturday 12th July and running until Saturday 13th September.
out for more information in libraries and on our website (see below).
Children aged 4-11 will be asked to read books and complete reading challenges to collect stickers and will receive a special medal and certificate for completing their challenge. We also have the mini challenge for those aged under 4 years.
There’ll be lots of fun activities and events happening throughout the summer too, so look
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No job too small
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Tel: 07742 716698 & 01403 432599
Web: jcplumbingheatingservices.com
We are also looking for volunteers aged 14+ to help us deliver the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge in libraries. You will help families sign up to the challenge online, chat with children about the books they have read, hand out rewards and encourage children to keep reading.
Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenging on the West Sussex Libraries website: https://arena.westsussex.gov.uk/src. Beverley Kinahan, Families and Wellbeing Librarian, Billingshurst Library
The Spaniel Diaries
Icannot believe we are over half way through the year already! The longest day has passed and the evenings are slowly drawing back in! I heard mum grumbling about having to make space at work for the Christmas stock that will be arriving soon. Really?!
On a brighter note we have been having a great summer so far and getting so much walking in. Mum is taking us on a new route every week to try and explore more of the beautiful countryside and coast!
I had to have a drastic haircut this time –mum says as I’m getting older my hair is getting thicker so I had a visit to the groomer and had it clipped, Mum says I look like a puppy again and she loves that she can see all my spots that have been hidden under all my fluff! I do love it though as I’m so much cooler and more comfortable and Mum says I dry off so much quicker after my dips in the stream! I also think she can see whether I’m putting on weight more easily –that was sneaky of her!
removed most of its stuffing too – still never mind, it means I will get an upgrade to a brand new one!
The garden is really bursting with life at the moment. Mum has put netting over the peas as she caught me pulling them off the stems and eating them – I am only being healthy and getting some of my five a day! The flowers are also looking very pretty so I must encourage Goose to pull the heads off them again and get him into trouble again – he’s already in trouble as Mum caught him eating my blankie! She had the feeling Goose was just too quiet and found him in full chewing mode having eaten an entire corner of my favourite blankie and
I have had the indignity of having to have my ears cleaned out. Mum noticed I was scratching them and discovered I had some wax build-up so I was immediately hauled indoors for a full ear clean and drops put in to treat me for ear mites as it’s quite common for us spaniels to get them because of our big droopy ears; the air doesn’t get in and creates a moist warm environment that mites thrive in. After my ear drops I made sure to hurl myself around and give my ears a good rub on the floor just so Mum got the idea that I don’t enjoy the drops at all even though I’m a really good boy while she pops them in my ears. Goose got a maintenance treatment too, even though he tried to slink off and hide in the garden!
We are soon having a trip to the doggy hotel as Mum and Dad are going away for a few days to celebrate Dad’s birthday and it involves something called flying so we are not allowed to go. We do have so much fun at the doggy hotel though – I can bark without being told off for a start and we love to have a run in the big paddock. Goose loves running really fast and using up his energy! We also get made a real fuss of and given delicious treats so it’s not a bad life at all – although I don’t think my blankie will survive if Goose gets hold of it again!
Until next time, Billy. Jeannette Douglas
Sun 6th July | 12pm - 5pm www.plantfairsroadshow.co.uk
The South East’s best specialist nurseries roadshow coming to Parham House & Gardens
As summer arrives and the days stretch long into the evening, our gardens become more than just places to grow plants – they become outdoor living rooms, perfect for barbecues, garden parties or simply unwinding with a drink at sunset. Whether we have a sprawling lawn or a compact courtyard, with a few thoughtful touches, we can transform our space into a welcoming haven perfect for outdoor gatherings.
Set the scene with lighting. Good lighting is key to creating atmosphere once the sun goes down. Think soft, warm glow rather than harsh overhead illumination. Solar-powered fairy lights strung along fences or pergolas add instant magic, while lanterns or LED candles on tables create a cosy, flickering ambiance. For a touch of rustic charm, drape festoon lights across trees or between posts. If you want something more permanent, consider solar path lights to guide guests around the garden, or uplighting to highlight feature plants or architectural elements. And consider a firepit –a central focal point that provides warmth, light, and a place to gather. Bring colour and life with container planting. Container gardening is an easy and versatile way to add beauty and personality to your outdoor space. Group pots of varying heights around your seating area to soften the edges and add lushness. Aromatic herbs like rosemary and lavender work particularly well, alongside bright blooms like geraniums and petunias. Add texture with ferns ornamental grasses.
large container. It will help define the space and give it structure. Hanging baskets and vertical planters are also great options for smaller gardens or balconies.
To keep your containers looking their best through the season, use high-quality compost, water them regularly, and deadhead faded flowers to encourage new blooms.
Furniture that’s stylish and functional. The right garden furniture can elevate your outdoor entertaining experience. If you’re short on space, foldable or stackable pieces are ideal. A simple bistro set is perfect for morning coffee or an intimate evening chat. For larger gatherings, opt for a dining table with comfortable chairs, or a modular sofa that can be reconfigured as needed. Don’t forget comfort. Add outdoor cushions, throws, or even a rug to bring indoor warmth outside. Choose weather-resistant fabrics and materials like rattan, teak, or powder-coated metal for durability.
If you entertain often, consider a barbecue / cooking area. A drinks trolley, ice bucket or outdoor bar shelf adds a touch of sophistication and keeps refreshments within easy reach. Final touches. Potted candles, a wireless speaker for soft background music, and garden games for guests are all great choices. Ultimately, a welcoming garden is one that feels like an extension of your home – relaxed, beautiful and ready to be enjoyed.
If you have the space and the budget consider a small tree such as an olive tree or bay laurel in a
NPTC City & Guilds Qualified Fully Insured 07732 668518
Make hay while the sun shines
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.
Dear reader,
It’s July folks. And with summer very much here this is the time where we start to think that the summer holiday we’ve booked is at last within reach.
For the farmer it’s the month when that first crop of the year is ready to harvest… the hay crop. I say with luck because this year the incredibly dry April and May months have put a rather big spanner in the works. The grass just does not want to grow after a quick graze in the early part of the year. Normally the cattle and sheep would get a quick feed after the cold of winter, then be moved on so that the fields can recover and produce the lush grass and herbage for a sweet hay crop. This year those wonderful two months of dry sunshine has produced a dilemma for many farmers. Not just on the hay crop either. Early potatoes and cereal crops are suffering as they struggle to find the water that’s so necessary to get a good start to the season. Doubly so on the lighter soils that dry out so quickly for young growing roots to find the moisture they seek.
less reliant on sweat and muscle. Our original cutting machine required two people for a start. One to drive the tractor, me, and one to ride the bouncing beast (see picture), that was Doreen… my wife! It had originally been a horse-drawn machine that had been adapted to tractor power. This thankfully was later replaced by a three-point linkage machine that needed only the driver, although it still cut the grass by the long fingerboard cutter blades. Those blades were something else!
In my younger days we aimed to cut the first field for hay around the end of the first week of June. There was a practical reason for this date. I’ve mentioned the farm before, over at Wisborough Green, the lovely Amblehurst Farm, then owned by Captain Masters. It was a mixed farm in that it had a milking herd of lovely Jersey cows and extensive apple orchards running alongside. So the workloads of the season had to be worked around the two enterprises. This was especially evident at hay making time. Planning the first cut of hay around the 12th of June allowed a five-week window to be opened up to get the whole crop cut, dried and stored. The dates were important as it allowed us to take our two-week holiday break before the first pick of delicious Worcester Pearmain were ready to supply the first early harvest of English apples onto the wholesale markets.
Hay making in those days was a far more labour intensive job than nowadays. Modern cutting machines and those huge round bales have made the task much
A five-foot bar along which were attached triangle sections of sharpened blades, each one held fast by two rivets which could be quickly replaced by a sharp blow and a speedy re-riveting if damaged. These reciprocated between long pointed fingers like a giant hair trimmer! It was rather hypnotising watching the tall grass fall over the chattering cutter bar, and as it fell there would always be the wagtails, darting in to catch the insects that rose from the fallen stems. The biggest hold up I always found was the blasted field mice nests that would get stuck on the end of the fingers, blocking the passage to the sharp blades and causing a row of uncut grass to be left like a green waving line behind the mower. So I would have to stop the tractor, climb down and cursing softly, clear the nest from the fingers while avoiding putting my own too near the blades. Old Captain Masters would then at some point come out and inspect the amount of lines of uncut grass decorating the field; he’d puff out his little mustache, take off his hat and rub his head, and then leave the field without saying a word. He didn’t need to!
Once cut and left to dry a little in the June sunshine it was turned and with luck dried enough to turn into those small oblong bales before any rain could spoil the quality of the hay. Then it was the heavy but rewarding task of humping the bales onto the trailer and stacking it safely into the barn ready for the winter feed for the cows.
Sorry for the ramble but it’s just funny how something like the warm spell we had this spring can bring back so many memories from so long ago, and how hard backbreaking work can suddenly be remembered as all sunshine and laughter!
John Nash
07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk
What’s On near you
What’s On – July
Every MonKnit & Natter. Billingshurst Library. 10.30am-midday. Open to anyone that likes to knit, crochet, sew and chat! Meet new friends, swap tips and ideas. No need to book. All ages and abilities welcome. Further info: drop in or call Bev at Billingshurst Library on (01403) 783145
Every Mon Horsham Matters Hub on the Move Foodbank. Billingshurst Library car park, 10-11.30am
Every MonTable Tennis. St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst. 2-4pm. A sociable group for all ages. Includes tea & biscuits normally. Suggested donation to church funds £3 per session. Tony, tel: (01403) 783496
Every MonBOOSTfit Horsham. The Forest School, Comptons Lane, RH13 5NT. Judgement & pressure free fitness for all. Clare Lawton, tel: 07983 976 601 or e-mail: clareboostfit@outlook.com. www.boostfit.com
Every MonSeniors Coffee Club. St Mary’s Room, Billingshurst. 10.30am-12 noon. (No meetings August.) Coffee & homemade cake, chatter & laughter, and often armchair exercises! A great way to start the week and make new friends. The Community Minibus is available if transport is needed. New members very welcome! More info: (01403) 786706 for more information
Every MonIggy’s at The Nest. Trinity United Reformed Church, Billingshurst. 10am-12pm. Midwife-led family drop-in group, supported by qualified volunteers. Skilled breastfeeding support. We welcome babies to crawler/cruisers. Come and meet local new mums for tea, cake and a chat. Free but donations are very welcome. Weekly updates on Facebook: www.facebook.com/share/yrArMPFMBGx1NksW
Every MonChair Yoga. Billingshurst Community Centre. 10-11am. For those who want to feel the benefits of yoga, but from a chair! All welcome. £10. Sue, tel: 07716 350584 or e-mail sue@yogawithsue.co.uk
Every Mon Billingshurst Men’s Shed. Station Road Gardens. 10am. Part of the Men’s Shed movement, we are a Tues & Weds group of men AND women who meet to talk, drink tea and coffee, make and repair things. Contact & 1st Sat Keith Witt, Chairman, tel: (01403) 785821 or e-mail: billimensshed@outlook.com
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 MonWisborough 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 MonHorsham Bridge Club. Face-to-Face 1.30pm. 22a East Street, Horsham, RH12 1HL. Graham & Weds Walker, tel: (01403) 734156. www.horshambridge.co.uk
Every Mon Zumba with Michelle Vorster. Monday at Kelsey Hall, Ifold, RH14 0UD, 6pm. Wednesday at North Hall & Weds Loxwood, RH14 0SF, 6pm. Zumba takes the ‘work’ out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for a calorie-burning dance fitness party for all to enjoy. Pre-book only: bookwhen.com/ michellevorster. Facebook: Zumba with Michelle Vorster. E-mail: Michelle77.zumba@gmail.com
Every Mon Clubbercise with Hayley. Mon: Dial Post Village Hall, RH13 8NH; Thurs: St Gabriel’s Church Hall, & Thurs Billingshurst. 7.45-8.30pm. Aerobic exercise class for all fitness levels, 16 and over. Darkened room with flashing disco lights and music (90s to now). Pre-bookings only: bookwhen.com/clubbercisehayleym. Updates: facebook.com/clubbercisewithhayley
Every TuesChair Yoga. Kelsey Hall, Ifold. 2.30-3.30pm. For those who want to feel the benefits of yoga, but from a chair! All welcome. £10. Sue, tel: 07716 350584 or e-mail sue@yogawithsue.co.uk
Every Tues Billingshurst Short Mat Bowls. Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre. 2-4pm
Every Tues Billingshurst Choral Society Practice. Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre. 7.30-9.45pm. New members welcome. Tel: Keith Paul on 07989 412997
Every TuesStitch & Knit. We meet in Billingshurst. 7-9.30pm. Welcoming & helpful, just bring your project. No fees. Sarah, tel: 07817 699865 for meeting venue details
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 TuesWalking 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 TuesBOOSTfit Billingshurst. Billingshurst Leisure Centre, RH14 9RY. Judgement & pressure free fitness for all. Clare Lawton, tel: 07983 976 601 or e-mail: clareboostfit@outlook.com. www.boostfit.com
Every Tues Drop in Baby Zone! St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst. 1.30-3pm. Space to meet other parents/carers & their babies (under 1yr. Free. Booking not required. Email: Emma babies@stmarysbillingshurst.org
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 Horsham Bridge Club. Online BBO 7pm & Face-to-Face 7.15pm. 22a East Sreet, Horsham RH12 1HL & Thurs Graham Walker, tel: (01403) 734156. www.horshambridge.co.uk
Every Tues Pétanque Club. Shipley Football Ground, 10.15 for 10.30am start (*spring/summer/autumn, Friday, 6.30pm) & Fri* Coffee after. Equipment provided. All ages and abilities. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Tel: Russell, 07803 259190 or email: info@HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org
Every Weds Blue Idol Open Day. Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House, Oldhouse Lane, RH13 8QP. 10am-1pm. Discover Mar-Oct local history and spend time in this peaceful place. www.blueidol.org. Tel: (01403) 740039
Every WedsHorsham 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 WedsThe Millennium Bridge Club. Storrington Village Hall, 1.30-4.30pm. All abilities. Please contact: Barbara: (01903) 741365 or daisy.campling@btinternet.com
Every WedsLine dancing. St Gabriel’s Church Hall. Improvers 6-7.15pm, intermediates 7.15-9.30pm. Details from Maureen, tel: 07774 828282
Every WedsBillingshurst Bell Ringing practice. St Mary’s Church, Billingshurst. 7.30-9.15pm. New learners and visitors welcome, just turn up. For information, phone Alison on (01403) 588181
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
What’s On near you
Every Weds Billingshurst Rock Choir. Billingshurst Community Centre. 7.30-9pm, term times. No experience required. A friendly choir singing upbeat pop, rock & Motown. Book a FREE taster session at www.rockchoir.com
Every WedsLoxwood Bridge for Fun. North Hall, Loxwood. 2pm. For more information contact Gina Moore, tel: (01403) 751722 or e-mail: ginamoore@btopenworld.com
Every evenBilliUke: Billingshurst’s Own Ukulele Jam! The Kings Arms, 7 for 7.30pm start. If you already have week, Weds a 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. Meetings: billiuke.com/ev.php
Every ThursStitch & 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 Wildlife walkabouts. RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve, Wiggonholt, RH20 2EL. 10am-12 noon. £8 per person (£2.50 for RSPB members). (01798) 875851. www.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks
Every Thurs Clubbercise with Hayley. St Gabriel’s Church Hall, Billingshurst. 7.45-8.30pm. Aerobic exercise class for all fitness levels16 and over. Darkened room with flashing disco lights and music (90s to now). Pre-bookings only: bookwhen.com/clubbercisehayleym. Latest updates: facebook.com/clubbercisewithhayley
Every Thurs HDC Health Walk. Billingshurst (2). Meet 11am, Library car park, Billingshurst (TQ086260). Parking free with annnual permit or 75p per hour. 2¼ miles, flat, easy. 1 hour. Chris (01403) 782745. All HDC walks are guided, free and sociable. Led by trained volunteers; no need to book, just turn-up
Every Thurs Crafts and Natter group. The Chapel, Spy Lane, Loxwood, RH14 0SQ. 11am-3pm
Every 1st & ‘We Care’ meeting for carers and people with dementia. Glebe Centre, Ewhurst, GU6 7PY. 10.30am3rd Thurs 12.30. Refreshments, friendship, chat & activities. Carol: 07775 865125 or carol@highedser.co.uk
Every Fri VMA Dance classes for children 2-18yrs. Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. Classes in Ballet, Street Dance & Contemporary. Free Trial available then £5pw pre-booked. 07879 773705 www.vmadance.co.uk
Every FriBillingshurst Bowling Club Just behind Station Road Gardens welcomes you to come and try the Apr-Sep game of Lawn Bowls. No previous experience required, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm with refreshments after, just turn up or call Barry on 07858 407537
Every Sat Dempsey School of Irish Dancing for children aged 5+. Billingshurst Community Centre. 9 & 10am. Nicola, e-mail: dempseyirishdance@gmail.com
Every Sun Sussex Sunday Walkers offer led walks every Sunday throughout the year. For more information please view our website www.sussexsundaywalkers.org.uk or email wealdmen@hotmail.com
Every SunThe Emmanuel Fellowship meet every Sunday at ‘The Chapel’, Spy Lane, Loxwood, RH14 0SQ. 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 ATTEND ANY OF THE REGULAR ENTRIES (ABOVE) AND FOUND THEM TO BE NO LONGER ACTIVE PLEASE LET VILLAGE TWEET KNOW
1 Jul Billingshurst Ladies Who Latte group. Sir Roger Tichborne, Alfold. Every 1st Tuesday, 9.45-11.45am. Networking group for female business owners. Share, support, learn & have fun with other entrepreneurs. £5
1 Jul Billingshurst Community Bridge Club. Meets 1st Tuesday of each month, venue varies and depends on numbers, contact Jan Buttinger, e-mail: janbuttinger@gmail.com
1 Jul The Arts Society West Sussex lecture by Charlie Waite: ‘Influences in Photography – Landscape photography is a way of life and expression’ Fittleworth Village Hall. Doors open 1.15, lecture 2pm followed by tea and coffee Visitors (£10) most welcome. Contact Gilly Myers, tel: 07805 731663 or email: westsussex@theartssociety.org www.theartssocietywestsussex.org
1 Jul Parish Council Planning & Environmental Committee meeting. Billingshurst Centre. 7pm
2 Jul The Arts Society South Downs lecture by Richard Whincop: ‘Sicily: Cultural Crossroads’ Fittleworth Village Hall, EH20 1JB. 10.45am (preceded by coffee at 9.50am). Members free, visitors, £8. (No booking required.) Further details: www.theartssocietysouthdowns.org.uk or tel: (01798) 813314
2 Jul Parish Council Full Council & Trustees meeting. Billingshurst Centre. 7pm
2 Jul Billingshurst Beck WI: ‘Origami with Charlotte’ Stanley Room, Billingshurst Centre, Roman Way, 1st Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. Free for WI members, non-members most welcome, £6. For more information email: billingshurstbeckwi@wsfwi.co.uk. See page 6
3 Jul Arts Society Rudgwick lecture: ‘Downton to Gatsby:Jewellery and Fashion’ by Andrew Prince. Village Hall. 10.45am (coffee 10am). Visitors welcome, donation from £8 (payable at the door). Please contact Lyn Betts, tel: (01403) 822649 or email: bettslyn@btinternet.com in advance as limited seating
3 Jul Reading Friends. Billingshurst Library. 10.30-11.30am. Are you interested in meeting new friends, having a good chat and sharing your love of books? Everyone welcome, just turn up. Tel: (01403) 783145
3 Jul Wisborough Green Evening WI. Wisborough Green Village Hall. 7.45pm. Every first Thursday. Visitors welcome for taster session. Please contact wisboroughgreenWI@wsfwi.co.uk for details
5 Jul Craft and Chat Group. Unitarian Chapel, Billingshurst. Every 1st Saturday, 12.15-3.45pm. Bring your own project. Refreshments on offer. Tel: (01403)785116
5 Jul Community Gardening Day. Station Road Gardens. Drop-in any time between 9.30am-1pm. Weeding, dead-heading & general tidying. Refreshments for all helpers. Mens Shed will also be open
6 Jul Plant Fairs Roadshow. Parham House & Gardens, Pulborough TH20 4HR. 12-5pm. See page 27
8 Jul Concert: Beethoven Trio in B-flat major and more. Cranleigh Arts Centre. 8pm. Rosemary Taylor (clarinet), Jennifer Janse (cello) and Richard Saxel (piano). Free admission. cranleigharts.org
9 Jul Parish Council Property Committee meeting. Billingshurst Centre. 7pm
9 Jul Messy Church! Billingshurst Community Centre. 3.45-5.45pm. 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. Contact Beth at St Mary’s for more information, e-mail: familyworker@stmarysbillingshurst.org. www.messychurch.org.uk
10 Jul Billingshurst WI Talk by Stuart Flitton about his career in journalism Community Centre, Roman Way. 1.30pm. WI members enjoy interesting speakers, making new friends and socialising in each other’s company. Visitors welcome, £5. Tel: (01403) 257531
10 Jul Billingshurst Weald Probus Club men’s group meeting. Stanley Room, Community Centre. 10 for 10.15am12 noon. Every 2nd Thurs except Dec. Alan Galer, tel: 07956 443228 or email: alan.galer@btinternet.com
What’s On near you / Accountancy
11 Jul Billingshurst and District Wine and Beer Circle meeting. Circle meets 2nd Friday (except August) at St Gabriel’s Hall, East Street, 8pm. New members welcome. Contact Donna Townsend, secretary, e-mail: billywineandbeer@gmail.com or via Facebook. www.billingshurstwineandbeercircle.com
12 Jul Barns Green Primry School Summer Fair / 10th Birthday Party. 12-3pm. £1. See page 6
12 Jul Billingshurst Dementia Café. United Reformed Church Hall, Second and fourth Saturday of every month (December 2nd Sat only), from 10am-12pm. Please join us for tea, coffee & cake. All welcome
12 Jul Blue Idol Open Day. Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House, Oldhouse Lane, RH13 8QP. 2nd Sat, April-October, 10am-1pm. Discover local history & spend time in this peaceful place. www.blueidol.org. Tel: (01403) 740039
13 Jul William Penn Primary School, Coolham Summer Fair. 11am-2pm. Inflatables, Carbon Copy live band, barbecue and more! £1 entry (children free)
14 Jul Billingshurst & District Probus Club is a social group of retired and semi-retired business people –ladies and gentlemen welcome. Monthly meetings in Loxwood’s North Hall every second Monday 10.30 for 11.00am with a talk by an invited speaker. Monthly walks with pub lunch, and a range of other activities and events. Email mike.gibbs009@gmail.com for details
15 Jul St Mary’s Guild Members’ Meeting. St Mary’s Room, East Street, Billingshurst. 10.30am. We are a friendly women’s group and we welcome visitors. Beryl Peacock (01403) 782835
15 Jul Loxwood Jazz Club: Jools Holland’s lead saxophonist, Derek Nash and Simon Bates. Village Hall. Doors open 7.30pm. With candle-lit tables and a licensed bar, it has a very intimate atmosphere with international standard jazz. Tickets £15 from Peter Winney, tel: (01403) 752377. For more info and to purchase tickets online visit www.loxwoodjazz.co.uk. See page 23
15-19 Jul Worthing Connaught Theatre: Peter James’ ‘Picture You Dead’. Stage adaptation of crime author Peter James’ novel. Tickets: www.peterjames.com/plays/picture-you-dead. See page 19
16 Jul Billingshurst Horticultural Society Outing: Loseley Park, Artington, Surrey. Depart 11.30am Library Car Park. Residence of the More-Molyneux family, a large Tudor house with beautiful gardens. Mrs S Wells, tel: (01403) 784159
18 Jul Billingshurst Film Night. ‘Ocean’ . Billingshurst Conference & Community Centre. 7pm for 7.30pm start. Refreshments, raffle and sales table – proceeds go to the Midhurst Macmillan Service. Tickets £8 from www.touringcinema.com or Austens Home Hardware, 48-52 High Street or on the door
19 Jul Cranleigh Art & Crafts Society Demonstration by Gabriel Chanan: ‘Discovering Light of Space’. The Band Room, Village Way, Cranleigh GU6 8AF. 2.30pm. Visitors welcome £5. Info: info@caacs.co.uk
19 Jul Weald Fest. The Weald School, Billingshurst. 11am-5pm. Brilliant family day. £1 entry (kids free).
20 Jul Billingshurst Artisan Market. Six Bells car park. 9.30am-1.30pm. Local foods and crafts
21 Jul Billingshurst Lions Club Meeting. Sports Pavilion, Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. 7.30pm. For information about the Club contact Viv Diggens on (01403) 752968 or call in at the Lions Bookshop, Jengers Mead
21 Jul Laughter Yoga Club. Unitarian Hall (side door), Billingshurst, RH14 9QS. (Park Lakers Mead.) 1-2pm. £6. Boosts seratonine and nervous systems & improves wellbeing! Non-profit-making club. All welcome. Contact Linda, tel: 07806.327917, email: lstevenson201854@gmail.com
24 Jul Sing for Pleasure. (4th Thursday except December: 3rd Thursday.) 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
26 Jul Billingshurst Dementia Café. United Reformed Church Hall, Second and fourth Saturday of every month (December 2nd Sat only), from 10am-12pm. Please join us for tea, coffee & cake. All welcome
26 Jul Family Fun Day. The Six Bells, Billingshurst. 12pm till late. See page 5
26 Jul Pulborough Village Market. (4th Saturday except December: 2nd Saturday.) Pulborough Village Hall, Swan View, RH20 2BF. 9am-12 noon. Fresh produce, bread, local honey, plants, local crafts and much more. Café serving a full English breakfast, tea/coffee and cakes. Free entry. Please like us on Facebook. Tel: 07946 069998, e-mail: mpcbillingshurst@gmail.com
26 Jul An Evening with Kerry Ellis. Cranleigh Arts Centre. 7.30pm. A unique opportunity to get up close to one of the most famous and influential leading stars of Broadway and the West End. Tickets £30 Stalls, £22.50 Side Balconies: (01483) 278000 (Tues-Sat 10am-4pm) or visit cranleigharts.org
30 Jul Parish Council Billingshurst Centre & F&GP Committees meetings. Billingshurst Centre. 7 & 7.30pm 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
Community / Aircraft noise / Pest control
Date Time Trip Description
Tuesday 1st 10.00am Lewes Scenic Drive
Wednesday 2nd 10.00am Chichester Market Day
Thursday 3rd 9.00am Horsham & Sainsbury’s
Thursday 3rd 2.30pm Lidl
Friday 4th 10.00am East Grinstead & Museum
Tuesday 8th 11.00am Old Barn Garden Centre for Lunch
Wednesday 9th 9.30am Nymans House and Garden. Free to NT members, £20 non-NT
Thursday 10th 9.00am Horsham & Sainsbury’s
Thursday 10th 13.30pm Tesco
Tuesday 15th 10.00am Polesden Lacey House incl Dress to Impress. Free to NT members, £17, non-NT
Thursday 17th 9.00am Horsham & Sainsbury’s
Thursday 17th 13.30pm Tesco
Tuesday 22nd 9.00am Exploring South Downs Beachy Head for Lunch. All day Excursion
Wednesday 23rd 10.00am Worthing and Haskins
Thursday 24th 9.00am Horsham and Sainsbury’s
Thursday 24th 2.30pm Lidl
Friday 25th 10.00am Chichester Canal Basin and Shopping
Monday 28th 10.00am Littlehampton
Tuesday 29th 09.00am Eastbourne
Wednesday 30th 13.00pm Hilliers Garden Centre
Thursday 31st 9.00am Horsham & Sainsbury’s
Thursday 31st 13.30pm Tesco
Lions Presidency passes from father to son
Billingshurst & District Lions Club’s President, Paul Roberts, recently had the pleasure of welcoming his son Dominic as incoming President for the new Lions year from the 1st July; a succession possibly unique within the Lions organisation. In handing over the Chain of Office, Paul said it had been an honour to fulfil the role of President for the past twelve months, having previously held the position in 1985/86 and again in 2004/05.
“I was aware of some good things going for us; our Bookshop was as popular as ever and we ran successful fundraising events like the Charity Golf Day, Car Boot Sales, the Easter Prize Draw, and helping Santa with his Carol tours at Christmas, allowing us to meet regularly to discuss requests for financial support. We have a good relationship with ten local primary schools and at Ingfield Manor, through our liaison Lions.
District), regular postings on Facebook and monthly Press Releases, kindly published in the local village and parish magazines such as Village Tweet, online at YourWorld/SussexWorld and in the County Times.”
Looking to the coming year, Dominic says, “It’s gratifying that we now have twelve new members, men and women, key to the Club’s future; but, with many still working and having young families, I recognise that family and friends are the most important things in life, then job, then Lions. I am looking forward to working with members old and new, providing a blend of experience and new ideas for the continuing success of Billingshurst Lions”.
Follow Billingshurst Lions on Facebook and www.billingshurstlions.org
“But there were a number of things we needed to work at. With an expanding ‘District’ and more homes in the area, I was keen to improve awareness of our Lions Club in the locality. This we have achieved by developing our website (recently winning the accolade of Best Website in our Lions South East
Harvey Holmes – Press Officer, Billingshurst & District Lions Club
ADVERTISERS INDEX July 2025
Photo: Paul Roberts, immediate Past President, welcoming his son Dominic as the new President of Billingshurst Lions Club
