The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 1 The Chronicle for April-May 2014 - Page 2
From the Editorial Team . . .
It was the first day of Spring last Thursday, 20th March, and British Summer Time began on Sunday 30th March. Ten days seems rather short for what is perhaps the most joyous season of the year, but if our gardens are anything to go by, Mother Nature has ignored these recommendations and our bulbs have sprung to life and the blossom is in its glory, far earlier than we saw last year. Judging by the news we have not been as badly affected as some by the adverse weather conditions of the Winter. However, as I write, both churches in the Parish are undergoing repairs on the damage inflicted over time. These beautiful buildings provide a spiritual and a social focus for our villages and it is essential that they are not only maintained, but allowed to evolve in order to meet the changing needs of our community. We are looking forward to a number of exciting activities and events taking place in the next couple of months and on into the Summer, including the Open Garden Trail, the West Hoathly Masquerade Ball in June and the West Hoathly Street Fair in July. Some of these will be to support the Church and others to support good causes both in the community and further afield—for further information, please read on! Finally, the annual subscription for the Chronicle will be due when the next issue of the magazine comes out, so please be ready with your subs! With best wishes for a very Happy Easter. From Anne, Kathy, Marion, Kate and Janet
THE CHRONICLE
is published six times a year by St. Margaret's Church, West Hoathly for the benefit of the communities of West Hoathly, Sharpthorne and Highbrook. The publication is edited, printed and distributed entirely within the parish by a dedicated team of volunteers. We welcome reports of regular and one-off events and meetings, notices of forthcoming activities, reminiscences, poems, line drawings, short stories, individual viewpoints, letters, information and news of other matters. Items for inclusion should be sent by e-mail to all five editors; typed or short handwritten items can also be delivered to any of the editors.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT ANY ARTICLES SUBMITTED. THE EDITORIAL TEAM: Anne Thorne, Chiddinglye Farmhouse, West Hoathly RH19 4QS Tel: 01342 810338 e-mail: [email protected] Kathy Brown, Ashurst, Bulldogs Bank, Sharpthorne, RH19 4PH Tel: 01342 811866 e-mail: [email protected] Marion Jones, 6 Glenham Place, Top Road, Sharpthorne, RH19 4HU Tel: 01342 810143 e-mail: [email protected] Kate Wiseman, Dalingridge Place, Chilling Street, Sharpthorne, RH19 4JB Tel: 01342 810411 email: [email protected] Janet Mills Pierce, Ivy Cottage, North Lane, West Hoathly, RH19 4QG Tel: 01342 811621 email: [email protected]
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION ADVERTISING & SMALL ADS Goo Coomber at 01342 810298 leads the production Sue Billings at 01342 810049 handles boxed business team, collating all copies in the church on the Thurs- advertisements, which can be included for £30 annu- day afternoon before publication. ally, and also the Small Ads, which cost £1 per issue Rosemary Watson at 01342 810800 heads the team for two lines of copy. of distributors, and she can arrange for the Chronicle Inclusion of an advertisement does not imply any to be form of delivered to your home, or posted to you. Some
The Cover Next Issue Many thanks to Tilly Whitlam for the cover of The next issue of the Chronicle will cover the months this issue of the Chronicle. Please keep those of creative ideas and artwork coming! June and July 2014. Latest date for the submission of The Chronicle for April - May 2014 - Page 3
Dear Friends, power lies not in the words, but in millions and I love the words at the beginning of the Prayer millions of Christians over twenty centuries for for Thanksgiving on Easter Sunday morning: whom it has been/is true. Not least those who have faced martyrdom, rather than deny it. The Lord is here! His spirit is with us! The Resurrection is true because we, the local Every time I say this sentence, I remind myself Christian community, regularly experience the that the local Christian community gathered for Risen Lord Jesus Christ. He is present: worship is evidence of the Resurrection. It is there that the transforming power of Christ’s As He promised, “wherever two or three Resurrection has taken root and is growing. It meet together in my name, there I am in will be one of the main means whereby non- the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20) Christians can encounter the Risen Christ. Making himself known to us through the Scriptures and the breaking of bread There is a simple song which points to the (Luke 24:35) Resurrection as powerfully as that of the empty tomb of the first century: It’s in this local Christian community, where the focus is on the Resurrection, that Christ meets He lives! He lives! with us and we with him. It is where we are Christ Jesus lives today. nourished by the Word and the sacrament, He walks with me, where we receive new life, forgiveness of our And he talks with me, sins and victory over death. From here we go Along Life’s narrow way. out to live our everyday lives, knowing the He lives! He lives! presence of the risen Christ. Christ, by his Salvation to impart! resurrection has made all this and more You ask me how I know he lives? possible. He lives within my heart. The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed!
Its The Apostle Peter preaching about Easter says this:
“God raised him (Jesus Christ) from the dead!”
That’s the glorious truth about the
Resurrection.
Sue joins me in wishing you all a very happy a n d blessed Easter.
Ven, Lionel Whatley Vicar of All Saints Highbrook and St. Margaret’s West Hoathly
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 - Page 4
HIGHLIGHTS OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AT ST. MARGARET’S, WEST HOATHLY & ALL SAINTS’, HIGHBROOK
APCM’S (Annual Parochial Church Meetings) were held for both churches in March: St. Margaret’s was held on Sunday 23rd March after the 10 am service. Marion Jones and Erica Ansell were appointed Church Wardens, Derek Shurvell stood down as Deanery Synod Rep, there are now
two vacancies as no replacements were proposed. Lionel presented the activities of the church and thanked all for their support and help. Trevor From our records Swainson presented the annual accounts and highlighted the reduction in planned giving caused in Funeral Services: part by the death of some principal donors, a Laura Elizabeth Wright: reduction in the fees received for weddings and Her cremation took place at Worth Crematorium on funerals and a “quiet” year for fund raising events. Monday 24th February. Peter Johnson presented a brief report on the Brian Emile Couchy: proposed plans for the provision of additional A Service of Thanksgiving was held at Lindfield facilities. United Reform Church on Thursday 6th March Ex Officio members: followed by cremation at Brighton Crematorium. Vicar: Lionel Whatley Brian’s ashes were interred in St Margaret’s Reader: Nigel Dunsmore-Rouse churchyard on Tuesday 11th March. His Memoriam Churchwardens: Marion Jones & Erica Ansell appears later in this issue of the Chronicle. Deanery Synod Rep: Valerie Fyans, (2 vacancies) Jasmine Grace Young: Lay Members: Peter & Margaret Brewster’s granddaughter, who Carolyn Bentley—Secretary sadly died on 7th March. Her funeral was on Trevor Swainson—Treasurer Monday 17th March (her 9th birthday) in the Chapel Sheila Chapman—Child Protection Officer at Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery, Morden. Her Tim Baker, Ingrid Sethi, Derek Shurvell, Lindsay Memoriam appears later in this issue. Shurvell, Cathy Merry, Simon Chalk, Christine Sir Tom Chitty: Greystone, Peter Johnson and Margaret Watson. Died on Monday 10 March at Acorn Lodge. His funeral was held at West Grinstead on Friday 21 All Saints at Highbrook was held on Wednesday March and afterwards a “cheerful gathering” at Bow 19th March at 8pm. Cottage. His Memoriam appears later in this issue. Churchwardens:Tony Osborne and Hugh Bennett, Treasurer: Simon Witheridge Baptisms: Secretary: Molly Cooper Hugo John Dyer Field: Lay Members: Rory Clarke and Despina Edge Was baptised at St Margaret’s on Sunday 2nd Monica Moore has resigned after many years service. February. Lloyd Adam Scott: Events At St Margaret’s: Was baptised at St Margaret’s on Sunday 16th February. Sunday, 6th April: 6.30 pm Una Voce present a performance Events in Lent: of unaccompanied choral music at St Margaret’s followed by a glass of wine. Every Wednesday during Lent: 7.30 pm— 2nd, 9th & 16th April. Lent Discussion Groups at St Margaret’s A course based Sunday, 13th April: around “Les Miserables”. Palm Sunday—Procession from School to Church Every Tuesday during Lent: for 10 am service 12.30 pm “Food for Thought/Lenten Lunches” 6 pm A Service of Passion Music with hymns, Sharpthorne Hall 1st, 8th & 15th April. poetry and readings at St Margaret’s
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 5
Summer Diary
West Hoathly and Sharpthorne Garden Trail
Saturday 14th June, 2 till 6. Last entry 5.30.pm At least thirteen gardens in the Parish will be open, thanks to the generosity and hard work of their owners. This should be a lovely opportunity to wander around the village finding surprises and inspi- ration. Do come along and enjoy these “hidden jewels” and afternoon tea. Please let any friends who are garden enthusiasts know about this. It is still not too late to offer your garden, or to help bake and serve teas. £5 entry to all gardens. Regret no dogs. More details will appear in the June issue and in the local press. All proceeds to St Margaret’s Church Maintenance. Ingrid Sethi 01342 810085 [email protected] or Christine Graystone 01342 810602
Street & Food Fair, West Hoathly 19th July
St. Margaret’s Church are organising this Fair, with the theme of the 2014 Football World Cup. We hope that families, organisations and businesses will hire a stall on the day and will also be encouraged to take part in the three com- petitions running alongside the Fair. Competition Before the 19th July: Scarecrows dressed in the national costumes of the participating countries will help to publicise the event around the Parish. Competitions On 19th July: Decorated Hat on the World Cup theme. Fancy Dress in the National Dress of a participating country in the World Cup. The aim of the event is to bring the community together, have fun and while doing that to raise funds for the Church, groups and businesses. We would encourage you to be a part of the fun day! Stall hire will be £20. Street Fair Contact: Derek Shurvell, 01342 810780 lind- [email protected] Food Fair Contact: Ros Williams, 01342 810944 rosjanewil- [email protected] The Food Fair will be held in church and be open from 11am to 5pm. The Street Fair will be on North Lane in front of Saint Margaret’s Church from 2pm to 5pm. SPONSORSHIP: Additionally we are also looking for generous sponsors to
provide prizes for the three Competitions mentioned above or for the fee of the Sil- ver Band (£240). A Programme will be printed and delivered to all households in the Parish prior to the event and to folk during the day, in which all sponsors names will be highlighted. If you can help in any way please contact: Tim Baker [email protected] or Derek Shurvell, 01342 810780 [email protected] We look forward to your participation in this wonderful community event and thank you in advance!
School Association Summer Ball
Tickets to the school's Masquerade Ball on 21st June are on sale at £65 each, and
T h Thee C h Chronicle r o n i c l e f foro r AApril p r i l anda n d May M a y2014 2014– - P P a a g g e e6 6
“Representing Highbrook, Selsfield, Sharpthorne, Tyes Cross and West Hoathly” WEST HOATHLY PARISH COUNCIL Neighbourhood Plan Update In February the Neighbourhood Plan Task Force organised a public opportunity for landowners and developers to explain their site proposals followed by 3 public exhibitions around the parish. Around 200 residents attended these sessions and as a result 52 people submitted comments on the feedback forms about one or more of the sites. These comments will now form part of the input to the process through which the Task Force of parish councillors and residents will make a recommendation on the site or sites to be allocated in the Neighbourhood Plant www.HoathlyHub.info/OurPlan . To help with this next stage the Parish Council decided in February to appoint a consultant with appropriate expertise and experience to guide the Task Force deliberations over the next weeks. West Hoathly Village Hall Transformation As previously described here, 2014 is going to see the start of a major transformation of West Hoathly Village Hall. Everything is in place for the first stage with the shiny new kitchen being installed over Easter. In the summer the heating system will be completely replaced. Other improvements to storage space will also be taking place. The campaign to raise some additional funds to fit out the kitchen has now closed with just over the target of £2000 having been raised through the “Icing on the Cake” initiative – all the “Village Hall Patrons” who donated will now be invited to a grand opening reception in May. As well as individual cash donations the Hall was very fortunate to receive the generous gift of Sharpthorne WI’s matching crockery. Soft landscaping to make Top Road more “Villagey” and help calm traffic Your Parish Council’s has been considering how some relatively small changes to the frontages adjoining Top Road could help to make the street scene one that encourages slower and more considerate driving behaviour through the village. At the Parish Assembly in April a project will be launched to stimulate frontage householders’ practical ideas for the street scene transformation. Vinols Crossing & Junction – Exhibition of the redesign 26th April The design of the planned safety scheme to adjust the layout of the Vinols Cross junction will be exhibited by West Sussex CC Highways department in West Hoathly Primary School Hall on Saturday 26th April from 10am to midday. Come along to see what is going to be done and have the opportunity to discuss it with the highways engineers themselves. Parish Councillor Vacancy – Why not “Put a toe in the water”? With the next Parish Council elections in May 2015, now would be an ideal time to apply to join the council see what it is like for just a year and find out how you can make a difference for your local community. Then, next year, you can decide whether to stand for the following 4- year term or not but with the benefit of your experience. So if you ever have thought about joining the Council (or even if you haven’t!) but were unsure, now is the time to contact the Parish Clerk as below for details. Parish Assembly date -8pm Monday 14th April, West Hoathly Primary School Come and hear about Your Council’s activities and Plans for the year ahead. The agenda and displays will include the Neighbourhood Plan project and site(s) for new homes policy, C319 traffic topics including the Vinols Cross junction and the soft landscaping mentioned above, North Lane play area plans and what’s happening at West Hoathly Village Hall.
Parish Clerk: Helen Schofield - The Parish Office, North Lane, West Hoathly, RH19 4QG T: 01342 811301 E: [email protected] Website: www.westhoathly.gov.uk The office is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 9am and noon. Messages can be left at all other times on the answer phone or by email.
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 7
West Hoathly School that this will bring. If any village folk would like to join us in wishing her well and contribute The village school continues to be a to a retirement gift, please call in at the school thriving community with our chil- office where there is also a card to sign. dren actively engaged in learning through a Adam Earle range of exciting activities. Since the beginning of January we have welcomed an additional seven children to our ranks bringing the school’s 1st West Hoathly roll to 106. Given that only four years ago we Scouts had around 79 children, this has been a signifi- cant increase. I would like to welcome all our The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have all been new children and families to the school and to busy with lots of activities and badge work. The the village and hope they will find their time Scouts have been mountain-biking at Deersleap with us fruitful and enjoyable. Park, rockclimbing at K2 in Crawley, breadmak- As part of our learning we like to give the ing and backwoods cooking up at the Scout Hut, children real life experience by taking them to and they also had a fun session making weather visit various places, related to the topics they are measuring devices. studying. In January our Pegasus Class (Years 3 Thank you to everyone who supported our & 4) visited the Evolution Climbing centre near Jumble Sale on 8th March. We raised a total of Crowborough and spent a most enjoyable time £247 which will go towards the refurbishment of learning about and trying out the skills required the Scout Hut. Thank you to all the volunteers for climbing – this linked with their topic on who baked cakes and made endless cups of tea, mountains and mountaineering. At the end of sorted piles of jumble and ran stalls selling January the Unicorn (Years R & 1) and Dragon clothes, books, toys, bedding, bric-a-brac and (Years 1&2) visited the Brighton Buddhist Cen- some items we didn't even recognise or have a tre to extend their learning in RE. Most recently name for! The next Jumble Sale will take place the Unicorn Class spent a most enjoyable morn- in October. Other future fundraising activities ing at Pizza Express, creating pizzas. Some of include selling items at a Car Boot Sale, a Fam- children were, being very young, a bit anxious ily Treasure Hunt, and a food stall at the Street about going out of school again and trying new Fair. If you have any items we can sell at a local things but they all managed really well and Car Boot Sale please let us know so we can ar- gained a great deal from the experience. range collection. We are particularly looking for The week of Monday 17th to Friday 21st good quality clothes, bric-a-brac and toys. March was“Ravenous Readers” Week during Thank you to some very generous people which the children experienced a range of engag- who have made donations recently, including a ing reading related challenges, competitions and clothes rail for our jumble sales, and a barbecue activities. We welcomed Helen Peters, author of for our fundraising events. A huge 'thank you' to “The Secret Hen House Theatre”, and Andy Dr John Ralph for very generously donating Boughtflower, one of our parents, who brought £500 from the proceeds of his book 'Old West story telling alive through magic and puppetry. Hoathly'. We also launched our new “Reading Bingo” and Have you thought about volunteering to “Ravenous Readers” schemes to help our chil- help the young people of our villages? We are dren extend their reading experience and looking for a Beaver Leader and a Scout Leader choices. to run sections within the group. You will have Many folk in the village will know or have the support of a Group Scout Leader who lives in been taught by Mrs Judith Smith. Judith joined Sharpthorne and an executive committee made the school in 1989 and was, until 2012, our Dep- up of people in the local area. Beavers are aged 6 uty Headteacher. Since that time she has been to 8 years and currently meet on Mondays at working on a part time basis as a class teacher. 4.30pm. Scouts are aged 10 1/2 to 14 years and After over 24 years of service to the school Mrs meet on Fridays at 7.30pm. If you are interested Smith will be retiring at the end of this term. We in either of these roles please contact us for an would like to thank her for all her hard work and informal chat—for Beavers John Railton on her valued contributions to the school and its 0845 475 5378 (answered locally) and for Scouts development. We wish her well in her retire- Phil Glynn on 01342 810559. ment and I am sure she will enjoy the freedom Lorraine Howard
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 8
West Hoathly WI Sharpthorne WI
Having started 2014 with an excellent lunch We have been very privileged to have had an our February meeting saw our speaker, Mr. excellent speaker on very interesting topics at Peter Lovett, give us a superb presentation on each of our first two meetings this year. In January, Andy Thomas gave us a talk on ‘Crop Circles’ - a ‘The Natural Year in Focus’. With his wonderful fascinating study of these phenomena which our photo shots of majestic wintering trees and cold, speaker had spent many years researching. He shivery Sussex beaches showing many visiting showed some remarkable pictures taken from above birds and then warming us up with spring pic- of the intricate designs of some of these crop circles tures of some of our beautiful orchids, he took us which seem to appear overnight in many instances, or into early summer with his excellent knowledge even in less than an hour! The weaving of the crops of flora and fauna. As this talk was part 1 of 2 in criss-crossing layers into patterns, some of which we look forward to inviting him back next year seemed to have used numbering and lettering from taking us with his splendid photos through sum- ancient cultures in their design, would seem impossi- mer and autumn and back into winter. ble to have been done by humans in that time span. th When Mr Thomas was asked what his theory was as With the 100 anniversary of the start of to the origins and meanings of their existence he said WW1 this year, our speaker in March was Ian that he honestly did not know. It remains a mystery Everest with a presentation entitled ‘The Our second talk in February, given by Kev Reynolds, Women’s Land Army – a Sussex Connection’. was entitled ‘A Walk in the Clouds’. Again, our What an excellent talk about the Land Army and speaker held us spell-bound with his tales of his ex- how it started in WW1 and its major role played periences trekking and climbing in the high moun- in WW2. The Sussex connection included de- tains of the world, showing us some breath-taking tails of our own Lady Denman and her efforts pictures of alpine pastures and flowers, ice formations in both wars. Ian’s own mother was a Land Girl and mountain lakes as well as spectacular views of in Sussex and she eventually married a farm mountain landscapes from the Himalaya, the Alps and the Andes to Morocco and Turkey. He had been to labourer. His talk was accompanied by some some of the remotest places on earth and met people very special black & white photos of these girls who were living a life not dissimilar to that described many of whom stayed life long friends. in Old Testament times. He said he was the luckiest nd Our coming meetings: April 2 Carole man on earth to be able to earn an income from an Sorrell ‘Hearing Dogs for the Deaf’ and May 7th activity he was passionate about. It was an inspiring discussing the 2014 resolution - ‘Increasing Or- talk filled with anecdotes of his adventures, some hair gan Donation’ which will be voted on at the -raising scrapes, heartfelt encounters with the local AGM in Leeds this June mountain people and some amusing tales. West Hoathly WI meet in West Hoathly Vil- Our Music Group is well into rehearsals for lage Hall on the first Wednesday of each month at our show in May and some of our members are pre- 2pm. Contact Ros Williams 01342 810944 or visit the paring exhibits to enter the WI craft exhibition at the WI website. Please come along and join us you will South of England Show in Ardingly in June. be made most welcome. Our resolutions meeting on 14 April will be in Barbara Polhill Sharpthorne Hall instead of West Hoathly. Fiona Hartley Friends of West Hoathly Churchyard Trust
The Trust Trustees are very sorry to report the sad passing of their Treasurer, Brian Couchy who had been a Trustee for over 20 years. Together with his wife Gill, who was secretary to the Trust we have lost a real hard working team and they will be a very hard act to follow. We extend our sympathy to Gill and the family and thank her for all she has done on our behalf. During 2013 the mammoth task of repainting all the handrails in the Churchyard was completed and funded by the Trust. The next project will be repairs to the final set of steps into the bottom Churchyard. We have a small list of items which can be funded by small individual donations or legacies. This list in- cludes restoration of the memorial tablet at the entrance to the steps to Church Hill.The income built up over the years is used to fund larger jobs. At the moment the Trust is investigating the possibility of im- proving drainage of the lower Churchyard to make more land available for future burials. I f you would be interested in becoming a Trustee you are invited to contact Dr Hans Sethi Tel 01342 810085 or write a to him at "Luctons", North Lane, West Hoathly RH19 4PP. The Trustees continue to appreciate the donations from our regular contributors and thank all who support the Churchyard Trust. Tim Baker
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 9
New facilities for Double Spire St Margaret’s Trouble!
For over thirty years the PCC has discussed how St. Margaret’s to provide better facilities for its congregation I woke up at about 3.0 a.m. and other users of St Margaret’s. Over the past on the morning of Decem- year the PCC has reviewed what we really need ber 23rd and was immedi- and set up a working party to conclude how to ately struck by the sound make it happen. Following Parish Communion and ferocity of the wind. on 9 February, the working party set out these 'Are the greenhouses going plans and showed preliminary drawings showing to be alright and what what might be provided. about the polytunnel ? ' I We want St Margaret’s to be a thriving wondered as I lay tucked church for decades to come. To be so, it must up in bed. As it happened, we lost a few panes meet the needs of visitors to the church and the of glass and a roofing sheet, but as it was proba- broader village community as well as its congre- bly the strongest wind since January 1990 I gation and vicar. Our urgent needs are a toilet, a thought we had got off lightly. Later in the safe room for our children’s church (and other morning I went up to Church to move chairs meetings) and basic kitchen facilities. We must ready for the Christmas services, not thinking also ensure we have a vestry which meets our that there would be any damage to St. Marga- vicar’s needs. ret's. Somehow you just assume that as she has Having considered various options, the stood there for over 900 years she is impervious PCC concluded these can best be provided by to storm damage. I was therefore somewhat sur- replacing the existing modern vestry with a two- prised to notice cedar shingles and lead flashing storey building, with a children’s room on the lying on the ground as I approached the first floor. The ground floor would contain a mo- Church .Looking up at the Spire about 30 shin- bility toilet, kitchenette and reordered vestry. We gles had been blown down from a dozen sites, have concluded we cannot provide two toilets particularly on the NW hip. Mercifully the wind without making the vestry too cramped. To pro- once it had opened up some holes did not then vide disabled access from the church we will rip great chunks off the spire as the nails held on. need to drop the floor level of the new building Hopefully by the time you read this the repairs and the tower by a foot. will have been completed and the scaffolding We still have a number of removed ( what a work of art that is ). issues to resolve, including relo- May I thank John Comber for his help, cating the footpath from the lych- guidance, experience and patience in put- gate, ensuring there are no un- ting together the insurance quotation and known graves and, of course, the for carrying out the repairs. design. We are committed to en- Derek Shurvell sure this is in keeping with our beautiful ancient church, both in All Saints, Highbrook appearance and materials, but we Some of you may have noticed that the must also satisfy the requirements top of All Saints' church spire had devel- of the diocese, English Heritage oped a marked list to the north-east fol- and the planning authorities. lowing the recent high winds. As this During the spring we shall presented a danger to passers-by, a large embark on a programme of cage was erected over the footpath un- broader consultation with the village and begin derneath. The steeplejacks in the photo scaled our fund-raising. Although we would expect the spire and secured the weathervane and also some grants to be available, we shall need to investigated the damage. It took them three hours raise most of the £200,000 it will cost to ensure to reach the top, using an ingenious system of we sustain a vibrant church ourselves. We plan ropes and ladders. The necessary repairs will be to start this process soon so that we can look for- carried out and hopefully we shall soon have a ward to having our new building up and running nice straight spire once again. by Christmas 2015. Molly Cooper Peter Johnson The Chronicle for April and May 2014 - Page 10
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& Maintenance Services Advertising costs £30 per year ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING WORK The Chronicle is produced 6 times each year. It’s delivered to o PLASTERING Tel/Fax around 550 houses in the parish, about 60% of households, with o PATIOS 01342 810589 some subscribers even receiving it by post. In a recent national o BRICKWORK Mob competition for Church Magazines, it came 52nd out of 620, so o PLUMBING in the top 10%. 07762 271242 o HOME DECORATING If you are interested, please contact Sue Billings. Her details
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Rupert Thacker The Restoration and Conservation Do you need help with your computer? of Antique Furniture Suppliers of Country Furniture Forest Row IT Providing a Comprehensive Service of Repairs and Polishing - Estimates Free - Friendly expert service for computer repairs, The Old Barn Workshops, Flitteridge Farm, Splaynes Green, Fletching, Nr Uckfield, Sussex, TN22 3TQ maintenance, upgrades and data recovery. I Tel & Fax: 01825 713111 (Workshop) Tel: 01825 722284 (Evenings & Weekends) can help you with training to use most software Mobile: 07950 035044 and advice for your computer needs. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rupert-thacker.com Contact: Roger Lyon
Mob: 07982 710 977 Tel: 01342 825 209
Think Electrical Services Ltd Solar PV Specialists All Electrical Work Undertaken, Rewires, Consumer Units, etc. Professional & Courteous Service Please Call Giles on 0800 542 0445 / 07769 704641
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 - Page 13
Your Local Goods and Services
Every Animal is An Individual Lindsay Williams M.B.I.P.D.T.
*Heated Accommodation *Exercise Paddocks *Grooming Service *Special Diets Catered For *Collection & Delivery Service *Individual Covered Runs tel: 01342 810329 mob: 07860 127940 www.kingscotekennels.co.uk Vowels Lane, West Hoathly, West Sussex, RH19 4LL
The Chronicle Local Good and Services Advertising costs £30 per year
The Chronicle is produced 6 times each year. It’s delivered to around 550 houses in the parish, about 60% of households, with some subscribers even receiving it by post. In a recent national competition for Church Magazines, it came 52nd out of 620, so in the top 10%.
If you are interested, please contact Sue Billings. Her details can be found on the inside-front cover of the magazine.
Computer Tutor Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Lessons Private tuition with a Qualified Tutor
10+ years Teaching experience 20+ years Commercial application experience Up-to-date Criminal Records Check Advice on organising your computer / work General advice
To find out more speak to Shirley on 01342 810109 or e-mail [email protected]
Nancy's Cakes Novelty & Celebration
Lovely cakes at reasonable prices Nancy Watkins
Eights Acres Cottage, Selsfield Road, West Hoathly, West Sussex, RH19 4QU Tel: 01342 810330 Mobile: 07929 137185 Email: [email protected] [email protected]
The Chronicle PLUMBING SERVICES davidparks Local Good and Services All plumbing & central heating Advertising costs £30 per year
Power flushing The Chronicle is produced 6 times each year. It’s delivered to Full bathroom & shower installs around 550 houses in the parish, about 60% of households, with City & guilds some subscribers even receiving it by post. In a recent national competition for Church Magazines, it came 52nd out of 620, so in the top 10%. fully insured If you are interested, please contact Sue Billings. Her details Call 07967333761 for a free estimate. can be found on the inside-front cover of the magazine.
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 - Page 14
Your Local Goods and Services
THE VINOLS CROSS Real Ale Friendly Atmosphere Live Entertainment Regular Quiz Nights Pizza Night Weds eat in or out Full Roast Sundays
Owner: Becky Middleton Tel: 01342 810644
Dörte Hass IRONING 4 U M All your ironing requirements & much more Lindsey at Maxine’s Hair Salon We take pride in our very high standards of finish! Top Road Sharpthorne Alterations, Dry cleaning, Duvet & Pillow cleaning Wet cuts £16 Service washes and Wash & Finish Cut and Blowdry £22.00 As well as practically any other clothing need Colour (starts from) £25 For further details please visit our shop or phone Gents Night (every Thursday 4pm-7pm) £8 Tuesdays 7.30am – 6.00pm For appointments or enquires Weds/Thurs/Fridays 9.00am – 5.00pm OPEN: please ring 01342 811442 Closed for Lunch 1.00pm – 2.00pm Or come in and see us! Closed Sat/Sun/Mon & Bank Hols
Parmeria Place, Lion Lane, Turners Hill Tel/Fax: 01342 717788
A Traditional Country Pub
Sussex Ales & Ciders Home-Made Food FREE HOUSE 01444 831219 RH17 7NP
www.thesloopinn.com
The Chronicle Local Good and Services Advertising costs £30 per year PROFESSIONAL DOMESTIC CLEANERS HAVE MOVED TO SHARPTHORNE! The Chronicle is produced 6 times each year. It’s delivered to MCLEAN CLEANING LTD around 550 houses in the parish, about 60% of households, with Reg. No. 4240628 England some subscribers even receiving it by post. In a recent national Est. 1997 in Lingfield, Surrey. competition for Church Magazines, it came 52nd out of 620, so Reliability, Security, Integrity. in the top 10%. We clean to a Standard, not a price. If you are interested, please contact Sue Billings. Her details We bring everything. You provide nothing. can be found on the inside-front cover of the magazine. We are not an agency or a franchise.
07830 - 181190 ~ 01342 - 810335
MOBILE FISH & CHIP VAN SATURDAYS
5.00pm - 7.00pm @ Top of Station Road, Sharpthorne
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 15
NOTICE BOARD
Music happening in our area Apr 26 Toy & Rail collectors fair May 10,11 Southern at War Jazz May 16 Fish & Chip evening Second Monday in every month at the May 3,10,17,24,31 Evening Golden Arrow ‘Haywaggon’, Hartfield May 17,18 Edwardian w/e Sharpthorne Organic Cafe May 23 Rail ale evening Live music on Saturdays 12.00-14.00 May 4,18,25 Lunchtime Golden Arrow May 9 Murder Mystery evening Village walks May 2,3,5,9,24,26 Afternoon tea on Wealden rambler 27 Apr Sue Billings 25 May Steve Brand Forest Row Film Society
Walks start at 10.00 am from Finche Field 4 Apr 8pm Babette’s feast 11 Apr 8pm Continuum 25 Apr 8pm Talk to her Emmaus Club 9 May 8pm The Counterfeiters 10 May 8pm The snows of Kilmanjaro Friday evenings in term-time for years 6 to 9 25th April Football and Rounders on North Films in Freshfield Hall, Forest Row. Doors open 19.30 for 20.00 start. Lane Rec. For more information see 2nd May Woodland walk www.forestrowfilmsociety.org/ 9th May Treasure Hunt 16th May Capture the Flag 23rd and 30th May Half term -no meeting Mansion Market
Michael Hall School, Forest Row. 11am-4pm Local History Group Over 70 stalls selling crafts, books, toys, plants, organic foods. Children's entertainments. Taster 16 April AGM sessions of healing skills. Cafe open. Sharpthorne Church Hall, 7.45 pm Saturdays 8 February and 8 March
Forest Row Bike Club Bluebell Railway
Meets on Sundays at 9.30 at ‘Java and Jazz’, Apr 18-21 Bo Peep special Forest Row. Apr 5,12,26 Evening Golden Arrow For more info see Apr 18,21,26 Afternoon tea on Wealden http://www.frbc.info rambler
Apr 25 Fish & Chip evening
Apr 6,13,20,27r Lunchtime Golden Arrow
Sing in the Spring
Una Voce will be singing in St. Margaret's Church, West Hoathly at 6.30pm on Sunday April 6th. The programme, which will last approximately one hour, includes the music of William Byrd, Gregorio Allegri, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Moreton Lauridsen and Karl Jenkins. William Byrd's 'Mass for five voices' dates back to the sixteenth century whilst music by Moreton Lauridsen and Karl Jenkins represents the more contemporary era. A glass of wine follows the performance. Admission is free with a retiring collection to defray expenses.
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 16
GOOD CAUSES
Christian Aid Week 2014: company and friendship to someone who may give people a future without fear not see anyone else all day, checking they are ok, making a cup of tea or microwaving a meal are War tears lives apart. all simple practical things that make an enor- You can help put them mous difference to someone who lives alone. . back together. We match volunteers with older people living in For a growing number their area, so they can visit regularly, give them a of people across the lift to the shops or a local lunch club. Just shar- world, the horror of ing a little time together is what matters. A cou- war is part of daily life. ple of hours is enough to make a real difference. The good news is that individuals, com- Volunteers are now needed in West Sus- munities and churches can make a real difference sex to support the growing number of older peo- this Christian Aid Week. Last year, a magnifi- ple in our community who wish to maintain their cent 20,000 churches across the country helped independence by living in their own homes but raise £12m (€14.3m) for Christian Aid Week. may be struggling to shop or cook for them- Thanks to your efforts, many more people can selves. look forward to a future free from poverty. If you'd like to find out more please get in In this time of tight finances we can still touch. Just give us a call on 0845 608 0122 or manage something for others. Whatever you can volunteer online. Or better still, come and say give is helpful and really makes a difference. Do hello at one of our forthcoming events in your welcome your neighbour who will be collecting area and have a chat with someone who volun- for Christian Aid May 11-17. teers already. We offer volunteer opportunities Valerie Fyans all across West Sussex in the following towns and surrounding areas: Burgess Hill, Crawley, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath. Children’s Society Spread the word Do you know someone who'd make a great volunteer or an older person Collection Boxes who needs some support? I will be collecting in your boxes between now Royal Voluntary Service. Registered charity and April 6th. If you would like to contact me 1015988 & SC038924. Registered address: by telephone I will gladly call to collect your box Royal Voluntary Service, Beck Court, Cardiff from you, or you could hand it to me at the 10.00 Gate Business Park, Cardiff, CF23 8RP. a.m. Sunday service. Thank you for your loyalty to this scheme, which is so simple and effective in supporting Handicapped Children’s the aims of the Society. Pilgrimage Trust Thank You Michele Jaques tel: 01342 810087 Thank you all very much for your kind and gen- erous support for the Coffee morning on 27 Feb- West Susex Royal Voluntary ruary. We raised £650.00, which I believe will Service be enough to cover the cost of a child going to If you can spare just an hour or two a week, you Lourdes this Easter. Without all your loving could really make that time count. Royal Volun- help this total could not be achieved. I am so tary Service needs more amazing people to vol- very grateful. unteer now in West Sussex. To an older person God bless you who may not see anyone else for days on end, a all. regular visit makes an amazing difference to Angela Bellord. their quality of life. A hot meal every day is one of the ways our Community Meals on Wheels volunteers help – spending a lunchtime visiting several older people and making sure they have something hot and nutritious to eat. Offering
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 17
MORE GOOD CAUSES
The Loiyangalani Gardens for Charity Trust Gardens open in May We are delighted to report (More gardens in June /July in next issue) that the concert with Emma th Johnson on Wednesday 19 Friday 2 May (9am-4pm) for St. Catherine’s March at Chequer Mead was a great success. Hospice There was a very good turnout and everyone Burleigh Oaks House, East Street, Turner's Hill, thoroughly enjoyed a top class and varied per- RH10 4PZ. Contact: John & Pam Mayne, formance with an encore. A short video was pro- 712852 jected at the end of the interval to demonstrate Turner's Hill plant sale offering everything from the work and achievements of the Trust. The oc- bedding plants to vegetable plants for all types of casion was an opportunity to reach out to people gardens. Second hand books and greetings cards beyond the village, and one immediate result is for sale and a raffle are also available. that the East Grinstead Courier is writing a fea- (dogs, refreshments, disabled access). ture with pictures about the charity for the edi- th Fee: free tion due out on the 26 March. So we hope this will encourage even more people to support us. Sunday 4 May (2pm-6pm) for St. Catherine’s We also already have one new sponsor for a Hospice child as a result of the concert. Birchanger, High Street, Balcombe, RH17 6JY. A group of us visited Loiyangalani at the Contact: Marian Erritt, 01444 413391 end of February to see how the primary school is Birchanger is a beautiful seven acre garden with doing, what the pressing needs are going for- magnificent displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, ward, and to monitor the progress of the children camellias and magnolias. Explore the lily pond, being sponsored through secondary school. fountains and arboretum. There are always challenges in such a remote (Refreshments, disabled, dogs). part of Africa, but a lot was achieved and we Fee: £4, children free received an amazing welcome, including a poem written by a teacher and acted out by two young Sunday 25 May (1pm-5pm) for St. Cath- girls in local costume thanking us for the differ- erine’s Hospice ence we have made to their lives through our Turner's Hill Village Open Gardens. Contact: work. One of our sponsored children has now Thelma Mason 01342 714858 finished school, and while waiting to go to uni- Enjoy a family day out discovering this beauti- versity is working as a volunteer teacher at the fully maintained garden.. Refreshments available primary school. A teacher who was sponsored at some gardens. Entry tickets can be purchased through his training is also now working there. at the first garden of your visit. So a big thank you to all who support us. (Refreshments). Fee: £4, We are always looking for donations to- children free wards our work, however small, whether one-off or regular, and to give you an idea of what can Friday 30 and Saturday 31 May (1.30pm- be achieved: 5pm) for National Gardens Scheme £10 will pay for a school uniform and shoes for a primary school child; Latchetts Gardens, Freshfield lane, Danehill. £30 will pay for a desk RH17 7HQ £50 will cover all the costs of equipment for a An eight acre garden including colourful plant- child to start secondary school including a mat- ing, ponds, water features and waterfowl, vegeta- tress, calculator, text books etc. bles, walled millennium garden and wild flowers You can give directly through our website and woodland. Cream Teas (offers of cake wel- at www.loiyangalanitrust.org.uk or by contacting come) Carolyn Bentley on 01342 810815. Entry £5 to NGS charities. Profit from sale of Cream Teas to Family Support Work.
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 18
West Hoathly Learn to Cricket Club play Bowls for free! I am writing this on one of the first sunny Sundays of the year Here is an offer and the pure blue sky over West you should not Hoathly is slowly eradicating the memories of refuse and will always be thankful that you gave one of the wettest, windiest winters in living it a try. Bowls is a game for everyone no matter memory. It would not surprise me to learn that your sex, physique, age or sporting ability. It is many a football player has been completely put a simple game to learn but can take a little longer off the winter game and would want to turn to a to master. Let us show you the basics and you game played in our glorious summer-and we may soon get hooked wishing to improve. No would be delighted to see you at the West need to be particularly competitive as most play Hoathly Cricket Club!! just for the joy of meeting new friends and get- We start the season with nets sessions ting out in the fresh air. every Sunday in April, meeting at the Cricket We can provide everything to get you pavilion at 15:45. These will be relaxed, friendly started. All we ask is that you wear flat shoes or occasions and so if you have never played before trainers. Our sessions for beginners run from or are dusting off the old bat after a few years early May onwards through the Spring & Sum- absence, then these sessions will be the perfect mer months, and over a four week period you start to your season. We are also hoping to ar- will learn all the basic rules of the game and range an evening of coaching at the home of have much fun to boot! cricket, none other than Lords in St Johns Wood To get started give Roy Williams a call on for a couple of hours in the nets with profes- 01342 300843 or come by the club sional coaches. We are looking at two dates, from Easter weekend onwards. Tuesday the 6th May and Thursday the 8th May West Hoathly Bowls Club is based at starting at 7pm and finishing at 9 pm. If you are Hook Lane in a wonderful location with views interested in either date, please let our Captain, towards the South Downs and alongside the David Scott know on 07776 165808. cricket green. We boast one of the best bowls The season gets underway properly with greens in the county which is fully maintained our traditional opening fixture at Brook House by the club members. Alongside is our well fit- on the 4th May at 14:15. Brook House is a beauti- ted Club House with good changing facilities ful, tranquil ground in Highbrook and would and lounge areas and not forgetting the well make a lovely afternoon out for the family so if stocked bar. you don’t fancy playing just yet, why not come We pride ourselves on being a welcoming along with a picnic and enjoy an afternoon meet- mixed club with options for players of all abili- ing everyone. ties and ages to join us. Our membership offers West Hoathly CC is a family club that excellent value for money and is designed to en- plays only friendly fixtures in a competitive but able players to get the most out of their bowls as convivial manner. We welcome players of any a newcomer or even as a county bowler. We of- age or ability and provide an excellent location fer opportunities to play competitive bowls in for supporters to enjoy a relaxing afternoons our many friendly matches, league games, com- cricket and we pride ourselves on our excellent petitions etc. cricket teas! If you would like to discuss joining We also arrange a variety of very popular social the club, please call me, Richard Ward, events and provide Short Mat bowling, Bridge (Membership secretary) on 01342 810394 or Club and even Line Dancing to while away the email me on [email protected]. winter months. We look forward to seeing you! Dates: Richard Ward Friday April 11th at 7.30 pm Line dncing
Saturday May 17th 9.30am Plant & cake sale—
Bowls Open Day
Nick Goodman
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 19
West Hoathly ful way to share skills and pass them on to our Lawn Tennis Club young Brownies. There is also a pathway to be- coming a Brownie Leader, in which many In spite of the terrible weather, women , both young and older are supported the two court surfaces have re- through the Qualification. mained in good condition and an intrepid group Please contact me Catherine Goodridge on of members have continued to play throughout 01342 810937 if you want to discuss any of the the winter whenever possible. Membership re- matters above newals are due in May and we will be sending Catherine Goodridge (Snowy Owl) 01342 810937 existing members an application form which should be returned to the Membership Secretary with your cheque and 2013 key. We would wel- West Hoathly come new members and you can either complete Rainbow Guides the application form on the Hoathly Hub Tennis Club site or obtain details from Terry Cooper on We plan to join in the West Hoathly Village Street Fair 01444 892649. th We would be grateful if you could keep an on Sat July 19 with a stall to go with the theme eye on the tennis courts if you happen to be in of the event ‘The Football World Cup 2014’ so the Hook Lane Recreation Ground. Vandals re- our stall will be cently removed the net on the top court and had FOOTBALLERS WIVES JEWELLERY used the court for a football game (we think). If To achieve this we need your help. Please can you see anything unusual please telephone our you donate any new, old or unwanted Jewellery local community police officer on the number on to us? Please contact Unit Leader Brenda Far- the back cover of the Chronicle. ley 01342 811020 to drop off or for collection. Enjoy your tennis. Many thanks for your help. Molly Cooper Yours in Guiding, The Leaders
Le Cercle Français— West Hoathly Brownies a re-launch
We are starting 2014 with great excitement, as After a winter break, Le Cercle has recom- this year we are celebrating THE BIG menced its programme of conversational/social BROWNIE BIRTHDAY. Brownies is one hun- evenings on second Tuesdays in each month. dred years old this year and there are many excit- Le Cercle was established by a group of people ing events. One thousand Brownies from Sussex who had learnt French at school or as adults and Central are going to the Amex football ground, shared the ambition to continue to enjoy using home to Brighton and Hove Albion, in June for a the language. We would very much like to wel- sleepover among other events come new friends and contributors to our group. We in West Hoathly Brownies are also Members take turns to host within the Par- celebrating 80 years of Brownies in the village. . ish. Light conversation remains the main activity We intend to have a celebratory tea Saturday 5th facilitated by a little refreshment. Our activities July, for any village Brownies past and present. have occasionally expanded to include a quiz or We hope to find some of our past Brownies to similar “ice breaking activity together with sum- help us celebrate our anniversary. If you are one mer games of pétanque or croquet. of them, please contact me as soon as possibleso You do not have to be fluent to participate. that I have an idea of numbers. Our evening meetings are relaxed allowing Finally the Girl Guiding movement always members to participate or listen to shared con- wants to encourage young women to join us, and versations as they wish. If you would like to so if you are a girl between 7 and 10, please call maintain, reactivate, build confidence or consoli- me on the number below and come along and see date your linguistic skills with supportive like- what fun you could have. We also welcome teen- minded people we hope this may interest you. agers and ladies who may like to help us. Volun- If you would like more information please feel free to teering in Guiding is very rewarding and can be contact Bob Darvill; telephone 01342 810443 or done in an informal way , helping the leaders email: [email protected] with our variety of activities. It is also a wonder-
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 20
An Evening With Dickens at digger loaned by Barbara Polhill and a Cadbury's Highbrook sweet gift tin sent to soldiers at Christmas 1914 and loaned by Alan Bishop. On a dark and stormy night on the Friday before A collection of historic artefacts included Christmas, we were treated to an evening of Pat Stone's musket ball maker which was of readings from Charles Dickens, performed by great interest to a visitor from Canada who fires the eponymously named John Tallent, organised muskets as a hobby. by Simon Witheridge to raise money for I would like to thank all who helped with Highbrook Church and Village Hall. the many jobs vital to the continued success of The church looked magical in the candle- these exhibitions. light, with beautiful decorations and a magnifi- John Ralph cent tree, thanks to Peter Browne and his artistic team. As the wind and the rain tore at the win- dows, Charles Dickens aka John Tallent, replete Lets Go for a Walk with beard and cravat, ascended the pulpit and took us to a world of villainous financiers reap- ing their just deserts with Mr Merdle’s suicide in Little Dorritt followed by the Guildhall, with Mr Pickwick in the dock for breach of promise be- fore Judge Stareleigh. John Tallent’s vocal range gave us a wry view of the carnival of char- acters that made up the Victorian system of jus- Village walks are on every month on the last tice. During the interval we enjoyed mince pies Sunday in the month, except July & August, and a glass of wine and thus fortified we listened when most people are on holiday or busy in their to Scrooge’s visit to the Cratchits’ Christmas garden, and December when the walk is on Box- dinner and then the festivities of Scrooge’s ing Day. We meet at Finche Field at 10am. They nephew, Fred, where Scrooge enjoyed the nu- are called Parish Walks but not always in this merous party games, although none of the guests parish. You are welcome to attend. could see him. You will see a list of leaders of the ram- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, was bles on various notice boards around the villages a chilling figure, showing Scrooge the Cratchits’ of Sharpthorne, Highbrook and West Hoathly or despair at the death of Tiny Tim. Pathos gave you can look in the Chronicle or on the Hub. The way to terror, as Scrooge sees his own, as yet, leaders choose their own route, which lasts from empty grave. Having promised to change his 10am until 12.30pm and is about 5 to 6 miles in ways, Scrooge is redeemed and wakes up from length. You will need some walking boots or his dream in his own bed on Christmas morning. wellingtons, a stick and if you are bringing a dog On this happy note, Nicholas Soames MP he/she must be under control and put on a lead (mid Sussex) concluded the evening and thanked John Tallent, complimenting him on his enter- when passing any farm animals. taining performance. At the end of the walk some go to the pub Kate Wiseman and others go home having had a very pleasant morning out in the fields and woods around here. We hope to see you. West Hoathly Local History Rita des Forges
Archive
The 2014 Annual Exhibition held on February Hoathly Hill Sculpture 15th and 16th was very well attended. The spe- Studio cial World War One Exhibit was of particular interest. It included many photographs of village Did you know that there is a sculpture studio and WW1 servicemen, Leslie Bonsey's war diary and pottery on your doorstep? – We run a fully func- nurse Angela Limerick's autograph albums. tioning Sculpture Studio and a Pottery with kiln Other items of interest were a bust of Henry Al- in the Community of Hoathly Hill. The Studio is lingham, the last WW1 serviceman to die aged run by four sculptors. Tuition is on an individual 113 and a bronze of a WW1 water carrier both basis, and you can learn to work in clay or carve executed by sculptor Jenna Gearing, a trench in wood and in various stones. Bring your own
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 21 ideas and we will help you to The first session from 11.00 to 12.00 is aimed at bring them about, or together we children from the ages of 4 to 10 years old: find inspiration for your work. Join the team from Raystede Centre for Animal We cater for all levels of ability. Welfare for a fantastic workshop on pet care. The Sculpture Studio is Enjoy a treasure hunt, play vet and learn how to open from Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 1pm; keep your pet dog happy and healthy The sec- there may be a possibility to stay on into the af- ond session is from 13.00 to 14.00 and is aimed ternoon to work on your own. Children's classes at age group 11+. Discover how to make the are in the Pottery from Wednesday to Friday af- right decisions about dog ownership. Play a ternoons, and pottery classes for adults on game of giant top trumps and win prizes while Wednesdays and Thursdays. finding out all you need to know about caring for The atmosphere is one of support and en- your dog and other pets. couragement, we try to foster awe and wonder as For both sessions minimum group is 10 to who we are, and what we may become as true and maximum 30. Parents welcome but not creative individuals. All the groups join for cof- compulsory. This is a FREE event but there is a fee break at 11am each day where we have lively suggested donation of £4.00 per child. Raystede conversations on artistic and life questions. We leaders are DBS checked and fully insured. To love to receive visitors to have coffee with us. book call 01342 823583 or e-mail conserva- Do drop in any time to see who we are and what [email protected]. it is all about. Please see our website for details. A Poet’s Walk with Siân Thomas www.sculpturestudioshoathlyhill.com Tuesday 29 April 2014, 10.30 am to 13.30 pm Gertraud Goodwin. A free three-hour writing workshop for both novice and experienced writers based at the For-
est Centre. Includes a short walk along the Ashdown Forest activities Broadstone Amble. Participants will need to bring a pen and paper, along with appropriate clothing for the season/weather. The walk will be quite short (about ½ mile) and will suit a range of ages and fitness levels. There will be Dawn Chorus Walks - tea and coffee at the end of the walk and dona- Saturday 3 May and Thursday 15 May. tions will be very gratefully received. A wonderful chance to take an early morning Siân is a poet who lives in the East Sussex (7am-9am approx) guided walk on the Forest Weald and who has spent much of her life walk- led by one of our voluntary Rangers, an experi- ing and riding on Ashdown Forest. Her work enced birdwatcher. The birds should be very ac- has appeared in various national publications. tive and vocal at this time. This is a chance to She holds an MA in Creative Writing and Au- hear and see some unusual birds which it is hard thorship from the University of Sussex and is a to find in Sussex outside Ashdown Forest. Suit- member of Four Quarters, a group of visual and able for novices and non-birdwatchers. Limited literary artists who work together to document number of places so book early. There is a small the cycle of the seasons in and around a Sussex charge of £2 per person. Binoculars would be woodland. Siân teaches a weekly class in crea- helpful though not essential. Wear sturdy boots tive writing and has led a number of workshops (could be some uphill/downhill walking) and on the subject in schools and museums. country clothes please –no bright red/yellow/ Spaces are limited to 12. To book call 01342 blue colours. Sorry no dogs. Weather dependent- 823583 or e-mail [email protected] no walk if raining on the morning of walk. Call 01342 823583 to book a place and pay on the Children's Holiday Club day. You will be advised of the meeting point Monday 7 and Wed. 9 April - 10.00 to 15.30 when booking. Meet 15 mins prior to start of the Get outside and enjoy the forest with walk. games, stories, woodland skills, camp building, tracking, treasure hunts and lots more. Cost: £25 Dog Care & Responsible Dog Ownership per day for unaccompanied children aged 6 to Tuesday 8 April 10. Booking essential—contact Rachel on Two fun sessions for children on dog care. 07986703088
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 22
Garden Notes off plants properly that have been grown under protection and don't be tempted to plant cour- The deluge has abated and we are enjoying glori- gettes, sweetcorn, french and runner beans until ous warm spring weather as I write mid-March, May. Main crop potatoes are best planted end of but gardens are still waterlogged in places and April/ early May. Keep onions and leeks, carrots the soil saturated. Rainfall for January was 9 and parsnips as weed-free as possible as they inches and for February 7 inches. The total of 16 suffer badly if swamped and choked by weeds inches is almost half the annual rain for this area early on when the competition for light, water - all in 2 months. Apparently the jet streams and nutrients is at its peak. have now moved, bringing the drier weather with Bedding plants are usually safe to go out temperatures in double figures (Celsius). the third week of May, so empty your tired tub All gardening is go- and pots, clean and fill them. Also plant up and ing to be dependent upon hang out your hanging baskets. In exposed soil conditions, whether sunny or windy positions geraniums (especially mowing, sowing or plant- ivy leaf and trailing ones), begonias, verbena, ing. Pruning is about the sanvitallia and million bells petunias are better least damaging to the than bizzie lizzies, fuschias, lobelia and large ground and will include hydrangeas, buddleias, flowered petunias. Remember to feed baskets osmanthus, viburnum bodnantense, erica carnea, and smaller tubs once a week if you have not cornus alba (dogwoods) and semi woody peren- added plenty of slow release fertiliser. nials like penstemons, salvias, fuchsias, santoli- Tie in shoots of climbing roses, clematis, nas and lavender, and also camellias where they honeysuckles etc to their supports as they grow, need shaping. likewise sweet peas if their tendrils don't catch Let’s hope that late Easter is a sunny, on easily, and put plant supports round vulner- warm one with all those public holidays enabling able tall herbaceous plants like delphiniums. plenty of gardening and outdoor DIY time as Lindsay Shurvell well as perhaps visiting gardens and bluebell woods. Plums, cherries and gages should be pruned in April as the rising of the sap causes the cuts to heal quickly, minimising disease entry. “And the rain, it Daffodil and narcissi can be fed with a high pot- raineth every ash fertilizer, e.g. fish, blood and bone, as soon day” .... as the flowers fade, before the leaves go over...... or so it seemed through this last winter. Resist the temptation to cut off bulb foliage until Alas, Basil is no longer documenting it for us, it has almost completely died down, as the nutri- but for anyone interested here are my rainfall ents return to the bulbs for next year's flowering. figures, compared with the averages taken from Late March/ early April is ideal for sowing Basil’s records. tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, basil Rain, mm Average rain, mm as well as brassicas, leeks, lettuce and other an- December 2013 201 83 nuals such as antirrhinums, petunias, marigolds, January 2014 213 86 alyssum, lobelia—i.e. all the "bedding/basket" February 2014 169 58 plants you may prefer to sow yourself. Cuttings of fuchsias, penstemon, pelargoniums and other Total for winter 583 227 overwintered plants can be done as well as some So the total (22.23 inches in old money) is a little shrubs like cistus, rosemary, thymes, etc. Plant over 2.5 times the average. first and second early potatoes, broad beans, Anne Thorne peas, carrots, beetroot, salad crops, onions and brassica plants in April, but remember to protect emerging potato shoots with fleece if the frost Snippet comes. Fleece is also useful for keeping birds ( pigeons especially) from attacking peas and Economics is extremely useful as a form of em- young "greens", though check that mice haven’t ployment for economists. decided to have a midnight feast under the warm J.K. Galbraith blanket! Frosts are still possible throughout Professor of Economics at Harvard University April and even the first 2 weeks of May. Harden
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 23
My Ten Years at Standen looked after the staff very well. One weekend the cook was taken ill, and I had Mary Cocking has kindly given us this interest- to do the cooking. Everything went well with the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding until I had to take ing account of her early life. the Yorkshire pudding out of the oven. I hadn’t got the oven hot enough, so that was a disaster. I also had to make cakes for the drawing-room tea. It was the first time I had done any cooking on that scale. It was the afternoon off for the parlour-maid and lady’s maid, so I was left to do everything, and I was ex- hausted. I had to take the tea into the drawing-room in my morning clothes. Then on my way to my room to change I called in to see if the cook wanted any- thing, and all she said was “Have you been sitting on your behind reading a book?” That upset me, and I slammed the door. The next day she got up, and when Miss Maggie came as usual to go through things she told her she was very pleased with me. I would have been very proud if she had told me that I was born at Stonelands where my father was chauf- herself. I wasn’t allowed to read, so I did embroidery feur to the Godwin Kings. My mother had to help in instead. I made a tablecloth which I still have today. the house, and I went with her at times and did little Several people came to work in the house. A jobs for the cook, so I was used to service life. husband and wife came as parlour-man and house- I left school at 14 and went for an interview in maid. She was an odd woman, who said she was a July 1942. I liked the place, and I think they liked cordon bleu cook. Miss Beale said they wanted a me. I started work in August as a scullery maid. “rice cream”. I knew exactly how they liked it, so I There were 7 on the staff when I started work there: said I would make it, but the wife told me off and said cook-housekeeper, lady’s maid, head parlour-maid, that wasn’t the way to do it. She boiled the rice in head house-maid, house-parlour-maid, kitchen-maid water, put gelatine with it and put it in the dish with a and me, scullery maid, known as twenty. My wages little whipped cream on the top. It went into the din- were £1 a month, or £12 per year. All clothes were ing-room and came back to the kitchen with a com- rationed then, and as my grandparents were caretakers plaint that they couldn’t get a spoon into it. I got very at the Village Hall my grandmother found me two concerned, as she kept sending me out for the day to dresses and two caps from a jumble sale there, and get rid of me so she could steal from the cupboards. I my aunts gave me two sheets to make aprons. told my mum of my thoughts. My duties at first were doing all the veg and Then there was another couple in which the loads of washing-up. Everyone was very kind to me , man turned to to be a bigamist. He also had the keys as I was very homesick at first since it was the first to the cellar and drank the whisky and filled the bot- time I had left home. My other duties were cleaning tles with cold tea. Then the woman got pregnant and the passages and doing the drawing-room fireplace they had the sack. When I had to go round the house and the staff bedrooms and the lady’s-maid work- doing the shutters at night I had an awful feeling I room. As the war progresses, the parlour and kitchen would find him in one of the rooms, as he knew the maids had to leave to do war work, so my duties in- working of the house, but I never did. creased. As I had to do more in the front of the We had double summer time in those days, house, as it was called, Miss Beale gave me a green and the cook took me with her to the kitchen garden dress and muslin cap and apron. I had to answer the to pick the soft fruit when we had finished the duties. phone and take tea into the drawing-room and dinner It was 10 pm, but only 8 pm by sun time. I loved into the dining-room, but I didn’t have to wait at table doing that. as they helped themselves from a hot trolley. Miss Miss Helen got a Labrador puppy called Bryn. Beale got me off war work because we had in the He loved going to the farm and getting in the silage. house Army, Navy and RAF officers from the Medi- When he came to the back door and barked he was a cal Corps who were working at the Queen Victoria green dog, not at all golden. The cook and I put him Hospital. We had them from Monday evening to Fri- in the sink to bath him as he couldn’t go into the day morning, and then we had the weekend to get the drawing-room in that state. I had to take him for his rooms ready for the next lot. There were 3 to 6 of last walk at night and put him to bed. them there at a time. They had the billiard room to Ten years had passed when I went off on my relax in if they didn’t want to join the ladies in the last half-day and never went back. I had an accident drawing-room. Some did not stay the full five days, and lost my leg, so i was not able to carry on with my so the cook shared out their butter ration on our little duties any more. plates – we each had a plate with our name on for our Mary Cocking ration, and I had to make the little flags. The cook
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 24
From West Hoathly Local History Archive word for everybody. I often saw Miss Grace Clarke out riding attended by her groom Dick Hobden whose The Archive has copies of most of the issues of The son Fred subsequently worked with me in the City Highbrook Chronicle from 1965 to 1978. Some of the and who, I believe, is still alive. articles consist of reminiscences of older residents After the dedication of all Saints Church I be- going back to the 1800s. S J Wicks (probably came one of the first Choir-boys and the annual out- Stephen), was the son of Stephen and Mary. The ing was quite an event, usually a day at the Crystal youngest of their eight children was Nellie who mar- Palace. The Vicar was the Rev. Harris and a very kind ried George Bond and lived at No 2 Melchbourne and considerate man he was. Even as a choir-boy Villas. Another daughter, Margaret, was Mary Cock- though, I couldn't resist playing truant sometimes and ing's grandmother. These notes, which appeared in I am afraid I was a bad influence on some of the other late 1965 and early 1966 when the author was about choir-boys! 85, are reproduced verbatim in two parts. The second Of the Villagers the first who comes to my part will be in the June-July issue. mind is Mrs. Dixon who made and sold home made sweets, and one could buy as little as a farthings worth. They were good. Opposite the north gate of the S.J.Wicks: Memories of` Church, (I forget the name of the house) a gentlemen Highbrook Part I farmer lived (Mr. Bench), and his son Sydney sat next My connection with this quaint Sussex village to me in the choir. I believe this house later became goes back to the year 1882 when my parents moved the Vicarage for a time. Then there were the two la- from Surrey to Sussex with their family of four in- dies that lived at Highbrook House and great support- cluding myself, then one year old. My father had ers of the Church and School. I rather think that they taken a position as assistant head gamekeeper on the defrayed the cost of building the church and that Mr Brook House estate. The cottage (White Stone) allo- Stephenson Clarke gave the land, the clock and the cated to us was so old and dilapidated that my father bells. The illumination of the church was by piped refused to occupy it and we were given temporary Gasoline which was stored in the old oast house near accommodation at Upper Sheriff while a new White the south gate. Nearby was the house, coach house Stone was built. I believe we moved into the new and stables of the Highhrook House ladies, Miss house at the end of 1882 or early in 1883 as my Weguelin and Mrs. Kirby, where their coachman brother Alfred Edward was born there at the end of lived - a Mr. Clark who could he seen every evening the latter year. The new White Stone appeared to he in the reading room playing "crib" with Tom Buck- built on solid rock and the cellar hewn out of rock is man the grave digger. Tom’s brother Ezze was the as cool in the hottest summer as any modern refrig- gardener at Highhrook House, whilst their sister An- erator. I well remember the church being built as I nie was the local Smock and Round Frock Maker. had to pass it every day on my way to and from These garments when "oiled" were perfectly water- school. The school mistress was Miss Southwood (the proof and were worn by most of the beaters and boys nickname for her was Sally Slackstockings!) and beater boys when beating for the shoot. The Buck- there is no doubt that she had her hands more than full mans lived in what was then known as the Round to keep her pupils in order. When I was about twelve House which was really an old oast house. years of age (or perhaps earlier) she had to expel me Apart from Brook House, where Mr. Hunt was for playing truant, and I then had to walk a mile and a the Baliff, I knew the local farms quite well. There half to West Hoathly school where there was a Mas- was Hammingden Farm opposite the school where ter. I still played truant though, especially if there was later they had an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, Army training going on on Ashdown Forest! Pickeridge Farm, Ludwell Farm, The Hook Farm, For recreation in Highbrook we had the Read- Langridge Farm, Grovelands Farm, Newlands Farm, ing Room where we could play Dominoes, Draughts, White Stone Farm, Sheriff Mill Farm - I remember Bagatells, etc. and see magazines, newspapers and seeing corn ground there on thick circular stones the books generously passed on by the "Gentry" of the same shape as the present gramophone records. locality. Our living room at White Stone faced the road The whole life of the village centred round the and we could see anything or anybody that passed. original Mr. Stephenson Clarke of Brook House who One day we saw Farmer Mace of Newlands Farm and was exceptionally generous to the villagers, most of his son Dick drive by in their pony and trap towards whom worked on the estate in some form or other. Lindfield. Some time later, Mr. Mace returned with- There was Jerry Baker the head gamekeeper who out Dick. An hour or two later Dick returned actually lived in the South Lodge, Mr. Jackson the head riding a cow which his father had bought at Haywards coachman who lived in a cottage near the stable yard, Heath Market, giving Dick instructions to lead it Jim Browning who lived in an old cottage just below home. To lead a cow four miles was too much for the South Lodge, Joe Franks the estate carpenter who Dick when there was a nice broad back alongside him lived in the North Lodge. In my young days I knew on which he could so easily sit. most of the Clarke family, but John Gay was my fa- John Ralph vourite. He was always full of fun and had a kind
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 25 A Mum at 50 izing and empathy in the early years. We want our kids to be stimulated a lot; they think "down Life starts at 50? When I discovered I was to time" is just as crucial. We hesitate to frustrate a become a Mum a few weeks short of my 50th child; they think a child who can't cope with birthday, some of the questions that popped up in frustration will grow up miserable. We're focus- my head included: sed on the outcomes of parenting; they think the "Does age matter? I wonder what shape educa- quality of 18 or so years you'll spend living to- tion will take for Thomas in our world of rapidly gether counts for a lot too " developing I.T. What about the art of writing Lindsay Shurvell and reading real books? What gems of advice will our contemporaries impart who've travelled the road long before us?" In Memoriam Answering some of my own questions:- Firstly, age doesn't matter. Granted energy lev- Jasmine Grace Young els are on the decline, but how many grandpar- 17th March 2005 - 7th March 2014 ents are there much older than myself looking after their grandchildren on a weekly basis, some Jasmine was born on17th March 2005 to Lisa, David having them overnight each week. Does it mat- and big sister Jade (then 3) in St. Mary's Hospital, ter whether you're old enough to be a granny Carshalton. She was only a few days old when we when attending ante-natal classes, parents’ eve- were told she had an underdeveloped brain and kid- ney problems. A few weeks later cerebral palsy was nings etc.? There are a fair few women in their confirmed. She had a battle ahead of her, but to eve- 40's "producing" ...though probably planned ryone who got to know Jaz she was a strong little girl. pregnancies unlike mine. She started nursery at the age of 3 and by 5 she was Secondly, children of friends of ours who attending Sherwood Park school in Wallington, which go to an international school abroad now have she loved. Although she was unable to talk Jaz learnt ipads or laptops for everyday classroom work how to communicate by moving her head and hands. and teaching—even at primary level. They have Her middle name Grace fits perfectly as she travelled learnt to write and read "ordinary" books, not through her short life with grace, dignity and strength. just the kindle and tablet variety, but who knows Most winters she would pick up chest infec- what school will look like in 5 or 10 years time! tions and spent a lot of time in St. Mary's/ St.Hellier, Carshalton and St. Georges Tooting. We met some Lastly, some of those words of wisdom wonderful staff at these hospitals. Respite care was people have shared which seem very "sound": given at Christopher's Chase Hospice in Guildford Love them unconditionally and as a family we came to love our time there with Give and don't count the cost (first said by St her and the dedicated staff. Jaz loved music Ignatius of Loyola) (especially Olly Murs), laughter, bright colours and Encourage, even gently coerce your child if re- when well was a happy, smiley, giggly little girl. luctant, to try new things but don't "hot house" This year was to be her last battle. On 3rd them—i.e. don't plan their life for them nor try to January she was admitted to Intensive Care at live your life again through them. St.George's and after a couple of weeks was trans- Routine is good and helpful. ferred to Chase for palliative care and had a happy Christening Day. Lisa and Dave were determined to Regarding discipline and parents answers to their get her home, and Jasmine was strong enough to have child, stand together as Mum and Dad, a united her last 3 weeks at home for some quality family time front even if you don't actually agree with your with her Mum, Dad and sister. On the 7th March - on spouse. Don't argue in front of them. (You can her way back to Chase - she died on route with Lisa disagree and sort out the point in question after- Dave and Jade with her. Jasmine has left a big hole in wards). Kids need stability, to know where the our family. boundaries are, so be consistent. They will soon The funeral took place on 17th March (her 9th attempt to play one parent off against the other birthday) in a packed Chapel at Merton & Sutton anyway. Joint Cemetery, Morden followed by a private family A short book "French parents don't give burial. We will, as a family, hold many fund raising events for Chase for many years to come to thank in" has been an interesting read (by Pamela them for all their support, and a big thank you to eve- Druckerman). To quote: "we Anglophiles tend ryone for all your cards, messages and support that to think you should teach children cognitive has helped us get through these past few months. skills such as reading as soon as possible; the Margaret Brewster French focus instead on "soft" skills like social-
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 26
In Memoriam
Brian Emile Couchy 1936—2014
Brian’s funeral was held in the United Reform Church in Lindfield. The following is a slightly shortened version of the eulogy given by his brother-in-law, Jon Pierce Brian Emile Couchy was born on 9th March 1936 and grew up in Woodford Green, London. In 1944, presumably prompted by the threat of the V1 and V2 rockets, he was evacuated to Stockton-on-Tees with his younger sister Ann. The family they were billeted with worked on the railways, and you can all imagine that this 8 year old boy was in heaven being allowed to ride on the footplates of steam engines. After the war, the Couchy family returned to Woodford Green. On leaving school Brian obtained a 5 year appren- ticeship with the electronics firm, Cossors, in North London and gained a Higher National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. He then did his National Service with the Royal Air Force. On discharge from the RAF, in 1960, Brian applied for a job with Ekco Electronics in Southend. At that time the Ekco head office was at Malmesbury in Wiltshire. The secretary to the manager was one Gillian Pierce, and it appears that Brian spent a nervous few minutes in Gill’s office, waiting for his interview. So 2 years before their marriage, Brian and Gill met, but didn’t meet, if you understand me. Anyway, Brian got the job, working on air- craft radio and radar equipment, and soon after Gill also moved with her boss to the Southend factory. Brian and Gill met again, more formally this time, and they married in 1962 and settled down in Thundersley, a suburb of Southend, where both Andrew and Stephanie were born. In 1972, during a series of mergers which saw Ekco disappear as a company and become eventually Thorn EMI, Brian transferred to the Crawley factory, and the family moved to their current home in Sharpthorne. It was at around this time that Brian was working on the Ekco weather radar installation in the Concorde prototype, which was being developed at Fairford airfield. About the only time I ever saw Brian flustered was when he announced over dinner at my parents’ house that he had just caused the entire Concorde flying programme to be stopped be- cause he had dropped a screwdriver in an inaccessible place behind the pilots’ instrument panel. After Brian retired in 1992 he saw an advertisement for a local charity called Furnihelp, which donated refurbished furniture to those in need. The charity was looking for someone to test and repair domestic appliances. Brian joined and worked one day a week for the 21 years up to his recent illness. I don’t know if it has been calculated how many needy families have benefited from this work, but I do know that in 2013 alone he tested 252 appli- ances. Brian had so many other interests. Much of this centred around the villages of Sharpthorne and West Hoathly. For 12 years he was a governor at the West Hoathly Church of England primary school, including a stint as chairman of the finance committee. He was a trustee of the Friends of West Hoathly churchyard trust for 20 years and hon- orary treasurer until he died. He was an active member of the West Hoathly local history group. He applied his expertise to arranging sound and lighting effects for the amateur dramatic productions of the Stonelands Players in West Hoathly and the Victory Players at Balcombe. He also assisted with the sound recording at the annual classi- cal concert every October in West Hoathly parish church. Brian had a lifelong interest in cricket and joined West Hoathly cricket club, where he opened the batting for many years. He loved his garden and greenhouse and was one of those lucky people with green fingers. Gill has always said that if he planted a walking stick it would sprout leaves. The garden at Sharpthorne was always a riot of form and colour, if sometimes, like his workshed and garage, not quite as organised as it might be. Brian was so good with his hands – he was "Mr Fixit" and could mend anything. When Andrew was 3 years old he pulled the wings off a ladybird. Gill, of course, told him off, to which Andrew replied “That’s OK, Daddy will mend it with Sellotape when he gets home from work". Brian’s greatest interest was perhaps model engineering and especially steam engines, harking back perhaps to his boyhood adventures on the footplate in Stockton-on-Tees. He was a member of mid-Sussex Model Engineering Club, and he had his own model steam engine which he used to provide rides for children and adults at summer fetes and so on. Nobody who visited the family home in Sharpthorne could miss that model steam engine lurking behind the sofa in the sitting room Brian was connected with the church for most of his life. On moving to Sussex he and Gill attended a number of churches until he found his spiritual home here, in Lindfield United Reformed Church. At the same time he con- tinued to host a fortnightly bible discussion group led by a lay reader from St. Margaret's Church in West Hoathly. Brian bore his mercifully short final illness with remarkable fortitude. When my wife and I visited him in hospital a couple of weeks before he died he was typically stoical, taking a great interest in what was going on around him and asking why banoffi pie was not on the menu more often. So that’s the life of Brian. But what was he like as a person? He was a quiet, kind and gentle man, calm and com- posed in any situation. I never saw him angry or lose his temper. On the contrary he could always be relied upon for a relevant witty or dry comment. He lived his life to the full to help his fellows and rose to all the challenges that life threw at him. He was one of those unsung pillars of the community, and he will be sadly missed.
The Chronicle for April and May 2014 – P a g e 27
Post script
Gill Couchy and family are so very grateful for all the cards and messages of condolence received from so many people during Brian's short illness and following his passing, it has been a great comfort during this difficult time. Thanks and love from Gill, Andrew and Stephanie
Sir Thomas Chitty 2 March 1926 – 7 March 2014
Tom Chitty’s funeral took place on 21 March at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St. Francis in West Grinstead, with a good represen- tation from West Hoathly attending. Tom and Susan lived in Bow Cot- tage, North Lane, and brought up their family there. Both are well- known writers, Susan a biographer and Tom a novelist under the pen name of Thomas Hinde. Both The Times and The Daily Telegraph car- ried full obituaries of Tom. The following account is extracted from these, with some additions from the eulogy given by Tom’s son Andrew at the funeral. Thomas Willes Chitty was born in Felixstowe, Suffolk, the eldest son of Sir Henry Chitty, second baronet and the proprietor of a boys’ preparatory school. Tom’s education at this school was a ghastly ex- perience, from which in due course he escaped to Winchester College. Leaving Winchester in 1944, he served for 3 years in the Royal Navy before going up to Oxford to read modern history. In 1951 he married Susan Hopkinson, having proposed on the Big Dipper at Battersea Fun- fair where he was working as a brakeman and Susan was looking after llamas. Susan was the daughter of the difficult and unstable writer Antonia White, whose relationship with both Susan and Tom (whom she described as ‘untalented and unwashed’) remained unrelentingly hostile. They started married life in London, where Tom worked for a few years with Shell in addition to writing. His first novel, Mr. Nicholas, published in 1952, was widely acclaimed, with Tom hailed as the successor to Graham Greene. His 14 subsequent novels never matched this success, although the second linked him with the “angry young men” of the Fifties such as Kingsley Amis and John Osborne. After 1980 he turned to non-fiction and wrote several biographies, school histories and books on gardens and countryside. Tom and Susan started their West Hoathly life in Godwin’s Cottage. Following a couple of years in USA in the mid-sixties, they bought Bow Cottage and moved in with their two oldest children, An- drew and Cordelia. There they practised a high degree of self-sufficiency [which seems to have had much in common with the television show The Good Life, although television was one of the “no’s” in the family]. Tom took an active part in village life at the time, being a Parish Councillor and a School Governor. With Susan he campaigned vigorously against proposals to rebuild the Village Hall first in Finche Field and then on the North Lane Rec. But their life was not confined to Sussex. Andrew recounted memories of camping in the bush during a couple of years in Kenya, culminating in an epic drive from Nairobi to Cape Town. Then in 1977 with their two youngest children Miranda and Jessica, aged 7 and 3, and periodic help from the older two, they set off on The Great Donkey Walk, a 2000 mile trek from Spain to Turkey that took them 18 months and involved a spate of adventures in addition to the shear hard grind of making and breaking camp every day and packing all the equipment onto the long-suffering donkeys. The obituaries emphasise that Tom was a warm and gentle man. At the funeral service Andrew painted a vivid picture of his father as a man who could and did turn his hand to almost anything, from growing vegetables to skinning rabbits, from building bookshelves to brewing elderflower wine. He held firm, often unorthodox, views on life and how it should be lived, and was always a stimulating and loving centre of the family. Anne Thorne
The Chronicle for April—May 2014 - Page 28 CHURCH SERVICES AT ST. MARGARET’S, WEST HOATHLY AND ALL SAINTS,HIGHBROOK
April 1st Tuesday 12.30pm “Lent Lunches” Sharpthorne Hall 2nd Wednesday 7.30pm Lent Discussion Groups at St Margaret’s A course based on “Les Miserables”. 6th 5th Sunday of Lent 8am Holy Communion, St. Margaret’s 10am Family Communion, St Margaret’s 12pm Baptism Joshua, Anthony, Samuel Holford May
6.30pm Una Voce Choral Music, St Margaret’s th 8th Tuesday 4 3rd Sunday after Easter 12.30pm “Lent Lunches”, Sharpthorne Hall 8am Holy Communion, St Margaret’s 9th Wednesday 10am Family Communion, St Margaret’s 7.30pm Lent Discussion Groups at St Margaret’s Baptism/Thanksgiving Thomas Shurvell 6pm Evensong, All Saints A course based on “Les Miserables”. 7th Wednesday th 13 Palm Sunday 7.30 Bible Study the Vicarage 9am Holy Communion, All Saints
10am Parish Communion, St. Margaret’s th Preceded by Procession from School 11 4th Sunday after Easter 12pm Baptism Dexter Greenaway Start of Christian Aid Week 6pm Passion Music, St Margaret’s 9am Holy Communion, All Saints 14th Tuesday 10am Parish Communion, St. Margaret’s 12.30pm “Food For Thought” Sharpthorne Hall 6pm Evensong, St Margaret’s 16th Wednesday 13th Tuesday 7.30pm Lent Discussion Groups at St Margaret’s 12.30pm ‘Food for Thought’, Sharpthorne Hall th A course based on “Les Miserables” 14 Wednesday 168h Friday 7.30pm Bible Study the Vicarage 11am Gather Round “Creating Easter Garden” St Margaret’s 18th 5th Sunday after Easter rd 23 Wednesday 8am Holy Communion, St Margaret’s 8pm “Heart & Soul” St Margaret’s 9am Matins, All Saints 10am Family Service, St Margaret’s HOLY WEEK th 12pm Baptism of Henry Martin APRIL 17 MAUNDY THURSDAY st 6 pm Holy Communion, St Margaret’s 21 Wednesday 8.30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Worth Abbey 7.30pm Bible Study the Vicarage th 8pm “Heart & Soul” St Margaret’s 18 GOOD FRIDAY 10 am Walk of Witness from Sharpthorne th Hall to St Margaret’s 25 6th Sunday after Easter 2-3 pm Good Friday Service, St Margaret’s Rogation Sunday th 20 EASTER SUNDAY, 9am Holy Communion, All Saints 9.30 am Easter Morning Mass, Worth Abbey 10am Parish Communion, St Margaret’s 10 am Parish Communion, St Margaret’s 28th Wednesday 11.15 am Holy Communion, All Saints 7.30pm Bible Study the Vicarage 11.30 am Easter Morning Mass, St Dunstan’s 29th Thursday—Ascension Day 7.30pm Holy Communion St Margaaret’s 27th 2nd Sunday after Easter 9am Matins, All Saints Tomb Thou shalt not hold Him longer 10am Parish Communion, St. Margaret’s 4.30pm “Gather Round” Visit newborn lambs Death is strong, but life is stronger At Witheridges, Horsted Lane Stronger than the dark, the light 30th Wednesday Stronger than the wrong, the right 8pm “Heart & Soul” St Margaret’s Phillips Brooks, An Easter Carol
The Chronicle for April – May 2014 - Page 29 THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
April May Friday, 2nd SUNDAY 30TH MARCH 9-4 pm Burleigh Oaks House, Turners Hill, DON’T FORGET CLOCKS GO BACK Plant Sale, second hand books & cards
st 7 pm Emmaus Club, “Woodland Walk” Tuesday, 1 Saturday, 3rd 12.30pm “Lenten Lunch” Sharpthorne Hall nd 7-9 am Ashdown Forest “Dawn Chorus” Wednesday, 2 Walk 2 pm West Hoathly WI, Village Hall th th Sunday, 4 Friday, 4 2-6 pm Birchanger Gardens, Handcross SCHOOL BREAKS UP Open for St Catherine’s Sunday, 6th 2.15 pm Cricket Season Opening Match 6.30pm “Una Voce” Choral Music, Monday, 5th St. Margaret’s th SPRING BANK HOLIDAY Monday, 7 Wednesday, 7th VILLAGE HALL OPENS 2 pm West Hoathly WI, Village Hall 10-3.30 pm Ashdown Forest “Children’s Friday, 9th Holiday Clubs” 7 pm Emmaus Club “Treasure Hunt” Tuesday, 8th 7.30 pm Sharpthorne WI present “Showtime” 12.30pm “Food for Thought/Lenten Lunch” Village Hall Sharpthorne Hall Saturday, 10th 10-3.30 pm Ashdown Forest “Children’s 11-4 pm Mansion Market Michael Hall School Holiday Clubs” 7.30 pm Sharpthorne WI present “Showtime” 11-12 pm Ashdown Forest “Dog Care & Village Hall & 1-2 pm Responsible Ownership” Sunday, 11th Friday, 11th 3 pm Sharpthorne WI present “Showtime” 7.30 pm Line Dancing Evening at Village Hall Bowls Club Monday, 12th
th DEADLINE CHRONICLE Saturday, 12 8 pm Sharpthorne WI, Village Hall 11-4 pm Mansion Market, Michael Hall th th Tuesday, 13 Monday, 14 12.30 pm “Food for Thought”, Sharpthorne Hall 8 pm Sharpthorne WI, Village Hall th th Thursday, 15 Tuesday, 15 7-9 am Ashdown Forest “Dawn Chorus” Walk 12.30pm “Lenten Lunch” Sharpthorne Hall Friday, 16th Wednesday, 16th 7 pm Emmaus “Capture the Flag” Village Hall 7.45 pm History Group AGM, Sharpthorne Saturday, 17th Hall 9.30 am “Plant & Cake” Sale & Open Day Bowls Club Sunday, 18th Tuesday, 22nd 2-5 pm Colwood House, Warninglid, Open SCHOOL STARTS Garden for St Catherine’s th Friday, 25 Friday, 23rd 7 pm Emmaus Club Football & Rounders, SCHOOL HALF TERM STARTS North Lane Recreation Ground th CHRONICLE AVAILABLE Sunday, 27 th Sunday, 25 10 am Village Walk, Finche Field 10 am Village Walk, Finche Field Tuesday, 29th 1-5 pm Turner’s Hill Village Open Gardens 10-30—1.30 “Poets Workshop” Ashdown for St Catherine’s Hospice Centre Friday, 30th & Saturday 31st 1.30-5 pm Latchett Gardens, Danehill open in aid Bunnies are cuddly of Family Support Work The large and the small But I like chocolate Post your events on The Hoathly Hub so you can ensure that ones your events are automatically included in the Chronicle Cal-
The Back Page Directory
Clubs and Organisations in the Villages The Churches and Services
Allotments ...... Helen Schofield ...... 811301 Beavers ...... John Railton ...... 0845 475 5378 St. Margaret's, West Hoathly, and Bellringers ...... Rachel Edwards ...... 810210 All Saints, Highbrook Book Club ...... Rachel Whitlam ...... 810117 www.westhoathly.org.uk Bowls Club ...... Glyn Lyford ...... 810539 www.highbrook.info British Legion ...... Laurie Gausden ...... 810751 Vicar Brownies ...... Catherine Goodridge ...... 810937 Venerable Lionel Whatley, The Vicarage, North Lane, Circle Club & Lunch ...... Liz Bennett ...... 01444 892731 West Hoathly, RH19 4QF Costcutter ...... Carol Johnson ...... 810234 Tel: 01342 810757 Email: [email protected] Cricket Club -West Hoathly ... Peter Johnson ...... 810660 (His house is just up the track opposite the school) -Highbrook...... Patrick McGahan ...... 01444 892243 Cercle français ...... Bob Darvill ...... 810443 Church Officers at St. Margaret’s Cubs ...... Phil Glynn ...... 810559 Churchwardens: Erica Ansell Tel. 01342 811215 Explorers ...... Colby Mager ...... 01293 885530 Marion Jones Tel. 01342 810143 Football Club ...... Kirk Howick ...... 316448 Church Officers at All Saints Friends of the Priest House ...... Rosemary Watson ...... 810800 Churchwardens: Tony Osborn, Tel: 01444 892191 Friends of WH Churchyard ...... Paul Brown ...... 811866 Hugh Bennett Tel: 01444 892731 Good Companions ...... Liz Bennett ...... 01444 892731 Main Services at both of these churches are Gravetye Manor ...... Andrew Thomason ...... 810567 listed on the inner back pages. Hands Together ...... Ingrid Sethi ...... 810085 Hot Note Stage Academy...... Sarah Wilson ...... 841919 Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Dunstan’s Karate Group ...... Dorian Fretwell ...... 811044 www.worthabbeyparish.co.uk Kindergarten – Hoathly Hill .... Jean Kingsley-Monks ...... 810093 Parish Priest: Local History Group ...... Tony Hunt ...... 810534 Local History Archives ...... John Ralph ...... 810458 Father James Cutts, Tel: 01342 710313 Neighbourhood Watch ...... Sophie Hill ...... 810282 Sunday Mass is normally at 11.30 am at Organ ...... Margaret Watson ...... 810641 St Dunstans Parish Council Clerk ...... Helen Schofield ...... 811301 Parish Council Chairman ...... John Downe ...... 01444 892065 PCC Treasurer ...... Trevor Swainson ...... 810546 Pericles...... Paulamaria Blaxland-de-Lange ... 810133 Community Transport Pre-school (Village Hall) ...... Rachael Rush ...... 811046 If you would like a lift to a local hospital or Priest House Curator ...... Antony Smith ...... 810479 doctor/dentist, please contact:- Pubs - The Cat Inn ...... Andrew Russell ...... 810369 Rainbows ...... Brenda Farley ...... 811020 School ...... Tina Allen ...... 810302 Wednesday: Kathy Brown 811866 Scouts ...... Phil Glynn ...... 810559 Thursday Catherine Goodridge 810937 Sing & Play ...... Liz Shannon ...... 811400 Friday: John Trueman 810612 Stoneland Players ...... Julia Piqué ...... 01435 868245 Any Day: Bill Merry 810771 Tennis Club ...... Terry Cooper ...... 01444 892649 Barbara Polhill 810877 Tia Chi ...... Patricia Smith ...... 01444 457488 Valerie Fyans 810848 Tootsie Time ...... Lorraine Jones ...... 810538 Una Voce ...... Andrew Slater ...... 810734 Carol Houston 810075 Village Hall Bookings:- Christine Graystone 810603 - West Hoathly ...... Helen Schofield ...... 811301 - Sharpthorne ...... Alastair Duncanson ...... 810709 Please remember that these kind volunteers are - Highbrook ...... Liz Bennett ...... 01444 892731 only available on the day stated W.I. - Sharpthorne ...... Mary Mays ...... 810542 - West Hoathly ...... Margaret Rodgers ...... 810012 Writers Group ...... Rachel Whitlam ...... 810117 Youth Groups - Emmaus ...... Lindsay Shurvell ...... 810780 Post Office opening times at Costcutter Please notify any changes to Marion Jones Monday 9am - 2pm Wednesday 9am - 1pm Police Community Support Officer Nicola Green T: 0778 9168791 Email: [email protected] SMALL ADS FOR SALE
SCHOOL PLAYGROUND HIRE FOR PARKING Mobility Scooter, as new, only used 5 times, £250. (Subject to Availability) Phone Margaret on 01342 811320 Contact WH School on 01342 810302