8 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014

Letters and emails continued from previous page. By the way HORSHAM Street Art Newsletter ust thinking about street art in Horsham. Looking at the New members SOCIETY Jillustration in your last Newsletter, I feel the art is ridiculously out of proportion to the building it's on. It looks his month we are pleased to welcome as new members: January 2014 grotesque. TMr and Mrs Church, Irwin Drive; Mr and Mrs Williams, Bedford Road and Mr and Mrs Ericson, Woodside Close, It might be that sensitive art on just two or three bland Shermanbury. buildings could be a positive and a very interesting addition to our town. Horsham is a town with detailed and historic buildings. I would hate to see these compromised. Dates for your diary Who runs Horsham - councillors or developers? Mags Fisher he Friends of St. Mary’s Church , Horsham, will be Itchingfield Tholding their AGM in the Church on Saturday, March 1st, at 10.15 am. Following this our Chairman David Moore orsham Council is not short of reviews, plans and poacher. It has helped the developer to relocate the Bowls will be giving a talk to Friends and guests on the Horsham Hstrategies. Every few months we see another published Club and provided access to the site across Council owned Society. All Society members are extremely welcome and the with a fanfare to drop almost immediately out of sight and land. It stands to gain significant financial benefit, though it Goodbye to Horsham talk will start about 10.45-11.00 am in the Leslie Room at the mind. refuses to say how much, and it will decide whether to grant back of the church. . the developer (and indirectly itself) planning consent. any members will know Paula Lamplough, a Life One can’t help thinking that they are often produced in order MMember, Hon Secretary and much more from 1991-99, Andy Walker and his Swinging Jazz group are giving two to tick a box for government or generate favourable publicity Who is pulling whose strings, and to whom lies the balance a regular attender at AGMs and a stalwart supporter of the concerts in the Barn on Saturday, January 18th and Saturday, for local politicians. They certainly do not drive Council of advantage, the developer or the public? These would be Society and our town. Paula has recently moved to Wye, March 15th. Tickets, to include Fish and Chip supper are activity or provide a loadstone against which proposed important questions at any time but they are all the more so Kent and we take this opportunity to thank her for all she has available from the Church Centre or Waterstones. A licensed initiatives can be tested. with a development that doesn’t meet the Town Plan. done for us and wish her every happiness in her new home. bar will be available. Who remembers the Council’s excellent Horsham Cycling The Council’s 2007 Core Strategy was emphatic that its The newly formed Bedford Culture Club is holding Review of 2009, now lost without trace? Will the new Green policy was not to allow development north of the A264. monthly talks during 2014 at The Bedford, Station Road, HORSHAM Spaces strategy suffer the same fate? There is simply no Along comes a developer with a plan for 4,500 homes, a Directory Horsham. interest within the Council in seeing policies properly hospital and a station and the Council, with a tweak or two, SOCIETY implemented. adopts it as its own despite the fact that there will be no On Thursday 16th January (7-9 pm) Andrew Wines, former hospital nor, in all probability, a station. Forgotten is the 2007 lecturer at the University of East Anglia, will be speaking on The 2011 District Plan committed the Council to building “an policy and underlying case against development, though The Horsham Society is a registered charity (No.268949) and is an ‘The Reckoning: Reflections on the US Civil War on its 150th nothing has changed since then except the leadership. independent body supported by members’ subscriptions Anniversary’ . 620,000 soldiers were killed on both sides, the outstanding arts and leisure culture that supports our equivalent of 5.5 million of the current US population. The economy” . Roll on two years and we see cabinet members PRESIDENT Dr Annabelle Hughes lecture will puncture some of the myths and probe the championing a multiplex cinema which would destroy the The Council has recently announced plans to move its staff VICE-PRESIDENTS complexities of the civil war and its legacy. viability of The Capitol which already provides a cinema and into spare accommodation in County Hall North. On the face Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Nigel Friswell, John Steele, Roy Worskett, so much more. Who is driving this, the Council or developers, of it this is a good idea, and should save money, but what will Mrs Peggy Gledhill MBE Future talks include Michael Paraskos, a writer and lecturer and why? Is it simply a wish to engineer an excuse to axe the become of its substantial offices in North Street? The 2012 CHAIRMAN David Moore on art, on ‘The Landscape in British Art’ on 20th February only example of its supposed commitment to the arts? Town Plan is quite clear: North Street “should be retained for and Ben Read, Senior Research Fellow in Fine Art at the commercial and leisure purposes” . Now who believes with HON TREASURER HON SECRETARY empty council offices and plans to destroy The Capitol that Sarah Powell Rod Cuming University of Leeds, on ‘Statumania! The Victorian Love The Town Plan, launched only a year ago is already being 3 White Horse Road Affair with Public Statues’ on 20th March. ignored with the Council encouraging a development on the our council leaders are going to feel bound by their own EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Horsham RH12 4UL Lifestyle Ford site which comprehensively fails to meet its policy? Listen for the sound of developers advancing and Roy Bayliss Tel: 01403 268444 Tickets (including light food) cost £15 and are available from requirements. Here the Council is both gamekeeper and councillors opening their arms in welcome. Paul Fletcher [email protected] Nigel Friswell Emilie Myers on 01403 211962, [email protected] or Peggy Gledhill MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY via The Bedford Culture Club facebook page. Michael Hall Mrs Pat Gale Car park charges John Steele 46 Bedford Road Horsham RH13 5BJ Delivering print solutions to DISTRIBUTION ORGANISER Tel: 01403 253946 companies throughout the UK n the run up to Christmas the Council Kathy Gleeson [email protected] Iwaived evening car park charges on Thursday evenings to coincide with late The Executive Committee meets at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each night shopping. month in the Manor Room behind the Causeway Barn. Members are welcome The Printed Word to attend as observers but it would be appreciated if the Secretary could be informed beforehand. NEW ADDRESS Mid Sussex introduced a £1 flat rate charge on the Saturdays before SUBSCRIPTION RATES Unit 2 Christmas but HDC refused to match it. Annual Membership: £10 per household Graylands Estate Family Life Membership: £150 per household Langhurstwood Road Postage is added to the above rates at £5 per annum Horsham I wonder as a result how many residents for out-of-town members West Sussex in the south of the district chose to visit www.horshamsociety.org All major credit cards accepted RH12 4QD Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath rather [email protected] than Horsham? So much for supporting Newsletter correspondence should be sent to the Editor: John Steele, 01403 255650 www.printedword.co.uk The possible site for a multiplex cinema. local traders. 2 Old Denne Gardens, Horsham, RH12 1JA (Tel: 01403 272814, email: [email protected]). Other matters should be referred to the Hon Secretary. The Newsletter is published monthly except August and © Individual contributors 2014. No material may be reproduced, copied or stored in a opinions in it, whether the Editor’s or contributors’, are not necessarily retrieval system without the prior consent of the relevant contributor, which should be those of the Society. sought via the Editor. OUR CONCERN IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TOWN 2 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 7

From the committee Letters and emails

Lifestyle Ford Commissioner. Our position is clear: the idea in principle there has been no West Street could name them Ray and Claire. West Street’s redactive secrecy cannot be in the public interest. concrete progress. So we have made a lighting and sound system could be synchronised to mimic here has been an interesting and If the Council has entered into a Freedom of Information request for he integrity of the paviours has been improved and, the sight and sound of flaming dragon's breath rippling along Twelcome, development concerning confidentiality agreement with details of HDC’s discussions and Talthough I never noticed a problem, I can see the drainage West Street and usefully on to a new public barbecue Westrock’s planning application for the Westrock it shouldn’t have done so and meetings with Mid Sussex and Crawley system is better. installed in the East Street restaurant quarter. Lifestyle Ford and Albion Way site it should not be allowed to override the about a potential new town since a joint which includes a new Waitrose store. legal presumption in favour of public report was published in 2011. However, instead of being reminiscent of anything remotely For added effect, perhaps Hotter footwear would sponsor disclosure. like a horse's tail, the new inset paviours have the appearance synchronised underground heating which would scorch the soles/souls of any passing miscreants and encourage passers- Aviva, the owner of Swan Walk Our request has been refused on the of an incoherent wave running down the street. The modern by and window-shoppers to go into the shops. I could go on shopping mall, has formally objected on grounds it would take too much work to look of the furniture is inappropriate and sits uncomfortably but am sure you get the point. the grounds that the lack of connectivity West Street find the information. We have appealed with the historic feel of the town and the adjacent 'historical' to the Chief Executive. street furniture. It will also quickly be out-of-fashion. between the new development and the Chris Morris he refurbished West Street was town centre, and inadequate parking Tennyson Close provision, saying this could “lead to the Topened with a flourish in mid The disneyesque uplighting and coloured downlights are deterioration of the town centre.” November. More of the planned work bizarre and inappropriate for the area (and there is limited Eye Sore pedestrian traffic in West Street during the hours of darkness read with interest the piece on the hideous water sculpture, than expected had been completed ‘Rising Universe’ which was presented to Horsham by This mirrors the Society’s objections, before the necessary pause for the when the shops are, more often than not, closed). It is also I wasteful of electricity and adds to light pollution. Sainsbury’s supermarket - they having built on Horsham’s and like us Aviva has pointed out that Christmas shopping rush. hen you are next enjoying an last greenfield space in the town centre. this is an edge of town development alfresco meal outside Bill’s, or a W The scandal is the work was not necessary, the costs seems which without proper connectivity All that is left now are the planters and coffee and one of Artisan’s splendid It was my understanding that Angela Conner’s work was conforms with neither national planning a possible ‘sound system’ news of which pastries, take a look across Market exorbitant and the expenditure is profligate in these times of economic hardship. I understand HDC obtained a grant for originally commissioned by Cambridge City Council - who policy or the council’s own local plan. has provoked a mixture of hilarity and Square and you will see the fire exit of were far from satisfied with her finished work - thus it concern. It conjures up pictures of the Ryman store. £565k from WSCT and, if that is the case, I can appreciate the difficulty in turning down the chance of having some became passed on to Horsham as a memorial to our town’s Westrock also owns the Bishops Weald George Orwell’s 1984 and the Ministry 5.65/6ths of the cost paid by someone else, though it's still greatest son, the romantic poet, socialist, atheist, and site on the opposite, town centre, side of Truth. Perhaps those watching us on This picture was provided by one of taxpayers money being wasted. republican, Percy Byshe Shelley. of Albion Way. The two sites could with the many CCTV cameras will be able to our members who apparently asked the some imagination be linked to provide give a loud public rebuke to litter bugs. manager whether there were any plans In the article, Ms Connor is quoted as saying that her work for improvement, only to be told he I reserve most criticism for whoever made the grant available improved connectivity between a new for work which was not necessary - when, no doubt, if at all, was inspired by the opening lines of Shelley’s poem, ‘Mont Waitrose and the other planned stores But, seriously, why on earth do we need couldn’t see any were necessary. We Blanc’ which raises the question as to why the City of don’t agree. It is shabby and derelict the money could have been better spent elsewhere. As HDC and the town centre but Westrock has a sound system in West Street? Surely and WSCT clearly have money to squander I am not Cambridge should have commissioned a work dedicated to looking and disfigures this important ignored this suggestion and is pushing the money could be better spent on other expecting council tax increases next year. Shelley who was an Oxford man through and through - and ahead with an unconnected application things. historic area of the town. Millions of who was sent down for his atheistic views. pounds have been invested by the to redevelop Bishops Weald to provide Chris Morris Council and traders to improve the 53 apartments on the upper floors. Tennyson Close It seems to me that members of our Council concocted the Community Assets image of East Street and Market name, Shelley in order to give the impression that Ms Connor In the last edition we said that we had Square and this isn’t good enough. Clean sweep had Horsham in mind before starting on her monstrosity and written to HDC’s Chief Executive to e are pleased to report that The donated it to a gullible public via a grateful supermarket. If We are still waiting to see the promised ask the Council to confirm its intentions Society’s applications to have The icture this: a road sweeper lorry in Millais (believed the Shelley’s remains - minus his heart - had not been consumed W improvements to the twitten between regarding the provision of free parking Capitol and the Museum listed as Pfirst sighting since the Queen visited Horsham) makes by fire - I imagine that he would be spinning in his grave! for Waitrose shoppers, something the community assets have been accepted. Market Square and Middle Street and two or three passes to brush and suck up the leaves and pine company promised in its publicity this fire exit needs smartening up at the needles in the kerb. Robert B Worley campaign. His reply was “the details of This means that neither can be disposed same time. Bourns Court, Ayshe Court Drive future car parking management on this of by the owner, in this case HDC, Two hours later, along comes a man with a leaf blower and site are not yet decided. I will ensure the without giving the community an The Chairman of Ryman is Theo clears the pavement of debris by blowing it into the kerb. Ed: Wikipedia tells us that the Rising Universe “was based upon points you raise are factored into our opportunity to buy and/or run the Paphitis, the entrepreneur better known Clearly a coordinated effort. a fountain planned for the city of Cambridge which was rejected deliberations.” services. But perhaps as important is the for his appearances on Dragons’ Den. due to public protest”. We don’t know what the original design clear statement that it makes that these We have written to him asking for his Nigel Friswell looked like. It may have been quite different. Car park management is such an are indeed very important to the people fire exit to be given a facelift, and Millais, Horsham important aspect of this planning of Horsham. perhaps come and visit the town. application that it seems inconceivable Shelley Fountain Lewis Bryan that HDC would not sort out its policy before deciding whether to approve it or New town FOI request he failing Universe was never going to be immortal but t was nice to see my grandfather’s photo from WWI in the not. Thad it been built to Victorian engineering standards it IDecember Newsletter. If anyone wondered which one he he Society believes that the only would at least still be working. It should now be removed, was, Lewis Bryan is second from the right standing in the Finally, our appeal against the Council’s Tway in which the demand for new perhaps to become a static centrepiece at the Rookwood golf back row. refusal to disclose its financial housing can be met without destroying course. Gill King involvement with Westrock and the the character of our towns and villages Station Road, Horsham benefits it will obtain by granting is to create a new town. In line with recent thinking in HDC, I suggest the installation planning consent, has been refused. We is replaced with of a pair of large dragons, set in a malevolent have now appealed to the Information Despite assurances that HDC accepts pose as if bent on the destruction of our market town. We Letters continued overleaf. 6 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 3 Horsham Football Club Horsham Remembered John Lines, Chief Executive Officer, describes the Club’s past and future plans Barbara Gunn recalls her early life in the second installment of her reminiscences

he first Horsham Football Club was founded in 1871, build a new home on the sports field. That ambition was he reason my parents came to Horsham after the Second Tthough its existence largely depended upon enough quashed when Planning Consent was refused. However, TWorld War was due to my father’s pursuance of his players being available to form a side. However by 1881 the whilst turning down the application, councillors expressed chosen career. He was the Superintendent in charge of club was firmly established and, in September 1882, helped their wish to see Horsham FC relocate within the town in a Beechfield, 72 Oakhill Road, Horsham and my mother was in forming the Sussex County Football Association before more suitable location. the Matron. Beechfield was a teenage boys’ remand home and becoming founder members of the West Sussex Senior I was given the job of presenting a bouquet of flowers at the League in 1896. Since that time, Horsham District Council and the Football official opening of the home. In the early days, my parents, Club have worked closely together looking at various my sister Christine and I lived on the premises. The club secured Queen Street as its permanent home in 1904 possibilities but only one location has been shown to be but some lean form over the ensuing years saw Horsham feasible. The proposed new football facility at Hop Oast, on I have very fond memories of my time at Beechfield. For overlooked when the Sussex County League was created in what will be redundant land owned by Horsham Leisure Ltd example, I can remember one time when my mother set up a 1920 and it wasn't until their fourth West Sussex Senior forming part of the old golf course, is convenient yet Heath Robinson type of alarm to detect if any of the boys tried League triumph in 1925/26 that they were invited to make the reasonably isolated. There is good road access, public to leave their bedroom at night. It involved running a piece of step up. transport from both Southwater and the Town centre and cotton from a large gong in the hall, up the stairs and onto the opposite the additional parking facilities of the Park and Ride. landing. I’ll never forget the terrible racket that ensued one The 1930s was a golden era for the club and the County In addition, having the ground built here will preserve the night when one of the boys triggered the alarm! League was won six times during the decade. When peace former strategic gap between Southwater and Horsham from returned to the world in 1945, Horsham won the first post- further residential integration. I always felt very sorry for one young boy, who was at war title in 1947, the RUR Cup in 1946, 1949 and 1951 and Beechfield for a while. His name was Derek Bentley and I’m the Sussex Senior Cup in 1950. The Club has reached the first This proposed new ground will not only enable Horsham sure that many of you will remember the case involving him round proper of the FA Cup on three occasions, losing to Football Club to survive, it will open opportunities for the and Christopher Craig, who were accused of murdering a Plaque in the choir stalls of St Mary’s Church. Notts County 9-1 in 1947 and Swindon Town 3-0 in 1966. whole of the District by offering a facility available to all policeman in November 1952. Derek paid for this crime when genders, ages and abilities to healthily express themselves and he was hanged for the murder of Detective Sergeant Frederick The club continued to experience success, finishing sixth in bond together through team sport. A double benefit to the Fairfax on the 28th January 1953. He was given a posthumous My two sons were born in Crawley though both have now the Isthmian League in 1977. However, financial problems scheme will enable The Holbrook Club to enjoy a new long pardon in 1998. moved away. One lives in Brighton, whilst the other lives in threatened the club’s survival and it was only saved from term secure lease together with a substantial financial input County Carlow in Southern Ireland. I lived in my parents’ bankruptcy by the hard work of Frank King, the Chairman. from Horsham FC to improve its own first class and publicly When some of the boys became disruptive in later years, it final home at 62 Smithbarn until I left Horsham in 2000 to The 1980s was a dark period for the club. available sporting facilities. This new lease will be triggered became unsafe for the family to continue to live in Beechfield move to Market Harborough. I subsequently moved to upon planning consent being granted. so we moved to 4 Merryfield Drive. Eventually, Beechfield Downham Market about two years ago. Things picked up in the 1990s and in 2007, the club reached was closed and the facility was moved to Copthorne. The the FA Cup competition proper for the third time, achieving a Sadly, it is a reality that Horsham Football Club with all its building was subsequently demolished. My father then However, I still consider Horsham as my home town and I marvellous 1-1 draw with the mighty Swansea City at Queen history will cease to exist if these aspirations fail to became Welfare Officer for Horsham and Crawley with like to visit whenever possible. My husband and I find the Street in the second round . This was followed by an excellent materialise this time around. To be clear, those are not words responsibility for the inspection of care homes for the elderly. Horsham Society Newsletter a good way to stay in touch with performance in the replay at The Liberty Stadium, when chosen to appear melodramatic. It has taken Horsham what’s happening in the town. Horsham led twice, before finally going down 6-2. At the end Football Club and Horsham District Council more than three My father never lost his love of music and quite early on he of the 2007 – 2008, the club even challenged for a place in the decades of trying and failing to find a suitable relocation. was persuaded to join St Mary’s choir by our family doctor, Ed: If anyone who knew Barbara would like to make contact with Conference South league. There is no going back to Queen Street and there is no other John Dew, who was a well-established member of the choir. her please let me have your name and address so that the solution. He also joined HAODs and I still have the photograph of him information can be passed on to her. In 2008 the club had to vacate its Queen Street ground having dressed for a part in Brigadoon at the old Capitol theatre. I sold the land for redevelopment. At the same time as must admit that I still grieve at the demolition of what was a departing Queen Street, it purchased the former Royal and Ed: Should you like any further information please contact John lovely building. My father loved taking part in the Gilbert and Sun Alliance Sports Club in North Heath Lane, hoping to Lines, at [email protected] or 07721418889. Sullivan musicals and he was joined by me and someone else you might know, Pat Gale, in some of the shows. Will you help run the Society?

My mother was very involved with the St John’s Ambulance e currently have vacancies on the Executive Committee service from 1965. She was inducted as a Serving Sister in the Wwhich we would like to fill in the New Year. If you are Order of St John by the Countess of Bessborough. curious about what is happening in our town and concerned about its future you would find the work interesting and My father died in 1993 and there’s a plaque in his memory in rewarding. Group photograph taken at the last game the choir stalls of St Mary’s church. His funeral service was ever played at the Queen Street ground taken by the Reverend Chris Martin, which adds another part It doesn’t matter how long you have lived in Horsham, or how representing the Club’s past, present and to my story. Chris was a pupil at Christ’s Hospital and is the recently you joined the Society. Nor do you need previous future. son of Nancy Martin, who met my mother when she was committee experience. It is pretty informal and everyone has a training at Pitmans. Nancy and my mother became lifelong chance to express their views. friends and she also stood as my godmother when I was christened. Nancy and her husband eventually moved to a We meet monthly on the first Wednesday at 7.30pm in the house on North Parade so as to be near to my mother and Manor Room behind the Causeway Barn. If you think you may father. My father’s ashes were buried outside of the church be interested please give Rod Cuming a ring on 01403 268444 wall of St Mary’s. and arrange to sit in on our next meeting to see what we do. 4 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 5 What’s in store for 2014? Sink the Bismark Raymond Charman delves into the life of his favourite Granddad orsham is facing many challenges look and feel of the high street and the West Street refurbishment have Hand change is inevitable if we are number and nature of retail jobs. established the bookends of the to maintain the town’s relative primary retail zone. t’s funny what you find when you set out on a simple prosperity and popularity as a place to Successful high streets will be those Imission, in my case to find out something about my favourite Granddad. What I discovered took me by surprise. live, work and visit. that can adapt. It means making them There is arguably still a gap into places that are attractive and fun to represented by the eastern arm of My great grandfather, George Charman, was born in the east Shopping patterns will continue to visit, with high quality personal Bishopric. The Council is hopeful this end of London. He and his first wife, Emma, had three change with a further rise in internet services that you can’t buy on the will be addressed by a major revamp of children, one of whom was called Anglice Claude Charman. shopping, particularly the increasingly internet. High streets must become the public realm using the Lifestyle The family moved from London to Dorset and back to London popular supermarket home deliveries. destinations of choice: nowadays they Ford developer’s contribution. We see before they eventually settled in Horsham, initially living in need the shoppers more than the nothing fundamentally wrong with this Wellington Road. When Emma died, George married his There will be greater use of new shoppers need them. pleasant area as it is provided second wife, Mary, in 1900 and they had five children. My technologies which allow in-store something is done to replace the now grandfather, William Charman, was one of their children. He price comparison with rival shops and Yes, that means coffee shops, defunct Shelley Fountain with an was born in 1909 and the family lived in Stanley Road during an increasingly brazen approach to hairdressers, beauty parlours, nail bars, attractive new centrepiece which does WWI. ‘showrooming’ (where you try out a mobile phone repairers and all the justice to this important site. product such as clothes or perfume in a others that people are often quick to George’s son, Anglice, by his first marriage lived with his shop and then buy them on the internet demonise. They are not ruining our Equally, the Council’s apparent father and stepmother so he would have known my grandfather more cheaply). high streets but saving them. acquiescence over that developer’s as a young boy. I don’t know if my grandfather remembered poor land assembly means it has his half-brother; he certainly never talked about him. However, Traders are fighting back with It also means that high streets will written off Bishopric west of the Anglice was an interesting person in his own right as I’ve competitive websites and free, next shrink in size. It is inconceivable that Albion Way as a long term retail area. subsequently discovered. Why he was called Anglice I’ll never day, local ‘click and collect’ delivery Horsham can sustain a shopping know as I’m told that the name derives from medieval Latin. William Charman. schemes. These are designed to frontage stretching from Queen Street Retail properties in East Street, east of It’s not too surprising that he was always known by his second overcome the problem of home to the end of Bishopric without so Denne Road, and Queen Street are Christian name Claude. I think I’d do the same with a name allowed other units of the to engage with and sink deliveries arriving when you are out many empty shops that it looks like a looking increasingly forlorn and like that! the Bismark. and a tiresome trip to the mail sorting mouth with severe dental decay. neglected. These look likely to be office. Instead you can pick up your replaced over time by residential Claude joined the army in 1915 and, like many other young Following repairs, HMS Suffolk was assigned to the Home order on the high street between other The areas assigned mainly as retail apartments, perhaps with a few men, he was killed during the Ypres campaign nine months Fleet in Arctic waters and returned for a refit in December shopping or on your lunch break. frontages need to be reduced in length, neighbourhood shops. later. He was only twenty three years old. It was such a waste 1942. Following the repairs, she joined the Eastern Fleet in perhaps stretching only from the East of a young life. April 1943 and spent the rest of the war operating in the Indian Companies are also realising they can Street junction with Denne Road But this will not be enough. The Ocean. achieve near national coverage with westwards to Albion Way. Council and traders must continue to I don’t know anything about my grandfather’s youth but I do fewer, more strategically placed stores work together to rebuild our high know that he decided to make a career for himself in the Royal In 1948, the decision was taken to scrap the Suffolk. She was and are withdrawing from high streets This is happening already, part by streets. Markets, street fairs, live music Navy and so he was involved in WWII. One of the ships he handed over to BISCO (British Iron and Steel Corporation) in with low footfall or unsuitably design and part by stealth and neglect. and performance art all have a part to served on before the Second World War began was HMS March 1948 and the ship was scrapped in Newport, South designed shop premises. The successful reinvention of East play; Christmas lights and Christmas Suffolk. HMS Suffolk was a County class heavy cruiser, which Wales, in June 1948. Street as a primarily restaurant and trees too, all have their place. was built in Dockyard towards the end of 1924 and All this comes at a price in terms of the boutique shopping area, and now the JS commissioned two years later. I know very little about my grandfather’s life outside the navy. He and my grandmother had two sons, one of whom is my Suffolk served on the China Station until the outbreak of father Peter, and they lived in Oakhill Road. When I was WWII. The ship returned to Great Britain in 1939 and was put young, I used to visit them at weekends and I really looked A Biography of West Street on patrol in the Denmark Straits in October of that year. In forward to going to their home. I’d love to know more but you April 1940, she was part of the Norwegian Campaign and never ask the right questions when you’re young. he refurbishment of West Street includes over 25 historical arrived at Tórshavn to commence the British pre-emptive Tfacts set into new paving stones. The work that was occupation of the Faroe Islands. The following day, Suffolk It’s quite sad that my children will never meet my grandfather. undertaken to research the history of the street has now been sank the German tanker Skagerrak to the north west of Bodø There’s no doubt that he was my favourite Granddad. turned by Jeremy Knight into A Biography of West Street , in Norway. published by the Horsham Museum Society, priced £8. Three days later, Suffolk and four destroyers were sent to This fascinating book tells the story of an ancient market town’s bombard an airfield at Sola. The operation had little effect and War memorial main shopping street from when it was first mapped out 800 the ships were bombed by the German Luftwaffe, which years ago. caused serious damage to the aft of the ship. As a result of the he Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has damage, she had to return to Scapa Flow and was out of action Tannounced that English Heritage will list up to 500 war It is full of interesting maps, illustrations and facts about the from April 1940 until February 1941, whilst she was repaired memorials a year over the centenary years 2014-18. many and varied trades and traders that have served the town at the Clyde. over the centuries. Many familiar names such as Jury Cramp, While there are 1,300 examples currently on the National Frederick Chart and William Albery make an appearance, but Suffolk’s claim to fame occurred during May 1941, when she Heritage List for England it is believed that this may represent who had heard previously of Michael Woodgate, perhaps the was involved in the battle of the Denmark Strait. She engaged less than 10 per cent of all free-standing war memorials. The town’s first bookseller; or that his probate inventory in 1679 the Bismark twice during the battle and then used her radar to Society has been researching our memorial in Carfax with a included textiles, gunpowder, and spices as well as books. track the Bismark as it passed through the Denmark Strait. This view to making an application to have it added to the list. 4 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 5 What’s in store for 2014? Sink the Bismark Raymond Charman delves into the life of his favourite Granddad orsham is facing many challenges look and feel of the high street and the West Street refurbishment have Hand change is inevitable if we are number and nature of retail jobs. established the bookends of the to maintain the town’s relative primary retail zone. t’s funny what you find when you set out on a simple prosperity and popularity as a place to Successful high streets will be those Imission, in my case to find out something about my favourite Granddad. What I discovered took me by surprise. live, work and visit. that can adapt. It means making them There is arguably still a gap into places that are attractive and fun to represented by the eastern arm of My great grandfather, George Charman, was born in the east Shopping patterns will continue to visit, with high quality personal Bishopric. The Council is hopeful this end of London. He and his first wife, Emma, had three change with a further rise in internet services that you can’t buy on the will be addressed by a major revamp of children, one of whom was called Anglice Claude Charman. shopping, particularly the increasingly internet. High streets must become the public realm using the Lifestyle The family moved from London to Dorset and back to London popular supermarket home deliveries. destinations of choice: nowadays they Ford developer’s contribution. We see before they eventually settled in Horsham, initially living in need the shoppers more than the nothing fundamentally wrong with this Wellington Road. When Emma died, George married his There will be greater use of new shoppers need them. pleasant area as it is provided second wife, Mary, in 1900 and they had five children. My technologies which allow in-store something is done to replace the now grandfather, William Charman, was one of their children. He price comparison with rival shops and Yes, that means coffee shops, defunct Shelley Fountain with an was born in 1909 and the family lived in Stanley Road during an increasingly brazen approach to hairdressers, beauty parlours, nail bars, attractive new centrepiece which does WWI. ‘showrooming’ (where you try out a mobile phone repairers and all the justice to this important site. product such as clothes or perfume in a others that people are often quick to George’s son, Anglice, by his first marriage lived with his shop and then buy them on the internet demonise. They are not ruining our Equally, the Council’s apparent father and stepmother so he would have known my grandfather more cheaply). high streets but saving them. acquiescence over that developer’s as a young boy. I don’t know if my grandfather remembered poor land assembly means it has his half-brother; he certainly never talked about him. However, Traders are fighting back with It also means that high streets will written off Bishopric west of the Anglice was an interesting person in his own right as I’ve competitive websites and free, next shrink in size. It is inconceivable that Albion Way as a long term retail area. subsequently discovered. Why he was called Anglice I’ll never day, local ‘click and collect’ delivery Horsham can sustain a shopping know as I’m told that the name derives from medieval Latin. William Charman. schemes. These are designed to frontage stretching from Queen Street Retail properties in East Street, east of It’s not too surprising that he was always known by his second overcome the problem of home to the end of Bishopric without so Denne Road, and Queen Street are Christian name Claude. I think I’d do the same with a name allowed other units of the Royal Navy to engage with and sink deliveries arriving when you are out many empty shops that it looks like a looking increasingly forlorn and like that! the Bismark. and a tiresome trip to the mail sorting mouth with severe dental decay. neglected. These look likely to be office. Instead you can pick up your replaced over time by residential Claude joined the army in 1915 and, like many other young Following repairs, HMS Suffolk was assigned to the Home order on the high street between other The areas assigned mainly as retail apartments, perhaps with a few men, he was killed during the Ypres campaign nine months Fleet in Arctic waters and returned for a refit in December shopping or on your lunch break. frontages need to be reduced in length, neighbourhood shops. later. He was only twenty three years old. It was such a waste 1942. Following the repairs, she joined the Eastern Fleet in perhaps stretching only from the East of a young life. April 1943 and spent the rest of the war operating in the Indian Companies are also realising they can Street junction with Denne Road But this will not be enough. The Ocean. achieve near national coverage with westwards to Albion Way. Council and traders must continue to I don’t know anything about my grandfather’s youth but I do fewer, more strategically placed stores work together to rebuild our high know that he decided to make a career for himself in the Royal In 1948, the decision was taken to scrap the Suffolk. She was and are withdrawing from high streets This is happening already, part by streets. Markets, street fairs, live music Navy and so he was involved in WWII. One of the ships he handed over to BISCO (British Iron and Steel Corporation) in with low footfall or unsuitably design and part by stealth and neglect. and performance art all have a part to served on before the Second World War began was HMS March 1948 and the ship was scrapped in Newport, South designed shop premises. The successful reinvention of East play; Christmas lights and Christmas Suffolk. HMS Suffolk was a County class heavy cruiser, which Wales, in June 1948. Street as a primarily restaurant and trees too, all have their place. was built in Portsmouth Dockyard towards the end of 1924 and All this comes at a price in terms of the boutique shopping area, and now the JS commissioned two years later. I know very little about my grandfather’s life outside the navy. He and my grandmother had two sons, one of whom is my Suffolk served on the China Station until the outbreak of father Peter, and they lived in Oakhill Road. When I was WWII. The ship returned to Great Britain in 1939 and was put young, I used to visit them at weekends and I really looked A Biography of West Street on patrol in the Denmark Straits in October of that year. In forward to going to their home. I’d love to know more but you April 1940, she was part of the Norwegian Campaign and never ask the right questions when you’re young. he refurbishment of West Street includes over 25 historical arrived at Tórshavn to commence the British pre-emptive Tfacts set into new paving stones. The work that was occupation of the Faroe Islands. The following day, Suffolk It’s quite sad that my children will never meet my grandfather. undertaken to research the history of the street has now been sank the German tanker Skagerrak to the north west of Bodø There’s no doubt that he was my favourite Granddad. turned by Jeremy Knight into A Biography of West Street , in Norway. published by the Horsham Museum Society, priced £8. Three days later, Suffolk and four destroyers were sent to This fascinating book tells the story of an ancient market town’s bombard an airfield at Sola. The operation had little effect and War memorial main shopping street from when it was first mapped out 800 the ships were bombed by the German Luftwaffe, which years ago. caused serious damage to the aft of the ship. As a result of the he Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has damage, she had to return to Scapa Flow and was out of action Tannounced that English Heritage will list up to 500 war It is full of interesting maps, illustrations and facts about the from April 1940 until February 1941, whilst she was repaired memorials a year over the centenary years 2014-18. many and varied trades and traders that have served the town at the Clyde. over the centuries. Many familiar names such as Jury Cramp, While there are 1,300 examples currently on the National Frederick Chart and William Albery make an appearance, but Suffolk’s claim to fame occurred during May 1941, when she Heritage List for England it is believed that this may represent who had heard previously of Michael Woodgate, perhaps the was involved in the battle of the Denmark Strait. She engaged less than 10 per cent of all free-standing war memorials. The town’s first bookseller; or that his probate inventory in 1679 the Bismark twice during the battle and then used her radar to Society has been researching our memorial in Carfax with a included textiles, gunpowder, and spices as well as books. track the Bismark as it passed through the Denmark Strait. This view to making an application to have it added to the list. 6 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 3 Horsham Football Club Horsham Remembered John Lines, Chief Executive Officer, describes the Club’s past and future plans Barbara Gunn recalls her early life in the second installment of her reminiscences

he first Horsham Football Club was founded in 1871, build a new home on the sports field. That ambition was he reason my parents came to Horsham after the Second Tthough its existence largely depended upon enough quashed when Planning Consent was refused. However, TWorld War was due to my father’s pursuance of his players being available to form a side. However by 1881 the whilst turning down the application, councillors expressed chosen career. He was the Superintendent in charge of club was firmly established and, in September 1882, helped their wish to see Horsham FC relocate within the town in a Beechfield, 72 Oakhill Road, Horsham and my mother was in forming the Sussex County Football Association before more suitable location. the Matron. Beechfield was a teenage boys’ remand home and becoming founder members of the West Sussex Senior I was given the job of presenting a bouquet of flowers at the League in 1896. Since that time, Horsham District Council and the Football official opening of the home. In the early days, my parents, Club have worked closely together looking at various my sister Christine and I lived on the premises. The club secured Queen Street as its permanent home in 1904 possibilities but only one location has been shown to be but some lean form over the ensuing years saw Horsham feasible. The proposed new football facility at Hop Oast, on I have very fond memories of my time at Beechfield. For overlooked when the Sussex County League was created in what will be redundant land owned by Horsham Leisure Ltd example, I can remember one time when my mother set up a 1920 and it wasn't until their fourth West Sussex Senior forming part of the old golf course, is convenient yet Heath Robinson type of alarm to detect if any of the boys tried League triumph in 1925/26 that they were invited to make the reasonably isolated. There is good road access, public to leave their bedroom at night. It involved running a piece of step up. transport from both Southwater and the Town centre and cotton from a large gong in the hall, up the stairs and onto the opposite the additional parking facilities of the Park and Ride. landing. I’ll never forget the terrible racket that ensued one The 1930s was a golden era for the club and the County In addition, having the ground built here will preserve the night when one of the boys triggered the alarm! League was won six times during the decade. When peace former strategic gap between Southwater and Horsham from returned to the world in 1945, Horsham won the first post- further residential integration. I always felt very sorry for one young boy, who was at war title in 1947, the RUR Cup in 1946, 1949 and 1951 and Beechfield for a while. His name was Derek Bentley and I’m the Sussex Senior Cup in 1950. The Club has reached the first This proposed new ground will not only enable Horsham sure that many of you will remember the case involving him round proper of the FA Cup on three occasions, losing to Football Club to survive, it will open opportunities for the and Christopher Craig, who were accused of murdering a Plaque in the choir stalls of St Mary’s Church. Notts County 9-1 in 1947 and Swindon Town 3-0 in 1966. whole of the District by offering a facility available to all policeman in November 1952. Derek paid for this crime when genders, ages and abilities to healthily express themselves and he was hanged for the murder of Detective Sergeant Frederick The club continued to experience success, finishing sixth in bond together through team sport. A double benefit to the Fairfax on the 28th January 1953. He was given a posthumous My two sons were born in Crawley though both have now the Isthmian League in 1977. However, financial problems scheme will enable The Holbrook Club to enjoy a new long pardon in 1998. moved away. One lives in Brighton, whilst the other lives in threatened the club’s survival and it was only saved from term secure lease together with a substantial financial input County Carlow in Southern Ireland. I lived in my parents’ bankruptcy by the hard work of Frank King, the Chairman. from Horsham FC to improve its own first class and publicly When some of the boys became disruptive in later years, it final home at 62 Smithbarn until I left Horsham in 2000 to The 1980s was a dark period for the club. available sporting facilities. This new lease will be triggered became unsafe for the family to continue to live in Beechfield move to Market Harborough. I subsequently moved to upon planning consent being granted. so we moved to 4 Merryfield Drive. Eventually, Beechfield Downham Market about two years ago. Things picked up in the 1990s and in 2007, the club reached was closed and the facility was moved to Copthorne. The the FA Cup competition proper for the third time, achieving a Sadly, it is a reality that Horsham Football Club with all its building was subsequently demolished. My father then However, I still consider Horsham as my home town and I marvellous 1-1 draw with the mighty Swansea City at Queen history will cease to exist if these aspirations fail to became Welfare Officer for Horsham and Crawley with like to visit whenever possible. My husband and I find the Street in the second round . This was followed by an excellent materialise this time around. To be clear, those are not words responsibility for the inspection of care homes for the elderly. Horsham Society Newsletter a good way to stay in touch with performance in the replay at The Liberty Stadium, when chosen to appear melodramatic. It has taken Horsham what’s happening in the town. Horsham led twice, before finally going down 6-2. At the end Football Club and Horsham District Council more than three My father never lost his love of music and quite early on he of the 2007 – 2008, the club even challenged for a place in the decades of trying and failing to find a suitable relocation. was persuaded to join St Mary’s choir by our family doctor, Ed: If anyone who knew Barbara would like to make contact with Conference South league. There is no going back to Queen Street and there is no other John Dew, who was a well-established member of the choir. her please let me have your name and address so that the solution. He also joined HAODs and I still have the photograph of him information can be passed on to her. In 2008 the club had to vacate its Queen Street ground having dressed for a part in Brigadoon at the old Capitol theatre. I sold the land for redevelopment. At the same time as must admit that I still grieve at the demolition of what was a departing Queen Street, it purchased the former Royal and Ed: Should you like any further information please contact John lovely building. My father loved taking part in the Gilbert and Sun Alliance Sports Club in North Heath Lane, hoping to Lines, at [email protected] or 07721418889. Sullivan musicals and he was joined by me and someone else you might know, Pat Gale, in some of the shows. Will you help run the Society?

My mother was very involved with the St John’s Ambulance e currently have vacancies on the Executive Committee service from 1965. She was inducted as a Serving Sister in the Wwhich we would like to fill in the New Year. If you are Order of St John by the Countess of Bessborough. curious about what is happening in our town and concerned about its future you would find the work interesting and My father died in 1993 and there’s a plaque in his memory in rewarding. Group photograph taken at the last game the choir stalls of St Mary’s church. His funeral service was ever played at the Queen Street ground taken by the Reverend Chris Martin, which adds another part It doesn’t matter how long you have lived in Horsham, or how representing the Club’s past, present and to my story. Chris was a pupil at Christ’s Hospital and is the recently you joined the Society. Nor do you need previous future. son of Nancy Martin, who met my mother when she was committee experience. It is pretty informal and everyone has a training at Pitmans. Nancy and my mother became lifelong chance to express their views. friends and she also stood as my godmother when I was christened. Nancy and her husband eventually moved to a We meet monthly on the first Wednesday at 7.30pm in the house on North Parade so as to be near to my mother and Manor Room behind the Causeway Barn. If you think you may father. My father’s ashes were buried outside of the church be interested please give Rod Cuming a ring on 01403 268444 wall of St Mary’s. and arrange to sit in on our next meeting to see what we do. 2 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014 7

From the committee Letters and emails

Lifestyle Ford Commissioner. Our position is clear: the idea in principle there has been no West Street could name them Ray and Claire. West Street’s redactive secrecy cannot be in the public interest. concrete progress. So we have made a lighting and sound system could be synchronised to mimic here has been an interesting and If the Council has entered into a Freedom of Information request for he integrity of the paviours has been improved and, the sight and sound of flaming dragon's breath rippling along Twelcome, development concerning confidentiality agreement with details of HDC’s discussions and Talthough I never noticed a problem, I can see the drainage West Street and usefully on to a new public barbecue Westrock’s planning application for the Westrock it shouldn’t have done so and meetings with Mid Sussex and Crawley system is better. installed in the East Street restaurant quarter. Lifestyle Ford and Albion Way site it should not be allowed to override the about a potential new town since a joint which includes a new Waitrose store. legal presumption in favour of public report was published in 2011. However, instead of being reminiscent of anything remotely For added effect, perhaps Hotter footwear would sponsor disclosure. like a horse's tail, the new inset paviours have the appearance synchronised underground heating which would scorch the soles/souls of any passing miscreants and encourage passers- Aviva, the owner of Swan Walk Our request has been refused on the of an incoherent wave running down the street. The modern by and window-shoppers to go into the shops. I could go on shopping mall, has formally objected on grounds it would take too much work to look of the furniture is inappropriate and sits uncomfortably but am sure you get the point. the grounds that the lack of connectivity West Street find the information. We have appealed with the historic feel of the town and the adjacent 'historical' to the Chief Executive. street furniture. It will also quickly be out-of-fashion. between the new development and the Chris Morris he refurbished West Street was town centre, and inadequate parking Tennyson Close provision, saying this could “lead to the Topened with a flourish in mid The disneyesque uplighting and coloured downlights are deterioration of the town centre.” November. More of the planned work bizarre and inappropriate for the area (and there is limited Eye Sore pedestrian traffic in West Street during the hours of darkness read with interest the piece on the hideous water sculpture, than expected had been completed ‘Rising Universe’ which was presented to Horsham by This mirrors the Society’s objections, before the necessary pause for the when the shops are, more often than not, closed). It is also I wasteful of electricity and adds to light pollution. Sainsbury’s supermarket - they having built on Horsham’s and like us Aviva has pointed out that Christmas shopping rush. hen you are next enjoying an last greenfield space in the town centre. this is an edge of town development alfresco meal outside Bill’s, or a W The scandal is the work was not necessary, the costs seems which without proper connectivity All that is left now are the planters and coffee and one of Artisan’s splendid It was my understanding that Angela Conner’s work was conforms with neither national planning a possible ‘sound system’ news of which pastries, take a look across Market exorbitant and the expenditure is profligate in these times of economic hardship. I understand HDC obtained a grant for originally commissioned by Cambridge City Council - who policy or the council’s own local plan. has provoked a mixture of hilarity and Square and you will see the fire exit of were far from satisfied with her finished work - thus it concern. It conjures up pictures of the Ryman store. £565k from WSCT and, if that is the case, I can appreciate the difficulty in turning down the chance of having some became passed on to Horsham as a memorial to our town’s Westrock also owns the Bishops Weald George Orwell’s 1984 and the Ministry 5.65/6ths of the cost paid by someone else, though it's still greatest son, the romantic poet, socialist, atheist, and site on the opposite, town centre, side of Truth. Perhaps those watching us on This picture was provided by one of taxpayers money being wasted. republican, Percy Byshe Shelley. of Albion Way. The two sites could with the many CCTV cameras will be able to our members who apparently asked the some imagination be linked to provide give a loud public rebuke to litter bugs. manager whether there were any plans In the article, Ms Connor is quoted as saying that her work for improvement, only to be told he I reserve most criticism for whoever made the grant available improved connectivity between a new for work which was not necessary - when, no doubt, if at all, was inspired by the opening lines of Shelley’s poem, ‘Mont Waitrose and the other planned stores But, seriously, why on earth do we need couldn’t see any were necessary. We Blanc’ which raises the question as to why the City of don’t agree. It is shabby and derelict the money could have been better spent elsewhere. As HDC and the town centre but Westrock has a sound system in West Street? Surely and WSCT clearly have money to squander I am not Cambridge should have commissioned a work dedicated to looking and disfigures this important ignored this suggestion and is pushing the money could be better spent on other expecting council tax increases next year. Shelley who was an Oxford man through and through - and ahead with an unconnected application things. historic area of the town. Millions of who was sent down for his atheistic views. pounds have been invested by the to redevelop Bishops Weald to provide Chris Morris Council and traders to improve the 53 apartments on the upper floors. Tennyson Close It seems to me that members of our Council concocted the Community Assets image of East Street and Market name, Shelley in order to give the impression that Ms Connor In the last edition we said that we had Square and this isn’t good enough. Clean sweep had Horsham in mind before starting on her monstrosity and written to HDC’s Chief Executive to e are pleased to report that The donated it to a gullible public via a grateful supermarket. If We are still waiting to see the promised ask the Council to confirm its intentions Society’s applications to have The icture this: a road sweeper lorry in Millais (believed the Shelley’s remains - minus his heart - had not been consumed W improvements to the twitten between regarding the provision of free parking Capitol and the Museum listed as Pfirst sighting since the Queen visited Horsham) makes by fire - I imagine that he would be spinning in his grave! for Waitrose shoppers, something the community assets have been accepted. Market Square and Middle Street and two or three passes to brush and suck up the leaves and pine company promised in its publicity this fire exit needs smartening up at the needles in the kerb. Robert B Worley campaign. His reply was “the details of This means that neither can be disposed same time. Bourns Court, Ayshe Court Drive future car parking management on this of by the owner, in this case HDC, Two hours later, along comes a man with a leaf blower and site are not yet decided. I will ensure the without giving the community an The Chairman of Ryman is Theo clears the pavement of debris by blowing it into the kerb. Ed: Wikipedia tells us that the Rising Universe “was based upon points you raise are factored into our opportunity to buy and/or run the Paphitis, the entrepreneur better known Clearly a coordinated effort. a fountain planned for the city of Cambridge which was rejected deliberations.” services. But perhaps as important is the for his appearances on Dragons’ Den. due to public protest”. We don’t know what the original design clear statement that it makes that these We have written to him asking for his Nigel Friswell looked like. It may have been quite different. Car park management is such an are indeed very important to the people fire exit to be given a facelift, and Millais, Horsham important aspect of this planning of Horsham. perhaps come and visit the town. application that it seems inconceivable Shelley Fountain Lewis Bryan that HDC would not sort out its policy before deciding whether to approve it or New town FOI request he failing Universe was never going to be immortal but t was nice to see my grandfather’s photo from WWI in the not. Thad it been built to Victorian engineering standards it IDecember Newsletter. If anyone wondered which one he he Society believes that the only would at least still be working. It should now be removed, was, Lewis Bryan is second from the right standing in the Finally, our appeal against the Council’s Tway in which the demand for new perhaps to become a static centrepiece at the Rookwood golf back row. refusal to disclose its financial housing can be met without destroying course. Gill King involvement with Westrock and the the character of our towns and villages Station Road, Horsham benefits it will obtain by granting is to create a new town. In line with recent thinking in HDC, I suggest the installation planning consent, has been refused. We is replaced with of a pair of large dragons, set in a malevolent have now appealed to the Information Despite assurances that HDC accepts pose as if bent on the destruction of our market town. We Letters continued overleaf. 8 Horsham Society Newsletter January 2014

Letters and emails continued from previous page. By the way HORSHAM Street Art Newsletter ust thinking about street art in Horsham. Looking at the New members SOCIETY Jillustration in your last Newsletter, I feel the art is ridiculously out of proportion to the building it's on. It looks his month we are pleased to welcome as new members: January 2014 grotesque. TMr and Mrs Church, Irwin Drive; Mr and Mrs Williams, Bedford Road and Mr and Mrs Ericson, Woodside Close, It might be that sensitive art on just two or three bland Shermanbury. buildings could be a positive and a very interesting addition to our town. Horsham is a town with detailed and historic buildings. I would hate to see these compromised. Dates for your diary Who runs Horsham - councillors or developers? Mags Fisher he Friends of St. Mary’s Church , Horsham, will be Itchingfield Tholding their AGM in the Church on Saturday, March 1st, at 10.15 am. Following this our Chairman David Moore orsham Council is not short of reviews, plans and poacher. It has helped the developer to relocate the Bowls will be giving a talk to Friends and guests on the Horsham Hstrategies. Every few months we see another published Club and provided access to the site across Council owned Society. All Society members are extremely welcome and the with a fanfare to drop almost immediately out of sight and land. It stands to gain significant financial benefit, though it Goodbye to Horsham talk will start about 10.45-11.00 am in the Leslie Room at the mind. refuses to say how much, and it will decide whether to grant back of the church. . the developer (and indirectly itself) planning consent. any members will know Paula Lamplough, a Life One can’t help thinking that they are often produced in order MMember, Hon Secretary and much more from 1991-99, Andy Walker and his Swinging Jazz group are giving two to tick a box for government or generate favourable publicity Who is pulling whose strings, and to whom lies the balance a regular attender at AGMs and a stalwart supporter of the concerts in the Barn on Saturday, January 18th and Saturday, for local politicians. They certainly do not drive Council of advantage, the developer or the public? These would be Society and our town. Paula has recently moved to Wye, March 15th. Tickets, to include Fish and Chip supper are activity or provide a loadstone against which proposed important questions at any time but they are all the more so Kent and we take this opportunity to thank her for all she has available from the Church Centre or Waterstones. A licensed initiatives can be tested. with a development that doesn’t meet the Town Plan. done for us and wish her every happiness in her new home. bar will be available. Who remembers the Council’s excellent Horsham Cycling The Council’s 2007 Core Strategy was emphatic that its The newly formed Bedford Culture Club is holding Review of 2009, now lost without trace? Will the new Green policy was not to allow development north of the A264. monthly talks during 2014 at The Bedford, Station Road, HORSHAM Spaces strategy suffer the same fate? There is simply no Along comes a developer with a plan for 4,500 homes, a Directory Horsham. interest within the Council in seeing policies properly hospital and a station and the Council, with a tweak or two, SOCIETY implemented. adopts it as its own despite the fact that there will be no On Thursday 16th January (7-9 pm) Andrew Wines, former hospital nor, in all probability, a station. Forgotten is the 2007 lecturer at the University of East Anglia, will be speaking on The 2011 District Plan committed the Council to building “an policy and underlying case against development, though The Horsham Society is a registered charity (No.268949) and is an ‘The Reckoning: Reflections on the US Civil War on its 150th nothing has changed since then except the leadership. independent body supported by members’ subscriptions Anniversary’ . 620,000 soldiers were killed on both sides, the outstanding arts and leisure culture that supports our equivalent of 5.5 million of the current US population. The economy” . Roll on two years and we see cabinet members PRESIDENT Dr Annabelle Hughes lecture will puncture some of the myths and probe the championing a multiplex cinema which would destroy the The Council has recently announced plans to move its staff VICE-PRESIDENTS complexities of the civil war and its legacy. viability of The Capitol which already provides a cinema and into spare accommodation in County Hall North. On the face Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Nigel Friswell, John Steele, Roy Worskett, so much more. Who is driving this, the Council or developers, of it this is a good idea, and should save money, but what will Mrs Peggy Gledhill MBE Future talks include Michael Paraskos, a writer and lecturer and why? Is it simply a wish to engineer an excuse to axe the become of its substantial offices in North Street? The 2012 CHAIRMAN David Moore on art, on ‘The Landscape in British Art’ on 20th February only example of its supposed commitment to the arts? Town Plan is quite clear: North Street “should be retained for and Ben Read, Senior Research Fellow in Fine Art at the commercial and leisure purposes” . Now who believes with HON TREASURER HON SECRETARY empty council offices and plans to destroy The Capitol that Sarah Powell Rod Cuming University of Leeds, on ‘Statumania! The Victorian Love The Town Plan, launched only a year ago is already being 3 White Horse Road Affair with Public Statues’ on 20th March. ignored with the Council encouraging a development on the our council leaders are going to feel bound by their own EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Horsham RH12 4UL Lifestyle Ford site which comprehensively fails to meet its policy? Listen for the sound of developers advancing and Roy Bayliss Tel: 01403 268444 Tickets (including light food) cost £15 and are available from requirements. Here the Council is both gamekeeper and councillors opening their arms in welcome. Paul Fletcher [email protected] Nigel Friswell Emilie Myers on 01403 211962, [email protected] or Peggy Gledhill MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY via The Bedford Culture Club facebook page. Michael Hall Mrs Pat Gale Car park charges John Steele 46 Bedford Road Horsham RH13 5BJ Delivering print solutions to DISTRIBUTION ORGANISER Tel: 01403 253946 companies throughout the UK n the run up to Christmas the Council Kathy Gleeson [email protected] Iwaived evening car park charges on Thursday evenings to coincide with late The Executive Committee meets at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each night shopping. month in the Manor Room behind the Causeway Barn. Members are welcome The Printed Word to attend as observers but it would be appreciated if the Secretary could be informed beforehand. NEW ADDRESS Mid Sussex introduced a £1 flat rate charge on the Saturdays before SUBSCRIPTION RATES Unit 2 Christmas but HDC refused to match it. Annual Membership: £10 per household Graylands Estate Family Life Membership: £150 per household Langhurstwood Road Postage is added to the above rates at £5 per annum Horsham I wonder as a result how many residents for out-of-town members West Sussex in the south of the district chose to visit www.horshamsociety.org All major credit cards accepted RH12 4QD Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath rather [email protected] than Horsham? So much for supporting Newsletter correspondence should be sent to the Editor: John Steele, 01403 255650 www.printedword.co.uk The possible site for a multiplex cinema. local traders. 2 Old Denne Gardens, Horsham, RH12 1JA (Tel: 01403 272814, email: [email protected]). Other matters should be referred to the Hon Secretary. The Newsletter is published monthly except August and © Individual contributors 2014. No material may be reproduced, copied or stored in a opinions in it, whether the Editor’s or contributors’, are not necessarily retrieval system without the prior consent of the relevant contributor, which should be those of the Society. sought via the Editor. OUR CONCERN IS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TOWN