Sussex Exclusive Issue 1 2022

Issue I 2022 

A Pocket Guide to Rye 

Meet the Steyning Artists 

Spotlight on: 

West Sussex Vineyards 

Mouth Watering 

Lamb Recipe 

Latest Spring Fashions 

Lazy Sussex Sundays

THE PETWORTH PARK 

ANTIQUES & FINE ART FAIR 

In Partnership with 2Covet 

THE MARQUEE, PETWORTH PARK 

PETWORTH, W. SUSSEX GU28 0QY 

Come and buy the very finest 

art and antiques at our eighth 

annual event of distinction 

13-15 MAY 2022 

Friday 11.00 - 18.00 

Saturday 10.30 - 18.00 

Sunday 10.30 - 17.00 

https://www.petworthparkfair.com/ 

EXHIBITORS INCLUDE 

THE 

ANTIQUES 

DEALERS 

FAIR 

LIMITED 

To request your 

complimentary invitation 

for three please email 

SE@adfl.co.uk 

01797 252030 

For updates please visit 

www.petworthparkfair.com 

Anderson Rowntree Solicitors 

BEAR Petworth 

Blackbrook Gallery 

J H Bourdon-Smith Ltd 

Augustus Brandt 

Brilliant Gin 

Mark Buckley Antiques 

Jenna Burlingham Gallery 

Burlington 

Cambridge Fine Art 

Lucy B Campbell Gallery 

Christopher Clarke Antiques 

Sarah Colegrave Fine Art 

William Cook 

Dansk Silver by Jane Burgett 

Diamonds4you 

Shaw Edwards Antiques 

Elford Fine Art 

Ellis Fine Art 

Justin Evershed-Martin 

Fileman Antiques 

Garret & Hurst Sculpture 

Granta Fine Art of Cambridge 

Greenstein Antiques 

Hatchwell Antiques 

Haynes Fine Art 

Hickmet Fine Arts 

Michael Hoppen Gallery 

The Hunt Gallery 

Jupiter Antiques 

Stephen Kalms Antiques 

Kirker Holidays 

L & V Art and Design 

Jeroen Markies Art Deco 

Markov 

Kaye Michie Fine Art 

Timothy Millett Limited 

Millington Adams 

M & D Moir 

Morgan Strickland Decorative Arts 

Olde Time 

Ottocento 

PAADA 

Richard Price 

Ptarmigan Antiques 

T Robert 

Tom Rooth Fine Art 

Rountree Tryon Galleries 

Rug Addiction 

Santos London 

Shapiro & Co 

Something Different 

Thomas Spencer Fine Art 

Michael St. John 

The Swan Gallery 

Karen Taylor Fine Art 

Timewise Vintage Watches 

Tribal Arts and Textiles 

Walton House Antiques 

Mark J West

A word 

from the editor 

Editor 

Lucy Pitts 

Lucy@lucyp@sussexexclusive.com 

Deputy Editor 

Janine Marsh 

Editorial Assistant and DDIP 

Aifric Peachey 

Design & Production 

Philippa French 

Sales 

sales@sussexexclusive.com 

Welcome to the first edition of Sussex Exclusive Magazine. 

It’s been a long time in the making and has risen like a 

phoenix from the ashes of Covid. Our mission is to share 

some of the many wonderful places, people and stories 

from across Sussex and to inspire you with reasons to 

visit, move to or staycation in this wonderful county. 

With wine steadily becoming a major part of our Sussex heritage, we can 

now enjoy top quality wine tours and tastings in a way that used to be 

reserved for visits to the vineyards of France. And with so many vineyards 

to choose from, in this edition we’ve shared the first of a three part series on 

Sussex wine. 

As the weather gradually improves, it’s a great time to start planning some 

places to explore, so we’ve been over to stunning and historic Rye in the east, 

to Pulborough nature reserve in the west and stopped off in Steyning to meet 

some of the fantastic artists who make up Steyning Arts in advance of their 

forthcoming Art Trail. 

Tim Canham shares why you might, or might not, want to take up running, 

and we’ve got details of a Sussex writing retreat, some suggestions for a 

fabulous Sunday lunch, the latest spring fashion trends and some dates for 

your diary. If that’s not enough, meet Mi and Monica from Brighton who are 

empowering the women of Uganda, enjoy some of our Sussex folklore and 

take a trip back in time with 120 years of Christ’s Hospital. And although 

we don’t want you to leave our county, we do have a late autumn holiday 

suggestion which involves drinking lots of Armagnac! As you do. 

That’s it for now, but you’ll find lots of Sussex soundbites on our website and 

social media and you may spot me out on the roads of Sussex, trying to sniff 

out some new treats. 

Lucy 

Lucy Pitts 

Sussex Exclusive Magazine 

www.sussexexclusive.com 

Front Cover 

Halnaker Windmill at sunrise with its views over 

the Tinwood Estate Vineyard. 

3

Contents 

8 Steyning Arts 

Meet some of the artists from this historic town 

who will be exhibiting at this summer’s Steyning 

Arts Trail 

8 

12 Sussex Folklore 

Tales of Sussex giants, dragons, cuckoos and 

green men, as well as the Devil himself and how 

they all form part of our heritage 

16 Mama Mzungo 

How two women from Brighton have been 

supporting and empowering a group of women 

with albinism in Uganda 

18 CGT on Grounds and Gardens 

Stuart Ritchie explains how properties with 

gardens and grounds may unwittingly fall liable 

to Capital Gains Tax on sale 

12 

20 Spring Style 

Step into spring with style and embrace these 

six fashion trends for the new season from floral 

prints to Austin Powers! 

16 

22 Sundays Are For 

Relax, and reconnect with these six wonderful 

ways to spend a perfect Sunday in Sussex 

22 

26 The Dawn Chorus 

Anna Allum from RSPB Pulborough Brooks 

tempts us to start the day early with the 

charismatic call of our Sussex birdlife 

28 

28 A Sussex Exclusive Wine Tour 

Discover 12 West Sussex vineyards in the first of 

our Grand Tour of Sussex Vineyards series and 

dive into the Sussex wine scene 

4 | sussexexclusive.com

36 Mouth-Watering 

Easter Recipe 

Easy to cook and tantalisingly tasty, pomegranate 

glazed lamb with Moroccan spiced roasted 

vegetables and rice 

36 

38 Breaking the Law 

Tim Canham explains why your running habit 

might just have to be kept a secret but why you 

might want to grab your trainers anyway 

44 

44 Sussex Writing Retreats 

Unleash your inner author and get writing with 

help from talented local writers at this sublime 

local writing retreat 

46 Support St. Catherine’s 

Hospice 

Why the new premises of this local hospice are so 

vital in supporting our community and how they 

still need our help 

48 

52 

48 Christ’s Hospital Celebrates 

A look back on the incredible achievements of 

this unique school since its move to Horsham 

120 years ago 

56 

52 Rye’s Rich Heritage 

in a Nutshell 

Rediscover Rye Heritage Centre and their new 

Smugglers in the Attic, and enjoy our essential 

visitors guide to Rye 

56 In the Diary 

A diverse and at times eclectic selection of events 

to help fill your diary including theatre, foraging 

and cabaret 

58 

58 Flamme de l’Armagnac 

Travel to Gers in the South of France to 

experience the unique Alembic Dinner and enjoy 

a taste of Armagnac 

5

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Contributors 

Tim Canham 

Tim works in equipment leasing. It’s 

not as thrilling as it sounds but does 

finance the provision of technology 

and dubious fashion for teenage sons, 

just. He started running about 10 years 

ago and has completed half a dozen 

plus marathons, lots of half marathons 

and local triathlons. He enjoys the 

occasional pint of local ale (is there 

any other reason to exercise?) and is 

generally found most weekends trying 

to weave in a plod with Horsham 

Joggers between trips to football or 

rugby matches around Sussex. 

Vanessa Jamieson 

Vanessa is an enthusiastic, amateur 

cook who likes to provide her 

friends with tasty and welcoming 

food. No one ever leaves hungry 

that’s for sure! Working full time, 

Vanessa needs to squeeze in quick 

to prepare food, without losing any 

of the flavour, between switching 

off the work laptop at 5 and the first 

guest arriving at 7.30. She likes to 

experiment with different cuisines, 

which can take her to Morocco, 

Thailand, Japan and back to France, 

all in the space of one week! 

Peter Benner 

Retired solicitor and local historian, 

Peter Benner has lived in Sussex 

for over 75 years. A member of 

the Sussex Archaeological Society 

since 1956, he has a lifelong interest 

in Sussex Wealden Iron as well as 

building a 400 strong collection 

of books about Sussex (some of 

which date back to the seventeenth 

century). His specialisms also include 

transport, and Sussex culture. 

Anna Allum 

Anna is the Visitor Experience 

Manager at RSPB Pulborough Brooks. 

She has been with the RSPB here in 

Sussex for over 15 years, initially as a 

volunteer. She loves all nature, except 

perhaps spiders, and enjoys sharing 

her enthusiasm for birds, butterflies, 

bats and beetles with visitors to the 

nature reserve. 

Donna Camera 

Donna has worked in fashion for over 

20 years and is founder and owner of 

La Vida Boutique in Horsham which 

specialises in affordable luxury in 

ladies’ fashion and accessories. 

Stuart Ritchie 

Expert Tax Advisor helping clients 

manage their wealth, minimise 

tax bills, and solve tax disputes & 

financial problems. Stuart specialises 

in private client taxation and has 

built up considerable experience 

and expertise in this field with an 

emphasis on agreeing complex 

taxation issues, both onshore and 

offshore, and helping clients achieve 

their financial objectives. 


Walk This Way 

with Pied A Terre Adventures 

Pied A Terre Adventures is a family-run West Sussex company providing exclusive, tailored walking, 

outdoor, and adventurous experiences throughout Great Britain. 

Whether you are preparing for a personal walking route or company team building day, looking for 

a way to develop your orienteering and map reading skills, or simply want to get a taste of the great 

outdoors on a walking holiday, we can support you on your adventure. 

We pride ourselves on providing our guests with interesting locations to explore and offering a 

personal and high-quality service. All of our guides and instructors are experts in their field, endlessly 

enthusiastic, incredibly knowledgeable and highly qualified. 

Outdoor skills 

Our Skills Academy has been recognised as one 

of the leading providers in the area, and whatever 

your level of experience, we have a course for you. 

Self guided walks 

We also have a range of self-guided walking breaks. 

Each trip is meticulously tailored to those taking 

part, with a personalised itinerary and bag transfer. 

Virtual guides 

Every walker on our self-guided walks can have 

their own virtual guide with our brand-new mobile 

App which allows customers to access their own 

programme, trail notes and top sights. 

Expert, local guides 

For those who like to have someone lead the 

way, there are plenty of options to soak up the 

beauty of the great outdoors under the expert 

guidance of our local guides. 

Our qualifications include Nordic Walking instructor, 

Hill & Moorland Leader, National Navigation (NNAS) 

Tutor Award, Mountain Leader and International 

Mountain Leader. We hold this year’s Gold Trusted 

Service Award from Feefo for our consistently 

excellent customer service. 

“We are passionate about creating and providing 

inspirational, quality and sustainable walking 

adventures where our guests can escape and immerse 

themselves in the outdoors, have fun, learn, challenge 

themselves, and create lifelong memories”. 

For more information on Pied A Terre 

Adventures, please call 01403 788994 

or visit https://patadventures.com 

7

Steyning & 

Steyning Arts 

A creative epicentre and a chance to meet the artists 

8 | sussexexclusive.com 

Steyning is delightfully creative, as well as pretty, historic and always bustling. As a town, it dates 

back to Anglo Saxon times but these days, a quick stroll around the town still reveals some great 

place names; think, Mouse Lane, Sheep Pen Lane, Dog Lane, Pilgrim Cottage and Faggs Barn! 

There are some quirky boutiques, a couple of great coffee shops and masses of history, from the 

church and Commonwealth Graves to the little museum. Unbelievably, Steyning used to be 

a port but these days, the river and sea have receded and if you want to explore beyond the town, you 

must head instead to the South Downs that overlook the town. 

Perhaps, it’s this heady combination of history, beauty and nature that makes it such a creative place but 

whatever it is, the town enjoys a thriving arts scene. 

Steyning Arts 

Formed in in May 2011, Steyning Arts brings together some 80 local artists and craftspeople (both 

professionals and talented amateurs) with the aim of showcasing local talent and make art accessible to 

the wider public. They also aim to inspire budding artists and have built a community of creatives who 

nurture the creation and appreciation of art. 

Each year, Steyning Arts host a winter event and a summer Arts Trail providing visitors with a chance to 

see artists’ work in their homes and studios and showcasing a rich and eclectic mix of artwork and crafts. 

This years’ event will be on the Saturday 28 th to Sunday 29 th May and from Friday 3 rd to Sunday 5 th 

June. And over the course of the next few editions of Sussex Exclusive Magazine, we’ll be introducing 

some of the artists.

Meet The Artists 

Lisa Woolcott 

I was born and raised in Sussex and after a little shifting around, settled 

with my family in the heart of the South Downs. I am self-taught in my 

art, learning through research, study and experimentation. A life-changing 

personal event gave me the nudge I needed to take my creative passions more 

seriously. 

Drawn to felt artwork, I use merino wool, silks, bamboo threads and other 

embellishments in the wet felting process (where water and soap are used to 

bond the fibres) and needle felting process (using barbed needles and finger 

guards!) to ‘paint’ my pictures. Dyed wool is mainly used but I am lucky 

enough to have a relative living in Somerset who keeps a herd of rare breed 

sheep. Unspun curly locks straight from the farm often feature in my work, 

and I have been known to pull fleece locks from fences whilst out walking! 

Whenever I need space to think, I instinctively look to the landscape around 

me - a wild retreat that gives me a licence to be lost in my own self. My 

spiritual connection with the natural landscape around me impacts the way 

I feel, and in turn my own wellbeing influences how I see the world. The 

creative process of layering fibres helps me convey the story of a moment, a 

mood or a memory, reflecting in the textures and marks in my work. My 

art is greatly influenced by the sea in particular, finding as I do the sea to be 

exhilarating, energising, powerful, spiritually uplifting, and at the same time 

peaceful, grounding, and healing. My dog friend and I visit the coast and 

landscape around us whenever possible, returning to my studio to interpret 

and recreate the pictures from my mind, and often my camera. 

www.lisawoolcottfeltart.com 

Unspun curly 

locks straight 

from the farm 

often feature in 

my work, and 

I have been 

known to pull 

fleece locks 

from fences 

whilst out 

walking! 

9

Melissa Birch 

I trained as a Fine Artist during the 1990s at 

the Ruskin School, Oxford and Chelsea College 

of Art in London but it wasn’t until I took an 

evening course in Brighton that I discovered a 

process for making lino prints without a printing 

press. I became hooked and decided to specialise 

in this medium. 

I have focussed solely on lino printing now for 

over a decade and as a result tend to see the world 

in line, shape or blocks of colour! I still sketch, 

doodle and paint quite freely in order to work 

out a design, but the end result is then carved 

into a sheet of vinyl and printed in layers of two 

or three colours. It gives a simplified and iconic 

look to the image which I love. I also like the fact 

that a print can be repeated several times within 

an edition, making the artworks more affordable 

while still being uniquely handmade. 

Since moving to this beautiful area of West Sussex 

I am inspired on an almost daily basis by the 

local flora, the birds and wildlife, the changing 

pattern of the seasons and remarkable way that 

nature responds and transforms as it works its 

way through the annual cycle. I love the striking 

silhouette of a seed head against an autumn 

sky, the bursts of colour coming from berries 

in winter and the new shapes formed by buds 

each spring. There is a constant story of promise 

unfolding around us and I feel compelled to 

celebrate it. 

www.melissabirch.co.uk 

Elizabeth Wilkinson 

I am a mainly self-taught artist, living in 

Steyning, West Sussex.My preferred style is 

acrylic paint on board. More recently I have 

been experimenting with linocut prints and 

monoprints. 

My inspiration comes from the people, animals 

and landscapes that are part of my day to day life 

in Sussex. 

www.elizabethwilkinson.com 


y 

Elizabeth Wilkinson 

My studio is 

our converted 

garage and is 

affectionately 

known as the 

‘Bat Cave’. 

Kevin Meeten 

I consider myself to be an accidental artist. A few 

years ago, while recovering from a serious illness, 

I started to paint and took great pleasure in doing 

so. I was surprised by how many people liked 

my work and began to sell it quite successfully. 

I have no formal art training and my work is 

spontaneous and unrestrained by convention. 

I have exhibited with Steyning Arts, Horsham 

Artists, and at Gallery BN5, and also sell my 

work at local art markets. I have a full-time job, 

so painting and exhibiting time is limited by this. 

I like to paint with acrylic, but also include mixed 

media like metal, plastic, electrical components 

and watch parts, and anything else that will give 

the desired effect. It doesn’t need to be an art 

material. I sometimes add a touch of 3D relief to 

my paintings, and enjoy the interesting features 

and effects created by this, as well as the reaction 

that this causes when somebody notices an 

unexpected something coming out of the canvas. 

I have a lifelong passion for all things sci-fi and 

fantastic, and like to create stylised portraits and 

abstract, futuristic landscapes. When I was a 

schoolboy I loved to read classic fantastic fiction 

by the likes of E.E. ‘Doc’ Smith, Isaac Asimov et 

al, and still have a passion for all sci-fi literature, 

cinema, T.V. and comic books. Since the 1970s 

and the arrival of Star Wars, sci-fi has become 

a huge part of modern life, and the range of 

characters and situation from which I can draw 

inspiration has grown exponentially. My studio is 

our converted garage and is affectionately known 

as the ‘Bat Cave’. 

Facebook: artworksbykev 

by 

Kevin Meeten 

11

Sussex 

Folklore 

Strange tales of the Devil, 

a few giants and some cuckoos 


Folklore: the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, 

passed through the generations by word of mouth 

St. Dunstan 

spotted a 

cloven hoof 

under the 

girl’s skirt and 

springing up, 

clamped the 

Devil’s nose 

with a pair of 

hot tongs. 

Mayfield images 

and the Devil 

Folklore and legends can take many shapes and in Sussex, we have strange tales, legends and 

beliefs in abundance. From dragons and serpents in the west of our county, to tales of giants 

and the Devil in the east, the folklore of Sussex lays the foundations for interesting place 

names, wonderful stories and unique local customs. And if you’re a local of Sussex, you may 

be surprised at how much of our folklore forms an integral part of your understanding and 

knowledge of our county. 

Mayfield and the Devil 

Beautiful Mayfield has a curious relationship 

with the Devil. Legend has it that St. Dunstan 

(an English Bishop who lived from 909 – 988), 

was working in Mayfield as a blacksmith when 

he met the Devil disguised as a beautiful girl. 

Wise to the Devil’s ways, St. Dunstan spotted a 

cloven hoof under the girl’s skirt and springing up, 

clamped the Devil’s nose with a pair of hot tongs. 

The Devil (understandably) screamed and fled to 

Tunbridge Wells where he plunged his nose into 

the town’s famous spring waters, thereby giving 

them their red colour and warmth. Apparently, 

the tongs can still be found in Mayfield. 

The Devil clearly took a dislike to Mayfield and 

when the convent was built, the Devil reappeared 

to St. Dunstan and threatened to knock down 

all the houses in the village. St. Dunstan sprang 

into action once more, negotiating a deal with 

the Devil to leave standing any houses that had 

a horseshoe outside. St. Dunstan then managed 

to nail a horseshoe to all the houses in the 

village, thereby saving them from destruction but 

infuriating the Devil to such an extent that he 

continued to try and get his revenge by moving 

the wooden church and hindering the building 

of a stone one. There are many iterations of these 

tales, but next time you visit Mayfield, you’ll be 

sure to be walking in the footsteps of the Devil 

himself! 

13

The Devil’s 

work started 

near Poynings 

and the earth 

he threw up 

as part of his 

digging is said 

to have formed 

Chanctonbury 

Ring, Cissbury 

Ring, Rackham 

Hill, and Mount 

Caburn 

The Devil and his Dyke 

When churches started springing up all over 

Sussex, unsurprisingly perhaps, the Devil got 

rather annoyed. So he went out one night 

and started digging a ditch through the South 

Downs in order to let in the sea and flood these 

houses of God. His work started near Poynings 

and the earth he threw up as part of his digging 

is said to have formed Chanctonbury Ring, 

Cissbury Ring, Rackham Hill, and Mount 

Caburn. Luckily, an old woman spotted the 

Devil at work and held a candle up to a sieve, 

thereby awaking the cockerel. Seeing the light 

and hearing the cockerel, the Devil fled, leaving 

his work incomplete and we were left with 

Devil’s Dyke. Some say, the Devil is buried 

there while others swear that if you run around 

the Devil’s grave (a mound of earth at the Dyke) 

12 times or around Chanctonbury Ring, the 

Devil himself will appear. 

The Wilmington and Firle Giants 

Who doesn’t love a giant tale and Wilmington 

(or more accurately Windover Hill) and Firle 

are home to two of our most famous Sussex 

giants. The Wilmington Giant apparently 

fought to the death with the neighbouring 

Firle Beacon Giant and the Long Man at 

Wilmington is said to be an outline of where 

he fell and died. There is also told of a giant at 

nearby Mount Caburn called Gill and some 

say that Mount Caburn itself is in fact shaped 

like the head of a giant sleeping figure with the 

body extending to the north. Stories are also 

told that there might have originally been the 

outline of another female giant at Wilmington, 

long since lost and on top of all that there are 

rumours of buried treasure under the Long 

Man of Wilmington and at Mount Caburn. 

Heathfield Cuckoo Fair 

For many, many years Heathfield has held 

a spring fair in April known as the Cuckoo 

Fair. These days, there’s even a walking and 

cycling trail named after it too. 

Different stories attest to the naming of the 

fair, one being that cuckoos always sang for 

the first time in a new year on the day of the 

fair, and another story maintaining that a 

bad-tempered old woman kept the cuckoos 

captive all winter. She would only release 

them if she was in a good mood on the day 

of the fair. 


One other 

splendid 

manifestation 

of a fearsome 

serpent is the 

Knucker who 

lived in the 

Knucker Hole 

near the church 

at Lyminster 

near Arundel, a 

deep spring fed 

pond. 

Green men and Jack of the Green 

Sussex has our fair share of Green Man traditions 

often represented in local pub signs. The Green 

Man was a spirit like figure who led revelry and 

never more so is this true than in Hastings where 

they still hold Jack in the Green celebrations 

on May Day. If you happen to be in those parts 

at the time, you’ll see houses decorated with 

tassels, Morris dancing and a bevy of green men. 

The origins of this tradition are murky and 

not unique to Sussex. Some suggest the Green 

Man may be a pre-Christian spirit connected 

to nature and fertility, others say he represents 

summer and a time of plenty but whatever his 

roots, he is generally tall, colourful and covered 

in greenery and flowers. In Hastings, he is also 

accompanied by attendants who are dressed in 

green rags, with face paint, and there is always 

music, singing and dance! 

St. Leonard’s Dragon 

The Knucker 

Jack of the Green 

May day in Hastings 

Dragons of St. Leonard’s Forest 

Residents of Horsham are familiar with tales of 

dragons in the nearby forest. St. Leonard of 

Noblac was a northern French hermit 

who settled in the wilds of the Sussex 

Weald and set about tidying up the 

growing dragon population. This he 

did in the forest that now bears his name by 

engaging the fearsome beast in mortal conflict 

but not without loss of his own blood. Where 

the brave saint’s blood was spilt in the forest, 

lilies of the valley sprang up, and there are still 

“Lily beds” in this corner of Sussex where the 

flowers thrive and are preserved. 

Sadly, the efforts of the worthy saint did not 

apparently rid our county of dragons and 

in a well recorded incident in about 1614, 

the independent testimony of John Steele, 

Christopher Holder and a widow woman 

dwelling near Faygate (attested to by the carrier 

who plied between there and the White Horse in 

Southwark) reported “a serpent, reputed to be nine 

feet in length, shaped in the form of an axle-tree 

(e.g. thicker in the middle and tapering at the ends) 

with a neck and long, black, scales and a red belly, 

large feet and bunches that were expected to grown 

into wings, and giving forth a venom that had 

proved fatal to several people and animals.” He had 

been spied within a few miles of Horsham. 

Recent research has suggested that this dragon 

most closely resembled the Comodo dragons of 

Indonesia. Other appearances of what must have 

been a dragon were at Fittleworth, Offington and 

on Bignor Hill, but where he came from and how 

he survived, no one knows! 

The Knucker! 

One other splendid manifestation of a fearsome 

serpent is the Knucker who lived in the Knucker 

Hole near the church at Lyminster near Arundel, 

a deep spring fed pond. He preyed upon the 

population and had a particular taste for young 

maidens. He had indeed apparently clapt his eyes 

but not his jaws on the King’s daughter when the 

King offered her in marriage to a worthy knight 

who duly slayed the beast and carried off his bride. 

An alternative version of this legend features 

a young, local lad, Jim Pulk, who is supposed 

to have lured the Knucker with an enormous, 

poisoned pie so large that it took a horse and cart 

to carry it to his hole. But the beast responded 

by eating the pie, horse and cart. In yet another 

version, young Jim killed the Knucker with his 

pie but foolish lad having not washed his hands 

after leaving the kitchen, himself succumbed to 

the poison. 

So, wherever you may find yourself walking in the 

darker corners of Sussex, keep your wits about you 

and hot tongs close by, because who knows, there 

may be dragons, devils and serpents there. 

Lucy Pitts and Peter Benner 

15

Mama Mzungu 

Women empowering women with albinism 


Some things are so exceptional that you just have to pause and catch 

your breath. And that’s how I felt when I first saw a short video 

posted on YouTube by local businesswoman and video producer, 

Mi Elfverson about Mama Mzungu. 

I first met Mi some years back at a networking event. With 25 years’ 

experience in the film and video industry, she founded her own business in 

Brighton, The Vlog Academy, back in 2014 which delivers video production 

and training services to businesses. I’d been following Mi with interest but I 

never thought for a moment this would lead to Uganda. 

From Brighton to Uganda 

Mi runs an initiative called Eye Storm, which amongst other things is about 

training businesswomen to promote themselves via video. It’s about women 

owning our strengths, stepping out of the shadows and positioning ourselves as 

leaders in our field. As experts. As inspirers. And this is why in 2019, Mi found 

herself with a lady called Monica Norley, in a remote corner of Uganda, with a 

group of women with Albinism.

What most of us don’t know 

about albinism 

Albinism is an inherited condition and although 

we don’t necessarily encounter many people 

with albinism in the UK, it has a relatively high 

prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. Accurate statistics 

aren’t easy to find but it’s estimated by the World 

Health Organization, that between “1 in 5,000 to 1 

in 15,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa” may have 

the condition. Bear in mind that 2017 statistics 

also suggest the Sub-Saharan Africa population is in 

the region of 1.06 billion, that means the number 

of people with albinism is significant. In fact, in 

Tanzania, it’s thought half the population may be 

related to someone with albinism. 

Myths surrounding albinism 

in Africa 

Whilst you may know that albinism is a 

condition caused by a lack of melanin in the 

skin, hair and eyes, in many parts of Africa the 

condition is shrouded in superstition, folklore 

and mystique. For example, it’s often believed 

that if you have sex with a girl with albinism 

who is a virgin it will bring you prosperity or 

cure HIV. It’s also considered lucky to have an 

albinism memento, such as hair or even body 

parts taken from someone with the condition. 

Some people also believe that children born 

with albinism whose mother doesn’t have the 

condition are a result of an affair with a white 

man and these women are often then ostracized 

by their community. 

As a result, people with albinism have been 

persecuted, punished, mutilated and even killed, 

and their life expectancy is low. As a woman 

or child with albinism, you are particularly 

vulnerable, and your life is often at risk. 

Mi, Monica and Mama Mzungu 

Against this background, cue stage left 

Monica Norley, an experienced International 

Development Consultant from Brighton 

whose work is focused on the economic 

empowerment of women. Following a 

crowdfunding initiative, in 2018, Monica 

flew to Uganda to do an initial soap making 

training using local products to enable a small 

group of women with albinism to start earning 

an income. Although there have been limited 

efforts to support these women by providing 

sunglasses, hats and sunscreen (very important 

due to the lack of melanin), nothing has been 

done until now, to help them become selfsufficient. 

After its initial success, Monica 

travelled back to Uganda in March 2019 for a 

more advanced soap making training. 

By a strange twist of fate, Mi was on a long car 

journey with her producer Georgia Rooney 

to a shoot and was told the story about the 

women and how Georgia was hoping to do a 

documentary about them. Mi instantly offered 

to fly out to Uganda with Monica, do a recce 

and capture some footage for it from the 

International Albinism Awareness Day. And 

so it was they found themselves in a corner of 

Uganda in the summer of 2019. 

A successful soap story 

After the soap making course, a number of 

the women stayed on and the seeds for Mama 

Mzungu were planted. There is now a small 

centre where women can live and where they 

have based their soap making business, Mama 

Mzungu. They produce beautiful, natural soaps 

and other handcrafted items. 

These Ugandan women clearly made an impact 

on Mi and she describes them as fun, resilient, 

talented, inspirational and determined. She 

explains, “I was just taken by the women and 

couldn’t stop working with them, so it’s grown 

to have quite an impact on my life. Working 

to support them aligns with my passion for 

helping women with the skills they need to 

take control of their future and promote their 

business with personal messages from the very 

heart of their company.” 

Supporting empowerment 

The progress the women of Mama Mzungu 

have made since 2019 has been incredible 

despite the inevitable challenges of the 

pandemic. There are now 13 women 

employed full time through Mama Mzungu 

and thanks to Monica’s hard work and 

determination they’ve recently secured an order 

with Traidcraft. But of course, there is still 

much to do. 

Most of these women have endured 

indescribable hardship or lived a life when 

they’re constantly in some sort of danger. They 

deserve so much more, yet they want so very 

little. Mama Mzungu is an example of how 

a handful of people can make a significant 

difference to the lives of others. It’s an 

inspirational story but one that still needs your 

support. 

You can support these women by becoming a 

patron for as little as £10 / month and a few 

clicks of a mouse: https://www.patreon.com/ 

MAMAMZUNGU 

Alternatively, you can also order their products at: 

www.mamamzungu.co 

Mi Elfverson 

17

Don’t get stung 

Capital Gains Tax on Garden and Grounds 


When you sell your home, you might reasonably expect to pay no Capital Gains 

Tax (CGT) on the disposal, due to Principal Private Residence (PPR) Relief. For 

most homeowners selling their home, that may be right as the PPR relief will 

exempt any gain from CGT if: 

• the house has been your only or main residence throughout your period of ownership; 

• you have not been absent for more than an allowed period; 

• the garden or grounds are not greater than the permitted area; and 

• no part of your home has been used exclusively for business purposes. 

However, the third requirement relating to the garden or grounds has been in the spotlight as it 

is one of the methods by which HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can enhance tax revenues 

from higher value rural residential property.

How to determine whether your 

garden and grounds are greater 

than the permitted area? 

This brings into focus the procedure for 

determining your garden and grounds. There 

is a little known five step process whereby you 

should: 

• determine which buildings qualify as your 

main residence; 

• determine which land occupied with the 

buildings can be described as garden or 

grounds; 

• determine, if the garden or grounds are in 

excess of half a hectare, how much of the 

land is required for the reasonable enjoyment 

of the dwelling house as a residence; 

• determine which part of the garden or 

grounds would be the most suitable for 

occupation and enjoyment with the 

residence; and finally 

• apportion the proceeds of disposal and 

the acquisition cost between the part of 

the property qualifying for relief and the 

remainder. 

This five step process needs to be followed in 

strict order to avoid the natural process of going 

straight to step four and determining the location 

of the permitted area. Care should also be taken 

to avoid mixing up the requirement test in the 

third stage and the most suitable test in the 

fourth stage. Finally, it is also important to have 

addressed the first and second stages with larger 

properties or estates where there may be cottages, 

stables or outbuildings in addition to the main 

house which together may properly be regarded 

as the entity of the dwelling house. 

So what does that all mean? 

The basic position is that if the garden and 

grounds of the residence, including the site of the 

dwelling house, do not exceed 0.5 of a hectare 

(5,000 sq m or just under 1.25 acres), then relief 

is automatically due for the whole area. 

In some limited cases involving larger properties, 

if the site of the dwelling house exceeds 5,000 

sq m, then an area in excess of 5,000 sq m will 

qualify for PPR relief, being the site of the 

dwelling and its garden and grounds. 

If, as is more normally the case with larger 

properties, the garden and grounds of the 

residence exceed 0.5 of a hectare then relief may 

be available for a larger area if that larger area 

can fulfil the statutory test. Garden or grounds 

will include any enclosed land surrounding or 

attached to your dwelling house and serving 

chiefly for ornament or recreation. 

Not all land is entitled to relief 

However, not all land you hold with your 

dwelling house is treated as the garden or 

grounds of that residence. You are not entitled 

to relief for land let or used for a business, for 

example, surrounding farm land. Similarly, land 

which at the date of disposal has been fenced or 

divided off from your garden for development, 

or has been developed or is in the course of 

development (for example, excavations under 

way for foundations, roads, services, and so on) 

won’t qualify. 

Fencing off land for equestrian purposes 

may point to land unfenced scheduled for 

development being regarded as part of the 

permitted location and therefore exempt from 

CGT. This is but one of many opportunities to 

reduce the impact of CGT on your garden and 

grounds when you sell your main residence. 

The 60 day tax return 

A capital gain will arise from a disposal 

where the proceeds of sale exceed all relevant 

expenditure. For those with no other 

chargeable gains arising in the year, the annual 

exempt amount will be available to reduce 

the chargeable gain and therefore the tax 

liability arising. 

Presently, any CGT due is payable 60 days 

following the completion, and you should 

remember a disposal includes not only a sale to 

a third party but also exchanges of property and 

gifts of property within your family. 

If there is no gain due or the gain is exempt 

due to PPR, then there is no CGT due and 

there is no requirement to file a 60 day CGT 

tax return. 

Avoiding penalties and interest 

Where CGT is payable, you will need to be 

aware that the calculation for the gain will need 

to be completed either in the run up to the 

disposal or immediately after the sale, as late 

filing penalties and interest will apply in cases of 

not making the return or failing to pay within 

the 60 days allowed. 

Good records will need to be kept to calculate 

the gain, for example the purchase price, 

subsequent acquisitions, any improvement 

expenditure and incidental professional fees. 

It may also be necessary to instruct a valuer 

to assist in calculating the gain and any 

apportionment between permitted areas and 

non-permitted area. 

If you would like to discuss these elements of 

Capital Gains Tax, and how they may affect 

you, please get in touch. 

Stuart Ritchie is a 

chartered accountant 

and chartered tax 

adviser with over 30 

years’ experience. He 

is a tax partner with 

Ritchie Philips LLP 

based in Horsham 

and can be contacted 

on 020 3195 1300 

or stuart.ritchie@ 

ritchiephillips.co.uk 

He has direct experience 

of securing CGT 

exemption for gardens 

sold for development, 

multiple buildings 

qualifying as a single 

dwelling for CGT 

purposes so that sale of 

subservient buildings 

are CGT exempt, and 

the sale of properties 

in excess of 10 acres all 

qualifying for CGT 

exemption. 

19

3 

1 

2 

Spring Style 

Donna Camera spills the beans on this season’s 

essentials from floral prints to chunky boots! 

6 

We’ve been buried in thick knits and woolly scarves for far too long and 

as the evenings get lighter and the weather gets warmer most of us are 

yearning to throw off the shackles of winter and embrace some lighter, 

brighter styles. We’ve got some great trends emerging this spring 

and here are six of my favourites. 


4 

5 

1 Flower print 

It’s all gone a bit Austin Powers. Wear bold and 

bright. Following fashion’s love for maximalism 

again, retro prints are making a big statement in 

2022. 3D geometric shapes, bold flower and curvy 

asymmetrical lines will reign supreme this year. 

And it doesn’t get bolder and brighter than this 

gorgeous trouser / shirt combo from Hannah (£79 

each). Wear together or separately to create quite a 

stir. Groovy baby. 

2 Slogan T-shirts 

Slogan shirts are an absolute essential for any 

fashionista. Whether you want to wear a t-shirt 

supporting your favourite band or share a 

personalised message that speaks from your heart. 

I love this easy to wear ‘Peace, love and freedom’ 

t-shirt from Globe (£35). Perfect for weekends 

and chilling with the kids. 

3 Tailoring 

Embrace tailoring this spring. Dress up your 

t-shirts and tops by throwing on a blazer and 

teaming it with wide legged trousers and a trainer 

for the day or killer heals for the night. 

This pale blouse blazer by Michelle is easy to wear, 

very flattering and just oozes spring (£38). 

4 Go green! 

Green is a big, big colour trend for spring. Not 

only inspired by the “Wordle” trend but green is 

the perfect colour to wear as spring is sprung. 

Isn’t this maxi dress gorgeous. Onjenu is one 

of my favourite brands and I love their bright 

colours, easy to wear and really flattering styles. 

You can literally roll this Onjenu Tilly maxi dress 

up in a suitcase and it will still be ready to wear 

when you unpack (£125). 

5 Romantic feminine 

Romantic floral prints are everywhere in pretty, 

pretty prints. But style your feminine floral print 

up a notch by teaming your dress with a more 

masculine biker jacket and chunky boot. 

Easy to wear, I love this Meadow dress (£69) 

because it’s another item you can wear on the 

beach, in the park, or at a smart restaurant. 

6 Spring boots 

Boot season used to be confined to the winter 

months, but not anymore. From cowboy boots at 

festivals to knee-highs worn with mini hemlines, 

fashion types have cemented boots as a year-round 

shoe staple. Of course, this isn’t news to Brit 

girls—our changeable weather (even in the height 

of summer) means that we keep our boots within 

arm’s reach at all times. 

One of my all time favourites, this soft cream, 

vegan leather chunky boot can be teamed with 

dresses or denims (£48). 

Donna 

https://lavidaboutique.co.uk/ 

Donna Camera 

has worked in 

fashion for over 

20 years and 

is founder and 

owner of La 

Vida Boutique in 

Horsham which 

specialises 

in affordable 

luxury in ladies’ 

fashion and 

accessories. 

21


Sundays 

are for… 

Life’s little luxuries 

and simple pleasures

Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Easter Day or just time spent with family or on your own, Sundays 

should be a time for relaxation, recovery and reconnecting with the things, people or places you 

love. And if you’re looking for inspiration, here are six different ways you can spend a wonderful 

few hours doing nothing very much. 

Afternoon tea at The Cooden 

Beach Hotel in Bexhill, 

East Sussex. 

Bexhill is often underrated as a great place for a 

Sunday walk and the Cooden Beach Hotel has a 

Brasserie on the Beach and Café Bar. Choose a 

simple cream tea, a full afternoon tea or go big 

and opt for a glass of Champagne with your cake. 

And why not. 

A long walk on the South Downs 

The South Downs never fails to disappoint and 

come sun, rain, hell or high water, it’s always 

a majestic experience. Ideally if you’re out for 

a long ramble, you want to finish somewhere 

with a good pub. Try parking at Wilmington 

(just outside Polegate) and walking up past the 

Long Man of Wilmington and Windover Hill. 

There are lots of stunning routes to explore here 

and then you can head to beautiful and historic 

Alfriston for a pub lunch. 

Foraging in antique shops 

and flea markets 

Head west to Petworth or Arundel for a 

wonderous choice of antique shops, flea markets 

and boutiques selling all sorts of curiosities. In 

Arundel, Spencer Swaffer Antiques is a labyrinth 

of finds and in Tarrant Street you’ll find Nineveh 

House with crafts and vintage. Meanwhile in 

Petworth, don’t miss the Petworth Antiques 

Market. If you want to go really eclectic, think 

Brighton and the North Laine district. 

A lingering lunch 

The pandemic was really hard for our Sussex 

pubs and lots of them have been lost. So why not 

support the community and head to your local 

for a long and lingering Sunday lunch. Is there a 

mother out there who wouldn’t enjoy not cooking 

Sunday lunch and is there a better feeling on a 

Sunday afternoon than sleeping off a great meal? 

Particular favourites here at SE are The Red Lion 

at Handcross and The Chequers at Rowhook but 

we also love pushing the boat out at The Heritage 

in Slaugham. 

Rock pooling on the south coast 

A great one for those with little ones, why not 

head to Goring and Ferring for a beach walk. 

Check the tide times first because at low tide 

you have the great combination of sandy beaches 

and rock pools. The Bluebird Café at Ferring is 

dog friendly and if you walk from there back to 

Goring or Worthing, there’s a semi sunk boat that 

kids love to play in. 

Take a step back in time 

Sussex has a number of amazing Medieval castles. 

These include Arundel Castle, Pevensey Castle, 

Bodiam Castle, Herstmonceux Castle, Rye Castle 

and Hastings Castle. A visit to most of these 

almost immediately brings alive the great history 

of Sussex as you lose yourself in the stories of 

those who walked here before us. 

Why not 

support the 

community and 

head to your 

local for a long 

and lingering 

Sunday lunch. 

23

Enjoying the 

outdoors & 

a touch of France 

At The Chequers at Rowhook 


The Chequers at Rowhook offers a 

warm welcome for walkers, families 

and friends, so why not join us and 

enjoy French inspired cuisine made 

from the very best local and seasonal 

ingredients. With two terraces and a large garden, 

it’s the perfect place to soak up the warm early 

summer sunshine and celebrate Mother’s Day 

or Easter. 

Woodland walks and daffodils 

With a network of footpaths running straight 

to The Chequers’ front door, it’s easy to build 

up an appetite exploring the countryside, before 

sitting down for a wholesome lunch. From nearby 

Rudgwick, there’s a stunning woodland walk that 

brings you to Rowhook and you can also walk 

from nearby Warnham, Slinfold, Broadbridge 

Heath and even Horsham. 

Fresh local produce, French 

inspired cuisine 

At this time of year our menu includes fresh local 

lamb, samphire and morel mushrooms picked by 

us on the South Downs, combined with all our 

familiar favourites. Every dish is freshly-prepared 

in our country kitchen and we offer a fine dining 

menu as well as lighter dishes served in our bar area. 

We also offer a selection of our fantastic wines. 

Wines on our list suit every budget and they’re 

sourced from all over the globe, from vineyards in 

Sussex to France, Italy and the New World. In the 

bar, there’s also a diverse range of local ales. 

Creating memories 

As the weather turns finer, we throw open the 

patio doors so you can eat on our terrace outside 

and enjoy a chilled glass of wine in the sunshine. 

With homemade chocolates for Mother’s Day, and 

Easter just around the corner, our philosophy is 

simple: to provide you with an unforgettable pub 

dining experience that will ensure you return to 

the Chequers again and again! 

A unique Sussex pub 

Our pub welcomes dogs, and you’ll even find dog 

treats on the bar of our beautiful 15th century 

building. The Chequers is in the AA, Michelin and 

Master Chefs of Great Britain guides. We have two 

restaurants, plenty of seating and free parking. 

Call now to book: 

The Chequers Inn 

Rowhook Road, Horsham, RH12 3PY 

01403 790480 

25

Sounds of spring at RSPB 

Pulborough Brooks 

Anna Allum shares the secret of the dawn chorus and 

tempts us to watch the sun rise over this West Sussex nature reserve 

Song of a Nightingale 

© Gareth Hughes 

Arriving in the dark there are stars in the sky, a chill in the air and the only sound is the 

song of the nightingale. The yawns and heavy eyes of the early start are soon forgotten as 

you marvel at the rich melodious notes, piping calls and bizarre frog-like croaks of this 

most celebrated songster. 

As dawn breaks and the sun begins to rise other voices join in with the concert; the 

mellow tones of the blackbird, the wistful tune of the robin and the strident notes of the song thrush. 

The latter is fairly easy to pick out from the noise, offering up a string of different phrases, seemingly 

never able to settle on just one. The early-to-rise are eventually joined by others including the shouty 

wren, twittering finches, and those tricky warblers, otherwise known as “little brown jobs”! 


Hollybush Hill 

© D Andrews 

Lapwing 

© Chris Prince 

The dawn 

chorus 

...This time of 

the day is ideal 

for birds trying 

to attract a 

mate as the 

cool dense air 

and lack of 

background 

noise means 

their song will 

carry 20 times 

further. 

The gift of the dawn chorus 

One of the greatest gifts the natural world gives us 

is the dawn chorus, that cacophony of birdsong 

that eases us from the depths of sleep and 

introduces a new day. This time of the day is ideal 

for birds trying to attract a mate as the cool dense 

air and lack of background noise means their song 

will carry 20 times further. It’s a declaration from 

the male birds: “I’m awake, I’m handsome, strong 

and I have this wonderful patch where we can nest 

and raise a family!” 

RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve provides 

a home for over 2000 different species and is 

particularly good for spring songsters. They have 

moved in to enjoy the woodland, hedgerows 

and the dense pockets of bramble and spiky 

blackthorn that provide song perches, shelter 

for nests and plenty of food to feed the hungry 

mouths of their chicks. 

The secrets of sun rise 

As the sun begins to creep over the horizon and 

cast dappled light through the trees, the birdsong 

will dwindle as new priorities take over; hungry 

tummies must now be filled, both the birds and 

ours. I am glad that the café is open for breakfast! 

If you’ve never taken the time to properly listen 

to a dawn chorus, then I implore you to give it a 

go this year. If you would like to join us to enjoy 

this wonderful experience, take a look at our range 

of brilliant birdsong events this spring https:// 

events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks 

Re-fuelled, you can continue along the paths. The 

soft yellow of primroses liven up the trail-side 

banks, bright green leaves on the woodland floor 

promise a fine display of bluebells and the star-like 

flowers of greater stitchwort twinkle from the 

undergrowth. 

Down to the wetlands and scanning across the 

brooks you spot black and white birds tumbling 

in an aerial display. As you watch, a yodel-like tyulu-lu 

call carries across the grassland and, with a 

quiver of wings as it lands, a red-legged bird starts 

to patrol the edge of the pool. It is the time of year 

to enjoy our breeding wading birds. 

A Sussex display 

The redshank, with its long, slim orange bill 

and orange-red legs goes by another name – 

the ‘warden of the marsh’. Ever-alert, when 

not delicately probing the mud at the water’s 

edge for invertebrate prey, it may be perched 

on a fence post keeping a lookout for anyone 

or anything who might be a danger. If it spots 

something amiss its call escalates to a loud 

siren-like alarm. If we have a pair they’ll settle 

down to breed in the wet meadows, pulling 

across grass blades to form a protective canopy 

over their nest which is a shallow scrape on the 

ground. 

Although the redshank’s role as ‘warden of the 

marsh’ is helpful to any other breeding waders, 

they do get into occasional territorial squabbles 

with the lapwings. We have more ‘common’ 

names for lapwings than any other British bird – 

flopwings, flapjacks & toppyups to name just a 

few. Perhaps it is their impressive feathery crest, 

or their acrobatic displays, or their distinctive 

call that sparks our imagination. Whichever, the 

wealth of names is an indication of how wellestablished 

the lapwing is in our culture – it 

truly is an iconic bird. 

Here in Sussex, it is probably best known as 

the peewit, a nod to the calls they make as they 

display in springtime. From a distance, lapwings 

appear to have black and white plumage, but a 

closer inspection reveals rich iridescent purples 

and bottle green. 

A visit to RSPB Pulborough Brooks at this time 

of year should reward you with this fabulous 

sight and sound. 

27

Our 

Exclusive Sussex 

Wine Tour 


Discover our Sussex wine heritage 

and explore these three wine epicentres of West Sussex

You can’t help but notice that the Sussex wine industry has grown dramatically over the last two 

decades. At the last count, Sussex had about 70 vineyards which account for about a quarter of the 

UK’s total wine production. Sussex has also built an increasingly impressive reputation for producing 

top quality sparkling wines that are rated amongst some of the best in the world, with many 

individual vineyards being award winning or multi award winning. 

A Grand Wine Tour of Sussex 

With the above in mind, it 

feels only right to take a 

deeper dive into what is 

developing into a fantastic 

local heritage. But with so 

many great vineyards, a full and comprehensive 

tour taking in all 70 in one go, could be rather 

intensive for your liver. So we’ve divided our 

Great Sussex Wine Tour into three stages (which 

we’ll be sharing in this and the next two editions 

of Sussex Exclusive Magazine), namely West, 

Mid and East Sussex. 

Each stage will highlight some of the must visit 

vineyards or wines to try as well as including 

places to stay, and other points of interest, so that 

you can gently wash down plentiful amounts 

of local wine whilst taking in some of the many 

wonders of our county. But before we set sail, 

there’s just time to set the scene. 

Sussex wine making history 

Whilst wine was probably consumed in England 

during the Iron Age, it is believed that it was the 

Romans who introduced vines and cultivation 

to England and Sussex. After they left, wine 

making may have dwindled but with the arrival 

of the Normans, winemaking was back with a 

vengeance. There were 45 vineyards recorded 

in the Domesday Book, all in the south-east of 

England with most belonging to the Normans or 

the great abbeys (of which we had our fair share 

in Sussex). 

Wine making seems to have thrived in England 

until the 12 th and 13 th century, when the Crown 

acquired an area of France that provided a reliable 

source of wine, and the English climate began 

to worsen. By 1275, for example, the vineyard 

at Battle Abbey had ceased grape production 

29

But with so 

many great 

vineyards, a full 

and comprehensive 

tour taking 

in all 70 in one 

go, could be 

rather intensive 

for your liver. 

and although thereafter, wine making in Sussex 

limped on, it wasn’t really until the mid-20 th 

century that it started to re-emerge as a viable 

concern. 

Bolney Wine Estate was established in West 

Sussex in 1972 and was one of the first new 

commercial vineyards in England. Breaky Bottom 

in East Sussex was another pioneering vineyard 

planted near Lewes in 1974. And with these two, 

the beginning of a new era was born. 

Sussex terroir 

To understand why Sussex is now proving to be 

such a successful wine producing region, you 

have to start by understanding just a little about 

the Sussex terroir, terroir being the environment 

in which wine is produced, including the soil, 

topography, and climate. 

Very broadly speaking, across the south, you have 

the chalky North and South Downs running 

more or less parallel. In between the two, you 

have an almost triangular shaped area known as 

The Weald which is a mixture of clay in the Low 

Weald area and sandstone in the High Weald. 

This mix of chalk and sandy soil is similar to that 

found in the Champagne region of France. 

Climate change (particularly over the last 10 

years) has also played its part in the Sussex wine 

revival, with the county enjoying increasingly dry, 

warm summers and cool winters, allowing the 

grapes to ripen slowly. The maritime influence 

helps too, ensuring the grapes develop high levels 

of natural acidity which is particularly important 

for sparkling wines. And our many southfacing 

slopes are ideal for grape varieties such 

as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier 

– or the sparkling wine magic three as they are 

sometimes known. 

Wine in Sussex today 

According to Wine GB South East, as of 2020, 

the three most popular varieties of grape in our 

region are indeed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 

Pinot Meunier primarily used for sparkling wine 

production and accounting for 75% of vines 

planted. But there are now also an increasing 

number of still wines being produced in Sussex 

including some rosés and reds. Other grape 

varieties grown here include Dornfelder, Bacchus, 

Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. 

In 2016, a group of Sussex wineries applied for 

PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) – an 

official EU designation for quality products for 

the region. Defra approved the application and 

final sign off from the European Commission 


is thought to be imminent. The impact of this 

will be that only wine produced from local 

grapes within the county borders can be called 

‘Sussex Wine’ much like the French ‘appellation 

controlee’. 

Our West Sussex Wine Tour 

The first of our three tours, takes you west via 

the historic towns of Horsham and Petworth, 

before you come almost full circle and finish in 

Pulborough. 

Horsham 

Historic Horsham has plenty on offer for the 

first stop of your tour. It has a central market 

square with a twice weekly market, a theatre, two 

cinemas and a music and comedy venue, as well 

as some exceptional restaurants like Restaurant 

Tristan, South Lodge, Interlude and The 

Chequers at Rowhook. 

For exploring and for local walks, escape to 

Leechpool and Owlbeech Wood, St. Leonard’s 

Forest, the Downs Link or Leonardslee Lakes and 

Gardens. For more cerebral pursuits, head down 

the historic Causeway to the town’s museum. 

Vineyards and wines 

Villa Elena is just south of Horsham and 

although small, they grow Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, 

Bacchus and Seyval Blanc. They produce just one 

still wine at the moment, but you can visit the 

vineyard by arrangement, and they seem to have 

quite a unique and alternative vibe. 

Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate is part 

of the Benguela Collection, which consists of 

nearby Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens as well 

as Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa. 

They have 30 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay 

and Pinot Meunier and hope to produce their 

first vintage of Estate English Sparkling wine in 

2023. They also have a new winery planned for 

2022. They offer vineyard tours by golf buggy 

and then wine tastings of Benguela Cove wines, 

all while overlooking the vines. 

Coolhurst Vineyard. Not far from Mannings 

Heath and Horsham, this family run vineyard 

is fast gaining a reputation for producing one of 

England’s finest sparkling rosé wines produced 

from 100% Pinot Noir and named Lady 

Elizabeth. They also produce an almost unique 

traditional method vintage rosé demi-sec; 

Pump Alley near 

Causeway in Horsham 

31

Petworth House and 

a Petworth cobbled 

street 

thought be the only one in the UK, also 100% 

Pinot Noir. They don’t offer tours yet but watch 

this space. 

House Coren. Very recently planted, House 

Coren at The Haven just west of Horsham 

produce an almost unique sparkling wine 

using the Charmat method, a technique where 

the wine undergoes secondary fermentation 

in sealed tanks rather than in the bottle. This 

vineyard is small but buzzing with energy and a 

stated intention to be accessible to nervous wine 

novices who want to visit. They are also in the 

process of building their own winery so again, 

watch this space. 

Places to stay in Horsham 

For top of the range places to stay, South 

Lodge and Leonardslee just to the 

east of the town are a must. The 

Windmill Inn is a 17 th century 

country pub with lots of period 

charm, great reviews and at a 

convenient spot just south 

of Horsham and not far 

from the Downs Link. For 

something a bit more off 

the beaten track, you could 

try the 16 th century country 

hotel Random Hall just 

outside Slinfold. 

You can find out more about 

Horsham on our website: 

Visit Horsham 

Petworth 

Petworth is a stunning market town which has 

so much to see and do. It has the fabulous and 

historic Petworth House and Park (a National 

Trust property), art galleries, antique shops and 

markets, a monthly farmers market, a number 

of heritage sites and, of course, beautiful 

architecture. If you’re spending anytime in 

Petworth, you should always take a little time 

to explore the South Downs or discover nearby 

Midhurst with its historic ruins, or Chichester 

just a little further south. 


Petworth may not have a theatre, but they 

do have the oldest street fair in the south 

of England (in November), Petworth 

Festival (a music and arts extravaganza in the 

summer), a Literary Week (in October), an 

Antiques Fair (in May) and its own Petworth 

Fringe! Good watering holes are also in 

abundance and include E. Street Bar and 

Grill in Petworth, Farmer, Butcher, Chef at 

Goodwood Hotel and The Lickfold Inn in 

Lickfold. 

Vineyards and wines 

Roebuck Estates. Based in Tillington, 

just west of Petworth, Roebuck Estates 

first planted their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir 

and Pinot Meunier back in 2006 and now 

have vineyards across Sussex at Blackdown, 

Lurgashall, Slinfold, Bewl Water Reservoir 

and just east of Petworth at their Roman 

villa site. They are also a sustainable wine 

producer as certified by Sustainable Wines of 

Great Britain. Majoring on sparkling wine 

they are the proud recipients of a number 

of awards and although they don’t offer 

vineyard tours and tastings, you can buy their 

wines at the wine merchants in Petworth if 

you want a fully local experience. 

Upperton Vineyard. First planted in 2005, 

Upperton, also in Tillington, currently has 

6,000 vines producing between 6,000 and 

10,000 bottles per year. Again, they grow a 

mixture of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and 

Pinot Noir for their sparkling wine and they 

offer private vineyard tours and wine tasting 

which culminate on their rather gorgeous 

terrace with views across the South Downs. 

Blackdown Ridge. North west of Petworth 

and somewhat off the beaten track, the 

first vines were planted here in 2010 and 

these were used to create this vineyard’s first 

sparkling wine in 2015. Blackridge is already 

multi award winning and they have now also 

planted Bacchus, Triomphe and Sauvignon 

Blanc for their still wines. They offer tours 

of their vineyard and winery which end with 

a tasting session of their still and sparkling 

wines in this beautiful and very tranquil 

corner of West Sussex. 

Tinwood Estate. A 20-minute drive south 

west of Petworth, Tinwood Estate first 

planted their vines in 2007, and have since 

gained quite a reputation for their sparkling 

wines which include a rosé. They offer 

vineyard tours which conclude in their swank 

and stylish tasting rooms with its glasscovered 

veranda and fabulous views. They 

also do afternoon teas. 

33

Places to stay in Petworth 

For this leg of your tour, you could stay at the 

Tinwood Estate in one of their luxury vineyard 

lodges, with views over the vines and the setting 

sun or you could opt for nearby Goodwood 

Hotel. Just outside Petworth is the delightful 

Old Railway Station where you can stay in a 

beautifully refurbished railway carriage or stay in 

the town itself in the historic Angel Inn. 

You can find out more about Petworth on our 

website: Visit Petworth 

Pulborough 

On the last leg of your West Sussex wine tour, 

Pulborough is a bit of a must because it has 

such a cluster of vineyards. In the surrounding 

area you also have the West Sussex Golf Club, 

Pulborough Brooks RSPB nature reserve, 

Bignor Roman Villa and of course nearby 

Arundel with its magnificent castle, cathedral 

and quirky historic town. If you have time, you 

should also visit Amberley Museum and have 

one last ramble along the South Downs. 

For fine dining The Parsons Table in Arundel 

and Amberley Castle’s restaurant are both 

outstanding. Or head to The White Hart right 

next to Stopham Bridge which is a beautiful 

Grade I listed building and a Scheduled 

Monument believed to date back to 1422-3. 

If it’s entertainment you’re after, try and coincide 


your visit with one of the events held at 

Kinsbrook Vineyard. They have live music 

every Sunday from the spring onwards as well 

as hosting various other events. 

Stopham Vineyard. The first vineyard you 

come to as you travel from Petworth, Stopham 

was first planted in 2007 and they produce 

still and sparkling white wines from their 

Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Bacchus, 

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties. 

They have their own winery in a converted 

Grade II listed Victorian barn, and offer 

vineyard, winery and wine tasting tours. Their 

particular claim to fame is having been chosen 

for the Queen’s party on the Royal Barge at her 

Diamond Jubilee celebrations. 

Kinsbrook Vineyard. On a sunny day, 

Kinsbrook has a distinctly French vibe and 

you can grab a coffee and enjoy it in the 

vineyard itself. They first planted in 2017 as 

an extension of the family farm and now have 

over 45,000 vines. They have their own Pinot 

Gris and Bacchus, and a Vintage Cuvée made 

from Hampshire grapes. They offer tastings 

and tours and have a KIN Bubble in one of 

the fields where there is an informal café and 

wine bar as well as a horse box café. There 

are also plans afoot for a new farm shop and 

eatery. 

Nutbourne Vineyard. On the edge of the 

West Sussex Literary Trail, Nutbourne describe 

themselves as a boutique family vineyard who 

produce still and sparkling wine. They first 

planted as long ago as 1979 and have 26 acres 

under vine, planted with Bacchus, Huxelrebe 

and Reichensteiner, as well as Pinot Noir, 

Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and 

Pinot Blanc. They even have the remains of an 

old windmill! They do vineyards trails, tours 

and tastings which include vineyards picnics 

with seasonal Sussex produce from the farm 

and kitchens. 

Nyetimber. One of our Sussex big guns, and 

right next door to Nutbourne, Nyetimber 

claim to be able to trace their wine making 

heritage back to the Domesday Book. More 

recently, the current Nyetimber enterprise 

planted their first Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 

Pinot Meunier vines in 1988 and have gone 

on to win lots of awards for their sparkling 

wine. Throughout the year they have specific 

open days when you can enjoy a wine tour 

followed by tasting in their 15 th century barn. 

You can find out more about Arundel at 

https://sussexexclusive.com/10-things-to-doin-arundel-west-sussex/ 

35


Easter Lunch Lamb 

Vanessa Jamieson rustles up mouth-watering pomegranate 

glazed lamb with Moroccan spiced roasted vegetables and rice 

What’s not to 

like about this 

easy to prepare 

lamb dish? It 

feeds 8 people 

so is a great 

supper dish for 

when you want 

to entertain a 

crowd. It looks 

impressive 

but is very 

straightforward. 

Pomegranate glazed lamb 

Ingredients: 

Whole shoulder of bone in lamb 

4 tsp minced garlic 

(I use lazy garlic to save on time) 

4 tsp ground cinnamon 

4 tsp ground cumin 

2 tbsp dried oregano 

Lemon 

3 large red onions – cut into large chunks 

1 lt carton pomegranate juice 

3 tbsp clear honey 

100 g pomegranate seeds 

Handful of mint leaves, chopped 

Method: 

You will need to start this 24 hours before. 

Mix together the garlic, cinnamon, cumin oregano 

and lemon juice. Put the lamb into a large roasting 

tin and massage the marinade thoroughly all over. 

Put it in the fridge for 24 hours. 

Remove the lamb 1 hour before cooking. Heat 

the oven to 170c/150c fan /gas 3. Put the onion 

wedges in the bottom then places the lamb on 

top. Pour over the pomegranate juice and cover 

tightly with foil. Cook for 4 hours. 

Remove the foil and pour the juices into a large 

pan. If some of the onions fall in as well it is 

fine! Re-cover the lamb and cook for a further 30 

mins. Meanwhile add the honey to the juices and 

then boil until reduced to a thick syrup. 

Pour the sticky glaze over the lamb and onions 

and return to the oven uncovered, until the glaze 

is bubbling and starting to char. Shred the lamb 

and stir in with the onions. Scatter over the 

pomegranate seeds and chopped mint leaves. 

Moroccan spiced roasted 

vegetables and rice 

Ingredients: 

800g carrots, cut into chunks 

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 large red onions cut into wedges 

2 tbsp Moroccan spice mix 

1 large cauliflower separated into florets 

3 x 250g microwaveable rice – I used garlic 

flavoured which worked well 

3 tbsp pomegranate molasses 

Large handful of chopped green herbs – I used 

coriander, mint and dill 

125g pomegranate seeds 

Zest and juice of one lemon 

150g natural yoghurt 

Method: 

Heat the oven to 200c/180c fan/gas 6. Put the 

carrots and red onion in a roasting tin and coat 

with the olive oil, salt and pepper and stir in the 

Moroccan spice mix. Roast for 20 mins then add 

the cauliflower and roast for a further 25 mins. 

Add the cold rice to the dish, stir through with 

the pomegranate molasses and put back in oven, 

covered with foil for a further 20 mins. 

Scatter over the herbs, lemon zest/juice and 

pomegranate seeds. Add several dollops of 

yoghurt on top. 

37

Breaking the Law 

To run, or not to run? 

Tim Canham explains Philip’s Law and the art and joy of running in secret 

What is this exercise thing all about? 

Why do people bother to pull on shorts and trainers and put themselves through discomfort 

and pain, with the bonus of blisters, strains, torn muscles, and painful backs? 

Not to mention the smirking strangers, as you plod down the street or slip out of the 

swimming pool in a pair of Speedos. 

Philip’s 

second law 

of exercise is 

“Participants 

in all forms 

of exercise 

should never 

speak of 

it in polite 

company. 

Nobody is 

interested. It’s 

Wordle for 

legs. 

Here we go 

I do a bit of exercise and sport. So, when it was 

suggested I might like to write a little about this 

I wondered, well panicked really. How do I start? 

How can I explain why I do it, why I like it? 

I reached for my phone and rang one of my oldest 

friends for help. A problem shared and all that. I 

was looking for advice about beginning to explain 

why and how this exercise thing was a good idea, 

and why exercise plays a part in my life. I was a bit 

taken back by his response. 

‘I hate exercising. And most people who see 

anything written about exercise and sport will 

immediately move on to the next page.’ 

It was at this point that “Philip’s Law” smacked 

me around the face like a wet fish. 

We all remember a few laws from school. “For 

every action there is an equal and opposite 

reaction” our own Sir Isaac. ‘Doing the same thing 

over and over and expecting a different outcome.’ 

Thank you, Albert (probably). 

Now we can add Philip’s Law to the collection. 

Allow me to define it. 

Philip’s first law says, “All exercise is pants and I 

hate it: it is probably a waste of time. Diet has 

more impact on health.” 

Philip’s second law of exercise is, “Participants in all 

forms of exercise should never speak of it in polite 

company. Nobody is interested. It’s Wordle for legs.” 

So, not a great start to my entrée into sport 

evangelisation. I wanted to talk about running not 

Fight Club. A tough gig. 

In other words. The choir ain’t listening Tim. Stay 

on the couch, eat another Bourbon and watch 

Homes under the Hammer. 

This wasn’t a great start. Jog on in fact. But not in 

the sense of a Park Run or Couch to Five. More 

in the way my kids would suggest to me when I 

ask for help with the dishwasher. This wasn’t the 

inspiration I was looking for. 

Luckily, he is rather a fine bloke. And like an old 

friend does, he didn’t feign an important meeting 

to get me off the phone. No, he counselled wisely. 

He suggested another angle. The non-sporty but 

good and uplifting things that you can accrue from a 

bit of exercise. That had a better chance to resonate. 

The penny was beginning to drop 

Talking about exercise or sport is a bit like 

banging on about your kids to other people or 

showing off your brilliant collection of (used) beer 

mats. That fabulous two weeks in Tuscany you had 

last Summer (do you want to see the family film?). 

No, I guessed not. You see even your good friends 

don’t want to listen to you bang on about your 

best 5k in the rain. 

The mechanics of exercise and health are a taboo. 

Nobody cares. I could begin to see his point. 

So here I must share my first confession. I do like 

to chatter about exercise. And this is of course a 

direct breach of Philip’s second Law. 

Blimey. Help! 

But I have gained some emotional intelligence 

along the way that it’s only possible to whisper 

about exercise in a safe place. Never on a work 

Teams call or with your kids. In fact, never ever 

with your children, and probably your partner too. 

Any talk of exercise and my family immediately 

and ruthlessly burst my balloon of smug selfcongratulation 

self-indulgence after a plod. 

Recent bouts of familial encouragement include 

‘why do you bother’ and ‘please don’t wear those 

shorts when my mates are here’. 

Random van drivers also shout encouragement, 

‘speed up you fat b*stard’ was particularly 

inspiring one lunchtime run. 


So why do I bother? 

This brings me back to Philip’s Law. How to 

suggest that this exercise thing might just be 

pleasurably. And even worthwhile. 

The secret sauce of exercise, for me, is that there 

are many benefits beyond getting fit. 

Any form of exercise does something positive for 

my well-being. (And this was happening long 

before I knew it was called well-being.) 

My head was clearer, the low-level pounding 

headache receded without Ibuprofen or a dark room. 

It helped me engage, I was able to run the line at my 

son’s Saturday morning football without collapsing. 

These are the minor improvements and wins that 

make a difference to me. Nobody else need ever 

know, and certainly never care. Philip’s second law 

is at work here. 

There’s more. For me it’s mainly about getting 

outside. Sussex is a stunning place. Countryside, 

parks, coastline. Quiet places, but busy town 

centres too. Genuinely breath-taking views across 

the Downs. 

My main form of encouraging 

sweatiness is running 

But it was a bit of a fluke how this happened, it 

was all a bit unplanned. 

I had dabbled with different types of exercise, 

usually without any consistency or purpose. The 

odd gym circuit class that I almost enjoyed, but 

nothing really stuck. 

As with many things I tripped into running, I 

had always hated it. The grim memory of the 

school cross-country and the gentle humiliation 

of the ‘good at everything’ kids cruising by on the 

running track. 

Over the years I had played a bit of squash, always a 

poor intermediate. The odd inter-club game which 

I invariable lost. (During one break, as I stood 

gasping for breath, my opponent tucked into a large 

slice of Lemon Drizzle cake. In my thirties, I lost 

to a 12-year-old. Ok, he cried when he lost a point 

but even so, I could see where this was going). 

Then I damaged my back, and that was the 

beginning of the end for my sub optimal games of 

squash. 

The acceleration of the end of my squash career 

happened one evening while playing a game with 

another of my close pals who happens to be a GP. 

I felt an odd sensation in my back. Not to worry he 

said, get yourself home, have a pint and a couple of 

Ibuprofen and you will be fine. Good advice? 

Hmmm. Sadly, a scan showed prolapsed discs. 

Wear and tear, time, age. 

I still wanted to do something and running seemed 

to be an option. 

Also, you can do it secretly, without drawing 

attention to yourself. A bit of a hobby you can get 

on with surreptitiously. Like stamp collecting or 

brass rubbing is unfashionable, but unfashionable 

in nylon shorts. 

What surprised me as I began to huff and puff 

around the village was that even getting a kilometre 

without collapsing was hard. Wasn’t I quite fit? 

Maybe not. 

I found keeping a secret diary of each 20 minutes 

of torture helped. 

Why? Because the entries began to add up, and as 

I was slogging over the same route my time seemed 

to slowly improve. It was progress, and it was also 

good for self-belief. 

And then came one of the transformational things 

that can sometimes happen. From running the 

same road route, I wondered about running across 

a few paths I knew. 

This was quite a breakthrough and, what’s this, 

it was occasionally enjoyable, albeit in a weird 

and painful way. The views and shuffling through 

a favourite wood were occasionally magical. 

Surprising a family of deer, the call of the red kite. 

It’s not expensive. I have enjoyed top end gyms 

with steam rooms and buff changing areas over the 

years. But walking or running is about as cheap as 

it can get. Hurrah! 

The running coincided with work getting tougher 

and this was a brilliant release. The stress and 

tension did seem to diminish. 

A friend suggested something called Park Run. 

This was not racing but was a collective thing. And 

everyone was friendly and supportive. It is uplifting 

and inclusive and it’s all over Sussex. 

Before I knew it, I had entered an actual race. 

Who cared where I finished as simply finishing 

was winning. I never imagined I would ever have a 

race number. Or a cheap medal. Or to have met so 

many friendly people. 

And then there is social media. To be honest I 

mostly hate it but let me introduce you to Strava. 

It is social media, but nice. 

People don’t get angry, it’s supportive and 

inspiring. It’s perhaps how social media should be. 

OK. I have trampled all over Philip’s Law. I have 

broken the taboo. 

Sport and exercise are for me beyond the running 

or the swimming. It balances my life and improves 

my outlook. 

There are lots of ways you can start, it could do the 

same for you, too. 

39

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41

Ha’nacker mill 

A West Sussex landmark that inspired a poet and still inspires walkers today 


Ha’nacker mill (1923) 

Hilaire Belloc 

In 1920, the well-known Franco-Sussex 

writer, historian and poet, Hilaire Belloc, 

came across Halnaker windmill. It had 

been struck by lightening in 1905 and 

was derelict and the haunting ruins that 

remained inspired one of his most famous poems. 

Travelling from Chichester to Petworth (or the 

other way around), today you can see Halnaker 

windmill standing proud on the hill. It’s become 

an iconic destination and landmark, and during 

lockdown, Instagram and Facebook were flooded 

with photos of the tunnel of trees that lead to the 

Halnaker summit. 

Halnaker Windmill 

The windmill is believed to date back to 1780 

and was a working windmill until 1905. It was 

restored by West Sussex County Council in 2019 

and is a Grade II listed building although the 

sails were recently removed for repairs. The top 

of Halnaker Hill is also a Scheduled Ancient 

Monument as it is the location of Neolithic 

earthworks and a WW2 radio direction-finding 

structure. 

The 360 views at the top of Halnaker Hill are 

worth every step of the climb and there’s lots 

of wildlife to look out for, such as wild orchids, 

butterflies, Yellowhammer, Skylarks and Buzzards. 

It’s a straight out and back walk to the windmill, 

but when you arrive back at the road (and the 

small car park) cross over and follow the Windmill 

Trail signs to Boxgrove Priory. 

Boxgrove Priory 

The trail takes you around the edges of the 

Tinwood vineyards. On a sunny day, it has a 

European feel to it, as you see the church and 

priory in the distance ahead of you with the 

distinctly French influence in the architecture and 

the growing vines. 

Boxgrove Priory was a small Benedictine priory 

founded in the 12th century although the site 

has been associated with the church since before 

the Norman invasion. The land was gifted to 

the Abbey of Lessay in Normandy in 1105 and 

the remains that you can see are of the guest 

house. The adjacent church also dates from the 

early 12th. Both the church and the priory are 

charismatic and compelling in equal measure. 

You can retrace your steps back to the car park at 

the bottom of Halnaker Hill by following the trail 

signs and the entire walk is about 7 km. 

Sally is gone that was so kindly, 

Sally is gone from Ha’nacker Hill. 

And the Briar grows ever since then so blindly 

And ever since then the clapper is still, 

And the sweeps have fallen from Ha’nacker Mill. 

Ha’nacker Hill is in Desolation: 

Ruin a-top and a field unploughed. 

And Spirits that call on a fallen nation 

Spirits that loved her calling aloud: 

Spirits abroad in a windy cloud. 

Spirits that call and no one answers; 

Ha’nacker’s down and England’s done. 

Wind and Thistle for pipe and dancers 

And never a ploughman under the Sun. 

Never a ploughman. Never a one. 

43

Sussex Writing 

Retreats 

Unleash your inner wordsmith and get creative 

Sussex has long since bred or nurtured 

great literary talent. Just think: Rudyard 

Kipling, Henry Kames, AA Milne, 

Virginia Woolf, Arthur Conan Doyle, 

Joseph Conrad, Hilaire Belloc, HG 

Wells and Kate Mosse. So you know that if you’re 

a writer or would-be writer in Sussex, then you’re 

walking in the footsteps of literary giants. 

Perhaps it’s the south coast seas, the clean air of 

the rolling Downs or maybe inspiration comes 

from the many cobbled streets and ghost stories 

of our Medieval towns, but it’s high time we 

celebrated and cultivated this urge to combine a 

jumble of words and ideas and started to create 

the great reads of the future. And with that in 

mind, I set off to find a field in rural Sussex 

where word had it, there was something literary 

going on. 

Green Sussex fading into blue 

The site for Sussex Writing Retreats is idyllic, if 

a little hard to find, down a narrow, well-hidden 

track. Not far from the Knepp Estate near 

Horsham, it has green fields, a small pond and 

tranquillity. There’s a marquee, outdoor seating in 

the shade of an oak tree, birdsong and places to 

wander off to find your muse. Your hosts Daisy 

and Lisa are also lovers of the nice things in life 

so there are cream teas, daily treats, optional yoga 

and stretch classes, time out to spend by yourself 

(or with others, as you wish), oh and a great 

local pub. Happy days. I’m beginning to think 

I wouldn’t mind hanging out here without any 

intention of writing. 

But what of our hosts? 

Lisa Brace is a journalist, author and award- 


The site for 

Sussex Writing 

Retreats is 

idyllic, if a little 

hard to find, 

down a narrow, 

well-hidden 

track. Not far 

from the Knepp 

Estate near 

Horsham, it has 

green fields, a 

small pond and 

tranquillity. 

winning senior communications professional with 

a background in PR and events and was recently 

signed by A For Authors for her debut novel. 

Lisa explains her father worked for the Evening 

Argus in Brighton, so she grew up in the 

environment of a 1980s newspaper with the smell 

of print and the threat of deadlines. She tells me 

she only ever wanted to write and has worked 

for a number of local papers. She also co-wrote 

the show Tom Foolery which toured in 2015 and 

wrote her first book in 2018. 

Daisy White is a former air hostess who took up 

writing to ease the boredom of long-haul flights. 

We’re lucky she did because she unleashed a gift 

and to date, she’s published eight crime novels, a 

mystery series and two psychological thrillers as 

well as writing a short film, Ripe Tomatoes. She 

has her own publisher. 

How did that happen? 

This duo met when Lisa interviewed Daisy for 

a local project and an instant friendship was 

formed. The instinctive creative connection 

between them is obvious as they bounce ideas 

around. There’s a lot of laughter and clearly 

some mutual understanding. They are the first to 

admit that writing can be a lonely place, and the 

constant rejection can be tough, so they are keen 

to explain that they want to create a retreat that is 

both supportive and inclusive. 

A dog nuzzles my leg and I’m half expecting a 

chicken to put in an appearance, as they go on 

to explain that this retreat is not about teaching 

others how to write. And they stress, that 

although these retreats are suitable for any stage 

of the writing journey, it is important to have at 

least a nugget of an idea to get the most out of 

time spent here. 

“It’s a beautiful space and there’s always a real 

creative buzz, although it can also be quite 

emotionally intense. We’re not in the business of 

lecturing people. Our workshops are hands on, 

practical and as interactive as possible. We get to 

know you, you get to know us and we’re very aware 

that you will not be your creative best if you don’t 

feel relaxed and comfortable. There are no bad ideas, 

just ideas although we may set you some homework. 

And we definitely share our own stories and 

experiences, warts and all! Because apart from being 

a creative place, we also want to provide you with 

really practical advice about things like how to 

pitch, how to publish, how to promote yourself…you 

know all the less glamourous stuff that goes hand in 

hand with being a successful author.” 

A raft of exceptional talent 

Having launched in 2020, this year there are 

three Sussex Writing Retreats and I’m just a tiny 

bit intimidated by the stellar line up of guest 

speakers. This is serious stuff. 

Literary Agent Assistant at The Kate Nash 

Literary Agency, Saskia Leach, will be giving her 

personal perspective on the publishing industry, 

and letting you practice your pitch, while 

screenwriters Hayley November and Debbie 

Moon, and executive producer, Steve November 

(who all have a huge amount of industry 

experience, BAFTAs and well-known shows 

between them) share their knowledge and advice. 

BBC News Correspondent Alastair Fee will be 

running interactive workshops and sessions. 

Last but by no means least, crime author Casey 

Kelleher (who has sold over half a million books 

worldwide) and children’s author Sue Wickstead 

(who writes a variety of picture books and has 

successfully self-published) will be there. Just pick 

the workshop to suite your specific inclinations. 

“And don’t worry”, Daisy explains, “they’re really 

nice, down to earth and enthusiastic about helping 

others and sharing their expertise. Between us, we’ll 

help you find direction, and tell you all those things 

we wished we’d known when we started out.”. 

The first daffodils have just pushed their heads 

up and I feel inspired already. I’ve got a couple 

of ideas which have been floating around my 

head for a long time, but I’ve never really known 

where to start. I’m beginning to think this might 

just be what I need, and who knows, maybe, just 

maybe, one day I could actually add my name 

to the long list of literary heroes of Sussex. Well, 

a girl can dream. And in the meantime, I might 

just have another slice of cake. 

You can find out more about Sussex Writing 

Retreats at: https://daisywhiteauthor.co.uk/ 

sussex-writing-retreats/ 

45

Building begins 

on the new 

St Catherine’s Hospice 

Building work has finally begun on a larger St Catherine’s Hospice 

at Pease Pottage in West Sussex which will provide 

more care for people in our community. 

Barnes Construction have started work 

on the local charity’s new hospice 

which will provide more space to 

develop essential hospice services and 

allow hospice teams to respond to the 

increasing need for hospice care. 

The time for a new hospice is now 

St Catherine’s was first founded in 1983 by a 

group of pioneers in the local community who 

recognised end of life care needed to be better 

for local people. Since then, St Catherine’s has 

provided care and support to thousands of local 

families, but with no room to grow at their 

current hospice in Malthouse Road, Crawley, the 

hospice needs to expand to provide more care to 

more people now and in the future. 

Hospice care has never been more 

needed 

Research has shown demand for hospice services 

will rapidly increase with an ageing population. 

Current trends suggest that there could be twice 

as many deaths in hospices, care homes, and 

private homes in 20 years’ time 1 . Coronavirus 

has also caused devastating disruption to people’s 

health. During the pandemic there were 50,000 

late-stage diagnoses for cancer (Macmillan Cancer 

Support, 2021) and significant worsening of 

symptoms amongst people living with dementia 

(Alzheimer’s Society 2020). 

1 Journal of Medicine, 2017 


Bereavement is also now a 

national crisis 

Early data from Cardiff University’s Marie 

Curie Palliative Care Research Centre and the 

University of Bristol found many bereaved people 

are experiencing severe vulnerability in their 

grief. They’re facing long waiting lists or being 

told they’re ineligible for help. St Catherine’s can 

provide specialist bereavement support to help 

local people to navigate their loss. 

Giles Tomsett, Chief Executive at St Catherine’s 

said, “Despite the excellent work of the NHS, too 

many people have experienced tragic deaths during 

the pandemic. People have died alone without 

family or friends by their side or experienced 

uncertainty or delay to their treatments. Others 

have felt terrible guilt because they were unable to 

fulfil a loved one’s last wishes or say goodbye in a 

meaningful way. 

So many people didn’t have the death they deserved 

or wanted. So many others had to cope with 

bereavement isolated and alone. With your help, 

we need to make sure that people in our local 

community don’t ever have to cope alone again. 

That’s why we’re thrilled to share that work on 

our new hospice has begun. We’re currently setting 

the foundations ready for our new building’s steel 

framework to be assembled this summer. Following 

this we hope to have our first rooms complete by 

around August 2023 and will be welcoming people 

to our new hospice in Autumn next year.” 

The new hospice will provide 

more care to more of our 

community 

It will allow St Catherine’s to expand its expert 

community services so more families can have 

support in the comfort of their own home. It 

will also allow the charity to increase wellbeing, 

emotional care and bereavement support by 

offering private counselling rooms, a reflective 

courtyard and spiritual space. 

But it has all only been made possible thanks 

to the generosity of local people. This includes 

Bill Bridges, a landowner who donated land at 

Pease Pottage in memory of his mother who 

received hospice care and John Shelmeld who 

left a significant gift to the local charity in his 

will in 2014. 

A new hospice will transform 

patient and families’ experience 

of hospice care 

There will be 24 beds, an increase from 18 

beds in the current hospice, and all rooms 

will offer people a peaceful private garden and 

ensuite bathroom. 12 rooms have adjoining 

sitting rooms for families to stay overnight. 

Four rooms have been especially designed to 

meet the needs of people with dementia and 

all rooms have bedroom hoists for safe and 

dignified movement. Additionally, four rooms 

have bathroom hoists for people who need this 

extra support. St Catherine’s currently lacks 

space to have difficult and private conversations 

with family members, so their new building 

has dedicated space to allow greater dignity 

and comfort. There are also family spaces for 

relatives on each ward to prepare food, relax and 

take a moment. 

The difference a new hospice 

will make 

• An additional 250 people will receive care 

as outpatients and 110 extra patients will be 

cared for on the hospice wards each year 

• New step-down care will be offered for 

people coming out of hospital who are not 

quite ready to return home 

• Respite care will be reintroduced on the 

hospice wards, giving carers a much needed 

break from caring for someone they love at 

home 

• Enhanced wellbeing groups such as breathe 

easy clinics, emotional support groups, and 

physiotherapist led exercise classes will help 

people to live as well as they can for as long 

as they can 

• To help people cope with loss and 

bereavement, there will be private rooms to 

speak with family members and dedicated 

spaces for remembrance and contemplation. 

St Catherine’s is so near to 

completing their new hospice, 

but the local charity has a final 

£800,000 to raise 

Now they are calling on the community to 

help more people have the end of life care they 

deserve. “Together we have a unique chance to 

provide better end of life care and to help more 

families through bereavement. With your help we 

need one final push to finish our new hospice. I hope 

you will join us,” said Giles. 

To donate towards 

your new local 

hospice please visit: 

www.stch.org. 

uk/newhospice 

or call the 

St Catherine’s 

Fundraising Team 

on 01293 447361. 

Collectively, your 

generosity and the 

generosity of others 

will complete 

St Catherine’s new 

hospice home – 

thank you! 

47


Christ’s Hospital 

celebrates 

120 years in Horsham 

A remarkable school still making a unique contribution to society 

Construction of water 

tower 

Presentation of the 

Loyal Address on the 

Queen’s first entry to 

the City of London, 

1953 St. Paul’s 

On the 29 th May 1902, 660 pupils 

arrived by train at Christ’s Hospital 

station for the first day of term in 

what was a brand new, unrivalled 

and purpose built school building. 

Today, the school is home to 900 pupils (an equal 

mix of boys and girls) and continues to enjoy state 

of the art facilities and provide children from all 

backgrounds with an outstanding education that 

would otherwise be beyond their means. 

Founded in 1552 with just 380 children, the 

school’s purpose from the outset was to address 

the needs of the poor but that provision quickly 

grew to include providing children with an 

education. In its nearly 500-year history since, 

Christ’s Hospital has survived the Great Plague 

and the Great Fire of London, produced a list of 

notable Old Blues (former pupils) that runs into 

hundreds and has seen the likes of Samuel Pepys 

as a governor, Coleridge, Lamb and Leigh Hunt 

as pupils, and enjoyed visits from Queen Victoria, 

the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II. 

A bold vision for a dairy farm 

It’s perhaps hard to imagine now what a 

momentous occasion it must have been 

when pupils marched up the hill to the new 

school building for the first time. The idea of 

moving the school out of London had been a 

bone of contention for those involved in the 

school’s governance for decades and when the 

1,100-acre site at Horsham was eventually 

purchased in 1892 from a dairy farm, the 

project wasn’t without serious criticism and 

concern. 

Construction of the magnificent, Tudor 

style building took 5 ½ years to complete, 

requiring 200 million red bricks, 100 miles 

of electric wiring, 40 miles of heating 

pipe and the construction of a system of 

underground tunnels (which still exist), a 

new railway siding and station, a water tower 

and a 300,000 gallon reservoir on top of 

Sharpenhurst Hill. 

49

Founded in 

1552 with just 

380 children, 

the school’s 

purpose from 

the outset was 

to address 

the needs of 

the poor but 

that provision 

quickly grew 

to include 

providing 

children with 

an education. 

The beginning of a new era 

of excellence 

The school’s move to Horsham undoubtedly 

marked the beginning of a new era. At the time, 

the school was split, with dwindling numbers 

of girls housed at a site in Hertfordshire and the 

boys housed in London. Despite a number of 

refurbishment programmes since the Great Fire 

of the 17 th century, two hundred years on and 

the old school buildings in London must have 

felt a lifetime away from the state-of-the-art new 

facilities set in the heart of the Sussex countryside. 

Inevitably, the school’s journey to the present day 

hasn’t been without its own challenges. In 1914 

the school was briefly requisitioned as a Prisoner 

of War campsite, whilst some 400 Old Blues were 

lost in WWI with another 200 lost in WWII. A 

flying bomb was shot down close to the infirmary 

in 1944, the school succumbed to a flu epidemic 

in the 1950s and (of course a pandemic in 2020) 

and in the 1980s, a series of freak weather events 

battered the site including the great storm of 1987 

which decimated many of the school’s trees. 

An innate ability to innovate 

and improve 

But Christ’s Hospital appears to have an innate 

ability to innovate and improve in the face of 

adversity. Maths, science and the arts have always 

been important at Christ’s Hospital and for over 

100 years sport has been an integral part of life at 

the school. Since the school’s move to Horsham, 

improvements have included a new Science 

School, a Scout Hut, improvements to the library, 

a new Theatre and Arts Centre and a refurbished 

Music Centre. And of course, in 1985, 280 girls 

came from the school’s Hertford site to finally 

unite the school under one roof. 

Pursuant to a Master Plan for the Development 

of the School in 1999, this century has already 

seen a new Sports Centre, new sixth form 

accommodation and a refurbishment of the 

award-winning theatre. 

A school without parallel 

In 1846, the school was described as “a 

remarkable school” and “…a thing without 

parallel in this country”. And the same could still 

be said today. 

The school’s mission is to challenge inequality by 

providing a nurturing, transformative education 

for young people from all backgrounds. At 

present, of the 900 pupils, over two thirds receive 

a substantially reduced place and 11% receive a 

place for free. The facilities and opportunities the 

school provides remain second to none, and the 

sporting and academic achievements continue to 

be outstanding. 

A pivotal moment to reflect on a 

remarkable legacy 

Speech Day is one of the pivotal moments of the 

school’s annual calendar and a tradition that dates 

back hundreds of years. Held in the summer 

term and always attended by the Lord Mayor and 

Sheriffs of the City of London, it’s an opportunity 

to celebrate achievement with prize giving and 

awards and includes a traditional “March Past” by 

the school’s famous band when the drum majors 

lead a salute to the Lord Mayor. 

The highlight of the event is when a Senior 

Grecian (Head Pupil) gives an “oration” (speech) 

without notes, to which the Lord Mayor responds 

with his own speech. And there can be few more 

fitting a moment in this Jubilee Year than to mark 

and celebrate the many achievements of Christ’s 

Hospital, its staff and its pupils since those first 

tentative steps from the station 120 years ago. 

For more information, please visit: 

https://www.christs-hospital.org.uk/ 


The greatest way to start your day ! 

Rye Heritage Centre is home to the famous “Story of Rye” - a 20 minute sound 

and light experience showcasing the incredible Rye Town Model 

Hear about 750 years of history, murder, ghosts and mayhem ! 

Step back to the early 1900s and play 

the collection of working Penny Arcade 

machines, giggle along to the Laughing 

Sailor and find out for yourself - 

“What the Butler Saw” ! 

Immerse yourself in our heritage displays 

and find out what else to see and do during 

your visit to Rye 

COMING SOON ! 

“The Smuggler’s Attic” 

A new walk through 

interactive 

audio visual experience 

Visit our website for opening times and how to find us 

www.ryeheritage.co.uk Email info@ryeheritage.co.uk Call 01797 226696 

51

The model village at 

Rye Herigage Centre 

Middle two images 

© www.corinography.co.uk 


Saving Rye’s 

Rich Heritage 

Rye Heritage Centre … a story, within a story! 

Thanks to the 

hard work 

of a handful 

of dedicated 

enthusiasts, 

Rye Heritage 

Centre is 

playing its part 

in this. And if 

you’re planning 

a visit to Rye, 

there are few 

better places 

to start. 

You only have to mention Rye, and the 

response you get is almost universally 

“Oh, I love Rye.” And why wouldn’t 

it be. Rye is a stunning Sussex town 

with Mermaid Street being one of 

the most Instagram-able spots in the country. 

Whether you have an interest in Medieval history, 

smuggling, ghosts, literature, nature or local beer, 

you are almost certain to find something to whet 

your appetite in Rye’s rich heritage. 

Housed in the suitably atmospheric Old Sail 

Loft in Strand Quay, Rye Heritage Centre is an 

obvious starting point for any journey of Rye 

discovery, but it’s also woven its own unique 

narrative into the history of the town. 

The model town 

In the early 1970s (and inspired by something 

they’d seen on a trip to Belgium) a couple from 

Rye designed and made a 1:100 scale model of 

the town as it was in the 1800s, complete with 

electrics, sound and light displays. It took them 

three years, measures approximately 15 x 10 foot 

and in an interactive way that was pioneering 

in the 1970s, tells the story of 750 years of Rye 

history. Three years ago, at nearly 50 years old 

(and so a piece of Rye history in itself), the model 

was all set to be packed away in a box as running 

expenses of the Rye Heritage Centre where it 

lived seemed set to force its closure. 

Cue the incredible people of Rye 

Determined not to lose their model, which is 

thought to be the only one of its kind in the 

country, or their heritage and centre, in 2019, a 

group of local volunteers asked the council to give 

them the opportunity to run the centre, forming 

a charity, taking on the lease and putting together 

a plan to show they could make it a success. The 

council agreed and a new era in the Rye Heritage 

Centre story was due to commence on the 

1 st April …2020. And we all know what 

happened just before that date. 

We wunt be druv 

In the words of our county’s unofficial motto, the 

people behind the new charity are not quitters 

and won’t easily be forced to do what they don’t 

want to do. And with an incredible display of 

resourcefulness, the charity has ensured that Rye 

Heritage Centre has survived the Covid pandemic. 

In fact, with the help of a small grant from the 

Culture Recovery Fund, it appears to be going 

from strength to strength despite the fact that they 

did not qualify for any other Government support 

and have been forced to close for long periods of 

the last two years. 

Under the management of Simon Parsons, 

the centre has successfully applied for grants, 

innovated and improved. They have a new 

website, have improved the model town 

experience including projection style images, 

and have a Victorian pier experience with Penny 

Arcade slot machines from the early 1990s set 

amidst scenes of Sussex. 

They also have ambitions to host rotating 

exhibitions showcasing the likes of Medieval 

ships and Vikings, although the first exhibition 

on the list is going to be a smugglers experience. 

And as luck would have it, as you can see from 

the photo, there just so happens to be a band 

of smugglers operating in the Rye area who 

are willing to lend a hand. It should be quite a 

show and the organisers plan to include a march 

through the streets of Rye as part of the launch. 

Watch this space. 

Anyone with even a passing interest in Sussex, 

history and heritage knows that centres such 

as these are vital custodians of both told and 

previously untold stories, ensuring they are 

preserved and passed on for the benefit of future 

generations. Thanks to the hard work of a 

handful of dedicated enthusiasts, Rye Heritage 

Centre is playing its part in this. And if you’re 

planning a visit to Rye, there are few better 

places to start. 

53

When in Rye 

Smugglers, ghosts, writers, strange tales and cobbled streets, Rye has it all. 

... see if you 

can find Spike 

Milligan’s 

gravestone 

which reads, 

“I told you I 

was ill”. 

You don’t need a reason to visit Rye. 

It’s just one of those lovely places to 

spend time. But if you are visiting, 

whether that’s for a whistlestop tour 

or a staycation, here’s our “Rye in a 

Nutshell” guide. 

Mermaid Street and Instagram 

You have to take a photo of Mermaid Street right 

in the middle of the town. No Instagram page 

is complete without one, but it does get busy, so 

make it your first stop of the day! In fact, if you 

can, head out at sunrise or at the very least, before 

breakfast. And don’t forget, it has its own hashtag 

#mermaidstreet! 

Ghosts and smugglers 

Grab a coffee at the Mermaid Inn or the head to 

the Rye Heritage Centre (or both) and learn about 

the town’s smugglers, ghost stories and grizzly 

tales. There are also some great guided tours which 

reveal some of its darker secrets. 

A writer’s tale 

Great writers have always loved Rye and Lamb 

House in the middle of the town is probably the 

epicentre of Rye’s literary scene. It’s a National 

Trust property and is run as a writer’s house 

museum. It was the home of Henry James from 

1897 to 1914, and later of E.F. Benson. 

Medieval castle and a Cinque Port 

If you love history (and frankly, why would you 

be in Rye if you didn’t), head to the Rye Castle 

Museum and the Ypres Tower. Rye was of course 

one of the Cinque Ports and the Tower has got 

great views across to the sea, cannons and lots of 

artefacts and interesting information. 

Nurture yourself with nature 

Head out to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for 

a great walk. There’s also another Instagram 

opportunity here with a well-known but very 

quaint fishermen’s hut. And there’s a new 

visitor centre. 

Set sail in a windmill 

Want somewhere unusual to stay? What about 

in a windmill. Yes, right on the edge of the 

town, you can stay in a white smock, Grade 

II listed windmill on the banks of the River 

Tillingham. 

Winchelsea and Spike Milligan 

If you have time, hire a bike and cycle to 

Winchelsea (you can hire bikes on the road to 

Rye Harbour). You do want to be sure that the 

ground has dried out but there is a relatively 

easy 15 km circular route. It starts via the 

Royal Military Canal Path, passes through 

the Castle Water Nature Reserve and past 

Camber Castle. Winchelsea is stunning and so 

evocative and while you’re here, see if you can 

find Spike Milligan’s gravestone which reads, 

“I told you I was ill”. Then cycle back to Rye 

via the 1066 Country Walk. 

Ringing the dinner bell 

There are plenty of great places to eat but what 

about The Old Bell which dates back to the 

15 th century, right in the heart of the town. 

It’s got olde worlde charm in abundance and 

a magnificent 80-year-old wisteria tree. You’ll 

find it in the wonderfully named Mint and 

in addition to a great pub menu it also has its 

own tales of the infamous Hawkhurst Gang. 


Searching for 

something 

different? 

Little did I realise when I stumbled across Utility Warehouse 

some years ago, it would give me such peace of mind from 

helping others. 

As a British PLC founded 25 years ago, Utility Warehouse is 

the UK’s only genuine multiservice provider and has been 

Which? Recommended for over ten years running. 

Joining UW meant I could build my own business alongside 

my professional teaching career. It’s since funded so many 

of my family’s costs, from school fees, university, holidays 

and much more. 

I love helping others so I now mentor a growing team 

of Utility Warehouse Partners across the UK. It’s a very 

rewarding journey and you’re invited to join me. 

Curious? 

Get in touch to find out more - 

07703 162722 

sarah.riley@uwclub.net 

uw.partners/sarah.riley 

55

In the 

Diary 

As life slowly tries to get back to normal, 

we’ve got some diverse and at times eclectic 

events to help fill your diary 

Marilyn Stafford: 

A Life in Photography 

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, 

22 February - 8 May 

For anyone who loves photography, social history, 

fashion or life itself! This retrospective exhibition 

of US born Sussex based photographer, Marilyn 

Stafford includes international archive spanning 

four decades and celebrity portraits (Édith Piaf, 

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mulk Raj Anand, Indira 

Gandhi, Albert Finney, Twiggy and Joanna 

Lumley), fashion shoots, street photography, 

humanitarian stories and newspaper reportage. 

The Taxidermist’s Daughter 

Chichester Festival Theatre, 8 - 30 April 

Adapted for the stage by Sussex based Kate 

Mosse, and based on her novel, it doesn’t 

get much more “Sussex” than this. A story 

of retribution and justice, The Taxidermist’s 

Daughter is a thrilling Gothic mystery set in and 

around historic Chichester. If you’re a fan of Kate 

Mosse, this is definitely one for you. 


An Evening of Burlesque 

in Hastings 

St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, 2 April 

The Hundred Watt Club returns to Hastings for 

a vintage inspired, champagne popping evening 

of burlesque, vaudeville, comedy and cabaret! 

Enjoy a good old fashioned glittering line-up of 

showgirls, circus, drag and comedy, all wrapped 

up with a feisty, tongue-in-cheek ribbon! 

Spring foraging workshop with 

Sophie Cropley 

Furzefield Campsite, Angmering, 9 April 

Hosted by Worthing based The Wellderness 

CIC, you’ll start this workshop with a guided 

forage in the fields, forests and tracks on the 

edge of the South Downs National Park. 

Sophie is a qualified forager and loves to cook 

up seasonal recipes using natures ingredients 

for her family. She will teach you to find 

delicious wild ingredients to make your own 

seasonal dishes. 

Page 56 top: 

The Taxidermist’s 

Daughter 

Left: 

Spring foraging 

workshop 

Right: 

Tulip Festival 

Page 57 top: 

An Evening of 

Burlesque 

© ‘V’s Anchor Studio 


Benedict 

Cumberbatch, 

The Waste Land 

The Floral Fringe Fair

Clive Anderson: Me, Macbeth and I 

Regis Centre & Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis, 2 April 

The host of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Loose Ends and Talks Back takes to 

the road with his much-anticipated first ever solo tour, in a one-man show 

guaranteed to be funnier than Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy. 


Arundel Castle, mid April (precise date depends on mother nature) 

Set in the grounds of the Medieval castle, there is nothing not to love about 

this colourful and floral extravaganza. With over 1.2 million tulip bulbs and 

over 130 varieties of tulip, the grounds of the castle literally burst into life 

with the cathedral and castle in the back ground and the gentle sound of 

water in The Collector Earl’s Garden. 

Source to Sauce Cookery 

Webbe’s Rock-a-Nore, Hastings, 17 May 

One for the foodies and fish lovers. Webbe’s restaurants and cookery schools 

are a unique experience and were born out of Paul and Rebecca Webbe’s 

passion for the “wonderful, wild and natural” ingredients of Rye and 

Hastings. This cookery class involves a visit to the local fish market, followed 

by learning to prepare and cook your catch with chef Paul Webbe. You finish 

with a lunch prepared for you. 

The Waste Land 

Charleston, Firle, near Lewes, 19 May 

100 years after it was published, award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch 

breathes new life into one of the greatest works of modernist literature, T. S. 

Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land.’ In 1978, Anthony Burgess, best known for writing 

‘A Clockwork Orange’, set the poem to music. Bringing this score alive in 

an extraordinary performance are Britten Sinfonia, one of the world’s most 

celebrated ensembles, and soprano Anna Dennis. 

The Floral Fringe Fair 

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Horsham, 4 - 5 June 

The return of a quirky, family-friendly event with a vintage twist which 

includes an eclectic and friendly fair, over one hundred stalls from artists, 

makers, vintage stalls, food, street dining, a beer tent and plant nurseries. It 

also includes classic cars, music and dancing, Steampunk and vintage. It is 

dog-friendly too! 

57

Flamme de l’Armagnac 

From the footsteps of the three musketeers to dancing into 

the night in the grounds of a French chateau, Gers in the 

south of France makes a compelling autumn break 

Larressingle, the 

‘Little Carcassone 

of the Gers’, listed 

as one of the most 

beautiful villages 

of France with its 

Medieval Gascon 

château 

In a small corner of the south of France, not far 

from Toulouse, strange and wonderful things start 

to take place in late November and December. 

Gers is an area that many of us think of as 

Gascony, but Gascony is in fact the old name for 

a region in between Bordeaux and Toulouse. 

Gers is a department of what is now known as 

Occitanie (a merger of the Midi-Pyrénées and 

Languedoc-Roussillon regions) and has views to 

the south of the Pyrénées, rolling countryside 

and a myriad of little bastide towns and villages. 

It’s sometimes called Little Tuscany in reference 

to its summer fields of sunflowers, vineyards and 

Cyprus trees. 

But Gers is perhaps most famous for being the 

land of d’Artagnan, who inspired Alexandre 

Dumas’s character d’Artagnan in The Three 

Musketeers, as well as being the land 

of Cyrano de Bergerac. It’s also just as famous 

for its Armagnac, a wine-based brandy and a 

very good reason to head to Gers at the end of 

the year. 

The gateway to Armagnac 

country 

About an hour west of Toulouse is Auch, Gers’ 

only city and one that dates back 4,000 years 

to the first settlers of the Bronze and Iron 

Ages. Auch is dripping with a sense of its own 

history. Quite apart from the fact that it has 

two big traditional markets every week full of 

local produce and dozens of restaurants and 

cafés, even a whistle stop tour gives you a taste 

of everything this beautiful region has to offer. 


Auch has held importance since the Gallo Roman 

times and by the Medieval period it was a centre 

of religious and civil authority and a place for 

pilgrims. In the heart of this small city, is Sainte 

Marie’s Cathedral built between 1489 and 1680 

in a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and classic 

style. It’s famous for its stained-glass windows 

(dating to the 16 th century) and its oak choir 

stalls (also dating to the 16 th century) and is on 

the UNESCO World Heritage routes of Santiago 

de Compostela. 

Using the cathedral as a starting point, explore 

the narrow back streets and enjoy ancient 

buildings, such as the half-timbered 15 th century 

tradesman house that hangs over the entrance to 

Dessoles Street (you’ll see it to your right as you 

leave the cathedral). Dessoles Street used to be 

the main Medieval street and is now lined with 

18 th century mansions. From here you can reach 

the 6 th century Pénitents-Bleus Tower, the herb 

market and the old grain market. 

Double back to the other side of the cathedral for 

the 14 th century Armagnac Tower (and former 

prison) and the famous staircase (with 374 steps) 

that divides the higher and lower parts of the 

town where you can enjoy views across the Gers 

Valley and meet d’Artagnan (or at least a statute 

of him). 

From this part of town, don’t miss the five steep 

Medieval streets of the Pousterle. These streets 

used to link the river to the fortified gates of the 

city and from here you can also explore the 14 th 

century Arton Gate at one end and the beautiful 

house where Henri IV stayed with Queen Margot 

and Catherine de Medici in 1578. 

A step back in time 

Leaving Auch behind you, head north west 

to Eauze. On a crisp, late autumn morning, 

you’re enveloped in gentle mists that hover 

over rolling hills and the last of the autumn 

colours. It is effortlessly charismatic here and 

you feel a long way off the beaten track. Eauze 

is also a great base from which to explore some 

of the surrounding villages and is also is at the 

very heart of Armagnac production. The town 

is achingly historic, and you’ll find Medieval 

houses clustering around the main square. The 

18 th century church stands on the remains of the 

former 15 th century cathedral with the cloisters 

still visible opposite. 

Fourcès and Larressingle 

Whilst you may be keen to get on with the 

business of drinking Armagnac, you cannot visit 

this region without first exploring some of the 

outstandingly beautiful villages. About half an 

hour drive from Eauze, Fourcès is one of what is 

The statue of 

D’Artagnan made by 

Firmin Michelet in 1931 

59

Auch Cathedral, 

Cathédrale Sainte- 

Marie is a Roman 

Catholic church 

located in the town 

of Auch 

The Alembic dinner 

Fourcès, another 

village listed as one of 

the most beautiful in 

France 

classified as “the most beautiful villages of France” 

and one of the only places to have a round central 

square. 

You enter via a stone bridge over the river to a 

circle of half-timbered Medieval houses mixed 

with 17 th and 18 th century buildings hanging 

over covered arcades. Time really has stood still 

here and as you walk across the square, you come 

to the 13 th century clock tower and views of the 

castle (now a hotel). There’s not a lot to do here 

but breathe in the past and enjoy a place that in 

late autumn feels quite like another time. 

A further 10 minutes’ drive and you come to 

Larressingle, which hovers in the mist on the 

horizon. This feels like yet another forgotten 

town, surrounded by heavily fortified walls dating 

from the 13 th century. 

In the Medieval period, Larressingle was home to 

the bishops from Condom but now is quite an 

extraordinary village, being the smallest fortified 

village in France at just 300 metres in diameter 

and a completely contained microcosm in 

amongst the vineyards. At one point, the village 

was almost abandoned, but is now inhabited and 

home to Medieval towers, a church, a well, a café 

and shops. 

A celebration of distillation 

Traditionally and as part of the Armagnac 

distillation process, once the harvest was safely 

gathered in, travelling Alembics would arrive at 

the Armagnac producing farms and vineyards. 

These large copper stills would be lit in the barn 

with the waste wood from the vineyards and 

the distillation process would begin whilst farm 

labourers and the like would gather together for 

a meal. 

This “Alembic dinner” has become a unique 

event and ritual, and for a couple of nights 

each year, those in the know travel across the 

south of France to remote vineyards such as 

Chateau Millet not far from Eauze. As the sun 

sets, their large barn is filled with a gentle buzz. 

The Alembic is lit and starts its work and guests 

are seated at long wooden benches and trestle 

tables to enjoy a five course meal prepared by the 

chateau owners. 


As the evening wears on, the celebrations get 

underway, with live music, dancing on the tables, 

tasting from the Alembic and then the highlight 

of the evening: a large vat of Armagnac spirit is 

lit with a cheer and party goers are invited to stir 

the burning liquid. The partying goes on well 

into the night and when you eventually turn your 

sights back to your hotel, you must watch out for 

wild boar and deer as you drive home through 

the remote forests and vineyards! 

Before heading home 

Before heading home there are plenty of other 

places you should visit. Condom is the site of 

two 13 th century castles, dozens of historical 

monuments and a museum about Armagnac. 

The village of Lavardens is another of “France’s 

most beautiful villages” and is built on a rocky 

outcrop. It has its own Château de Lavardens 

that dates back to the 12 th century (although it was 

substantially rebuilt in the 17 th century). 

The castle hosts a number of exhibitions, and if 

you’re visiting in the autumn, this includes a rather 

extraordinary exhibition “The Art of Santon” 

whereby twelve rooms of the castle are taken 

over by 20,000 santons (little figurines) collected 

from 15 santon makers from Marseille, Aubagne, 

Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Bagnols-sur-Cèze. 

The views from the castle are also fantastic and the 

shop offers a chance to pick up a bottle (or two) of 

Pousse Rapière, a local aperitif and orange “liqueur 

à l’Armagnac” before it’s time to head home. 

For more information about Gers visit: 

https://holidays-gers.com/ and for details of the 

Flamme de l’Armagnac celebrations at Chateau 

Millat visit: http://chateaudemillet.com/english.php 

Live band in the 

barn with the 

Armagnac still 

The Auch Tower 

Beautiful Fourcès, 

61

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A 

Look 

Back 

The last word of this edition goes to 

Peter Benner, local historian 

and Sussex resident of over 75 years 

I 

was taking the train to school from Balcombe during the very severe 

weather of 1947. My parents couldn’t understand my unprecedented 

eagerness to leave early for the station. The footpath that led to the 

station had a grass bank and the path was packed with ice making it 

like glass. As a result, the bowler-hatted and pinstriped gents going to 

the city frequently “went a purler”. I had discovered that when they did so, 

their small change often left their pockets to roll into the snow on the bank. I 

hastened down to pick up what I could find – in real terms, I have never been 

as well off as I was that year! 

Talking of commuting, the last word has to go to the station master at 

Balcombe a few years later and those that commuted to London via a change 

at Haywards Heath. 

The station master would ring us all up if the “Down” train was going to 

be late to tell us we could either run for the slow “Up” train or have a more 

leisurely breakfast and catch the fast “Up” later on. He would then appear on 

whichever of the two platforms we were on with our newspapers from the 

local newsagents. 

Now that’s what I call a great Sussex service!

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