All Saints Church Development Project

By David Tingley

All Saints church has been standing on its present site since the 13th century. Its imposing tower and spire standing at 116ft  would certainly have made a big impression when villagers at the time caught sight of this. All Saints has become an iconic symbol of our picture postcard village, standing proud at the top of the High Street. However, 2013 is set to be a milestone in the building’s history as the church embarks on a major development project. 

In fact it’s a huge undertaking, with 50 separate elements all running along different timelines over the next three to five years. The development plans affect both the church and the building next door, known as The Tiger, and are estimated to cost in the order of £2m.

Read the full story in February's magazine - out now. www.allsaintslindfield.org

Charity bootcamp at Lindfield Primary School

A small Sussex charity is set to benefit from a fundraising event organised by a local mum. 

Natalie Banbury says she remembers it like it was yesterday. “I was 21 when the doctor said to me ‘I think your baby may have Spina Bifida’. I left the hospital with a leaflet by the Sussex Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus and have been in touch with them ever since.

“Bob White and the school (Lindfield Primary) have been so brilliant since Ryan started there three years ago,” Natalie continued.

After years of support Natalie believes that now is the time to give something back so, with the help of a few others, she is putting on a charity bootcamp at Lindfield Primary School on Saturday 16th February from 12-4pm. 

Maxine Hayes, whose son is also at the school and who runs Potential Personal Training, is helping to organise the event. The afternoon promises a ‘Kids vs Grown Ups’ session and bootcamps led by Maxine and other guest trainers. Plus, there will also be entertainment, arts & crafts and a food & drink area from local businesses. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses wanting to be involved,” said Maxine. 

All proceeds go to SASBAH. Email potentialpt@gmail.com for more info.

Proposed new development off Gravelye Lane, Lindfield

Lindfield Preservation Society just missed the copydate for Feb's magazine for this article, written by them, about a new development in Lindfield...

Wates the developers have applied for planning permission to build 230 houses on green field land off Gravelye Lane. Combined with the high-density housing estates that Lindfield has already been compelled to accept at Newton Road and Lyoth Lane, this scheme would add 1,000 new residents to the village – a population increase of 20%. It would put 600 additional cars on our roads (figures based on West Sussex County Council census data). This kind of speculative development is grossly disproportionate to the scale of our village and the capacity of its infrastructure.

Nor is there any need for it. There are currently approved sites for more than 4,000 homes in Mid Sussex, which developers have not taken up. This should be more than enough for them to be getting on with, especially as the historical completion rate is c. 400 houses per year.

Even if there were a need, this site is entirely inappropriate for large-scale development. A housing estate of this size would do further, serious damage to a local infrastructure that is already overstretched. Local roads are already congested at peak times, schools and medical facilities are oversubscribed and water and sewage systems are under considerable strain. Bland assurances from the developers that they would work with various bodies to mitigate the impact of their proposals are as meaningless as they are vague.

Our countryside is precious. Once it is gone, it is gone for good. Before more of it is lost, there should at the very least be a convincing demonstration of an overriding local need. There is clearly no such need here.

Concerned residents can help by sending their objections to Mid Sussex District Council Planning Department before the deadline of 8 February. 

The Toll House re-opens

Shoppers and residents in Lindfield have welcomed the re-opening of the Toll House Gallery and Café in the
High Street.

The new Toll House Gallery showcases the work of Sussex artists and craftspeople, while the popular café will be serving delicious locally produced food as well as award winning coffee from World Coffees, roasted just across the High Street at Lindfield’s Old Forge.

Alongside  unique local artwork, the Gallery will be running a regular programme of events and workshops designed to promote the work of Sussex’s creative industries.  Local artists already exhibiting in the Gallery include Leesa Le May, Debbie Smith and Judith Fisher.  

Jackie McGahan, proprietor of the Toll House Gallery and Café, commented: “We are very excited to be bringing an entirely new concept like this to Lindfield’s historic High Street.  We think that customers will love the opportunity to interact directly with artists and craftspeople, especially in the amazing surroundings of a unique 16th century, Grade II listed building. 

“The village community and visitors will also welcome the re-opening of the café, which will give them the chance to enjoy delicious locally produced food and drink in a relaxed and creative environment.”

The Toll House is open Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays 10am to 5pm.

Santa in the Park

Hundreds of Santas will be running and walking around Victoria Park in Haywards Heath on Sunday 9th December to raise money for the British Heart Foundation – and you could be one of them!

The charity and Freedom Leisure are joining together to organize the event. The Mayor of Haywards Heath, John Sabin, will be getting the Santas off to a flying start as well as joining in the fun run too at 9.45am. The walkers get off at a more leisurely pace at 10.45am.

You can jog 3 miles or walk a mile but whether you run or walk you will be doing it in style in a fabulous FREE Santa Suit. All budding Santas must register prior to the event online at: www.bhf.org.uk/haywardsheathsantajog. The event is open to the whole family, including grandparents, parents and children of all ages and Freedom Leisure are donating prizes for the best dressed Santas. 

Lindfield mum turned inventor

Taking your daughter swimming is great fun but getting hair dry afterwards can take forever and all too often girls end up with wet hair dripping down their tops.

Now a Lindfield mum has come up with a solution. Sara Mullins has invented ‘the swimchie’ – a scrunchie which both ties and dries wet hair.

“The dripping wet hair and soaking wet tops led me to believe that getting dressed after swimming could be drier and more enjoyable, and it was from this experience that the swimchie was born!” Sara said.

The product is a very simple idea that ties like a scrunchie and loops over wet hair forming a bun. For more information see: www.theswimchiecompany.co.uk

Lindfield butcher featured in ‘Top 50 Foodie Destinations’

Butcher Glyn Thomas & Sons has been selected as one of the ‘Top 50 Foodie Destinations’ in the country outside London by the Sunday Telegraph, in an article published last month. The High Street butchers is one of only three food outlets in Sussex, quite a coup for our village. The newspaper highlighted Glyn Thomas by saying: “We could gaze all day at this butcher’s Arcimboldo-esque window display, an ornate feast of pork shoulders and French-trimmed racks of lamb adorned with fruit and vegetables.” 

“We are are really pleased and very proud to have our business chosen,” said Ian Thomas. “It shows that our attention to detail when dressing our window on a daily basis, using fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables to present the variety of quality joints and cuts of meat we supply shows the products at their best. We are passionate about supplying what we consider to be the best of locally produced meat, game and other produce.”

Esther smashes zumba world record!

Fabulously fit zumba instructor Esther Featherstone is on top of the world after completing her record breaking 36.5 hour zumbathon and raising around £20,000 for charity.

Joined by around 250 zumba enthusiasts, including regulars from classes at the King Edward Hall, Esther led continuous sessions throughout the day and night to claim world record status. The event, held at Clair Hall in Haywards Heath, was organised to raise funds for St Peter and St James Hospice in North Chailey.

“I was completely overwhelmed by the whole experience,” said Esther from Noah’s Ark Lane, who took four days off to recover.  “I know now how Team GB felt at the Olympics!”

Lindfield after Great Storm of 1987

By Claire Cooper

25 years ago, on the morning of 16th October 1987, Lindfield residents woke to scenes of devastation and destruction after a hurricane swept through the village overnight.

The events of the night which changed the face of Sussex are still fresh in the minds of those who woke to find trees felled, windows smashed, roofs destroyed, chimneys crumbling and cars crushed. 

Many Sussex villages were cut off, homes lost power, children enjoyed an unexpected holiday as schools were closed and there was excitement in Haywards Heath when army helicopters were drafted in to dispatch troops to help clear the railway lines.

Keen photographer and Preservation Society member Geoffrey Calderwood captured some of the dramatic scenes in Lindfield and produced a set of commemorative postcards, kindly loaned to Lindfield Life by resident Hilary Jackson. The postcards were sold to raise money for the village tree fund.

Hilary, from Sunte Avenue, remembers the storm well, as tiles were stripped from the roof next door and a large tree came crashing down into her garden.

“I’d been out late the night before helping the young lady next door to secure the fencing as the winds were picking up,” said Hilary. “But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I pulled back the curtains the following morning.”

For Hilary’s three children, the storm brought an unexpected bonus – “we cut up the fallen tree and built a tree house in the garden,” said Hilary. “It was a lasting legacy of the hurricane which brought years of pleasure to my children and their friends!”

Read the full story on p.20 of October's magazine...

Great taste, great coffee for World Coffees

A unique blend produced by World Coffees has been awarded a coveted 3 Star Gold award by the prestigious Great Taste Awards 2012. The winning entry, named Blend No 43, was judged by a panel of 350 of the nation’s most discerning food experts over 45 days.

World Coffees, a family run business based in Lindfield, roasts a range of premium Arabica coffee beans from around the world to supply discerning wholesale and retail customers.

To be awarded 3 Star Gold status by the Great Taste Awards is a significant achievement for any food or drink producer.  The scheme, run by the Guild of Fine Food, has been described as the epicurean equivalent of the Booker Prize and in 2012 a total of 8,807 different food and drink products were entered. 

World Coffees’ owner and managing director Jackie McGahan commented:

“World Coffees has won Great Taste awards in the past but this is the first time we have achieved the top accolade of 3 Star Gold status for a blend we created ourselves.  This is a fantastic acknowledgement of our coffee roasting skills and expertise and confirms what our many satisfied customers already know – that our coffee is among the very best in a highly competitive industry.”

Neighbourhood Plan events this month

The Joint Working Party that has been formed by Lindfield Parish Council & Lindfield Rural Parish Council to progress our Neighbourhood Plan will be holding two Exhibitions & Workshops during September, in order to provide an opportunity for members of our communities to share their own views on how our villages should be developed over the next 20 years with councillors in person.

These events will be held on Saturday 15th September at the King Edward Hall in Lindfield and on Saturday 22nd September at the Millennium Centre in Scaynes Hill. Both events will be open from 10am to 4pm.

There will be displays relating to the area to be covered by our Neighbourhood Plan, and opportunities to participate in workshops covering all the elements that need to be included in the Neighbourhood Plan in order that it can become a real vision for our communities.

Additional copies of the Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire can be obtained from both councils’ offices, where residents can also discuss the Neighbourhood  Plan with the Parish Clerks and Councillors during normal opening hours.

The magic of alfresco dining

By Emma Tingley, excerpt reprinted from p.14 of Lindfield Life September 2012

I’m not exaggerating when I say that it really has to be one of the most memorable evenings I’ve had in a long time. Even now when I close my eyes and breathe in deeply, I can recapture the atmosphere and aromas of the night. Some things have an amazing ability to inspire you and my evening with James Gaydon and his friend Charlotte Petts down on her allotment turned out to be one of those moments. I’m not sure how James would describe himself but to me he’s a modern hunter-gatherer. He seems more at home outdoors than in and has an incredible knowledge and passion for creating food from foraging. And Charlotte, a professional gardener, welcomed me on to her allotment as if welcoming me into her home. For this evening, I traded the usual comforts of my sofa for a log seat and an open fire, with a hearty meal in fantastic company under the stars – an allotment dinner.

....

By the time the main course is ready, the night is drawing in. It’s not the balmy summer evening we’d all been hoping for but somehow it seems more appropriate to be wrapped in a blanket, sitting close to the fire for warmth. I’m not the most adventurous of diners so would not have chosen rabbit stew but, I have to admit, it’s delicious. For dessert we’re treated to Charlotte’s delicious stewed rhubarb, served with custard (practically the only thing on the menu from a shop!). 

It was such a privilege to be a part of one of James and Charlotte’s allotment dinners. By the time the fire was dying down, we’d had a superb evening of food and friendship. By torchlight we finished the evening by leaving no trace of our presence, other than the message I left on the inside of the shed door along with the compliments of previous allotment dinner guests. 

Lindfield gets own defibrillator

By Claire Cooper, reprinted from p.7 of Septembers Lindfield Life magazine

A portable life saving resuscitation machine will give heart attack victims in Lindfield a better chance of survival.

The machine, an Automated External Defibrillator which delivers a shock to the heart, will be located outside Selby’s Pharmacy in the High Street and can be borrowed by residents faced with an emergency.

It’s been funded by Masters and Son, whose staff were amongst the first to be trained to use the machine.

“I’d heard about the work of the Sussex Heart Charity in training people to use these portable machines and thought it would be fantastic to have one here in the village, “  said Sue Masters. “We are currently awaiting delivery of the latest model and the machine should be in place in a few weeks.”

Although the machine can be used by anyone, training is available free of charge to villagers.

Run by Douglas Coombs, Director of Training at the Sussex Heart Charity, the course teaches people to recognise the symptoms of heart failure, carry out chest compressions and use the machine to deliver a shock to the chest to restore the normal heart beat. 

“It is vital to start chest compressions immediately as every second counts,” said Douglas who spent 25 years as a paramedic. “For every minute there is no compression the chances of success go down by 20%. There is no substitute for good effective chest compressions.” He added that calling an ambulance should also be the priority.

The machines are incredibly simple to operate and users are guided through the steps by a recorded message – rather like a Sat Nav. 

Most importantly the machine will only deliver a shock if it detects an abnormality in the heart rhythm, so it’s impossible to shock a healthy heart. “The whole point of chest compressions and use of the machine is to prolong life until the paramedics arrive and the person can be taken to hospital,” said Douglas. “These machines have been hugely successful. We trained people to use the 8 machines at the Amex stadium and within two weeks one was used to successfully resuscitate a heart attack victim.”

Machines have also been installed at Gatwick Airport and many other locations in Sussex.

Villagers who have been trained to use the machine include Will Blunden and Christine Irwin from the Parish Council, Tracey Osgerby, Ian Masters and Craig Radmall from Masters and Son and Liz Thomas and Nicola Whatford-West from Glyn Thomas & Son the butchers.

Further Emergency Life Support and Automated Defibrillator Training courses are being planned and anyone interested in attending should contact Sue Masters on 482107 or email suemasters@mastersandson.com

Esther Featherstone played Tweenies character

By Claire Cooper, reprinted from p.18 of August's Lindfield Life magazine

You may have stood behind her in the queue at the supermarket, sat at the next table in the local pub or even shared an energetic zumba class but never realised you were in the presence of one of the best loved children’s characters of this generation.

Now Lindfield Life can reveal the world famous celebrity who has made the village her home.

Zumba teacher and professional photographer Esther Featherstone is better known to millions of children (and many young adults!) as Bella from the Tweenies!

Esther brought Bella to life in 2001 and spent two years as a Tweenie, touring the world, appearing in 27 episodes for BBC and making DVDs which are still watched worldwide.

Esther explained how she landed the coveted role after graduating from the Italia Conti drama school.

“I was spotted while appearing in the drama Children of Eden and invited to attend an audition,” she said.

“The Tweenies  were already up and running but the original Bella was moving on and they were looking for a replacement. I auditioned for the experience, never believing that I would stand a chance of getting the job!”

Download or pick up a copy of the magazine to reader the rest of the article..

Games maker gets set

Pharmacy manager Claire Slater will be swapping her white coat for an Olympic uniform this summer.

Claire, who works at Abbots Pharmacy in the High Street, is one of the team of volunteers at this year’s London 2012 Olympic Games.

Claire has been selected to be a ‘games maker’ in the Events Services team.

“My role will include greeting spectators on arrival at the venue, managing queues, providing directions and information and showing spectators to their seats”
said Claire.

“I’m really excited – it’s a once in a lifetime experience!”

Orange and ginger-glazed Salmon

Recipe featured in Lindfield Life - Aug 2012 - by Caroline Young - Serves 4

Spoon 4tbs each of orange juice, soy sauce, cream sherry and Dijon mustard plus  2tbs  each of grated root ginger and honey into a freezer bag.  Add 4 skinned salmon fillets, turning to coat on all sides with the marinade. Refrigerate for 30 min. Using a fork remove fish from the bag and grill or cook on the bbq. Bring remaining marinade to the boil and spoon over the cooked fish.

Mike Scholes take the Olympic Torch

Lindfield's own Mike Scholes took to the streets of Westergate yesterday (16th July) for his turn running with the Olympic Torch. Despite what looked like torrential rain, he managed to get the crowd whipped up into a great atmosphere - waving frantically to those hardy onlookers. 

The Torch Relay text feed said this at the time of his run: 

1512: Next up is Michael Scholes who is being assisted by his guide, having lost his sight three years ago.

According to his nomination: "He achieved five British Hot Air Balloon records and is one of only nine British Pilots to fly a hot air balloon above 31,000ft."

He has skied with Blind Veterans UK and ran the London Marathon.

Watch his 4 mins of fame here

Sue Blunden carries the Torch for Lindfield

Lindfield resident Sue Blunden carried the Olympic Torch through North Bersted yesterday - Monday 16th July - doing a sterling job in the pooring rain! Here's a few snaps from the Live Streaming video on BBC (but who is the guy running alongside in the blue T-shirt? Looks like a very proud Cllr Will Blunden to me!). You can watch the clip again here 

David beats Lindfield torchbearers to a torch!

At a recent business training event by Nigel Botteril Lindfield Life editor, David Tingley, got the chance to get his hands on a genuine Olympic Torch!

Not only that, but he held a Olympic Gold Medal, won by a member of the 8+ Rowing team Ben Hunt-Davies (pictured). The Gold was awarded to the British team at the Sydney Olypmics in 2008. This incredible acheivement was the first time a British crew had done this since 1912! 

Back in Lindfield, we are looking forward to cheering on torchbearers from within our community when they do their legs of the journey nearby - Sue Blunden and Mike Scholes - see our July magazine.

Lindfield's Olympic Runners!

Lindfield will be well represented in the Olympic torch relay, with two villagers being given the honour of carrying  the flame.

Sue Blunden and Mike Scholes will be running as part of the 8,000 strong relay team carrying the Olympic Flame as it makes its journey through Sussex.

Lit in Greece, the Olympic Flame arrived in the UK on 18th May 2012 before setting out the next day on a 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, bringing the excitement of the Games to everyone.  Hundreds of torch bearers, ranging from celebrities to community champions, have already taken their place in history by completing a section of the route which runs through more than 1,000 towns, cities and villages.

Sue and Mike will join the relay on 16th July, day 59, and will carry their torches through Westergate and North Bersted. They were chosen from thousands of nominations and both say they are honoured to be taking part.

Sue

Mike