Hurst Life

Your nearest defibrillator in Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common

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At Hurst Life we’d like to encourage everyone living and working in the village to familiarise themselves with the sites of the life-saving defibrillator machines and learn how to use them.

An estimated 60,000 people each year in the UK have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and, sadly, less than 10% of those people will survive. Yet if a bystander is able to start CPR they could double a person’s chances of survival.

Hurstpierpoint has seven machines: one on the outside wall at the Fairfield Rec on Cuckfield Road, another is situated at the bowls club on South Avenue Rec, a third is inside the medical centre on Trinity Road and one is mounted on the wall in the alleyway next to Morley’s on the High Street. There are also defibs available at Court Bushes Community Hub and the Village Centre. Both of these units can be unlocked by a code given by the 999 operator.
The most recent defibrillator to be installed in the village was paid for by Burgess Hill Lions, and is located at the St Peter & St James Hospice Distribution Centre on Albourne Road.

In Sayers Common, there is one on the outside wall of the Community Shop (by the door to the hall), while in Albourne there is one inside the primary school, in the gym of Wickwoods Country Club (up Shaves Wood Lane) and one mounted on the outside wall of Albourne Village Hall, to the right of the entrance doors. Not all of these will be available 24/7 but the outside ones listed (pictured) should be.

All of the machines are portable and contain full instructions, but why not give yourself a head start with an online tutorial? The Resuscitation Council (UK) has produced plenty of information to help us all learn more about what to do in these dramatic and highly pressured times, should we find ourselves involved. You can watch videos and play interactive games to increase your understanding. You can even download an app - see www.resus.org.uk/apps/lifesaver for more information.

Please give it a go. If you have any information about changes to these defibrillators, then do please let us know, so we can update our knowledge for next time.

Hurst Open Gardens seek new participants

By Prue Heron

Open Garden will take place on Sunday 16th June, 1pm to 5.30pm, providing you with all the treats you have come to expect from Hurst Open Gardens – including that hidden-away oasis of peace, the majesty of a manicured lawn, views to die for, flowers of every variety – with plenty of locally grown plants to buy for yourself. There’ll be tea and home-made cake, entertainment to soothe you, stalls with local goodies and much, much more.

We have had a wonderful response for our call for gardens but need a few more to complete the event. If you’re thinking you’d like to but are unsure, then one of our last year’s gardener’s comments should reassure you: “I am an enthusiastic and seasoned punter of Open Gardens events across Sussex and Hampshire. They are always an inspiring and motiving celebration of people’s outside personal spaces shared for the joy they bring and for charitable ends. I fought my imposter syndrome which questioned whether my 10m by 7.75m north facing back garden with challenging clay soil was worthy or sufficiently interesting and, setting aside my doubts, agreed to take part. The bubble of chatter from the constant flow of visitors snaking to and from the garage all afternoon dispelled any misgivings I may have had. It was lovely to take part and maybe my garden has inspired you.”

Bakers – we welcome your home-made cakes with open arms – ditto gardeners with plants to spare – they really help swell the final coffers – all of which go to our local St Peter and St James Hospice.

We’d love to hear from you. Please phone Prue on 07769 904724/01273 835064 or email on prueheron@ gmail.com. Contact details are also on our website and FB page. Keep an eye on both for regular updates about the event, including tickets information. www.hurstpierpointopengardens.co.uk

Hurst & Sayers Common Parish Council News - April 24

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Are you interested in local nature?

Save the Date - Annual Parish Meeting Tuesday 21 May

We know many of our residents, value and want to protect nature and the countryside. The theme for this year’s Annual Parish Meeting will therefore be “Beyond Your Doorstep: Discover the Hidden Nature in our Parish.”

We have some interesting speakers booked and we have invited our local environmental and wildlife groups to have stalls. Come and find out about Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common’s swifts, barn owls, frogs and other resident wildlife and what you can do to encourage and protect them.

If you are part of a local group and would like a (free) stall at this event, please contact the Parish Office.


To read the full newsletter click the images to enlarge them, or pick up a copy of April’s Hurst Life and turn to page 14.

Mid Sussex District Council news - April 2024

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Funding available for energy efficiency upgrades with the Warmer Homes Programme

The Warmer Homes Programme offers significant funding of up to £25,000 for various energy-efficiency upgrades like insulation, air source heat pumps, and solar PV panels, all aimed at lowering your energy bills and keeping your home comfortable year-round. This opportunity is available until March 2025, so take advantage of this chance to strengthen your home against weather extremes and reduce your carbon footprint.

By joining the Warmer Homes Programme, you not only enhance your living conditions but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Get in touch now to see if you are eligible, and to experience increased comfort, lower energy costs, and a greener community. For more details and to see if you are eligible, please visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme or call the team for free on 0800 038 5757.

To read the full newsletter click the images to enlarge them, or pick up a copy of April’s Hurst Life and turn to page 30.

Recommendations to visit Hurst Library

Book review - Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka

By Clair Stanton

Onboard the Bullet Train heading from Tokyo to Morioka are five killers with their own personal agendas who spend the journey trying to outwit one another. The train makes very few stops and is sparsely occupied, making the characters’ movements through the train a balancing act as they try to conceal their activities whilst avoiding alarming the other passengers. (Which makes Brad Pitt a surprising choice to play the lead in the film version!)

A suitcase of money, an unlucky assassin, and a criminal obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine are just a few of the elements involved, so it’s fair to say that this is not a very realistic thriller: but it rattles along at breakneck speed and it’s a fascinating glimpse of a Japan far away from the clichéd image of geishas and cherry blossoms.

Are you taking part in the West Sussex Libraries Reading Journey 2024? As March’s theme is ‘A bump in the road: a book about travel’, this title will fit. Pick up a copy on your next visit to Hurst Library, there will be copies on display throughout March.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council news - Feb 24

We need you!

The Mid Sussex District Plan proposes to more than double the number of existing dwellings in the immediate area through the addition of nearly 4,000 new homes. Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) is currently reviewing the Mid Sussex District Plan that was adopted in March 2018.

In accordance with legislation and national policy the Plan must be reviewed every five years and updated as necessary. In December 2022 the Parish Council commented on the first draft of the revised District Plan published by MSDC and those comments can be found on our Hurst Life website here.
This Plan if enacted will radically change the nature of our parish. We would urge all residents and interested local groups to take the time to respond before the deadline of 23rd February.

The MSDC website address is www.midsussex.inconsult.uk/districtplanreg19 where there is an online questionnaire, but you can also email: policyconsultation@midsussex.gov.uk or write to Planning Policy, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oakland Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS. You can also contact the Planning Policy Team by telephone on 01444 477053.

Comments may carry more weight if any criticism of aspects of the plan is accompanied by suggestions of positive alternatives.

More information on the detail of the Plan and the likely response from the Parish Council (as well as the rest of their newsletter) can be found on the images provided - click to enlarge, or inside February’s issue of Hurst Life from page 28.

St Lawrence Fair weekend 2024 picks a green theme

By Lona McDonald

We’re looking forward to a fabulous St Lawrence Fair weekend this year - keep the date free, the Fair will be held on Saturday 6th July, with many of the usual events leading up to it. Follow us on social media, and also our website, to keep up to date with all the latest news: www.stlawrencefair.co.uk

Following our AGM in October, we would like to welcome back many of our previous committee members who are staying with us for another year, extend a very warm welcome to our new committee members and offer heartfelt thanks to our outgoing committee members who have put in so much over the last few years to make the Fair the success it is.

We’re very happy to confirm that the Executive Committee for 2024 are unchanged, and planning is already underway for this year’s events:
Co-Chairs: Nic Stenning and Rachael Babister
Treasurer: Simon Winnard
Secretary: Lona McDonald

The Fair is organised by a small committee of around eight volunteers, with a few additional non-committee volunteers, without whom we couldn’t do what we do. As always, we would welcome anyone who would like to get involved and to any extent - from helping to put posters up to advertise events, to being more involved with any of our sub-groups or helping out on the day… and many other things. If you would like to find out more, drop us an email at stlawrencefair@gmail.com - we’d love to hear from you!

And finally…after a broad public poll and a vote which included representatives from many of the groups who regularly enter our procession, we’re thrilled to announce the theme for 2024... HURST GOES GREEN. This can be anything from sustainable living, nature and eco-friendly activities to literally anything green: Shrek, green fruit and veg, Kermit the Frog…the list goes on…we look forward to seeing how creative Hurstpierpoint can be with this!

For those of you joining us at our fundraising quiz on 9th February, we look forward to seeing you there - and if you’re not able to join us, we will be holding another fundraising event in the next few months - thank you for your support!

Mid Sussex District Council news - Feb 24

We have advanced to the next stage in our District Plan making process

Mid Sussex District Council has given the green light to the latest stage of its District Plan, marking a major milestone in the plan-making process. The Regulation 19 submission draft, enhanced with key additions and protections based on community feedback, is now open for public consultation.

This achievement is the result of months of hard work and collaboration with various stakeholders, including invaluable input from local communities. Robert Eggleston, Leader of the Council, emphasised that reaching this stage has been challenging but underscores the hard work and compromises made by everyone involved.

The new District Plan aims to protect the local area while meeting the needs of the population, both now and in the future. The Mid Sussex District Plan 2021-2039 sets out a visionary framework, outlining the vision, strategy, and policy framework for the District until 2039. It also commits to essential policies and environmental protections for climate change and biodiversity in all new developments.

To find out more about the District Plan and the intricacies of the plan-making process visit the Mid Sussex District Council website and search ‘District Plan’. This also includes links to the Regulation 19 Consultation which runs from 12th January to 23rd February.

Mid Sussex District Council has also made a short video explaining why The District Plan is important for the future. The video makes it easier to understand the process of creating the plan and how it benefits the District’s future. To find out more and view the video, visit: www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan

To read the full newsletter please pick up your copy of Hurst Life today and turn to page 24, or, click the images provided to enlarge them.

January's listings for Hurst Village Cinema

By Mike Thatcher

Thanks for your continued support of the village cinema and I hope you find something in January’s films to suit you.

We start on Thursday 11th at 8pm with Freemont (12A, 91 mins). Donya, a former translator for the US in Afghanistan, now works for a Chinese fortune cookie factory in San Francisco. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message in a cookie, which is not without its consequences. It contains perhaps one of the best off-screen sound effects I have ever heard (you’ll know it when you hear it) and Gregg Turkington portrays possibly my favourite movie shrink ever. A charming, wry, thoughtful and funny film.

Then on Friday 26th at 8pm we screen Shiva Baby (15, 77 mins). ‘Painfully funny’ is all too often used for comedies but it absolutely applies to this film. College student Danielle attends a Jewish funeral service with her family and is seemingly judged whichever room she enters; whilst being outshone by her ex-girlfriend she also comes face-to-face with her sugar daddy and his family. Each room brings a new set of unpleasantries which ramps up our levels of buttock clenching. Shiva Baby is a comedy that feels both universally relatable in its depiction of awkward family dynamics and very specific to Danielle’s experience of watching her sex life collide with her religious community. It is no surprise to learn that it is largely autobiographical for first-time director Emma Seligman, as it feels very personal and real; a cultural comedy that is imminently relatable to everyone. And very funny.

Finally, we show The Great Escaper (12A, 97 mins), starring Michael Caine, on Sunday 28th at 3pm. Based on a true story about pensioner Bernard Jordan who, in 2014, absconded from his care home in Hove to attend an event in France marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world; Bernie seemed to embody the defiant, ‘can-do’ spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. Glenda Jackson’s last performance before she died and Michael Caine hinted it would also be his last offering and they are both superb in this. A moving and surprisingly nuanced drama offering far more than flag-waving nostalgia. On paper The Great Escaper looks like the softest of tearjerkers, but Caine’s performance and an unsentimental script, lends it unexpected gravitas.

Tickets from www.hurstfilms.com or at Mishon Mackay.

Brighton Consort in Hurstpierpoint

By Mike Clemens

Brighton Consort, directed by renowned singer and conductor Greg Skidmore, will be returning to Hurstpierpoint in January with their latest programme of early choral music entitled “Double or Nothing – Renaissance music for double choir.” Among the many fascinating innovations in choral composition that took place during the 16th and 17th centuries, one of the most striking was the development of music written for two separate choirs. Many skilled composers of the period wrote musical lines for two groups of singers that swirl and interweave in quite complex ways, but at times come together to act like blocks or pillars. In their concert, Brighton Consort will present music by Allegri, Palestrina, Victoria, Monteverdi and others - all written in this compelling way for at least eight separate voice parts. The performance of this fascinating music will take place on Saturday 27th January at 3.00pm in Holy Trinity Church, Hurstpierpoint. Tickets (£12, concessions £6, under 12s free) and can be purchased online via the Brighton Consort website (https://www.brightonconsort.org.uk/), by ringing 01273 833746 or on the door.

Hurst Players present Red Riding Hood panto this festive season

By Anne Hopper

It’s panto time – “O yes, it is”!! Couldn’t resist that, but perhaps I should have, especially this early in the season! Auditions for the adult cast took place in late August – when few people were thinking of entertainment over Christmas and New Year – but the fairly recent change to autumnal temperatures will soon see the recently appointed cast of children joining the grown-ups now busy learning their lines for The Players’ 2023 pantomime - Red Riding Hood.
The youngsters will ease in gently with an hour of rehearsal each week during November, under the skilled tuition of Annette Squire, joining the adult cast for full rehearsals from December onwards.

Meantime, The Players are busy organising the essential backstage team – we are always interested in welcoming people who would like to be involved, but who shy away from actually performing. If that’s you – why not see what the Players can offer you – and if you would like to know more, do get in touch with us. Once again, the Players’ “panto-supremo” Bob Sampson is both writer and director and he will be happy to respond to any enquiries about backstage work – or help with lighting and sounds for those who love fiddling with switches! Please contact him directly at: sampson.bob@gmail.com. Online bookings open on 25th November but if you prefer to buy your tickets personally come along to the Theatre Box Office on the High Street on any Saturday morning from 2nd December from 10am to 1pm. We’ll have up to date information on booking tickets on the Players website: https://hurstplayers.org.uk/ Please get in touch - but beware of the wolf!

Reverse Advent Calendars 2023-24

By Margaret Carey

Holy Trinity Church has, for several years, organised a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ scheme. There’s a multitude of varieties of Advent calendars on sale, some of them involving a small gift inside the calendar each day, others with chocolate, but traditionally you just open a little door to discover a quotation and a picture.

This is different. We give, rather than receive, something. So please find a big cardboard box and put something into it each day of Advent. This helps us all to think of the needs of other people, many of whom have little or no help at Christmas, or at any other time. This year, with all household costs, fuel bills, and food prices rising very considerably, the need is greater than ever. Here is a suggested selection of items you can include:
Tinned meat, vegetables and fruit
Tea and coffee
Cereals
Toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, (but not bulky items such as loo rolls.)
The odd bar of chocolate or tube of smarties wouldn’t go amiss.

Please check the expiry dates of everything you put into your box. So, start your collection on the first day of Advent, which is 3rd December and put something in your box each day right up until Christmas. Then, please take it to Harvesters, Mossy Mile, on Saturday 6th or Saturday 13th January 2024 between 11am and 12noon.

The gifts will be sorted and then distributed to families early in the New Year. We know, from the response in previous years, how generous are the people of Hurstpierpoint, and how very grateful are the people who receive these gifts. Last year, about fifty families joined the scheme which resulted in well over a thousand gifts being given. This year, there is even more poverty and even greater need. Please help if you possibly can. If you need any other information, please email margaret@112a.co.uk.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Council newsletter - Nov 2023

Hurst Meadows Heritage Orchard

Thank you so much to all the local volunteers who came to assist with the raking of the Orchard following the annual cut. This will give the wildflowers and the fruit trees the best chance of flourishing next year. We are delighted that, thanks to the hard work of orchard manager Martin Sadler, Plant Heritage have added our community orchard to the National Plant Collections directory. This reflects the value of this collection of historic Sussex apple trees. Congratulations Martin!



Section 106 Monies / Developer Contributions

Under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, financial contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen because of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known either as ‘section 106 monies’ or ‘developer contributions.’ The Parish Council will always seek to apply for section 106 funding for local projects wherever possible, and some examples of where we have been successful in doing so recently can be found within this article.

Please click the images to read the full newsletter or pick up a copy of November’s Hurst Life today.

In brief look at Sayers Common history

By Michael Bailey

For many years it might have been thought that Sayers Common sat in the shadow of Hurstpierpoint. Both villages are old, as is apparent from some of the buildings in them, and both for example, record the numbers of residents called for service in WW 1 (in Sayers Common over 50 gave service and 6 never returned). But the main difference between the two until the 1990s was that the road through Sayers Common happened to be the main road between Brighton and London, the A23.

Motorists up to the 1990s will recall driving the single carriage road from Pycombe past the Muddleswood Crossroads (then an accident black spot) then continuing the single line of traffic through Sayers Common to the Bolney Crossroads (also then another black spot!) . With the increasing number of cars and other transport in the 1950s to 1980s the road was very busy and not the ideal place to encourage new residents.

Drone footage over Sayers Common - September 2023

Then, with the construction of the then new road, now the A23, all changed. The road through the village, London Road, is just for local traffic and that almost immediately resulted in the village becoming an ideal location for residential development to satisfy the ongoing demand for new homes.

Berrylands Farm was the first big development and followed by smaller ones until more recently Linden Homes started and continue to build homes on the western side of the village. More are coming off Reeds Lane and according to the Mid Sussex Development plans even more may be contemplated.

In tandem with new housing the recent past has seen the establishing of a special school by LVS, the creation of a thriving Community Shop and one of the largest suppliers of aircraft parts sits on the village outskirts. Many residents will also have benefited from SpaMedica which carries out NHS eye surgery from the Kings Centre.

All this helps Sayers Common to be a pleasant and convenient place in which to live and it emerged from the shadows many years ago. It is now a substantial and growing community in its own right but is the only “Downlands Village” without its own parish council despite having petitioned for one in 2019.

The Village Society (free to all residents) plays a leading role in conserving and enhancing the characteristics of the village and village life and in encouraging community activities while the welfare of the wildlife in the area is fostered by a Flora and Fauna Society.

Hurstpierpoint Advent Calendar 2023

By the Hurst ReThink

Community Join us as we return this year to partake in our village’s Christmas spirit by creating a festive display in your front window. It will need to be visible to the road and passers-by, ready to be lit and unveiled on you allocated advent day, from 5-8pm. All addresses to be lit on 24th December to mark the night before Christmas. Apply with your address and available dates by 27th October to hurstadvent@ gmail.com.