Hurstpierpoint Community Hub - building progress

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Community Hub in Hurstpierpoint

Local residents had their first chance to see how work is progressing on the new Hurstpierpoint Community Hub in mid-December. The former Ex Serviceman’s Club at Court Bushes Recreation Ground has been empty since December 2017, and later that month a serious fire destroyed the interior of the building. Mid Sussex District Council is working with Hurstpierpoint Parish Council and local community groups to bring the building back into use as a community facility.

The new community building will be a flexible space that can be used in different ways by local community groups. A large hall area will be available for social functions like wedding receptions and birthday parties, as a space for social groups to meet or as a venue for positive activities like exercise classes. An area will be provided for community meetings to be held and it is hoped that a nursery provider will use the space to provide local childcare for nearby families.

Councillor Colin Trumble said: “Since November last year we’ve been working hard to bring this community centre back to life. We are hoping that by the middle of February it will be ready to use, with an opening probably sometime around Easter 2019.”

Christmas Day lunch offer to community

By Naomi McBain

It is an exciting time of expansion for Hurstpierpoint charity Hope, which aims to encourage and support family life and reduce stress and isolation amongst families.

Working with a growing team of volunteers, many lives are being encouraged and equipped through our term time programmes of parenting conversations, small support groups called Sparkle groups, playtime fun and support of individual families.

On Christmas Day we are linking up for a second year with another local charity, Befriended, for a Community Christmas lunch. Last year was full of laughter, fun and delicious food.

This year we are looking again to make Christmas Day special for families and individuals who might otherwise find the day difficult, or are simply looking to spend the day with others in the community. Do help us spread the word to people you know who would like to come.

For more information on this event please contact: admin @befriended.org.

Short back and sides - new barbers in Hurstpierpoint

Jed Berry

There’s a new barbers in town: JB & Co – which is run by brothers Jed and Jake Berry.

Jake, who already runs another barbers shop in Brighton, lives in Hurstpierpoint and loves the place.

He raved so much about it to his brother Jed, that he moved down from Banbury to run the business at 108 High Street!

Jed (pictured) has been a barber for seven years and explained that the pair have experienced a lot of support from residents and fellow traders already: “People just pop their head round the door and say Hi, wishing us good luck – it’s really nice.”

JB & Co is open from 9am Tuesday to Saturday with an earlier start on Saturdays and a late finish on Thursday nights

Hurst High Street Community Christmas Event

By David Tingley

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High Street Community Event in Hurstpierpoint

It is with great pleasure that we at Hurst Life have been able to join with the various other businesses who have supported the Community Christmas Event on the High Street on 8th December.

According to organiser Louise Lawrence, this year’s High Street event has been a genuine community collaboration with many groups, in addition to businesses, taking steps to make it happen. She explained: “Hurst Life’s support has been incredibly helpful. Hurst Life has, with no charge, allowed us to raise the profile of the event by printing photos and updates on a monthly basis.”

Other businesses involved this year specifically include: Marcus Grimes, Castles Solicitors, The Co-op and Nationwide Building Society as well as other High Street traders.

The High Street will be closed to traffic from 2.45pm on Saturday 8th December, reopening at 7pm that evening.

Highlights of the afternoon will include over 55 stalls (all local), Santa’s Grotto from 4pm, a live nativity, live band, dance performance, trishaw rides and a camera booth. The evening will conclude with a torchlit carol singing procession at 6.30pm.

For up to date information about the event search for ‘Hurst High Street Xmas Shopping’ on Facebook.

Christmas at Hurstpierpoint churches

Download the guide to everything that’s going on at churches in Hurstpierpoint at Christmastime 2018!

Natural health right here in Hurstpierpoint

Juniper Herbs, developed by Ellie Ceylan

Juniper is the brainchild of Ellie Ceylan who graduated as a Herbalist and Naturopath in 2015. As well as bringing up her two children, she spends her spare time foraging, growing herbs and making herbal remedies, with plans to develop a range of skincare products in the near future.

“My aim for Juniper,” explains Ellie, “is to provide natural health solutions so that customers can enjoy optimal health and well-being as well as participating in their own healing process.” She also believes that by promoting herbal medicine and natural healing to the local community she can increase people’s connection to the natural world, whether this is through medicine, educational walks and talks or workshops. Evidence increasingly shows that access to the natural world can reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Moving to Hurstpierpoint in 2011 was a big step towards living closer to nature and bringing her children up within a beautiful, rural environment. Ellie explains: “I grew up with a love of nature and feel that our relationship with it has become obscured by our busy, modern lifestyles. I wanted to re-establish that connection and inspire others to develop a greater kinship with nature.” She believes that herbal medicine provides that opportunity – not only is it a chance to heal illness but it’s also about retuning to the natural world.

[Full article published in November 2018 issue of Hurst Life magazine]

Remembrance Parade through Hurst

Remembrance Parade in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex

By Trevor Evans

This year’s parade will mark a special milestone in our country’s history; 100 years ago, on Sunday 11th November 1918, the guns fell silent and the First World War was over.

This year, as always, we remember at our village Memorial all those villagers who not only gave their lives in the Great War but those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in subsequent theatres of war.

This year’s Remembrance Parade will take place on Sunday 11th November. The parade will form up at 10.30am at South Avenue. The parade will then march through the High Street to the War Memorial. If wet, the parade will assemble in the Army Cadets drill hall, which is situated behind the Co-op in the High Street.

The police have advised that they are no longer able to provide assistance for road closure traffic control and that we provide our own marshals.

I would ask motorists to accept a short delay on their journey whilst the parade takes place.

Having carried out the duties as Parade Marshal for the Royal British Legion in the village for many years I have decided to stand down after this year’s parade. I will be handing over the baton to Colin Richardson MBE who will continue the parade organisation on behalf of the village.

New stone laid on The Green in Hurst

Passers-by of the children sculpture on The Green may have noticed the addition of a new stone laid in front of it – courtesy of Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council.

Hurst resident Sylvia Thornhill (pictured) was one of many who suggested concepts for the installation, but hers eventually won the public vote and was installed in July 2013.

The new stone credits Sylvia and explains the rationale of the artwork, as the children represent the seven centuries that the St Lawrence Fair has been running.

Lustig & Webb celebrate four years in Hurst

With the High Street constantly changing, it’s great to be able to recognise business owners in Hurstpierpoint who have recently celebrated four years running Lustig & Webb – the hair salon tucked away behind Café Murano.

Originally started by Daniel Lustig and Stephen Webb as a pop-up shop - sharing the space with interior designer Angie Cheung - within a year the couple had taken on the whole shop and were employing two additional stylists.

The pair are no strangers to celebrations this year, as they got married in Bordeaux during the summer – with a three-day event including friends and family. “After two years of planning,” Daniel explained, “it was a very special time and fantastic to finally ‘tie the knot’.”

Daniel started work in the hotel industry but trained as a stylist at Toni & Guy and had worked in Brighton for 20 years before opening in the village. Stephen similarly trained at Toni & Guy and enjoyed working in London, Dubai and Brighton – before finally settling down in Hurst. They now live just up the road, in Sayers Common.

“For us,” Daniel says, “it’s all about customer experience. We know many can feel intimidated about coming to a hair salon, so we do everything we can to make clients feel welcome from walking through the door to the ‘goodbye’ as they leave feeling fabulous!”

[Full article published in October 2018 Hurst Life magazine]

The shining lights of village cinema

By Mike Thatcher

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Hurst Village Cinema gets Commendations

I gave far too much thought about which jumper I should wear to Sheffield. On the one hand I had worn the same one four years running and we had always come away with some awards. On the other hand people might think it was the only one I owned. Boldly, I chose a different jumper, albeit essentially the same colour.

Once again we had been nominated in two categories for the annual Film Society of the Year awards in Sheffield, rewarding the hard work which Manon and David Saitch put into running the Hurst Village Cinema.

I travelled up early on Friday and on arrival watched two films which are well worth a viewing; American Animals and The Miseducation of Cameron Post. I met up with David later, who was looking nervously over his shoulder for Newcastle Film Society who seem to have anointed him as their designated drinking buddy. As a group they were later to be awarded the Roebuck Cup, leaving David to muse that his shoes were too big to be filled by just one person.

David, with less than eight hours of his reign as Roebuck Cup winner left, had been asked to be on the Community Cinema Review of the Year panel entitled ‘Challenges and Success’. Unfortunately, going after Liz from Leigh Film Society meant much had already been said. What did emerge, however, was that Hurst Village Cinema is almost unique in having only three people at the helm. Other organisations have up to 30 volunteers and their scope and brief is much wider than ours. “It makes everything you do more amazing,” commented the Deborah Parker, the Chief Exective of Cinema for All.

The scene maybe changing slightly, with the emphasis now on the bigger organisation, but, as always, I came away proud to be a part of Hurst Village Cinema, as we picked up two Commendations at the awards. The last word from Deborah: “You guys at Hurst Village Cinema are a shining light. You exploded onto the scene in such a fully formed way that it seemed as though you had been there for decades, you started helping other film societies network straight away, you’ve helped out other film societies and us without a second thought; you’ve really inspired people.”

Community Christmas Event on Hurstpierpoint High Street

By Louise Lawrence

We’re excited to be able to give you a little info on the upcoming Christmas event, which will take place on Saturday 8th December between 3-7pm. Although it’s a little time away yet, we’re adding new highlights weekly so it promises to really kick start the festive period! Please save the date.

We will have something for all the family, including: Santa’s Grotto (sponsored by Marcus Grimes); traders and charity tables along the High street; live Nativity in the bus shelter; music by The Straw Dogs; theatre performances; photo booth competition and carol singing, of course!

The whole event concludes with a torchlit procession for all to join in with.

This year the event is being run by the community (local charities) and the traders. There has been no charge for table space and all the contributors have donated their time for free. We are excited that any money generated will benefit our parish.

You can see more updates by liking ‘Hurst High Street Xmas Shopping’ on Facebook or see next month’s Hurst Life magazine.

Work started on Community Hub

Mid Sussex District Council is working in partnership with Hurstpierpoint Parish Council to create a new community hub for local people.

The former Ex Servicemen’s Club at Court Bushes Recreation Ground in Hurstpierpoint has been empty since December 2017, and later that month a serious fire destroyed the interior of the building. 

The District and Parish Councils are working together to bring this building back into use as a community facility for local events, and building work is set to get under way shortly.

The new community building will be a flexible space that can be used in different ways by local community groups.

A large hall area will be available for social functions like wedding receptions and birthday parties, as a space for social groups to meet or as a venue for positive activities like exercise classes. An area will be provided for community meetings to be held, and it is hoped that a nursery provider will use the space to provide local childcare for nearby families.

Storage has been set aside to enable a Foodbank to be run from the building, and the ex-servicemen, who built the original building, will be able to relax and socialise in a new bar area.

The new facility will be built by Mid Sussex District Council before it is handed over to Hurstpierpoint Parish Council to manage on behalf of the local community.

Work started in August to strip out the interior of the building and prepare the site for renovation. Building work will start this month, and the new community hub is expected to be completed by the end of December 2018.

Councillor Colin Trumble, Mid Sussex District Council Member for Hurstpierpoint and Downs, added: “It’s wonderful to see the District Council, Parish Council, Ex-Servicemen, Clarion Housing and local community groups all working together to make this dream a reality.”

Hurst Open Studios weekends - 2018

Where you can find artists in Hurstpierpoint 

Hurstpierpoint Open Studios will take place over two weekends in September during the Hurst Festival.

There will be 26 artists at 13 venues  around the village displaying their work, which includes paintings, photography, textiles, stained glass, furniture, sculptures and jewellery.

You can meet the artists and enjoy the wonderful variety of work on display, and maybe treat yourself, or someone else, to a unique piece of artwork. Refreshments will be available at two venues during the first weekend and at one venue during the second weekend.

‘Art making is a way of experiencing peace’ is a quote from artist Melanie Circle. With this quote in mind and a theme of ‘Peace’ running through the Hurst Festival, the Open Studios artists have each produced a piece of work in their own interpretation of ‘Peace’. These will be on display in shops around the village for the two weeks prior to the Open Studios.

The Open Studio venues will be open on 15th/16th and 22nd/23rd September from 11am to 5pm and will have blue and white balloons at the entrance. Please note two venues will only be open on the first weekend. 

Details of venues (with a map) are in the Hurst Festival brochure and on posters and flyers in shops in the village and in the library.

Discover more about the group online at: www.hurstpierpointopenstudios.com or search Facebook for Hurstpierpoint Open Studios.

Danny House's part in WWI history

Danny House, Hurstpierpoint - where Lloyd George signed the Armistice agreement in 1918

By Michèle Copeland

Danny - we all hear the name or references to it, but how many of us have been to Danny House?

Danny is an impressive and stunning country home of the first Elizabethan age, nestled at the bottom of the South Downs at Wolstonbury Hill, south of Hurstpierpoint. It has stood the passage of time - some seven centuries - as the home of the Campion family, who played major parts in the area’s domestic and imperial history in their time, as well as housing leaders of our nation, at difficult times.

One of those most recent events was in 1918, when Prime Minister Lloyd George stayed there alongside his wife and his secretary Miss Stevenson - his reputedly ailing mistress. Danny House and its village was chosen not only to become a temporary office of the War Cabinet, between July and November 1918, but David Lloyd George’s country home.

“He effectively lived there with his family, the newspaper barons of the time, and war leaders for several months,” says Richard Burrows, today’s owner of Danny House.

[Taken from a full article published in August 2018's Hurst Life magazine]

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“I would really love to re-enact The 1918 Lloyd George Garden Party, to celebrate the Armistice centenary of 1918. It would really be great if people could attend this event in period costume of the 1920s, with dancers or dancing groups to lead the way,” he says.

The famous Alex Mendham 11 piece orchestra (who have played to royalty all over the world) and the Hot Rhythm Orchestra (who headline the Goodwood Revival) will be present, as well as the well-known vintage Harris funfair and WWI re-enactors. Enjoy Pimms and tea on the lawn and mingle with actors dressed like celebrities of the time, such as Lloyd George, Bonar Law, and Arthur Balfour – we can all re-enact history!

The 1918 Lloyd George Garden Party is on 2nd September 2018. It will open at 2pm and finish at 6pm. 

Ticket prices are £5 a head and £20 for a family ticket and can be bought via the Hurst Festival website. 

Albourne Village Show - 1st September 2018

By Mick Gratton

This year’s Albourne Village Show will be held at Albourne Green (BN6 9DJ) between 12noon and 4.30pm on Saturday 1st September 2018 with free local parking.

It is a traditional Summer Fete with a Flower, Produce and Craft show at its heart. Visit the website www.albournevillageshow.co.uk for information on categories and entry details.

It has grown to be a family event for all ages and this year we will have three bands including Patcham Silver Band; a dog show you can enter on the day; steam engines, vintage vehicles and a barrel organ; birds of prey; as well as a magician, children’s entertainment, games and many craft stalls.

There’s plenty to eat and drink with a Bedlam beer tent and Clive Miller barbeque, tea and cakes and apple pressing. 

If you can’t come, you can still buy tickets for the ‘Best of Albourne’ Raffle which has a £100 first prize sponsored by Ernest Doe together with many other great prizes.

The show is generously supported by local businesses including Sweeptech, Technetix, Avtrade, Hurst College and Tracmaster and raises money for the local community.

Please come and enjoy a day out and if you want to run a stall contact me (Mick) on 01273 833978.

Blue Dogs victorious in final

Hurstpierpoint Football Club success in 2018

By Alex Oecken

Hurstpierpoint Football Club has been the village team since its formation in 1886, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the country. Originally playing in the grounds of Danny House, the club moved to Fairfield Rec in the mid-1900s, a ground that they still call ‘home’ today.

In 2014 Hurst won the prestigious Sussex Intermediate Cup, beating Cowfold in the final - arguably the proudest day in the club’s long history. 

This year the club looked to go and emulate the victorious feat, but this time in the Edgar German Cup. 

The ‘Blue Dogs’ found themselves drawn in the final against a very young Jarvis Brook II side that proved more than worthy of its place, despite being in the division below.

The game took place last month at Hanbury Park stadium in Haywards Heath. Hurst came into the game without a win since their semi-final victory three weeks prior but still took the lead through a Luca D’Alessio header just before half time. Luca was one of the three products in the squad who came from the club’s youth system, Hurstpierpoint Colts.

Jarvis Brook equalised with a penalty just after halftime, which made for a more tense finish.

The deciding moment came with just under half an hour to play, when Hurstpierpoint born Luke Martin arrowed an effort passed the Brook goalkeeper from 25 yards to make it 2-1 on the night.

The club has made great progress in the last two seasons, and all involved are very proud of this achievement. We are expanding and growing as a club and would welcome anyone in the village who would be keen to get involved, whether that be playing, managing/coaching or on the committee. Do get in touch (hurstpierpointfc @gmail.com).

Noel Coward play at The New Inn, Hurstpierpoint

Hurstpierpoint is delighted to be welcoming back the hugely successful and talented musical team of Sam Nixon and Alasdair Carson-Sheard. Following on from the well-received Twelfth Night, and a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, the same directorial team bring you: I’ll See You Again - the Private Lives of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence.

Departing from Shakespeare, combining biopic with outdoor theatre magic they are bringing a wonderful celebration of the lives and talent of that essential, erudite British gent Noel Coward and his shining, talented and funny co-star Gertrude Lawrence.

This evening of razor sharp wit, laugh out loud comedy and some of the most beautiful melodies written for the stage will be in the garden of the New Inn from Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th July, with an additional special matinee performance on Saturday 7th July.

For more details and to buy tickets visit: www.ginpalaceproductions.co.uk.

A review of village Conservation Areas in Hurstpierpoint

As part of a programme of reviewing Conservation Area Appraisals across the District, Mid Sussex District Council has prepared the Hurstpierpoint Conservation Areas Appraisal, which covers the three Conservation Areas within the village (Hurstpierpoint, Langton Lane and Hurst Wickham). This has been prepared in association with the Hurstpierpoint Society, and identifies the qualities which make the Conservation Areas special, as well as how these qualities can be preserved and enhanced.

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This map shows the conservation areas currently in Hurstpierpoint

The Appraisal has highlighted a number of instances where it is felt the boundaries of the Conservation Areas could be usefully extended to include adjoining areas which are considered to have sufficient special interest to merit designation, as well as one instance where it is considered the boundary could be altered to omit buildings which detract from the special interest of the Conservation Area concerned.

Once approved by the Council, the Appraisal will form a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and will inform planning practice and policies for the area. It will also give the local community clear advice on what should be cared for and preserved within the Conservation Areas.

The Conservation Area Appraisal is now complete in draft form. The next stage of the process is a public consultation exercise, in this case with the assistance of the Hurstpierpoint Society and the Parish Council, in which the Council is seeking the views of local residents and other interested parties on the Appraisal and the proposed boundary changes. The consultation included a public exhibition at the Hurstpierpoint Village Centre at the end of last month, but copies of the full Appraisal document are now available to view at Hurstpierpoint Library. The Appraisal is also available to view online at the Council’s website: www.midsussex.gov.uk/hurstpierpointcaa

MSDC are very keen to hear from anyone with their thoughts on the draft document. Comments can be sent to LDFconsultation @ midsussex.gov.uk 

The public consultation began on 16th April and will run until the end of May 2018. There will be a review of the feedback received and any required changes would be made to the Appraisal before it is adopted. 

New Vermouth from Albourne Estate

Alison Nightingale, Albourne Estate vineyard owner, has unveiled the first Sussex vermouth: an English take on the Italian favourite which is rapidly seeing a resurgence in popularity.

Named 40 after the number of botanicals with which it has been infused, this highly complex tasting white semi-dry vermouth has already won its first award in The Spirits Business Master 2017 blind-tasting competition.

As well as the regular vineyard and wine tasting tours Alison runs throughout the summer, this June - on the Father’s Day weekend - there will be a Sussex Wineries weekend of events when Albourne Estate will be open to the public.

On the Friday, there will be a pop-up cinema in its 400 year old barn, screening Sideways, with tickets including a glass of wine. And on 16th and 17th June the vineyard will be open all day for drop-in tastings, a self-guided treasure hunt trail and the chance to picnic anywhere on the vineyard with hampers full of local produce, which need to be ordered on Albourne Estate’s website prior to the event.

On the Saturday there will be a vermouth master class with Alison’s wine consultant Salvatore Leone, who helped Alison develop her recently launched vermouth.

Visit www.albourneestate.co.uk to find out more.

Time for changes to The Village Centre in Hurstpierpoint?

By Michèle Copeland

Hurstpierpoint's Village Centre

The Village Centre is considering a major redevelopment of its facilities to bring the building up to date with current regulations, carry out various repairs, enhance the facilities for its predicted use over the coming years and to improve the appearance of the centre, in terms of decor.

Michel Olszewski, chair of the Trustees of The Village Centre committee, explains: “The needs of the community are outgrowing the accommodation The Village Centre currently has and we are considering upgrading the main hall, the meeting room, the kitchen and the Club Room. The library is the responsibility of Mid Sussex District Council. The Village Centre was first extended in 1998. There was a further update, which took two years from 2004 to 2006 - nearly 15 years ago now, when the Parish Room was re-housed.” 

“As The Village Centre is very much a community building,” Michel continues, “we would like to involve the Hurst community in this important project. Our current considerations may include several changes, which could impact on the different groups and members of the public who use the centre, such as alterations to the steps and ramp to the hall, general layout and an extension.”

The team thought that the best way to interact with the residents of Hurst would be through a questionnaire and so they would be grateful for anyone who could email with responses to the following questions: 
1. In addition to current accommodation, are there any additional facilities you would like to see?
2. Would you find a changing room/cloakroom accommodation useful?
3. What aspects of the Centre would you most want or need to be retained?
4. Are they any additions to the facilities that would enable you to use the Centre more often?
5. What are the best parts of the Centre which encourage you to use the facility?

Any feedback should be sent to the current HVCA Secretary, Andrew Hair, via email to: andrewhinhurst @ gmail.com