Village People - Thomas Allen

By Claire Cooper

A Lindfield artist, whose Contemporary Cave Paintings enthralled hundreds of visitors to a Brighton exhibition earlier this year, has reached another milestone in his career.

Thomas Allen, is one of an elite group of just 64 artists from all over Europe to have a piece shortlisted for the prestigious Threadneedle Prize. “I’m absolutely over the moon to have a piece selected from thousands of submissions from across Europe!” said Thomas.

His selection comes at just the right time for Thomas, who currently has a painting, Transporting Touch, on show in the Year of the Horse exhibition at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London. He will revisit the gallery early next year to undertake his second Contemporary Cave Painting project.

Thomas describes how he has developed his unique style, taking inspiration from prehistoric cave paintings, and how he gives himself over to the life of the image, never knowing quite what will emerge when he starts a painting…

“I’ve always enjoyed drawing,” said Thomas, 24, who lives in The Glebe. “When I was a child, all my parents needed to do was give me a pencil and a piece of paper if they ever wanted me out of their hair for a few hours!” Encouraged by family, Thomas continued to draw and paint throughout his school years. On leaving Haywards Heath College, Thomas would have liked to follow his heart and concentrate on drawing and painting, but decided to take the perhaps more practical route, studying Economics and Sociology at Exeter University. Rather ironically, the Sociological theory Thomas was taught came to play a key role in the development of his unique style.

Read full article on pages 24/25

Bob White - Village People

Lindfield Primary School reaches another milestone in its history next month as pupils and staff say farewell to headteacher Bob White. Bob, or ‘Mr White’ as he is known to generations of children, has spent the past 24 years at Lindfield Primary School, the last 12 as headteacher. During his time in Lindfield Bob has seen huge changes as the school has evolved from separate infant and junior schools, to an all-through primary school. He is currently overseeing the expansion project which will equip the school for the next generation of youngsters. Claire Cooper caught up with Bob as he prepares to leave a job he describes as ‘the dream ticket’.

by Claire Cooper

As a schoolboy in South London, Bob White always knew he wanted to be a teacher, unless, of course, he became a professional footballer, which in Bob’s case very nearly happened!

“I’ve always been sporty and while I was growing up played for Crystal Palace youth team,” Bob recalled.  “I certainly had aspirations to become a professional footballer but after a serious injury and doubts over whether I was really good enough, I decided to focus on my studies. Fortunately my parents had always encouraged me to work hard, so I went off to University in Southampton with the aim of becoming a teacher.”

Football remained a passion for Bob and while at university he captained the Winchester Football team, also gaining his coaching badges.

After leaving university Bob took up his first teaching post at a primary school in Croydon. “Working in South London was challenging but I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Bob, who also took up a coaching position at Crystal Place working evenings, weekends and during school holidays. 

He stayed at the Croydon school for 10 years until a surprise phone call from Steve Coppell took him in a new direction. “Out of the blue I was offered the job of coaching director at Crystal Palace,” he said.

 Bob jumped at the chance and stayed at the club for three years, coaching many young talented players including Gareth Southgate who went on to play for England.

“But I always knew I wanted to return to teaching,” said Bob, who had moved to Staplefield and was playing an active part in village life. “When I saw that Lindfield Primary School was looking for a deputy head I knew that was the job for me.”

Read the full story on page 14 of July's Lindfield Life magazine.

Fun runners aim high

By Claire Cooper

There are many reasons why Lindfield villagers sign up for the annual fun run. For many, it’s a chance to get out in the fresh air and run with family and friends, others are hoping to better last year’s time or beat their rivals to the finishing line.

But for two runners, this year’s event was part of a training programme for much bigger challenges which they hope will raise much needed funds for charity.

John Alway and Kate Taylor are both in training for life changing events.

Former gymnast Kate will be running in her first marathon next year, while John is preparing for a gruelling night-time trek to the summit of Mount Snowdon.

You can support John’s NSPCC fundraising campaign  by visiting http://justgiving.com/JohnAlway or The Make a Wish Foundation by visiting http://bit.ly/1hIHyI0 

To support and sponsor Kate, visit her giving page: http://bit.ly/1nx4Ccj

Read the fulll story on page 10 of July 2014's magazine

How Henry lives with diabetes

By Claire Cooper

Diabetes has been a hot topic in the media recently as the numbers of adults being diagnosed with type 2 continue to rise. But far less is written about the increasing numbers of babies and young children with type 1 diabetes which is an auto-immune condition for which there is no cure.

Lindfield mum Sarah Depledge, whose son Henry was diagnosed at just 15 months old, tells what life is like with a diabetic child and why people should give generously during National Diabetes Week (June 8th to 14th).

“The first thing I noticed was that Henry’s nappies were getting wetter and he was constantly thirsty,” said Sarah. “But I assumed it was part of the transition after stopping breastfeeding.”

Over the next few weeks Henry became increasingly lethargic and cranky and when his breathing became rapid he was rushed into the Royal Alex in Brighton. “During the journey Henry began to lose consciousness,” Sarah recalled. “The hospital staff were brilliant and, when I told them about the thirst and nappies, they very quickly diagnosed diabetes. It was a huge shock for us as there are no other cases in the family.”

Henry was seriously ill with diabetic ketoacidosis and spent two days in the High Dependency Unit drifting in and out of consciousness, and a further week in hospital before being allowed home. “I have since learnt that Henry would have had stomach cramps and blurred vision,” said Sarah. “But at 15 months there was no way he could tell me what was wrong.”

Henry’s diagnosis meant a steep learning curve for Sarah and the family, who have ‘lived and breathed’ diabetes ever since.

“Henry’s diabetes affects us all day, every day,“ said Sarah, who has to take blood by pricking Henry’s finger 10 times every day. “I even have to test while Henry’s asleep but he’s got so used to it, he barely rouses.”

Now 6, Henry needs regular doses of insulin which are administered through a pump attached to his side. “People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce any insulin so every time Henry eats I have to work out how much insulin he will need,” said Sarah, who enters the information into a hand held monitor which sends the message to Henry’s pump.

“It’s a matter of working out how many carbs there are in each food,“ said Sarah, who also has to take into account any exercise which will affect energy levels. 

Because of this constant need for insulin, Sarah has to accompany Henry everywhere. “I go to birthday parties, after school clubs, swimming lessons and even to Beavers.“ Staff at Lindfield Primary School are trained to administer Henry’s insulin during the school day.

Diabetes affects every aspect of Henry’s life. “Stress, excitement, growth, illness, extreme heat and cold, all affect him and his needs are constantly changing as he grows, although he can now recognise when he’s hypo,” said Sarah.

The family are determined to ensure that Henry’s life is as normal as possible and have enjoyed several holidays abroad. “He’s got used to his pump setting off airport alarms and being frisked by security staff!” said Sarah.

There is no cure for Henry’s diabetes but research is making inroads into managing the condition.

Last year Sarah raised over £800 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, an amount doubled by her partner’s employer Vaultex, and is urging readers to support the little known charity. She is also keen to raise awareness of the symptoms of diabetes known as the
4 T’s – thirst, thinner, tiredness and toilet.

For more information visit www.jdrf.org.uk

Frisbee Champions from Lindfield

By Claire Cooper

Lindfield siblings Harry and Stella Slinger-Thompson are flying high in the sporting world.

The pair are among the top frisbee players in the country and have represented Great Britain in tournaments all over the world.

Between them Harry and Stella have an impressive collection of gold and silver medals and are looking forward to competing in many more competitions later this year. 

But until a few years ago Stella and Harry, who both attended Lindfield Primary and Oathall schools, thought Frisbee was a just fun game to play on holiday, in the park or on the beach.

That all changed when Harry spotted a newspaper article advertising a Frisbee tournament in Hove. 

“I thought it looked like fun and something my hippy friends would enjoy,” he said.

“We went along not knowing what to expect but what we found was a high octane, fast, physically challenging sport. 

“We were even more surprised to find that frisbee is a fast growing sport with tournaments all over the world.”

Impressed with what they saw, the friends signed up for weekly training sessions with Ultimate Frisbee in Brighton. “Members are a lovely bunch of people and we were made really welcome,” said Harry.

A year after joining the Brighton club Harry was selected to play in the National League.

.... full story is available on page 10 of June 2014 Lindfield Life magazine.

Cockhaise Farm Open Day - 8th June

Cockhaise Farm is running an open day on Sunday 8th June from 11am-4pm.  It is part of the national Open Farm Sunday programme and is not the first time the farm has opened its doors to the community.

The diary farm will have sheep shearing, pigs, calves, tractors, see the cows being milked, meet the vet, tractor and trailer rides and a farm walk, along with a bbq serving our Cockhaise burgers.  It is a chance for people to come and see how an organic dairy farm is run and how they are trying to build for the future as well.

The Burdett family have been at the farm since 1986 and they now farm over 650 acres at the site. The milk around 230 cows and have been selling their (organic) milk through a european cooperative since 1999. 

Dan Burdett explained how they are seeking to make changes to the farm fields in the future: "In the next five years we will grow more diverse grassland, supporting more species of plant that are able to root much further down, therefore bringing more life to our soils.  With this will come a greater ability to be able to survive the extremes of weather that we now face, with our soil being able to hold more water when it's wet and therefore be able to be more drought tolerant in the extreme dry." 

Dan and the team will explain more about this and how the farm works at the FREE event on Sunday 8th June. 

Lindfield Motors Celebrates 40 years

One Lindfield business is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. 

Lindfield Motors was started in 1974 by Jim and Janette Yule, and is now run by their son and daughter-in-law Alan and Nicola. It was originally two separate businesses as it used to sell fuel on the forecourt. They have also sold second-hand cars during their history too. “But it’s always been fixing cars and keeping our customers happy,” Nicola said. In 2003 they extended the workshop and built a new reception in order to facilitate MoT testing on-site. 

Jim, who was in the Formula One industry before starting the garage, retired from the business three years ago. Alan completed A-levels at college and then worked in the family business when he was 20 ‘because it seemed like the natural thing to do’. Alan ran a Formula Ford racing team from the garage until 2003 when the couple had their first child.

The business employs six people at the garage on Lewes Road, including Paul Markham, who has been there 25 years since he started out as an apprentice mechanic when he left school. They also have some very long-standing customers – a few of whom have been there since the beginning. “Garages traditionally have such a bad reputation. We are always trying to challenge that by giving great service,” Nicola said. 

Lindfield Motors is fully equipped to deal with all types of cars, including having the skills and technology needed for diagnostics and testing on newer vehicles, and is open between 8am-6.30pm Monday to Friday. 

Beckworth House

By Richard Bryant, Lindfield History Project Group

Adjacent to Lindfield Common, Beckworth House and grounds stood on the land now occupied by Lindfield Primary School. Taking its name from a medieval field of that name, Beckworth House was built in 1872 for its first owner, Mr William Blaber, by Parker Anscombe, a well-known Lindfield builder. Living with Mr Blaber, a retired merchant, was his wife Elizabeth and their three children, plus a governess and five domestic staff. 

By the 1890s the house was lived in by Ernest and Agnes Arbouin, of whom little is known. 

From the early 1900s until after the Great War, Beckworth was owned by Mr Mellor Brown. The 1911 Census records that he was aged 72, living on ‘Private Means’ and had been married for 35 years to Eva, aged 56. At that time they employed five live-in domestic staff. Additionally, at least two outdoor staff were employed; Mr Townshend and family lived in Beckworth Lodge, while the other man lived ‘above the stables’. Mrs Mellor Brown was a regular supporter of good causes during the Great War. 

Major George Churcher and his wife Aida purchased the property in 1924. A member of the Royal Horticultural Society, Major Churcher was a respected and well-known cultivator of gladiolus, creating new hybrid varieties. He was also a keen grower of daffodils and peonies. An active member of the RHS, he wrote a paper on ‘The Modern Gladiolus’ and was a regular exhibitor at shows. George Churcher died in 1938 and in his memory Aida gave All Saints church the carved oak eagle lectern.

In September 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, the patients and staff of the Hostel of God, a Catholic Hospice in Clapham, were evacuated to Beckworth. 

After the war, in about 1946, it became the dormitory house for boys sent to attend an agricultural course at Haywards Heath Secondary School (now Oathall Community School). The house was later used as the East Sussex County Council Youth Employment Service and Area Education office.

A purpose-built children’s residential nursery was constructed in the extensive grounds. Costing £36,000 it opened in January 1966, as St Nicholas Nursery, to provide a home for 18 babies and young children taken into East Sussex County Council care. The matron was Miss Whitmarsh. 

St Nicholas is remembered with warmth, as a lovely place by children and staff. The children lived in small groups as a ‘family’ of four or five children in their own self-contained accommodation. Each family was looked after by nurses solely dedicated to them. Children were treated as individuals and would be taken on shopping trips into the village or Haywards Heath to buy their own clothes. 

The nursery closed in 1976, being redundant following the realignment of East Sussex and West Sussex county boundaries. The building was demolished and the site developed as St. Nicholas Court. 

Beckworth House was demolished in March 2000 to make way for the redevelopment of Lindfield Primary School. However, Beckworth Lodge remains to this day and stands at the entrance to the school.

He's a record breaker - Village People

By David Tingley

If you were lucky enough to be given a copy of The Guinness Book of World Records for Christmas this year, then you may have already read about this month’s guest on page 130.

Mark Gasson grew up in Lindfield. You could say he’s ‘born and bred’. He went to the old Junior School, Oathall Community College and studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A Level down the road at Haywards Heath College. “I always enjoyed science,” Mark explains. “My father is an engineer and I used to love going to work with him occasionally as a child.” That said, when he left school he was none the wiser about what he actually wanted to do. A ‘state-of-the-art’ careers computer program suggested working as a baker!

In 1995 Mark left the confines of West Sussex to study Cybernetics at the University of Reading. “In many ways,” Mark continued, “I felt an affinity with Reading because its large leafy campus reminded me of my old home in Sussex.”

After successfully completing his Degree he was invited to stay on to do a PhD at the University. He did so and, working closely with Professor Warwick at Reading, his thesis explored connecting the human nervous system to a computer so that the Professor could feel what a robotic hand was touching.

Read the full article on page 22 of the March 2014 issue.

Lisa Barnett - Village People

By Claire Cooper 

When Lisa Barnett arrived at St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill two and a half years ago, she immediately broke tradition by becoming the parish’s first female vicar.

But earlier this year Lisa went on to create a further piece of history by becoming the first vicar in the diocese to take maternity leave, after giving birth to twin daughters.

Now back at work, Lisa is enjoying the challenge of juggling her part-time role as vicar of St Augustine’s Church with being mum to Cara and Amy, who have just celebrated their first birthday.

“Returning to work was daunting but wonderful at the same time,” said Lisa. “I’ve had fantastic support from the community in Scaynes Hill. Some church congregations might not be too pleased about their vicar taking maternity leave but everyone here was really delighted for us. When the babies were born parishioners drew up a rota and brought us meals every day.

“My first Sunday service after returning to work was very special, with me leading from the front and having my husband and daughters at the back of the church.”

Sussex born and bred, Lisa grew up in Worthing and became a Christian when she was 15 years old. “I had a lot of friends who were Christians and spent a lot of time in discussions with them, asking difficult questions and enjoying our debates,” she recalled. “Gradually I found myself talking to God and saying: “I still have a lot of questions but I believe you’re there.”

Full story on page 18 of February 2014 issue...

Lindfield in The Great War

To commemorate the centenary of the start of the Great War, the Lindfield History Project Group will be holding an exhibition in the King Edward Hall on the 9th-10th of August. The exhibition will describe life in the village during the war years and also focus on the men and women who served their country. Sadly, over 60 men from Lindfield lost their life in the war.

Much information is being drawn from local newspapers but to assist research the Group would welcome the opportunity to view any post cards, letters, documents, photographs, medals, badges or other memorabilia residents may have regarding the Great War, especially anything relating to Lindfield. Photographs of Lindfield men who served or details of their wartime experiences would be particularly helpful.

Please contact Richard Bryant on 01444 482136 if you have any items or information you are willing to share. 

Charity car wash in Scaynes Hill – 13th Feb

The garage and SPAR shop in Scaynes Hill is open for some special business this month. On Thursday 13th February they will be removing the price tag from the car wash and making it available in exchange for any donation to Cancer Research UK. 

The owners, brothers Jay & Gunvant Patel, have been running the event annually since 2009 when they sent £345 to the charity. Last year the machine washed more than 120 cars and raised over £1,500. “Every donation really does make a difference,” Jay said. “Some people pay a lot and others pay a little but together we raise a large sum of money to make someone else’s life better.” 

The garage opens at 6am and the offer continues throughout the whole day until 11pm when they close. Customers can also take part in the raffle for a Hamper worth £50 when they buy tickets for just £1. Jay and Gunvant are also giving away free copies of The Mid Sussex Times during the day too.

The origins of Christmas pudding

By Caroline Young

If you are not a fan of those foods made with dried and candied fruits, fragrant spices and marzipan, please do not read any further because I am talking about our traditional Christmas treats – Christmas Pudding and Christmas Cake. Stir-Up Sunday is traditionally the day they should be made, five weeks before the Day. You may have just missed this but there is still time to catch up, get the whole family stirring the rich mixtures and all making a wish (which must be kept secret).

Both the pudding and the cake started off as a very basic plain porridge, often containing meat, that was eaten on Christmas Eve after a period of fasting. Solid and comforting, it was meant to fill an empty stomach. In the 16th century the oatmeal was replaced by butter, eggs and flour but Oliver Cromwell banned the eating of this rich mixture in the 17th century as it was thought to be a pagan celebration to mark  the end of the winter solstice. What a killjoy! However, as more kitchens came to have ovens, which replaced cooking in a pot over an open fire, the rich fruity mixture was baked and so became a cake.

The pudding version continued, with the mixture wrapped in a cloth and boiled for many hours. Traditionally it was supposed to have at least thirteen ingredients to represent Christ and his disciples, and the fragrant spices represented the Three Kings and their gifts to the baby. When coins were made of silver they were stirred into the mixture before boiling. Whoever found one in their portion would receive great wealth, happiness and good health in the coming year. Perhaps it would be wiser now to slip a well washed coin on to the edge of each portion as it is served! The flaming of the pudding represents the passion of Christ.

The Victorians, headed by Prince Albert, are credited with the introduction of  the  richly iced cake and the flaming pudding as we know them today, so we really are eating a slice of our history when we enjoy our Christmas cake and pudding.

If you have some pudding left over for another day, try grilling thick slices and serving them topped with brandy butter or ice cream. Or crumble cold pudding, moisten it with a little alcohol of your choice and fold into softened vanilla ice cream. Pop back into the freezer to firm up. Well wrapped the cake will stay fresh for several weeks but if you freeze it the marzipan and royal icing tends to part company with the cake. 

Lindfield Neighbourhood Plan comments

A reminder to readers that the consultation period for Lindfield & Lindfield Rural Parishes’ Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission document is open for your comments until Friday 13th December. The published documents and maps utilise the results obtained from the various community exhibitions, focus group investigations and surveys. Action in rural Sussex (AirS) and their planning consultants (rCOH Ltd) have produced what is essentially a draft of the proposed Neighbourhood Plan.

The contents of the plan were agreed by both Parish Councils in October and there is still time for the community to have their say. The Pre-Submission Plan was released on Friday 1st November 2013 for a 6 week public consultation period and you are invited to scrutinise it and supply your comments. These will be considered by the Councils and, where appropriate, the plan will be amended accordingly before the final version is passed to Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) for checking by an independent inspector to ensure that it meets the Government guidelines. The plan will then undergo another 6 week public consultation, arranged by MSDC, before being put to a referendum vote, then if passed it will be adopted as the development plan for the two parishes up until 2031.

You can view a copy of the Pre-Submission plan at either of the Parish Offices during normal opening hours or it can be viewed on Lindfield Parish Council’s website at: www.lindfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk

Christmas Radio for Lindfield - The Gift FM

This Christmas Lindfield will have its very own radio station The Gift FM. From 6am on December 15th through to midday on Christmas Day, the Gift will broadcast on 87.9fm from studios at Lindfield United Reformed Church on the High Street.

Tune in for a festive mix of modern and classic Christmas music. The Gift is a joint venture between the three village churches and will feature live carol concerts, music performances from local artists and church services broadcast from the URC and All Saints Parish Church.

You will be able to listen on 87.9FM in Lindfield, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Cuckfield and the surrounding area. Online the station is available across the UK by visiting www.thegiftfm.com

Behind the scenes the Gift trains young people from local youth groups and schools who will have the opportunity to feature as presenters or newsreaders for the hourly ‘news of great joy’ bulletins featuring exclusively good news! You will also hear performances from local schools, choirs and musicians and a number of celebrity guests and festive interviews. There are plenty of opportunities to get OnAir yourself and interact with the station by phone, text, email, social media and the website.

You won’t hear any adverts just lots of Lindfield voices, local news, village events and community information. The station offers local traders, charities and events a fantastic free opportunity to share everything our village has to offer during the festive period. For listeners the Gift is a great place to find out about the life of the village, get last minute gift ideas or just relax and listen to the midnight service from the parish church while wearing your pyjamas.

The project first ran during Christmas 2011 and proved to be popular not just with listeners but also a life changing experience for many of the young people involved. This Christmas sees a welcome return with the station promising to be bigger, better and more Christmassy than ever! In 2013 the station has linked up with even more schools, churches and community groups and plans a range of live events to enjoy in the village or on the radio that will make this a Christmas to remember.

We hope that during the busy festive period tuning to the Gift on 87.9FM will keep you informed, entertained and feeling festive as we enjoy the sounds and unwrap the meaning of Christmas together. For more information visit www.thegiftfm.com, email studio@thegiftfm.com or follow @thegiftfm on twitter.

Village People - Juliette Pochin

Following is an extra of a full article by Claire Cooper

Earlier this year a little boy with a big voice arrived in Lindfield for a recording session which could see him top the charts this Christmas.

Jack Topping, a choirboy from Liverpool, is already being dubbed as the next Aled Jones after being discovered by local opera singer and record producer Juliette Pochin.

“He’s down to earth, very friendly and has the most wonderful voice,” said Juliette. “He’s not from a privileged background - his mum was a dinner lady, his dad works for a fork lift truck company and he was spotted while singing at his local church.” 

Jack spent several weekends and May half term with Juliette and her family, recording tracks in the studio next to the family home.

“He was a pleasure to work with and, in-between recordings, liked nothing better than playing badminton with my children in the garden,” said Juliette. “My boys love him!”

Jack’s debut album, Wonderful World released on 25th November, was not only recorded in Lindfield but all the tracks were arranged and produced by Juliette and her husband, James Morgan. “There’s a great selection from the traditional Ave Maria and the Lord’s My Shepherd to Count on me by Bruno Mars and, of course, a couple of Beatles’ songs to celebrate the fact that Jack is from Liverpool.”

Read the full article in November 2013 Lindfield Life, p.30.

Lindfield Neighbourhood Plan - Pre Submission Plan

Cllr Alan Gomme, Chairman of Lindfield & Lindfield Rural Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.     

I’m happy to report that excellent progress is being made by the Steering Group and our consultants from Action in Rural Sussex and rCOH. That progress includes the Pre-Submission Plan, essentially a draft, being agreed by both Lindfield & Lindfield Rural Parish Councils and the publication of it by Mid Sussex District Council. 

The Pre-Submission Plan contains a number of policies that have been drafted following considerable interaction and consultation with residents of our parishes over the last 18 months. These policies will apply for the plan period up to 2031 and include areas where Mid Sussex District Council and the Parish Councils will encourage some small developments and changes, and other areas where development will be resisted. However, given the recent history of about 250 new houses having been granted planning permission in our parishes since April 2012, there is no requirement within the plan to provide for any large housing developments.

Starting in late October or early November, there will be a consultation period of six weeks, during which time you are able to review the plan and comment on it should you wish to do so. It will be available on the Lindfield Parish Council’s website and there will be the appropriate link to that from Lindfield Rural Parish Council’s website. If you would prefer to read a printed version, these will be available to study at both the councils’ offices and the Haywards Heath Library during normal opening hours.

During November we will be holding further ‘Pop-In Sessions’ in the King Edward Hall’s Jubilee Room on Tuesday evening 19th November from 7pm to 9 pm and on Saturday morning 23rd November at Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centre from 10am until midday. Please watch out for banners and posters advertising these events.  

We invite you to send your comments and opinions to the clerks of either Lindfield Parish Council (clerks@lindfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk) or Lindfield Rural Parish Council (clerk@lindfieldrural-pc.org.uk).

Advertise in the Lindfield Christmas Shopping Challenge

Dear Lindfield business owner,

I would like to do is put together a four page pull-out in the November edition of the magazine. The feature will highlight what a variety of Christmas presents can be bought on our doorsteps. We will be challenging the Lindfield Life readers to buy all their presents from the village! 

The feature will be comprised of two elements: 

On the centre spread I would like to feature a number of products which are available from Lindfield shops/businesses. It could be a product or voucher if that’s more applicable for your business. All businesses are invited to suggest something for the feature. Any suggestion must include a product title, 10 word description, price, and buying category (eg: Gift for… Granny, Man, Teenager, Husband, Child 2-5 yrs, etc). Clearly we will be limited by space, so we can’t’ guarantee inclusion – however if we do have too much we will endeavour to select the widest variety of products on offer. If time allows I would like to come and photograph each of the products due to be featured so that they are all in the same style. 

On the reverse is the opportunity for you to place a discounted quarter page ad which you can promote your shop/business. As well as contact details and your popular Christmas lines perhaps, you may also choose to include a discount voucher to encourage the Lindfield shopper to partake in the challenge. The special price for the quarter page ad is just £60 including VAT. There are only 8 spaces available at this price!

As I said, time is of the essence for this matter! Product suggestions and any advertisement space will need to be booked BEFORE THIS FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER. 

As a retailer in the village I do hope you can see the benefit of such an article to encourage Lindfield shoppers away from the Amazon’s of this world and ringing through your till instead. Please call me TODAY on 01444 884115 or email ads@lindfieldlife.co.uk to secure your space in the feature. 

Hannah offers fashion advice

People of Lindfield can now relax with their fashion trends this autumn with the launch of a local image consultancy business by a Lindfield mum. 

Hannah Baty offers services including Colour Analysis, Personal Styling and Wardrobe De-Cluttering.

After having her two children, Hannah ditched her law career in London and decided to follow her dream of working in the world of fashion. Whilst working at the stylish clothes boutique Doodie Stark in Lindfield, Hannah realised there was a gap in the market for someone with a young, fresh approach to fashion consultancy in the local area.

Talking about her Colour Analysis service, Hannah says: “It is surprising how many people wear colours they like rather than what actually suits them. When they start wearing their best colours they have so much more confidence.” 

Hannah has offered one lucky reader the chance to receive a FREE Colour Analysis Consultation.
Simply email your name and phone number to competition@lindfieldlife.co.uk before 8th October. 

 Visit www.onefinedress.com for more details.

Lindfield Primary School building work progresses

By Bob White, Headteacher, Lindfield Primary School

The building work at the Lindfield Primary School started just before the summer holidays. The main update I would like to say is that everything is very much on schedule.

 The car park was finished in time for the start of term, which released the space for the two building parts of the project. The teaching block and hall foundations (groundwork) are very much underway, whilst the new School Office and Community Room extension started in the middle of last month. 

We are still hoping for the project to be completed by June 2014, all in good time for the new school year starting in September 2014. It’s exciting knowing how much our teaching, learning and community facilities will be enhanced. Obviously health and safety requires ongoing monitoring and we liaise closely with Chris Blain the site manager for Sunninghill. Chris spoke to our children at assemblies at the beginning of term, emphasising important safety aspects at all times during the course of the project. We are hoping to arrange some scheduled and supervised site visits for the children over the next few months so they can see different stages of the building project progress until its completion.