Dining room extension at Compton House

By Paula Craen, Home Manager

Compton House staff and residents will be forever grateful to Leslie Fry, a former loyal Compton House supporter and volunteer. For many years, Leslie would spend hours every week as a volunteer at the Home making teas, reading and talking with residents and maintaining that very important link for residents with the community. He also involved himself in fundraising events in order to help the Home continue to flourish. Leslie was a devout Christian; he so believed in the values of Compton House that it was where he chose to close the final chapter of his life.

Leslie left a big void and was missed not only by Compton House but by many in Lindfield, where he was an active member of the community. Then to everyone’s great surprise the Trustees of Compton House were informed that he had left a substantial legacy to be used to benefit the residents in his will. After much consideration the Trustees decided to extend the dining room facilities. Many people now living in Compton House have complex needs and the existing dining room was too small to accommodate all of the residents. Leslie’s legacy has transformed this and now every resident can eat in a stylish and airy space. The extension was designed in such a way that it has also enabled us to have an area that can be part of the main room or closed off to provide a multi-functional private space. This Christmas every resident and many relatives were able to enjoy lunch together.

Residents, relatives, supporters, volunteers, staff and trustees were all invited to a tea party to celebrate the official opening of the dining room. Jeremy Nurse, one of the Trustees, gave a tribute to our benefactor and Mervyn Weeks of Lindfield Evangelical Free Church gave the blessing. Life at Compton House, thanks to Leslie Fry, has been wonderfully enhanced.He left a void when he died but he will always be warmly remembered here.

Compton House Christian Nursing Home continues to have loyal supporters and a willing group of volunteers. The lovely gardens are maintained exclusively by the gardening group. Volunteers also help meet and greet visitors and answer the telephone in the afternoons, help with outings and some come to spend time with residents, reading, chatting and playing games.

If you would like to know more about Compton House and the care it can offer or you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact in the first instance the Office Manager on 01444 482662.

Full article also on page 13.

18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth - Stories from the graves

This month we return to our series of features from Walstead Burial ground with the story of a remarkable woman who, despite suffering horrific injuries in a car accident, went on to become an Olympic medallist and one of the county’s leading campaigners for disabled rights: Davina Marcia Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth.

By Claire Cooper

Born on 10th July 1938, Davina Marcia Herbert was the daughter of Vida (Cuthbert) and, Sqn Ldr Viscount Clive, the 17th Baron Darcy de Knayth.

Sadly, when she was just five years old, her father died in action in 1943 flying a Mosquito as a squadron leader in the RAF. His death meant Davina became the 18th Baroness Darcy, the youngest British baroness in her own right.

Brought up by her mother and stepfather, Brigadier Derek Schreiber, she was educated at St Mary’s school, Wantage, Oxfordshire. After leaving Wantage, she took a secretarial course and spent a year in Italy and at the Sorbonne in Paris. Blonde, pretty and with a title of her own, the press regarded her as the ‘catch of the season’.

On 1st March 1960 Davina married company director Rupert Ingrams (the brother of journalist and Private Eye editor Richard Ingrams). They had three children - a son and two daughters.

Tragedy struck in 1964 when Davina and her husband were involved in a serious accident. Returning from a dance, their car hit a tree. Rupert was killed outright, and Davina suffered injuries to her face and spine. She was cut free from the wreckage and taken to Cuckfield Hospital, but flown by helicopter to Stoke Manderville Hospital where it was discovered that she was paralysed from the neck down.

She spent a year in hospital and later recovered some movement in her upper body.

Davina became a wheelchair user, but was determined to live as normal a life as possible, and had a car converted so she could drive her three young children.

She also took up table tennis and archery and went on to become one of the leading voices in the campaign that led to the creation of the Paralympic Games.

Read full article on pages 30/31.

Sam McAuley - Village People

Following a childhood spent touring the country with her actor father and family, it was inevitable that Sam McAuley would end up working in the theatre. But instead of following the family’s acting tradition, Sam was drawn to the more quirky and diverse performance arts. Sam has carved a career marketing some of the country’s most successful alternative dance and theatre companies and is currently responsible for the Arts + Events programme at Canary Wharf.

Now happily settled in Lindfield, Sam tells us how she became passionate about promoting non-mainstream performances and why living midway between Brighton and London has given her the perfect work-life balance.

By Claire Cooper

“I guess I was always destined for a career in the arts,” said Sam, who appeared in her first film when she was just three months old! “My dad was appearing in a training film for the fire service and they needed a baby – that was me!”

Sam’s family spent many years travelling around the country. “We went wherever the work was and we didn’t

live anywhere permanently until I was three. But being in and around theatres for most of my childhood definitely nurtured my interest in the performing arts.”

Sam’s dad, originally from Dublin, played to audiences all over the country in a variety of roles but is probably best known as the voice of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams! “When the Government banned his real voice from being heard on television or radio, my dad did the voiceovers!”

Read full article on pages 22/23.

Running Tips - Out & About

By Alex Keogh, chartered physiotherapist

Did you know physiotherapy can help to shave off minutes from your running time, as well as prevent and treat injuries whilst training? Your running style is like your finger print, it is unique to you and we should all constantly try to improve our technique. Whether you’re a sub-three hour marathon runner pushing for a new personal best, a Sunday jogger or just attempting your first run round the block, we can help.

With the New Year comes new year resolutions for some and for others it brings closer big running events, in particular Brighton and London marathons. Below are a few physiotherapy principles that I believe can shave minutes off your time and help keep you safe when running.

1. Love your feet. 40% of physios say people training for the marathon are wearing the wrong shoes. Make sure you go to a recognised running store to buy trainers. You should be able to use a treadmill or run outside to ensure trainers provide the right support for your gait before buying them.

2. Adequate recovery period. You never overtrain, you always under recover. Recovery is the process that repairs the structural damage that occurs naturally when muscles are pushed. Cells in the muscle fibres degenerate and are replaced by new muscle cells that have a greater ability to cope with lactate and resistant fatigue, so don’t forget to allow your body to recover and get stronger as a result.

3. Cross train. A good support regime, such as Pilates and strength training, will improve muscular balance and help strengthen problematic areas such as hamstrings and glutes, as well as increasing flexibility and preventing tight legs.

4. Sports massage. A sports massage is good for general maintenance of the body and can speed up the recovery period by reducing tension and inflammation after harder training sessions. In addition, a quick and energetic massage technique can be used before an event to enhance the warm-up.

Read on further about how to prevent injury on page 25. 

The lady behind the flowers - Lindfield Stories

Many in the village go past the pond on a regular basis but, since Christmas, there has been a change on the landscape. Sadly, Lindfield has lost one of its flower shops. David Tingley went to meet the popular florist Khee Joon Kenneway to find out her story…

Khee Joon’s story is one that begins in Singapore. One of eight children she was brought up in the little known area of Geylang, where she stayed until she met George, now her husband, while he was working there in the late 60s.

So Khee Joon (known as K J) had her first taste of Britain when they married and she came over in 1971. They owned a house in Aldershot, near Guildford, convenient for where George worked at the time. For the duration of the 80s the pair and 2 sons moved away to Singapore, living in the town of Clementi, when George’s work as a marine engineer lecturer took them there. Then, in 1989, they moved back to UK with their three children. This time, with a job move for George, a colleague recommended looking around the Haywards Heath area for easy commuting. They took the advice and K J began her love affair with Lindfield!

Was moving from a country with tropical temperatures all year round to England’s rather more fragile UK weather system a difficult choice? “Not for me,” Khee Joon said. As we sit in her conservatory with the rain pouring down the glass, she simply says: “If it’s raining, I try not to go out! England has always been good for me. I have felt so welcome here since the beginning and have formed many amazing friendships with Brits and others in a similar situation to me.”

Within three days of moving to Lindfield she managed to get herself a job at Flowercraft on Lewes Road. K J had worked as a florist in Clementi and this seemed a good fit for her skills. She developed a great relationship with the then-owners and founders Eileen & Mike Giles and, at the same time, she studied floristry at Plumpton College in order to learn and adjust to European styles of floral arrangements. After five years K J moved to work at Plantscene on Sussex Road in Haywards Heath, which she clearly enjoyed: “I learnt so much there about business and professionalism. It really opened my eyes.”

Read full article on pages 28 and 29. 

Village People - Terisa Tuffin

When young mum Terisa Tuffin visited Lindfield Nursery School she knew she had found the perfect place for her little boy. But little did she know that several years later she’d be the one welcoming the newcomers as the nursery’s new owner. Terisa, who has run the nursery for the past six years, tells us why she loves living in the village, being part of the community and why she feels Lindfield is the perfect place to bring up a family.

By Claire Cooper

Brought up in Burgess Hill, Terisa always dreamt of settling in Lindfield but that desire grew stronger after experiencing living in London and becoming a mum.

“I’ve always loved Lindfield,” said Terisa who, after leaving school, trained as a veterinary nurse working at Mackie and Green in Haywards Heath. “I moved to London to continue my career as a vet nurse and experience living in a big city but when I became a mum I knew I had to get back to Sussex.”

Terisa was delighted to find a house to rent on the High Street and immediately began to immerse herself in village life, swapping her work as a vet nurse for childcare.

“They say you should never work with children or animals but I’ve ended up doing both!” she laughed. Terisa enrolled her son Gabriel into Lindfield Nursery based at the King Edward Hall and in 2006 joined the staff as a nursery practitioner.

Two years later the opportunity arose for Terisa to take over. She jumped at the chance!

“Taking over such a well-established nursery was daunting,” said Terisa. “I felt a huge sense of responsibility.

“But I’ve always had a passion for working with children and my staff are fabulous.”

The nursery has always been based in the King Edward Hall and, while the running of the group has changed over the years, the building has retained its familiar feel. “We were recently looking at some old photos of the nursery from the 70s and not a lot has changed,” said Terisa. “Even the curtains are the same!

“It brings back lots of memories for our parents who came here as children and for one of our members of staff who came here too!

“Working in the King Edward Hall feels like we’re in the very heart of the community and it’s lovely to see all the other groups and activities coming and going during the week,” said Terisa.

Read full article on pages 12 and 13.

Win tickets to THORPE PARK

Explosive, electric and eccentric, Brainiac Show Live! returns to THORPE PARK Resort for a nine-day thrill spectacular over half term from Saturday 14th February. 

Strap on your safety goggles and join Brainiac Live’s mischievous band of scientists for the ultimate entertainment show with a science spin. From freezing household objects with liquid nitrogen to exploding bins, rocket propelled chairs, giant airzooka and testing how to make a really big BANG, who knew science could be this fun. 

Guests can catch one of four 45 minute shows that will take place each day between 14th-22nd February as well as enjoying the Park’s thrilling family friendly rides (*selected rides available). 

For more information visit www.thorpepark.com 

For your chance to win five tickets to THORPE PARK Resort this half term simply email your name and address to competition@lindfieldlife.co.uk before 8th February.

PRIZE DRAW TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.              These are the terms and conditions which apply to the Prize. By accepting the Prize, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the following terms and conditions.

2.              There are two prizes consisting of: 5 tickets to the February Half Term event between 14 February and 22 February 2015.

3.              The prize promotion is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over except:

(a)        Any employees of the Merlin Entertainments Group or members of their immediate families; or

(b)        Any employees or representatives of any agencies, suppliers or third parties associated with any attractions in the Merlin Entertainments Group

4.              Only one entry per person is permitted.

5.              Submission of entries will not constitute proof of receipt and no responsibility will be accepted by the Promoter for entries or acceptances which the Promoter does not receive. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss or corruption of data in transit. No responsibility will be accepted for entries or acceptances which are lost, delayed or damaged in the post or elsewhere. Illegible, incomplete, late or defaced entries will be disqualified.

 6.              The prize promotion closing date is 8th February 2015 (the "Closing Date") and any entries received after the Closing Date will not be accepted by the Promoter.

7.              The winning entries will be selected at random on 8th February 2015 and the winners will be notified on email within three days. Confirmation of the Prize will be communicated to the winner via the contact information provided by the winner at the point of entering. Details of the winner will be announced on the 1st March 2015.

8.              Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner.  If the winner cannot be contacted, or is unable to comply with these terms and conditions, THORPE PARK Resort reserves the right to offer the Prize to the next eligible entrant drawn at random.

9.              The tickets will be posted to the winners before the event.

10.              The Prize is not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered, unless specifically agreed by THORPE PARK Resort. The Prize is not valid in conjunction with any other offer, concession or online/call centre booking. THORPE PARK Resort reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of the same or greater value at any time.

11.              THORPE PARK Resort cannot accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by the winner or as a result of accepting the Prize.

12.              The winner [and their group] are responsible for any expenses and arrangements not specifically included in the Prize, including any necessary travel arrangements, costs, travel documentation or additional meals.

13.              The winner [and their group] agree to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of county of residence and they will co-operate with any other reasonable request by THORPE PARK Resort relating to any post-winning publicity including all social channels.

14.              THORPE PARK Resort’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

15.              In the event of a discrepancy between these terms and conditions and the details in any promotional material (including but not being limited to any e-marketing) or any other terms and conditions provided or as referred to at the time of the entry, these terms and conditions shall prevail.

16.              Merlin reserves the right to alter theses terms and conditions at any time and for any reason.

How well do you know Lindfield? Lindfield Quiz

How many of the following locations can you identify from the close up photo? Answers following with reveal photographs underneath. Don't call; its just for fun!

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1. The Post box at the end of Finches Gardens

2. Lindfield Post Office hand rail

3. Button push at 105 High Street (Lime Cottage)

4. The industrial-looking chimney on Happy Feet

5. Humphrey's Bakery

6. Greyfriars, Gravelye Lane

7. The Manor House, High Street

8. Malling Priory, High Street

9. The cart outside Glyn Thomas & Sons

10. Brickwork on the side of The Bent Arms, Lindfield

11. Swans sculpture by Paul Badham (Will & Kate) at Barncroft Drive (The Limes)

12. The building home to Denziloe & Tufnells on Lindfield High Street

New Year, new home

Can you give a cat a fresh start in 2015?

At the Cats Protection National Cat Centre in Chelwood Gate, it’s been a busy Christmas, with dozens of cats and kittens to care for over the festive season. As the New Year approaches, staff are keen to welcome visitors who have made a special resolution – to share their home with a rescued cat.

We visited the centre earlier this month, to meet the staff and the cats hopefully spending their last Christmas without a home. Here we feature just a few who caught our eye! (But there are plenty more to choose from)!

Odd Job came to Cats Protection when his owner became too ill to look after him. A friendly boy with a big personality Odd Job would particularly love a home with a piano as he likes to make music by taking a stroll on the keys!

Chrissie has been at the centre since her owners emigrated in May. Staff think she may be overlooked as she suffers from irritable bowel syndrome and needs a special diet. But the condition is well under control and Chrissie uses a litter tray like any other cat. She just needs someone to give her a fresh start.

Julia is a stray who was found in a greenhouse with her six kittens who have all now been rehomed. Her experience has left her shy and wary of strangers, but staff say she loves affection and just needs a chance to blossom in the right home.

Holly and Rudolph are 8 month old kittens rescued from a multi-cat household. The pair haven’t had the best start in life and, unlike most kittens, are extremely timid. But they are beginning to come out of their shells and will thrive in a new home together.

Two year old Ginger came to Cats Protection as a stray, gave birth to kittens and now needs a forever home. Friendly and affectionate Ginger will suit most families.

Gin and Tonic are a striking pair! But it’s easy to tell them apart – Gin has blue eyes and Tonic amber! Ten years old, but still playful, sweet and slightly shy the pair need a home together preferably with a garden to potter around in.

Tips is a sweet and shy two year old. Found as a stray she needs to build her confidence in a calm home and would love a garden to explore.

Marge is currently the centre’s ‘reception cat’ and loves the hustle and bustle as visitors come and go. At 14 years old, she is ‘getting on’ but would make a great family pet and although staff will miss her, they would love to wave Madge off to spend her twilight years in a new home.

The National Cat Centre is open every day from 10am to 4pm (except New Year’s Day.)

Visitors are welcome to come and meet the cats, and can also enjoy browsing in the shop and easting in the café. Anyone wishing to offer a cat a home is asked to contribute £70. This helps cover the cost of looking after the cat, vaccinating, micro chipping, neutering and other veterinary treatment while in their care.

Jerry Masters - Obituary

Families in Lindfield and across Mid Sussex were saddened to hear of the death last month of funeral director Jerry Masters. Jerry, who was born in the village and went on to run one of the longest-standing Lindfield businesses, Masters and Son, died on 11th November, aged 81. Our thanks go to the Masters family for sharing some of Jerry’s life story with us, taken for the eulogy read at his funeral at Wivelsfield Parish Church.

Jerry was born on 13th February 1933. His parents, Madge and Les Masters and his older sister Ann were living in the house called Downs in Lindfield High Street, which at the time was both family business and home.

He had a happy childhood in Lindfield - swimming in the Ouse in the summer, playing ice hockey and skating on the village pond in winter and enjoying tennis parties held on the lawn tennis court in the garden at Downs, now the site of the Co-op and Denman’s Lane car parks.

Jerry’s early education was at St Clair’s school and Sharrow Prep School, both in Haywards Heath, where he remembered being very embarrassed having to walk home in the grey and pink uniform!

In 1944, when he was 11 years old, he became a full time boarder at Caterham School. He spoke fondly of his time at Caterham and continued to attend old boys events after he had left.

He was pleased to return recently to watch Seb, his youngest grandson, play cricket for Ardingly College against his old school.

Jerry joined the 1st Lindfield Cubs as a young child, went on to become a Scout and a Senior Scout with the 1st Caterham School and continued as a Rover Scout with 1st Haywards Heath after he left school. Jerry had many stories of his time as a Rover Scout, invariably involving their official mode of transport which was an old London taxi affectionately named Arabella. One tale involved Jerry holding an unsecured door closed as they drove through Lindfield and in a momentary lapse of concentration, when he waved to a friend walking by the pond, letting go of the door which promptly fell off!

Read full article on pages 22/23.

How to have a very Merry Christmas

by Ania Tylunas, psychotherapist

Christmas can be the most wonderful or the most dreaded time of the year. For every Noel-excited person out there, we have somebody who is apprehensive about being alone, falling out with family or not meeting expectations. So here are a few tips on how to avoid common Festive Season pitfalls.

Alone at Christmas? No problem!

The first thing to decide is whether you like spending time in your own company at this time of year. If so, seize the opportunity to make an effort JUST FOR YOU. Don’t be afraid to indulge a little. Bubbly for breakfast and watching a box-set of your favourite programme while pausing for another helping of favourite food? Why not? This is your opportunity to do something you love, guilt-free.

If you would rather not be alone, check who else you know might be in the same situation. Or consider volunteering with one of the local charities organising festive events. This can be a hugely rewarding way of connecting with people, making a difference to others while making your Christmas meaningful in a new way.

Family affair

To pre-empt any potential conflict, have a family meeting and decide together how you are going to choose different aspects to take charge of. This way everybody feels included and involved. For the perfectionists out there- you may need to let go just a tad (a very good exercise indeed!).

While talking, check out how you are all feeling about various traditions you observe. Look at them with fresh eyes and don’t be afraid to modify or let go of the ones that don’t work any more. Be creative and form your own family traditions, something that might become unique just to you.

One for keeping up with the Joneses

Quite simply - DO NOT. We are saturated with adverts, contributing to unrealistic expectations of what sort of time we should be having. If in doubt, go for lasting value rather than momentary satisfaction. So even the best-chosen present will not give your child, parent, partner or friend as much as the gift of your time, love and attention.

And when all is said and done, it is this gift and its legacy that will stay with the people you care about forever, not just this Christmas.

Wishing you a very merry, loving and stress-free Christmas!

Page 45.

Lindfield welcomes Six Physio

Welcome to Lindfield

Many residents will have noticed a new A-board that has appeared on the High Street in the last month or so.

Six Physio is a clinic being run by Lindfield resident and mother-of-two Alex Keogh. She moved to the village with her husband and boys back in 2011 when she was already working for Six Physio in London. She continued to work for the company but soon she began to ask her bosses if they would consider opening a clinic outside the city and eventually they agreed.

Six Physio is a group of ten physiotherapy clinics in London, employing nearly 70 physios. The firm was started in 1996 and has developed a special method of treating patients in two distinct strands; one manual and one rehab. These strands are typically treated by different physios, so that the patient receives double the expertise to their problems.

At the moment Alex is the only physio based in the Lindfield clinic but they are planning to expand to bring in an additional professional and include sports massage and pilates.

Alex sees patients with a range of issues from back pain, sports injury, post-surgery and pregnancy pain. Fellow resident Lee explained: “I was very impressed and she [Alex] was much better than my previous sports injury clinician at resolving my pain quickly.”

Page 46.

Helena Hall's war journals

By Claire Cooper

Marshal Voroshilov’s army has halted the German advance on Leningrad where an ‘immense and bloody battle is going on day and night.’ A fine hot day. I spent it at Birchgrove picking blackberries and made blackberry jelly and apple jam in the evening, There was no raid.

It’s 1941 and Britain is at war with Germany. But in Lindfield, like many other Sussex villages, life went on, with villagers determined to ‘keep calm and carry on’ against the backdrop of war.

Over the years many accounts have been written in the aftermath of World War II in an attempt to capture life on the Home Front.

But a series of diaries, meticulously kept by a Lindfield ARP warden, give a unique first-hand account of the war years and have now been published in a fascinating new book.

‘A Woman Living in the Shadow of the Second World War’ is Helena Hall’s daily diary of the war years from 1940 to 1945.

The book has been painstakingly put together by Lindfield residents Linda Grace and Margaret Nicolle over the last four years. “We read the diaries and fell in love with them,” said Margaret.

They found themselves enthralled by Miss Hall’s personal account of village life. “We knew that we were reading something really special,” said Margaret. “The diaries are absolutely fascinating and we quickly realised that just to publish the bits about Lindfield wouldn’t be a true tribute to what Helena had done.”

Read full article on page 16/17.

More than just a house...

By All Saints Lindfield Caminul Felix Team

If someone said to you that you were going to be part of a team of construction amateurs tasked with building a house from base up in two weeks, you’d have probably said “Pull the other one…”. But that’s exactly the challenge that faced the 31 volunteers from All Saints Church, Lindfield who went to Romania recently to do just that for a charity called Caminul Felix. This build was a partner project to the All Saints’ ASPIRE Church Development Project and the £20k needed to fund it was raised by the church members this year.

Following the downfall of Romania’s tyrannical ruler in 1989 the world, and even many Romanians, learned of the awful plight of thousands of abandoned babies and children held in State orphanages. A young Christian couple from Sweden, Lars and Linda Hörnberg, had a vision for a rescue mission. Acting as ‘parents’ the couple welcomed seven such children into their apartment in Romania but soon realised that the scale of the solution was far too great for them alone. What began as a family model grew to two family villages of sixteen homes, each with a Romanian couple who would commit to raising up to as many as 15 children as their own, giving them a caring, loving home.

Read full article on page 21.

Lindfield Lads remembered

By Chris Comber

The coverage over the summer of the Great War in the media appears to be mesmerized by the mud and trenches of the Western Front in France and Flanders. It is often forgotten that this was a world war, with major operations in Africa, Egypt, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Salonika, China, Italy and the far-flung islands of the South Pacific. To give one example, the British Corps sent to aid the Italians in 1917 numbered nearly 150,000 men, far exceeding our miniscule standing army of today.

There is little mention of the Royal Navy (personnel numbered 400,000 in 1918), which was at the time a colossal force controlling the global trade of the Empire and its enormous merchant fleet, and maintaining the Grand Fleet, based at Scapa Flow, and bases overseas.

Five Lindfield men lost their lives whilst serving in the Royal Navy. Seventeen year old Harold Spiers was serving on the Cruiser HMS Hawke when she was torpedoed by U9 in the North Sea on 15th October 1914. He was just one of 524 men lost out of a crew of 544. Imagine the outcry in today’s news if this was reported!

Read full article on page 12.

Home Front - Local talents put to good use

By Jacqui Smith, interior designer

Our relationship with Barratt Homes began some years ago when they started building in Lindfield. They were very keen to engage with the local community as much as possible; sponsoring the Lindfield Arts Festival and donating money to local schools were two ways in which they supported the village community. When we secured the contract for the second show home at The Limes, I was keen to keep as much of the resulting business in the local area by using local curtain makers, track fitters, high street retailers for some of the accessories and working with Leesa Le May on the art. It’s great to work with local businesses for a number of reasons notwithstanding the fact that they are right on your doorstep making the logistics a little easier. Leesa was a total trooper on our first Barratt show home, responding quickly to feedback from the client and turning things around really quickly. I still remember, feeling slightly rabbit in the headlights with the pressure of the first one and having just been monumentally let down by our furniture supplier. I turned up on Leesa’s doorstep one evening with one of the pieces which Barratt has asked us to tweak and had the sheer bliss of Leesa looking me squarely in the face with the words, “You can take this off your worry list; it’s sorted”. Just what I needed to hear!

Read full article on page 26. 

Stories from the graves - Sir Rupert Turner Havelock Clarke

In the second of our features exploring the stories behind the graves at Walstead Cemetery we cross to Australia to delve into the life of Sir Rupert Turner Havelock Clarke. 

Sir Rupert, a former owner of Old Place in Lindfield, led a colourful life, working as a sheep farmer, entering politics, becoming governor of the Colonial bank of Australia as well as pursuing a range of business interests from running a rabbit cannery to gold mining. He also owned a string of successful race horses…

By Claire Cooper

Sir Rupert Turner Havelock Clarke, 2nd Baronet of Rupertswood, pastoralist and entrepreneur, was born on 16 March 1865 at Rupertswood, Sunbury, Victoria.

He was the eldest son of Sir William John Clarke, the first holder of one of the few baronetcies existing in Australia, and his first wife Mary, née Walker. His grandfather was one of the pioneers of Victoria who arrived in Tasmania from Somerset in the early days of the colony.

Rupert was educated at Hawthorn Grammar School, Wesley College, Melbourne, and Magdalen College, Oxford, but took no degree.

In 1891, aged 21, he leased his father’s Cobran station, near Deniliquin, New South Wales, and later inherited the Sunbury properties of Bolinda Vale, Red Rock and Rockbank, totalling some 130,000 acres.

He sold these over a period, except for a reduced holding at Bolinda Vale and 800acres near Rupertswood named Kismet Park, on which, after the sale of Rupertswood to his brother Russell, he built a house.

Rupert successfully carried on his father’s stud, breeding English Leicester sheepand Derrimut Shorthorn cattle. As his holdings in Victoria diminished, he developed pastoral and other interests elsewhere, notably in Queensland, where he later owned Isis Downs in partnership with R. S. Whiting.

His adventurous spirit led him to conduct an expedition into the wilds of New Guinea and in 1895 he became one of the pioneer gold miners of Coolgardie in Western Australia.

Full article on pages 20/21.

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