Lindfield Cricket Club's 275th anniversary - summer 2022

By Malcolm Page

This summer Lindfield Cricket Club will be celebrating its 275th anniversary. The club will be holding events throughout the season to mark the occasion, including its annual cricket week at the beginning of August when matches will be played against Acton, Kenya Kongonis as well as the inaugural Slam Trophy 20/20 match with the Lindfield Swans versus the Lindfield Trumpeters on 5th August.

In addition, Lindfield members are delighted to have been awarded a prestige match against the Sydney Australia Classics over 50s/60s on Sunday 21st August. This will bring back many happy memories from Lindfield’s Australia tour in 1997 when the club celebrated its 250th anniversary. With the season fast approaching, preparations are full steam ahead on the ground and in the pavilion to ensure a warm welcome to players and spectators. The pavilion lounge is undergoing improvements with new bench seating, tables and chairs as well as complementary signage throughout the pavilion thanks to an English Cricket Board grant. The club will again be running four Saturday sides, a Sunday XI and Midweek XIs as well as the ladies Lindfield ‘Pens’ playing their first softball season in the league.

Together with the Lindfield Academy participating in leagues from under 9-16 and the under 8s All Stars event on Friday evenings from 6th May, it’s going to be a busy season! As we celebrate 275 years of cricket at Lindfield, the club’s historians have started reviewing the archives and are discovering previously unseen information that had been found by Lindfield’s legendary scorer John Pollard. With such a long and illustrious history of cricket in Lindfield, there is inevitably still much more for us to discover about the club’s past, and we are now embarking on the long road of writing a book about the history of Lindfield Cricket.

We would love to hear from any residents of the village who might have any interesting stories that would bring to life the history of our club. Perhaps members of your family once played for Lindfield many years ago, or you have old documents that may be relevant to learning how the club was run in past times? If you have any information, photographs etc about the club or would like to join Lindfield as a player, help with the running of the club or become a non-playing member, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please email: LindfieldCChistory@gmail.com or Bobvivienne.hopkins@btopenworld.com.

Lindfield local runs Manchester Marathon for Ukraine

Lindfield actor Roger Lawrence (May) put on a medal-winning performance in front of an audience of thousands earlier this month. But rather than treading the boards, Roger was pounding the streets taking part in his first Manchester Marathon, raising funds for the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

It was a third marathon for the Lindfield dad who has previously completed the London and Brighton events. “I registered for the Manchester Marathon back in 2020, as I had heard the course was fairly flat and I wanted to beat my previous times,” said Roger. “But after 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic and I got injured in 2021, I forgot I had a place this year and missed five weeks of training, so I was just grateful it was flat so I could get round!”

Roger finished the course in a respectable 3hrs 57, cheered on by his wife Hilary. “The Manchester course is brilliant for spectators, as the city metro is pretty much unaffected which means that, after spotting their runner, they can jump on the tram and catch them again three stops later! When I ran the London Marathon, I didn’t see Hilary at all(!), but in Manchester I spotted her four times, which made a really big difference.” It wasn’t all plain sailing and there were a couple of early hiccups for Roger. “My earphones stopped working after 10 miles, followed by my Garmin watch, which wasn’t ideal,” he said. “Physically I thought I didn’t feel too bad but, after picking up my medal, I was chatting to two other finishers and when one dropped her protein bar, all three of us realised we couldn’t bend over to pick it up! We just stood and stared at it!”

Roger is thrilled to have raised over £3,500 after starting out with a £500 target. “I was originally going to run for the Stroke Association and Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust (what my father and father-in-law, respectively, passed away from) but, with the current situation, I just had to run for Ukraine,” said Roger, who has already applied for a place in next year’s Manchester Marathon. “I’ve had over 90 donations and have already raised over £3,500 which is just wonderful. And can I please add a massive thank you for all the support.” You can add to Roger’s total via this link: www.bit.ly/3xFWm67

Lindfield Parish Council newsletter - April 2022

Message from the Chairman

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I am sure that you will all have been deeply moved by the situation in Ukraine. More than a million people have fled their homes to escape the conflict. Having left behind jobs, belongings and loved ones, they now face an uncertain future. The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 15 leading UK aid charities, raising funds to respond to overseas disasters quickly and effectively. By donating to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, you’ll help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families. The UK Government will match donations from the public pound-for-pound up to £20 million, meaning your support will go even further. You can donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal using the following methods: Online: www.donation.dec.org.uk Tel: 0370 60 60 900 (standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles apply).

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To read the full newsletter click the pictures or pick up a copy of Lindfield Life’s April issue.

Lindfield Open Gardens this June 2022

By Jim Stockwell

Now Spring is in the air, many of us are getting busy in our gardens. To get inspiration and a chance to buy plants, why not visit some of the local gardens in Lindfield, which are open for charity over the next few weeks?

The garden at 47 Denmans Lane will be open under the National Garden Scheme on the following dates:
4th April
18th April (Bank Holiday)
2nd May (Bank Holiday)1
6th May

There will be two sessions each day from 10am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 5pm. This beautiful and tranquil one acre garden in the heart of Lindfield, was described by Sussex Life as a ‘Garden where plants star’. Created by the owners, it is planted for interest throughout the year. Spring bulbs are followed by azaleas, rhododendrons, roses and herbaceous perennials. The garden also has ponds, greenhouses and fruit gardens.

The adult ticket price is £5 (children under 16 free). Refreshments and lots of plants will be on sale in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice. Please book in advance via the NGS website https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/34430. Any unsold tickets will be available on the gate. For plant sales on other days, just walk up the drive and ring the bell for attention.

Also…

Lindfield Open Gardens – Sunday 12th June 1 - 5pm.
The organisers are delighted to announce this ever-popular event in aid of St Peter and St James Hospice will take place on Sunday 12th June. Already several new gardens have come forward and the search is on for other local gardens close to the centre of the village to join in this worthy community event. If you want to know more or could help plan and promote the event, or volunteer as a helper on the day, please speak to Jim or Sue Stockwell on 01444 459363 or email: info@lindfield-gardens.co.uk.

Local Lindfield family 'walk all over cancer' to raise money for Cancer Research

A brother and sister who tragically lost their dad to cancer, have been walking 10,000 steps a day in March to raise funds for Cancer Research. Freya and Charlie Burgess, accompanied by their mum Kelly, have been stepping out onto the streets around Lindfield to reach their target of £300.

Their devoted dad Kevin Burgess died on Christmas Day 2019 after a 10-year battle with cancer. “I’m incredibly proud of Charlie and Freya who are determined to walk 10,000 steps every day in March as part of the Cancer Research ‘Walk all over Cancer’ campaign,” said Kelly. “It’s a way to remember their dad and help ensure that other children don’t lose their parents. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime - we all know somebody who has got, beaten or sadly, not survived cancer,” Kelly added. “But we can all play our part to support the research that will beat it.”

The children have braved the recent wet weather to complete their daily steps, and Freya has also been helping to save the planet by picking up rubbish on her route around the village. Donations can still be made on the family’s Just Giving page: www.shorturl.at/mwHT4

The Lindfield Club raises thousands for Mid Sussex Older People's Council

Members of Lindfield Club have raised over £3,200 for charity over the last couple of years. The club usually changes its charity annually, but with Covid preventing many fundraising activities in the first year, the committee decided to carry on supporting Mid Sussex Older People’s Council for another 12 months. The club usually does a range of activities including a meat raffle, race nights, ‘snarts’ competition (snooker and darts), and a charity dinner when social secretary Paula Schofield lays on a three-course meal and guests pay what they think it’s worth into the charity pot! “We love doing things together,” Paula explained, “and it’s great to support local charities at the same time.” The cheque was presented to MSOPC chair Barbara Baldwin and vice chair Val Upton by long-time Lindfield Club member Kath Baker. This year’s nominated charity will be Dame Vera Lynn’s Children’s Charity.

Lindfield Juniors FC raise money for Ukraine appeal

Players, coaches and supporters from all Lindfield Junior teams have joined forces to show support for the Ukrainian people and raise much needed funds for Save the Children’s Ukraine appeal. In the first of a series of events between now and the end of the season, the children and coaches wore blue and yellow kit to training, whilst players, parents and supporters of the club have given generously to the club’s Justgiving page.

U11s coach Dominic Roberjot said: “I had the idea for our squad of 14 to wear blue and yellow to training and raise a few pounds for charity. When I shared the idea with the other coaches, everyone immediately started chipping in with great ideas. Within hours we’d managed to raise more than £1,000! It just goes to show what a fantastic club this is and what an incredible community Lindfield is.”

Faye Waters, Community Fundraising Manager at Save the Children said: “Save the Children is extremely grateful for the quick response and support shown by Lindfield Juniors Football Club and their network, raising much needed funds for children and their families affected by the conflict in Ukraine. We’re planning to deliver lifesaving aid to 3.5 million vulnerable children and their families, but we can only achieve this with the generous support of individuals and organisations like Lindfield Juniors FC.”

More events are being planned between now and the end of the season to show the club’s continuing support for Ukraine. The club has already raised more than £4,500 for Save the Children and the donation page remains open for those wishing to show their support: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lindfieldjuniors

St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill have signed up for the A Rocha Eco Church Awards.

By Jenny Walker

Members of St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill are exploring ways in which it can help to protect the environment and as a part of this we have signed up for the A Rocha Eco Church Awards. Eco Church is an environmental award scheme for churches run by A Rocha, equipping churches to care for God’s creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement and individual lifestyles. There are three award levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold and we are at the point of submitting our application for the Silver award.

Ultimately this work is not about the award itself but about analysing our impact on the environment and making changes to make this a more positive one. We have already made a number of changes including LED lighting, using green electricity, using Fairtrade tea and coffee, toilet twinning, recycling milk bottle tops, organising a communal card scheme at Christmas and planting a native tree in the churchyard to encourage wildlife. Recently we have set up an Eco Church Team who have lots of ideas for further actions that we can consider.

Last September our Vicar, Rev Beverley Miles, started a monthly Eco Church session called 23@3. Through this we have engaged with our local MP, Mims Davies, on environmental matters. She joined us at 23@3 for a walk in nearby woodland and a discussion on local environmental matters. We subsequently wrote to her ahead of COP26 raising our concerns about various environmental issues.

At present our focus is on encouraging our church community to consider how to make their own lifestyles more environmentally friendly. To help with this we have set up an ‘Eco Table’ at church to facilitate reusing and recycling goods. People can bring along unwanted items and take away items that they can make use of and for which they give a small donation. All of these donations are used to help the charities which St Augustine’s Church supports.

We are planning a larger scale event to encourage the reuse and recycling of the clothes which most of us have in our wardrobes and no longer require. Our Spring Pre-loved Clothes Sale will take place on Friday 11th March from 10am to 7pm and Saturday 12th March from 10 am to 4pm in the church. Menswear, womenswear and clothes for babies and children can all be donated as well as accessories. All items must be in good condition. We are hoping to have two enjoyable days with refreshments served and everyone is welcome to come along for a browse. As part of our commitment to caring for God’s creation, St Augustine’s Church is also hoping to hold an ‘Eco Festival’ in September with a range of events and activities aimed at engaging people with eco matters and educating and empowering people in their understanding of how to adopt a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.

Third Lindfield Repair Café success!

The third Lindfield Repair Café took place at Lindfield United Reformed Church on Saturday 5th February after a necessary break in January for Covid safety reasons. Once again, the turnout was remarkable with well over 100 visitors, 87 repairs completed on the day and a further 15 taken away for repair. A huge range of items were fixed including a toy plane, a vacuum cleaner and three clocks. Garden tools and knives were sharpened, and items of clothing and jewellery given a new lease of life.

This month the Repair Café welcomed Computers for Kids, a local charity, and more than 40 computers, monitors, keyboards, printers were collected and donated. At the ‘Kids’ Table’ computers were taken apart, a valuable way to learn how they work, and one young man took the opportunity to learn for his forthcoming GCSE.

Trevor Carpenter, who is responsible for getting the café off the ground, was delighted to welcome Councillor Howard Mundin, the Mayor of Haywards Heath, on an official visit. The Mayor was very impressed with the turnout and what is being achieved. “It was truly wonderful to see the skills of the volunteers at the Repair Café and to witness the buzz of fun and friendship enjoyed by everyone taking part,” he said. “Not only do Trevor and his volunteers repair your goods, but they are happy to share their knowledge and they even have a special kids’ table encouraging young people to repair their toys and games.”

Visitors came from surrounding towns and villages and amongst them were people hoping to set up Repair Cafés in their own local area – one from Cuckfield and one from London.

As always, none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of a team of 60 volunteers and the organisers would like to express their heartfelt thanks. They are always keen to hear from anyone who would like to join them. They would also like to thank everyone who came along with items for repair.

For the next event, to be held on Saturday 5th March, the organisers plan to hold a ‘weaving loom workshop’ for kids, with the chance to make a gift for Mother’s Day. They would love to hear from anyone who has any experience, or time, to make some basic wooden peg blocks, or looms, as well as anyone with some experience to help run the event. Spare wool, ribbon or all material that can be cut into strips would also be very welcome. Contact: lindfieldrepaircafe@gmail.com

https://www.lindfieldrepaircafe.org/

There is a collection point for Haywards Heath Food Bank at the venue so visitors may drop off donations when they visit. Lindfield Repair Café is open on the first Saturday of every month at the United Reformed Church, Lindfield from 10am to 1pm. (On bank holiday weekends the date will move to the second Saturday of the month.)

Please note that the Repair Café cannot guarantee that they will be able to repair all items brought in, but they will always have a go if possible!

Lindfield Parish Council Newsletter - March 2022

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www.lindfieldrural-pc.gov.uk

We have recently been informed that MSDC intend to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR) of their ward boundaries that will also impact upon current parish council boundaries.

It is proposed that some roads will be transferred from Lindfield Rural Parish Council to Haywards Heath Town Council. We understand that the proposals are to remove the roads listed below from the Lindfield Rural Parish Council area and to put them within the Haywards Heath Town Council area.

The Hollow
The Platt
Kiln Lane
The Rise
The Copse
Knoll Place

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The proposal will shortly be put out for public consultation and comment by MSDC and will also be discussed at our Lindfield Rural Parish Council meeting on the 28th February.

To read the whole newsletter please collect a copy of March’s Lindfield Life magazine or click to enlarge the pictures.

Lindfield Horticultural Society's February events 2022

Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Members of Lindfield Horticultural Society will be holding a coffee morning and seed swap on Saturday 5th February in The Jubilee room of the King Edward Hall. Visitors are invited to bring along any spare seeds they may have to exchange with other gardeners. Seed swaps are a great way of using up excess seeds and of discovering new or unusual varieties of flowers and vegetables without great expense. There will also be a sale of second-hand gardening books, as well as a small selection of plants, preserves, and of course, the all important coffee and cake. The coffee morning starts at 10 am till 12 and entry is free.

Also…

Members of Lindfield Horticultural Society are looking forward to welcoming award-winning gardener Andy McIndoe as their guest speaker in February. Andy has more than 40 years of experience in retail and production horticulture and was responsible for the development of the Hilliers Nurseries chain of garden centres. During his long career with Hilliers, Andy designed the company’s show gardens and headed up the team that won 25 consecutive gold medals at the Chelsea flower Show. In 2017, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded Andy McIndoe the Veitch Memorial Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the science and practice of horticulture. Andy is a regular contributor to various gardening publications, blogs and BBC radio. The talk Andy will be giving is titled ‘Planting with Trees’ and will take place in the King Edward Hall on Wednesday 9th February at 8pm. Entry fee is £2 for members and £4 for guests, though any guests joining the society on the evening (subscription for the year is £6) will have their entry fee waived.

Lindfield's circular walk to Walstead via Haywards Heath

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By John Twisleton

Over twenty years Lindfield has been dear to me, so it is a privilege to be invited to supply a walk guide. Our family moved to Gatesmead in 2001, Horsted Keynes in 2009 and most recently to Bentswood in 2017. I’m a regular visitor to All Saints Church and the Red Lion and my son and namesake John works at the Bent Arms. The lime trees on the High Street always impress me, true to the name ‘Lindfield’ meaning ‘open land with lime trees’. So do our timber-framed houses, many of medieval origin, leading from the scenic pond up to All Saints Church of literally crowning beauty at the top of the street.

On this circular walk to Walstead (around 8 miles, or 9.3 km), start by heading for the tennis courts in Lindfield Common recreation ground and then left into the access footpath at the field corner. Cross Meadow Drive into the next stretch of footpath passing over Scrase stream into William Allen Lane.

Enter Scrase Valley Local Nature Reserve continuing with the stream to your right. Turn left at the junction walking up and across to Barn Cottage Lane. After the recreation ground, turn right up New England Road to Hazelgrove Road. Cross right then left into Church Road and turn left along St Joseph’s Way.

From The Orchards car park in Haywards Heath descend through the precinct and turn left along South Road. Continue to the roundabout and turn left down Caxton Way continuing straight ahead down the Syresham Gardens footpath beside the stream to St Augustine’s Way. Turn right then left along Priory Way to Western Road. Turn left and cross the road into the footpath down to the left of Haywards Heath Cemetery gates.

Continue left on the path at the bottom of the graveyard then right into Silver Birches, left into The Hollow and walk on to No. 2, ascend the track to Gravelye Lane. Turn right along Gravelye Lane and cross the road into Lyoth Lane. Continue up the steep narrow road to Snowdrop Lane and turn left walking past Snowdrop Inn on a beautiful country lane to its junction with the B2111 Lewes Road. Cross diagonally following the footpath sign through into a narrow path along a field.

At the end enter a farm track continuing to a stile. After the stile enter a large field. Walk sharp left heading for another stile accessing the footpath through Walstead Place Farm. Continue past cottages on your right following the path across an access road into another field and then across East Mascalls Lane into Snowflake Lane.

Divert to the left to visit Walstead cemetery – where you can still see both chapel buildings as mentioned above. On your return head down Snowflake Lane, the road to Walstead Forge, which narrows into a footpath afterwards. This section can be muddy after rain. Continue in the same direction to the footpath junction taking the left turn towards Lindfield.

Continue straight ignoring the right turn for Lindfield village following the path between fields which enters Bancroft Drive. Head right down the Drive, cross Newton Road and proceed down Luxford Road and Eastern Road to Lewes Road.

This walk is reconstructed from ‘Fifty Walks from Haywards Heath’ £9.99 available by emailing john@twisleton.co.uk.

A 24-hour football event for local charity Kangaroos

Former headteacher of Lindfield Primary School Bob White is a part of a group of local business people organising an epic 24-hour football charity event. They are aiming to raise £24,000 for the charity Kangaroos which supports children and young people with learning disabilities in Mid Sussex.

The charity is very close to Bob’s heart as he is a Trustee and also a parent of Dan, who benefits hugely from the work that Kangaroos does. The event is taking place on 23rd/24th June at the K2 Centre in Crawley. The event will involve students from the Thomas Bennett Football Academy, run by Academy Director Chris Jones, playing football for 24 hours against teams from local businesses from the Mid Sussex and Crawley area.

Businesses are being asked to buy a package to enable their team to play as a part of this event. Chris explained: “This is a great opportunity for businesses to pull their staff together in a great team building activity, something we have not been able to do for a while, and at the same time raising funds for such a great charity. Which businesses will choose to play at 3am?”

If you are a part of a business that would like to take part, please email: 24kangafootball@gmail.com for details of the sponsorship packages available. Head to the Kangaroos website www.kangaroos.org.uk to their events section for more details and some great video footage of kangaroos playing football!

50th anniversary party for Blackthorns Primary Academy, Lindfield

Photo: Jacob Neller

By the Pupil Leadership Team: Emilia, Nat, Emily and Zac

On 6th January we celebrated Blackthorn’s 50th anniversary.
The school opened in 1972 with 186 children: 97 infants and 89 Juniors and the Head Teacher was Miss Sharp. We spent the week taking part in lots of activities to commemorate the event. Mrs Neller, our principal, sent us all an invitation to the ‘Hattiest Hat’ parade and we all had to design and create a hat to wear. We took a big drone picture where we went on the field and stood in the shape of a 50. The children were the numbers, and all the staff were an exclamation mark! Afterwards we all came back into school and looked at the pictures and a video of us all.

We spent the week learning about life in 1972. Year 6 created a class newspaper called the Trailblazers Tribune, which was all about life in 1972. We even asked parents and teachers all about their memories of life in the 70s. Year 5 made a scrapbook about life in 1972 and Year 4 wrote fact files and about what Blackthorns might be like in the future. Year 3 compared the hot meals of today and back then while Year 2 looked at what life was like as a child in 1972. Year 1 made party bunting and Reception learnt how to write Happy Birthday signs.

Mrs Moffatt, our music teacher, led us in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ as loudly as we could. On the final day we held our hat parade and Mrs Neller and Mrs Day chose the winning hats.
KS2: Cora Gleeson (Innovators) and runner-up Sophie Lee (Trailblazers)
KS1: Alexa Bryany (Explorers) and runner-up Zachary Miller (Inventors)
Everyone dressed up in gold or 1970s outfits - even the teachers. Then we all had a class party with lots of party food, drinks and games. FOBs, our parent organisation, provided birthday cakes for all the classes in the Blackthorns colours and also presented every child with a commemorative medal to keep forever. Everyone agreed it was the best birthday party ever!

Seeking a local delivery superstar in Lindfield

By David Tingley, editor

We feel privileged when we hear how much readers of Lindfield Life enjoy receiving a copy through their letterbox each month. Our door-to-door distributors have said for years that this magazine gets more positive reactions than any other titles the company delivers. We are now recruiting for our own team of distributors who could take on walking delivery routes to get the magazine into houses across Lindfield.

The work would be paid and would suit anyone who is fit and healthy and enjoys walking! Because the magazines tend to be quite large (sorry!) it can be difficult to carry large numbers of them at once. We will provide distributors with a push-along trolley, but it’s worth noting that you will need to be able to lift boxes of magazines.

If you think this type of work may be something that could suit you, we’d love to hear from you. Please can you register your interest by email in the first instance to: delivery@kipperlife.com. In the meantime, please bear with us as we potentially change systems over the next few months. And, if you ever don’t receive a copy when you have before, please email editor@lindfieldlife.co.uk to share your address with us.

Advertising FAQs - Print ads don’t work any more, do they?

By David Tingley, editor and company director

We’ve been in the publishing business since 2009, and so we’d like to address a few questions that potential advertisers have for us, head-on. Right here. We aren’t in business to trick or hood-wink businesses out of marketing spend, but what we want is for local businesses in the area to making more money in sales from the advertising they do with us… Sounds simple, right?

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Print ads don’t work any more, do they?

It’s true that not ALL advertisers who spend money with us in Lindfield Life (or Kipper Life family of magazine titles) make a return on their investment.

That’s always gutting for us. But there’s no point lying.

Sometimes it’s not always obvious why the advertising hasn’t worked. While, for others, there were some warnings. Your advert needs to not only look good, but look appropriate for your target market.

Years ago, I had a builder whose advert I offered to ‘improve’ with a bit of ‘slick design’ to drag the advert and his business (I thought) into the 21st century. Having designed the revamped advertisement, we ran it for a further few months, until I took a call from the customer. He explained that his enquiries had dropped off since changing the advert design, and he’d like to revert to his basic, Powerpoint slide layout which he had been using for months beforehand very successfully. So, you see, as a professional designer - I learnt a valuable lesson that day about making the advert look right for the business and the target audience. They didn’t want a ‘slick’ builder!

Having said that, if an advert has way too much text on, and really isn’t legible in print - the advert just won’t work, if people can’t read it.

We hear from customers who sometimes say that their advertising campaign with us ‘hasn’t worked’, but when we ask how the customer finds out where their new enquiries come from - they tell us that they don’t ask! On this basis, it would be hard to measure the success of any advertising campaign in any media!

Of course, smaller adverts do have to work harder than full page ads. The bigger the ad, the larger the passing impact on the readers.

Some advertisers have a seemingly brilliant advert design (bold, colourful, large headline, clear call-to-action), and they haven’t been stingy on the size either. And it still doesn’t generate the results for them. I wish I knew why this was. We had a mortgage broker who had completed an advertising campaign for six months with half page ads, and they had had no clear leads from the run in our magazine.

Conversely, and more positively, we have one customer who runs a few quarter page ads per year, and the results from it, keeps them busy for the season! And the ad is even at quarter page size!

Fortunately we have plenty of happy advertisers, many of whom have been advertising with us for years and years. You can see Richard Talman of RTFJ talking about his success with our magazines here. Similarly, Marie Penge from Norsat has spent a lot of money with us over the years - but only because she gets a great return on that investment. She tells us here.

So, can I guarantee that advertising with Lindfield Life will work? No, of course not.

But I will guarantee that me and my team will do our absolute best to make it work for your business. Whether that’s helping with the ad design, giving you a premium spot for a special month, a bit of editorial copy or even a cheeky size upgrade when we’ve got some extra. We really do just want advertising with us to work for you, so you stay a customer for years - just like Richard and Marie and the dozens of others.

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Great Walstead School's amazing art studio and resident artists

By Chris Calvey, Headmaster

Upon completion of our new art studio at Great Walstead School, we were left with the dilemma of just what to do with the old studio space. At the same time, I had very kindly been invited to the art graduates’ final exhibition for the 3D Design and Craft and the MA Craft Courses at the University of Brighton. This led to the forming of a partnership which allowed up to ten art graduates to use our studio space in return for offering a variety of masterclasses to our pupils.

Over the last two years this partnership has really cemented itself with the artists running a series of workshops for the teachers as well as the parents and the pupils. Each artist has their own specialism, and this has brought a real diversity to the art our pupils are exposed to as well as a terrific energy and enthusiasm from the artists themselves.

It has been such a pleasure to have this addition to our school and a real opportunity for our girls and boys to work with such passionate artists. The artists are hosting an open studio and sale on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December from 10am to 4pm.

This is an exciting opportunity for visitors to see the space and their work. There will be a range of ceramic objects, jewellery and accessories for sale. Everyone is very welcome to pop along. For the artists most recent workshop schedule of weekday and evening classes for adults and holiday clubs for parents and children, please email: greatwalsteadstudio@gmail.com

Lindfield Rural Parish Council newsletter - December 2021

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Chairman’s Update
By Trevor Webster, Chairman of LRPC

Lindfield Burial Ground new ashes scattering memorial ground
The council currently owns a plot of land next to the Walstead Burial Ground in East Mascalls Lane and it is our aim to convert it into an ashes scattering memorial ground. This facility would be in addition to the ancient burial site and the ashes internment ground that we already offer at the Walstead Burial Ground. Our early thoughts are that we would like to see the new ground sympathetically landscaped with trees and shrubs to allow residents and visitors to apply to scatter the ashes of departed loved ones and to revisit as often as they wish in a peaceful environment. To enable us to apply for planning permission a professionally produced plan of the ground needs to be produced and submitted with our application. The council is currently hoping to work with a voluntary landscaper who would be able to contribute to this process. If you are interested and can help, please contact our Parish Clerk on clerk@ lindfieldrural-pc.org.uk

Home - Lindfield Parish Council

Please turn to page 54 and 55 to read the whole newsletter, or click the two photos provided.

Lindfield Old Place restoration of belvedere complete

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Before photo of Lindfield’s Old Place belvedere

By Claire Cooper

A rooftop feature gracing one of Lindfield’s most historic houses has been restored to its former glory. Work on the belvedere at Old Place East Wing was completed last month, replicating the original constructed by Charles Eamer Kempe in 1891. The work has been project managed by Lindfield businessman John Bellière, whose former wife Regina, son Troy and daughter-in-law Alexandra moved into Old Place in 2015. When they arrived, they found the Belvedere had suffered many years of neglect and was in a sorry state.

“The belvedere was literally falling down. One large part has crashed down across the roof and landed in a neighbour’s garden!” said John. “We always intended on restoring the belvedere, but we had to prioritise the restoration of the house, so the project was on hold until earlier this year.” John explained that the original structure was built around large cold water storage tanks, probably to hide them from view. “It was a bit of an extravagance really with its nine gold-plated flags and weather vane which stood above the belvedere and moves with the wind.” Shortly after the family moved in, the remaining structure was carefully taken down and the tanks, which were no longer needed, removed.

Old Place part way through restoration

Earlier this year, John, who runs Scaynes Hill based heating company BSW gathered together a team of craftsmen to work on the renovation project, creating a workshop in a garage adjacent to the house. “The secret of the project’s success has been the brilliant people who have worked on it,” said John. Carpenters Steve Turner and Chris Nye produced replicas of the original woodwork, including decorative panels and handrails, to create the structure, while blacksmith Steve Winsor worked on shotblasting and renovating the post flags and weather vane, before decorator Andy Kerr provided the finishing touches of paint and gold leaf.

He added that the original stairs inside the house leading to the Belvedere were also replaced. “The original was an extremely narrow spiral - you had to be a contortionist to get up them!” said John.“Without the tanks, the Belvedere has become a really useful space, perfect for afternoon tea on a sunny day or an early evening G & T,” added John. “But more importantly, we’re proud to have re-instated this unique feature on one of Lindfield’s most iconic properties for the next 100 years.

The restoration project has been welcomed by members of Lindfield Preservation Society whose Chairman Gil Kennedy visited the belvedere last month to view the work and enjoy the stunning rooftop views. “It has been a real pleasure to visit the restored Belvedere at Old Place, with its sweeping views over Lindfield and the countryside,” he said. “This is a good example of sensitive and accomplished restoration that adds to the character of our village.”

Read the whole article today on page 24 of November’s issue.

Time 4 Children's Winter Craft Fayre at the King Edward Hall

Eager to start your Christmas shopping? Then you will be happy to know that Time 4 Children’s first Charity Winter Craft Fayre is taking place at the King Edward Hall on Saturday 20th November 2021 from 1pm - 5pm.

Come along and support over 40 wonderful crafts people, local businesses and help raise money for this brilliant Sussex based charity. There will be a café which will be serving amazing Indian Street food along with vegan and gluten free treats and hot drinks!

Other local food stalls will also be serving their yummy goodies! The main hall will host the Craft Fayre where you will be able to buy local prints, silver jewellery, eco-friendly goods, baby clothes, doggy biscuits, children’s toys, Christmas cards, vintage up-cycled presents and lots more.

Activities for children will range from glitter face painting to decorating baubles. Mrs Claus will be running ‘decorate your own gingerbread’ workshops next to Santa’s Grotto.

Booking for this is essential – see details below. Esther Featherstone the Fundraising Coordinator for the charity is in full festive mode as she is planning the big day! “I have been blown away by the response from the wonderful people of Sussex so please do support them by coming to the event especially as these small businesses have been hit so hard the last 18 months,” said Esther. “I can guarantee that you will find gorgeous gifts and possibly a few that will have your name on them!“

There is no entry charge, but the charity bucket will be at the entrance so if you feel like you’d like to give to the charity then please do.” To book onto the Mrs Claus gingerbread decorating workshop please contact Esther: events@time4children.org.uk.

See details of the event online here.