Customers were delighted to visit Hassocks Market where local Covid-19 volunteers helped maintain a one-way system and social distancing.
The next market will be on Saturday 25th July 9am to 12.30pm
Hassocks Market June 2020
British Flowers Week 2020 - celebrated in Hassocks
British Flowers Week took place last week (15th-21st June) and a group of florists in Hassocks celebrated by sharing some fresh, seasonal and locally grown British flowers with the residents of the village.
Alison Trowler said: “We are three independent florists who work from home in Hassocks. We created 10 ‘Jam Jars of Joy’ each day during week and had fun leaving them on the doorsteps of people in Hassocks.”
The flowers have been locally grown at Pitfield Barn Flower Farm in Hurstpierpoint and Crosslands Nursery near Arundel.
“If you were one of the lucky recipients of our Jam Jars of Joy, we hope you enjoyed them.”
The three florists are: Ali – Trower’s Flowers – 07811 917510, Bea – Botanika Floral – 07525 862008 and Bryony – Bryony Mae Flowers – 07775 901917
VE Day in Hassocks
Hassocks Life reader and resident Emily Scott’s daughter Orla literally flies the flag for the village on the 75th Anniversary of VE Day last week.
MSDC Garden waste collections return on 11th May 2020
Mid Sussex District Council is resuming garden waste collections from Monday 11 May.
As part of the Council’s response to the COVID-19 national emergency, garden waste collections were paused on 13 April to enable the collection crews to meet social distancing requirements and to preserve rubbish and recycling collections.
During the past month the Council has worked hard alongside waste collection partner Serco to secure additional resources that will enable our crews to practice social distancing and collect our customers’ garden waste safely. Collections were originally predicted to be suspended for a period of 12 weeks, but new working arrangements mean it is now possible to bring the service back after only a four-week pause.
When the service resumes on Monday 11 May, customers should place their garden waste bins out for collection on their usual collection day. Anyone who is not sure when their bin is due for collection can check online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/waste-recycling/bin-collection
The garden waste collection service has been paused for exactly four weeks and during that time each customer has missed two collections. To ensure that no household is financially disadvantaged by the suspension of the garden waste collection service, the Council will add four weeks onto the end of each subscription period to cover the number of collections missed.
Councillor John Belsey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said: “This has been a difficult month for everyone and we are so grateful to all our garden waste customers for their patience, support and understanding during the past few weeks.
“We know that garden waste collections are important to people, especially during this lockdown period, so we have been working as hard as we can with Serco to reinstate them safely as soon as possible. I’m delighted to say that we are now able to resume our garden waste collections.
“We really appreciate the efforts you are making to hold on to your garden waste but please remain patient for a little while longer once collections are back under way and we work through the build-up.
“Our crews are not able to collect any side waste so it’s important to make sure all your garden waste is contained within the bin and that the lid is closed. If you are unable to fit all your garden waste into your green wheelie bin, please continue to store it until your next scheduled collection. This will ensure the safety and wellbeing of our collection crews and that we can continue to offer a garden waste service to everyone.”
For more information, visit the garden waste collection page at www.midsussex.gov.uk/gardenwaste where there are answers to several Frequently Asked Questions. Anyone who is unable to find the answer to their query online should email gardenwaste@midsussex.gov.uk.
Online library services widen
Since the closure of local libraries due to the Coronavirus pandemic, West Sussex Libraries has now created a virtual hub with activities for children and elderly people, including online books, magazines and comics, puzzles and local history.
With your library membership number you can access a lot of this information - some of which includes special member access to external providers simply because you are a West Sussex Library cardholder.
A spokesperson for the Library service said: “We know how much libraries mean to our members which is why we’ve introduced this virtual hub of your local library’s online services, all accessible from home.
“We’re talking RhymeTimeOnline, handy links for book lovers, family history content, resources for home learning, links to the latest offerings from authors, publishers and more!”
There’s even access to Theory Test Pro to help learner drives study the basics before they get on the road.
For more information search the web or put this link into a web browser: https://bit.ly/2yn1f7m
Meditations to help during lockdown
Debbie Horney normally runs mindfulness courses at Keymer Church Hall but since she isn’t able to lead group sessions during the coronavirus pandemic - she has decided to give out a number of new meditations from Remember Mindfulness to help get you through this difficult time.
Debbie Horney, mindfulness coach
I have been looking after myself with some new meditations and I would be delighted if you might like to use them too. They are as follows:
The STOP practice is a short grounding meditation that can be used as many times during the day to just pause and collect yourself.
Coronavirus x calming the mind is a short grounding meditation.
Connection practice is particularly useful to remind us we are all in this together.
Compassion Meditation x Corona is my favourite daily practice at the moment. It brings our relationships to mind and includes a loving-kindness practice.
If you are interested in these meditations please email me and I will send you them by return.
Also, if you would like free 1-2-1 support to begin your mindfulness journey or to support your current practice, I would be pleased to help you over the telephone – contact details also below.
“I was so grateful to receive the new meditations ... I love them... the compassion one is really beautiful ... it’s so gentle ... and softened my attitude ... the connection one is deeply comforting and will be a wonderful companion throughout this season of isolation ... The STOP meditation is a fantastic breather before I sit down with a pot of tea ... it’s like a little ‘pause and return to neutral’ button! ... The meditations you have provided have become the single most important part of my day ... and are a life skill I shall always treasure ... can’t thank you enough”
Email: debbie@remembermindfulness.co.uk
Call: 07904 982 579
www,remembermindfulness.co.uk
I will continue to teach Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Uckfield, Ringmer, and Haywards Heath as soon as I am able. We will meet in small groups weekly for 2 hours in various locations and times (mornings / evenings)
Hassocks PT Lynsey hosts Zoom fitness fundraiser - Sat 2nd May
Lynsey Thompson, hosting the 6hr Fitness Bonanza!
Hassocks resident and personal training business owner Lynsey Thompson has put together a packed programme of fitness lessons via video conferencing tool Zoom for this Saturday in order to raise money for NHS Charities Together.
Under the watchful eye of both Lynsey and fellow trainer Claire Daniels, participants can join in with an many or as few as they want to - and donating to the charity via JustGiving
Book your class ASAP beforehand via the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LTFitness81/
What is a Lifetime Mortgage?
Advertiser and Mortgage, Equity Release and Protection Adviser Nigel Urban (from Finance Planning Group) explains in more detail…
The key to giving mortgage advice is to discover the customer’s circumstances and objectives, then match those to the most suitable product – bespoke advice.
There is no better example of that than lifetime mortgages. They are available to the over-55s, but what are they and which, if any, product is right for you? We are bombarded with advertisements for ‘equity release’, we see ‘myth-busting’ articles (which are actually advertisements) and we read ‘exposés’ in the tabloid press – generalisations about products being bad. Add to this the musings of saloon bar philosophers and anybody can be excused for being confused.
Lifetime mortgages are as they say: mortgages which last a lifetime. That is not quite true, they will also end when the borrower goes into permanent residential care, but the benefit is the same – you can stay in your home as long as you want to or are able to. Other benefits are that it is not necessary (but often possible) to make interest payments during the term of the mortgage and the interest rate is usually fixed for life, giving certainty. Because interest payments are voluntary, income is irrelevant. If no interest payments are made then interest rolls up and equity reduces, although the products we recommend have a ‘no negative equity’ guarantee.
Who, then, are lifetime mortgages for? Some recent cases give examples:
A lady in her mid-70s, employed but on a zero-hours contract, needing to remortgage. Her age and type of employment made it impossible to get an income-based product. A lifetime mortgage was ideal, as interest payments could be made from earned income, if desired, but could cease on retirement.
A gentleman needing to raise money, with a reasonable pension income but a high level of credit card debt. A standard mortgage would have required nearly all the debt to be repaid to establish affordability, defeating the objective of raising money.
As well as remortgaging and capital raising, lifetime mortgages can be used to purchase a property.
The amount borrowable depends on the borrower’s age and the value of the property.
Remote advice available during the isolation period
Lenders often offer tiered interest rates, where the lower the percentage of the property’s value being borrowed, the lower the interest rate. This is good news for property owners in the south east, where large property price increases over the last few decades mean that quite large sums can be borrowed at the best rates.
For example, at time of writing, the lowest rate available is with a lender which would lend an 80 year old up to 32% of the value of a property (e.g. £240,000 on a £750,000 property). A 55 year old could borrow 6% (£45,000) of the value of the same property*.
Higher loan to value borrowing is available, although at a higher rate of interest. At time of writing the most that could be borrowed is 58% of the value of the property*, at age 83+.
Returning to the theme at the beginning, a hairbrush is a good product, but not to a bald man. Lifetime mortgages are good products if they are right for you. Get bespoke advice. As whole of market advisers, Finance Planning can draw on over 350 lifetime mortgage products* and find the right one for you.
*Source: Answers in Retirement Limited
Contact me for a free initial discussion, with no obligation: by email to nigel.urban@financeplanning.co.uk, or call/text me on 07765 465508 (preferred) or our head office number, 01444 449200. FCA Registration Number 715721. Head Office: Hurstwood Grange, Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath, RH17 7QX.
Landscaper and Nursery support 50 NHS workers
Paul Wilkinson helps deliver planters to local NHS workers
Mid-Sussex landscaper Paul Wilkinson asked the community to nominate an NHS worker to receive one of these beautiful Spring planters supplied by South Downs Nurseries in Hassocks.
"We were only too happy to show our support and help him out by donating these planters, which he delivered to the doors of 50 NHS workers," said Sarah Mead from the family-run garden centre in the Brighton Road.
Paul received a rapturous welcome as he delivered the planters to frontline health workers in Hassocks, Keymer, Ditchling, Clayton, Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint.
What content goes into Hassocks Life magazine?
Editor David Tingley uses this video to talk through and show the amazing content that goes into Hassocks Life magazine every single month. The magazine is printed and delivered to all homes in Hassocks, Keymer and Clayton each month.
If you would like to use the magazine to promote your business or service, do get in touch with us here.
If you have a suggestion of content for a future edition of Hassocks Life, then please send us an email in the first instance to editor@hassockslife.co.uk.
Scout group thriving in Hassocks
1st Hassocks Scouts
By Bill Whitehead, Group Scout Leader
You may not have noticed the headquarters of 1st Hassocks Scout Group between the flats and allotments on Parklands Road but you have probably seen its Beavers, Cubs or Scouts out and about in the past having fun and learning new skills.
Scouting has changed a lot over the last decade. It is now a diverse and inclusive movement that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, race, gender, sexuality or faith.
1st Hassocks Scout Group started in the early 1900s. Today it has over 140 young people aged between six and 14 years old who meet weekly to take part in activities which provide them with life skills, adventure, teamwork and fun.
Recently the Beavers participated in adventurous paddle boarding and water sports at Hove lagoon, and they enjoyed an informative walk through a local meadow discovering plants and butterflies and a singsong round a real camp fire.
The Cubs travelled to London for a fun-filled weekend, which included sleeping on a converted ice breaker ship in Docklands. The Scouts joined over 4,000 other young people from around the UK to play real life monopoly in London, visiting all the locations on the board. They also chatted non-stop for 24 hours to Scouts from around the world at an online jamboree.
If this sounds like something your child would enjoy, please register an interest by forwarding their details to waitinglist@1sthassocksscouts.org.uk.
In due course, when life returns to more normality, why not volunteer to join a friendly welcoming team?
For more information please contact me by email: gsl@1sthassocksscout.org.uk or visit our website: www.1sthassocksscouts.org.uk
MSDC seek help to commemorate Mid Sussex Virtual VE Day
With planned VE Day events now not taking place, MSDC are compiling a virtual tribute
Mid Sussex District Council are calling for your help to create a memory bank of commemoration for Victory in Europe Day (8th May).
While current social distancing measures are in place it will not be possible for street parties to take place at the moment, so Mid Sussex District Council is calling for submissions for a virtual memory bank to help commemorate VE Day. Tributes and photos, memories, songs and stories of VE Day and what it means will be merged into a showreel and presented on the Council’s digital platforms. Recordings of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ can also be sent to form the soundtrack to the presentation.
Earlier in the year MSDC provided grants to commemorate VE Day; but given the current national and international situation these events won’t take place at this time. The Council will of course be honouring our grant commitments when recipients feel they are in a position to mark the many sacrifices made and to commemorate the end of WWII.
Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Community said: “This is an important commemoration and we want to do everything we can to ensure it is marked. Somehow it is even more relevant, as we all recognise the bonds of friendship and community we are experiencing anew, that we commemorate those who gave so much at that time”.
Please send photos and poems for Mid Sussex Virtual VE Day to comms@midsussex.gov.uk or via the Council’s Facebook channel. You can upload film or songs to a special form at www.midsussex.gov.uk/VE2020
Deadline for submissions in Monday 4th May 2020. MSDC cannot guarantee all will be used but the team will try to use as many as possible. Before submitting you must ensure you have permission for any items to be displayed publicly.
Lockdown Lounge Talks by HKD Transition
Local environmental group HKD Transition have put together a range of talks taking place during the Coronavirus lockdown, that anyone can join in on from their home. They are designed to ‘inform and entertain you during the pandemic when we (HKD) are not able to hold all the activities we had planned’.
The first is on Wednesday (22nd April, 7pm) when Laurie Jackson will talk about climate change and wildlife.
Click images below to go to Event Brite to register for each event.
Climate change and wildlife - 22nd April 2020, 7pm
Recycling during the pandemic - 6th May, 7pm
Herbs and your health - 29th April 2020, 7pm
Meet Hassocks milliner Anne Tomlin
Anne Tomlin, Hassocks milliner
Hassocks Life’s Deirdre Huston drops into Anne Tomlin’s studio to chat about nature, hats and the artistic life…
Photo: Ian Skelton
As we chatted, friendly cocker spaniels wandered in and out and the sun filtered through the window. Anne’s studio was chock-a-block with the rich colours of specimens from the natural world, an array of paint pots and examples of her spectacular, intricate and witty hats.
Anne’s love of making things, fabric and textiles goes back a long way. She learned to sew when she was about six. “My grandma was fantastic at sewing and made Fair Isle jumpers, all the very difficult stuff. She taught me and was my inspiration.”
Growing up in Somerset, Anne lived with her family in a woodman’s cottage on Lord Bath’s Estate. “From a very early age I went badger watching with my father. Glowworms lit up around the edges of the garden and wildflowers grew everywhere. It was here I got my love of nature.” She painted small detailed studies of what she saw. Later the family moved and Anne went to Frome Grammar School where she studied A-level Textiles. “I had the most amazing teachers who were just so enterprising and innovative.”
[Full story in April 2020 issue of Hassocks Life magazine]
Take a look at these Hassocks heroes...
Thank you key workers
We know that the people of Hassocks are superstars but just in case you needed any extra proof, take a look at the following: just a few of the amazing key workers either living or working in the village to keep it running throughout this crazy Coronavirus period. These people are doing their normal jobs while many of the rest of us are staying at home in safety.
Thank you key workers - we appreciate everything you have and are continuing to do…
Chantelle Martin & Ros French
Occupational Therapists in the area
Darren Bramley
Head of Cameras on ITV's Good Morning Britain
Jennifer McLean
Midwife for the NHS
Matt Tucker
Police Officer with the MET
Julie Wade
Midwife at St Thomas' Hospital, London
Dan Major
Part of the pandemic multi-agency response team
Helen McKimm
works at East Grinstead hospital
Julie Taylor
A&E senior sister at Croydon University Hospital
Matt Freestone
Junior Producer on Good Morning Britain
Katie Finch
Midwife at East Surrey Hospital
Residents vote ‘yes’ to Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan
The residents of Hassocks gave a ringing endorsement to the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan at the referendum held on 5th March. Voters braved torrential rain and a bitter cold wind to go to the Adastra Hall and support the Plan. 1,729 voted in the Referendum of which 1,635 voted in favour of the plan, which represents 94.8%. The turnout was 26.43%, which is very good for a local referendum, particularly in view of the inclement weather.
Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group Cllr Bill Hatton said: “In voting to accept the Plan the people of Hassocks have shown great maturity of judgement. They clearly understood that the Plan gives us the best chance to protect our village and the countryside around it. We are very grateful for their support.
“A very big thank you, too, to the members of our community who freely gave their time and expertise to our Working Party. We could not have done it without them.
“We would also like to thank all those who took part in the lively debate about the Plan on social media, especially those who supported the Plan and encouraged others to come out and do likewise.
“I am very pleased to say that the Plan now has statutory force and all planning applications will now be judged against its Policies.”
Hassocks business donates food luxuries to care homes
Cameron Wallis, from South Downs Nurseries at Villa Adastra in Hassocks
A Hassocks business donated food luxuries which they cannot sell during the current lock-down to local care homes as an Easter treat for staff and residents.
Family-run South Downs Nurseries donated Easter chocolate and delicacies on Good Friday.
Not surprisingly, Cameron Wallis from the Brighton Road business received a warm welcome everywhere he went, including at Villa Adastra in Hassocks and Ladymead in Hurstpierpoint.
The garden centre's general manager, Steve Parsons said: “The garden centre is closed at the moment and with food due to go out of date before we re-open, we wanted to make sure it was sent somewhere it could be enjoyed.”
Many of the items given were from the expansive Sussex Food Hall but would likely have been out-of-date before it could re-open. A donation was also made to a local food bank.
Downlands Community School celebrates it’s 60th anniversary
Dale Avenue 1955 (courtesy of Francis Firth Collection)
It makes you wonder what the residents of Hassocks and in particular Dale Avenue and Windmill Avenue, thought in 1955 when it was proposed to build a new school right on their doorstep.
By Mark Wignall, Headteacher and Diana Hunt, Chair of Governors
Downlands School opened in September 1960 as the local secondary school for children who had failed their 11+. Then when comprehensive education started in 1965 it eventually opened its doors to all the local children and became Downlands Community School.
Back in 1960 approximately 450 pupils attended and over the years pupil numbers have grown and this September there will be 1200 students making their way up the school drive along with 130 of our staff plus 18 canteen and Freedom Leisure staff members.
From fairly small beginnings it has grown into an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ school valued by many families in the area.
Over the years there have been many changes to accommodate the rise in numbers but we are sure past pupils would still recognise certain parts of the school.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary, we are looking to produce a photobook to show the life of the school, it’s pupils and staff from 1960 to 2020.
If you or somebody you know attended or taught at Downlands we would love to hear from you.
We are looking for old photos of the school, staff, pupils or school events. We would be very grateful if you could send them, together with a short caption, to school (Dale Avenue, Hassocks BN6 8LP) and marked 60th Anniversary. Originals would be better in terms of reproduction quality. We would then scan them at high resolution and return them to you. Please include your name and return address.
If you only have scanned copies please send them to the email address below.
If you have a special memory that has stayed with you over the years, then please send a few lines that may be included in the book.
If you are in touch with others who no longer live locally, we would be grateful if you could let them know.
We have set up an email address for this project so please send scanned photos and memories to: downlandsat60@downlands.org.
Important information from Mid Sussex Health Care (Hassocks Doctors surgery)
By the team at Mid Sussex Health Care
Thank you very much to our patients for their support and understanding during this time as we are making daily changes to our operational procedures.
Our Patient Participation Group will be posting messages on the local Facebook pages with changes and updates. We are very aware that these messages and information reach a large percentage of our patient population using digital media. We are therefore using this facility to inform those patients who do not have access to electronic versions of the information.
In light of the ongoing situation relating to COVID-19, we wanted to let you know about the steps we are taking to ensure we can continue to support all of our patients during this time.
Firstly and most importantly, we respectfully request that all patients refrain from attending the practice unless asked to do so by a clinician. We are trying to reduce any footfall within the practice for the safety and wellbeing of our vulnerable patients who may need to be called in.
• We have on the advice of NHS England and our CCG suspended all appointment booking via on-line service for the forseeable future.
• Put any paper prescription request in the boxes outside the surgeries. Please, do not bring them into reception.
• Please telephone to make your appointments, do not come in the surgeries to book these.
• We would request that you download and register with the NHS apps. This will enable you to order your prescriptions electronically and avoid the need to come in to the practice. In addition, you will find that this is a quicker and safer method of requesting your medication and provides us with an audit trail to ensure at such a busy time, your request can be tracked from your original request through to completion and collection at the pharmacy.
• Please note we will be sending all completed prescription requests electronically to our local pharmacies. Should you prefer an alternative to our local pharmacy, please make us aware.
• All GP appointments will now be booked as telephone consultations for triage, should the GP then need to see you they will organise this with you during their call. This may not be at your usual branch or with your usual GP.
• Our nurses will be continuing to see some patients either face to face or via telephone calls. However, for our team to ensure we provide the appropriate appointment and clinician for you, they will ask you to provide a brief reason for your appointment request.
• We are currently receiving in excess of a thousand phone calls a day, which is putting increased demand on a reduced workforce. We therefore, respectfully ask that any queries or concerns you have regarding COVID-19 are first directed towards NHS 111 online service (https://111.nhs.uk). If you think you have symptoms and for general information and advice NHS England website (www.england.nhs.uk) prior to contacting the practice.
• If you have symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (burning or stinging, urgent desire to pass water or going more often), often called a UTI or Cystitis, we will arrange a telephone assessment for you. Please do not bring in a urine sample for testing.
Important Information regarding practice essential operational changes to how we are working including access to our Ditchling and Hassocks sites.
The safety of our patients and our staff is paramount to Mid Sussex Health Care. We are continuing to try to reduce the non-essential reasons for anyone physically visiting the practice. All clinically essential work will continue but ALL patients will be remotely triaged to assess whether a face-to-face appointment is clinically necessary or whether follow up care and advice can be given using remote consultation or onward referral to hospital, community provider or a visit is required.
Any patient that the GPs feel need to be seen will be directed either to Hurstpierpoint or Hassocks.
Hurstpierpoint: For the safety of those patients that need to be seen after telephone triage, by either the nurses or a GP, and have been identified as nil or very low risk, Hurstpierpoint has been identified as the most suitable location to use, due to its size and room availability to house the staff team that are required to provide this service.
Hassocks: To support our colleagues elsewhere in the NHS and ease pressure on services such as NHS111 and A&E, we will be seeing patients that have been telephone triaged by a GP and need to be seen at our practice. Where there is any doubt that a patient may have an infection of any sort they will be asked to attend the Hassocks site where the GP will be wearing protective clothing. Additional cleaning will take place to ensure the highest infection control procedures are followed. Unless you have been specifically asked by a GP to attend Hassocks please DO NOT attend the site for any other reason.
Ditchling: closed until further notice.
The COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly and up to date information can be found on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
Our focus remains the well-being of our patients, our employees and supporting the wider community and to enable us to do this, the priority will be to protect our services for vulnerable patients and those who are most in need and so we ask that you only call us if absolutely necessary.
Finally, we want to thank you again for your cooperation understanding and patience during these uncertain times.
Hassocks volunteers rally round to create support group in light of Covid-19
Call for help in Hassocks and Keymer 01273 040 111
Loretta Major, a local businesswoman, could see there would be a need to support vulnerable members of our community through the Coronavirus Crisis. She has quickly and efficiently set up a community support scheme, Hassocks Volunteers Covid19, and already hundreds of local residents have joined the group on Facebook.
If you have access to Facebook, join the group and, if you need help, you can then reach out with a post. For example, you might want to ask, ‘can anybody pick up my prescription?’ or ‘please could you get me some shopping?’
Through the group, local residents can also volunteer to help. Some local organisations are referring people to Hassocks Volunteers Covid19. It’s important to get news of the group out to as many people as possible. Perhaps you would like to be a helper?
“I’ve already met a lot of fantastic people through this,” said Lorretta. “We at Hassocks Volunteers Covid19 group want to make sure that there isn’t a single person in Hassocks who cannot access community support to help them get through this crisis.”