Adastra Park says goodbye to our last DownsFest - 2022

By Michelle Binks, organiser

It is with great sadness that I announce that DOWNSFEST will not be held again. The DownsFest ambition was to bring entertainment to the community in a festival environment supporting local acts and giving the opportunity of a ‘Glastonbury’ experience whilst raising funds for St Peter and St James Hospice. DownsFest is a self-funding scheme and was run by a core team of three, who have collectively dedicated over 3,100 hours of their own time, planning and organising the 2022 event.

In 2019, the festival ran at a loss but we decided to try once again, as well as fundraising for St Peter and St James Hospice. In 2019, we gave £1,000 to the hospice and this year we managed to raise funds to pay for a days’ nursing at the hospice. DownsFest fixed costs were over £30,000 to put on! Sadly, the ticket sales failed to cover these costs. We had some great sponsors but not enough for such a big undertaking. We did not take any payment for our time, in contradiction to some online rumours.

We did extensive research in the area and DownsFest was one of the cheapest events to attend in the locality, especially with the full day on stage performances and circus programme once inside. We have realised we have achieved something amazing with DownsFest 2022. And we got some great feedback from our festival goers this year.

I am so proud and sincerely grateful to all the help and support given by my DownsFest team: Kelly and Nick who were my backbone, and to Sarah as stage manager and Phil, music director and photographer Chris. Also, thank you to all the volunteers that helped over the two days.

Hassocks community supports Kangaroos childrens' charity

By Sue Anson

On the 2nd of July, we had our Jubilee Street party for the Hassocks community, which took place in Friars Oak Road outside of St Francis Church. The garden was a children’s zone with a bouncy castle, craft, and garden games. The church was transformed into a lovely cream tea venue. The main hall was a dedicated area for babies and toddlers. We set up tables in the closed off street, covered in union jack tablecloths and adorned the street with bunting. We had water pistols, hula hoops and skipping ropes for the children as well as some wacky races organised. The raffle, with its great prizes, drew a big crowd. Music was provided by the church band and the local ladies’ choir. There was a fancy-dress competition. We had a BBQ that ran all afternoon, salads, cakes, and puddings galore for people to feast on. Over 400 people attended in the glorious weather.

We didn’t charge but asked people to donate. Because of everyone’s generosity and, after our minimal costs were covered, with so much of what we provided being donated, we managed to raise £1,560 for charity. This is a phenomenal amount and an amazing bonus for a great day. We have chosen Kangaroos this time as our recipient, a local children’s charity who work with disabled young people. We have presented them with a cheque for £780. The other £780 will go towards our parish’s community work such as the food bank, youth work, our Cameo and Hug in a Mug groups. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came and contributed in any way. We can’t wait for the next event!

Adastra Hall is looking for volunteers from the Hassocks community

Adastra Hall

By Chris Hobbs, Chair, Hassocks Community Association, Adastra Hall Management Committee

Long-standing residents of Hassocks will remember the concerted effort of Hassocks Community Association members in the early 80s to raise funds to get Adastra Hall built. A village lottery? The lottery ticket box on Orion Parade? Hassocks Fayre? Well, the team did it and 35 years ago, thanks to a great village effort, in 1987 Adastra Hall opened. Fast forward to today, and the hall is more popular than ever. All three rooms - the Main Hall, the Green Room and the Committee Room are in regular use for music lessons, group and club meetings, art classes, exercise classes, family parties, blood donor sessions, Jazz shows - you name it, and Adastra Hall can host it.

Running the hall is the ‘hobby’ of a volunteer management committee of seven, led by new Chair Chris Hobbs, who is now looking for additional support. The group meets monthly for a business meeting, then work continues in between sessions with each person taking a specific project forward. Already this year, the team has installed free Wi-Fi, replaced all the lighting for LED, had the floor re-varnished and launched a new website at www.adastrahall.com

On the project list are new hall curtains, new stage curtains, a revamp of the “Green Room” and much more... But to keep the hall going and make it the best it can be, the Committee are looking for three new volunteers - someone to help manage the property task list, someone to help develop the community clubs the hall runs, and someone who has project management skills to help lead a potential front-of-house refurbishment in 2023.

Do you have some hours to spare and want to give something back to the community? In the first instance, drop Chris a line - chris.hobbs@adastrahall.co.uk to find out more.

An update on Hassocks Goes Gold 2022

By Rachel BartlettBundy

The village is full of golden sunflowers! This year there are some serious whoppers to kick start Hassocks Goes Gold for 2022! We will reveal the winners of the Sunflower Growing Competition in the October edition… but in the meantime there is so much GOLD coming this month!

The new ribbon pin badges are in lots of the shops on the high street – four brand new designs to choose from or collect the set! The gorgeous posters and gold decoration ribbons are on sale in QD Stationery at the same low £1 cost, so we hope to fill as many windows in the village with gold as possible! As ever, all money raised by HassocksGoesGold goes directly to the CCLG to raise funds and awareness of Childhood Cancer. The Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia Group are the experts in childhood cancer: funding research, coordinating medical science and supporting parents and children for the last 45 years. Thanks to the work they and others have done, over 80% of children diagnosed now with cancer can be cured. BUT… ‘cured’ only means survival for 5 years after diagnosis. There are 76 different childhood cancers, some with very poor outlooks, and some treatments have long-lasting and devastating side effects. Recurrence is too common. Further research is vital to improve real survival rates and to find kinder treatments.

I know all this from firsthand experience. Until my daughter Pearl was diagnosed in 2016, a month before her 10th birthday, I thought childhood cancer was impossibly rare and curable when found. The smiling faces of bald children in adverts for cancer charities who focus over 98.6% of their money on cures for adult cancers belies the truth. Treatments are savage and crude. Children’s growing bodies are fundamentally different and need specially designed treatments, but very few of these exist. Only six treatment drugs have ever been specifically designed for children’s cancer against the more than 200 designed for adults. The cards are dreadfully stacked against children diagnosed with cancer, it now does not surprise me that it is in fact the biggest killer of children under the age of 14. ‘Well,’ I hear you ask, ‘that’s very sad and dreadful, but what can we do?’ ANSWER: We can have a month of joyous, glittery GOLD FUN and raise some pennies along the way! Times are tough and we need some uplifting.

Let's STALL Childhood Cancer

Trail of stalls around Hassocks - Sunday 11th September 2022

https://tinyurl.com/HassocksGoesGold2022


Money is tight, but anything you can give will be put to maximum use. Some events are free to enjoy. Can you spot all 117 Giant Gold Bows around the village? Or visit the Parklands Road Art Gallery of Gold Bees. Grab a bargain at the trail of stalls ‘Let’s STALL Childhood Cancer’ at the Hassocks Tyre forecourt and around the village on Sunday 11th September; or on the daily Facebook Auctions throughout September; get lucky at the Gold Tombola at the village market on Saturday 24th Sept; or see out the month in style at The Golden Gala on Friday 30th September when teams of eight compete in a Golden Pub Quiz, with a Pudding Auction, live music and raffle.
The fun even extends into October with Reflex@42 holding a ‘24-hr hair-athon’ from noon on 30th Sept to noon 1st October (ring 01273 845009 to book). The Hassocks Field Society’s Coffee Morning is at Adastra Hall on the 1st October too.

Please join the HassocksGoesGold group on Facebook for information on all the above or email Rachel at hassocksgoesgold@gmail.com. Offers of auction prizes are very welcome! Make donations via JustGiving: www.bit.ly/HGG-22 The CCLG is a registered charity in England and Wales (1182637) and Scotland (SC049948).

Hassocks Goes Gold 2022

Hassocks Goes Gold update here.

By Rachel Bartlett-Bundy

This September will be the fourth year of Hassocks Goes Gold – turning the village GOLD for the whole month of September to raise funds and awareness of Childhood Cancer. This year saw the most ever entries for the Poster Competition –all drawings of Golden Bees– which is our theme for 2022. It was super hard to pick the winners and in the end we had five winners across the different age groups, five runner-ups, two highly commended, and also a special mention as the standard of entries was just SO high!

WINNERS (Work pictured): Primrose O’Hara (PreSchool), Alice Lambe (Hassocks Infants School), Maisie Smith (The Windmills Junior), Erin Poat (Downlands), Emma Taylor (Adult).
RUNNERS UP: Hudson Hurrell-Wood and Ivy Woodbridge (Hassocks Infants School), Andy Morris (The Windmills Junior), Dulcie Field (The Windmills Junior), Layla Meadows (Downlands).
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hettie Hodson and Maja White (Downlands).
SPECIAL MENTION: Arony Hall (Downlands).

Pictured here are the five winning entries, all of whom have their work included on this year’s Golden Poster. It will be available from mid-August from QD Stationery and at the Village Market on Saturday 27th August where Hassocks Goes Gold will have a fundraising stall full of goodies.

If you haven’t yet ordered your Giant Gold Bow, you only have until 12th August, so don’t delay! Each gold wooden bow sponsored with a minimum £20 donation will be put up across the village in a trail ready to shine for the whole month of September, with your personalised ‘Sponsored by’ dedication.

Hassocks Goes Gold has a month of glittering excitement for you:
• The return of the very popular Daily Facebook Auctions all through September.
• A trail of stalls ‘Let’s STALL Childhood Cancer’ throughout the village on Sunday 11th Sept, with a minimum of 50% from each stall going to Childhood Cancer.
• The Parklands Road Gallery – a free display of ALL entries to the Poster Competition in the windows of the Parklands Road!
• The Golden Gala on Friday 30th September – a celebration of a month of giving. Teams of either compete in a Golden Pub Quiz, with a Pudding Auction, live music and raffle. Tickets are £6 or £40 for a whole team of eight.

Donations can be made via JustGiving: www.bit.ly/3Snhypp Please email Rachel at: HassocksGoesGold@gmail.com for more information, to book your Giant Gold Bow, Golden Gala tickets or join in the Stall Trail, or if you would like to offer an auction or raffle prize.

Stellar line-up at The Hassocks this August Bank Holiday

This summer, another festival will take place in Hassocks, featuring top award-winning Americana artists from the USA and UK. Mid Sussex Music Hall is based in the function room of Hassocks Hotel, and is a collaboration between landlord, Chris Lambe, and James Walker, the Managing Director of Brighthelmstone Promotions.

The next event is a three-day festival over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. The weekend ticket, at just £54, offers the best value, but you can also purchase individual tickets for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with prices starting from £13. “We are very lucky to have achieved this line-up,” says James Walker, and he adds: “Many have achieved international awards and recognition.”

Artists include Andrew Combs, Joshua Ray Walker, who has performed on The Tonight Show, and Whitney Rose, who won the ECMA Award for Country Album of the Year and Honky Tonk Female of the Year at The Ameripolitan Awards. Multi-award winning Americana artist, Robert Vincent Band, and Diana Jones, a New York based folk singer, will play on Saturday. “With her new release, Song To A Refugee, Diana Jones brings her signature brand of storytelling to the worldwide refugee crisis,” says James Walker. Some artists have local connections. Friday’s haunting duo, Native Harrow are based in Sussex as is Anya Louise. Don’t miss Hassocks-based talent: The Self Help Group; Ian Roland; Dan Russell, and look out for songwriter, Peter Bruntell, named by Rolling Stone magazine as ‘one of England’s best kept musical secrets’. For full line-up and tickets see: www.brighthelmstonepromotions.co.uk

Adastra Bowling Club is visited by Chelsea Pensioners

By David Reader

Wednesday 20th July will live long in the memories of the members of Adastra Bowling Club following the visit of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (Chelsea Pensioners). They arrived at Hassocks Parish Council offices having travelled from London by luxury coach. They disembarked and clothed themselves in their famous scarlet tunics and marched at ‘pensioners’ pace’ to the bowling green.

A number of Hassocks residents turned out to watch them and gave them loud applause as they marched past them. They were warmly welcomed by the Adastra Bowling Club president Barbara Hornby and members of the club. After a photo, they were served with tea and biscuits before changing into their bowling attire. The gentlemen’s changing room inside the Pavilion looked quite spectacular with the scarlet tunics neatly placed on their own wooden clothes hangers.

The game result was an honourable draw and the pensioners also congratulated the green keepers for such a wonderful surface. Following the game, a few drinks were consumed and quite a good social atmosphere created. The 53 portions of fish and chips arrived on time thanks to the hard work of Ilker and all his staff at Hassocks Fish & Chips and the visitors said how much they had enjoyed their day out in sunny Hassocks.

A cheque for £200 was donated to the Royal Hospital Charity, which was gratefully received. After a very enjoyable day, they returned to London, but not before they issued an invitation to Adastra Bowling Club to visit the Royal Hospital on a date to be arranged in 2023.

Hassocks flooding and how you can help

By Juliet Merrifield HKD & Fred Maillardet HCO

Are you thinking of paving your driveway or front garden? Did you know that rainwater running off your driveway or paved front garden may contribute to flooding in Hassocks?

Global warming is now recognised to be leading to more erratic weather patterns with more extremes of heat and rainfall expected in the UK. Hassocks has suffered from surface water flooding in recent years, the cause being twofold:
1. Heavy rain swells the flow in the chalk stream tributaries entering the village from the South Downs, and this can overflow the banks when it becomes excessive, particularly just above Spitalford Bridge.
2. Surface water draining from any hard surface will settle in the lowest adjacent area if not conducted away via the local underground drains. But remember that drains in Hassocks were built many years ago and were not designed to cope with increased rainfall.

The first of these can be substantially reduced if not eliminated by natural flood management techniques like the ‘leaky dams’ on the two main tributaries which are slowing the flow of water into the village. However, the second would appear to be increasing in frequency and severity due to the growing number of areas being paved over with non-permeable surfaces, particularly to accommodate parked vehicles outside houses. Such areas are liable to collect pollution including oil, petrol and brake dust which may then be washed off into drains which usually feed into the nearest stream.

Since 2008, planning permission is needed to construct or replace a driveway or patio of more than five square metres unless the materials are permeable. Permeable paving needs no planning permission, the recommended approaches being:
• The use of gravel or a mainly green grassed area with paved or reinforced tracks to accommodate the wheels.
• Directing water off an impermeable surface to a border, rain garden or soakaway.
• Using permeable block paving, porous asphalt or porous concrete constructed over a permeable subbase which could still be hardcore if sufficiently large stones are used to enable some water to be stored as well as passing through to the ground beneath.

The Environmental Agency’s Guidance on permeable surfacing contains much useful information on the options available, and how to accommodate driveway slopes, different underlying soils and maintenance requirements. https://bit.ly/3OHD8lm

Play Days on Tour is coming to Hassocks

The Mid Sussex District Council Play Days on Tour Summer 2022 programme will visit ten locations across the district twice a week throughout the school summer holidays. This programme delivers free activities for children and families, providing a range of activities including music, arts, circus skills and sports. The target age is under 10s but all children and young people can attend.

On Tuesday 26th July, Play Days on Tour will be in Adastra Park from 1pm to 3pm and there will be lots of things to do! Sussex Clubs for Young People will have their purple bus and will offer various arts and games activities. DJ Neel will be playing great music and running DJ workshops. Circus Allstars gives an opportunity to learn new circus skills. Jolf Golf will set up a 6-hole golf park for families to play together. Little Kickers encourage under 5s to have a go at learning some football skills. Poponin, who runs creative clubs and workshops in Hurstpierpoint will offer an art experience. There will be a trail around the park organised by Liz. MSDC Recycling Trail gives families a chance to solve clues. More activities are being added all the time, and if you can’t make this date, remember Play Days will visit other villages in Mid-Sussex, too, so check out the website: www.midsussex.gov.uk/playdays

A history of Oldland Mill in Keymer and two Jubilees

Left: 1887 Mill in celebratory mood Right: 2022 Jubilee Celebration

By Stephen Waite

In the week leading up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations, Oldland Mill Trust volunteers worked enthusiastically to ‘dress’ Oldland Mill, recreating the spectacle of the Mill dressed for the 1887 celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

If you look carefully at the two pictures, past and present, you will notice a number of differences. In 1887 the site of the Mill was devoid of trees, making the mill much easier to operate back then, than it would be now. Modes of transport and costumes also differ. Amongst the people gathered at the Mill in 1887, in addition to the local dignitaries, would have been Jesse Washington White, the miller. Jesse started working at the Mill around 1869, and organised the celebration at the Mill for the 20th June 1887, providing bunting and the large Union Flag affixed to the top of the Mill. Jesse live at the Mill House and died, aged 50, in 1891.

Hassocks Football Club appoints new coach

Hassocks Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Westlake as the Robins’ new first team head coach. A hugely popular figure at the Beacon, Westlake has made 228 appearances for Hassocks across three spells spread over 11 years. He is planning to combine his new role with continuing as a player. Westlake first joined the club in 2010, signed from St Francis Rangers by Mickey Jewell. He was a mainstay of Jewell’s Hassocks side who finished fourth in the Premier Division in 2011-12, the club’s highest ever league position, before he returned to St Francis in 2013. A brief spell with Haywards Heath Town followed before Westlake re-joined the Robins midway through the 2015-16 season to help Hassocks escape relegation in the second half of the campaign under Mark Dalgleish and Phil Wickwar.

Westlake scaled back his football commitments in 2018, to focus on his running career. Two years later, he was lured back to football when appointed assistant manager of Loxwood. When his former Hassocks teammate, Spencer Slaughter, left Plaistow Road in 2021, Westlake soon followed to sign for Hassocks for a third time. The Robins were deep in relegation trouble, but his return helped spark another turnaround to finish 16th, some nine points clear of the bottom two. When the 2022-23 Premier Division season gets underway on Saturday 30th July, Westlake will aim to build on that improved second half of the campaign under his predecessor, Brad Sweetman. He has named Phil Gault and Tom Hughes as his assistants. Hassocks stalwart Phil Wickwar will continue to offer matchday support.

Harmony surrounding Pembury House gardens in Hassocks

You may have glimpsed a sea of snowdrops from the cinder track at Clayton, but did you know those dappled brick paths curve away to a wider secret garden? Or perhaps, thanks to the National Garden Scheme, you’ve been one of those lucky visitors who’ve benefited from a restorative spring visit. Deirdre Huston chatted with Jane and Nick Baker, to find out how they nurtured the gardens at Pembury House into a horticultural haven.

In 1983, they moved to Pembury House in Clayton. It was originally a three-bedroom house with an art déco fireplace in the dining room. “When we arrived,” says Jane, “I used to have terrible nightmares about the weeds whereas Nick saw the house and garden as a challenge.” Over the years, they’ve extended the house, in a style sympathetic to its origins and gardens, including the addition of a Victorian style glasshouse. Nick continues: “In those early days, I could come home and paint in the evenings, but then teaching changed.” Increased administration tasks, demands of parents and continuing governmental changes reduced their leisure time and, in 2006, the couple were pleased to retire. When they moved in, the garden was just mown grass with weed-ridden borders, alongside the cinder track. Over the years, they’ve added more land, making it three acres. The garden has evolved organically. “There was no real plan,” says Jane, ‘’except we knew we wanted to plant trees.” She remembers: “I used to drive to Heathfield and pick up slender tree seedlings or ‘whips’ and bring them home in the back of my orange VW beetle.” They would plant the trees on a Saturday, helped by old university friends. “In those days, in the winter, we’d have worn a balaclava and a woolly hat,” adds Nick. “It was much colder, then.” They planted a mixture of elm, oak, ash, alder, hornbeam and silver birch to create a balanced mixed woodland.

Jane and Nick have been welcoming visitors for 30 years. “Since 1992, when we started opening the garden, we’ve raised a total of £133,247 and there have been 21,624 adult visitors, 940 children and 292 dogs!” says Jane. They opened on the hottest day ever, the year their godson, Louis was born, and they also opened on the coldest day ever, one February! “It’s a lot of hard work just before you open,” says Nick, “so you get very tired.” As well as meeting challenges, they’ve learned how to make things run smoothly. Jane recalls: “The first year, we did the teas and there was parking on the village green. As it grew bigger, more people in Clayton helped, and we raised money for the church roof, too.”

To read more about Jane and Nick’s journey please pick up a copy of June’s Hassocks Life and turn to page 18.

Hassocks Artists Open Houses trail this July 2022

After a four-year gap, Hassocks Artists Open House Trail will take place in the first weekend of July.

During the pandemic, the group held indoor exhibitions in 2019 and a wider publicised event at Downlands School in 2021, but now Hassocks Artists Open Houses are back! Between 11am and 4pm, use this map to follow the trail on Saturday and Sunday the 2nd and 3rd July to meet the artists.

Local teacher and artist, Ellie Drake-Lee says: “I’m thrilled to be exhibiting as part of the Hassocks Artists Open Houses. We’ve got a diverse range of creative arts from photography and ceramics to stained glass and illustrations so there’s something for everyone.”

The trail includes many local artists, including Pippa Aldridge, Jackie Bass, Dinah Beaton, Clare Bishop, Andrew Chapman, Sue Collins, Ricky Delaney, Ashley Hutchinson, Susie Garner, Dawn Mead, Joanne Miles, Ruth Mullan, Joanne Miles, Ginny Pickles, John Rees, Caroline Saunders, Sheila Southwell, Linda Tucker, Nicola Twaites, Liz Warne, Ruth Waters, Laura Westmacott and Louisa White.

Ellie says: “Please come and enjoy viewing original artwork in our houses and studios. There are so many creative people living in Hassocks and we can’t wait to meet everyone who is interested to see what we do.”

Please click the image to see an enlarged version.

Adastra Park hosts DownsFest 2022 in July

This July, Adastra Park will once again be transformed into DownsFest. Friday 15th will be Comedy@DownsFest, courtesy of ‘Funny That Comedy’. A top notch line up of comedians will be hosted by local favourite, Stephen Grant. From 5.30pm, Jessica Fostekew, Stephen K Amos, Nick Helm, Mark Simmons and Ivo Graham will be taking to the festival stage.

On the Saturday, the headliners are One Step Behind ‘The Masters of Madness’ topping the bill. Other musical treats on offer, include Loki + Zaffire Twinz, Harmonessence Choir, Cheer up Mollies, Breeze in and Stuart Barbour. Local band, Disco B’stards are sure to get you dancing. And many of you may know Thing of the Swamp, another act you don’t want to miss. Plus Stone Dark Night, Diva and the Nobodies, Nova and Overdrive. There will be plenty of choice in the FamilyZone, too. Pop into the Dance Tent, see what’s happening at the Fire show, watch Nick Cook Entertainer or get involved at Poi Passion Circus. Tickets are now available at www.DownsFest.co.uk

DownsFest 2022

Free fix if TV interference occurs in Hassocks

Mobile network services are being upgraded in Hassocks boosting speed, performance and coverage. There is a small chance these improvements may cause interference to TV received through an aerial such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView.   

Symptoms could include intermittent sound, blocky images (pixelation) or loss of TV signal. 

For residents who are affected by the upgrades, free support is available from Restore TV. Restore TV is an independent programme created by Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), an organisation owned by the UK’s four mobile network operators: EE, Virgin Media O2, Three and Vodafone.  

Restore TV’s role is to ensure people can continue to enjoy free to view TV if mobile service upgrades cause TV interference. Restore TV reports to the Coexistence Technical Working Group, chaired by Ofcom, which monitors and advises on the programme to ensure free to view TV viewers’ interest are properly served. 

The programme offers additional support for people who are 75 years of age or older, are registered blind or partially sighted or receive any of the following benefits: personal independence payments (PIPs); attendance allowance; constant attendance allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Support. 

Ben Roome, CEO of Restore TV, said: “We know just how important TV is to inform, entertain and provide welcome company. Restore TV exists to ensure we all can continue to access free to view TV as mobile services are improved across the country.”  

“If you see new TV interference, we’re on hand to help you resolve the issue. We can send a Restore TV filter, free of charge, for you to fit between your aerial lead and TV or set-top box to remove mobile signals and allow you to watch free to view TV as normal. Full instructions are included, and we can provide further advice online and by phone if needed. 

“In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve any issues, but if this isn’t the case, we may also be able to arrange a follow-up visit from a Restore TV engineer at no cost, depending on eligibility.” 

Cable and satellite TV, such as Sky or Virgin, are not affected. However, viewers with these services, who also watch free to view TV through an aerial, can receive a free Restore TV filter.  

Residents are more likely to be affected if they live in an area with weak digital television reception, have a TV signal booster and whose TV aerial is close to a mobile mast.  

For residents in flats or communal buildings, Restore TV provides landlords or property managers with support to resolve the problem. 

Any viewers who experience new interference to free to view TV should contact Restore TV on:  0808 13 13 800 (free from landlines and mobiles). For more information, please visit restoretv.uk 

Hassocks Infant School's Millenium Clock needs repairs

By Erika Woodhurst-Trueman

The clock standing proudly over the Infants School arch was installed at the turn of the millennium by the Hassocks Amenity Association (now Hassocks Community Organisation), funded by donations from the people of Hassocks, local organisations and authorities. It’s a useful, and reassuring sight for all villagers and visitors as they wander (or rush!) through the village. Sadly, after a hefty bill for repairs in 2019, it is now in need of substantial upgrading to keep it running for years to come. The latest work is quoted at approximately £2,158 and you can help here: https://gofund.me/b1c726c0

We would be enormously grateful if you would consider making a contribution to help us keep this well-loved village clock ticking for future generations. Should we exceed our target, any additional funds will be kept aside for future maintenance and repairs. Thank you! Hassocks Infant School and Hassocks Community Organisation.

New management In Session on Keymer Road

There’s a new name on our high street, and Deirdre Huston met new owner, David Rae, to find out all about it.

David Rae went into hairdressing at 16. He trained at L’Oreal, in Hammersmith, learning through a series of courses which ran alongside an apprenticeship. He went on to work at Michael John, a well-known hairdressers known for its celebrity clientele. “It was good fun,” he recalls. After stints at various salons, in 2004, at the youthful age of twenty-four, David opened his first salon in Petts Wood, Bromley. “I always wanted to have my own business,” he says, “because that was my biggest drive when I was younger.” His parents were entrepreneurial, and David could imagine doing nothing else. The first business is still trading to this day and David now also has salons in Orpington, Tunbridge Wells and Hassocks! All the salons are called In Session. “The name came about because I’m a session stylist,” says David. He works on photo shoots, at fashion shows and at events such as London Fashion Week.

In 2018, In Session were the UK winners in the global competition, Style Masters. The competition starts in your own country. Entrants are briefed to create a photoshoot on a single day using just one model who must portray three different looks. David elaborates: “The art of this competition is how to evolve the hair without it becoming too overworked.” The theme was to represent the sea, but there was a more specific story to each picture. For example, the commercial image represented coral with its colours, crevices, and fragility.

David took ownership of the Hassocks salon, Identity, in December and he’s glad to have Laura Parsons continue as manager. Laura’s worked at the salon for f ifteen years and she says: “It’s still the same team here, but now we have more opportunities for training and lots of fresh ideas, too. We try to get involved with the fashion side of it so that we can pass on new trends to our clients.” See David cut hair underwater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8NWaGo1tNw

To read David’s full story grab yourself a copy of Hassocks Life.

Join in the MSDC's Jubilee street party scrapbook

Mid Sussex District Council is hosting a virtual ‘Street party scrapbook’, a design competition for children, and will be shining a commemorative light beacon as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Celebration of The Queen’s 70 years of service include an extended bank holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th of June. The Council has provided grant funding to 37 neighbourhood, charity, and local organisations to ensure community celebrations are able to celebrate this historic milestone.

Many residents have applied for licences to close roads so they can arrange street parties or community picnics. Mid Sussex District Council plans to commemorate these, and all the Royal Street Parties over the years, by creating a ‘virtual Street Party scrapbook’ showing celebrations of the past alongside those of the Platinum Jubilee.

Residents are encouraged to send in their images to be added to the album, which will be available on the Council website. A beacon of light will shine up above the Mid Sussex District Council offices between dusk and midnight during the extended bank holiday weekend. This will complement the traditional beacons that will be lit by Town and Parish Councils across the entire country.

Competition entries and submissions for the Street Party Scrapbook can be emailed to jubilee2022@midsussex.gov.uk or posted to the Mid Sussex District Council offices. Please note, the Council is unable to return any items that are submitted and by sending them you are confirming that you have permission for them to be shared publicly. Full details of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations can be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk/platinum-jubilee

'Welcome back to the mill' celebration at Oldland Windmill Hassocks

Photo: Jacob Neller

Our local windmill is celebrating the fact that, after two quiet years, it can now open more fully to the public. On 1st May, from 11am to 4pm, join in a ‘Welcome Back to the Mill’ Special Event Day. Enjoy Ditchling and Hammersmith Morris, Punch and Judy, a barbeque and live music provided by The Millers Blues Band, South Downs Folk singers, Ditchling Singers and Kevin Russell.

In addition, you will be able to come and see inside the oldest regularly working windmill in Sussex. Refreshments, memorabilia and Oldland Mill’s own flour will be available for sale. On 3rd April, from 2pm to 5pm, Oldland Mill is also holding its first open day for two years where a team of volunteers will have refreshments available.

Please note, no vehicles are allowed at the mill. Please park in Grand Avenue near the Thatched Inn and either walk up Oldlands Lane or make use of the complimentary minibus. Further details on the website: www.oldlandwindmill.co.uk/newsite