Lindfield Arts Festival 2019 - round-up

By Ayesha Gilani

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Lindfield Arts Festival 2019

Lindfield Arts Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary with a record number of visitors. More than 5,000 people descended on the village to enjoy the arts.

From Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd September Lindfield opened its doors to celebrate and showcase local artists and performers of all ages.

During the week highlights included a sell-out comedy night and performances from award-winning musicians Aynsley Lister and Liane Carroll.

On Saturday festivalgoers basked in glorious sunshine. The High Street and Common buzzed with bumper crowds enjoying live theatre, circus skills, visual arts, dance, classic cars, flowers, literary and drawing workshops, food and music from local DJs.

Village People: Adam Stone

When Adam Stone was just four years old his parents bought him a shiny new Raleigh Drifter bicycle.

“I remember being so excited as all my mates had bikes,” said Adam. “From that day my parents could hardly keep me off it.”

The bike sparked a passion for cycling that has seen Adam taking part some of the country’s most challenging rides, from Coast to Coast to London to Brighton.

But last month Adam faced his biggest and most emotional journey yet - riding 979 miles over ten days from Lands End to John O’Groats with 13 inspirational team mates, including two who are living with terminal cancer.

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By Claire Cooper

Born in Switzerland, Adam experienced travel from a very early age, moving to Uganda at the age of two. “My father worked in banking as a modern linguist, so we moved around a lot,” he said. “In Uganda we lived four doors down from Idi Amin, and I can remember seeing him go past the house accompanied by his burly armed guards!”

At the age of four Adam moved with his family to Belgium and acquired his first bike. “We lived in a little village, so everyone cycled everywhere!” he said. “It was a great place to learn to ride.”

By age 11 the family had been posted to Montreal in Canada and Adam began to cycle longer distances.

“When I was 14 I would cycle across Montreal, from one end to the other, on the Trans Canada highway,” he recalled.

“When we later moved to Holland I would head to the coast so I could cycle up and down the dunes.”

It was while studying at Imperial College in London that Adam began to enjoy cycling as part of a group.

“In the late 80s and 90s we cycled all over London,” he said. “I was told by a cycle courier that if you didn’t get knocked off your bike within the first three months cycling in London you never will! I didn’t and so far have managed to stay in the saddle. I’ve been knocked off in Haywards Heath but never in London!”

After graduating Adam moved to a village outside Cambridge where his parents were living, cycling 16 miles a day to and from work and with friends at weekends. “In 1996 I moved to London and, for a while, swapped my cycle for the tube. I also met and married my wife Claire.”

A move to Sussex in April 2005 saw Adam get back in the saddle.

“Claire was offered a job at the Body Shop headquarters in Littlehampton, so we began to look for a house in Sussex,” Adam recalled. “We picked five houses to view, including one in Scaynes Hill. The owners told they were moving to Lindfield, which we had never heard of. As they were the second people who had mentioned the village we thought it must have something going for it so we’d take a look.

[Full story in the November 2019 issue of Lindfield Life]

Pauline awarded for poppies work

A Lindfield resident who has run the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in the village for the past 20 years has been honoured with a special Community Award.

Pauline Parkyns, whose responsibilities have ranged from distributing over 6,000 poppies and ordering commemorative wreaths to co-ordinating the team of collectors and counting the cash, was nominated by Branch Chairman Val Upton.

“It was such a lovely surprise to be invited to Shoreham Airport by the RBL Fundraising Officer of West Sussex,” said Pauline. “I received a very attractive certificate mounted in a frame, which has pride of place on my wall.”

“When I became a poppy collector in 1982 I had no idea how passionate I would become about raising money for the Poppy Appeal,” added Pauline, who began by taking part in sponsored walks for the Appeal when she was younger.

“It has been a privilege to be the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Lindfield during the last 20 years. Although it could be hard work at this time of year, it is very rewarding knowing how the money raised helps our brave Servicemen and women cope with their injuries, both physical and mental. It is also a very humbling experience.”

Pauline has handed over her role to Val’s husband Gordon Upton. “I wish Gordon every success in his first year as organiser, but I am not going away as I am still a collector and will still sell my plants for the Poppy Appeal,” said Pauline.

“I’d like to thank the residents and organisations of Lindfield for all the support they have given to me over the years, and particularly the school teachers and pupils who have been wonderful. I will really miss them.”

The Bent Arms' lucky charm

The Bent Arms’ Howard Collins and Charlie Fairhead

Ireland has given the world many things – Guinness, Primark, the invention of colour photography, the world’s first armoured tank and even the cure for leprosy. While the country might not have a culinary reputation to rival the French or the Italians, it is certainly well-known for good food and, specifically, good bread, just like our next interviewee and manager of The Bent Arms, Howard Collins.

By Joe Wayte

After a string of failed attempts to make a profit out of The Bent Arms in the late 90s and early 2000s, Howard Collins stepped up to the plate in 2003 and has successfully managed the establishment ever since.

In the beginning the business had few customers but lots of potential. “I stood outside, looked through the window and saw the Rotary Club meeting,” Howard remembered. “I thought to myself – if nothing else, at least I’ve got 20-30 people coming to eat every week and decided to give it my best shot.”

[Full article printed in the October 2019 issue of Lindfield Life]

The history of Humphrey's Bakery in Lindfield

Humphrey’s Bakery, Lindfield - Richard Humphrey outside his shop

By Richard Bryant with Janet Bishop and John Mills, Lindfield History Project Group

The August local history article in Lindfield Life explained that the Common and Pond uniquely defined Lindfield and challenged that similar features could not be identified elsewhere in the country. It would be remiss not to pay tribute to another Lindfield icon, Humphrey’s Bakery, about which a similar claim could be made. Namely, does any other community have a bakery that traded continuously from the same premises for 223 years?

At 65 High Street, Humphrey’s shop front proudly proclaims the bakery was ‘Established 1796’. Perhaps equally remarkable, it has been run by only three families since that date. Having regard to the bakery’s history, it is appropriately located in one of Lindfield’s oldest medieval buildings; Humphrey’s, Bower House and Carriers were all constructed between 1300 and 1343. Its age is evidenced by the massive arched timber framing on the building’s northern side, into which, rather quirkily, three tiny windows have been cut.

When viewed from the street it will be seen that Humphrey’s shop is the cross wing of No 63 High Street, known as Wyncote. This is also of medieval date, although its age is not apparent having been re-fronted.

The early history of the building is yet to be fully discovered. However, a receipt document dated 1453, found during redecoration in the late 1940s, states the property was then occupied by ‘Thomas atte Ree’, probably a farmer.

He was paying rent of seven marks per quarter to his Lord of the Manor, the Dean of the College of Canons, South Malling. A mark was a unit of currency with a value of about 67p.

Returning to the bakery business, John Meads (1759–1826), a baker, first appeared in Lindfield parish records in December 1791, when with his wife, Ann, their daughter, Mary Ann, was baptised at the parish church.

In 1793, he took on a William Murrell as his apprentice. John Meads appears again in the Poor Rate records as a ratepayer from 1797 at Humphrey’s, which he rented from Thomas Blaker, a cordwainer. Accordingly, the claim that the bakery business at 65 High Street was established in 1796 is fully justified.

[An excerpt from the full article printed in Lindfield Life, October 2019]

Local florist takes root in Denmans Lane, Lindfleld

Christine Bulman, founder and owner of Blooming Awesome, has joined forces with Lindfield interiors store Kell & Collins on Denmans Lane to offer customers flowers and floristry services, complementing the decorative products available in-store.

After 21 years in the banking industry, local resident Christine revisited her long held passion for floristry and started her business in 2013, servicing weddings, other special events and corporate contracts. Bringing her flowers to a wider audience has always been her ambition: “I love working on big events but have always wanted a high street presence with day to day interaction with customers. Being part of the team at Kell & Collins has fulfilled that dream. It’s great fun being part of the Lindfield high street community.”

Working with local growers to obtain seasonal blooms, Christine offers handtied bouquets and single sprays. She also offers regular workshops. Flowers are available four days a week in the shop.

Start of season success for Lindfield Girls football team

By Ayesha Gilani

It was a stellar start to the season for Lindfield Juniors FC girls’ teams. The under-12 squad thrashed opponents Newhaven to win 7-1 at home, playing at Hickmans Lane Recreation Ground. The squad was set up last year in a bid to raise the profile of girls’ football in the community. Luke Morrell, who coaches the U12s with Jamie Baker and Ross Stretton, said: “What a difference a year makes. The girls have improved unbelievably in just 12 months and it’s been an absolute pleasure helping them develop into a really exciting team. Our opening 7-1 victory with six different goal scorers just shows how far we have come and I know both Jamie and Ross are as proud as me of all the girls. The numbers continue to increase across all the age groups but we are always looking for new girls to come along and join the club. Our girls’ teams offer a great opportunity to enjoy a team sport in a fun and safe environment, meeting new friends along the way.” The club’s new under-11 girls’ squad also made a great start to the season, winning one and losing one in their first ever competitive matches. Lindfield Juniors FC has spaces in its U10, U11 and U12 girls’ teams. For more information contact the club on: lindfieldgirlsfootball@gmail.com.

Mathilda Rose: Behind the Counter in Lindfield

Behind the Counter is a series of articles we started back in 2017 to take a look at the inner workings of Lindfield’s most-loved shops, and get to know the people who run them. In this latest edition we meet Nicola O’Rourke – the mastermind behind #thewindowat62 and the worldwide renowned bridal shop, Mathilda Rose.

By Joe Wayte

Born and bred in Lindfield, Nicola’s parents owned land near Lyoth Lane. She was educated locally both at Great Walstead School and Ardingly College before moving to London to study Textile Design. “I started at Chelsea College of Art and Design to complete my foundational year,” Nicola explained, “before getting a prestigious place on a degree course at Central Saint Martins School of Art.”

If you want to be well-known in any form of art, Central Saint Martins is the place to be with courses that are incredibly sought after and incredibly competitive to get in to. “There were only eight of us on my course,”

Nicola added, “and as part of the selection process my group of applicants had to create a runway look for a model using only a deck chair, and within a very short amount of time!” Included in the eight studying with Nicola was Alice Temperely, now MBE and once described by American Vogue as ‘the designer making the biggest waves in British fashion’.

After attaining her degree, Nicola started work in the commercial world by accepting a place on the Marks and Spencer graduate scheme. She gained experience across a variety of departments and then settled as a Buyer – a role she stayed in for over ten years. She spent another six years as a Buyer for many well-known retailers before realising her dream of owning her own bridal store. “In those days, if something went wrong in a factory that was supplying your fabric you were expected to get on the next plane to go and fix it,” Nicola said with an air of exhaustion. “At that time most of my suppliers were in China and balancing being a mum while frequently flying to China became too much.”

[Full article printed in the September 2019 issue of Lindfield Life magazine]

Anne's Ugandan Adventure

By Claire Cooper

When Lindfield resident and former scout leader Anne Pieckielon travelled to Uganda to teach business skills at a refugee camp she expected the experience to be life changing.

But what struck her most was the warm welcome she received, the kindness of the people she met and the strong sense of community.

“Since coming home I’ve been reflecting on who is the richer - those that work together as a community who have nothing or us in the western world,” said Anne.

“Africa continues to surprise me and everyone we met made us feel safe and special. I have laughed but also cried at some of the stories I have encountered and I’ve vowed never to take electricity and the internet for granted too!”

Anne travelled to Moyo in Uganda with Projects Delivering Hope (PDH.) The charity runs short-term projects which give long-term aid, including training courses and setting up Micro Finance Trust funds with partners Five Talents to small start-up businesses.

[Full article printed in September 2019 issue of Lindfield Life magazine]

Lindfield Arts Festival - 16th-22nd Sept 2019

By Ayesha Gilani

The countdown is on as we work towards the 10th anniversary of Lindfield Arts Festival! In just under eight weeks the village will be transformed into a creative hub, with a week-long programme of arts and entertainment for all. Look out for our festival programme, making its way to your front door later this month. In the meantime you can peruse the fantastic line-up of events on our website at www.lindfieldartsfestival.com. Tickets can be bought online or through our village box office at Kell & Collins on Denmans Lane. There are many free workshops and events to enjoy too! Join us from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd September – it’s all waiting for you!

www.lindfieldartsfestival.com

Award-winning Children’s Authors at LAF

Enjoy an incredible day of readings and workshops from award-winning, bestselling children’s authors at The Tiger Rooms, Lindfield High Street on Saturday 21st September. Meet the writers, listen to their stories and pick up signed copies of their beautiful books. Giles Paley-Phillips ‘Superchimp’ at 10am; Will Mabbit ‘I can only draw worms’ at 11am; M.G. Leonard ‘Beetle Boy’ series at 12pm; Creative Writing workshop for 11+ with Ruby Cooper at 1pm and Lizzy Stewart ‘There’s a Tiger in the Garden’ at 2pm.

BABY OPERA

O Mio Bambino Caro! Bring your little people to All Saints Church for an interactive musical adventure that offers a playful and creative first opera experience for 0-2 year-olds. Listen, sing and play with music by Debussy, Delibes and Monteverdi as well as familiar nursery rhymes and specially written songs. After the show there is a play session for everyone to enjoy. Baby opera takes place on Friday 20th September at 11am- 12.30pm and 2-3.30pm. Tickets cost £9 (one adult and one child).

The Music of Trees

Musician Geoff Robb was the winner of the 2018 Brighton Fringe Live Music Award for his solo show. His beautiful meditative compositions, inspired by the trees of Sussex, blend his training in jazz and classical guitar with his love of Spanish and Celtic music. He has performed all over the UK and Europe at venues including Buckingham Palace and Glastonbury Festival. If you love nature and enjoy beautiful guitar music then don’t miss this award-winning show on Wednesday 18th September. Tickets cost £7.50. Venue: All Saints Church.

Mind full or Mindful?

Discover the art of living well at this free one hour introduction to mindfulness. Ed Halliwell is one of the UK’s leading mindfulness instructors and writers. His workshop will give you a taste of some key practices by looking at what mindfulness is and how it can be beneficial. This free session takes place at The Bent Arms on Sunday 22nd September, 10.30-11.30am. Places are limited. Reserve your space via our website: www.lindfieldartsfestival.com

Festival Hog Roast & Live Music Finale

The Witch Inn plays host to an end of festival celebration on Sunday 22nd September. The festivities kick-off at 5.30pm with a hog roast and fresh salads @£7.50 per head. There will be live music in the bar, courtesy of local band The Vinyl Capris. Roisin Finlay, event organiser at The Witch, said: “Our chefs and front of house team are excited to be hosting the closing of the festival with great food and local tipples. Lindfield Arts Festival is a fantastic community event and we’re proud to be supporting it.” Please note this is a non-ticketed event with limited capacity. It’ll be first come, first served.

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Studio Open House and Funky Frame Art Trail for LAF

Lindfield Art Studio will be opening its doors to Festivalgoers on Sunday 22nd September.

Visitors can enjoy an Art Café and DJ Set between 11am and 3pm. Home-made cakes and refreshments will be served in the Studio Garden and art will be on sale all day.

Exhibiting artists will be on hand to chat, and soft funk music will keep the atmosphere relaxed and chilled. The Open House will be running a raffle for an art gift from one of the artists at the studio and a free prosecco hour for adults to enjoy between 1pm and 2pm. Free workshops at 11.30am and 1.30pm too.

Leesa is also teaming up with other artists and Lindfield Life to create the Funky Frame Kids Art Trail on Saturday 21st September.

“Each frame will give participants a clue – collect all 14 clues, sort the puzzle and you could win an amazing art bundle of goodies to take away,” Leesa explained. There’s also an opportunity to send in selfie snaps to the magazine for an extra prize. Pick up your free pencil and map on the day from the studio.

Crisp packet recycling in Lindfield, West Sussex

A Lindfield landlord is helping residents to be that bit ‘greener’ with the opening of a crisp packet recycling scheme in the village.

Crisp packet recycling at The Stand Up

Andi Frost from The Stand Up Inn had been considering what steps she could take to reduce the landfill waste from the pub when she discovered various schemes run by recycling giant Terracycle. “I think it was the crisp packets that got to me, but, since we’re in the service industry, reducing our sales isn’t the best option. Recycling is the next best thing,” she explained. “Talking to people across the bar made it apparent that everyone wants to do something, but they just don’t always know what or how. If we make it just easy enough to make a change then it gets people thinking what more they can do, and hopefully effects a mini revolution!”

Recycle Ella’s Kitchen packets too

The packets are weighed when collected and turned into points, which equate to money donated to a charity – and Andi has selected Lindfield Primary Academy PTA to be the recipient. The school is also now a registered collection point itself.

There is a green bin round the side of The Stand Up, with a clearly marked poster on the front. Any brand of crisp packets (empty) can be put in, but not popcorn, pretzel or meat snack bags or tubes.

Also accepted into the same wheelie bin are Ella’s Kitchen food pouches and packets, plus all brands of biscuit, cake bars and cracker wrappers. Don’t include any of the card packaging – as these are recycled by the council blue bin.

Andi cites a quote from Anne Marie Bonneau which she was inspired by: ‘We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.’

Biscuit wrapper reycling

Brett gets place at London gallery

Brett Hudson, artist

Lindfield artist Brett Hudson is still celebrating after being announced a winner of the Hahnemuhle Fine Art UK Award last month.

Brett submitted a piece to the Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition (RBA) earlier this year, along with 3,500 others.

“I took it up to London be to be reviewed,” he said, “and was delighted when I learned that it would be one of the 120 works of art on display.”

The exhibition, held at Mall Galleries, was officially opened by RBA President Nick Tidman and broadcaster and artist Thomas Schafernacker and ran until the middle of July 2019.

Scaynes Hill WI scoop craft awards

Talented members of Scaynes Hill WI are becoming the ones to watch at the annual South of England Show competition.

The women regularly return home with awards in the arts, crafts, story writing and cookery classes, which attract entries from groups from across Sussex, but this year they excelled themselves with one of the most successful shows yet!

The group was one of only two WIs to enter all 13 classes and members picked up awards in almost every one, collecting three firsts, three seconds and one third prize rosette, alongside a Highly Commended and a Commended certificate. Scaynes Hill also won the Visitors’ Choice in the painting.

First prizes were awarded for a hand embroidered sampler in the ‘Sew Beautiful’ class, a crochet bedspread in the ‘Cottoned On’ category and an exhibit entitled ‘My WI’ which six members had put together. The exhibit featured a slice of Victoria sponge, flower arrangement, cloth napkin and a knitted tea cosy depicting a WI member!

Second prizes went to ‘Summer Sensation’, a flower arrangement featuring natural plant materials, ‘1919: A Woman’s Story’, a story and illustration based on a woman’s experience at the end of the first world war, and ‘A Summer Picnic’, a hand knitted seasonal scene, which included a knitted bicycle, picnic basket, cricket bat and ball!

The scene was made by three main members with contributions from a further 12. The third prize rosette was proudly pinned on to Scaynes Hill WI’s very own life sized scarecrow made from recycled materials, including drinks cans and a kilt made from sewn together crisp packets, in a class entitled ‘If I only had a brain’.

Scaynes Hill’s entries were also appreciated by the visiting public who voted their painting, bedspread, knitted scene and ‘My WI’ cooperative best in class and their knitted scene overall ‘Best in Show’.

Susan Lodge, who co-ordinated the Scaynes Hill entries, said: “I am so very proud of all our members who took part. We may be a relatively small WI but we certainly pack a punch when it comes to craft!”

London to Paris riders success

By Vivian Brennan

On the weekend of 7th/8th June, five from Lindfield Warrior Cycle Club (Adam Stone, Paul Seymour, James Gairdner, Annette Smith and Vivian Brennan) rode the Duchenne Dash, a 300k cycle ride from London to Paris in aid of Duchenne UK.

The ride was really tough this year with shocking weather, relentless gale force head winds, lots of really heavy downpours of rain, a brutal ferry crossing and late ferry arrival, and therefore we were under massive time pressure to get to Paris for our time slot. But it was all so worth it!!

We rode alongside 20 mums and dads who have children with Duchenne MD who are praying for a cure to see their children live beyond the tragically short life span they will otherwise have.

For the last six months we have been fundraising and were blown away by the generosity of the local community. We want to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all who have supported us in trying to reach our massive £16,000 target, and we are delighted to say, as of 11th June, we have raised £15,847.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Warriors

Oathall School’s Rugby World Cup Bake-Off

Each year Haywards Heath Rotary Club sponsors the Oathall Community College Bake-Off competition. This year’s competition theme was the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Seventeen students entered by baking a cake at home and sending in a picture for consideration. These entries were then judged on creativity and skills with eight being selected to enter the final competition.

The competition took place in June with competitors being given four hours to bake and decorate their cake from scratch. The cake ingredients were provided by the Rotary Club and the decorations were provided by the students.

At the end of the competition the cakes were judged by a panel made up from WI members Kate Kent and Julia Vokes, and Mike Hoare and Nigel Vokes from the Rotary Club, Emily Hughes and Emma Brown from Oathall’s catering team, as well as Emily Brock, three times previous Oathall Bake-Off winner.

Cakes were judged on appearance, skill level, taste and texture as well as on creativity and originality. The winning cake (pictured with its creator) came top in all of the criteria. The judges were particularly impressed by the original use of Yuzu, a Japanese flavouring in the filling as well as the creativity and professional finish.

Every person who entered received a whisk and wooden spoon with the final entrants receiving an apron and recipe book. The top three entries also received gift vouchers as their prize.

Lindfield Gin Festival: 15th June 2019

By Anna MacMahon

Last June the Parent Teachers Association of Oathall Community College organised a super successful event in support of the school. In fact, it raised £6,000 which helped to purchase equipment for the new Maths and Science block; equipment which will help to inspire and create a new generation of mathematicians and scientists.

This year, we are incredibly excited for the return of this summer event, a highlight on the Lindfield social calendar! There will be 25 Sussex gins to sample, all with their own unique local flavour. We’ll see the return of the very popular main raffle prize: a wheelbarrow full of gin! Heartfelt thanks goes out to all the wonderful community shops, small businesses and other organisations that have so kindly donated contributions to the raffle prizes and supported us with other sponsorship opportunities. This year we are raising funds for new sound and lighting equipment for the school hall. We are proud to raise funds for our school and hope you will join us on this fun evening to help us reach our goal.

The Lindfield Gin Festival will take place on Saturday 15th June 2019, starting at 7pm in King Edward Hall. A ticket costs £15 (which includes your first gin token), with gin tokens being sold for £2 on the night. Book your tickets here: www.trybooking.co.uk/IOU

Lindfield's duckling drama unfolds

By Claire Cooper

Lindfield pond has often been at the centre of village news, but last month’s mission to rescue 12 newly hatched ducklings is among the most heartwarming stories.

The ‘Lindfield 12’, as they have become known, were rescued from the pond in a race against time, after their mother was attacked and drowned.

The alarm was raised when resident Louise Beasley spotted the body of a female duck floating on the pond, with 13 tiny ducklings swimming nearby. “The ducklings were totally lost and trying to follow the other ducks who were in turn attacking them,” she said, “I’ve since been told that the male ducks had been fighting and had drowned the mother which was pretty awful,” added Louise. “The ducklings were so small and looked like they had just hatched that morning, I know something had to be done quickly to rescue them so I phoned Wildlife A&E.”

She spoke to Debbie Johnson who quickly arrived on the scene.

Debbie from Wildlife A&E rushed back to collect them. “We needed to quickly get them into the incubator as they would be so cold,” she said. “But I’m delighted that all 12 have survived their ordeal and are growing by the day.”

Debbie has been posting regular updates online and plans to return the ‘Lindfield 12’ to the pond as soon as their adult feathers have grown.

[Excerpt from full article in June 2019’s edition of Lindfield Life magazine]

New estate agency celebrates opening in Lindfield

Guy Kelsey & Toby Whittome

The team at Lindfield’s newest High Street estate agent celebrated last month at the official launch of Jackson-Stops here in the village.

Toby Whittome and Guy Kelsey ran sales and acquisition departments at Jackson-Stops in Central London before making a decision to open a Mid Sussex branch of the national agency.

Toby explained: “Having grown up just outside Scaynes Hill, I know this area extremely well! I love now being able to work so close to home and our location on Lindfield’s amazing High Street couldn’t be better for us.”

Jackson-Stops is open six days a week at 66 High Street – the former home of SWALK.

“Our door is open for a chat – something which I am pleased to say has already started to happen,” Guy commented.

Ladies running team smashing fundraising goal

By Katie Spensley

After months of training, injuries and goals achieved, we woke on Sunday 24th February to a dry, sunny day for which we were so grateful! Training over the cold winter months around hilly Haywards Heath was good preparation and, although we had some wobbles, most of us arrived excited to get started on the 13 miles.

Our team consisted of Chris Clarke, Katie Spensley, Amy Beecroft, Amy Mee, Helen Tuddenham, Joanna Head, Tamsin Hoyles, Stephanie Sayers, Sarah Hale, Claire Lucas and Lindfield Life’s own Emily Billson.

We queued up in our starting pens – trying to keep warm and reduce nerves, then suddenly we were off! The starter for the race this year was Matt Rees – the Welsh runner who is famous for helping a fellow distressed runner across the finish line at the London Marathon in 2017 – so we felt we were in safe hands!

The group of us ran at different paces so were spread over the course, but we were easily spotted in our Run for Romania vests so wonderfully designed by Lindfield resident and artist Olly Brown and sponsored by Lindfield Life.

The warm conditions became a challenge in terms of keeping up water intake and trying to run whilst taking off layers but it all helped create a fun atmosphere with crowds out to support and live music playing along the route.

Thoughts of post-race rewards spurred us on – these varied from hot baths followed by curry, roast dinners and, for some, fish and chips whilst watching football!

We ran for Caminul Felix a charity in Romania who support and build homes for families and abandoned children in Romania. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of family, friends, colleagues and the village in donating as we raised a magnificent total exceeding £12,000 - thank you so much – it made it all worthwhile!

Weddings at Wakehurst Place

If you’re looking for a unique venue this year, then you won’t have to travel far to get something special.

With over 16 years’ experience in the wedding and events industry, local Lindfield resident Jo Chellingworth began working at nearby Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden, in January. Having spent much of her working life in London, Jo says: “I’m really enjoying working at such an incredibly special place and so close to home!”

The catering and events contract at Kew’s Wakehurst in Ardingly was taken over by Graysons at the beginning of the year. Graysons look after over 40 sites around the UK, including Christchurch Spitalfields and The British Library. Head of Sales & Marketing Rebecca Hawkes explains: “Since taking over at Wakehurst, we have been delighted to introduce a number of new initiatives to rejuvenate the catering offering.” Using the ethos of ‘from farm to fork’ Graysons works closely with Slow Foods; a company dedicated to protecting products which are in danger of extinction with a particular focus on products from the Sussex area. “Developing a strategy like this nicely mirrors the amazing work of the team at the Millennium Seed Bank on site,” Rebecca goes on.

Wakehurst has three unique spaces available for a range of events, including social dining such as birthday parties and anniversaries, corporate functions and, of course, weddings.

Firstly, there is the Mansion. This classic Elizabethan Grade I listed building dates from the 16th century and is highly recognisable locally. The rooms inside feature beautiful sculpted ceilings, ornate fireplaces and wood panelled walls – making you feel positively aristocratic for your big day! The Mansion can seat up to 80 guests, or host standing receptions for up to 180. You can also benefit from having your wedding day all under one roof, as the Mansion is licenced for civil ceremonies and civil partnerships also.

Maybe you would prefer to be outside on the Croquet Lawn? This beautifully manicured garden can take a marquee housing up to 200 seated guests for your event.

Overlooking the Mansion and lily pond, it provides a natural photo opportunity, whilst guests can mingle and spill out into the delightful walled garden.

By contrast to the previous two, Wakehurst also boasts a cutting-edge contemporary space in the form of the Millennium Seed Bank, which can comfortably hold up to 200 guests for a standing drinks reception and is perfect as the venue for a corporate event.

Whichever space you choose to host your event, you will be able to take advantage of over 500 acres of wild botanic garden, with stunning photo opportunities ranging from the picturesque English Walled Garden, temperate woodlands of the world or magical reflections on the lakes. When hosting an event at Wakehurst you will also benefit from free use of the designated events car park.

Making a booking at Wakehurst will also give you access to Jo, who will act as your bespoke coordinator for your event. “All events, especially weddings, are as unique as the people that book them,” she explains.

“I love my job, and the part where I meet the wedding couple and talk through the vision for their big day is very exciting.” After the initial enquiry and being shown round the venue, Jo gets to work planning a bespoke package which brings in the couple’s own personalities – including tasting sessions with the Chef.

“Over the years I’ve had some pretty unusual requests,” Jo reveals, “including arriving on an elephant, bringing sand in to create a beach theme and hundreds of pounds spent on snow machines only to have it actually snow on the day!”

“My role is simply to make it perfect and create a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

If you’d like to find out more about the facilities at Wakehurst then head over to their website www.kew.org/venue-hire where you can see images of the spaces and information regarding packages. Alternatively, call Jo on 01444 894024 or email wakehursthire@graysonsvenues.com and she can discuss your plans and arrange a viewing so you can see the stunning spaces for yourself!