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.

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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.

www.financeplanning.co.uk

Hurst landscaper Paul helps support and surprise NHS workers

Paul Wilkinson helps distribute spring planters to NHS workers earlier this month

Hurstpierpoint 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 Hurst Life magazine?

Editor David Tingley explains and shows what content goes into the monthly community magazine and what makes Hurst Life difference from all the other free magazines out there.

To advertise your business in Hurst Life - find more information here.

If you have a great idea about content to go into a future issue of Hurst Life - we’d love to know more, please email editor@hurstlife.co.uk in the first instance.

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.

Lounge Lockdown 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. They are ‘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 & Wildlife, 22nd April at 7pm

Recycling during the pandemic - 6th May, 7pm

Herbs and your health - 29th April, 7pm

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

Hurst's Ladymead Care Home benefits from freebies

A local 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 Hassocks business received a warm welcome everywhere he went, including 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

My turn cooking dinner: Belle's Immunity Friendly Mango Curry

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By David Tingley, editor

Just like every month, in April’s magazine we featured a recipe by our Hurst resident culinary expert Belle Amatt - who reminds us that mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C, two nutrients which are known to have a positive effect on our immune system - glad news at these times of Coronavirus.

Since ‘lockdown’, all of us in our house have taken it in turns to cook the dinner - a very positive change, which I am hoping might catch on AFTER lockdown restrictions have come to an end! - and I have been meaning to try Belle’s Mango Curry recipe since I saw the content come in to us.

Belle’s recipe actually says HALF a RED onion. Seems a shame not to use the whole thing, and I only had a white onion in on the day!

In yet another ‘adaption’ to her recipe, I also used the whole tin of Coconut Milk - to save wasting it. I guess it made it wetter than she had intended. But still great!

According to Belle the key to this recipe is UNRIPE mangoes: full disclosure, I bought these 3 mangoes about a week before I got chance to use them. It still tasted yummy though!

Here’s the final dinner served up! It was a really good, alternative (and vegan-friendly) to other perhaps more popular curries.

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Sri Lankan Mango Curry Recipe

See the full recipe here

Paul Dyer (headteacher, St Lawrence School, Hurstpierpoint)

Paul Dyer

After 27 years as Headteacher of St Lawrence School Paul Dyer stands down this month (at time of going to print). Mike Thatcher met up with him to hear him reflect on his time at the helm of the village school.

Paul Dyer is a fiercely private man; he told me that in so many words. So interviewing him about his life, rather than solely about his role as Headteacher of St Lawrence, proved a challenge. His skills as a speaker and for setting the agenda of any meeting far outclassed any journalistic skills I may, or may not, possess but it mattered not, as the passion and emotion with which he described his tenureship at the school was a privilege to hear. A generation of students and parents will never have seen him out of a tie and trademark blue V-neck jumper, most often congratulating pupils after a performance or assembly, his head swinging suddenly round like an owl to address all parts of the Hall. He clearly likes it that way.

He was raised in Shoreham and has nothing but fond memories of growing up: “What an idyllic childhood that was; we just played all the time in the street. I formed my own football club, Adur Royals FC, which then became Buckingham FC and we entered a local Sunday league. I then became chairman of that local Sunday League before I went to college.”

He was a Sussex athlete and, following in the footsteps of an inspiring young teacher at his school, went to St Luke’s College in Exeter to do PE, putting his academic journey on hold. “For years I was head of a PE department but I wanted to do everything else as well; so I taught French at the same time, then history and literature,” Paul continued. “Later, I took a maths degree as I wanted to teach maths. I still teach a little, but not a lot.”

Within a year of going to St Luke’s he’d became secretary of the athletics club, having turned down a request from their football club to do similar, showing clear signs of being an administrator from an early age.

“After a year as a teacher I became head of department but never wanted to be a Head. But I guess it was inevitable; I had experience in London of being an interim deputy then I took a deputy headship in Surrey as we wanted to move out of London.”

He was one of eight interviewed for the post at St Lawrence School, six of whom were serving Heads. He was offered the job at 8pm on the second evening, and a passing corridor comment of ‘you’d better be good’ left him with no illusions about the scale of the task.

“Nothing prepared me for Hurstpierpoint and Headship 27 years ago. For example, I had never had to deal with Social Services and my first term here was dominated by attending SS meetings.” However, he felt personally welcomed, and was indeed invited into many houses in the village for dinner, but he did sense an anti-school feeling in the village.

[Read the full article in April 2020 issue of Hurst Life magazine]

Immunity Friendly Sri Lankan Mango Curry recipe

Belle is a Hurst resident and nutrition consultant, author and lecturer in Naturopathic Nutrition. She holds 1-1 health consultations at The Sussex Osteopath Clinic in Hurstpierpoint and workshops on a variety of healthy eating topics.

In these uncertain times one thing that we can be sure of is that cooking from scratch with healthy ingredients bursting with flavour can support our health and fill the hours of self-isolation. This dish will fill the house with the aromatic smells of spices from far-reaching areas of the world, so take a moment to close your eyes and teleport yourself to a warm and wonderful beach somewhere.

The central feature of this dish is unripe mangoes, which can be bought from Gibson’s or ordered online. Mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C which are two nutrients known to have positive effects on our immune health. Also, it is incredibly soothing on the taste buds. The combination of sweet coconut with the sharpness of the unripe mango is unique and the tenderness of those mango chunks, cooked in their skins, shouldn’t be missed. Give it a go. This dish is deceptively easy.

It is vegan and gluten-free so works well as a main course for some or as a side dish alongside a meat or fish curry.

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4-5 servings dependent on whether the dish is a main or a side dish

Ingredients:
• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• One half of a medium red onion sliced
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• 1 ½ tsp curry powder
• 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey
• 1 ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ heaped tsp sea salt plus more to taste
• ½ cup water
• 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• 2 small chilli pepper slices cut lengthways or across, and de-seeded if you prefer your curry less spicy
• 3 UNRIPE mangoes
• ¼ tsp white vinegar

Instructions:

1. Wash and cut the mangoes. DO NOT PEEL. The peel helps to maintain the shape of the fruit as it cooks. To cut the mangoes - slice off the top stem, and then slice off the cheeks of the mangoes. Cut the sides off the mango stone. Then cut each mango cheek into 3 strips, so that all the mango pieces are roughly equal in size. You will end up with 8 mango pieces.

2. Heat 3 tbsp of coconut oil in a large non-stick saucepan. Add the sliced onion, garlic and mustard seeds. Saute for a few minutes until the onions have softened.

3. Add the curry powder, sugar/honey, cayenne pepper and salt. Mix for a few seconds to heat the curry powder until you can smell the spices.

4. Add water, desiccated coconut and coconut milk, and mix through and heat to simmer. Add the mangoes, peppers and white vinegar and gently mix to coat the mangoes with the spices. Cover and let the mango curry simmer for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring gently every 5 minutes, until the mango flesh has softened, but still retains its shape. Halfway through the cooking process, taste the curry and season to taste. Stir to combine, and cook for the remaining time.

Serve hot with basmati or wild rice. Enjoy!

Hurstpierpoint community rallies to support Louisa

In January 2019 Louisa Sargent, 38, was diagnosed with advanced melanoma; an aggressive skin cancer that has now spread to other parts of her body.

She has over this past year received a number of debilitating cancer treatments, with emergency spinal surgery being needed just before Christmas.

At the end February the NHS confirmed that they now have no further treatment options for her. Without support from elsewhere her time is now extremely limited. Louisa’s ability to endure the past 12 months has been an inspiration to us all. In short, Louisa is the mother and parent that we all aspire to be. In facing nothing short of a worst nightmare scenario for any parent, she has been ever present at Christmas nativities, school events and countless football and dance events that are so important to Henry (6) and Isla (8) her two incredible children.

She has simply got on with life; embracing any good news she’s received, and dealing with the bad as only one more challenge to focus on overcoming. She has remained the selfless, endlessly kind and loving person everyone has always known her to be.

At the beginning of March Lou and her family made the drive to Germany to try a new medical treatment available - Dendritic Cell therapy. The treatment alone is likely to cost £40,000 and they also need to fund accommodation and costs for her family to be there supporting her.

Fundraising activities are currently spread across friends, family, Twineham School and Hurstpierpoint residents, which was to include the now postponed Brighton and London Marathons.

We are grateful for all donations (www.gofundme.com/f/2qf7bx-lou039s-healing-fund) and other fundraising avenues.

Email chiropracticuk at gmail.com for more information on any of the following: 100km Bike Ride around the Isle of Wight (3rd May), Tough Mudder, London West (10th May), Three Peaks Yorkshire (7th June) and Serpent Trail 50k Ultramarathon (11th July). Thank you.

Neighbours Support group set up in Hurst

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Hurstpierpoint residents, Prue Heron, Ebony Buscema, Lucy Groenewoud, Hazel Constantine, Sian Tai and Ellie Carter are leading a local initiative to bring together Hurst residents to help and support their neighbours who are vulnerable or self-isolating during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Prue initially set up the Facebook group earlier in March and said: “Before I knew it we had over 450 people join the page, and nearly 200 volunteers. It’s amazing and shows the real community spirit of the village.”

Volunteers are currently distributing fliers across the village with their contact details, and posters are on display in public areas. Four area co-ordinators are ensuring that every street is being covered. Area co-ordinator Ebony Buscema explained: “The aim is to ensure that everyone who needs support has a nominated local volunteer who they can reach out to. Volunteers are offering to collect shopping and prescriptions, walk dogs, post mail or be available on the telephone for a friendly chat.”

If you would like to volunteer, or need support and don’t know who to contact, please get in touch with the Group via their Facebook page – ‘Hurst COVID-19 Neighbours’ Support Group’ - or call Prue Heron on 01273 835064 or Ellie Carter on 07834 170669.

CV-19 - could you help on a Telephone Befriending Scheme?

By Gail Millar

 COVID-19 Coronavirus will have a huge effect upon all of our lives if not already but certainly in the coming weeks and months. This is our greatest opportunity as a nation, community and neighbourhood to care for those around us we all need to be looking out for the needs of others.  

The most vulnerable group of people who will be most affected are the elderly, very soon if not by the time you read this, they and maybe us all will be asked to self-isolate. The facts of loneliness and isolation in this country are already shocking, this will increase exponentially. There will be a silver lining to all of this, neighbours will care for neighbours, strangers will show kindness to one another, we will share what we have and support one another through difficult circumstances.

Hurst charity Befriended has created a Telephone Befriending Scheme that you can be a part of.  If you would like to ring someone who is in self isolation to chat to them, support them and encourage them please apply to be a telephone befriender.  If you would like to be a call handler and have your telephone number on a list to receive calls and take down details please get in touch.

If you would like to distribute befriended cards around your neighbourhood please contact us.  We need you.  Together we can make a difference. I look forward to hearing from you.

Call 0300 7727703 or, to be a telephone befriender, visit our website: www.befriended.org    

Marathon girls

Six friends from Hurstpierpoint are heading across The Channel to compete in the Paris Marathon at the beginning of April, mainly for fun but also to raise money for good causes. All mothers of children at St Lawrence, Mike Thatcher caught up with Katie Sharp, Michaela Oakley, Catherine Ferrer, Clare Harms, Sarah Shephard and Clare Bell to find out more.

How are you training for the event?
MO: My training consists of three runs each week, including one longer run. It takes a lot of motivation to get up on the cold, dark and wet winter mornings and this has been my biggest challenge in training, but the runs around our village on a gorgeous sunny day with views of the Danny Estate, Jack and Jill windmills and the Downs make it all worthwhile.
CF: I am training for the marathon by following a plan written for me by Hassocks runner Malcolm Roweth; his support and expertise have really progressed my running. I am approaching this marathon with a lot more confidence in my running ability and knowing that I am training appropriately.

How long have you been running?
SS: I started the ‘Couch to 5K’ podcasts in May 2017 and completed my first 5k in July. It became a bit addictive!
MO: I got into running around two years ago. I started six months after having my third child to regain fitness but found it really helped me mentally too. I completed my first half marathon in 2018 and first marathon in 2019.

Do you run alone?
CF: I sometimes run alone but I have a lovely group of friends that I do the long training runs with. I can’t talk on the tempo runs so we either do those in silence (or the sound of me struggling for breath and/or muttering profanities) or on our own.
CH: Quite often yes - I love the solitude. I enjoy running with friends too though!
SS: We run together whenever we can. It’s not always possible, unfortunately, as we’re all juggling work, childcare, etc. I always prefer to run with others on the longer ones, but when I’m on my own I stick headphones in and listen to music and podcasts.

Find the girl’s answers to: Why do you run? What has been your biggest challenge? And, What tips and advice would you like to give other runners? In this month’s (March) issue of Hurst Life Magazine.

My connection to the Hurst Pierpoint name…

By Alice de Pierpont de Burnot

When I arrived in Sayers Common in 1989 to improve my English language, I was far from thinking that I would come across places in England with the same name as my surname. Very early on in my stay, I noticed the village of Hurstpierpoint on one of my walks. I was very surprised and really interested in finding any connection with my family.

I decided to visit Lewes library, which I was told was one of the best places to find information about the area. I spent a whole day amongst old books and registers only to find that there is so much information to look at that it would take a very long time to ascertain whether Hurstpierpoint has any link with my family. There were various spellings of the name such as: Pierpont, Pierrepont, Pier Point, Pereppount, Perepond, Perpount. To this date I have no idea if these names all have the same root rather than various spelling due to the authors’ inconsistent spelling.

When I visited the little village church, Holy Trinity, with my parents who came to visit me during the year I spent in Sayers Common, we saw the two effigies of what is thought to be Sir Simon de Pierpoint in 13th century chain armour and 14th century plate armour. We were so fascinated that we asked the lady who was present in the church at the time and she led us to a gentleman who lived opposite the church. This gentleman, whose name escapes me after 30 years, welcomed us with open arms and we had a long chat with him over a cup of tea. It was so interesting listening to him that we left his company with a strong Find, follow and share us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram www.hurstlife.co.uk desire to find out more about Hurstpierpoint.

To read more about Alice’s discoveries about the village and her family, you can find the whole story inside this month’s (March) issue of Hurst Life Magazine.

New florist comes to the village

Hurstpierpoint welcomes Luba Carlton who has just opened Apple Mint Florist on the High Street.

The name Apple Mint is inspired by Luba’s happy childhood memories of growing up on a smallholding, walking in the orchard with the scent of the mint covered ground.

She qualified in advanced floristry over 15 years ago while living in the New Forest and has built up huge experience and knowledge working in different florists in the UK and even spending time in New Zealand.

“It felt like a natural progression to start my own business and when we found the shop in Hurst High Street there was no doubt that it was the right place. Derek had recently discovered a branch of his family tree that lived in Hurst in the 1800s so it felt there was a connection and meant to be! Before settling in the area three years ago with her husband Derek, she lived in London and worked at a high-end florist that specialised in designer weddings and high profile sporting/ corporate events. Working at this level gave Luba a fantastic range of experience and professional skills that enabled her to operate in all aspects of floristry.

“People have been so welcoming and many have said they are glad to have a florist back in the village,” Luba said. “Flowers are a wonderful way of expressing feelings and emotions, so I am delighted for the unique opportunity to be able to open the shop and share my passion for flowers with you.”

Linda's new venture

Linda and Floss take a break

Having spent the last two years running her own trade stand at various local shows, including South of England, Hickstead and the Kent Show, Hurstpierpoint resident Linda Wood has decided to move to a permanent base. Her new shop, Charlotte Grace, selling ladies fashions, greetings cards, gifts and other items, will open at 40 High Street in Hurst on Tuesday 3rd March.

Linda and her husband Bob have lived in Hurstpierpoint for nearly 30 years, and both their children, Thomas and Nicole, attended St Lawrence and Downlands schools. They share their home with four-year-old Cavapoo ‘Floss’. She says that when the sun is shining and the crowds are out selling at shows is a great experience. However, she is looking forward to a break from erecting marquees, battling with gale force winds and getting soaked in torrential rain, which are also all part of life when selling at outdoor events.

With over ten years’ experience in retailing behind her, Linda can’t wait to bring her offering home to Hurstpierpoint. The shop, which is next door to Morleys and an easy walk from Trinity Road car park, will stock the latest ladies’ spring and summer fashions and introduce a cute range of soft toys and gifts. Not so long ago this shop traded as ‘Vanilla’ and was run by Cath Barton-Smith. Linda is indebted to Cath for all the helpful advice and tips that she has passed on.

Linda is looking forward to welcoming old friends and new to her latest venture, and all are invited to join her for some bubbly and nibbles to celebrate the opening all day on Saturday 7th March.

Woodland Flora & Fauna Group Countryside Article

Hurst Life Magazine

Mike Thatcher met Michael Nailard, Chairman of the Woodland, Flora and Fauna Group, to find out a little bit of the group’s history, what it has been up to and his hopes for its future.

The group was founded in 2004 at the invitation of Mid Sussex District and Parish Councils to have a look at the local countryside and how it could be protected, as it was suggested by the council that the low weald between Ansty and the edge of Hurst was going to be given particular attention for future

development. The Parish Council invited lots of groups to a meeting to initiate a biodiversity study of the whole parish in order to determine whether there was anything of value that needed special protection.

Hurst Life Magazine

Michael Nailard (right) was elected as Chairman, and he estimated the study would take between 12-18 months
to complete. “However, there are 200 landowners in Hurstpierpoint parish, and they all had to be approached before any survey teams went on their land. After

a public meeting 120 people turned up, all very keen to stop any development and 60 volunteered to help with the survey.” These volunteers were trained, with the help of the Sussex Wildlife Trust, but then the number of volunteers dwindled when they realised it was hard work going round the fields identifying flowers and fauna. Numbers dropped to below 20 and the survey ended up taking six years.

He spoke at great length about the achievements of the group, which covered a multitude of areas. About 11 years ago it embarked on a bat conservation project in the woodlands. They also investigated where dormice were, and where they found indications they put in boxes, and there are currently six woodlands where they do monthly checks on them.

For the full story see page 14 of Hurst Life’s Feb 2020 issue.

Aspire Sussex Sea Turtles attempt Channel Crossing

Aspire Sussex Sea Turtles

A group of six friends from Hurstpierpoint are attempting one of the hardest swim challenges in the world - the English Channel - in a relay for a brilliant cause. The six are Zoe Collins, Guy Lovegrove, Sally O’Connor, Claire Grose, Tim Garnett and Cath Barton-Smith.

Aspire Sussex Sea Turtles

Known as the Aspire Sussex Sea Turtles, all six friends have a love of outdoor swimming and will attempt to swim the 22 miles from the British coast to Northern France at the end of September to raise money for people who have sustained a spinal injury. Every four hours someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. Aspire is a national charity providing practical support from injury to independence.

Life can change in an instant and it can happen to anyone. Having met with Paula Craig, who was supported by Aspire when she suffered life-changing injuries, the team were inspired to take on the challenge.

“After meeting with Paula we’re all excited and determined to cross the channel together and raise money for Aspire,” says Zoe, “an amazing charity that helped Paula so much with her recovery and continues to support her and others in so many ways. Although I suspect Guy is primarily coming because he thinks he’ll get cheap wine and cheese on the other side!”

Each of them must swim in strict order for an hour at a time until they reach the French coast. They can wear only swimming costumes and are not allowed wetsuits or any artificial aids!

The next nine months will mean intense training for the team as they work on their swimming skills in the pool as well as getting used to swimming in the low temperatures of the Channel. By July the team will have had to have swum two hours in the sea at a temperature of less than 16 degrees to prepare them for the day when they are called to Dover for their Channel attempt.

They’ve already started their training in the sea!
Paul Parrish, Director of Fundraising and Marketing

for Aspire, the charity benefitting from the Sea Turtles’ heroic efforts, said: “We are so grateful to the team
for their commitment. Their hard efforts will be so important to us, and they have pledged to raise over £10,000. This will have such a positive impact on the lives of those with spinal injury. Over the past ten years our Channel Swims have raised over £1,000,000 and it’s great to start the decade being supported by the Sea Turtles.”

To commence their fundraising efforts, the Sea Turtles will be holding a Pop Up Charity Shop at 40 High Street, Hurstpierpoint (formerly Olive Antiques next door to Morleys) on Saturday 8th February 10am – 4pm. Please go along to support them on the day and help launch their fundraising efforts, have a chat to the team and enjoy tea/coffee and cake.

If you have anything you’d like to donate for the sale please contact Cath on 07816 932559.

If you wish to donate to their worthy cause please go to their fundraising page on JustGiving:- www.justgiving.com/team/SussexSeaTurtles

Special wheelchair to enable Ian’s Snowdon Push

Ian’s Snowdon Push

Local resident Ian Maskell had a bike accident while cycling on the South Downs in 2013. It left him paraplegic and a wheelchair user. Ian said: “After five months in a specialist spinal unit and then community rehab, I thought I would have to stay on tarmac for the rest of my days. But thanks to the support and encouragement of friends, family and charities I have got back into the countryside. This has been fantastic for me.”

He now wants to take part in Back Up charity’s Push Up Snowdon in 2020. To do so he needs a specialist bit of kit called a mountain trike.

He has borrowed one for occasional rides out and says: “This is a fantastic piece of British design and manufacture.”

But at a cost of £5,000 it’s unaffordable, so Ian has set up a JustGiving page, which is aimed at raising enough money to enable Ian to buy the all-terrain mountain trike. The money will be administered and managed by the charity Aspire.

With this all-terrain mountain trike he will be able to take part in the Snowdon Push, donating further sponsorship monies he receives from the Push to Back Up, one of the charities which has helped him readjust and rebuild his life after his accident.

Ian does have form: in 2017 he wheeled 100 miles from the London Eye to the Brighton i360 and raised
over £10,000 for BackUp, Aspire, Spinal Injuries Association and the Architects’ Benevolent Society.

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www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ all-terrain-wheelchair-for-ian