Hurst Players' perform pro panto despite restrictions

By Anne Hopper

A direct quotation from a member of Hurstpierpoint Players who’s had some years of experience in traditional pantomime and appeared in many of the company’s more ‘normal’ [whatever that is now!] productions. Robin Hood, directed by Sam Nixon and assisted by Annette Squire, was licensed for presentation on You Tube via our website for fourteen performances from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. The Company was gambling with an unknown variation on a familiar theme despite “a worldwide pandemic, rehearsing on Zoom and recording songs by singing into your ’phone alone in the kitchen!” My source for those comments is Jan Bell who’s been in around 40 shows for the Players in the past 31 years and wasn’t expecting to be able easily to cope with playing one of Robin’s Merry Men, ‘Billinda’ [Bill for short] a character disguised as a man but really a girl in love with Little John and maintaining the Panto tradition of role reversal.

In her post-production report Jan goes on to say, “I would be happy to film a show again – the cast had great fun and if you have a good, well-organised director and production team as good as we did then the filming process should be pretty smooth”. But yes, it was a steep learning curve for all of us and we’ve found the experience very rewarding – knowledge which will no doubt come in useful as we consider whether or not to stay ‘virtual’ for our first production of 2021 now under consideration. We have also been encouraged by positive comments sent to our website: “Have just watched the Panto – great fun – lots of laughs, good singing and clearly a lot of effort put into this virtual production. Now you can all have a rest as …it’s behind you! [sorry, you started it].!” Jason. “Just to say how much we admired the performance and especially the initiative you all showed in the most difficult of circumstances.” Patrick and Mary.

Viewers didn’t have to pay to see the Panto and we’ve been impressed at how so many people took advantage of the opportunity to watch us and to give a donation to help with production expenses. Robin Hood is no longer online but the opportunity to help with expenses still is, and it’s possible to go to the Players website: hurstplayers.org.uk where you’ll find details of PayPal and credit card donating.

It’s so dispiriting to see our unique theatre, so recently refurbished, now standing unused due to the current lockdown. Working online has obviously inspired the new members who’ve joined since the Panto – a warm welcome to you all. We now hope that it won’t be too long before we can stop talking about the next season on Zoom and get down to rehearsing the first production in 2021. Online if necessary but preferably on stage at the freshly minted Players Theatre, 147 High Street. Watch this space!

Hurst High Street's very own Village Pizza Kitchen

Earlier this summer, having been made redundant due to Covid, Jo Malone, along with her husband James trialled a pop-up food delivery service, The Village Kitchen. Following its success, they decided to further develop the concept and to fulfil what they considered to be a gap in the local market for artisan pizza and freshly made pasta dishes by launching the Village Pizza Kitchen at what was previously the Ruby Watts shop on the High Street.

Whilst pizza and pasta of course traditionally originates from Italy, with so much fantastic produce being grown and made here in the UK, Jo and James were passionate about showcasing British ingredients where possible - which is reflected in all of their dishes. The pizzas are handmade using a blend of stoneground wholegrain and 00 flours produced by ancient Cotswolds mills, whilst many of the toppings are from Sussex - including charcuterie from Steyning, cheeses from Balcombe, Brighton and Lewes and chillies from Ashurst.

Whilst most of the ingredients are British, Chef Simonetta Held brings her Italian influence to the dishes. Born near Rome and having been brought up cooking with her Nonnas from Venice and the Amalfi Coast, Simonetta loves nothing more than being in the kitchen cooking up a storm! Simonetta is joined by local chef, James Whittle, who having cut his teeth as an apprentice at The Fig Tree, is an expert when it comes to hand stretching pizzas - having made thousands of pizzas during his time with The Pizza Oven Company.

Since launching at the end of December, the team have been exceedingly busy - serving over 4000 pizzas, as well as pasta dishes, sides and desserts!

The Village Pizza Kitchen is open for takeaway:
12pm to 8:30pm Tuesdays to Thursdays
12pm to 9pm Fridays and Saturdays

Local delivery is currently available weekday lunchtimes, but is due to be extended to evenings over the coming weeks.

Order now on Village Pizza Kitchen Online

Top Ten Tips for Home Schooling Children with Autism

Written and supplied by LVS Hassocks, a specialist school for children with autism in Sayers Common, West Sussex

LVS Hassocks is open and providing a full curriculum for all students, but for parents of autistic children who are learning from home, headteacher Jen Weeks offers her top ten tips for productive study:

1. Consistency is key

2. Reduce anxiety and support your child’s online learning with visual timetables so they can see how their whole day is mapped out

3. Build in rewards and other motivation, such as a favourite activity, to help boost their engagement

4. Use cards to show what the current activity is and what is coming up next

5. Other visual cues like timers may be useful to show how long is left on the current activity

6. Praise what gets done and don’t worry about what has not been achieved

7. Communicate with the school if you have any questions or worries about what to do

8. Ensure your child has opportunities to get up and jump about, play with fiddle toys, listen to some music or whatever they enjoy that helps them calm, as the more anxious they are, the less able they are to focus on the lesson/task they should be doing. You can always set a timer for these movement breaks so that your child knows when they will be expected to return to their lesson/task

9. Try to do a mix of practical, workbook and online tasks

10. Where possible try and incorporate learning into everyday activities within the home to promote independent skills. Blurring the lines between school and home can be challenging for SEN children, but there are ways to incorporate learning into your day to ensure that your child is developing essential skills and supplement online classes, even when they’re not at school eg:-

• Maths – ask your child to work to a budget and help complete an online shopping order

• Food Technology – get your child involved in preparing lunch or dinner as a way of not only understanding how to make food but developing independent life skills

• English - Read a book together as a family or write a letter to a loved one / neighbour

• PE - Go for a walk or try geocaching. Set a target number of steps to complete and use an app to track activity.  Look online for virtual classes you can try at home like Zumba 

• Science - Go on a virtual tour of a museum via YouTube or try out the Natural History Museum Lego Life Forms Activity  https://www.nhm.ac.uk/schools/teaching-resources/lego-life-forms-activity-support-for-schoolkids.html

• Design and Technology - Birds will soon be looking for nests, so give them a helping hand by building a bird box https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-nestbox/ 

Headteacher, Jen Weeks, explains: “There is a requirement to provide face-to-face education for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), which many of our students have. But for children with autism who are online learning due to illness, shielding or because they are extremely vulnerable, it's important to maintain a routine and create the right environment to study at home.

“We believe that school is the best place for our students’ wellbeing and education and I’m immensely proud of all the staff and teachers who have made it possible for us to continue to offer face-to-face learning.  Mass testing has been set up to ensure that we can offer a safe educational environment for everyone attending classroom-based lessons.  We continue to carry out regular risk assessments and we are also offering online learning for those who are unable to come to school.”

Hurst ReThinks the traditional new year's resolutions

By the Hurst Rethink team

Last year like never before, we saw people from all walks of life coming together to affect positive change. As the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

As we move into 2021, perhaps we can all learn to ‘Rethink’ where our environment and lifestyle are concerned. The dictionary definition of rethink is to consider or assess (something, especially a course of action) again, especially in order to change it. It’s by being conscious of our everyday actions that we can learn to change.

We hope that as we move into 2021 and start to make resolutions, you too will pause and rethink and be inspired to choose at least one of these actions for the New Year, knowing that we can make a change for the good of all.

• Move to renewable energy - bigcleanswitch.org is a great resource to help you.

• Make your home more energy efficient - check out www.warmersussex.co.uk to get you on your way

• Rethink your diet - reduce meat consumption and buy meat from local producers

• Rethink food miles - buy local wherever you can

• Change bank accounts to an ethical supplier - we recommend Tridos or Starling

• Rewild your garden - leave part of your garden to nature and see what happens!

• Make a hedgehog corridor in your garden

• Reach out to a neighbour on a regular basis. Why not set up a neighbours WhatsApp group to keep in touch?

• Terracyle your crisps packets/toothpaste/cosmetics - news on collection points in Hurst coming soon!

• Walk or cycle instead of using the car for local journeys

• Support local businesses whenever possible

By working together under the heading Hurst Rethink a group of locals have already begun to drive sustainable change in the village adding to the great work many unsung heroes have been doing for some time! In the three months since deciding we needed a Rethink, we have secured an electric charging point in Trinity Road long stay car park, set up a Terracycle group for packaging that can’t be recycled by the usual route and are in talks with the authorities about a cycle lane from Hurstpierpoint to Hassocks.

What can you do? What interests you? If you want to get involved, why not join us and make 2021 the year of the Rethink? www.hurstfestival.org

Mid Sussex Council offers financial help

Mid Sussex District Council is urging residents who are struggling to meet their household costs to get in touch for support and advice. The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 an extremely difficult year and the Council is encouraging local people to seek help if they are facing issues with debt, are struggling with household bills or are finding it hard to pay their rent and/or Council Tax.

Mid Sussex District Council is signed up to the national Citizens Advice Good Practice Protocol, a public commitment to the principles of fairness, partnership working and transparency in local authority debt collection. “We know that there are people across Mid Sussex who are experiencing difficulties,” said Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Mid Sussex Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning. “If you are unable to make your rent or mortgage payments, our Housing Needs Team is here to help you. If you’re struggling, please get in touch so that we can help make sure you do not risk losing your home. If you are a tenant of a social landlord in Mid Sussex please get in touch with your landlord as they can also provide assistance. If you are in difficulty, please do not ignore the problem because it will not go away.
“Landlords too may be facing financial pressures and tenants should continue to pay their rent if they can afford it. If you are a private landlord who may be serving notice on your tenant due to arrears, please contact us because we can offer advice and mediation to both you and your tenants to help avoid evictions.”

Councillor Ruth De Mierre, Mid Sussex Cabinet Member for Customer Services said: “If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax, we have a Revenues team who can put you in contact with the Money & Pensions Service, who provide free independent debt advice. They can help you to put payments of nonpriority debts, like credit card bills, on hold and create arrangements that work for you and your unique financial situation.
“We know it’s hard to take that first step and reach out for help but the worst thing you can do is ignore the situation because it could lead to court proceedings, additional costly fees, and ever-increasing debt. Ultimately, it could even result in you losing your home. Please don’t delay, get in contact with us if you are struggling and together we’ll help you through this.”

If you are struggling financially please contact Mid Sussex District Council on 01444 477564 or email revenue@midsussex.gov.uk

To contact the Mid Sussex Housing Needs team call 01444 477574 or email housingadvice@midsussex.org. uk

Alternatively, Citizens Advice in West Sussex provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice. Email or web chat at www.advicewestsussex.org.uk or call 0344 477 1171.

Celebrate the Hurst community with Mid Sussex Applauds

Many residents and organisations in Hurst, Albourne and Sayers Common have recently been recognised for their effort and work in the community. Mid Sussex Applauds seeks to recognise those who go above and beyond in their efforts for our community.

Those nominated include:
Jane Cheshire of Sayers Common in the Stronger Together Award (Highly Commended)
Sayers Common Community Village Shop, (commended in the Business in the Community and Stronger Community awards)
Carol Jeffries and Dave Parsons (commendations in the Lifetime Achievement Award)
Befriended (commended Stronger Communities Award)
Hurstpierpoint Covid-19 Neighbours Support Group were joint winners of the Stronger Communities Award, alongside similar groups in Haywards Heath and Horsted. The judges felt it was impossible to split the amazing community spirit shown by these three groups, so it was decided to recognise all three as joint winners in this category.

Hurst cricket legend Dave Parsons was commended for a Lifetime Achievement Award. “When I moved to Mid Sussex in 1970, I was very fortunate to be introduced to Hurst CC whose philosophy and ethics about how cricket should be played mirrored my own. In past 50 years, whilst the personnel may have changed, I am proud to have played my part in ensuring the club is now thriving and same ideals still exist today. I’m very pleased to accept this award for everyone involved at the club.”

Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council, Councillor Colin Trumble commented, “It is truly heart-warming to read the stories of everyone nominated. Living through extraordinary times has highlighted how fantastic our community is and how people really step up in times of adversity. Huge congratulations to everyone awarded and those commended, they really are stars in our community.”

Despite being unable to host an awards event Councillor Trumble and the High Sheriff will fully recognise and celebrate the stories of all involved in a film to be released later in the year.

Hurst's cricket teas aren't over

The age-old tradition of providing cricket teas survived a narrow escape last month as at one point 1st Central Sussex Cricket League members voted to make it voluntary to provide one. Any club is entitled to propose changes to the following seasons playing conditions and one club proposed clubs should no longer be obliged to provide teas for their visitors. On the night of the AGM the proposal was carried by 104-85, a surprising result, quickly amplified when Times journalist Matt Chorley retweeted the result. The next day the story was featured on Good Morning Britain, Times Radio and Have I Got News For You. The Horsted Keynes Pavlova was trending on Twitter.

The Hurstpierpoint Cricket Whatsapp group sprang into life, registering their indignation and outrage and all being firmly in the ‘#teamainers’ camp, being rightly proud of the standard of tea and welcome they provide every weekend at the club.

Attention was then turned to quite how this result was achieved; it emerged that clubs who abstained or did not vote had their votes counting as voting FOR the proposal. The league hastily re-arranged the vote with the new result being 85-114 against.

When asked about the issue, Hurstpierpoint CC club Chairman, Kenton Green confirmed the club had voted to keep teas and had anyway already committed to providing full teas for next season and are pleased that position was reversed.

Think of Hurst High Street this Christmas

By Kate Jackman, Charlotte Wilson and Lucy Bennett.

These are worrying times for our local High Street. Although the entrepreneurs behind many small businesses are an adaptable bunch, the lockdown in November came as just another sucker punch on top of several blows in recent years. Many traders are struggling to survive - and we wonder how many more empty units we’ll see before the pandemic is through.

With people across the country re-assessing how they live their lives, we asked traders and customers alike how they see the future for the High Street - and why it’s so vital for villages like Hurstpierpoint.

Why is a thriving High Street important to the village?

Our High Street is often cited as a reason why people move to Hurstpierpoint - you only have to look at local estate agent listings boasting of a ‘bustling High Street’ to see what a draw it is. The High Street isn’t just a row of shops, it’s the hub of the community. It’s where neighbours and friends bump into each other of a morning. It’s vital for social cohesion and it’s where the community comes together on a daily basis.

Not only that but our local shops offer familiarity, advice and often a bespoke service that you just can’t get at bigger retailers. It’s not just about money for them. They know us and our families. We are their friends. Shopping on the High Street is a pleasure rather than a chore.

Independent retailers can play a really important part in building local communities and lockdown has really shown us how much a part of the local community the High Street is.

Why should we use the local shops?

Several traders we spoke to agreed that we need to get across the message that many of them are on the brink. Traders are doing what they can to adapt - but they need our help. Put starkly, if we don’t use them, we’ll lose them. They ask that rather than jumping in our cars to drive to a supermarket, we think twice and consider whether we could shop locally instead. Yes, the price might be a bit higher because local shops can’t buy in the quantity that large shops can, but you gain in other ways by being part of a local community and getting to know the shopkeepers.

From a sustainable point of view, shopping locally also saves on needless packaging and car journeys. Many of our local shops offer plastic free packaging and a choice of fresher, locally made or sourced products.

Find out the answers to more High Street questions like ‘How has 2020 been for the High Street?’, ‘In addition to COVID, what other problems do traders face?’ and ‘What does the future hold for High Street Retail?’ in the December issue of Hurst Life.

For now, why not check out our list of local traders, suppliers and producers and their online links so you can continue to support them over the crucial Christmas trading period: https://www.facebook.com/hurstrethink

Hurst's panto WILL go on!

By Anne Hopper, Press and Publicity Officer

The Players are now well into socially distanced rehearsals for a first-ever ‘virtual pantomime’. You may well have spotted members of the cast if you’ve been out and about in the village this month. To comply with the Covid 19 rules during the lockdown, due to end on December 2nd, most of our preparations are taking place outdoors. We have a large cast of 33 local adults and 12 children and true to Panto tradition, Robin will be played by Daisy Swayne.

All are experienced stage actors now learning the new techniques of working for the screen under the direction of Sam Nixon. Not to mention the songs and dances, and it’s fair to say the latter is proving the greater challenge to most of the adult cast with Nurse Nora dispensing more than usual alcohol rubs to the ‘men in tights’.

Tickets will be free and performances will be screened through the Players Website between Christmas Eve and January 1st at 3pm and 7pm.

www.hurstplayers.org.uk

Hurst's own Bedlam Brewery commemorates Dame Vera Lynn

Award-winning Bedlam Brewery, near Ditchling at the foot of the South Downs National Park, are releasing The Dame, an exciting new limited 4.2% ABV amber ale dedicated to the memory of their local resident Dame Vera Lynn, the ‘forces sweetheart’ who sadly passed away earlier this year.

As a thank you from the team at Bedlam for her lifetime of national service, they have decided to do what they do best and produce a beer with which people can raise a glass in her memory and by doing so, raise funds for a worthy cause; 20p from every bottle or pint sold will be donated by Bedlam to a charity selected in consultation with Dame Vera’s family, who are supportive of this initiative.

The Dame will be available direct from Bedlam between early October through to the end of November in draft cask ale in Sussex, Kent and London, as well as 500ml bottles nationwide.

Bob Emms, CEO, commented, “Given the challenges we’re all again facing, we thought we would produce The Dame to enable our customers to raise a glass in her memory and look forward to better times. The imagery we’ve created combines local landmark Ditchling Beacon with a field of poppies, both of which were dear to Dame Vera’s heart.

So, here’s to you Dame Vera, thanks for all the memories you have left us with and on your behalf to all of our customers - keep smiling through!”

Reverse Advent Calendar Project 2020 style

By Margaret Carey

For the third year Holy Trinity Church members are going to run our ‘Reverse Advent Calendar Boxes’ project but, clearly, times are different this year. Previously we have asked you to put an item of non-perishable food into a box every day of Advent and then deliver the box to us for the benefit of Family Support Work (FSW), the Sussex based charity which supports families in need. Help is more than ever needed this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The community has been wonderfully generous in the first two years, with dozens of boxes donated to help other families.

This year, because we want to cut down the Covid-19 risk of infection, instead of delivering tins and packets, we ask you to make a financial contribution to FSW, maybe the equivalent of the price of the gift you would put into the box each day. Because we think the Advent Calendar theme is important, we suggest that you might like you to record your gift each day and tot them up on Boxing Day before you make your contribution.

The best way to do this is via the family Support Work website, www.familysupportwork.org. There is a ‘Donate’ button on their opening page. You can also send a cheque to: Family Support Work, Garton House, 22 Stanford Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6AA. So that we know how much the project has raised, and so that we can thank you, please email us after Christmas to tell us how well you have done. Thank you so much.

Virtual panto planned by Hurstpierpoint Players

By Anne Hopper, Press and Publicity Officer

In June Hurstpierpoint Players turned their decorating skills from the inside of the Players Theatre to the outside - in July and August they ‘wrapped up’ the building as part of the “Missing Theatre Live” protest to draw the Government’s attention to the plight of all venues of entertainment.

In September the Players ‘Zoomed’ into their first-ever virtual Annual General Meeting – a legal requirement for any charity – and with the usual business dealt with efficiently in record time it fell to the President, Michael Squire, to make a special presentation to the Theatre’s retiring Treasurer, Josie Porter who has held the post for the past thirteen years. In thanking Josie on behalf of the Players Michael pointed out the increased responsibilities of the Treasurer during the decade-long fund-raising to ensure the Theatre’s future. With that future now assured the Membership wished Josie a well deserved retirement. Balancing the books from now on will be the responsibility of the Theatre’s newly elected Treasurer Richard Coney.

And after all the aforementioned smartening-up of the premises it was felt we should take further steps to make sure we were seen and recognised on the High Street - at the beginning of October a new sign designed by Bob Sampson was painted on the front elevation. We can’t yet say when productions will start again, nor when our friends from the Film Club can join us for a new season of films, but we’re pleased that the Theatre was able to provide a venue for preparation of some of the recent Hurst Festival events.

However, we are hopeful a virtual pantomime will be shot in and around Hurstpierpoint during November and edited ready for screening over Christmas. Auditions for a very special production of The Tales of Robin Hood were extremely well attended, all conducted under strict Covid regulations; clearly people are desperate to get back into the swing of performing live theatre.

With casting yet to be confirmed the plan is to use as many outdoor locations as possible so residents of Hurstpierpoint should not be surprised to see mediaeval villagers or various Merry Men involved in intense dialogue in some unexpected places. Of course, we rely on the current Covid situation here remaining the same and if so, rehearsals will begin early in November.

Hurst Village Cinema - Hello Film Lovers

By David Saitch
Well, this is boring isn’t it?
Under normal circumstances, Hurst Festival would have just finished (and kudos to the Festival team for the sterling efforts they put in to create a Virtual Festival), and we would be eagerly anticipating the start of our landmark tenth, yes you read that right, tenth film season. Our autumn programme would have been published, a new set of NT Live broadcasts lined up, website and app updated, our social media streams would be buzzing and hopefully, as usual, tickets already flying out.

Obviously, we want all that to still happen, and of course it will, but when?
As I have said before, we are currently betting on the start of 2021, but there are no guarantees. Then again, it might happen sooner - unlikely, but who knows? We can only hope. We are ready to act as soon as we are able to in full safety and we are regularly testing the equipment and fine tuning it, to make sure we can start at the drop of a hat, whenever the hat drops.

One question of course, would be what we will screen. We normally screen what we believe to be the best international and independent films that have been released in the previous months, but which haven’t had a big enough release, mixed with overlooked gems and classics. But given the pandemic, there are very few films being released, as production halted on films across the globe back in February.

But don’t worry, there is still a wealth of brilliant cinema available for us to screen. Each year we put a list of films together, then whittle it down to a final programme. Because we have a limited number of screenings available, a lot of films that we could have, perhaps even should have screened get dropped simply because we have to draw a line somewhere. So there are a lot of films we wanted to screen over the last nine years but couldn’t and we can certainly delve into those and put together a terrific season of films.
And, of course, there is an incredible range of amazing films of all kinds from past decades, so there is absolutely no reason why we cannot put together and exciting, entertaining, challenging, thought provoking programme of films.
Fingers crossed it won’t be too long before we can. Stay safe. www.hurstfilms.com

Hurst Cricket - The hero of the over

By Rob Sawyers
If June was about celebrating 50 years of Dave Parsons and July was about Hannah Fosbrey’s century heroics, August was about the achievements of one young man - step forward Oscar Harman.

There is a whiff of the Phil Tuffnell’s about Oscar, his blonde hair is a bit too long, he is chirpy on the field, one hopes at his age he is not having a crafty fag behind the pavilion but you get the picture. Even so, when skipper Matt Parsons threw him the ball during a T20 match against Burgess Hill we were not prepared for the carnage to come.

Ball one: Straight bat, respectfully played. Ball two: Tossed up, possibly slower, the confident batter took a stride forward and attempted to put the ball into the next county and misread the pace, instead picking out Tony Andrews who took a good catch in the deep. Ball three: This gentleman had not being paying attention, a nicely flighted ball which dipped late, the batter possibly had his eyes closed since he tried the same tactic, tried to smash it, bowled! Ball four: Their batter did not exactly stride to the wicket, possibly detecting that he was on a hiding to nothing. We tried to calm down, to give Oscar the maximum chance to pull off the rarest of cricketing achievements. From my position close to the bat, I thought I saw Oscar’s eyes narrow slightly, in the manner of Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. A few steps to the crease, a grunt as the ball was released (actually more of a squeak) it bounced and skidded on, keeping low, inexplicably the batsman played back, jumping slightly and waving his bat nowhere near the ball which struck him shin high. Plumb! Hat trick!

In village cricket, there is always a variable, the umpire is usually one of the batting sides players, but the fellow was a decent sort and up went the finger, sparking socially distanced pandemonium.
Ball five: A brief respite for the batting side. Ball six: This one had a bit more air, the batter totally misread it, clipping it to silly mid on where I was lurking, I say lurking, frankly I could have written my shopping list before taking the easiest of catches.

First over, four wickets, no runs. We hope that Oscar will play for many years at Hurst CC, if he bowls a better over than the one we were lucky enough to witness on a sunny August evening I would love to see it. Well done Oscar!

How to run a school through a pandemic

By Gail Wickens
School work has finally recommenced at schools across the UK and we at Downlands were delighted to welcome our new Year 7 cohort and existing students earlier in September.
Since March much has happened here at Downlands. While our students were all being home schooled, our SLT, teaching staff, support staff, IT, maintenance and cleaning teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that students received the work they needed, were supported pastorally, and enjoyed as much of their home schooling as possible.

Our students embraced learning from home with a positivity that we as a school are hugely proud of. Our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages are full of the work produced by our students. They remained focussed and on task and produced some spectacular pieces of work. We kept in regular contact with our parents and received many emails thanking the staff for all they did.

We said a swift goodbye to our Year 11 students on Friday 19th March, we were lucky that with the dedication and speed of our staff that we could put together a fun farewell for them all and they went home with their Year Books and Leavers Hoodies in hand. Since then we are proud to say that our wonderful youngsters have again excelled themselves and performed brilliantly in their examinations. Well done Class of 2020!

Remaining open for our keyworker students and keeping them busy with a variety of tasks that were also offered to our home learners was our main challenge. Our staff are hugely creative and came up with many interesting, fun and very challenging challenges, including a Cook Off, art competition reading challenge, writing competition and our PE department continually set fitness challenges to keep our students in tip top condition.

On 15th June we welcomed back many of our Year 10 students. This year group was probably one of the most affected by lockdown and they did their best to keep up with their GCSE studies at home. Having them back in school was a great boost to the students and the teachers alike.

Over the summer break much work has taken place to ensure that the school is as safe as it can be for our staff and students alike. This piece of work has been a moving feast with changes being communicated daily from the Department of Education. Many risk assessments, policies and meetings have taken place, resulting in a full and robust action plan to safeguard both our students and staff.

So here we are in September and we are grateful to say that the school is back in full swing. And how does our school feel? The answer as wonderful as always! We might have sanitiser, masks, year group bubbles, social distancing and an introduction of virtual events but we still have our school community, our support for our students and our commitment to learning.

Mid Susssex Healthcare - How we are working

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to all of our patients for both your understanding and for the support that you have all shown us at the practice since March of this year. We have been listening to the feedback that you have shared with us and our Patient Participation Group (PPG) over the last few months. We now realise that despite our belief we are keeping everyone informed of changes to how we are working with newspaper articles, SMS messages, website updates and lengthy phone messages, there are still patients who feel they are struggling to know how they can access our services. We therefore thought that placing an article in the local magazines would reach a wider audience and particularly help those patients who are unable to access our website for information.
GP Appointments – In keeping with Public Health England and NHS England guidance, we are running a telephone first appointment system. What does this mean in reality I hear you ask? If you are unwell or worried about your health and feel you need to see a doctor please contact the practice by phone. Alternatively you can complete the e-Consult form via our website. Your appointment will initially be booked as a telephone appointment and the doctor will call you to discuss your concerns. If, during the course of your conversation they think you should be seen in person, they will arrange for you to come in for a face to face appointment.
e-Consult is a recent addition to our service provision and allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically avoiding the need to call the practice. It offers around the clock NHS selfhelp information, signposting to services, and a symptom checker.
We can’t stress enough, that we are still here and seeing patients. Please don’t think we are too busy for you or you don’t want to bother us at this busy time. If you are unwell or worried about your health get in touch!
Our aim with having doors closed and first contact by phone or e-consult is us being very careful to ensure as much as is possible our sites remain safe for patients that need to be seen, and we are managing the more routine care issues via telephone and video consultations.
Nursing Team – our nursing team are continuing to see patients, as they have been throughout this pandemic. To allow for the additional use of PPE and reduce the number of patients in our waiting room areas at any one time, we have adjusted appointment lengths. The Practice Nurses and Chronic Disease nurses focus is on essential care, such as smears, childhood immunisations and chronic disease management (diabetes, Asthma and COPD). Our Health Care Assistants continue to support those patients needing INR monitoring, ECGs, dressings and supporting our flu vaccination program.
We are this month trialling the opening up of on-line booking for our phlebotomist’s blood test appointment, these are for blood test requests by your GP and cervical smears with a nurse, for which patients will receive a letter advising them how to book these.
Telephones – To help us support our most vulnerable patients, we are asking that for an hour between 10am and 11am each morning the phone lines are kept as free as possible to enable patients in this category to make contact with us more easily.
Volunteers – I think you would all agree with us that the volunteers in the local community did a phenomenal job of supporting our most vulnerable patient during lockdown. We will be working together with the volunteer organisers to see how together we can continue to support everybody.
Keep safe and remember the Practice is here for you!!!

Paws & Claws - charity still needs support

Paws & Claws - Niko

By Lynn Basset
The coronavirus pandemic has affected life for us all in many ways, and not least for those running charities. Paws & Claws is a small, local charity run by volunteers, and it has certainly had a big effect on us. We have been serving the Mid Sussex area for the past 43 years, rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens, and of necessity we are at fundraising events all year around, but all these were cancelled this year, and we do not know when or whether they will resume in in 2021.
Life has gone on much as ‘normal’ at Coombe Down (in Sayers Common) with regard to cat care, but with the rescue centre being closed to the public to keep our staff safe. As soon as lockdown lifted, we were able to rehome cats, observing the necessary Covid-19 precautions with those wanting to adopt.
However, we still have many cats in need of forever homes, though sadly no kittens, for which there has been great demand. Many of the cats we have rescued have been strays and so are more suited to a rural setting where they have freedom as well as good shelter and food, and some have been elderly and in need of veterinary care, all of which have resulted in big bills for neutering, blood tests and treatment.
Please ring 01444 831286 if you can offer a rural home, for example a small holding or stables. One cat in particular we are trying to find the right home for is Niko (pictured) age 4 years, who is part Arabian Mau. He is very friendly and sociable with people, but his particular breed can be very territorial so he needs either a rural home with lots of space around, or a home with an enclosed garden, or a catio attached to the house as he does not get on with other cats. Please ring 01444 457758 for more information about him, or general homing enquiries.
We would like to thank all those who have kindly donated money and food during these unprecedented times to help us continue the work to which we are dedicated. www.pawsandclaws-ars.org.uk.

Flu Season in Hurstpierpoint 2020-21

Patients of Mid Sussex Health Care doctors practice will be familiar with our annual flu vaccination programme where we facilitate large numbers of patients on a walk-in basis at Saturday morning and evening clinics across all three of our sites.

Due to Covid-19, we are having to change how we approach and manage this year’s flu season. There will be no walk-in clinics this year, ALL vaccinations will be arranged by invitation only, issued via SMS, email, phone or letter. This will allocate a time, day and location for the vaccination. We are therefore asking that patients do not turn up without having received an invite. We will be vaccinating all eligible patients in the at risk groups starting with those at highest risk. Those most at risk from the flu are also most vulnerable to Covid-19. The categories are as follows:
• Pregnant women
• Aged 6 months to 65 years in clinical risk groups: Diabetes, COPD, Learning disabilities, Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke and TIA
• Aged 65 and over
• Those in long-stay residential care homes
• Carers
• Immunocompromised patients and those living in the same house.
• Health and social care staff employed by a residential care/nursing home, registered domiciliary care provider

Commencing from the end of September and running through until November there will be various clinics running at different times of the day, evening and weekend. There will also be separate clinics for children. Where possible you will be asked to attend the surgery you are registered with. We have established a one way system to ensure that patients are not crossing one another to enter and exit the building, this may mean queuing for a while, so please bear with us. Due to the need to adhere to social distancing guidance and PPE requirements, the number of patients we can invite in at any given time is greatly reduced. However, to accommodate this there will be more flu clinic sessions made available. We respectfully ask that patients don’t call the practice to try and book an appointment for a flu vaccine, as this will impact patients trying to book urgent and routine appointments.
Protocol:
• When arriving for your appointment, please maintain social distancing at all times
• A face covering should be worn whilst queuing and at all times whilst in the building
• Please arrive at the given time for your appointment, not earlier as we are staggering the appointment times to manage the risk of contact with others as much as possible
• Please avoid bringing anyone with you unnecessarily
• To expedite the process, please wear clothing that allows easy access to the top of your arm

Access to site for Flu vaccination Hurstpierpoint:
Please make your way to the side entrance to the building, which allows access via the lower ground floor, there will be staff available to let you in and clear signage on the door. After you have had your vaccination, you will leave the building on the same level through an alternative route.
Hassocks: Access to the building will be via the side door to the right of the building as you look at it, again this will be clearly signposted and staff there to support you. There will be a one way system to clinicians and exit out of the building through the door into the car park.
Ditchling: This is the smallest of our three sites and as such allows a more limited access. The flow of patients will go along the left hand side of the building, around the back and through the rear entrance, exit will be via the front door and turn left to the car park.
The Government has advised that the flu vaccination will be rolled out to patients aged 50 – 64 years this year due to the Covid pandemic, to try and ease pressure on the NHS during the winter season. Any patients within this bracket who are in at risk groups will be invited to attend for vaccination during our first run of clinics. Once we have safely completed our at risk categories, SUBJECT TO BEING ABLE TO ACQUIRE FURTHER VACCINES – we will start inviting the new cohort of patients in the following order 60-64yrs, 55-59yrs, 50-54yrs.

Find more information from their website at https://www.midsussexhealthcare.co.uk/

Girls footie recruitment drive

After months being stuck indoors is your daughter desperate to get outside and play football? If the answer is yes then Henfield Girls FC is ready to welcome new players in all age groups for the new season.
The club offers fun training sessions run by FA qualified coaches for all ages and abilities in a Covid-secure environment at the Rothery Field on Nep Town Road every Wednesday (6pm-7.30pm for under-11s and under-12s, and 6.45pm-8.15pm for under-13s). It also runs teams at under-11, under-12 and under-13 level, which play games on Sunday mornings during the season and in tournaments through the summer, while there are growing undernine and under-seven sections. Ella Rosine aged 10, Hurst resident and pupil at St Lawrence, is already involved: “I love playing with Henfield because it’s a really girl friendly club. It feels like a family, and the coaches really encourage us to play as much football as possible while staying healthy. They make us feel safe, confident and welcome. I’ve played in a boy’s club before, but practising and playing with girls my own age is really fun. Winning our league games makes all the hard work worth it!” Henfield Girls is also an accredited FA Wildcats Centre, which means it offers a great way for girls from the age of five to try football for the first time in a fun and safe environment. Wildcat sessions are from 4.45pm to 5.45pm on Wednesdays. To find out more about Henfield Girls FC email henfieldfcgirls@ gmail.com.

Cinema ‘not dead yet’!

Hurst Village Cinema

By David Saitch

The death of cinema has been predicted on many occasions; the invention of television was to be the first nail in its coffin; VCR signed its death warrant; HD Blu-ray and home cinema equipment would surely see cinema consigned to a cold, dark grave; streaming was the final executioner that would put cinema out of its misery. But, in all cases, rather like Mark Twain, the death of cinema has been greatly exaggerated. Cinema has survived all these threats along with wars and plagues of the past. The threat that was identified in the End of Cinema column last month was the closing of the theatrical window; that is, the period where films can only be shown in cinemas before being released for home viewing. Would you bother to go and see a film at the cinema if it was already available for home viewing, was the question posed, and the assumed answer was ‘No’. But, interestingly, we do have some evidence on this. Curzon Cinemas has been operating a streaming service for a number of years, where they release films on to their streaming platform on the same day that they release it in cinemas, but, crucially, this doesn’t seem to have affected audience numbers. Curzon cinema screenings are still full. I use Curzon Home Cinema and I am very fortunate to have an excellent home cinema set up, but I am still more likely to go to see the films at the cinema. Watching films exclusively on my home cinema over the last six months has shown me, if I didn’t know already, that going to the cinema is about more than just seeing the film, it is about the complete experience of going out, socialising, watching a film on the biggest screen possible and with the best sound, as a collective experience with an audience, as it is meant to be seen, without those dreaded words ‘Can you pause it while I go to the loo’. Home cinema will always be there to watch those films I didn’t manage to see at the cinema or to rewatch films. Yes, with the ever expanding plethora of streaming services, it is likely that viewing habits will change over the coming years, but the ‘end of cinema’? I wouldn’t bet on it.

First published in September’s Hurst Life magazine.