Category Archives: Henfield

Bobservation No. 114: Henfield vs. Fulking

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Henfield
Having departed Fulking some year and a half ago it seems worthwhile reminding you of the many advantages accruing to Fulking as a result of being only 3 miles away from the mother ship.
It would be easy to record what Henfield does not have, banks being the major omission. However It is quite amazing what a variety of shopping is available, in many cases of a very high standard. Much of the absence of banks is supplemented by the very excellent service provided by the Post Office. To preserve continuity of friendships etc. Henfield is a very logical step to move to when the relative remoteness of Fulking becomes difficult due to age or infirmity. This major village is probably one of the kindest and socially active places in the UK with a multitude of clubs and societies open to anyone interested, even a link to the Horsham food bank! A very good source of what is on offer is BN5 magazine so ably driven by local villager Emma Cole. As well as a very interesting history the layout of ‘twittens’ that encompass practically the whole village and provide very helpful pedestrian short cuts everywhere. Further information is always available from the museum located in the entrance to Henfield Hall. It is well worth a look next time you are in Henfield.

Fulking Fun Day
The Social committee are considering having a ’fun day’ possibly on Sunday 16 June instead of a fair. This will be part of an exercise to have more, but smaller events during the year to raise money principally for expenses connected with the village hall. Villagers from the other Downland villages will be encouraged to get involved. Please contact Sally if you would like to join in.

Bobservation No. 97: Fulking Affinity

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Signpost showing Clappers Lane signFulking  Affinity
It is nearly 7 weeks since old age caused us to leave our beloved Fulking and move to Henfield. The move was a sensible one dictated by the passing years and whilst we are now small wheels in what seems like a big cog, we were quite unable to cope with being custodians of the unique 3 acres that constitute Furzefield.
Fortunately we have passed the baton on to worthy successors. It is quite surprising to find that where we nowlive it is as quiet or possibly even quieter than Clappers Lane but the same camaraderie does not appear to exist amongst neighbours, age probably being a major factor.
I am still in regular contact with Samantha and the Monday group and get village news from some of the many friends we made while we were in Fulking. The Social Committee is now being led enthusiastically by Sally who tells me that plans for a Christmas party are under way and, if we are invited, I look forward to joining with you in this village annual event. I know just how hard it is to get these occasions off the ground, so please do offer to join in and help as much as you can.
Just can’t stop nagging you!!

Bobservation No. 96: Continuation

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Bluebells at Furzefield
Farewell to Fulking
As I write this I feel as though I am in another world! After thirty years of quite demanding work being custodians at Furzefield of a unique three acres of oak and hazel woodland and a glorious spread of bluebells in spring, we have moved to a delightful bungalow in Henfield. Moving was not the big wrench  we expected, just very hard work. Rich, Sarah and Archie will be our very dedicated successors.
A tremendous and very moving farewell was our great good fortune; held in the village hall attended by so many village friends who I dare not name for fear of leaving someone out! Sufficient to say, I was never able to encourage a Social Committee meeting of that size!  The leaving gift was quite amazingly generous and we were both very humbled by it. Many, many thanks to all of you. I fear my few words of thanks at the time turned into something of a hopeless drivel rather like recent question times in the House of Commons.
If only to achieve my century it has been suggested that I might continue with Bobservation a little while longer, which pleasure I hope you will grant me.

Fulking Fair 2022
Perhaps not quite as exciting as it can be because of the extreme heat and the need for new input. The future will be very well driven by Sally and her team with lots of new ideas. Please give her all the support she will need. Fulking Fair deserves to be protected, it has become a great local event.

Bobservation No. 95: BobsOvation

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Farewell
Well finally you are going to get rid of me! Except I would love to score a century of Bobservations and perhaps we can find a way so I can do that. Pam & I will be moving house to Henfield on 12 August. Fulking has been the centre of our world for 30 years now. Furzefield has given us many happy hours, gardening , conservation and entertaining and our successors Rich, Sarah, Archie and Barnsley will be ideal custodians of the bluebells, badgers and everything else, and I know very good additions to the Fulking social scene. It is this scene that I am going to miss a lot. Over the years Fulking has provided a social life and hobby that it would have been very hard to find anywhere else in the world. I have so many happy memories of wonderful people and great times particularly, I suppose, the Call my Bluff quizzes and of course the annual Fulking Fair (see below!).

Fulking Fair
Well! we had the 2022 Fulking Fair and got perfect summer weather and the RSPCA fun dog show found some shade under the trees. Due to exceptional teamwork we managed to have a truly wonderful afternoon. I think we all learnt a little about each other and I am sure next year we can make some improvements but that happens every time! I just hope you will let me be involved in some way even though I will no longer be a resident of this wonderful (secular!) parish.

Perching Birds

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The story of how a local farm changed its farming methods and the effect on birdlife

Henfield Birdwatch are organizing a talk on Friday 25th February at 7.30pm in the Garden Room of Henfield Hall. The event is free for members and £3.00 for non-members. Refreshments will be available.

Bobservation No. 89: Changes in Henfield

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Changes in Henfield
Over the last 30 years the changes in Henfield have been remarkable. Some of these are; The Health Centre which has become Henfield Haven and moved from Hewitts to its present location, the petrol station was tiny, the Tea Gardens were a very good Indian Restaurant, Setyres was a used car lot, the RPS food & wineshop was a Winerack, there was a Building Society and four different bank branches one of which is now the Vet, none of the housing estate to the north west of the Health centre existed, two pubs have gone, the video shop is a thing of the past, the Chinese no longer sells fish & chips, both the gentleman’s outfitters and the electrical retailers have closed, the fishmonger has gone, the forge and blacksmith has moved from the high street, the art shop was a cook shop, car parks were free, the solicitors above what was Lloyds bank moved to Hassocks and the large building is still empty. I just thought it might bring back memories, hopefully pleasant!

Fulking Fair 2022
This year’s fair may well need to be supported very well if we are to raise funds relating to the village hall, details of which will be forthcoming from the Chair of the Parish Council, Mark Hind. There will need to be as many villagers taking part as possible helping to make it successful. We need helpers to do all sorts of jobs most of which are not at all onerous and generally very good fun. Please get in touch with me tel 271 or email bob.pamrowland@btinternet.com and we can discuss what you might like to do.

Fulking Social Committee
I have now officiaIly handed over the Chair of the Social Committee to Sally Brownie who, in the short time she has been in Fulking, has shown an enthusiastic attitude that will well suit her for the post. She will provide much needed new ideas for the development of the social side of the village but will need your support.

Bobservation No. 85: Social Samantha

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Customary Cottage, Fulking, 1987, Stuart MilnerNew home
Having rented Customary Cottage for at least three years Samantha, Nick and family (and Temba!) will be leaving the village on 1st October to move into their own home in Henfield. In the short(ish) time they have been here Samantha has been a very welcome driving force in the village particularly for encouraging villagers to get together. She assures me that her involvement with Fulking will continue and I sincerely hope it will.  I am sure you will all join me in wishing them a very happy and long life in their new home.

Fulking village events
As autumn approaches I find the fascinating change of seasons makes me realise how very fortunate we are to live in such a bucolic parish. I have a real awareness of not only knowing many of the villagers but thinking of them as good friends. The Social Committee have pencilled in a couple of dates, one for the village Christmas party on Saturday 11 December and Sunday 24 July 2022 for the annual village fair and RSPCA fun dog show, all this subject to Covid restrictions at the time. Please put both dates in your diary and make a big effort to join in.

New rat underpass proposed

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Andrew Griffiths reports:

There are significant plans being put forward by RWE for the expansion of the Rampion offshore windfarm with an associated onshore cable corridor and a new electricity sub-station. The cable corridor in particular impacts upon this constituency as it cuts through the South Downs on its journey north to the national grid at Bolney.

A map of the existing Edburton rat underpass, aka ‘cable corridor’, can be found here.

Bobservation No. 72: Fame & COVID

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International Fame at Last!
I really never know whether any villager reads my monthly ramblings but it was a tremendous joy to be told by Becky Loveless that her colleague Hannah Clancy of Buffalo, NY, USA was a fan and indeed actually reads Bobservation each month. I have taken it upon myself to award the first International Honorary Fulking Villager to her. She was delighted to receive the honour and intends visiting Fulking when the Coronavirus eventually abates. It would be very interesting to know if any other supporters exist. Please let me know if you do. Subject to the most onerous investigations you may even qualify for a similar award!

Covid-19
This virus has pretty well put a stop to most social activities in the village. Observing distancing recommendations the ‘Whats app’ Quotation Friends and Community Skill Swap seem to have been successful. Some of us have got together 2 metres apart for a glass or two of wine simplified by the lack of rain and heatwave. In addition to these, yoga has continued in the North Town Field or via ‘Zoom’.  At present the possibility of holding a Christmas party looks remote. I have my fingers crossed for next year’s fair on Sunday 25 July. I notice the annual Henfield Fair is taking place but I cannot imagine how social distancing and wearing masks will be applied, as it happened the weather was terrible for the whole three days of the event! General opinion seems to be that another surge will happen in the autumn if not before and so I do implore all villagers not to let standards drop. Facemasks and social distancing do make a difference to the safety of our community.

Fulking Village Archives
The village archives have just received a programme of the Edburton and Fulking Garden Fete held on Wednesday June 26 1946. Lee Holden discovered it amongst some family papers, the connection being his grandmother who arranged ‘mimes and music’ by the Henfield players. The archives are currently in the care of Terry and Linda Harris who kindly look after them and are quite happy to make them available to villagers.