Author: Miles

Bobservation No. 25

Heading with cows on right

It is with a sense of wonderment that for the first time in my memory a Fulking village calendar has been produced at all and indeed to an incredibly high professional standard. Credit has been given to the photographers and sponsors in the calendar but mention should be made of the marketing expertise that has been kindly supplied by Richard Rawlings and Jen Green for being the driving force amongst the other villagers involved. We can be really proud of the many achievements of Fulking over the last few years.

The launch of the calendar will be in the village hall on Saturday 12 November at 8pm when there will be a slide show of some of the excellent photos that did not make the last 12 and a welcoming glass of wine. Entrance is free but bring cash to purchase calendars.

The 2017 Downland Calendar provides spectacular views of our beautiful South Downs, all year round.

The Fulking Village Hall plays a central role in the life of the local community, so an action group has just put together a calendar to raise funds for maintenance needed to keep it functioning. The Downland Calendar 2017 features a variety of stunning images celebrating different aspects of the surrounding countryside and villages, with photographs taken by local residents clearly in love with this beautiful area.

It would make an ideal Christmas present for family, friends and colleagues, or for yourself! The A4 page calendars are available to buy for only £6.00 and will be supplied shrink-wrapped.

Continued…

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Bobservation No. 24

neighbourlinessIt would be good if we could all take into consideration the feelings of our neighbours and communicate with them when a contentious situation happens. This might involve loud music, noisy children, late night barking dogs, trees, hedges, access to a view, parked vehicles or any number of things.

In particular it occurs to me that we might, as a village, consider that the ten-year battle between the village and Mid Sussex District Council over the Market Garden site has been brought to an end, with the decision by that council, complying with a Central Government ruling. In addition to this the recent ruling on the planning application at Conifers is the end of any objection that was raised.

Accordingly, I suggest that the village should now accept that these families are with us for as long as they wish to be, and should be accepted and welcomed as villagers on exactly the same basis as the rest of us. I appreciate that with the original lack of planning consent at the Market Garden site feelings ran high and I have no doubt that there will be objections to this Bobservation but I do implore you to let bygones be bygones and move on. After all, when it comes to planning contraventions there are some villagers who might find it difficult to cast the first stone.

Bobservation 23. FSC & FF+FD

Boy throwing sponge at father, plus Bobservation 23 titleThe Fulking Social Committee has over the years raised quite a considerable amount for village facilities and social events. Indeed, we have just given £1,500 each to the North Town Field and the Village Hall Action Group. This has been done by a small number of very willing volunteers, but due principally to villagers moving away, the size of the Committee has reduced and we need some new blood. Indeed, two of us are getting pretty aged!

The Committee is a very mixed bunch so, whoever you are, you will not feel out of place and will be welcomed by all of us. Meetings are held on weekday evenings in the village hall about five times a year.

There are two main and regular annual events; the Fulking Fair and the Christmas party. In addition, we hold occasional other social events such as wine quizzes, lectures, slide shows and music by the younger villagers. New ideas are always welcomed. For more information, give me call on 271 or email bob.pamrowland@btinternet.com.

A very big thank you to all the villagers, their families and friends who made the 2016 Fulking Fair and Fun Day such a success. We raised £636 and the Shepherd & Dog very kindly gave a donation of £600 from their Call my Bluff evening. It is always dangerous to select specific items at the risk of disappointing others but here goes; I particularly want to thank the tea and cake ladies, their helpers, those who generously donated cakes, the road and car park marshals, the Street stallholders, the guys who laid out the stall places, the villagers who lent us the car parks and tractors and by no means least, the childrens’ games organizers.

Although it seems a long way ahead, please put Sunday 30th July 2017 in your diary for the next Fair. We have learnt a lot from the change of venue. To this end there’s Village Fair meeting in the Village Hall on Weds October 19th at 8pm.Your ideas are important if we are to get back our award of The Argus Community Event of the year.

Born between Sept 2012 and Oct 2013?

Green header for WSCC starting schoolIf you were born between September 2012 and the end of August 2013, congratulations on being able to read this!  West Sussex County Council would like you to alert your parents of the application process for children due to start school in September 2017 which begins on Monday 3 October 2016. WSCC no longer sends individual letters to parents and has asking local organsations to spread the word.

  • Apply online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions
  • Applications can be made between 3 October 2016 and 15 January 2017
  • Special rules apply for house movers until 23 March 2017
  • The Information for Parents booklet is available on WSCC’s website
  • Further information is available by ringing 03330 142 903

Click the images below to find out more:

Start_School_PosterStarting school brochure icon

Bobservation 22. The Parish of Fulking

Buttercups with downs in backgroundWalking on Newtimber Hill on a fine morning this week I looked down on the amazing view across the Downland Villages of Poynings, Fulking and Edburton. In particular the long shape of the parish of Fulking stretches out from the Downs to Holmbush Lane and what a wonderful sight it is on a summer’s day.

How fortunate we are to live in this wonderful part of the country and enjoy all the benefits of the rural life.

Fulking itself has so much to offer; a great pub, a refurbished village hall, a fair, yoga, toddlers mornings, a book shop, beagles, a highly successful cricket club, a good size field for village events. The location of the village is only five minutes to shopping, fifteen minutes to a main line railway station and access to a half hourly bus service to Brighton, Burgess Hill or Horsham and 30 minutes to Gatwick.

It is so easy to just accept this great privilege without realizing that there are few places that offer a better way of life for us, our children and grandchildren. We are indeed very lucky.

You may think I have rambled on too long and sound like an Estate Agent’s pitch but I do want you to know how much I appreciate living in Fulking.  I hope you do too.