West Sussex Record Office solicits your diaries, oral histories, photographs, letters, leaflets, flyers, posters, etc., over the pandemic period.
Latest News of Local Interest
Downland Benefice Video Communion
I very much hope that you will be able to join our on-line Downland Benefice service of Holy Communion this Sunday, 19th April, 2020 at 10:30am. Please bring with you a small portion of bread and wine. To do so, from 10.15 a.m. on Sunday, please click here and follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Please let me know if there is anyone or anything you would like to be included in our prayers of intercession or in my private prayers for you.
Easter Sunday
[*The communion wafer accessory for smartphones is still being beta-tested.]
Police pursue a motorcyclist to the Shepherd and Dog
Police chased a motorcyclist from the M23 to the Shepherd and Dog yesterday. Our man in the pub car park reports that five police cars and a helicopter were used in the pursuit. One constable went into the pub to check their CCTV images. She described the incident as “just someone being silly”. The Argus now tells us that “a 25-year-old man from Worthing has been reported for dangerous driving, speeding and failing to stop. His bike was also seized.”
Green bins cancelled
South Downs News, April issue
SDNPA Chief Executive Trevor Beattie claims that “there are already signs that the lock-down has reinvigorated many people’s love of nature”, presumably analogous to the way in which going on the wagon reinvigorates a love of alcohol. He will surely be lobbying for regular lock-downs in future years. There’s a link (to a link (to a link ..)) to “a detailed map [that] has been created for people to find food, drink and other support services close to where they live” which turns out to be every bit as dire as earlier food-related cartographic efforts by the SDNPA (The South Downs Sahara in 2015, and The South Downs Sahara (update) in 2017). Food is unobtainable in Steyning, apparently.
On the positive side, page 10 features a photo of David Ellin and Annie Brown, though they are not quoted or identified, and page 12 advertises a 3-part Facebook video instruction series by an ‘animal behaviourist’ on walking the dog (the animal, not the Rufus Thomas song).
2020 Fulking Fair cancelled
My Committee have agreed with me that it will be quite impossible to hold the annual Fulking Fair on Sunday 26th July this year. Accordingly it is with much regret I have to tell you that the Fair is cancelled. I invite all of you to participate on Sunday 25th July 2021 when I hope these difficult times will have passed. Take good care of yourselves ..
Bob Rowland
Chairman of Fulking Social Committee
Bobservation No. 67: Conservation & Covid-19
Conservation Area Conclusion Decision
Recent meetings by the inhabitants of the Downland parishes have reached a decision that, in order to protect the integrity of the Downland area, the Mayfield planning proposal should be moved from just north of Henfield to a situation to the north of Fulking bordered by Clappers Lane in the East, Holmbush Lane in the North, Small Dole in the West and the Edburton Road in the South . Surprisingly, this proposal engendered no objections whatsoever. It is anticipated the work will commence as soon as the Coronavirus runs its course. 1/4/20
Coronavirus Sundries
Great effort by the village led by the Parish Council to help any villagers who may be in need of supplies, prescriptions etc. As a vulnerable oldy my most grateful thanks to them.
Fulking Fair on hold for the minute. I must admit that at this point in time cancellation looks likely. If so it will be announced. Postponement is difficult but not impossible and could tie in with a celebration when (if?) we return to normal.
Bluebells will be good this year and at worst worth a look over the gate. If you phone 271 maybe we can organise individual walks around but this must be strictly accordance to the Government’s rules. Whatever, we will be restricted to a wave as a greeting!
MSDC car park charges suspended
This may be relevant to you if you are planning a trip to East Grinstead or Haywards Heath but not if you are about to undertake an emergency supplies mission to Henfield or Steyning (which are both HDC, not MSDC).
Addendum: HDC has in fact suspended parking charges in all HDC owned car parks “to help Horsham residents” (??). This arrangement will be in place until 22nd April 2020 and will then be reviewed. More here.