The Beacon August 2012 - Beacon Parish of Ditchling, Streat ...

Ditchling Open Gardens, 15 th July 2012
Front cover: View of one of the gardens in Ditchling

DIRECTORY
Vicar:
The Revd David Wallis
The Vicarage, 2 Charlton Gardens, (01273) 843165
Lewes Road, Ditchling, BN6 8WA
Churchwardens: Andrew Martin St Margaret’s (01273) 846123
Mike Sewell Streat Church (01273) 890366
Mark Moody-Stuart
(01273) 846525
St Martin’s
Doreen Kallman
(01273) 844743
Readers:
Richard Allen
Colyeen Blanchard
(01273) 842919
01444 246186
Hon Treasurer: Mark Moody-Stuart (01273) 846525
Bookkeeper: Sue Sewell (01273) 890366
Hon Secretary: Margaret Bovill (01273) 845319
Stewardship Officer: Rodney Dodds 01444 250753
Organists and
Choirmasters:
Hon Organists:
Nick Hancock
John Sandford
Lynette Walker
Lynn Bond
St Margaret’s
Streat Church
St Martin’s
(01273) 841815
07855 957644
(01273) 891005
(01273) 842387
Parish office Email: admin@beaconparishes.org Phone: 01273 843165
The Beacon
Editor: Graham Sharpless (01273) 845368
Advertising
Managers:
Sue & George Hancock (01273) 890298
Distribution
Managers:
Jenny Bell
Margaret Moore
Ditchling
(01273) 843194
(01273) 843805
Paul Charman Streat & Westmeston (01273) 844743
Full membership of the PCC can be found on the website:
www.BeaconParishes.org
The Revd David Wallis’s day off is Friday
The Beacon Parish is a registered charity,
number 1132488
On the right is a QR code which can be read by smart phones
1

The Beacon August 2012
The Magazine for the Parish of Ditchling, Streat & Westmeston
Contents
The Beacon Churches Calendar August 2012 .......................................................... 3
Fr David writes ......................................................................................................... 4
Beacon Parish News ................................................................................................. 6
Beacon Parish Church Duties August 2012 ............................................................13
Prayer Diary – August 2012 ...................................................................................14
Bible Notes .............................................................................................................16
Edward Denton 1581-1589 by Richard Allen ........................................................17
What’s On in August 2012 .....................................................................................18
What’s On in September 2012...............................................................................19
News from Chichester Diocese ..............................................................................21
Ditchling Women’s Groups ....................................................................................22
Children and Young People ....................................................................................24
Village News ...........................................................................................................27
Nature Corner ........................................................................................................33
The Beacon in the Past ..........................................................................................35
The Beacon Parish Office
Open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings
9.30 am to 12 noon (the place to direct any enquiries)
01273 843165 email: admin@beaconparishes.org
www.beaconparishes.org
2

The Beacon Churches Calendar August 2012
Morning Prayer at Ditchling: Monday to Friday at 9.00 am
1 Wed Eucharist Ditchling 9.30am
4 Sat Wedding of Isabelle and Nicholas Ditchling 1.00pm
5 Sun NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Eucharist (BCP) Ditchling 8.00am
All Age Sung Eucharist Ditchling 9.45am
Morning Prayer Westmeston 9.45am
8 Wed Eucharist Ditchling 9.30am
10 Fri Wedding of Emily and Alastair Ditchling 2.30pm
12 Sun TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sung Eucharist Ditchling 9.45am
Morning Prayer Streat 9.45am
15 Wed Eucharist Ditchling 9.30am
18 Fri Wedding of Laura and George Ditchling 1.00pm
19 Sun ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Eucharist (BCP) Ditchling 8.00am
Morning Prayer Ditchling 9.45am
Eucharist Streat 9.45am
Eucharist Westmeston 6.00pm
22 Wed Eucharist Ditchling 9.30am
George Fawcett Memorial Service Ditchling 2.30pm
26 Sun TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
The Beacon Eucharist Ditchling 9.45am
29 Wed Eucharist Ditchling 9.30am
Everyone is very welcome to attend any of the church services listed
above. You will be sure of a warm welcome. Coffee, tea and delicious
homemade cakes or biscuits are normally available after the Sunday 9.45
am services in St Margaret’s, Ditchling. We look forward to seeing you
there or at any of the other services in the Beacon Parish.
3

Fr David writes
Dear Friends
I am writing to you with the exciting news that we are to
employ a Youth Worker for the parish.
The plan is for the Beacon Parish to share a youth worker
with the parish of Hassocks, Keymer and Clayton. This
means that we can divide the costs involved –
approximately £30,000 a year – but also develop the links
between our parishes. Many children from Hassocks and
Keymer come to school at St Margaret’s and I am sure you
have often seen the merry band of secondary school
children walking along the road from Ditchling to Downlands in Hassocks. There
is a regular flow of young people between our parishes that makes working
together a logical idea.
A great deal of thought has been put into shaping this new youth post. In
particular, we have been consulting with young people and parents as to their
hope and expectations and we will be involving young people in the selection
process and interviews when the time comes. Speaking of which, we hope to be
advertising the post in the autumn in order for a youth worker to start in the
New Year.
£30,000 a year (for a minimum of 3 years) is of course a large financial
commitment and we will need to fundraise with real enthusiasm to raise the
money required. But because this is such an important and exciting venture, the
PCC and I feel confident we can achieve this. I very much hope you share our
enthusiasm and will be keen to get involved in supporting this project.
May God bless all that we seek to do for our young people and provide us with
the right person for this role.
With every blessing
Fr David
Tremendous Teas
An enormous thank you and well done to Fiona Hughes and her team who have
raised £815 for the parish by making delicious teas at Ditchling Village Fair. Their
hard work and wonderful baking was greatly appreciated
4

Beacon Parish News
Celebration on Sunday July 8 th
Pam and I would like to thank
all who supported us so
splendidly at the service to
celebrate my 30 years as a
Reader. We have been so
touched by the kindness and
encouragement which we have
received.
Particular thanks to Father
David for making the whole
celebration possible.
Richard Allen
Fr David, Richard Allen and Canon Christopher
Clarke after Richard’s Celebration Service
PCC Briefings
The new PCC met for the first time on Monday 18 th June in St Margaret’s Vestry.
A warm welcome was extended to Emma French, the newest member of the
PCC. Items discussed were:
The future appointment of a Youth Worker to be shared with the Parish of
Clayton and Keymer, ways of including the young people in the selection
process, the job description and means of financing this project were
discussed in detail.
Because of the importance of having a Youth Worker and the costs involved
only essential urgent fabric repairs will be undertaken at the present time.
Child Protection issues were also raised and at future PCC meetings the Child
Protection Officer, Margaret Moore, will be asked to submit a report.
The Union Flag that flies from the flagpole outside St Margaret’s Church has
been ripped in the summer gales and it was agreed that a new Flag will be
purchased.
Margaret Bovill, PCC Secretary
6

Christening
On Sunday 15 th July the Christening
of Iris and Max Symonds took place
at St Martin’s, Westmeston. The
service was taken by Canon John
Taylor.
Iris and Max are the children of
Elizabeth and Ben Symonds,
Grandchildren of Mark and Judy
Moody-Stuart.
Miracle of a cup of tea
On Saturday 12 th May 2012 Dorothy
Porter and Naomi Jerrey walked the
walk in London fundraising for Breast
Cancer care. Setting off from Hyde
Park at midnight we were among
17,000 other people walking up to
26.2 miles around London. Waiting to
cross busy roads and keeping to
pavements made it difficult to
maintain the pace we had trained at,
but the atmosphere was encouraging
and exciting even though we were
walking through the night.
All was going well until the 20 mile mark when Naomi ran out of steam. From the
crowd came a cup of tea. Energy restored, determination fired up we finished at
8.25am.
We wish to thank friends, family and the congregation of St Margaret’s Church,
Ditchling for their support, encouragement and prayers. We raised over £1,200.
Walk for Whales
My daughter Amy Jerrey (13 years of age) with close friends took part in a five
mile sponsored Walk for Whales from Saltdean to Brighton Sealife Centre on
Sunday 8 th July in aid of Save the Whale. Looks like the `Jerrey` spirit of
determination and doing a good deed continues.
Naomi Jerrey
7

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8

Power of Prayer
I have trampolined as a sport since my teenage years and now, as a mother of
three, still try to maintain my interest and fitness at Freedom Leisure adult
classes. On Friday 15 th June I unfortunately executed a move badly, landing full
body weight on my neck whilst remaining on the bed of the trampoline.
After my delivery to RSC Brighton that Friday night, I had CT and MRI scans and
was then transferred to Hurstwood Park on the Saturday. That evening it was
confirmed I had dislocated C5 over C6 and a bone fragment was loose within the
spinal cord. Incredible anterior and posterior cervical spine fixation surgery
followed on the Sunday. The surgery meant I would not require a neck collar or
any form of support. On the Monday I could sit up unaided and on the Tuesday I
was on my feet and able to walk. On the Friday, just one week after the accident
I returned home! Fainting from low blood pressure on the Saturday morning
meant another lift to the Princess Royal, but all was OK. Now I have full use of
my body barring obvious limited neck movement and limited movement in the
left arm, both will return in time I am positive.
I have many people to thank, my coach and the staff at freedom Leisure, the
resuss team at RSC, the countless doctors, consultants and nurses, the caring
staff at Hurstwood, the thoughts and well wishes of so many, and my
exceptional surgeon Mr P Epaliyanage.
The congregation from Ditchling St Margaret`s Church have prayed for me and
my family from the start and these prayers have been answered. Words really
cannot begin to express the appreciation, gratitude and thanks my family and I
would like to give to you all therefore I simply say thank you with all my heart,
we are forever grateful for your support and the power of prayer.
Naomi Jerrey
Sussex Historic Churches Trust
Sponsored Ride & Stride
Sussex churches and chapels will be open on Saturday September 8 th when the
Annual Ride & Stride event takes place raising funds through sponsorship
towards this important work. If you would like to take part as a walker or cyclist,
either individually or as a group, please get in touch with me and I can let you
have lists of open churches, sponsor forms etc. Any money you raise will be
shared equally between the Sussex Historic Churches Trust and a church of your
choice. Last year the event raised £45,000 for Sussex churches and chapels.
9

The Sussex Historic Churches Trust gives grants for repairs and conservation
work to the many historic churches in the county, including those in our own
parish. The Trust was founded in 1956 and came into being because of the need
to raise extra funds to maintain and preserve the fabric of our historic churches
and chapels, which are so much part of the English landscape. Over the years the
Trust has helped more than 500 churches.
For more information see http://www.rideandstride.info.
Janet Cragg, 01273 845383
Model of St Margaret’s Church
Children from Ditchling (St Margaret’s) CE Primary School have made a model of
St Margaret’s Church, which was on show during the Beacon Eucharist service in
celebration of St Margaret’s Church and those who built it and have looked after
it over the centuries.
Two schoolchildren carried the model, measuring over one metre in length, into
the church as part of the procession at the start of the service.
Model of St Margaret's Church
10

Church Diaries for 2013
The church diaries for 2013 are now available in St Margaret’s
Church. Although they are free to anyone who wants one, a
donation to the Beacon Parish would be welcome.
The Beacon Churches “100 Club”
The winners of the June Draw were Mick Sewell and Graham &
Jan Sharpless receiving prizes of £20.
Pam Gaskin
11

Beacon Parish Church Duties August 2012
Time Church Service Lessons Readers Sidesmen
5 Ninth Sunday after Trinity
8am
Ditchling
9.45am Ditchling
9.45am
Eucharist
BCP
All-Age
Eucharist
Morning
Prayer
12 Tenth Sunday after Trinity
9.45am Ditchling
9.45am
Streat
Eucharist
Morning
Prayer
19 Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
8am
Ditchling
9.45am Ditchling
Eucharist
BCP
Morning
Prayer
9.45am Streat Eucharist
6pm
Westmeston
Westmeston
Eucharist
26 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
9.45am Ditchling
Beacon
Eucharist
Flowers: Streat: Eve Bristow
Westmeston: Tessa Houghton
Ephesians 4: 1 - 16
Jenny Bell Jenny Bell
John 6: 24 - 35
Ephesians 4: 1 - 16
John 6: 24 - 35
2 Peter 1: 16 - 19
Luke 9: 28 - 36
tba
George
Hancock
Yvonne Sean
Tony
Blanchard
Emma
French
Brenda Hall
Flowers: Streat: Eve Bristow
Westmeston: Tessa Houghton
1 Kings 19: 4 - 8
Di Martin
Geoff Heath
John 6: 35, 41 - 51
Judy Essex
1 Kings 19: 4 - 8
John 6: 35, 41 - 51
Flowers:
Ephesians 5: 15 - 20
John 6: 51 - 58
Ephesians 5: 15 - 20
John 6: 51 - 58
Ephesians 5: 15 - 20
John 6: 51 - 58
Ephesians 5: 15 - 20
John 6: 51 - 58
Flowers:
Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14 - 18
John 6: 56 - 69
George
Hancock
Sally Heine
Sally Heine
Streat: Margaret Brown.
Westmeston: Brenda Hall
Ivor
Ivor Blomfield
Blomfield
Di Martin
Mike Sewell
Vicky Brandon
Carol Tester
Doreen
Kallman
Joan Styles
Jane Roberts
Sue Sewell
Sheila Tester
Streat: Margaret Brown.
Westmeston: Brenda Hall
Ian Berrill
Mike
Paul
Middleton
Charman
13

Feast Days
Prayer Diary – August 2012
Prayer for the world church
& Prayer for this diocese
1 Eha Amufu (Nigeria)
Westham, St Mary
2 Ekiti (Nigeria)
Willingdon, St Mary the Virgin
Ekiti Kwara (Nigeria)
Rural Deanery of Hastings
3 Ekiti West (Nigeria)
Hastings, St Clement & All Saints
4 Jean-Baptiste Vianney, 1859 El Camino Real
Hastings, Emmanuel & St Mary-in-the-
Castle
5 Trinity 9
Oswald, 642
Singapore
Youth Officer
6 The Transfiguration El Salvador
Hastings, Christ Church Blacklands & St
Andrew
7 El-Obeid (Sudan)
Hastings, Holy Trinity
8 Dominic, 1221 Eldoret (Kenya)
Hollington, St Leonard
9 Mary Sumner, 1921 Ely
Hollington, St John the Evangelist
10 Laurence, 258 Enugu (Niger)
Ore, St Helen
11 Clare of Assisi, 1253; John Henry
Newman, 1890
Esan (Nigeria)
Ore, Christ Church
12 Trinity 10 South India
Church in Society
13 Jeremy Taylor, 1667 Etche (Niger Delta)
St Leonards-on-Sea, St Leonard & St
Ethelburga
14

Feast Days
Prayer for the world church
& Prayer for this diocese
14 Florence Nightingale, 1910 Etsako (Nigeria)
St Leonards-on-Sea, St Matthew
15 The Blessed Virgin Mary Europe
St Leonards-on-Sea, Christ Church & St
Mary Magdalen
16 Octavia Hill, 1912 Evo (Niger Delta)
Upper St Leonards, St John the Evangelist
17 Exeter
Rural Deanery of Lewes & Seaford
18 Ezo (Sudan)
Alfriston with Lullington, Litlington & West
Dean
19 Trinity 11 Province of Southern Africa
Discipleship & Ministry team
20 Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153; Faisalabad (Pakistan)
Folkington, St Peter
21 William & Catherine Booth, 1912
& 1890
22 St Symphorian, Bishop of Autun,
Martyr, c180
Florida
Barcombe, St Mary
False Bay (Southern Africa)
Arlington, Berwick, Selmeston with
Alciston & Wilmington
23 Suffragan Bp for Federal Ministries
Denton with South Heighton & Tarring
Neville
24 Bartholomew Fianarantsoa (Indian Ocean)
East Blatchington & Bishopstone
25 South Kerala (South India)
Glynde, West Firle & Beddingham
26 Trinity 12 Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America
Bishop of Chichester’s team
27 Monica, 387 Fond du Lac
Hamsey, St Peter
15

Feast Days
Prayer for the world church
& Prayer for this diocese
28 Augustine of Hippo, 430 Fort Worth
Iford with Kingston & Rodmell
29 Beheading of John the Baptist Fredericton (Canada)
Laughton with Ripe & Chalvington
30 John Bunyan, 1688 Freetown (Sierra Leone)
Lewes, St Anne & St Michael & St Thomas
at Cliffe with All Saints
31 Aidan, 651
Gahini (Rwanda)
Lewes, St John-sub-Castro & South
Malling, St Michael the Archangel
Bible Notes
How should we approach the big questions being debated in our country and
throughout the world today? What is right, which is wrong? Which line should
we follow etc? A common and very general remark is “Only God knows”, so true,
what a wonderful and personal God we have to give such a clear guide in the
Bible.
As we in the New Testament age have the Bible to guide us, so the Israelites had
the Ark of the Covenant. In Numbers 10:33 “The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord
went before them…. to search out a resting place for them.” An explanation by
the Rev Hopkins: “Instead of Israel seeking to find a resting place for God, it is
God finding a resting place for them. The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went
before them in order to show them the path of His will. They were not left to
choose their own way or to use their own wisdom in discovering God’s way. So it
is with all God’s children today, He who died to redeem now lives to lead and
direct. He seeks for us continually not merely places of safety, but of ‘rest’. He is
concerned in the welfare of His people and delights in their comfort and joy.”
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways follow Him and He will make your paths straight”
Jill Veness
16

Edward Denton 1581-1589
The parish of Ditchling was never a rich living and it clearly did not provide
enough for Edward Denton who was Vicar in 1588 (Spanish Armada year). Debt
took him to the Fleet Prison in London where those who could not pay up were
liable to find themselves. On January 3rd 1589 he wrote his letter of resignation
from Ditchling and thereby ended an association of some fourteen years.
Edward Denton came from a well established landed family in Cumberland. His
father, Thomas Denton, built a country house, Warnel Denton, and was able to
send his son to be a scholar at Queen’s College, Oxford. There, Edward obtained
a degree and a fellowship. Back in Cumberland in 1573 and, at the age of 25, he
was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Carlisle. Two years later he was here in
Ditchling where our parish registers record that he married Rebecca Stamford.
The registers go on to record a fast growing family - Edward 1576, Dorothie (sic)
1581, Constance 1584, Thomas 1586 and Richard 1588. It seems likely that
Edward Denton was the curate here until 1581 when he succeeded Thomas
Bridgman as Vicar. Whether he was ever correctly presented to the living is in
doubt because in 1585 a Henry Pye was also pronounced as Vicar of Ditchling,
but there is no evidence that this priest was ever in the parish whereas we have
evidence of Denton’s continued residence here. If the beginning of Denton’s
incumbency was unorthodox the ending in the Fleet Prison was even more
unusual. From January to April 1589 services were provided by Ralph Englishe,
curate of Pyecombe, until normality returned with the arrival as Vicar of Hugh
Rawood.
Somehow, Edward Denton’s debts must have been paid and he was able to
resume his career in holy orders back in his homeland of Cumberland. He
became Rector of Lazonby, a village a few miles north-east of Penrith where he
died on October 8th 1614. And so we know of Edward Denton’s family, his
education, his finances and of his downfall. Of his ministry here we know so
little. And we can only imagine that he would have been at the grand funeral of
Henry Poole on March 28th 1580 when the son-in-law of Lord Abergavenny was
buried and whose splendid memorial tablet adorns the north wall of the
Abergavenny Chapel to this day!
Richard Allen
17

What’s On in August 2012
2 Thu Ditchling WI Garden Party p 23
8 Wed Frugal Lunch, The Old Meeting House 12.30 pm
19 Sun
20 Mon
21 Tue
26 Sun
Malthouse Farm Garden Opening, Malthouse
Farm, Streat Lane, Streat, BN6 8SA
Women’s Fellowship visit to the Prairie Garden,
near Henfield
Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning,
Ditchling Village Hall
Malthouse Farm Garden Opening, Malthouse
Farm, Streat Lane, Streat, BN6 8SA
Macmillan Cancer Support Summer Jazz Bar-B-Q,
Tovey Lodge, Ditchling
p 28
p 24
p 29
p 28
p 29
2 pm
2.15 pm
10 am
2 pm
28 Tue Whist Drive, Westmeston Parish Hall p 18 7.15pm
WHIST DRIVE
Tuesday 28 th August, Westmeston Parish Hall,
starting at 7.15pm
Everyone is welcome to join the friendly team of players.
The next whist drive will be on
Tuesday 25 th September 2012 at 7.15pm
For more details contact Doreen Kallman (01273 844743)
18

3 - 15
What’s On in September 2012
Royal Air Forces Association 'Wings' Appeal
collections, Ditchling
p 30
4 Tue Ditchling Downs WI meeting p 23 7 pm
6 Thu
8 Sat
9 Sun
Ditchling WI talk ‘The Rebirth of a Grand Old
Lady, Oldland Mill’, Ditchling Village Hall
PCC Meeting, St Margaret’s Vestry
Choir Practice, St Margaret’s Church, Ditchling
p 23
2.30 pm
6.15 pm
6.15 pm
Behind the Scenes at Chichester Cathedral p 21 10 am
Sussex Historic Churches Trust Sponsored Ride &
Stride
Beacon Parish Six-a-Side Cricket, Ditchling
Recreation Ground
p 9
p 11
1 pm
12 Wed Frugal Lunch, Friends Meeting House 12.30 pm
14 Fri
18 Tue
Ditchling Horticultural Society 190 th Anniversary
Talk The Seed Bank.
Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning,
Ditchling Village Hall
p 29
p 29
10 am
20 Thu Choir Practice, St Margaret’s Church, Ditchling 6.15 pm
25 Tue Whist Drive, Westmeston Parish Hall p 18 7.15pm
In August we remember:
In Memoriam
6 th Richard McConnell 8 th Harry Jack Steptoe
12 th John Rigby Hale 14 th Barbara Penman
19 th Irene Mason 19 th Sylvia Barrow
24 th Lucy Susan Aspee 26 th Albert James Laker
29 th Richard John Heath 30 th Richard Philip Styles
19

News from Chichester Diocese
For more information on these news items see the Diocesan website at
http://www.diochi.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.index.
Behind the Scenes at Chichester Cathedral
Behind the Scenes at Chichester Cathedral event on Saturday 8 th September,
from 10.00am to 1.00pm when as part of Heritage Open Days, areas of the
Cathedral normally closed to the public will be open to visitors including the
following.
The Song School dating from the 1500s and located high up in the
Cathedral's triforium. Come and discover its secret chamber!
The Cathedral Library which houses a fascinating collection of rare books
stored in the Cathedral heights.
The Bishop's Chapel, the private chapel of the Bishop of Chichester. Of
special interest is the rare roundel wall-painting dating from the 13 th century,
well-known as 'the Chichester Roundel.'
For further information please contact 01243 782595 or see
http://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on/see-behind-the-scenes-atchichester-cathedral.shtml
for exact times and updates.
New Christian secondary school in Hove
A Proposal for a new Christian secondary school in Hove has gained approval
from the Secretary of State for Education. The team behind the proposal for
King’s School aim to address the need for additional school places in the Hove
area.
One possibility being explored is for the new school to join the family of 158
Church of England schools in this diocese serving some 36,000 children across
Sussex.
Bishop's meetings build trust
"A bright new future is dawning in Chichester Diocese." That was the
overwhelming view shared by many of the thousand attendees during a series of
meetings held in June to introduce Bishop-elect Dr Martin Warner to the clergy
and laity of the diocese.
21

Specialists in Landscape Planning
Garden Construction Waterscape Landscape
& Waterscape Maintenance Service
ASHDOWN COTTAGE
UNDERHILL LANE, DITCHLING
SUSSEX
TEL: (01273) 843283, FAX: 842335
Directors: A L Standen & S M May
Company Reg. No. 814630 Registered at
Ashdown Cottage, Underhill Lane,
Ditchling, Sussex, BN6 8XE
22

Ditchling Women’s Groups
Ditchling Downs WI
For our July meeting members gathered in The White Horse where we
welcomed back an old friend, Richard Allen, to speak on Edwardian England. He
told of a golden age of grace and elegance but also an age of horrifying poverty,
strikes and civil war in Ireland. Edwardian England started with the crowning of
Edward VII in 1901, although a little later than was planned as the King was
diagnosed with appendicitis and it wasn’t until August, two months later than
the original date, he was crowned. It was in 1904 that King Edward VII was
instrumental in helping to bring about the Entente Cordiale between France and
Great Britain which paved the way for increasing co-operation and friendship in
the century ahead. Locally during this period, saw the increase of cars, only
allowing them to drive at 16mph and also buses with open tops. Sadly on
Handcross Hill a bus carrying day trippers from Kent to Brighton toppled over
due to the bus being overloaded with passengers on the open top deck killing 10.
On a brighter note, income tax was only 6d in the £ and in Ditchling you would
receive your post 3 times a day - those were the days. Our thanks were given to
Richard and also to John of The White Horse who provided a fantastic supper.
There is no meeting in August so our next meeting will be Tuesday 4 th
September, 7pm for 7.30pm when we welcome Fergus Ankorn whose talk is
entitled ‘Lucky to be Alive’ – his account on the Burma Railroad during WW2.
Barbara Dollings 01273 843892
Ditchling WI
Ditchling WI held its 95 th Birthday party on Thursday July 19 th . We celebrated in
the Village Hall as the rain had made the green too wet. We were entertained by
Margaret Watson on the harp. She played a wonderful selection of music which
was beautiful. We then had a really nice celebratory tea and a birthday cake
made by Jean Morley.
Our garden party will be on Thursday 2 nd August.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday September 6 th at 2.30 pm in Ditchling
village hall, when Colin Walford will give us a talk on ‘The Rebirth of a Grand Old
Lady, Oldland Mill’. Why not come along and join us?
Joan Sayer, 01273 845255
23

Women’s Fellowship
Most unusually our Summer Party this year was held indoors. The rain, cold and
a waterlogged lawn had necessitated a last minute change of plan and Pam and
Mike Burr kindly stepped in and hosted the party.
As ever, with partners and guests present, it was a lively, happy and thoroughly
enjoyable evening and the food brought by each and everyone created a spread
equal to any feast. Margaret Houston thanked Pam and Mike on behalf of us all
and Joan Styles presented them with a plant and voucher from everyone.
Our August ‘meeting’ will be a visit to the Prairie Garden near Henfield. Due to a
clash of dates this has been moved from Wednesday 22 nd August to Monday 20 th
August, meeting there at 2.15 for 2.30pm.
We think everyone involved has by now been notified of the change but if
anyone has not yet heard then please contact Margaret Houston or Pam Burr.
Anyone requiring transport should ring Margaret.
Margaret Moore
Children and Young People
1 st Ditchling Scout Group
Group - We are pleased to report that Naomi Jerrey is recovering well after her
serious accident on a trampoline.
The whole Group and the Brownies provided refreshments once again for the
London to Brighton Cycle Ride on behalf of the British Heart Foundation.
Weather conditions were good and it was a highly successful event. Our thanks
to Dick and Jean Morley for the use of their garden and facilities which make it
such a popular stop with the cyclists each year. We also man the Emergency
Centre at St. Margaret’s School during the event.
We were pleased to be part of the Village Fair again. The Cubs were delighted to
win the Best Float Competition and the Beavers were equally delighted to gain
second prize although there was very little to choose between them. The
amount of effort put into constructing the floats and the costumes was
phenomenal and applauded by all. The Scouts, for their part, ran a book stall
which was very popular.
An outdoor evening marked our end of term. Dorothy and Naomi received gifts
to mark their moving on to new leadership roles with the Scouts from the Cubs.
24

We congratulate Shirley Salem, our Group Scout Leader, who was presented
with the Wood Badge to mark the completion of her training. The presentation
was made by June Tremlett, Deputy District Commissioner of Mid Sussex District.
Beavers - Inspired by their work on their Fair Float which was called “Past,
Present and Future”, the Beavers assembled contents for a Time Capsule. This
Capsule was buried with all due ceremony on the Village Green and is to be
recovered in July 2042! Sue Waring was presented with a gift from the Beavers
with thanks for all that has been achieved under her leadership. Sue is now
moving on to the Cub Section in September and we welcome Simon Cowley as
our new Beaver Scout Leader.
Cubs - The Cubs completed the term with Wall Climbing at Blacklands Farm and
the gaining of Athletic and Navigator Badges. There was also a swimming
evening for which we thank the Voller family for the use of their pool and the
great hotdogs. We congratulate Oscar Williams who gained the Chief Scout’s
Silver Award during the month.
Following the Cubs Sponsored Walk reported last month, the Big Cheque for
over £770 was presented to the Guide Dogs for the Blind. Mike Cohen together
with Jackie Page and Suzie the Guide Dog were pleased to receive the cheque on
behalf of the Organisation.
Scouts – The term ended with a cycle ride on the Downs and a session of
swimming at the Vollers. Preparations are now being made for their Summer
Camp in the New Forest.
Alec Gaskin, Group Chairman
25

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from friendly people
Wills & Estates
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Personal injury
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Services for businesses
32-34 Keymer Road, Hassocks
01273 843405
hassocks@gsfwsolicitors.co.uk
www.gsfwsolicitors.co.uk
Authorised and Regulated by the
Solicitors Regulation Authority
26

Ditchling Fair
Village News
I would so much like to thank everyone who helped organise the fair, helped
with the stalls during the morning or the afternoon, the sponsors, the local
businesses for their generosity, for the parents and helpers of the floats - which
were wonderful, Dame Vera Lynn, Judges, Fair Master, Wizard, Mummers,
Morris Dancers, Bell Ringers Ditchling Stud, musicians, cooks, farmers,
volunteers, to everyone who supported it and to so many others who helped
make this 700 th year old fair so very special for us all. For all those I have left off
this list, my many apologies.
As always the village of Ditchling came together and made it a very special day, it
reminds us how very lucky we are to live here and what makes it such a special
village.
Catharine Robinson, Chairman, Ditchling Village Association
Ditchling Fair Teas and Cakes June 2012
Many thanks to all those who helped, indirectly and directly, with the teas and
those who made wonderful cakes. It was a very busy and enjoyable day and we
raised just over £1,600 which is to be shared equally between the Ditchling
Village Association and the Beacon churches.
We were truly blessed with the weather on Saturday 16 th June after so much
rain. Apologies to anyone who wanted to buy a sandwich and couldn't. The 300
odd sandwiches we made sold out very quickly. Thank you also to Southover
Foods for very generously providing the lovely sandwich fillings.
Fiona Hughes and Ruth Tucker
Ditchling Open Gardens
Ditchling’s 18 Open Gardens on 15 th July were enjoyed by nearly three hundred
visitors and made almost £1,500 for the Friends of the Museum. After the recent
disastrous weather, we were extremely fortunate to be blessed with a dry
Sunday, sandwiched between the torrential rain of Saturday and Monday, and to
achieve a result that was at the height of our expectations.
27

We are most grateful to all the owners for opening their lovely gardens and for
the vast amount of work that they did in competition with such inclement
weather. Very few of our visitors completed the full circuit as the majority were
delayed by irresistible afternoon teas and some, apparently, by early evening
drinks!
Martin Roberts
Malthouse Farm Garden Opening
The garden of Helen and Richard Keys (Malthouse Farm, Streat Lane, Streat,
BN6 8SA) will be open on Sunday 19 th and Tuesday 21 st August 2012, 2 to
5.30pm.
Admission £4, children free. All proceeds to charity under the National Garden
Scheme. Home made teas will be available.
Sue Hancock
28

Ditchling Village Association Coffee Mornings
The next Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning will be on Tuesday August
21 st in the Ditchling Village Hall starting at 10 am and sponsored by the Ditchling
WI. Dates for subsequent coffee mornings during 2012 are shown below.
Date
September 18 th
October 16 th
November 20 th
December 18 th
Society
Friends of Village Green
Ditchling Film Society
Friends of St Margaret’s
DVA
Macmillan Cancer Support Summer Jazz Bar-B-Q
Macmillan Cancer Support is holding a summer jazz Bar-B-Q at Tovey Lodge,
Ditchling on Sunday August 26 from 12.30 until 5pm. With great food and music
it is sure to be a wonderful afternoon.
Come and enjoy a great bar-b-q, in lovely surroundings with music supplied by
The Keith Baxter Trio.
Tickets are £15 per adult and £5 per child under 12, so come along with the
family and enjoy a fabulous afternoon and support a great cause as well.
Tickets and more information from Roy Burman at Tovey Lodge on 01273
256156. We look forward to seeing you there.
Jo Newell
Ditchling Horticultural Society
190 th Anniversary Talk on 14 th September
John Withall, a freelance lecturer, garden guide and a former ranger at
Wakehurst Place will be giving an illustrated talk about the “Seed Bank”. The talk
will be free of charge for members of the Ditchling Horticultural Society on
production of their membership card and will include a glass of wine. There will
also be a floral arrangement on the Stage by our President, Peter Eastwood.
Tickets are limited and will be available at the Post Office.
Special Committee Meeting
A Special Meeting was arranged following the resignation of our Allotments
Secretary and Committee Member, Mrs Mandy Cohen who had worked hard
29

since she became Secretary in 2006 and left the allotments in excellent
condition.
It was proposed, seconded and agreed that Mrs Gill Ironside be elected
Allotments Secretary and Roland Ellis be co-opted to the Committee as his name
was next on the list at the AGM. The Allotments Committee will elect its
Chairman and co-opt another member.
Royal Air Forces Association 'Wings' Appeal.
Collections for the above appeal will be held in Ditchling between the 3 rd and
15 th September. If anyone is able to assist with House to House collections, or a
short stint outside the Post Office on the morning of Saturday 15 th I would be
very grateful if you would please telephone me. Thank you.
Jonn Grinsted, 01273 846752
60s Music Evening in Ditchling
Saturday October 20, 7.30pm, Ditchling Village Hall
Following the last three years’ sell-out 60s music discos in Ditchling Village Hall,
we are repeating the event on October 20 featuring, as before, a top Brighton DJ
and all those great bands of the 60s decade. Come and dance to the Rolling
Stones, Beatles, Kinks, Supremes, Manfred Mann and all your favourites and
help raise money for a wildlife charity (see below) at the same time.
Tickets cost £12 and include light refreshments. A well-stocked bar will be
available, but you can bring your own drinks if you prefer. As numbers are
strictly limited, it is advisable to book your tickets early to avoid being
disappointed, which happened to some people the last three years. Tickets are
available from August 1 st at Ditchling Post Office and Parkers or by phoning
01273 845361. NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR.
The charity which will benefit is Fauna & Flora International (reg charity
1011102), backed by Sir David Attenborough and under the patronage of HM the
Queen. Last year we helped the very endangered Cross River gorillas of
Cameroon; this year’s proceeds will again help threatened primates and more
details of the project we’ve selected will be available soon.
Make sure you get ‘Satisfaction’ by getting your ticket early – don’t risk turning
‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ by leaving it too late!
Sylvia Bain
30

Nature Corner
Nature Notes
What a summer! It is hard to imagine the damage to wildlife the floods have had
in some areas. How can any ground mammals have survived? With so much rain
many nests of the ground and low-nesting birds will have been swamped. It will
be interesting to see the numbers of birds that survive to migrate south in the
next few weeks.
The vegetation beside the roads is so thick. The meadowsweet, that tall, light
coloured plume-like flower that grows in damp areas, is abundant all round the
area thriving in these conditions. It is good to recognise some small positive
feature of this “summer”.
I have been reading a book written by a man from Ditchling, Mr. Fred F. Wood,
about a century ago. He does not say what his occupation was but does mention
a timber yard. His knowledge and observations of birdlife in the district were
extremely good and he wrote in a most interesting way. The thing that struck me
was how accurate he was with the descriptions of birds, how to find nests and
which were plentiful and which more scarce. There were Wheatears breeding in
rabbit holes on the Downs, a species not found locally now but one I can
remember in the early 1950’s similarly at Amberley Mount. By seeing dead
bumble bees and mice impaled on thorns he was able to find the nest of a Redbacked
Shrike and in one orchard found the nests of three Wrynecks. Each of
these species no longer breeds in the south-east. The only time we are likely to
see them is during the migration period of spring or autumn.
Probably his most startling record was of a brood of Corncrakes he saw on the
Downs and his comment on how dark and similar to those of a Moorhen the
chicks were. Of Moorhens he wrote of them as a quarry species included in
shooting bags and of using their eggs for custard!
He describes a Cirl Bunting with very good notes on its difference from a
Yellowhammer. Cirl Buntings bred in Sussex until the 1970’s but a now confined
to the South-West. He commented on the increase in Goldfinch numbers as a
result of their ban on capture as cage-birds
He mentions Kestrel and Sparrowhawk as birds of prey. The now common
sightings of Buzzard and Red Kite would have been unimaginable in those days.
He describes what were hung up on the gibbets of the local gamekeeper, species
that would nowadays horrify us, Barn Owl and Kestrel and a Hen Harrier that
was shot on the Downs. This was fascinating writing giving such a valuable
record of what was in the countryside then and now.
33

His descriptions of following hounds and beagles on foot, naming all the farms
and hill ground they covered showed tremendous knowledge and appreciation
of the countryside. Ditchling Court, Court Garden, Oakwood, Wales and
Standean were among those actually named. Less of the Downs would have
been fenced and vast areas were of down land turf with few trees and bushes
apart from clumps of Gorse.
Reg Lanaway
Do Not Abandon All Hope!
It is hard to maintain interest in the garden after the summer we have had so far.
The glacial temperatures, monsoonal rain and roaring winds would only tempt
the most adventurous of gardeners. Pity the poor old plants, stuck out there and
getting attacked by hordes of ravaging slugs and snails too!
But before we start passing round the razor
blades, there is still a chance we may get a
decent autumn. A good way to judge a garden
is to see how good it looks in autumn and
winter. If yours doesn’t pass the test, whack in
a few super-reliable plants to enliven a border
that is past its summer best. Rudbeckia fulgida
‘Goldsturm’ (see photo) would be top of my list.
Deadheading will give you a flowering from July
through to October and it relishes these current
damp conditions. There are many annual
rudbeckias, but go for the perennial ‘Goldsturm’
and you will be amply rewarded with this rich
yellow daisy that spreads nicely, enabling
repetition around the garden. Flowers grow
tall, so you can plant them in the middle or back of your border without fear that
they will get lost. I have mine planted in big blocks, which means that if I don’t
feel like going out into the garden because it is too awful, I will still be able to
appreciate the vivacity these great flowers bring to the border.
No autumn would be complete without the gentle swishy movement of grasses
in the garden. The evergreen Deschampsia cespitosa is a winner for wet soils.
Its dark green leaves form a cascading fountain and its flowers are so attractive:
delicate and silvery - they appear in summer and last most of the winter.
So when the going gets tough, the tough go to the nursery!
Haut Talk by Karoline Baird
07742 731967 haughty.culture@virgin.net
34

The Beacon in the Past
Below are excerpts from previous issues of the Ditchling Beacon.
40 years ago
From the Vicar
“By the time you read this I and my family should be enjoying ourselves on
holiday on the Continent. … Our place will again be taken at the Vicarage by the
Revd. and Mrs. Vane and their daughter Clare.”
“Congratulations to the Parents for a very successful Fête which raised £100 on
just about the worst day possible. In fact the Fête raised £86 but this sum was
made up to £100 by the generosity of Major Tony Phillipson. He read in the local
paper that the children danced round their Maypole in the rain and thought such
a splendid effort should be rewarded”.
Ditchling Horticultural Society
“Our 150th Annual Flower Show is over and St. Swithun smiled on Ditchling over
the weekend”.
Royal British Legion Stoolball Competition
“Whilst inclement weather damped the proceedings and kept attendance down,
it did not affect the keen spirit of the players of Ditchling A & B, Newick A & B,
and Barnard & Brough teams who competed in this annual event. Newick A were
awarded the Royal British Legion Challenge Cup on the narrow margin of seven
runs.”
20 years ago
From the Vicar
“By the time this edition of the magazine is published our principle celebrations
of the 900th anniversary of the starting of the present church will be over … but
although the formal events are over, there is every reason to go on giving thanks
to God for the glories of our church and for the faith and dedication of those who
raised it, embellished it, and looked after it over the centuries”.
“The P.C.C. is anxious to strengthen the attendance at Evensong on Sundays and
to make the best use of our resources. To this end it is planned to have a choral
evensong a month (on the first Sunday) starting in September. In order to get this
arrangement off to a good start it is hoped that as many people as possible will
attend this inaugural event and to encourage the organist and choir in their
efforts”.
Graham Sharpless
35

DITCHLING
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Tel: 01273 842736
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36

If you would like to contribute to our magazine on church and village
community matters, or receive further copies, please get in touch with:
Graham Sharpless, 23 North Court, Hassocks, BN6 8JS
Tel: 01273 845368 E-mail: sharpless@btinternet.com
www.BeaconParishes.org
Copy deadline for the September 2012 edition is
Friday 17 th August
Contributions should, where possible, be sent by email to the email
address above either in the body of the email or as a Microsoft Word file.
For events please ensure that all necessary details are included, such as
title, venue, date, time, ticket prices and availability.
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