Viva Lewes Issue #156 September 2019

Image: Painted collage by Shadric Toop

No Ordinary Opera

DONIZETTI L’elisir d’amore

HANDEL Rinaldo

VERDI Rigoletto LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Chorus Christmas Concert

Book now

October – December

Glyndebourne (NEAR LEWES)

Tickets £20 – £72

156

VIVALEWES

EDITORIAL

I love the Downs. Am always up there stomping in my boots. This is one kind of

footprint, of course – and there’re plenty in this issue – from ‘The way we walk’, to

the Eastbourne and Lewes ‘Walk Fest’ to John Worth’s daily, meditative loop around

Mt Caburn, to ‘wildlife detective’ Michael Blencowe’s excellent research in the field.

(This is Michael’s one hundredth piece for Viva, and we’re endlessly grateful.)

For those preferring town trails, there’s Reeves’ new lightbox exhibition, or the Heritage

Open Days (a number of Heritage Walks too, that weekend). While Gerry Bennett does

a bit of both – over recent months, watching and photographing nesting peregrines.

Then there’s the other sort (of footprint), where we’re all encouraged to tread more

lightly. The excellent Lewes Repair Café sets the pace. If you’re into building from

either side of the skip, DIYgogo sets out to make freecycling simple.

We visit eco paint shop Marchand Son. Lewes hosts its second Electric Car Show. And

Moixa is appealing to anyone with solar panels. The South Downs National Park shares its

campaign to replenish the bees. We ask the council how those recycling wheelie bins work –

now we’re chucking everything in together. And the new Leader of our District Council, and

first Green to hold the role, Zoe Nicholson shares her hopes (and fears).

By the way, I wonder who put that old piano in the Market Tower in August? An ingenious

bit of recycling? (Though it disappeared rather quickly.) Still I enjoyed its brief sojourn.

Every time I walked by (at least two, often four times a day) someone had stopped to play.

THE TEAM

.....................

EDITOR: Charlotte Gann charlotte@vivamagazines.com

SUB-EDITOR: David Jarman

PRODUCTION EDITOR: Joe Fuller joe@vivamagazines.com

ART DIRECTOR: Katie Moorman katie@vivamagazines.com

ADVERTISING: Sarah Hunnisett, Amanda Meynell advertising@vivamagazines.com

EDITORIAL / ADMIN ASSISTANT: Kelly Mechen admin@vivamagazines.com

DISTRIBUTION: David Pardue distribution@vivamagazines.com

CONTRIBUTORS: Michael Blencowe, Mark Bridge, Julie Bull, Emma Chaplin, Rebecca Cunningham, Hasia Curtis,

Lulah Ellender, Daniel Etherington, Mark Greco, Anita Hall, John Henty, Robin Houghton, Kid Squid, Eleanor Knight,

Dexter Lee, Alex Leith, Lizzie Lower, Carlotta Luke, Anna Morgan and Galia Pike.

PUBLISHER: Becky Ramsden becky@vivamagazines.com

Viva Lewes is based at Lewes House, 32 High St, Lewes, BN7 2LX, all enquiries 01273 488882

THE ‘FOOTPRINT’ ISSUE

CONTENTS

Bits and bobs.

8-28. Cover artist Kid Squid enjoys

Inktober; John Worth on health and

walking and art; new Green leader

of our District Council shares her

thoughts (and footprint); the word is

spread; our pet’s called Ted; Community

Kitchen starts Man with a Pan; walkers

and cyclists across the South Downs

National Park; Lewes Repair Café;

new series ‘Five minutes with...’ kicks

off with a local teacher; Carlotta Luke

at the edges of the Beach Life Festival;

Craig goes Green; and the second

Lewes Electric Car Show.

Columns.

31-35. David Jarman visits an old friend;

Eleanor Knight can’t walk in Kim

Kardashian’s shoes; and John Henty

takes a walk on the wild side.

On this month.

37-51. Eastbourne & Lewes Walking

Festival; Mad Hatters in Polegate; a

‘joyous romp’ with Bernard Shaw;

Constable Twitten at Shoreham

Wordfest; Polly Wiseman in Femme

Fatale; Women Over Fifty Film Festival

returns to the Depot; plus Dexter Lee’s

round-up; and Heritage Open Days

through the arched window of Trinity

House.

Art.

53-63. Three interesting exhibitions at

Pallant House; Hong Kong Sunrise by

Jessica Zoob; Art and about includes the

Summer Selfie, Samantha Stas, Star Life

and many others. Marchand Son talks

shop: fancy doing your house out like

The Shining?

104 88

Listings and Free time.

65-89. Herstmonceux Astronomy

Festival, West Dean Dovecote Heritage

Weekend, Extinction Rebellion and

many more dates for your diary; Reeves

lightboxes map; tons of gigs to choose

from, including Chill Down Sundays

at The Lamb, The Reform Club, Zion

Illustration by Hasia Curtis

THE ‘FOOTPRINT’ ISSUE

Train and Femme Brûlée; music in a

town-wide Ripple; Classical round-up

pick is Pippa Dames-Longworth and

the Singing Salon; opera bringing

elderly and young together; for the

family, Gangsta Granny, or a Medieval

Weekend at Michelham Priory, Sooty

and Friends in Eastbourne, Bentley

Wood Fair, and Family Raceday at

Plumpton; Bags of Books reviews

A Planet full of Plastic; Into the

Trees festival, the smaller sibling of

Elderflower Fields.

Food.

93-97. Côte lunch review; a recipe

from Hunter Gather Cook; and Lewes

Patisserie Macaroons.

The way we walk.

98-101. Photographer Aiste Saulyte

meets some local hikers.

Features.

103-117. Bee Lines campaign; Gerry

Bennett shares his stunning peregrines;

Wildlife and the nature detective;

Thomas Broad explains our wheelie

bins; Alexander Thomson explains

DIYgogo; and Anita Hall talks to

Moixa; Business news from around the

town; and Lewes FC women’s captain.

Inside left.

130. Did you know Russell & Bromley

shoe store (sort of) started in Lewes?

Photo by Aiste Saulyte

VIVA DEADLINES

We plan each magazine six weeks ahead, with a mid-month

advertising/copy deadline. Please send details of planned events

to admin@vivamagazines.com, and for any advertising queries:

advertising@vivamagazines.com, or call 01273 488882.

Remember to recycle your Viva.

Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our content.

Viva Lewes magazine cannot be held responsible for any omissions,

errors or alterations. The views expressed by columnists do not

necessarily represent the view of Viva Magazines.

Viva retains copyright for any artwork we create.

Love me or recycle me. Illustration by Chloë King

“INSPIRATIONAL

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THIS MONTH’S COVER ARTIST

“I really like drawing dead things,” says Kid

Squid, the illustrator of this month’s

cover. “Natural history, bones

and animals and stuff like

that. Scientific illustrations

and Victorian botanical

drawings are my

favourite. Most

of my work has

a bit of a dark

side to it, but it’s

not macabre; it

can be a little

bit gothic,

in a kind of

delicate way.

But then I like doing things which are a little

bit weird and quirky as well...” Her sketchbooks

demonstrate exactly what she means. On one

page lies a dead sparrow, intricately drawn in

black ink with only its red breast highlighted

in watercolour; on the next, an elegant swan,

equally intricate, but it’s puking. The swan is

puking a rainbow.

“It’s a niche style that I’m trying out,” she

explains. “Every October I do this thing called

Inktober, which is where you do an ink drawing

every single day for the whole month and

post each one on Instagram. It’s really good for

developing a style and there are prompts for

every day. For some of the prompts, I had no

idea what to draw and a friend said, ‘you know

KID SQUID

what you should do? A puking animal.’ So I

decided that for every day I didn’t know what

to draw I would draw a puking animal. It either

makes people really uncomfortable or they love

it.” The full set of puking animals (including a

puking Godzilla and a puking Alien) are being

exhibited in all their rainbow-coloured glory

at Brighton’s new Conclave Gallery on Queens

Road until October 2nd.

This design for our ‘Footprint’ cover is a

stride away from her normal style. It’s far more

colourful, for a start. “I used to be terrified

of using colour,” she says. “It felt like such

a commitment, which is why I often just

work with little pops of colour. But recently

someone introduced me to watercolour and

showed me the basics, and since then I’ve

been playing around with it. It’s a weird medium

to work with – it can be quite unpredictable

at times – but I’m a lot more confident

with it now!” The vibrant oranges and yellows

are meant to show the seasonal transition, from

summer’s gladioli to the autumnal leaves, but

the fiery colours have a deeper message as well.

“I’ve been really noticing the Extinction Rebellion

artwork that’s appearing all over the town

at the moment,” she says, “and what I wanted

to create was not only the idea of summer turning

into autumn, but the vibrant flowers and

nature heading towards the dark autumn of the

climate crisis that we’re in.” The heavy, punchy

footprints represent her more rebellious side.

“It’s really incredible what ER are doing. I

think they get a bit of a bad rep for being quite

‘extreme’ – but it isn’t that they are extreme, it’s

that the situation is extreme. It’s a really difficult

thing for everyone to come to terms with,

but someone needs to say ‘hey everyone, we

need to wake up now’.”

Rebecca Cunningham

See more of Kid Squid’s work on her website

kidsquidillustration.com or on Instagram:

@kidsquidillustration

She also creates fabulous pet portraits; see more

examples on her website or contact her at kidsquidillustration@gmail.com

to discuss

a commission.

Photo by Charlotte Gann

MY LEWES: JOHN WORTH

What brought you to Lewes, and when?

I grew up in Lindfield and went to school in

Haywards Heath. I worked in the Australian

Outback in my twenties, which had a big

impact, and later in London. We moved to

Lewes in 1996 with a young family and started

a business. We lived in St Swithun’s Terrace,

then Kingston. I’ve been in the High Street for

about five years.

What business? We used to run one of

the first digital agencies – Worth Digital in

Brighton – working primarily with the NHS

and Department of Health. In 2010 we started

working with founding members of the Expert

Patient Programme on a new enterprise,

Know Your Own Health. We focus specifically

on supporting people who are struggling to

manage with one or more long term health

conditions. In those circumstances, it can be

easy to feel ‘disempowered’ and dependent

on health services. The health coaching is a

personalised one-to-one intervention that

supports the individual to take back control.

As one person said, “the coaching helped me

to realise I still had choice(s) and power over

my life – I thought I’d lost that”. It’s still a very

new approach, although based on many years’

research and a growing body of evidence of

improved outcomes. It was great being able

to run such a ground-breaking project locally,

working with GPs across Lewes and the

Havens. Hopefully it will be continued here.

You also paint. Is your art a way of managing

your own health? Definitely. It’s my way of

reaching out to myself, identifying what’s going

on for me. I only started painting a year or

two ago – I’d never painted before or thought

about it really – but it’s central to me now.

I’ve stumbled on a new side of myself: a whole

world I didn’t know was there. My pictures

are inspired by the landscape – particularly

the Downs – though they’re abstract. Some

are based on maps, which I see as kind of

musical scores. I paint from my heart not my

head – and rarely with a paintbrush. Mostly

my work is about applying layers – both paint,

but also materials, like calico, or egg shell, for

instance, then scraping back to reveal colours

and textures. The work’s highly tactile. We can

make up any stories we want in our heads; our

hearts are where the truth is.

You walk most days. Why? Where? I’ve

always walked. But it’s never been more

important to me than now. It’s completely tied

up in the art. For the last year or so I have,

almost religiously, done the same five-mile walk

nearly every morning – up Chapel Hill, round

Mt Caburn, towards Glynde, and back into

Lewes. It’s absolutely glorious – every season –

and I sketch every day too, as I go. This walk is

my meditation.

Interview by Charlotte Gann

John’s exhibition of his paintings titled ‘Rhythms

of the Land and Heart’ is in the Blue Room,

Watercourt (the old Post Office) 65 High Street

between 6th and 29th September.

LAURIE ANDERSON

& HSIN-CHIEN HUANG:

TO THE MOON

30 SEPTEMBER

– 4 OCTOBER

CATERINA BARBIERI

& RUBEN SPINI

MYRIAM BLEAU:

BALLISTICS

10 OCTOBER

PLANNINGTOROCK

11 OCTOBER

TIM HECKER

PRESENTS ANOYO

SUGAI KEN

15 OCTOBER

HOLLY HERNDON

PRESENTS PROTO

17 OCTOBER

BRIGHTON

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BITS AND BOBS

BEST FOOT FORWARD

We thought our Footprint

issue was the perfect

moment to ask a few

questions of the Lewes

District Council new and

first Green leader Zoe

Nicholson, who heads the

cooperative alliance.

Zoe, you’re leading

a council made up of

an alliance of Greens,

Lib Dems, Labour and

independents. This has recently taken over

after eight years of a Conservative District

Council. How long is your term? Four years.

We’re rotating leadership between Greens and

the Lib Dems, so my personal term as leader

is 12 months and then my Lib Dem colleague,

James MacCleary (also pictured), who’s currently

Deputy becomes Leader.

What are your three top hopes for that

time? Can I have four please? Making sure our

Council takes every action it can to address the

impact on our communities of climate change;

it’s real, it’s happening now.

Building truly affordable and high quality

sustainable homes that bring work, services and

things we need to our communities.

Being creative with the resources we have to

deliver meaningful sustainable prosperity for our

communities, especially those hit hard by the

economic times and by planning policies of the

past, like Newhaven.

That politics can be done differently, fairly and

justly. That by working together we can create

solutions that are better than those we could

dream up on our own.

What are the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge is the context in which

our Council operates, where we have a national

government that is hell bent on taking us off a

Photo by Carlotta Luke

Brexit cliff, national policies

of austerity that have meant

that Councils like ours have

to deliver essential services

with very little support

from government and on

top of that a set of national

planning policies that do not

make it essential that all new

developments have net zero

carbon emissions. Despite

all that, the challenge is to

deliver what matters to local people first time,

and create a sustainable, vibrant community and

places to live and work.

These are interesting times. How do you

remain motivated when central, indeed

international, government can seem to

be moving in such different directions? I

suppose finding the motivation doesn’t feel like

a choice, it’s an intrinsic sense of opportunity

and doing the right thing. I have a strong

sense of purpose and being in service to others.

Greens come with a deep sense of community

and purpose and I guess I’m built in that way.

These are unprecedented times, with people

waking up to the realities of climate change,

the years of austerity. It’s time to be creative,

courageous. To put our best selves to work for

the common good.

What do you personally prioritise to

minimise your footprint? Every spare waking

moment, after being a mum, partner, councillor,

chief executive, leader of a council, I spend

getting more Greens elected. I’m all about the

policies. Whilst I can and do do my part, any

amount of recycling, flight reduction, travelling

by train pales into insignificance compared

to the impact of the policies of national, local

government and big business.

Interview by Charlotte Gann

THE BEAUTIFUL EVERYDAY

TRIPS AND BOBS

SPREAD THE WORD

Wendy Vince of Horsted

Keynes finds a cool spot in the

mountains of southern Corsica

to spread the word. That said,

‘with 30 degree heat at the

coast’, wrote Peter, who took

this picture, ‘everyone is on the

beach – so it’s not all that easy

Spreading the Word in the

mountains’.

And Felicity Jackson took the

June issue of Viva on her recent

trip to Mongolia and Tibet.

‘This pic was taken at Everest

Base Camp, Tibet,’ she wrote,

‘as the morning sun reached

Everest. Unfortunately, I forgot

to take the mag with me when

I went down to the viewpoint;

then, clouds hid the peak. Trust

me: it looked awesome!’

Meanwhile, Callum Mechen

spread his Viva on the roof

terrace of Gloria Palace Hotel,

San Agustin, Gran Canaria.

Keep taking us with you and

keep spreading the word. Send

your photos and a few words

about you and your trip to

hello@vivamagazines.com.

chrismas

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BITS AND BOW-WOWS

PETS OF LEWES

This is Ted, a 10 year old Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. He

was rescued two years ago after his owners returned him to

his breeder. He was overweight and rather sad, but his new

owners have helped him to tone up and regain his puppyish

lust for life using Davina McCall fitness DVDs and a balanced

Mediterranean diet.

Loves: Roland Rivron, maths, open plan living, angels.

Dislikes: isolation and despair, Mike Leigh films, cognitive

dissonance, faint praise, all Snapchat filters.

Niche dog tongue trivia: some dogs have blue tongues.

There is no clear genetic explanation, but I haven’t seen those raspberry Chupa Chups for a while

and I left them right here.

A commonly held belief is that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans, but it’s nonsense – both

contain more than 600 types of bacteria and are absolutely disgusting.

Dogs can’t sweat through their skin to cool off. Instead, they rely on panting. When dogs pant, the

air moves quickly over their tongue, mouth and lungs and allows moisture to evaporate and cool

them down. The process is known as thermoregulation. Your dog will be delighted if you use this

technical term. @dogs of lewes

MAN WITH A PAN

A great new initiative is starting at the Community

Kitchen on North Street this month. Man with a Pan is

being organised by Community Chef Robin Van Creveld.

“It’s a programme of five week cookery courses for

older men who are carers, bereaved or in other ways

vulnerable”, he says. That’s the first wave, but there’s more to the project than that.

After completing the course, there’ll be ongoing support – and the opportunity to turn newfound

skills to great use. “We’ll be hosting regular reunions”, Robin says, “and community activities where

graduates cook for homeless people and other vulnerable groups. The aim is to enable peer support,

community and positive action.”

Robin’s been running this programme elsewhere across the South East for the last three years, and he’s

seen it work. It supports everyone who gets involved, and has also received lots of interest and encouragement

– including national media coverage. Now he’s secured funding to provide it in Sussex.

It clearly is a formula that works. But finding the right recruits needs managing. “Reaching the target

audience of older men is actually quite difficult”, says Robin – which is why he’s keen to feature

in Viva. “The courses are free to the men in need.” Are you one? Do you know any? The Community

Chef would love to hear from you. Charlotte Gann

Thurs 19 Sep-24 Oct. Call 0766 526217, or email office@communitychef.org.uk. communitychef.org.uk

Photo by Gani Naylor

At St Andrew’s Prep we encourage our pupils to build lines of

character that help them be who they want to be.

WHO THEY WILL BE STARTS HERE

Visit our open mornings on 11 and 12 October 2019

Book your place today

www.standrewsprep.co.uk/press

Valuation Day

Jewellery and Fine Art

Charleston House, Lewes, BN8 6LL | 9 October, 11am to 3pm

APPOINTMENTS

AND ENQUIRIES

01273 220000

hove@bonhams.com

bonhams.com/hove

A DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE

TRANSFORMABLE

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by Grassy, circa 1935

Sold for £257,562 *

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BIKES AND BOBS

RIDERS OF LEWES #11: SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

The South Downs Way is the best known element of our

wonderful National Park. Alister Linton-Crook , Cycling

Project Officer at the South Downs National Park Authority

(SDNPA), says, “We estimate that around 20 million

visits take place on the South Downs Way every year.” He

says their data shows a breakdown of “approximately 65

to 70 per cent pedestrians or runners, 25 to 30 per cent

cyclists and 1 to 2 per cent horse riders.”

So while the majority are those leaving footprints, a good chunk are leaving tyre tracks. And cyclists

are not just using the South Downs Way. Alister says, “the cornucopia of quiet roads and lanes attract

many leisure cyclists and cycle clubs, while off-road cyclists have over 1,350km of bridleways and

byways to explore.” And there are even the surfaced, off-highway tracks, some on nice level former

railway lines, totalling around 35km. These include the burgeoning Egret’s Way and the Downs Link.

The Authority also has around 35 Cycle Ambassadors, “who encourage individuals and communities

to enjoy the National Park through cycling. Their role is to demonstrate best cycling practice, lead

by example and, where appropriate, share knowledge about the special qualities of the National Park

such as the biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage.” All in all, the National Park is a joy for

cycling. Daniel Etherington

Focusing

on you

Sacha Allistone MBACP

Counselling, Psychotherapy

and Psychological services

in central Lewes

01273 921355

www.brightonandhovepsychotherapy.com

admin@brightonandhovepsychotherapy.com

‘A burden once lifted is lighter than air.’

— Ioannis Georgiadis

sachaallistone.com | 07909986812

Gemma Day

Susie Boyt Jacqueline Wilson Ruth Ware

Sathnam Sanghera Fiona Sampson Alexander Masters

pc 19-20_Layout 1 12/08/2019 10:33 Page 2

Great

talks

great

writers

2019-2020 Programme

8 October Susie Boyt Novelist, author of Love & Fame and My Judy Garland Life

12 November Jacqueline Wilson Celebrated children’s novelist (limited to over 16s)

21 January Ruth Ware International bestselling thriller writer

11 February Sathnam Sanghera Times journalist, author of The Boy With The Topknot

10 March Fiona Sampson Poet, biographer, author of In Search of Mary Shelley

21 April Alexander Masters Author of Stuart: A Life Backwards and A Life Discarded

All events start at 8pm, All Saints Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE.

Doors open 7.30pm Season tickets £40, single events £10, under 25s £5

Information & tickets: www.lewesliterarysociety.co.uk

www.facebook.com/lewesliterarysociety @leweslitsoc

BITS AND BOBBINS

LEWES REPAIR CAFÉ

Susanne is using a needle and colour-coordinated

cotton to reattach the paw of a pastel-striped

cuddly sloth. At a table next to her, Fran is ready

with a cocktail of adhesives guaranteed to eliminate

the wobble from the second-hand table

lamp she’s disassembling. On the other side of

the room, Paul’s putting a revitalised vacuum

cleaner back together, while Roy is delivering a

generous squirt of switch-cleaning lubricant to

the innards of a noisy wind-up radio.

This is the monthly Lewes Repair Café at

Landport Community Hub, where a team of

enthusiastic and capable volunteers fix anything

from toasters to trousers, from chairs to china.

Currently, around 30 people are involved or

ready to lend a hand, organiser Tony tells me.

“We’ve got into a sort-of throwaway culture,

because sometimes things are very cheap”, he

explains. “The café seemed a way of subverting

manufacturers’ ways of getting us to buy new

stuff.” Although having an item repaired can

save the price of a new purchase, even the cost

of repairs may be prohibitive. As a result, the

Lewes service is free, although donations towards

the running costs are appreciated. There’s

also a social angle – “getting the community to

come together, interacting with each other”,

says Tony – as well as a hope that some visitors

might learn from the people doing repairs. And

yes, calling the event a ‘café’ is entirely accurate:

you’ll find tea, coffee and an assortment of

home-made cakes on offer while waiting for

your broken items to be fixed.

“It can sometimes be more expensive to repair

things than buy new stuff”, Tony admits. Indeed,

some products seem designed deliberately

to frustrate the non-professional fixer. Take the

iPhone, for example, which requires specialist

tools to disassemble it and has key parts glued in

place. This type of complexity has even become

an election issue in the USA, with politicians

arguing that manufacturers should be obliged

to provide repair manuals and diagnostic tools

rather than forcing customers to rely on authorised

service agents.

But repairs aren’t just about fixing a fault. They

can restore happy memories, as Fran has found.

“I’m usually dealing with people’s sentimental

items. If it’s china, it’s always something from

their family history. It’s so rewarding – and

they’re so grateful.” In some cases, repairs

can even improve the original item. Imogen,

another of the volunteer menders, chats to me

about the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken

pottery is repaired with precious metal – often

liquid gold or a mixture of lacquer and powdered

gold – to enhance rather than disguise

the joins. The same applies to her dressmaking

skills, she insists. “You grow more in love with

clothes you’ve repaired. You like them better.”

Mark Bridge

The next Lewes Repair Café takes place at the

Landport Community Hub on Landport Road

from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday 21st September,

then again on Saturday 19th October.

facebook.com/lewesrepaircafe

BITS AND BOBS

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

Originally from Paisley

in Scotland, Maxine Hunt

moved to Lewes in 1991.

While training to be a

teacher as a mature student

at Brighton University she

met husband Stewart. They

have two teenage sons,

Lewis and Ewan. Today she’s responsible for Outdoor

Learning at South Malling Primary School,

where she also teaches Science – ‘a great subject to

do outdoors!’, she tells us.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Early morning walks on Malling Down with my

dog Tess, spending time with family and friends,

dancing – Disco & Swing, regular trips to the cinema,

especially the Depot, and seeing the smile on

a child’s face when they discover or do something

for the first time!

WHAT ARE YOUR THREE TOP FILM/BOOKS?

Films: Rebecca – Hitchcock, 1940

All about Eve – Mankiewicz, 1950

Shawshank Redemption – Darabont 1994

Books: A Scots Quair – Lewis Grassic Gibbon

The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox – Maggie

O’Farrell

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TV/ RADIO

SHOW?

TV: Fawlty Towers. Radio: Desert Island Discs

TOP PLACES TO EAT IN LEWES?

To eat – The Swan, Côte, Erawan

To drink – Symposium, the Depot, The Swan

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?

Maya Angelou, David Attenborough, and people

who CARE for others.

Do you have Workspace to Let?

Workspace to Let as a Desk,

Office or Studio?

I have a list of clients wanting

workspace in Lewes.

For more info visit:

www.spaceagentlewes.co.uk

Private retirement living at its finest

GRADWELL

PARK

SOUTH CHAILEY

coming soon

01372 383950

gradwellparksales@retirementvillages.co.uk

www.retirementvillages.co.uk

Gradwell Park

(part of Retirement Villages Group Ltd)

off Mill Lane, South Chailey, BN8 4PX

CARLOTTA LUKE

FOCUS ON: BEACH LIFE

Carlotta did a spot of people-watching at the

Beach Life Festival Eastbourne this summer.

‘I have a hunch that many people harbour a

dream of driving off into the sunset in a VW

bus – or maybe that’s just me’, she writes. ‘At

the Beach Life Festival in July, I found owners

living that dream. I even found a wedding

bus with windscreens that flipped open, and a

guitar that colour coordinated with its bus.’

beachlifefestival.co.uk

carlottaluke.com

CARTOON

BITS AND BOBS

LEWES ELECTRIC CAR SHOW

“Already a pure electric car is cheaper to own and run

than a new petrol or diesel car over a period of four years,

despite electric cars costing more”, Transition Town

Lewes’ Julia Waterlow tells me. “Prices are set to fall as

manufacturers produce more cars. For now, the government

helps the purchase with a grant of up to £3,500.”

Julia is preparing for Lewes’ second Electric Car Show – a

free event organised by Transition Town and renewable

energy company Ovesco, and held in the large rear yard

at Harvey’s Brewery on Saturday 7th September. “And the

market in second-hand cars is growing fast”, she adds. “A friend of mine in Lewes has just bought a

second-hand one which he’s thrilled with.”

The show features electric and hybrid cars – from the best-selling Nissan Leaf to high-end Teslas

and BMWs – as well as other electric vehicles such as bikes, scooters and motorbikes. There’ll also

be info on all related issues – local and national charging networks, innovations, running costs – and

savings. And the controversy around mining for lithium. The cars will be there with their proud

owners – “most coming belong to a group called Sussex EVs who are electric car enthusiasts”, says

Julia. “We aim to have around 15 to 20 cars on show.” Charlotte Gann

Sat 7th Sep, 10.30-2.30, Harvey’s Brewery, Rear Yard. transitiontownlewes.org

Jem

Lower Fifth

Media Studies

You are warmly invited to our

Senior School Open Morning

Saturday 14 September 2019

9.30am to noon

HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding

Boys and girls 13 to 18

(Entry at 13 and 16)

To register please contact:

admissions@bedes.org

T 01323 843252

or online at bedes.org

Bede’s Senior School

Upper Dicker

East Sussex BN27 3QH

A&R. You & Yours

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you care about. At Adams & Remers, we can help you with:

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Rated as the leading private client firm in the area, we have been

helping families in East Sussex for generations.

Call us on the number below or drop in to our office at Trinity

House on School Hill in Lewes. We look forward to working with you.

Adams & Remers LLP

LEWES 01273 480616

LONDON 020 7024 3600

www.adamsandremers.com

COLUMN

David Jarman

My back pages

A visit to a Canadian friend, Maggie Delahey

who is now in a nursing home that lies in

the shadow of the Chelsea and Westminster

Hospital, just off the Fulham Road. Now

93, Maggie has definitely reached that age

when the birthday candles cost more than

the cake. She is certainly more likely to be

wearing a dressing gown than the leather

jacket that she carried off with such panache,

well into her eighties. But she seems happy

enough, working her way through a stack of

thrillers and listening to all the jazz on Radio

3, especially Geoffrey Smith. My mother died

at the age of 90, having achieved her ambition

of not ending up in a nursing home. Living

independently as well, the only outside help

being meals-on-wheels deliveries, some

of which she would eat. She didn’t leave

her house for the last two years of her life,

perhaps worried that, once outside her front

door, she would be bundled into the back

of a van and carted off to the nursing home

that she feared so much. Maggie Delahey, by

contrast, seems determined to never leave

her nursing home again. Alas, she finds it’s

not always possible. She’s always been prone

to falls. She once showed me the steps in

Tate Britain where she had suffered one of

her more spectacular upsets. She pointed out

a dullish, red stain that she was convinced

was the residue of blood from her gashed

forehead. Now, every time she has a fall in her

room she has to be checked into the Chelsea

and Westminster for a couple of nights

while x-rays are carried out. She resents this

upheaval bitterly, she tells me, but even so,

there is one consolation. The hospital food is

superior to that of the nursing home.

Adjacent to the hospital is a small garden.

The benches have plaques commemorating

hospital employees. It’s rather charming that

the workers so remembered seem to have

been employed in rather lowly capacities –

assistant porters and the like. One exception

is a bench devoted to the author, Bea Howe.

The name rang a bell, but I was sure I had

never read any of her books. Then, on the

train home, somewhere near Plumpton, it

came to me. She was the dedicatee of Sylvia

Townsend Warner’s delightful first novel,

Lolly Willowes (1926). It’s the story of a

woman who loses her beloved father when

she’s 28, spends twenty years as a maiden aunt

before moving to the country and finding her

vocation. She becomes a witch.

Having reread it – it tails off a bit towards

the end – I’m tempted to suggest it as my

next book group choice. It would allow me

to recall, quite possibly not for the first time,

the following cartoon.

There’s a group of women

seated round a table. One

of them is addressing the

others: “Don’t get me

wrong. I like our

book group very

much. I just

think we

had more

fun when

we were a

coven.”

Illustration by Charlotte Gann

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COLUMN

Eleanor Knight

Keyboard worrier

For all that I struggle to understand her

purpose, the reason I can’t judge Kim

Kardashian is that I will never be able to walk

a mile in her shoes. The first hundred yards

would see me limping through the doors of

the Victoria Hospital’s minor injuries unit,

begging for mercy, plasters and a pair of comfy

daps to go home in.

But you only have to look at the feet of our

young in the Priory Prom photos to know you

can’t deny the woman’s influence. Speaking as

one whose Twitter followers might, if they all

turned up at once on a sunny day, create only

a minor queuing event at the Pells Pool, I can

only gape in awe, wonder, and some alarm at

the idea that Kim Kardashian, the names of

whose four children are known to my own,

was (last time I looked) followed on Instagram

by 108 million people*. That’s way more than

Phil and his team could cope with at the Pells.

In fact, it’s the same as the population of the

Philippines.

So it hardly took that august organ of news,

Metro, to spread the word that the mother-offour-and-lawyer-in-the-making

(do keep up)

recently adopted a plant-based diet. When

she’s at home. Well, it’s easier to rely on the

lighting for your avocadoes, I suppose.

To many of us, the phrase ‘plant-based diet’

evokes images of worried herbivores – sheep, if

you like – nibbling away at flaccid greenery and

having to deal with the consequences (and if

Kim Kardashian suffers from flatulence,

she doesn’t share it on Instagram). But

potatoes are plants, too, which means

that – for the time being at least –

the humble bag of chips, locally

sourced (and we have some excellent

local sources in Lewes) can still be

enjoyed as an essential and active part of saving

our planet.

Though he probably wouldn’t describe himself

as a bag-of-chips-man, environmentalist

George Monbiot would certainly approve.

An unlikely ally of Her Serene Kimness,

George has long been encouraging (don’t say

haranguing) us to eat more plants in order

to slow down climate change. He suggests

that just a kilo of grass-fed beef has the same

carbon footprint as a flight to New York.

‘Oh no!’ say the, well, nay-sayers, ‘You’ve got

your facts wrong, George, mate. According

to Science, it’s much more like…. 11 kilos.’

Whichever way you slice it, that’s about five

times a Sunday lunch for up to six, and I don’t

know about you, but when you look at it like

that I’d sooner cross the Atlantic anyway.

So as I see it we can either strap steaks to our

feet and prepare to walk the long way round to

the Big Apple, or do like Kim ’n’ George and

resolve to eat more plants and fewer animals.

That way we might help save the world’s

nation most vulnerable to climate change – the

Philippines.

* I looked last year. This year it’s upwards of

140 million.

Illustration by Hasia Curtis

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COLUMN

Lewes Out Loud

Plenty more Henty

Greetings poppickers

out there

– see whether you

can identify this 1972

chart success from

its chorus line which

goes ‘Doo doo doo

doo doo doo doo doo

doo’? Too difficult?

OK then, as you’re

a regular reader of

this page, here’s another line: ‘Doo doo doo

doo doo doo doo doo doo’. Well done, you’re

absolutely right, they come from Lou Reed’s

classic hit Walk on he Wild Side.

I mention the song because it neatly describes

my photograph this month which was taken in

Southover Grange, on the wild side of these

glorious gardens. Let’s face it, the streets of

our town, rather like Nancy Sinatra’s boots in

1966, were made for walking and the recently

published Lewes area place maps are perfect

for planning these.

I’ve always enjoyed the trek across to

Kingston for a pint and vividly recall the time

I encouraged top travel writer, John Carter,

and his wife, to join me across the Downs via

Juggs Road. He admired the views, downed

his beer and called for a taxi back from the

nearby garden centre. Soft lot these travel

journalists!

It’s nice to have a purpose though on such

jaunts and the other favoured hike for us was

across to Glynde to watch the cricket and

enjoy tea in the company of both teams. A real

teapot, complete with cosy, and some delicious

home-made cakes appealed. No longer I’m

afraid. Only the players get the teas now

which is a shame.

Now I don’t want

to get political

here (wise decision

John, Ed) but

politician, Rory

Stewart did impress

me when, away

from Westminster

wrangling, he wrote

in a Sunday Times

article ‘The rhythm

of walking clears your mind in a very unusual

way and you’re moving at a different pace, so

you’re encountering people’. In his case, of

course, the people were in Afghanistan, but

the same is also true of Lewesians.

My philosophy in fact which I celebrate from

time to time here. As I observed four years

ago ‘anyone who is anyone in Lewes has a dog

and sometimes more than one’. Take Terry,

for example, who I met on a journey home not

so long ago.

He was walking, half carrying a young white

terrier (I think it was – not very good on

breeds) called ‘Bumble’. As I approached,

14 week old ‘Bumble’ started growling

ominously. I stopped. “He doesn’t like laces”,

Terry told me apologetically. I tiptoed past.

The growling subsided.

By the way, since the launch of the

aforementioned area map, I have noticed a

sharp fall in the number of visitors, at the foot

of Keere Street, staring desperately around

them for any sign of Anne of Cleves House.

“Straight on, turn right, few hundred yards

on the right” I used to advise. Now perhaps I

should add “Or pop into the Grange gardens

and do do take a walk on the wild side

instead!” John Henty

吀爀愀渀猀昀漀爀洀礀漀甀爀栀漀洀攀眀椀琀栀漀甀爀昀椀渀攀猀琀焀甀愀氀椀琀礀

匀㨀䌀刀䄀䘀吀洀愀搀攀 ⴀ 琀漀 ⴀ 洀攀愀猀甀爀攀椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀栀甀琀琀攀爀猀 ⸀

琀 ⸀ ㈀㜀アパートアパートアパート㠀㐀㈀

攀 ⸀ 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀䀀戀攀氀氀愀瘀椀猀琀愀猀栀甀琀琀攀爀猀 ⸀ 挀漀 ⸀ 甀欀

眀 ⸀ 眀眀眀 ⸀ 戀攀氀氀愀瘀椀猀琀愀猀栀甀琀琀攀爀猀 ⸀ 挀漀 ⸀ 甀欀

ON THIS MONTH: FESTIVAL

Walk Fest

75 walks to choose from

Photo by Nigel French

Have you got a great walk

burning a hole in your

knapsack? One you’d like to

share with others? Or would

you like to discover new

routes to explore, or groups

to explore them with?

This month the

Eastbourne and Lewes

Walking Festival,

organised by the shared councils, is back for a

third year – and it’s grown a lot since last time.

“There are 75 walks listed this year, up from 47

in 2018,” Jack Brownell, who’s responsible for

organising the 10-day festival, tells me.

“The idea originally was, of course, a push

for health and well being. One very good,

enveloping way to improve things is by

encouraging people out and walking –

including doing so in our beautiful natural

surroundings, and in groups.”

So that’s the inspiration behind the whole

concept. “We want to get people outdoors,

exercising, and we want them to meet people”,

Jack tells me. “The walks vary between about

½ hour and 6 hours long. They’re all graded on

the website: easy, moderate or strenuous. The

vast majority are moderate – between two and

five miles long. And they all take place within

this ten-day timeframe.”

They’re also mostly free, and led by volunteers,

some of whom belong to existing walking

groups – like the ‘Nordic Walking for Health’

group, whose practice is described as ‘a bit like

cross-country skiing without the skis’, and

is apparently fine for anyone ‘who can walk

swinging their arms’.

Such groups are trialling their wares in the

festival and offering sample walks. You might

then choose to sign up for the rest of the year.

A number of the events

in the Festival Walks

Calendar also provide

opportunities to learn.

Highlights include a

Colour in Nature walk

led by Jacky Misson,

where walkers learn about

painting landscape as

they go. Or a Cuckmere

Haven walk where you’ll learn landscape

photography in that most glorious setting,

from Jane De Weck.

Or what about the enticingly-titled Historic

Postbox Walk in Eastbourne? Stepping into

the Past takes a map of the seaside resort from

1631 as its starting point. Or there’s Walking

Football or Netball – if you’d rather go for

something a bit more active.

“The Tingle’s Way Walk, from the Linklater

Pavilion in Lewes up to Landport Bottom, is

definitely worth a mention”, Jack tells me – and

it’s bang on our issue theme of ‘Footprint’.

i.e. you’ll be out walking, and gain a mini

education while you’re at it into the brilliance

and fragility of our eco system – including

looking, for instance, at ‘the beautiful

endangered Adonis blue butterfly’.

The dedicated festival website also provides

a host of information on groups you might

wish to discover, and potentially join, and a

load of walks you can do on your own – under

the banner ‘self-guided walks’. Or you might

be interested in becoming a ‘walk leader’:

it’s too late to sign up for this year now, but

the organisers will be looking at next year’s

proposals in March 2020. Get in touch through

the website. Charlotte Gann

20th-29th September,

eastbourneandleweswalkfest.org

Flexible Minds… Flexible Bodies

How can the Feldenkrais Method

help improve Mental Health?

An event to mark World Mental Health Day

Wednesday October 9, 5.30-7pm

Lewes Library, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LZ

Meet local practitioners and at 6pm there will be a

talk about Moshe Feldenkrais and his work with a

presentation of a new collection of books about him

and the Method. Refreshments will be available.

Curious? Find out more:

www.feldenkrais.co.uk

FeldenkraisSussex@gmail.com

CHANTAL NOW AT EXTERIOR

exteriorhairstylist_

16 market street, Bn7 2nb

01273 567 333

8.30am - 6pm Tuesday Wednesday Friday

8.30am - 7pm Thursday | 8am - 4pm Saturday

ON THIS MONTH: FESTIVAL

Mad Hatters’ Affair

How mad are you?

Mad Hatters’ Affair (MHA), a new music

festival coming to Polegate on the weekend of

6th September, ask on their website: ‘Are we all

mad?’ Mad Hatters’ Affair sees ‘MAD’ as an

acronym for ‘Making A Difference’ however:

the festival has been set up to raise funds for

Friends of Chema Kizzi, a charity working

in Sierra Leone that builds schools, protects

wildlife and more (chemakizzi.com).

I spoke to Karen Dodd – founder of both

Friends of Chema Kizzi and MHA – who aims

to grow the festival each year to raise more

funds. “It was a family affair to start with.

My eldest son, my daughter and my niece

have got involved, and then my son has got a

couple of friends who have got involved too.

I’m overseeing it, but now they’ve taken hold.

Between us we have sourced the kind of music

that we want.”

All the food at MHA will be vegan, although

Karen is keen to stress that anyone is welcome:

“There’s a McDonald’s next door!” She explains

that they are aiming to be as plastic free as

possible, and that there are pre-bookable

cardboard tents available, to ensure that

camping detritus is not left behind. (Search

YouTube for ‘KarTent – Carwash Test’ if you

are sceptical). The main stage will be 100 per

cent solar powered, and sustainable lifestyle

products will be available from the stalls on site.

The festival is for over 21s only this year, due to

licensing restrictions, but Karen hopes that this

might change in the future.

Acts include Nubiyan Twist, P.Unity and Natty

& The Rebelship (“He’s amazing… quite a

spiritual chap”). There will be local bands

performing, and “an amazing array of DJs: we’ve

got Mahdi Mu from Lewes’ Zu Studios coming,

DJ Dazwell, and Will Softmore who’s bringing

his didgeridoo, and his more spiritual sound to

the show.”

“There is a Zen zone where people can come

and Zen out. We’re gonna have Reiki masters,

massage, reflexology, tarot cards. You can start

the day with yoga, or meditation, then you

might want to learn salsa or Bollywood dancing,

or go and listen to some music or a talk.”

I ask Karen to tell me more about the notion of

madness at the Mad Hatters’ Affair. “It’s like

wearing different hats. It’s not linked to Alice in

Wonderland going down the rabbit hole, really.

The people who are ruling the world, are they

mad? You think of what’s going on with climate

change, war, poverty. Is that mad? Because

it is mad. Or are we mad trying to make a

difference? You’ll come to the festival and it will

give you something to take away, like a thought:

how you can make a difference. How mad are

you? What hat do you wear?”

Joe Fuller

Bramley Farm, Polegate, 6-8 September

madhattersaffair.com

Riverside & Octoberfeast

A series of Wine Tastings of Sussex Wines in

our Pop up Space upstairs at Riverside

Breaky Bottom

Saturday 5 th October

11am to 4pm

Vineyards of the Sussex Weald

Saturday 19 th October

11am to 4pm

Plumpton Estate Wines

Saturday 26 th October

11am to 4pm

An opportunity to taste, compare and buy local

Sussex wine from a cluster of passionate growers

and winemakers … Riverside takes part in

Octoberfeast Lewes to bring you Breaky Bottom,

Plumpton Estate Wines and the Vineyards of the

Sussex Weald, five vineyards - Beacon Down,

Fox & Fox, Hidden Spring, Off The Line and

Tickerage who will be showcasing their wine in

our unique pop up venue.

Find us upstairs at Riverside Lewes

Cliffe High Street, Lewes, BN7 2RE

ON THIS MONTH: THEATRE

Bernard Shaw

Bestriding the world

Actor Paddy O’Keeffe is reviving his ‘joyous

romp’ of a one man show, Bernard Shaw Invites

YOU, in Lewes and Brighton this month. I meet

Paddy in his Brighton home, where he tells me

that the format is similar to stand up comedy,

due to its interconnected vignette storytelling.

O’Keeffe himself certainly makes for eloquent

and jovial company, boding well for an

entertaining evening with his Bernard Shaw.

It starts off as I come on stage and talk

about my fascination with Bernard Shaw,

and how I long to discover the real person

behind the mask of ‘GBS’. I explain how he

bestrode the theatrical and political world like

a colossus. Then black out! I storm on as Shaw,

declaring that the purpose of life is not to

discover yourself, but to create yourself, so that

you can become the person you need to be in

order to do what you’ve come here to do.

When Shaw first came to London, never

mind getting published, he had difficulty

getting a word understood. The first half

of the play is about the public man, his earlier

life in London, his success on the stage, his

politics, his connection with Ireland, his

defence of the 1916 rising. The second half

is with Shaw in a psychiatrist’s chair being

questioned about his childhood, and then there

is an audience Q&A after every performance.

I’m planning to take the show to Spain next

year for the International Shaw Society

conference. We went to Delhi… and there was

one guy staring at me all the way through. His

hand was the first up at the Q&A and I thought

‘oh no!’ He said “I first came across Shaw as a

student 50 years ago and I fell in love with the

Photo by Daniel Lawton

man and his works. And you’ve brought him

to life for me tonight.” Actors like engagement

and interest, but you often assume they’re

engaged because they hate it. But in fact he was

loving it.

Hesketh Pearson, an Englishman who did

a biography of Shaw in the 50s, said that

‘no one since the time of Tom Paine has

had so definite an influence on the social

and political life of his time and country

as Bernard Shaw’. He used to be a staple in

the 60s and 70s. When in doubt, you would

do two stock productions: there would be a

Shakespeare and a Shaw, and they would be

bound to sell out.

The Irish connection is often forgotten.

The English assume that the likes of Shaw

and Wilde are Irish in name only. In fact they

were quintessentially Irish. I love his wit and

I share his politics. He was a socialist, and his

speeches on poverty and inequality are as fresh

and meaningful today as they were when he

delivered them in the 1890s and the 1900s.

As told to Joe Fuller

All Saints Centre, 7th, 3pm & 8pm

Rialto Theatre, Brighton 15th, 3pm & 7pm

irish-theatre.com

ON THIS MONTH: TALK

Lynne Truss

Writes books, and plays

“People say ‘I like your book’, and I feel like

saying ‘which book?’, but I don’t want to be

rude. After all, it’s difficult to resent something

that’s been so good to you.”

I’m having a coffee in a Kemp Town café with

Lynne Truss, author of ten novels, countless

radio plays and six non-fiction titles, the

most famous of which – the bestselling 2003

grammar and punctuation bible Eats, Shoots and

Leaves – turned her into a household name.

But we’re not here to talk about that. She’s

appearing at the Shoreham Wordfest in

September to promote the hardback release of

her latest novel, The Man That Got Away, the

second of her ‘Constable Twitten’ series. Both

titles are set in Brighton, in the summer of

1957; both are adaptations of a successful run

of Radio 4 plays.

Lynne describes the books with great relish.

Constable Twitten is a 22-year-old policeman,

a keen rookie in a station run by Inspector

Steine, who believes there is no crime in

Brighton, as he’s already cleared it all up.

Steine is aided by Sergeant Brunswick, a WW2

veteran who enjoys dressing up for undercover

operations, unaware everyone knows exactly

who he is. And then there’s Mrs Groynes:

“She’s the station’s char lady, but actually she’s

a criminal mastermind.”

The first in the series, A Shot in The Dark, was

positively received. “I won an award!”, she

tells me, with evident excitement. “The ‘Best

Humorous Crime Novel’ of 2018. Yes, there

is such a category. And there was some stiff

competition: I’m very, very proud of it.” The

book has just been released in paperback “so

we’ll soon see how well it really does.”

“I’ve been living in 1957,” she tells me, of

the research she’s been doing. This has

involved reading novels, watching movies and

documentaries, and binge-reading copies of

The Evening Argus, from 1955 to 1960.

“It seems a lot of writers set their books in the

decade they were born,” she says. “1957 was

voted the post-war year in which people were

happiest: memories of the war were fading,

rationing and National Service were over, we

were drinking coffee from Pyrex cups. We’d

never had it so good. Also, it’s nice to think

of a period in which my parents were walking

around, still young.”

And the Brighton area, where she’s lived for

25 years, was an ‘obvious’ setting for the

series. “It’s such a great place for getting an

atmosphere,” she says. “I can’t imagine why

anyone sets stuff anywhere else.”

She’s been careful, of course, to get all the

period details correct, including linguistic

conventions of the era. And, I imagine, her

proof-readers won’t have had too much work to

do, correcting her grammar and punctuation.

Though she doesn’t consider herself a

zero tolerance ‘stickler’: “I do put relevant

apostrophes in text messages,” she admits, “but

predictive text often takes them out again.”

Alex Leith

Lynne’s speaking at Shoreham Wordfest,

September 28th. The Festival runs from 7 Sep to

13 Oct. shorehamwordfest.com

Family

Raceday

Sunday 22nd September

Gates Open 12noon • First Race 2:15pm • Last Race 5:15pm

Entertainment

Fun Fair, Food and Drink Concessions,

Picnic Area, Hospitality Options,

Restaurants, Betting Facilities.

Free Entertainment

Mascot Race, Derby Horse Hoppers, Face

Painting, Sussex Falconry Static Display,

Rodeo Bull, Farm Yard Softplay.

Plus many more attractions!

Tickets from £14

in advance!

Tel. 01273 890383 | racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk

www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk

Poppy

& Branch

appearing at

intervals.

ON THIS MONTH: THEATRE

Fame, Feminism and Firearms

Highlighting the bigger issues

When Valerie Solanas shot Andy Warhol in

1968 she couldn’t have known that years later

the incident would be seen as the first #TimesUp

moment. The parallels between what led to

that violent act and how women live today are

the subject of Femme Fatale, a cabaret-play set

in the Pop Art world of the 1960s. The play

poses essential questions about art, agency and

women’s control over their bodies and stories.

Written and performed by Polly Wiseman and

co-starring Sophie Olivia, Femme Fatale is a

sensory collage of dialogue, film and music. It

imagines a meeting between two contrasting

‘outsider’ women: Velvet Underground singer

Nico, and Solanas, author of the SCUM

Manifesto. Wiseman says she “wanted to write

about these two characters because in lots

of ways they’re quite unlikeable… and then

I realised that they’d both been in the same

Warhol movie so I thought ‘Let’s put them in a

room together and see.’”

Coming from very different backgrounds –

Nico was seen as Warhol’s muse while Solanas

believed he was stealing her work and using

it to publicly humiliate her – the two provide

a perfect jumping-off point for exploring the

way women’s lives have been controlled and

damaged by the patriarchy. Beginning with

Nico and Solanas’s experiences as part of the

Arts Factory movement the play encourages

us to zoom out and ask questions about wider

systemic and structural inequalities. Yet despite

the serious subject matter Wiseman is keen to

show the play’s humour, “because once you start

talking about feminism it sounds like it’s going

to be terribly earnest and dour. But really what

attracted me to Solanas and her manifesto was

that it was funny.”

The play transports us back to another time

and place that, with its colour, experimentation

and violence, makes an entertaining backdrop

against which to illuminate bigger issues. The

multimedia format fits with the Pop Art “feast

of the senses” aesthetic, but Wiseman also

wants us to look to the future. She is hosting a

workshop in which she hopes to create a new

feminist manifesto for now – inviting women

(including trans women and non-binary people)

to contribute ideas to help tackle inequality.

The manifesto will travel with the play, with

additional workshops in each town.

Lewes is the perfect place to perform Femme

Fatale, says Wiseman: “It’s a radical town… full

of independent thinkers who question things,

fight for what they believe in; they like a good

time. And it’s my home town.” She went to

Chailey School and studied Drama at college in

Lewes, setting up her own drama group at 19

before going to RADA. When she realised how

hard it was to find good roles for women she set

up the Fireraisers Theatre Company.

The show promises to be thought-provoking,

funny and furious. See you in the front row.

Lulah Ellender

Femme Fatale is at 2pm on 29th September at

the Depot Cinema. The manifesto workshop is

at 10am-1pm on 26th September at the Depot

Cinema. fireraisers.org.uk/news/femme_fatale

# HolidayInspirations Show

ON THIS MONTH: FESTIVAL

A Gude Cause Maks A Strong Erm by Martin Laird

WOFFF

Tackling invisibility

With or Without You by Angela Prudenzi

WOFFF – the Women Over 50 Film Festival –

is about to have its fifth outing. It’s running at

Depot from 20th-22nd September. I sat down

with founder Nuala O’Sullivan to hear all her

inspiring reasons why.

“I started WOFFF with a pal in Brighton”, she

says. “I was a writer and producer frustrated at

what wasn’t happening for me and others. I really

felt the invisibility of being a woman over 50.”

So WOFFF “celebrates older women in front

of and behind the camera”. Every film that

shows at the festival either stars or is made –

meaning written, directed or produced – by a

woman over 50.

Nuala is thrilled the festival, for the second time,

is at Depot. “It’s such a fantastic set-up,” she

says. “The Depot screams Festival!” She’s clearly

passionate about WOFFF and the platform

it’s now providing. “If you build it, people will

come.” And come they have.

WOFFF screens mainly short films: that’s its

focus, a medium Nuala herself appreciates and

works in. When I ask, what’s the relation of a

short to a feature film, she says “It’s like a short

story compared with a novel.

“Shorts – which tend to be up to about 20

minutes long – are filled with micro touches – all

films are, of course – but screening these shorts,

we see such gems. And shorts can be exciting too.

Often you get to see people’s work before they

become well known. So one year we showed The

Farmer’s Wife, a short by Francis Lee starring

Geraldine James. That was before his breakout

feature, God’s Own Country. And we see really

astonishing, varied work in shorts from countries

like Afghanistan, Taiwan and Iran” she tells me.

Highlighting and fighting sexism and ageism

is one struggle of older women but of course

younger women face similar but different issues.

“Older women become invisible whereas younger

women can feel horribly scrutinised: we need to

get together, compare notes, and support each

other. Older women are full of resourcefulness

and resilience. They’re often overlooked despite

the richness of their stories.” Nuala, quoting

Ashton Applewhite (from This Chair Rocks: A

Manifesto Against Ageism), says, “Ageism is just

discrimination against your older self.”

So how does the Festival unfold? “From

more than 220 submissions we’ve selected 60

short films to show at Depot over the festival

weekend.”

There is also a host of workshops – such as how

to make a film on your mobile phone and how

to write older female characters. “We want

everyone to feel welcome – that’s why we subtitle

all 60 of the shorts we screen. We want to make

sure deaf and hard of hearing people, who are

often older, feel included at WOFFF.” There are

free events too, including a lecture by Professor

Brenda R Weber from Indiana University. Free

events have been part of WOFFF since it started

in 2015. “Getting older often means dealing with

poverty and isolation,” says Nuala. “Inclusivity is

part of WOFFF’s DNA.”

I loved talking to her. Nuala O’Sullivan is one

inspiring woman. Charlotte Gann

wofff.co.uk

ON THIS MONTH: FILM

The Goldfinch, Stangers on a Train, Stand by Me

Film ’19

Dexter Lee’s cinema round-up

There are two long-awaited blockbusters

hitting the Depot screens in September. The

big-screen version of Downton Abbey – featuring

most of the TV cast and a few new faces,

including Imelda Staunton – starts on the 13th,

and John Crowley’s adaptation of Donna Tartt’s

unputdownable Pulitzer-winning novel The

Goldfinch, starring Ansel ‘Babyface’ Elgort and

Nicole Kidman, starts its run on the 27th.

But this column’s aim is to focus on the oneoffs

that might otherwise pass you by. Included

is Strangers on a Train (2nd), Alfred Hitchcock’s

1951 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s taut

psychological thriller, starring Farley Granger

and Robert Walker, the two ‘strangers’ in

question, who concoct a complicated murder

plot on a long-distance train ride. It was a big

success after four consecutive Hitch-flops, and

has dated well.

On the 3rd is the latest dementia-friendly offering,

which should have the crowd happily

singing along to classics like New York, New

York. Yes, it’s On the Town, that frenetic musical

that sees three sailors – including Frank Sinatra

and Gene Kelly – hit the Big Apple on 24-hour

shore leave, discovering what a wonderful town

it is, when the Bronx is up and the Battery’s

down (and where people ride in a hole in the

ground). Leonard Bernstein, take a bow.

And I’m looking forward to the latest book-tofilm

offering, Stand by Me, the 1986 coming-of

age movie based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella

The Body. Rob Reiner directs; among the

cast is a very young River Phoenix. If you saw it

back then, you’re unlikely to have forgotten the

leach scene… By contrast, Irving Rapper’s Now,

Voyager, starring Bette Davis, is on the 18th.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge originally wrote Fleabag

as a one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe

and, after the success of her bawdy dark comedy

on the TV, she’s adapted it again for a brief

West-End run. Depot’s NT Live screening of

the drama (12th) sold out in minutes, hot priest

or no hot priest, and a second as-live screening

(28th) did the same. A third showing has been

added on October 5th: but (if you’re not already

too late) get your skates on if you want a ticket.

This summer’s Supper Club screening of the

Ukrainian film, Sergei Loznitsa’s Donbass was

postponed, and will now be showing on the

18th. The film is a high-octane Emir Kusturica-style

black comedy set in the recent war.

The WOFFF is back (27th and 28th), with

two programmes of short films made by, or

prominently featuring, one or more women

over 50, and the welcome return of the Women

at War feature on the Sunday. Sponsors include

Mother’s Ruin Gin. See page 47.

Finally, there’s a mini-series of classic 60s/70s

cop movies taking place. On the 19th Steve

McQueen stars in Bullitt; on the 24th a young

Gene Hackman fronts The French Connection,

and on the 29th it’s Clint Eastwood’s turn in

Dirty Harry. Feel very lucky, punks.

ON THIS MONTH: HERITAGE

Heritage Open Days

Sharing our history

Heritage is the specialist subject of Adams

& Remers Partner Suzanne Bowman. “I got

involved in [something called] the Listed Property

Owners Club ten plus years ago”, she tells me.

“Today, I provide advice to their members – on

subjects from ‘I have bats, what should I do?’,

to interfering neighbours, and conservation

officers. It’s a bit like the Citizens Advice Bureau

– I am the lawyer – but for citizens living in or

contemplating buying listed houses.

“Quite often, people take on these properties

without understanding the implications or

having these explained to them. I tend to be

quite stern about it, but if they’re tinkering

without permissions, it’s actually criminal so it’s

important. And it’s not just lay clients who don’t

understand; nor do many professionals.

“We hold conferences, and give talks, to raise

awareness. Our heritage is precious – post-war

so many properties were pulled down and lost.

We have to preserve what’s survived.”

Sue’s role in the club sits alongside her work

as Partner at Adams & Remers. And Adams &

Remers itself is housed in a listed property –

Trinity House, in School Hill. This is one of at

least 18 properties opening their doors to the

public this month, as part of Heritage Open

Days, organised for the last nine years by the

Friends of Lewes.

Trinity House was originally the site of the

Church of the Holy Trinity, owned by the

Priory. From the 14th century, it was known

as Church House for about a century before

reverting, under the ownership of the Trayton

family, to Trinity House.

“The Queen Anne front is deceptive,” Sue

tells me. “The building has layers and layers of

history. The Armoury, in the roof, for instance,

Photo by Charlotte Gann

still has pike staff holders – that’s from the Civil

War. Oh, and we have a ghost. When people

are working here in winter late at night, it’s not

uncommon to hear strange noises and that can

be unsettling!…

“Today, we’re one of the last firms of lawyers

left in the High Street. Adams & Remers has

been in this building for more than 100 years.

We definitely support the idea of Heritage Open

Days – and it’s a great list. I’ve been in quite

a few of the buildings – including the Prison,

where I had to visit Reggie Kray! It’d be great

if even more buildings opened their doors. We

are privileged to be looking after these listed

buildings, and it’s important to share them.”

Trinity House and the other properties will

be open for free tours for the public over the

weekend of 12th to 15th September. The list

includes the Town Hall, the Law Courts, the

Prison, Barbican House, Southover Grange and

Westgate Chapel. Also, some private residences,

including Sussex House, the Round House in

Pipe Passage, and The Croft, beside County

Hall. There are also a number of other events

and Heritage Walks over the weekend.

Charlotte Gann

12th-15th September. Pick up a leaflet at the

Tourist Information Centre.

heritageopendays.org.uk; friends-of-lewes.org.uk

INK PAPER + PRINT PRESENTS THE 2019

ILLUSTRATION

+ PRINT FAIR

TOWNER ART GALLERY

COLLEGE RD, EASTBOURNE BN21 4JJ

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

21 ST – 22 ND SEPTEMBER, 2019

FREE ADMISSION

Painted by Lothar Götz, 2019 - Photo by Eva Eastman

OVER 75 EXHIBITORS OF PRINTS, BOOKS + EPHEMERA

Admission from 11am

ON THIS MONTH: ART

Pallant House

Three exhibitions

Two of the three current temporary exhibitions

at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester are

part of Insiders / Outsiders, a nationwide arts

festival running until March 2020, celebrating

the contribution made by refugees from Nazi

Europe to British culture. There are two singleroom

displays, one devoted to Walter Nessler,

the other to Grete Marks. Neither household

names, of course, but regular visitors to Pallant

House will know of Nessler if only because

of his strange, almost apocalyptic vision of

Haverstock Hill (1938) that has been on loan to

the gallery from a Private Collection since 2006.

And before that he featured in Alien Nation:

Immigrant Artists in Britain, an exhibition that

Pallant put on in 2003. Walter Nessler came to

this country in 1937 with his wife Prudence,

daughter of the Arts and Crafts architect CR

Ashbee. The couple had met when Prudence

was studying dance at the Mary Wigman

School in Dresden where Nessler was painting

stage sets. He was briefly interned in Liverpool

before being released in September 1940 on the

intercession of his wife’s parents. He then joined

the Pioneer Corps. His marriage broke down

in 1947, but he apparently remained on the best

of terms with his mother-in-law whom he often

visited in Morecambe. Interestingly, the couple

of studies of Morecambe Bay on show are, to my

mind, of more artistic vitality than his paintings

of Paris and Spain which are pleasant enough

but rather formulaic.

I had never heard of Grete Marks. Born

in Cologne, she studied art there and in

Düsseldorf before gaining entry to the Weimar

Bauhaus. There she studied ceramics, but soon

clashed with her teacher and left the school

after just one year. Together with her first

husband she established Haël Werkstätten,

a modernist ceramics factory near Berlin.

After her husband’s sudden death in 1928 she

took over the running of the factory. She fled

to England in 1936 and found employment

at Mintons pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. She

later set up the Greta Pottery. Some of her

ceramics are on display but the main focus of

the exhibition is a group of portrait drawings

that Pallant House has recently acquired. She

had a very original style and some of them are

beautiful. Cataloguing work is obviously still

going on. One portrait, for example, that is

titled ‘Hebrew Teacher’ when reproduced in

the Pallant House magazine is identified in the

exhibition as the Ukrainian born pianist Leff

Nicolas Pouishnoff.

The main exhibition at Pallant (until 13

October) is devoted to Ivon Hitchens. In his

introduction to the Penguin Modern Painters

volume on Hitchens (1955) Patrick Heron wrote:

‘I should like to express, if it is possible, some

part of the purely pictorial excitement which

the experience of seeing his works has so often

afforded me; and which has prompted me in

the past to make the claim that, all things

considered, Hitchens is the most considerable

English painter of his generation.’

This marvellous show gives us all the

opportunity to experience that pictorial

excitement for ourselves. Not to be missed!

David Jarman

Ivon Hitchens, Flowers, 1942, Pallant House Gallery

Sundays from 7th April - 27th October

Experience the extraordinary atmosphere of

the Sussex home and garden of the Surrealists

Lee Miller & Roland Penrose.

50 minute guided house tour tickets available

online or in the gallery on arrival.

Muddles Green, Chiddingly

East Sussex, BN8 6HW

Tel: 01825 872856

www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk

@ FarleysHG

JOHN WORTH

Rhythms of land and heart

7 – 29 September 2019

The Blue Room

WaterCourse, 65 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XG

Friday to Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm (or by appointment)

johnworth.co.uk

ON THIS MONTH: ART

Hong Kong Sunrise by Jessica Zoob

Oil painting on board

For about three years, I’ve been spending

half of my time in Sussex and half in Hong

Kong, where my husband works. Hong Kong

was meant to be a total respite for me but in

the end I couldn’t really do that and I started

working. I’ve created a collection of around

40 works called Inspired by Asia, which are the

result of my travels around Hong Kong and

also across India, Vietnam, Indonesia and

many other countries.

Of all the paintings in the collection, this is

the one that most encapsulates Hong Kong.

It’s also probably one of the most figurative

pieces. Where we live, on Lantau Island, it’s

really mountainous and there are 12-foot

pythons and spiders that I think are the biggest

in the world – it’s an adventure. You have to

take a boat across to the city, and when you

get there it’s so colourful and vibrant, such

a melting pot. There’s every kind of person

wearing every kind of clothing and there’s

always music and dancing.

When the sun comes up in Hong Kong,

you can see it in a way that you never see it

anywhere else. It’s just enormous and it’s so

present – it’s quite extraordinary. And because

the air is so hazy you can really look at it.

So I wanted to give a sense of all of it: the

mountains and the peaks and the sun.

My life in Hong Kong is a really stark

contrast to my life in Sussex and my work

here. The work that I’ve created in this

studio is very meditative, very peaceful, very

landscape-inspired, whereas the work I’ve

done in Asia is much more dense and rough

around the edges. Asia is incredibly beautiful

and incredibly inspiring, but it’s also very

confronting. I think you can see that reflected

in the collection.

It’s nice to be working small again because

recently a lot of my pieces have been huge. I’ve

got amazing loyal people who really love my

work but when it gets too large it becomes

physically out of reach and also financially out

of reach for lots of people, and I don’t want

that. This whole collection is made up of works

that you can pick up and take home on the bus!

As told to Rebecca Cunningham

Inspired by Asia is on at Jessica’s studio in Banff

Farm on the 21st and 22nd. jessicazoob.com

CUCKFIELD BOOKFEST

3-6 October 2019

The third Cuckfield Bookfest, to be held in the Queen’s

Hall and the Old School, is packed with interesting

speakers, workshops, children’s events, a literary quiz,

and lots more besides. Authors include Robin Ince,

Penelope Lively, Jenni Murray and Tim Waterstone.

Greta Scacchi will be reading poetry at tea at

Ockenden Manor, Peter Guttridge is running a crime

writing workshop and John Crace will be providing

a fascinating political view.

For all ticket and programme information:

www.cuckfieldbookfest.co.uk

Buy tickets online with no booking fee:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/cuckfieldbookfest

A Landscape of Love

by Sally-Mae Joseph

A celebration of the life of her daughter

Debby who died of cancer.

September 21st-28th, 10am-5pm

in the Flint Gallery

The Crypt Gallery in Seaford is a contemporary venue

for the arts managed independently by local volunteers.

There are three spaces to hire:

the 13c medieval undercroft, the Flint Gallery and the

Cuckmere Room. Free to visit it is open all year.

Crypt Gallery, 23 Church Street, Seaford, BN25 1HD | www.thecryptgallery.com

ART

ART & ABOUT

In town this month

Claudia Wiegand

The Summer

Selfie exhibition

continues at

Chalk Gallery

until the 23rd,

when the gallery

features the work

of contemporary

kiln-formed glass

artist Claudia Wiegand. Indian Summer is

a vibrant display of fused glass artworks and

sculptures inspired by the cool blues and

warm sunset hues of the summer’s end and

Claudia’s passion for trees. Join her for a

‘meet the artist’ event on Saturday 5th October

from 2 to 4pm.

Lewes artist

Samantha

Stas holds

her first solo

exhibition

at Paddock

Studios this

month. In You

Are Here, Samantha

uses

her distinctive

textile and

embroidery pieces to create an engaging,

humorous and thought-provoking insight

into the menopause. Private view Fri 6th

(6-9pm), 7th-8th (10am-4pm).

The Star Life group of artists was founded over 25 years ago in the Star Brewery

studios, united by their shared interest in working from the human figure.

More recently they meet for untutored life drawing sessions at the All Saints

Centre, and this month 15 of the artists hold a group exhibition at Lewes

House. Celebrating Life features around 50 of their drawings, prints and paintings.

Thursday 26th (2pm-5pm), Friday 27th & Saturday 28th (10am-5pm) and

Sunday 29th (10am-4pm).

Lindy Dunbar

Out of town

Sally-Mae Joseph

Guy Pickford spent 20 years working as a graphic designer and art

director before throwing off the confines of the office job and taking

to the road. Since then he’s been travelling the highways and byways

of England and Europe in his camper van and mobile studio, painting

as he goes. See an exhibition of

his vibrant, impressionistic landscape

paintings at The Yurt Gallery at

Townings Farm Shop, in Chailey.

Over at The Crypt Gallery in Seaford,

local artist Sally-Mae Joseph exhibits her lively and colourful

interpretations of local landscapes: a celebration of her daughter

Debby Van Dyk, who lived locally with her family and who sadly

died of cancer last year, at the age of 43. [thecryptgallery.com]

Guy Pickford

ROYAL

ROOM RESTORED

Visit the Saloon,

the Royal

Pavilion’s ornate

centrepiece,

restored to

the dazzling

splendour

of 1823.

OPEN DAILY

Open daily (except 25 & 26 Dec)

brightonmuseums.org.uk

03000 290900

Admission payable

Members free

Half price for Brighton

& Hove Residents

(proof required)

ART

‘It is time that the spirit of fun was introduced into

furniture and into fabrics. We have suffered too long

from the dull and the stupidly serious.’ So said Roger

Fry, when he set up the Omega Workshops in 1913 and

invited many of the avant-garde artists of the day to

create bold, colourful and abstract items for the home.

Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant were both co-directors

and designers for the Workshops and brought an array

of Omega objects with them when they moved to

Charleston in October 1916. From the 14th, Charleston

hosts Post-Impressionist Living: The Omega Workshops Exhibition, marking 100 years since the

workshops closed their doors.

Lampstands with geometric decoration, designed and made by the Omega

Workshops, 1913-1919. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

David Nash, Two Ubus,1998, oak and ash. Photo by Noel Brown, courtesy David Nash

Over at Towner Gallery, from the 28th, an ambitious exhibition

of works by sculptor David Nash fills all four of Towner’s

major gallery spaces. 200 Seasons covers Nash’s career from the

late 60s and explores his contribution to the British Sculpture

and International Land Art movement. Towner is running a series

of events alongside the Eastbourne & Lewes Walking Festival

(20-29 September), which explore the relationship between

art, walking and the landscape, including a conversation with

David Nash, an artist-led twilight walk and much more besides.

Morris & Co.

Inspired by Natu re

1 June - 10 November 2019

Discover an exciting exhibition at

Standen House and Garden that

reveals the inspiration behind

Morris & Co's iconic designs

nationaltrust.org.uk/Standen

Supported by Morris & Co.

independent registered charity, number 205846.

'Trellis'. Standen © National Trust. Supplied by Morris & Co.

#nationaltrust

Pottery Classes

for Beginners

Learn hand-building

techniques and decorating

skills in small groups at the

Blue Door Studio behind the

Union Music Store in Lewes

SATURDAYS:

10am - 12.30pm starts Sept 7 th - 4 weeks

TUESDAYS:

10am - 12.30pm starts Sept 10 th - 4 weeks

THURSDAYS:

6pm - 8.30pm starts Sept 12 th - 4 weeks

COST £45 PER CLASS

Children’s workshops (aged 10yrs and up)

during October half term week

Summer 2019 Towner Art Gallery

TEN

Towner curates

the collection

Phoebe Unwin

Iris

Lothar Götz

Dance Diagonal

Image: courtesy Lothar Götz

Dineo Seshee Bopape

Sedibeng, it comes with the rain

www.townereastbourne.org.uk @ townergallery

Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ

ART

The Star Life Group

Celebrating Life

an exhibition of

life drawings at

Lewes House

33 High Street

Lewes

Out of town (cont)

Also at Towner, over the weekend of 21st

& 22nd, Mainstone Press return for their

third Ink Paper + Print Fair for local makers,

artists and illustrators. There will be 60 exhibitors

showcasing a range of printmaking,

artists’ books, 20th Century design, ceramics

and contemporary crafts, with a series of

talks and tours accompanying the exhibition.

26 to 29 September

Thursday 26 Sept 2–5pm

Friday 27 Sept 10am–5pm

Saturday 28 Sept 10am–5pm

Sunday 29 Sept 10am–4pm

stargrouplifedrawing

Continuing at Standen House in West Sussex,

Morris & Co. Inspired by Nature explores

the work of William Morris, the leading

figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement in

Britain. He designed some of the most recognisable

textile and wallpaper patterns of the

nineteenth century, exemplifying the popularity

of bringing nature indoors, and was

the creative force behind Morris & Co., who

still produce his designs today. Many of his

patterns were used throughout Standen – the

Arts & Crafts house designed for the Beale

family in the late 19th century – and this

exhibition includes original drawings, tapestries

and wallpaper blocks, and a recreation of

Morris & Co.’s original showroom.

[nationaltrust.org.uk/standen]

(Pic above) Hall with Trellis wallpaper at Standen

©National Trust Images/James Dobson

TALKING SHOP

Photos by Rebecca Cunningham

Marchand Son

Colour and magic

I like shops more than anything. My favourite

shop would probably be Brodie and Middleton

in London, which sells ‘theatrical chandlery’

– all the sort of paraphernalia that you might

need for making a set for somewhere like the

Royal Opera House, or for all the theatres. It

sells things like Dirty Down which is a spray for

making things look old, and string and brushes

and paints. That was always a shop that I was

enamoured of and I wanted to own something a

bit magical like that.

I used to get all my pigments from the

Netherlands so I thought the clogs were a

good way to show the paints. They show the

instability of colour and that it’s never the same,

and there’s something about the Netherlands

and paint; they have a historical connection

because of the 17th-century art world when all

the paint used to be made there. It was the home

of paint-making.

But I’m getting rid of the clogs. The Dutch

theme has sort of worn off because now I get the

pigments from all over the world. Now I pair all

my colours with music. So this one is labelled

‘La Grande Bouffe, La Chanson d’Hélène’. That

tells you the film that I found it in and then the

music that I pair it with. There’s a man in this

film who’s wearing a rollneck that’s that colour.

In this case the music is from the film, but in

other cases, it might be a colour from a Jean-

Luc Godard movie that I’ve paired with a David

Bowie track. I’m going to make it a synaesthetic

experience – the whole place. The jukebox

will be filled with 100 colour cards, so you can

choose a colour and press the button and you’ll

hear the corresponding music.

People give choosing colour this sort of

ersatz logic which is rubbish. People come in

with an interior design book and say ‘I’ve seen

this colour’ – and you think, why would you

want to paint your house like someone else’s?

When I’m in London I’ll invariably go into a

house and they’ll have painted the whole place

in Hague Blue and then say ‘we thought we’d

do something a bit different’. They all look the

same to me. But the weird thing is everyone’s

striving to do something individual. To do

something individual, you have to be impulsive,

because then you don’t give it too much

thought. You don’t step into line.

There’s a perfectly good reason to paint

your room in... this colour, and that’s because

you love The Shining and that’s the colour of the

hallway in the film. So that colour will form part

of my ‘Stanley Kubrick’ collection. And then

you’ll be able to buy the colours of the Stanley

Kubrick collection in a box, called the box set.

It’s going to be really big, I’m telling you!

As told to Rebecca Cunningham by Simon March

30-31 Station Street, marchandson.co.uk

September 21st - October 5th 2019

COMEDY: ANDY PARSONS • FOLK: NOBLE JACKS

CLASSICAL: MANUS NOBLE • PLUS LOADS MORE..

A HARVEST

OF THE ARTS

Sat 7 th & Sun 8 th , 10am-4pm

FREE ENTRY & PARKING BY CHURCH

www.chiddinglyfestival.co.uk

Lewes

Little

Theatre

By Alan Ayckbourn

Directed by Juliet Hartnett

Friday 20 – Saturday 28

September 7:45pm excl

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22

September. Matinees Saturdays

21 & 28 September 2:45pm.

www.lewestheatre.org

Box Office: 01273 474826

£12/Members £8

Haunting

Julia

Sept listings

SUNDAY 1

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An evening

of open-air theatre presented by Chapterhouse

Theatre Company. Wakehurst, 7.30pm,

£16/£11.

SUNDAY 1 – FRIDAY 4 OCT

To the Moon. VR

experience created by

artists Laurie Anderson

and Hsin-Chien Huang

to commemorate the

50th anniversary of the

moon landing. Attenborough

Centre, £5, various times, see: www.

attenboroughcentre.com.

TUESDAY 3

Life Drawing. Regular drop-in

session, bring your own materials.

Lewes Arms, 7.30pm, £5 (also

on Tuesday 17th).

WEDNESDAY 4

U3A Open Day. Opportunity to discover the

many courses, activities and social events open

to retired or semi-retired people. Town Hall

Corn Exchange, 10am to 12noon, u3asites.org.

uk/lewes.

FRIDAY 6

Film: Shoplifters (15). All Saints, 8pm,

£5/£2.50.

FRIDAY 6 – SUNDAY 8

Mad Hatters Affair. Festival with music, talks,

workshops, vegan food and more. Raising funds

for Friends of Chema Kizzi, a charity working

in Sierra Leone to build schools and protect

wildlife. Bramley Farm, Polegate, see madhattersaffair.com

for info and tickets. See page 39.

SATURDAY 7

Storytelling Taster Day. Immerse yourself in

spoken-word storytelling for a day, with listening,

discussion and having a go yourself. Led by

professional storyteller Jamie Crawford. Subud

Centre, 10am-4pm, £60 (incl refreshments),

jamiecrawfordstorytelling.com.

Lewes Electric Car

Show. Featuring a wide

range of pure electric and

hybrid cars, this year the

show will also include

electric bikes and scooters. Harvey’s Brewery

rear yard, 10.30am-2.30pm. See page 28.

Songs of Nature. Musicians

from different backgrounds

share their music

that has been inspired

by nature, with Shirley

Collins & Pip Barnes,

Blue Jambalaya, Lucinda

Houghton, Iain Paxon,

Danny Webb and more

tbc. A benefit concert for the Railway Land

Wildlife Trust. Linklater Pavilion, 7pm, £10.

Bernard Shaw Invites YOU. One-man show

at All Saints, 3pm and 8pm, £13, £15 on the

door. See page 41.

SATURDAY 7 & SUNDAY 8

West Dean Dovecote Heritage Weekend.

‘Live’ WW2 Canadian radio station, dovecote

& 1597 terrace tours, market stalls with produce,

tea & homemade cake. Dovecote Garden,

Seaford, 10am-4pm, free entry and parking.

MONDAY 9

Extinction Rebellion Malling Rec Beach

Picnic. Learn about Extinction Rebellion and

the potential impact of sea level rise. Lewes

Malling Recreational Ground, 12pm-3pm, free.

Grand Opening

Friday 6th Sept, from 6pm

Turkish baths, 35 Friars Walk, Lewes

Lewes Mayor John Lamb will cut the

ribbon at 6.30pm – all welcome

Come and see how we have renovated

this unique building into our Centre

for Yoga, Wellbeing and the Arts

FREE classes all weekend

www.lewesfoodmarket.co.uk

being-in-unity.com/the-unity-centre-lewes

Sept listings (cont.)

Stories Behind Lewes Town Hall Paintings.

Lewes History Group talk with Sarah Bayliss

and Wenda Bradley, who will reveal much

about the artists, benefactors and recent restoration

of paintings in the Town Hall, as well as

the history of the town with images of subjects.

King’s Church, 7pm for 7.30pm, £3/£1.

years, and what it means to die well. With

displays from local organisations and groups,

and the opportunity to chat to local experts

and seek their advice. The TRINITY Centre,

St John sub Castro, 1pm-4pm, free.

THURSDAY 12

TUESDAY 10

WEDNESDAY 11

Carolyn Trant: Lasting

Impressions. Local

painter and maker of

‘artists books’ discusses

her work, accompanied

by projected images. All

Saints, 7.45pm, £10/£8.

Live Better, Die Better. A safe space to

explore both what it means to live well in later

Photo coutery of Reeves

Brexit: why we need the facts. Talk by

broadcaster Gavin Esler discussing key aspects

of Brexit and its impact on the UK. The talk

will be followed by a chaired Q&A session

with the audience. King’s Church, 8pm, £5.

Lewes High

Street: Retail

Retold. Illustrated

talk by Tom

Reeves. Trinity

Church, Southover,

7.45pm, £3

(free to members of Friends of Lewes).

Sept listings (cont.)

FRIDAY 13

Let’s Get Funked. Funk, soul and reggae party.

All Saints, 7.30pm, £6.

The Ripple presents: Lords and New

Creatures. The poetry of Jim Morrison read

by Unique Voices, with programmed music by

X Piano/Sex Kult. Westgate Chapel, 8pm, £6.

See page 79.

SATURDAY 14

Cherry Soup – True and Not So True Tales

of the South Downs. One-person show

performed with text, music and humour, asking

questions about the past, present and future of

the Park. Depot, 1pm, free.

Pells All Out Swim for Charity. Swim and

raise funds for the charity of your choice. Pells

chosen charity is NSPCC. See pellspool.org.uk

for more info.

SATURDAY 14 & SUNDAY 15

Mrs Dudeney’s Diary. Play reading of Mike

Turner’s dramatisation of the diaries which have

been edited by Diana Crook. Fitzroy House,

7.30pm, £12.50 includes glass of wine (Sat) &

3pm, £7 (Sun). Call 01273 476499 for reservations.

TUESDAY 17

Ian Marchant: One

Fine Day. Talk with

Newhaven-born writer

and counter-cultural

commentator Ian

Marchant. All Saints,

7.45pm, £10/£8.

Celebrating 20 years of loving

care, help us raise £20,000

Support us by setting up a regular gift or attending one of our events

13th September |

Party at Bevern View |

From 12:30pm

29th September |

Thanks Giving Service |

From 10:30am

For more information: www.beverntrust.org

The Bevern Trust ,Bevern View, The Willows,Barcombe, BN8 5FJ, Registered Charity no.1103520

8th November |

Anniversary Dinner |

booking required

£199

REGISTRATION FEE

4-8TH MARCH 2020

Trek through Transylvania for St Peter

& St James Hospice!

Experience a spectacular snowshoe-trek to the frosty forests

and mountains of wild Transylvania, and discover a pristine

Winter Wonderland.

For more information please visit www.stpjhospice.org

or call 01444 470726.

Sept listings (cont.)

FRIDAY 20

Herbal Thymes. A Friends

of Anne of Cleves House

talk by herbalist Kym

Murden. Anne of Cleves’,

7.30 pm, £8 (£5 members)

contact annacrabtree1@hotmail.com.

Film: Leave No Trace (PG). All Saints, 8pm,

£5/£2.50.

FRIDAY 20 - SATURDAY 28

Haunting Julia. Three-hander ghost story by

Alan Ayckbourn. Lewes Little Theatre, see lewestheatre.org

for times and prices.

FRIDAY 20 – SUNDAY 29

Eastbourne and Lewes Walking Festival. See

page 37 and eastbourneandleweswalkfest.org for

calendar of events.

SATURDAY 21

Immersive Rhythm 2019.

Community day drumming

event. All levels welcome, drums

provided. Sixth Lewes Scout Hut,

Ham Lane, 11.30am-5pm, £20

(£15 early bird), contact

thesussexdrum@gmail.com.

SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22

Cats Protection open weekend. National Cat

Centre, Haywards Heath, cats.org.uk/ncac

SUNDAY 22

Baldwins Travel Holiday Inspirations Show. East

Sussex National Hotel, Uckfield, 10am-3pm, free.

TUESDAY 24

Film: Free Solo (15). Documentary about free

soloist climber Alex Honnold. All Saints, 8pm,

£5/£2.50.

SUNDAY 29

Freedom From Torture Annual South Downs

Walk. Three country, coastal walks with different

levels of ease and starting points but ending together

in East Dean Village Hall for a cream tea

in aid of national charity Freedom From Torture.

See freedomfromtorture.org.

Femme Fatale, play at the Depot. 2pm. See pg 45.

LEWES HIGH STREET:

RETAIL RETOLD

Repair Café. Take along damaged clothes, broken

electrical appliances, bicycles, china, jewellery

and more. Tea, coffee and cake will be available.

Landport Community Hub, 2pm-5pm, no charge

is made but donations are welcome. See page 21.

Sausage ‘n’ Cider Festival. Third year of the

festival, with sausage, cider and entertainment.

Lewes Town Hall, 4pm, £8.

Comedy at Chiddingly Festival. Star of Mock

the Week, Q.I. and Live at the Apollo, Andy

Parsons discusses all things Brexit. Chiddingly

Village Hall, 7pm, £25.

Turn overleaf for a map of the latest

Reeves lightbox exhibition, running Thursday

5 to Sunday 29 September.

You can pick up copies of the map at the

participating venues.

LEWES HIGH STREET:

RETAIL RETOLD

Market St.

Fisher St.

Castle Gate

51,52

36,37

Westgate St.

High St.

St Andrew’s Ln

34,35

32,33

30,31

24 2322

46,47

44,45

49,50

77-79

71,72

65,66

63,64

57,58

St Martin’s Ln.

Watergate Ln.

Station St.

40,41

St Swithun’s Ter.

Southover Rd.

Keere St.

An exhibition of 80 pictures displayed as lightboxes along the length of

Lewes High Street.

5 September - 29 September 2019

The images come from the archive of Edward Reeves Photography, the

world’s oldest surviving photographic studio, and show pictures of the town

and people of Lewes taken in the High Street from 1860 - 1960. The Lightbox

Project started in 2014, and since then has mounted annual exhibitions placed

in windows up and down the streets of Lewes.

Station Rd.

“Retail Retold” focuses on the importance of the High Street, which is central

to the social and economic life of our community. Special emphasis is given to

the more sustainable way in which previous generations traded and shopped,

and highlights ever changing lifestyles.

Priory St.

Mountfield Rd.

Digital technology allows scans of the original glass plates to be enlarged to

reveal previously unnoticed details.

Eastgate St.

Malling St.

Albion St.

High St.

Friars Walk

10-12

8 7 6

Cliffe High St.

Foundry Ln.

Morris Rd.

South St.

Lansdown Pl.

1 - Roundabout Dress Agency

2 - Alistair Fleming Design

3 - Louis Potts & Company

4 - The Cliffe Antiques Centre

5 - Goldfinch’s Dry Cleaners

6 - The Outdoor Shop Lewes

7 - Percy’s Fishing Tackle

8 - Browns Hair & Beauty

9 - Cycleshack

10, 11 & 12 - Harvey’s Brewery Shop

13 - Wilson Wilson & Hancock

14 - Waterstones

15 - St Peter & St James Hospice

16 - Lounge of Lewes

17 - Boon Books

18 - Luggage Etc. Lewes

19 - Strutt & Parker

20 - White Stuff

21 - Closet & Botts

22 - Bone Clothing

23 - Twinkle Twinkle

24 - Barbican Carpets

25 - Crew Clothing

26 - SCDA

27 - The Patch

28 - Cooper & Son

29 - H A Baker Ltd

30 & 31 - The Shoe Gallery

32 & 33 - Lewes Town Hall

34 & 35 - Tourist Information Centre

36 & 37 - Stanley & Partners

38 - Flint

39 - Marchand Son

40 & 41 - The Lewes Print Centre

42 - Self Storage Space

43 - The Martlets Hospice Shop

44 & 45 - The White Hart Hotel

46 & 47 - Kings Framers

48 - St Peter & St James Hospice

49 & 50 - Nationwide Building Society

51 & 52 - Paul Clark Womenswear

53 - The Laurels

54 - Rowland Gorringe

55 - Foundation Stage Forum Ltd.

56 - Beckworths

57 & 58 - British Heart Foundation

59 - Paul Clark Menswear

60 - Freight HHG

61 - Bonne Bouche

62 - Balm

63 & 64 - Independent Mortgage Matters

65 & 66 - The Workshop

67 - 160 High Street

68 - Edward Reeves Photography

69 - A & Y Cumming

70 - Brats

71 & 72 - The Guild of Master Craftsmen

73 - The Brewers Arms

74 - Room Interiors

75 - The Tom Paine Printing Press

76 - 96 High Street

77, 78 & 79 - Baltica

Map copyright Isaac Reeves

GREAT

PRICES

FLO TYRES

& ACCESSORIES

CALL

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WHEEL ALIGNMENT

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TYRES FROM STOCK OR TO ORDER SAME DAY:

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TYRE CHECKS AND ADVICE FROM FRIENDLY STAFF.

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Funeral Directors

42 High Street, Lewes 01273 475 557

Also at Seaford, Uckfield & Heathfield

www.cpjfield.co.uk

Because every life is unique

GIG GUIDE // SEPTEMBER

GIG OF THE MONTH:

JOHN CRAMPTON

Blues and bluegrass powerhouse, John Crampton is a Lewes

favourite, with good reason. His ability to create an orchestra

of sound as a solo artist is phenomenal, and his mastery of his

instruments extraordinary (expect to hear slide guitar, banjo

and harmonica). Crampton’s raw energy and joy in the music

is infectious; a night watching this ‘one-man blues explosion’

(The Spitz) is guaranteed to have you on your feet and

stomping those blues. Lansdown, Saturday 28, 8pm, free

SUNDAY 1

Chill Down Sunday. The Lamb, 2pm-6pm,

every Sunday through the month

MONDAY 2

Terry Seabrook Quintet. Jazz. Snowdrop,

8pm, free

THURSDAY 5

Charlie Parr & JD Wilkes. Country blues. Con

Club, 7.30pm, £13.50

FRIDAY 6

Los Twangueros. Ambient instrumental. Lamb,

8.30pm, free

SATURDAY 7

Tom Lewis. Folk, sea songs, melodeon ukulele.

Elephant & Castle, 8pm, £8

The Reform Club. 60s covers and originals.

The Lamb, 8.30pm, free

SUNDAY 8

Alvin Gibbs & The Disobedient Servants.

Punk. Con Club, 7.30pm, £10

MONDAY 9

Mark Cherrie, Terry Seabrook & Alex

Eberehard. Jazz. Snowdrop, 8pm, free

FRIDAY 13

Zion Train. Dub. Con Club, 7.30pm, £15

Jacquemo. Ska, Soul and a touch of rap. Lamb,

8.30pm, free

SATURDAY 14

The Fish Brothers. Victorian music hall/punk

rock. Lansdown, 8pm, free

Jeff Warner. Folk, US trad songs, banjo, guitar,

concertina. Elephant & Castle, 8pm, £8

MONDAY 16

Adrian York, Paul Whitten & Milo Fell. Jazz.

Snowdrop, 8pm, free

FRIDAY 20

Oysterband. Folk rock at the Sausage ‘n’ Cider

festival. Lewes Town Hall, 6pm, £20

Caburn + The Manatees. Rock, fundraiser for

Southover Bonfire. Con Club, 7pm, £8

Blacklight. Deep funk & soul. Lamb, 8.30pm,

free

The Bus Monkeys. Rock/pop covers. Royal

Oak, 8pm, free

SATURDAY 21

Femme Brûlée. DJ set. Royal Oak, 8pm, free

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. Blues.

Con Club, 8pm, £20

>>>

GIG GUIDE // SEPTEMBER

The Pelham arms

John Spiers

John Spiers. Folk, English trad, melodeon,

concertina. Elephant & Castle, 8pm, £10

Bongo Brothers. African Latin live percussion

and DJ set. Lansdown, 8pm, free

The Lee Harvey Oswalds. 70s punk and new

wave revival. The Lamb, 8.45pm, free

MONDAY 23

Safehouse Improvised Music Session. Noise

makers, performers and musicians all welcome.

The Lewes Arms, 7.30pm, £2

Jack Kendon, Javier Forero, Nigel Thomas

& Al Scott. Jazz. Snowdrop, 8pm, free

LEWES’S FIRST

SMOKEHOUSE IN A PUB!

Best Burgers

for Miles

Home of

ABYSS Brewing

Award Winning

Sunday Roasts

VEGETARIAN, VEGAN &

GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS

Great Venue for

Celebrations

Children and

Dog Friendly

FRIDAY 27

The Music of Pink Floyd. All Saints, 7pm, £20

The Curst Sons. Stomping backwoods Americana.

Con Club, 8pm, free

SATURDAY 28

Noble Jacks. Folk. Chiddingly Village Hall,

7pm, £12

John Crampton. Foot stomping blues. Lansdown,

8pm, free

Koils. Lewes’s very own super group. Lamb,

8.30pm, free

SUNDAY 29

Stuart Bligh (of The Big Blue). Sundays in the

Bar. Blues. Con Club, 3.30pm, free

MONDAY 30

Simon Savage, Terry Seabrook, Simon

Thorpe & Spike Wells. Jazz. Snowdrop, 8pm,

free

OPENING TIMES

MONDAY BAR 4-11PM

TUESDAY TO THURSDAY

BAR 12 NOON TO 11PM

FOOD 12 NOON TO 2.30PM & 6 TO 9.30PM

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

BAR 12 NOON TO 11PM

FOOD 12 NOON TO 2.30PM & 6 TO 9.30PM

SUNDAY

BAR 12 NOON TO 10.30PM

FOOD 12 NOON TO 8PM

HIGH STREET LEWES BN7 1XL

T 01273 476149 E MANAGER@THEPELHAMARMS.CO.UK

BOOK ONLINE @ WWW.THEPELHAMARMS.CO.UK

ON THIS MONTH: FESTIVAL

Ripple effect

Steve ‘Snips’ Parsons

What is ‘The Ripple’? Last year I was asked

to help organise a huge-scale town-wide music

festival in Lewes. The idea was that it would

be like Artwave, but for musicians. I knew it

was hopelessly over-ambitious to try and get

something like that up and running in a matter

of months, and, indeed, it crashed. Out of its

ashes myself and another committee member

decided to run a mini-festival in the May Bank

Holiday, which we called ‘The Ripple’.

As in ‘ripple effect’? Indeed. The idea was,

to throw a stone in the water – metaphorically

speaking, of course – and see if anything

would happen.

What did happen? I’d opened up a

conversation with everyone who was involved

in music in Lewes – like Rocket FM, Union

Music Store, Starfish, the Con Club, the

Depot – and we put on a few shows. There was

a Rocket Rave Up, I did a semi-theatrical show

about Sam Cooke, there were bands in the Con

Club and the Royal Oak, there was a Starfish

gig, and we featured a fantastic all-female DJ

team, Femme Brûlée. It hit the mark much

more than I had expected: people turned out

in good numbers. All the performers got paid,

and we ended up making nearly £1,000 for local

charities.

So this will become a regular thing? The

Con Club immediately asked if we’d do it again

next year, and gave us a budget for publicity. A

number of new volunteers – it should be said

that all the organisers are unpaid volunteers

– have come forward. We are registering to

become a CIC, and we will put on another

Ripple mini-festival next May. It won’t be

bigger, necessarily, but it will be fatter.

And there will, I understand, be ‘pop-ups’

throughout the year… Every month or so,

yes. The first, in September, is in tribute to

Jim Morrison. Different performers, including

Peter Owen Jones, will read from Morrison’s

poetry collection The Lords and the New

Creatures, in Westgate Chapel. There will

also be music from Paul Harrison’s X-Piano,

and Sexkult. In October I’m going to perform

soul songs that influenced me, by the likes

of Martha & the Vandellas and Ruby & the

Romantics, in collaboration with the Paddock

Singers, at the Con Club.

I hear you’re involved with The Lamb…

That’s a separate thing entirely. But I’m

delighted that the new owners are turning The

Lamb back into a live music venue, with acts

on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and that

I’m organising the music side of things. There

are going to be local bands and bands from

further afield: it’s going to be very eclectic.

Live music at The Lamb has been a big miss,

and it’s back.

You seem to know everyone in Lewes. How

do you network? I meet people – and have

meetings – at the Depot. And you’ll often find

me standing outside Waitrose. You bump into

everyone there. Interview by Alex Leith

lewesripple.uk

Photo by Thorston Eichhorst

Tickets

are

only £5

T R E A T M E N T R O O M S

Join us for our fantastic Facial event on

Friday 4th October 2019 4-7pm

Live Facials from our Experienced Skin therapists

Dermalogica Representatives with top tips for your skin.

Demonstrations of :

Dermalogica Advanced Professional peel

Dermaco ProVX Non Surgical Face and Body.

Dermaco ProVX LED anti ageing light therapy

Dermaplaning Removal of make-up and product build up

Semi-permanent Make-up for the lips,eyes and eyebrows

Prize draw | Discounts on Products & Treatments | Amazing savings on facial courses

Goodie bags with treatment vouchers | Drinks and canapes

Browns Treatment Rooms, 8A Cliffe High Street, BN7 2AH

01273 470908 | www.browns-lewes.co.uk

Classical round-up

SUNDAY 1, 3PM

Pippa Dames-Longworth &

the Singing Salon

Opera comes to St Michael’s

this month: we’re promised a

pot pourri of glorious ensemble

pieces from Così fan Tutte and The

Marriage of Figaro through to La

Bohème and Oklahoma. The Singing

Salon regularly wow audiences

at the Royal Pavilion, but in a

special one-off event they’re bringing

their glamour to St Michael’s in aid of the church organ restoration fund. There will be

costumes, drama and excitement. Grab the opportunity to see and hear them perform.

St Michael’s, free with retiring collection. stmichaelinlewes.org.uk

MUSIC

PICK

OF THE

MONTH

Photo by Mona Ali

THURSDAY 26, 1.10PM

St Anne’s Lunchtime Concerts: The Hilser

Trio. Rachel Smith (flute), Rachel Firmager

(cello) and Rachel Fryer (piano) may be known

unofficially as Les Trois Rachels but they

perform together as the Hilser Trio. All three

are prize-winning instrumentalists who play individually

in recital, as well as freelancing with

leading orchestras in the UK and abroad. On

the (mostly French) programme is the Sonatine

en Trio by Maurice Ravel and a 2004 Pavane by

Paul Lewis. This is the final lunchtime concert

at St Anne’s this season, a series which has

become, quite rightly, very popular.

St Anne’s Church, free with retiring collection.

stannelewes.org.uk

SATURDAY 28, 7.45PM

Musicians of All Saints. Lewes-based

chamber orchestra the Musicians of All Saints

open their 2019-2020 season with a concert

at St John sub Castro. This series will feature

at least one item by a living British composer

per concert plus the orchestra’s ‘usual eclectic

mix of traditional favourites.’ Come early and

at 7.10pm you can hear the pre-concert talk

by Peter Copley. This month’s programme

features Mozart Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat

major, Haydn Symphony No.28 in A major,

Robin Milford Concertino for Piano and Strings

and the first performance of the revised version

of Come Spring by Martyn Harry. The

piano soloist is Margaret Fingerhut. Directed

by Andrew Sherwood.

Trinity St John Sub Castro. Tickets on door: £12/

£9 concessions, children free. mas-lewes.co.uk

SATURDAY 28, 7PM

Manus Noble. The acclaimed Irish classical

guitarist gave his debut recital at London’s Cadogan

Hall at the age of 19. Now he performs

across the UK and is Musical Director of the

National Youth Guitar Ensemble in Wales.

Catch one of his characteristically eclectic concerts,

as part of the Chiddingly Festival.

Chiddingly Church, tickets £15.

chiddinglyfestival.co.uk

Robin Houghton

JO O’SULLIVAN

PRIDE

Pride Month (worldwide in June) is so important

because it marked the start of huge change

within the LGBT+ community, as well as the

wider societal implications. Although attitudes

and injustice still remain, the LGBT+ community

have come a long way since the Stonewall

riots in New York in 1969 which started

things off. By continuing this long-standing

tradition Prides continue to raise awareness,

improve the attitudes of society and encourage

inclusiveness.

Prides in the UK tend to be later than June

because of the weather (!) but for example Palm

Springs in the US have their Pride in November

as it’s too hot in the summer months.

I attended Brighton Pride this year for the first

time in 12 years. I decided to stop going once it

became such a huge event and the organisers

had to charge entry. I admit that seeing Kylie

Minogue live was a very big draw for me (she is

a Gay icon after all).

My first Pride was in London around 30 years

ago; I remember worrying that I’d be seen

and I’d be ‘outed’. At that time there was

no sponsorship or much approval. The LGB

police were not allowed to march in uniform.

I remember I cried when they were allowed to

do so in 2004. We forget that there have been

so many changes in the 50 years since the

Stonewall Riots. LGBT+ people were not allowed

to serve in the military for fear of court martial;

not allowed to adopt; not allowed to marry. The

list of inequalities is too long to note here.

Change took a long time. Lots of Pride marches

and challenges to the law. Civil Partnerships

came in 2004 and Same Sex marriage in 2014.

It’s been a long road.

I also attended the first Pride in Surrey in my

home town in August 2019! What a difference it

would have made to me, growing up, had Pride

in Surrey existed.

Around the world things are getting better

but there are still places where being gay is

a criminal offence punishable by death or

imprisonment. There is still work to do to

achieve equality here too; with Homophobic and

Transphobic hate crimes surging in England and

Wales since 2014.

Professionally, I am working on a Good Practice

Guide for family law professionals throughout

England and Wales. I hope to ensure that all of

us are allies of the LGBT+ Community. Everyone

deserves to be treated with respect and dignity

when they are going through a break up,

whoever they loved.

Please call to discuss what might be the best process for you

on 07780676212 or email jo@osullivanfamilylaw.com

For more details about how I work visit

www.osullivanfamilylaw.com

ON THIS MONTH: CLASSICAL

Intergen Opera

Inspiring generations

Charlotte Shaw (left)

and Charlotte Wicks are

two local opera singers

who between them have

covered an impressive

‘most glamorous’ list of

opera houses including

Paris, Monte Carlo and

Glyndebourne. But lately

they’ve been looking to use

their considerable talents in

less fashionable surroundings: care homes for

elderly people and primary schools.

ENO regular soprano soloist Charlotte Shaw

explains that it was while directing a friend’s

dementia choir that she recognised the power

music has to “light up people’s creativity” as she

puts it, and to make vital connections. “A lot

of older people are experiencing loneliness and

depression. They’re quite disconnected from

their families, who might be spread out around

the country so they don’t see them. And they

might not see their grandchildren regularly or

have a chance to interact with that age-group.”

Which is where her friend Charlotte Wicks

comes in. On the staff of a local prep school

when she’s not trotting the globe as a mezzosoprano,

Wicks has worked with children in

various musical environments and, like Shaw,

was inspired by Channel 4’s Old People’s Home

for 4 Year Olds. She wanted to bring music

into the mix. “The opportunity to play and be

creative is where children are at with music in

this specific age group (Key Stage 1). But music

has that emotional connection that play doesn’t.

Music can access emotion, wake up the creative

part of the brain, not just for the care home

residents but for the children as well.”

Together, the two Charlottes have come up

with Intergenerational Opera, an innovative

project linking children

at Key Stage 1 with local

care home residents

in a series of creative

vocal workshops using

operatic repertoire to

explore vocal technique,

music making and

relationship building.

“We’re starting with

Hansel and Gretel,” says

Shaw. “Everyone knows the story, the music’s

lovely and there are some great tunes.”

“And the idea,” says Wicks “is that for the

children certainly it can be part of a wider

educational experience: art, music, creative

writing – all sorts of projects can come out of

it. As well as fostering what we hope will be

lasting relationships across the generations.”

So will they all be singing from the same sheet?

“We’ll be doing everything by ear,” explains

Shaw. “It’s hard, because people with dementia

forget things, but older people also tend to have

poor eyesight too, so looking at music means

looking down, where we want them to look

up. The session is not so much about learning

a piece as about making music together, being

together, making connections.”

Start up funding has been awarded by East

Sussex Music Service, and following the first

trial workshops in Eastbourne this month,

the two Charlottes will be looking for private

funding to deliver the project to mainstream

schools and care homes at low cost. East Sussex

College will also be joining the venture,

sending their own young music students along

on work placements.

Here’s to opera inspiring generations.

Eleanor Knight

intergenopera@gmail.com

AWARD-WINNING EYE CARE

Children aren’t able to know

the difference between poor

vision and ‘normal vision’

Eye examinations are free

for under 16’s and under 19’s

in full-time education

Some schools offer basic visual

screening to children, but it is

not a full eye examination

20% of school children have

an undiagnosed problem

with their vision

Barracloughs the Opticians Lewes are proud to incorporate

FIND YOUR FEET PODIATRY & CHIROPODY

52 Cliffe High Street . Lewes . 01273 471893 . www.fyfpc.co.uk

- Nail Cutting

- Corn & Callus removal

- In-growing Toenails

- Verrucae

- Fungal Nail advice

- Diabetic Foot

- Rheumatology

- Wound care

- Nail Surgery

- Biomechanics

FreeTIME êêêê under 16

UNTIL SUNDAY 1

Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival.

Family-friendly opportunity to enjoy science

and astronomy in a relaxed, informal setting.

the-observatory.org.

SUNDAY 1

Gangsta Granny. Heartbreak Productions

present the stage show of the David Walliams

bestseller, adapted for the outdoor stage.

Bring picnics and appropriate outdoor gear.

Michelham Priory, 5pm, £10.50-£16.50. See

sussexpast.co.uk.

SATURDAY 7

The Sooty and

Friends Show.

Join Sooty and

his gang for

fun, mischief

and magic

in their live show for all the family, plus a

chance to meet Sooty and Richard after the

show. Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne,

10.30am, £12.

SATURDAY 7 & SUNDAY 8

Medieval Weekend. Living

history camps, displays,

archery, medieval traders and

entertainment. Michelham

Priory, 10.30am-5pm, see

sussexpast.co.uk.

FRIDAY 13 – SUNDAY 15

Into The Trees Festival, Pippingford Park,

Nutley. Camping fun for all the family

organised by So Sussex. into-the-trees.co.uk.

See page 89.

SUNDAY 15

Story Time. For under fives

and their parents and carers.

Stories and songs will take

place in the gallery spaces,

and will link to a piece on

display in TEN, The Towner’s

anniversary exhibition. Towner

Gallery Eastbourne, 12.30pm,

free (donations welcome).

FRIDAY 20 – SUNDAY 22

Bentley

Wood Fair.

A celebration

of woodlands,

forestry,

nature,

sustainability, woodcraft, artisan skills and

the big outdoors. Attractions for the whole

family, including refreshments, falconry and

shopping. Bentley, see bentleywoodfair.co.uk.

SUNDAY 22

Plumpton Family Raceday. First race 2pm,

fun fair, food and drink, face painting, soft play

and more. See plumptonracecourse.co.uk.

SCHOOL

OPEN DAYS

Chailey School.

Open evening Wednesday 18th 6pm, open

days Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th.

Kings Academy Ringmer.

Open evening Thursday 12th, open

mornings Monday 16th to Friday 20th

Priory School.

Open evening Thursday 19th.

Your support is…

Adventures

the

wild

From special days out to the every day at

home, Chestnut Tree House helps children with

life-shortening conditions and their families

make the most of every moment together.

We’re your local children’s hospice and your

support makes this happen.

For making the ordinary extra-ordinary.

For the .

Donate. Fundraise. Get Involved.

01903 871820 / 01323 725095

fundraising@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

#ForTheNow

Registered charity no 256789

Open Morning

With its excellent and imaginative

approach, the Steiner Waldorf

curriculum has gained ever-widening

recognition as a creative and

compassionate alternative to

traditional avenues of education.

But just how does it feel to be a child

in this environment, soaking up this

stimulating and rewarding teaching?

Wednesday 9th October

from 08:30 - 13:00

Alternatively, book in for a Private Tour

email: contact@michaelhall.co.uk

www.michaelhall.co.uk/school-open-days

Kidbrooke Park, Priory Road, Forest Row. East Sussex, RH18 5JA

Tel: 01342 822275 - Registered Charity Number 307006

A Planet full of Plastic

by Neal Layton

A timely book on an important topic. As we all become

increasingly aware of human impact on the environment,

A Planet Full of Plastic walks children through the history of

plastic production and introduces the problem with materials

that are not biodegradable. Through photographs, illustrations

and child-friendly diagrams, the author explains

that much of the plastic ends up in the ocean in enormous

garbage patches (the most famous of which is currently

three times the size of France!).

Despite being clearly uncompromising on the facts and clear

about the consequences for wild life, this is actually a picture

book full of hope. The final section explains how scientists

are working on some of the enormous problems caused by plastic pollution and how, as individuals,

we can all play a part in helping to reduce the problem of plastics our planet faces. ‘It’s a big job,’ says

a smiley Planet Earth towards the end of the book, ‘but I reckon we can do it.’

Neal Layton’s trademark collage style, sense of fun, and the informative tone make this picture book

perfect for introducing eco themes to young children without inducing panic. Anna, Bags of Books

Find A Planet Full of Plastic with 20% off at Bags of Books throughout September.

The magical winter lantern trail

Every Thursday to Sunday, 21 November – 22 December

For details visit kew.org/glowwild

Lancing College

Senior School & Sixth Form

Open Morning

Saturday 5 October

10.30am – 1pm

Registered Charity No. 1076483

Into the Trees

Back to the wild

So Sussex was set up ten years ago, with one

question in mind: how do you get families to

spend more time outdoors? In its early days,

Managing Director Nigel Greenwood tells me,

they concentrated on organising days out. “Alex

Leith came on a number of these, and wrote

them up in Viva Lewes…”

Their first adventure in organising a festival

was setting up Elderflower Fields eight years

ago. “Festivals are great”, Nigel says; “a brilliant

way of getting a lot more families out

doing a lot more together – which was always

our aim. They are a real catalyst.”

Into the Trees is the second So Sussex festival;

this month will see its fifth year. “It’s a bit different

again”, Nigel explains. “It’s a lot smaller

and quieter. It’s more around the woods, and is

focused on environment and habitat – a much

more laid back experience than our Elderflower

Fields festival.

“Into the Trees takes place just before the summer

is ended. A last chance for chilled camping

out as a family – or you can just visit on a day

ticket – in a highly-protected, beautiful corner of

the Ashdown Forest. We think it’s really special.”

The weekend is host to a rich range of activities

– from pond dipping, to whittling and fire

lighting to tree climbing. From visiting a

geodesic moth dome, to a ‘Twisting space

marble run’; to sports like kayaking, and disc

golf. Or what about creating mud monsters? Or

‘rambling rhymes’? Something for everyone,

and lots based around noticing nature and the

environment.

“The food’s excellent, too”, says Nigel. “An

amazing range and real quality. We don’t use

chains, but cherry pick small, local vendors.

So, The Grey Earl has been bringing us coffee

from day one. Manjula provides the most amazing

Asian and vegan dishes I defy any carnivore

to turn their nose up at; and Pizza Wagon does

the best traditional stone baked pizzas.”

In the evening, once the day trippers leave,

about 5 or 6pm the site closes for the night.

“Around 1,500 to 2,000 people spend the night”,

Nigel tells me. “We have a central campfire, and

there’s a small stage for singer-songwriters and

storytellers. It’s lovely. We’re back at grass roots,

doing what we love best: creating an atmosphere,

and doing most of that work ourselves –

where Elderflower Fields now is on a scale we’re

more in the background managing. Into the

Trees is very special, for us, then.”

One more highlight. Nigel tells me they have

Arts Council funding for two years to create

and co-create (with visitors) the So Sussex

Schools Without Walls Art Trail – so if your

children fancy being part of that, Into the Trees

should be on your calendar.

Greenwood is just the right name for your job,

I comment. “Yes, we were a family of foresters

once…” Charlotte Gann

13-15 September, Pippingford Park, Nutley.

into-the-trees.co.uk

Organic Wholefoods Since 1971

We are delighted to be opening our second shop

in the great town of Lewes this September.

We Are A Family Owned Health Food Store,

Bringing Zero-Waste Shopping,

Organic & Biodynamic Fruit & Veg,

Organic Skincare, Artisan Breads, Local Produce,

Vegan and Gluten Free Products.

For more info on our Grand Opening and Events,

go to our Social Media pages.

16-17 Cliffe High Street, BN7 2AH

01273 473 470 seasonswholefoods.co.uk

FOOD REVIEW

Côte

Lovely Friday lunch

We like Côte. It’s probably our

venue of choice for a family birthday

or other treat. And we like it

especially when we get one of their

booths. (I like the online booking,

which always seems very efficient,

and allows me to express this preference.)

I like the fact too that the

building is the old Lloyds Bank,

which always flashes through my

mind when I walk in. Where I had

my first ‘student’ bank account so

many moons ago…

But I digress. Today, one August

lunchtime, we slid into our booth

seats gratefully and I impetuously

ordered a Pampelle Spritz (£6.95).

Cocktails aren’t my thing, but this

I enjoyed. The waiter alerted me “you have to

like grapefruit…” Well, I do, and the spritz was

refreshing and soothing with a serious grapefruit

kick. Good.

We ordered bread. My companions (family) dug

in enthusiastically, all saying how much they like

the Côte bread. Narrow slices, fresh and crispy,

served with butter on the side, you get all the

satisfaction of bread-while-you-wait without

denting your appetite.

I went with the Lunch Menu (two courses

£11.50, three courses £13.95), starting with the

Zucchini Fritti, which were delicious. Just breadcrumbed

enough to give a crunch and shift of

texture but not too much to obscure the lovely

courgette, and beautiful dipped in Mayonnaise

Verte. “Currently our most popular dish”, our

waiter said. Pete chose the Prestige Menu (two

courses £15.95, three courses £18.95), and opted

for the Moules Marinière to start. He said the

mussels were lovely and fresh and the sauce

“not too creamy, good consistency,

garlicky, just right, finely chopped

onion in it and fresh herbs, and a

generous helping”. He approved

of the “spoon to deal with the

sauce”. One happy customer.

The boys had Calamari, complemented

beautifully (as was my

Zucchini) with lemon to squeeze,

and tartare sauce. They then went

on to the Steak Frites, which is

both of their favourites. It’s just

perfect – good sized steak (not too

enormous), and served with garlic

butter “which makes it”, and excellent

crispy fries.

Pete had Sea Trout for his main,

which he also raved about. Again,

the sauce caught his imagination – “gentle,

mustardy, just the right amount of dill” – but he

also enthused about the “perfectly cooked fish”

and “melt-in-the-mouth new potatoes”. He liked

the presentation – “bright green petit pois”, etc.

My Chicken Salad, meanwhile, was also excellent.

Lots of strong flavours – including Roquefort

cheese, capers, endive and brioche croutons – all

held by the smoother gem salad and crispy grilled

chicken.

We managed two puddings. Again, the boys both

chose Coupe Noire, “chocolate sauce mixing

beautifully with melted ice cream”. Pete loved

his “Crumble Aux Pêches” served beautifully in

what looked (to me) like a mini Le Creuset, it

was “luscious mm mmm”, he said. “Velvety, with

finely chopped peach”.

This, we all agreed, is what lunch in a restaurant

should be like – both food-wise, and the decor…

Charlotte Gann

82 High Street. cote.co.uk/restaurant/lewes/

Photo by Alex Leith

RECIPE

Dirty Doe Tacos

Nick Weston, Hunter Gather Cook

I started Hunter Gather Cook in 2011,

to help teach other people some of the

know-how I’d acquired growing up in

East Sussex (and beyond), as a gamehunter,

wild-food forager, and chef.

I found a mixed-woodland location not

far from Lewes, and gradually built a

team of likeminded chefs, hunters and

foragers to help on courses, entirely

based around wild food and fire cookery.

We teach people how to skin, pluck and

butcher game, and how to forage for

food in the land around the two-storey

treehouse that we built. This is followed

up by a five-course taster menu from our

woodfired kitchen.

This year we have expanded the

operation, acquiring a former threshing

barn on the Firle Estate, so we can spread

the wild-food word simultaneously in two

different places, all year round. We’ve

equipped the place with a fully fitted

kitchen, though, of course, everything we

cook, we cook on a real fire. We’ve got

space outside with raised beds, so we can

add home-grown produce – if necessary –

to the mix.

Using game, rather than farmed meat, is

an integral part of our ethos. So, when

I was looking for a Mexican-style tacos

recipe, fallow deer was the perfect pairing.

The bed for the meat is a slaw, which is

easy to make: to serve six people, finely

slice half a red cabbage, one large red

onion, ten radishes, a cucumber, one red

chilli, and a bunch of coriander leaves. Just

before serving, add the juice of a lime, a

tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and two

tablespoons of olive oil, and mix.

The secret to guacamole is its simplicity:

with a fork, squish together two large ripe

avocados, the juice of a lime and a pinch

of sea salt. That’s it!

I’ve called this ‘dirty doe’ because the

meat is cooked directly on charcoal, or

wood that has burnt down to form coals

– you can do it on your barbecue. Get the

charcoal burning well, fan off any ash,

then put whole cuts of venison on top: I

favour the back haunch cuts for this dish –

pavé or fat flank, but silverside is perfectly

good, too. Flip the meat, when it’s nicely

browned, onto a fresh patch of coals

behind. We use a digital thermometer to

tell us when it’s medium rare (55c). Then

rest for five minutes wrapped in silver foil.

Lightly toast the corn tortillas – twenty

small ones for our purposes, on a grate

over the charcoal. Carve the meat when

these are ready.

Part of the fun of tacos is putting

everything together, so leave the ‘creative’

side of things to whoever’s lucky enough

to be at the table. Add a hot salsa, pickles

and ferments – which we source from our

ever expanding foraged larder – then…

go wild!

As told to Alex Leith

For more ‘adventures in wild food’ check

out Nick’s latest book, Hunter Gather

Cook. See also huntergathercook.com for

courses, banquets and events

utumn A SUNDAYS AT

Enjoy a relaxing retreat at

Wingrove House, surrounded by

the best walking routes in Sussex!

High Street, Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5TD

3-course Sunday lunch &

Sunday night stay in one of

our stunning rooms with

breakfast included

£75 per person

(based on 2 people sharing)

Book your relaxed Sunday stay now on 01323 870276 and quote ‘VIVASUNDAY’

T&C’s: Available on Sunday night bookings between 6th October - 24th November 2019.

Bookings only. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Drinks not included.

www.wingrovehousealfriston.com | 01323 870276 | info@wingrovehousealfriston.com

18 CLIFFE HIGH ST,

LEWES BN7 2AH

01273 483331

HIRE THE ROASTERY

FOR CHRISTMAS

WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR CORPORATE AND PRIVATE CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

PACKAGES INCLUDING BUFFET AND 3 COURSE MAIN MEAL OPTIONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING PLEASE EMAIL BOOKINGS@TRADINGPOSTCOFFEE.CO.UK.

WWW.TRADINGPOSTCOFFEE.CO.UK

LEWES BITES

Macaroons

So the big news is that Lewes Patisserie has moved –

from the top of Station Street into part of what was

arguably the best, most eccentric shop in Lewes (and

that took some doing) – Hugh Rae – opposite Lewes

Castle. I’ve still got one of Hugh Rae’s zebra-striped

carrier bags as a memento, but I digress.

I shall miss the courtyard garden that felt a little as if

you’re having a secret rendezvous, when what you were

actually doing is writing a shopping list whilst dropping

flakes of almond croissant down your cleavage. But I

shall continue to support them. It is a great institution. A little bit of France.

Choosing my favourite item from this special shop is tricky. The French fruit tarts are elegant and

charming, and I particularly like the sharpness of cassis. The quiche lorraine, especially when warmed, is a

comforting, cheesy delight. But it’s their macaroons that make me smile most.

I’ve no patience for making neat, fiddly things, but am very happy for someone else to do so, and love how

colourful the macaroon palette is. Violet, delicate yellow, hot pink, vivid green. A variety of changing flavours

that include pistachio, coffee, vanilla, blackcurrant and salted caramel. I also like the fact they come

served on a regal, gilt-edged china plate!

I’m very glad Lewes Patisserie is still with us. @LewesNibbler

enjoy a

complimentary

kir royale

When dining with us

To redeem, simply present this advert

Côte Brasserie Lewes

82 HIGH STREET, LEWES, BN7 1XW

01273 311 344 | www.cote.co.uk/lewes

Valid from 01/09/19 until 30/09/19 at Côte Lewes only. One

complimentary glass of Kir Royale per person 18 years and over

ordering a main course. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

Lewes_VivaLewes_September2019.indd 1 14/08/2019 10:41:46

THE WAY WE WALK

Photographer Aiste Saulyte caught up with four local hikers.

She asked each: what is your favourite spot on the Downs?

aistesaulyte.co.uk

Emma Lacey, Protective Behaviours Practitioner and

Duke of Edinburgh Volunteer for Northease Manor school

‘Devil’s Dyke – the view should be prescribed on the NHS! From a quick walk after work or

a starting point to a day’s ramble I have many fond memories there, whatever the weather.’

THE WAY WE WALK

Peter Williamson, Director & Lead Instructor – Nordic Walking for Health

‘I have several. The best terrain for Nordic walking is along one of the many long, but not

steep, uphill climbs with breathtaking views: Stanmer Woods, Ditchling Beacon, Castle Hill

Nature Reserve, Friston Forest and, of course, Seven Sisters.’ (nordicwalkingforhealth.co.uk)

THE WAY WE WALK

Alan Lehmann, Chairman of Lewes Footpaths Group

‘Malling Down, Caburn and Southerham Reserve.

They have terrific views, lots of wildflowers and many different butterflies.’

THE WAY WE WALK

Brian Davies, Member of the Friends of the South Downs

‘My favourite walk is from Crowlink down to the Seven Sisters, then Birling Gap

and back over the top to Crowlink – the Downs, sea and cliffs all in one.’

Domestic Pet, Farm Animal and Equine Services

Your local

Veterinary

Practice

since 1865

LEWES MAIN SURGERY

21 Cliffe High Street

01273 473 232

WOODINGDEAN SURGERY

01273 302 609

RINGMER SURGERY

01273 814 590

EQUINE CLINIC LAUGHTON

01323 815120

www.cliffevets.co.uk | www.cliffeequine.co.uk

FEATURE

Bee Lines

Restoring the corridors

If you’ve been walking on the Downs during

the spring and summer, you may well have

admired the rafts of wild flowers that bloom

in the chalk grassland that makes up a familiar

part of the landscape. You may well also be

aware that this part of the National Park has

been in steady decline.

Over the past century, a huge proportion of wildflower

meadow has been lost as a result of human

impact. The main causes are the cultivation of the

land for farming, along with increasingly intensified

farming methods and the effects of climate

change. Once extensive across the National Park,

flower-rich chalk grassland now forms only four

per cent of the total area.

Of course, this matters. With the loss of the

flower-rich grassland comes the loss of habitat for

the pollinating insects on which our whole eco

system depends, including honeybees, bumblebees

and the Adonis Blue butterfly.

Bees pollinate around one third of our food crops,

which in turn feed livestock. As Nick Heasman,

Countryside and Policy Manager for the South

Downs National Park told me, “bees are absolutely

vital to the planet.”

The loss of wildflower meadow is not particular

to the Sussex Downs but part of a much wider

problem. Since the 1930s, over 97 per cent of

all flower rich grassland in England has been

lost. One third of Britain’s bee population has

disappeared over the last decade alone and

a quarter of Europe’s bumblebees are now

threatened with extinction.

The good news is that we can take steps to

reverse this. And a new campaign has been set up

to ensure we do.

The Bee Lines campaign was launched by the

South Downs National Park Trust back in April

and it’s got off to a good start, Nick says. “We’ve

been overwhelmed by the amazing response to

our Bee Lines campaign and would like to say a

big ‘thank you’ to all those who have donated so

far. The fact that our pollinators are in trouble

and need our help has really struck a chord with

the public.”

This is just the start of a longer-term conservation

project.

The campaign aims to raise £75,000 to help

restore wildflower habitats and create a haven

for pollinating insects. It will work with farmers

and other landowners to create new wildflower

corridors which will crisscross the landscape and

build a resilient population of pollinators for the

future. The planting will include a mix of native

wildflowers like birdsfoot trefoil, knapweed and

yellow rattle.

Once the fund-raising target has been met, the

trust will open a bidding process in 2020 for

farmers, landowners and community groups who

wish to plant new wildflower areas. The campaign

will also involve improved roadside verge

management as well as working with schools and

other community organisations.

Julie Bull

Want to learn more, and / or donate?

southdownstrust.org.uk/beelines

Donations to Bee Lines will make a big difference

to the Downs, but there are also things you can

do in your own garden to make them pollinatorfriendly

and the Trust has ideas at

southdowns.gov.uk/make-a-beehouse

Photo by Tim Squires, South Downs National Park ranger

103

The bird man

Photographing peregrines

Gerry Bennett has travelled the world catching

fish and photographing birds. He’s enjoyed

trips to Nepal, India, the States, New Zealand

(“amazing gannet colonies”) and a safari in Tanzania

(“mind-blowing”), and he’s a regular visitor

to Spain, where he has an apartment, and takes

his camper van to tour, and is a keen member of

the Andalucian Birding Society.

“I have photos of flamingos, numerous vultures

and eagles, storks, hoopoes, bee-eaters, red

knobbed coots, ibis, kites…”, he tells me. And

he’s also loved exploring the British Isles,

including this summer a trip round the coast of

Scotland with his adult son. But we’re meeting

just now to talk about an adventure even closer

to home.

All this spring and early summer, Gerry watched,

daily, with growing delight, a pair of peregrines

nesting just by the Cuilfail Tunnel, and the

gradual emergence of their one “snowy” chick.

Gerry stood below and watched through binoculars

and a scope. Quite a crowd was known

104

PHOTO FEATURE

to gather – maybe an opportunity for the

peregrines to do their own bit of peoplewatching

in return – a scenario retired

teacher Gerry (he taught Maths and Physics

for 23 years at what is now East Sussex College,

down Mountfield Road) is more than

comfortable with. “On one evening there

were six Americans, two Australians, as well

as a small crowd of Lewesians”, he laughs.

The peregrines make a marvellous sight,

he tells me, “flying around the chalk cliffs,

often threatening to attack the many jackdaws

and pigeons that share the location.

And each day brought progress. The story

unfolded before our eyes.”

Peregrines nest for the May / June season.

“The original snowy chick turned into a

teenager,” he tells me, “with some adult

markings and a desire to flap those wings.

The male brought food – and temporary

mayhem, as he shredded it for the chick:

watching from below, you can see feathers

flying.”

This season Gerry also spotted – and

photographed – a peregrine family at the

chalkpit along the Offham Road. Two adults

and four chicks this time. Again, amazing

photographs – taken, he tells me, many of

them, less than 20m from the birds.

“I use a Panasonic G9 camera”, he says,

“with a Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens.

For me, it’s just the best way to spend my

time. It’s a bit like fishing – which I used

to do with my dad. A lot of waiting for the

catch, but all worthwhile.

“I caught a food pass – not the best of photos,

but just to capture it at all, as a single

photo and not from a video/ burst, was

incredibly lucky.”

We loved these stories – and Gerry’s pictures.

And thought you might enjoy them

too. Maybe come next spring, more of us

might even look up and notice the wildlife

nesting in our midst.

Charlotte Gann

105

British Wildlife

An Art Exhibition by Peter Bainbridge

28th September - 20th October

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WILDLIFE

COMMON ANIMAL TRACKS

FOX

DOG BADGER CAT ROE DEER

(Vulpes vulpes) (Canis familiaris watson) (Meles meles) (Felis catus) (Capreolus capreolus)

Illustration by Mark Greco

Animal Footprints

I will not celebrate meaningless milestones

I’m scrambling through the woodland undergrowth,

anxious, sweating and clutching a 2kg

pouch of white powder and a spoon. I may look

like some Colombian cocaine smuggler, but I’ve

got the perfect excuse for the police: “I’m researching

my 100th article for Viva”. Since 2011 I’ve

been sitting down each month to write these wildlife

articles, but for this month’s ‘footprints’ issue I

needed to get out and do some investigating.

When I was a kid, I bought loads of books with

names like ‘the amateur naturalist’ (not to be confused

with ‘the amateur naturist’, a mistake you

only make once). Each book promised to make

you a wildlife detective and was filled with tips on

tracking mammals in the countryside. Most British

mammals are nocturnal and, after centuries

of persecution, all of them are understandably

rather wary of humans. We hardly ever see them.

Yet these invisible animals leave behind tantalising

clues which let us know they really exist:

droppings, nibbled nuts, pellets. But the biggest

giveaway of all are their footprints.

Primitive mammals (such as hedgehogs, stoats,

badgers and you) are plantigrades. We stroll

about on the soles of our feet and have five toes.

When we run – to escape the drug squad for

example – we use our toes and the balls of our

feet. For the mammals who spend a lot of time

running and jumping this basic mammalian

plantigrade foot has evolved and adapted over

time. Some animals have lost a toe (foxes, cats,

dogs, hares) while the real gymnasts, such as deer,

leap around on two toes, and horses race on just

one toe enclosed in a hoof. Like Sherlock Holmes

with a foot fetish, you can examine each footprint’s

formula of toes, claws and pads to deduce

just who has been sneaking around at night.

My books told me that, once you find a footprint,

the best way to capture it is to make a cast –

which explains why I’m crouched here in the

undergrowth excitedly mixing up plaster of Paris

powder and pouring it into a footprint in the

muddy woodland floor. I’ve always wanted to do

this since I was a kid but, well, I guess life got in

the way. Now I have my first footprint cast, sitting

proudly on my desk: a badger (with five toes,

a wide pad and obvious claws). A souvenir of my

100th Viva. And somewhere out there is a badger

completely unaware that what it has created has

been enjoyed by somebody, has inspired them to

learn more about wildlife and do something to

preserve it. Which now I think about it, is all I

have hoped for from these past 100 articles too. I

hope I’ve made an impression.

Michael Blencowe, Senior Learning & Engagement

Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust

107

“I’m incredibly impressed with how the

club leads through action, not words and

it is an honour to be joining the team.

My ambition is clear – for Lewes FC to be

the best club in the world, for everybody

to know about it, and for others to learn

from the example we are setting.”

Maggie Murphy, General Manager, Lewes FC

Lewes FC is the only football club in the world to

pay its women's team the same as its men's team.

Endorse us, support us and help us do more.

JOIN THE CLUB:

www.lewesfc.com/owners

RECYCLING

How do the wheelie bins work?

Your recycling questions answered

Who sorts my recycling, now I dump it all

in one wheelie bin? Lewes district council

collects it, then East Sussex county council is

responsible for recycling it. Recycling is sorted

and separated at a MRF (Materials Recovery

Facility) run by Viridor in Crayford. Here

the mixed recycling goes through a series of

machines: rotating screens which separate

materials by size; ballistic separators to sort

materials of different weights; optical sorters

for different types of plastics; electromagnets

and eddy currents for separating metals. Finally,

people pick out and separate items which are

hard to sort by machine.

How do I know what plastics can be recycled?

The main plastics which can’t, as part of

your household recycling, are hard plastics (like

buckets), plastic film (cellophane, salad bags,

etc), and black plastic trays (eg meat/ ready

meal trays).

Bottles (from milk, fizzy drinks, or household

products), and pot tubs and

trays (except completely

black ones) are fine.

What happens if I

put something in

the bin that can’t be

recycled? Non-recyclable

items are classed as

contamination, and high

levels can be a serious

issue. Small amounts can

usually be removed during

the sorting process;

when this happens the

contamination is often

incinerated to provide

power. If contamination

levels are extremely high

it can mean an entire load of recycling being

rejected. Fortunately this doesn’t happen too

much in Lewes district because residents are

good at only putting the correct items in the

recycling bin – Lewes district has amongst the

lowest levels of recycling contamination out of

all the local authorities in the UK!

Is the stuff really recycled and if so how

much, how, where etc. It really, really, is. Everything

we collect from recycling bins which

can be recycled gets recycled. Mixed recycling

is sorted at the MRF. They separate the paper,

card, metals, glass and different plastics. Each

material has a separate recycling process and

they are all cleaned and prepared for reuse,

then they get made into all sorts of new packaging

and products.

Is it going well? What can we do to help?

Two years ago Lewes district only recycled

around 25% of household waste. By the start of

2019 that had increased to almost 40%, and it

has continued to increase since. This is brilliant,

but of course we need to keep on improving! A

great way to help is to be conscious of what you

buy – prefer sustainable materials like glass and

metals (which can be easily recycled over and

over), and avoid unnecessary plastics or composite

materials like cartons, which have many

difficult-to-separate layers of polyethylene and

sometimes aluminium.

Lewes and Eastbourne Council Waste & Recycling

Engagement Coordinator, Thomas Broad was

interviewed by Charlotte Gann

For specifics on what is accepted in Lewes

district recycling, food waste, garden waste, or

refuse bins, check lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/

waste. Recycle Now offers a nationwide online

recycling locator which tells you the nearest

place to recycle a specific item, recyclenow.com

109

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Turrell & Co.

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FEATURE

DIYgogo

The virtual skip

Alexander Thomson

had his idea for

DIYgogo when he

spent a year cycling

to China. “I cycled

through Kazakhstan”,

he told me, “and it

lent me so much perspective.

The people

had nothing, but had

so much more than we

do in our Western madness. Everything was so

much more cherished.”

When he got back to the UK, he says, he was

“overwhelmed by the contrast”. And he decided

to set up an enterprise with social purpose – to

contribute some small difference.

This was the birth of DIYgogo, a website

designed to put people in touch with each other

easily, so they can recycle, and access, unwanted,

free building materials.

“I work on a building site,” Alex says, “and the

level of waste is stupendous. So, here’s the idea in

a nutshell: you walk past a skip, and in it are a pile

of bricks, or a bath, and you think that’s just what

I need. Well, DIYgogo is like that virtual skip.”

He’s been beavering way on his project – a notfor-profit

social enterprise – for a couple of years

now. The website had been live for four months

when we spoke.

So, how’s it going, I asked.

One major challenge, Alex reports, is changing

the mindset of building companies – whom he

desperately wants to get onboard. “They all say

it’s a fantastic idea, very needed,” he says. “But

it’s hard to change the nature of the way people

do business: they’re just not minded that way.”

He’ll keep trying and, in the meantime, the site

is live and available to anyone anywhere across

the UK. Whether you’ve building materials to

shift, or you’re looking

to pick some up,

log on and see what’s

happening round

here. The company

has been concentrating

recently on

generating interest

across the South East,

especially in Lewes

and Brighton.

DIYgogo bills itself as an enterprise with both

environmental and social objectives. Environmentally,

it hopes to contribute to a more

sustainable future. Socially, it wants to help the

less fortunate members of our society. “We want

to do this,” Alex tells me, “not just by enabling

access to free materials, but we’d also like, over

time, to grow to provide building-work training

for young people. These skills have been lost.

For so long, we’ve relied in this country on

Eastern Europeans. Now we’re losing that work

force – the pay’s not much better, so it’s no longer

worth people’s while and, of course, Brexit’s

looming. We’d like to help young people learn

the skills they need to end up in employment in

the building trade.”

Currently, working on the project are Alex

and a part-time partner, who does the marketing,

mainly through social media. “We’re also

looking to develop an app,” says Alex. “It’s what

people are asking for today – an app that’s easier

and quicker to use than going through a few

steps on a website.”

It’s the world we live in, we agree, shaking our

heads.

But if it helps enable good ideas, and new ways

of working – like DIYgogo – well, maybe that’s

not all bad… Charlotte Gann

diygogo.co.uk

111

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ENVIRONMENT

Powering up

Smart solar batteries and energy sharing

Lewes is rightly proud of

its Transition Town status

and its commitment

to becoming a more

sustainable community,

yet last year’s UK Solar

Power County Rankings

listed East Sussex as

just 33rd in the country.

So, could we be doing

better?

Simon Daniel thinks so

– and he’s keen to help.

His company Moixa (‘it’s

axiom spelt backwards,

as we like to do things differently’) has developed

a smart solar battery, which is now available in

the Lewes-Newhaven area, following a deal with

energy distributor UK Power Networks.

“The smart battery stores solar energy generated

from roof solar panels and releases it at peak usage

times to save energy,” Simon explains. “Often

people may be out all day, then, when they return

home, the sun is going down. By storing solar energy

generated during daylight hours, the smart

battery enables that green energy to be accessed

when it’s most needed, avoiding reliance on the

Grid at peak times.”

As well as reducing energy bills by up to 50 per

cent, he adds, the smart battery lessens dependence

on fossil fuels, lowering a household or

business’s carbon footprint.

Moixa isn’t just about solar energy storage,

though. The company also acts as ‘a virtual power

plant’ via its GridShare software, which enables

smart battery users to share stored energy to support

the Grid.

“GridShare co-ordinates energy demand and

acts like a pool, collecting excess energy and

distributing it where it is needed,” Simon says.

“In areas where more

people are using electric

vehicles, energy demands

can peak at particular

times. GridShare releases

stored clean solar energy

at these times, to cut

costs and ease demand

on the Grid.

“Having a solar panel

fitted takes a certain

amount off a person’s

energy bill, and having

a smart battery and a

smart tariff takes off even

more. Our software makes the batteries smart,

with an app and user interface that enable users

to see their energy profiles. It allows us to set up

a plan that is co-ordinated centrally for maximum

benefit. With GridShare, we are helping to

manage renewable resources and to reinforce the

Grid at times of congestion, potentially saving the

country £8bn a year on energy costs.”

Those signing up to Moixa’s GridShare membership

also receive a discount on the initial cost of

the smart battery, he continues, as well as a £50

annual ‘thank you’ for the first three years of

participation in the scheme. Additionally, they are

reimbursed for any financial impact caused by using

the battery to support the grid, ensuring that

savings are optimised.

“It’s appropriate that we’re doing this in Lewes,

which is a Transition Town at the very heart of

the sustainability movement. Our goal of reducing

carbon and increasing the usage of renewables

is part of a global initiative, of which Lewes is

representative. So it’s exciting that we are helping

the Lewes area to become even more sustainable.”

Anita Hall

020 7734 1511. moixa.com

113

BUSINESS NEWS

Everybody’s got a strong opinion, it seems, about

the news that McDonald’s have proposed to

open a two-storey take-away restaurant on the

corner between Davey’s Lane and Brooks Road.

Judging by reactions on the internet forums –

and chats down the pub – the prospect seems to

have divided the community along familiar lines.

You can find out more – including maps, artists’

renders, and objections, on the South Downs

National Park website. It looks like there’s a long

way to go until this one’s approved...

Another bit of news that has exercised some

is the County Council’s decision to look into

doubling the price of parking in Lewes, which

would make a two-hour stop on School Hill cost

an eye-watering £7.80 (and a 15-minute stay £1).

We’re awaiting the results of a public consultation

on the matter soon.

Down Cliffe way, there’s a change of owner and

a change of brand at Simon David (12/13 Cliffe

High Street) where Paul and Karen Palmer

are retiring after ten years “to do a much more

difficult job: looking after the grandchildren”.

Moving into the space are mother-and-daughter

team Robyn and Kate Burgess, who will turn the

space into ‘Lumen of Lewes’. Lighting, interiors

and gifts will still be the focus.

Moving across the street, we’ve learnt more

about the chic-looking venture which has been

set up where Le Magasin used to trade. It’s

called belle & co, and it’s run by Yad, formerly

of the BBC, who lovingly restores, buys and sells

mid-century furniture. I bet those fab G-Plan

‘62’ swinging armchairs in the window have

gone by the time you read this.

It’s as you were at 46 High Street, by the War

Memorial. Revive joinery are moving their HQ

back to their workshop in Uckfield for the time

being, but very much carrying on trading, and

might well reappear in a new Lewes venue in the

new year [revivejoinery.co.uk]. We hear that the

place is going to revert to its previous incarnation,

Cheese Please, under new management by Fran.

And there’s more food news: Thai restaurant

Lemongrass are back open for business, and

Lewes Patisserie has moved from its Station

Street location, to the western half of what used

to be Hugh Rae, at the top of town. They’re

mostly serving take-away at the moment, including

delicious patisserie from Julian Plumart: they

might expand if the opportunity arises.

And talking cakes, we enjoyed two recently at

the new Zu Café at the Bus Station – now up

and running.

Congratulations too to Chantal, who’s opened a

new hairdresser’s – Exterior – on Market Street.

And to new Lewes gym studio Body Happy and

of course The Unity Centre, both starting up

in Friars Walk. And if you’re looking for office

space, or have some to spare and are looking for

someone to fill it, Claire Kirtland, from Hive,

has set up Space Agent Lewes (spaceagentlewes.co.uk),

to put you in touch with each other.

Alex Leith

Lewes Town & Country

Residential Sales & Lettings

Land & New Homes

T 01273 487444

E lewes@oakleyproperty.com

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South Way, Lewes £785,000

Impressive detached family home in in a tucked-away position on

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Sackville Close, Lewes £550,000

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FOOTBALL

Katie McIntyre

Skipper Macca’s crunch season

“Last season was all about the learning curve. This

season is going to be the real test.”

I’m talking to Katie McIntyre, better known to the

Lewes FC family as ‘Macca’, in the stands of the

Dripping Pan, as Roger the groundsman drives

round the pitch in his mowing tractor, applying

Wembley-style stripes to what already looks like an

immaculate surface.

By the time you read this, the Lewes FC women’s

team will be two matches into their second season

in the FA Women’s Championship, the second tier

of competition in the country. Promotion to the

highest level, to join the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea

and Man United, is the target, but – unlike last

season – relegation into the lower leagues awaits

one of the eleven teams. “We’re going to have to

fight every match like there’s a trophy at the end of

it,” she smiles.

No player is better placed to gauge Lewes’ remarkable

improvement over the last decade than Macca,

club captain, who is starting her ninth season in red

and black. “We’ve never been better prepared for a

season than we are now,” she says. “Fran [Spanish

manager Fran Alonso] has us training three times

a week, and the sessions are really intense. It’s all

about pass, pass, pass: our aim is to wear out the

opposition. His attention to detail is incredible:

he gets every session filmed, and before the next

one there’s a presentation in which he plays back,

highlighting where we’ve gone wrong. I’m 32, and

reaching the end of my career. But I’m still learning

something new every day.”

Alonso came in halfway through last season, and

asked McIntyre, who had been playing in central

midfield, to move back into the central defence.

“I’d occasionally played the position before, under

Jacquie [Agnew, former manager] so I know what

I’m doing. In defence you know you simply can’t

lose the ball, so the pressure is on for the whole 90

minutes. It’s a better place to read the game, though,

and, I think, the best place for a captain to play.”

She’s excited by the ‘bump’ in enthusiasm for the

women’s game, after the World Cup in June, of

which she watched “every single game”. And also

about the new signings Lewes have made over the

summer. “Welsh international Emma Jones has

come in up top, and she’s a powerhouse. She’s not

afraid to shoot, and she’ll hit the top corner every

time. With her up front – and Ella Powell, just 19

and so enthusiastic – I don’t think we’ll lack goals

this season.”

She’s hoping the public’s new-found enthusiasm for

the women’s game will lead to even bigger crowds

at the Pan than last season, where many of the attendances

topped those of the men’s team. And she

knows that if the public like what they see, they’ll be

back for more: “I hope 2019/20 is one to remember…”

she concludes, “and for all the right reasons.”

Alex Leith

LCFC fixtures at lewesfc.com

117

Viva Lewes Issue #156 September 2019

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