A disposable barbecue may have started a fire that temporarily closed a Sussex rubbish tip last week.
The incident happened last Friday evening (August 26) at the Hop Oast site near Horsham and was thought to have started in a metal container due to a disposable BBQ igniting material on a camping chair.
After using disposable barbecues, residents are being advised to not throw away the charcoal until it is completely cool.
David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for residents’ Services, said: “Thankfully this fire was contained, disruption to normal services was minimal and on this occasion no-one was hurt.
“This incident serves as a reminder to take care when using disposable BBQs.
“Always make sure the charcoal is completely cool before disposing of it, which might take several hours. It is not worth the risk.”
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service declared the Horsham Household Waste Recycling Site safe to the public later on Friday evening.
Mr Barling added: “If you have any doubts about safely disposing your barbecue you can speak with a member of staff at your local Household Waste Recycling Site.”
For more information on the safe disposal of barbecues visit www.recycleforwestsusex.org
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COUNTY NEWS: Disposable barbecue warning after rubbish tip fire


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Sussex motorists who are travelling to Kent are being told the M20 motorway will be shut until at least this afternoon.
Highways England issued a statement saying that the M20 is closed between junctions one and four, and ‘is likely to remain closed until at least Sunday lunchtime’.
The scene on the M20 between Borough Green and Leybourne in Kent after a lorry hit a foot bridge and it collapsed. Picture: Natasha Najm / SWNS.com
The closure comes after a lorry struck a footbridge in Kent, causing it to collapse. Read more here.
Highways England said that diversions are also in place and it is likely the M26 which links the M25 to the M20 will also remain closed until the incident is cleared.
The diversion for the M20 is via the A2 or M2 using the A229 and A228, and the diversion for the M26, closed at M25 junction five, is to use the M25 junction two and then travel on the A2 or M2.
Highways England south east operations manager Gary Coleman said everything was being done to reopen the motorway again, but safety had to come first both for workers and drivers.
“We are facing a real challenge to lift two HGVs and a motorbike clear of the scene and deal with all of the rubble from the collapsed bridge strewn across both carriageways.
“There is also the issue of the remaining part of the footbridge, which is still in place over the coast-bound side of the motorway. We have crews on scene ready to take action as soon as the police have completed their investigation. We also have cranes en route and lighting so work can continue through the night.
“We are doing everything we can to safely reopen the motorway, but we’d ask drivers to please bear with us as this is a complex operation and it will take time and skill to complete. We’ll keep everyone updated.”
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TRAFFIC UPDATE: Motorway closed until ‘at least’ lunchtime


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Worthing Football Club joint boss Gary Elphick believes tomorrow’s Ryman League Premier Division clash at Bognor (3pm) will be a ‘massive occasion’.
Elphick’s side head into the encounter with rivals Rocks fresh from their first league defeat at home to Grays Athletic yesterday but he sees this as a perfect opportunity to bounce back.
He said: “It’s going to be a fantastic occasion to try and restore a bit of faith from the fans and get some belief back in the changing room.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to perform well against a strong Bognor side.
“It will be a classic derby game, fingers crossed we can show a bit more application than in our last game.”
Worthing will be without injured defensive duo Will Hendon and Corey Heath, while Steve Metcalf is once again available after serving a one-game suspension.
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A body has been found on a busy Sussex beach.
Sussex Police confirmed officers are currently dealing with a deceased person on Brighton beach, opposite the Grand Hotel and near the British Airways i360.
Brighton beach, taken in July this year by Eddie Mitchell
A police spokesperson said they were called at just before 1.50pm to the scene, and one vehicle was dispatched.
They confirmed that the ambulance service was also at the scene and undertakers had been called.
They also dismissed rumours that the body had been washed up.
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James Peill, curator of the Goodwood Collection, looks at the new exhibition at Goodwood:
To eighteenth-century ears, the Charlton Hunt was synonymous with some of the best sport in the country and Mr Roper was its celebrated huntsman. Indeed, it is one of the earliest recorded foxhunts in the world and its fame drew the elite of society, including the Dukes of Monmouth, St Albans and Richmond, the dashing illegitimate sons of King Charles II. Richmond bought nearby Goodwood as a comfortable place to stay and entertain his illustrious friends during the hunting season. His son, the second Duke, shared his love of the chase and when he became Master, such was the success and desirability of the hunt, he decided that membership should be restricted only to those who had been elected. Almost every noble family in the land had a representative at Charlton, including half of the Knights of the Garter. Lord Burlington designed for the members a handsome banqueting house at Charlton where they met after hunting, and many built themselves hunting-boxes in the village, including the second Duke of Richmond. Richmond’s hunting-box still stands; known as Fox Hall, it is now owned by the Landmark Trust and available to rent.
The most important day in the history of the Charlton Hunt took place on 26th January 1739 when in ‘the greatest chase that ever was’ hounds ran continuously from their first find at 8.15 a.m. until they killed at 5.50 p.m., covering a distance of approximately fifty-seven miles with just the Duke and two others present at the end. When the hunt was moved to Goodwood in the mid-eighteenth century, it was known as the Duke of Richmond’s Hounds and magnificent kennels were built by the architect James Wyatt with an ingenious central-heating system, a century before Goodwood House had its own heating.
Our small exhibition explores the history of the Charlton Hunt and its association with the Dukes of Richmond. Documents and books associated with the hunt from the Goodwood archive are on display. Over three hundred years later, Goodwood still revolves around sport and sharing those individual passions of the dukes with the many thousands of visitors who come here every year.
Goodwood House Summer Exhibition: The Charlton Hunt
1st August – 31st August 2016
Sundays to Thursdays, 1- 5 pm (last admission 4 pm)
www.goodwood.com
Reader offer: Luxury Afternoon Tea for Two £34.50. To book call the Ticket Office on 01243 755 055.
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A road has been closed in Bognor Regis after a van fire broke out, according to travel reports.
The A259 Upper Bognor Road has been closed between the Upper Bognor Road junction and the Downview Road junction.
More to follow


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Seeing any play by Harold Pinter demands several questions of its audience: What is actually going on? What do we think is going on? What does the playwright believe is going on? What do the characters think is going on?
Even if you can’t answer these on one side of a sheet of A4 paper, you should fight for seats to Pinter at his most absurd - such is the quality of the touring and London-bound production of No Man’s Land.
At its most basic level No Man’s Land is a play about nostalgia (the mood is established by each of the characters being named after famous cricketers and for Pinter cricket was bound up with such wistfulness – though the cricket references are also more subliminally important throughout), what it means to be human with all our struggles, and the nightmares and joys of being haunted by memories and dreams.
In the hands of two of our finest theatrical knights (and indeed two storming supporting players) we know we are going to be treated to a masterclass of interpretation, line reading and presentation. What isn’t so immediately obvious to the newcomer are the layers upon layers that are unravelled – leading to plenty of moments that are very funny quickly balanced by something unnerving, uncertain, or just plain baffling.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart return to this 1975 play having appeared in it on Broadway in 2013 alongside Waiting for Godot. The performances are, of course, exquisite, but they also have the knack of making their roles, the script and their vital interplay fresh. It’s almost as if they were discovering it all for the first time, though it would surely not be beyond imagining that the play itself demands such originality, as though the characters were trapped in a loop, having to repeat the lines and scenes again and again.
As Spooner Ian McKellen appears to be the outsider, a loquacious poet who meets a like-minded spirit in a pub near Hampstead Heath and is invited home – but for what purpose? To discuss mutual literary interests, to share memories as old friends, or for something more physical? McKellen’s Spooner is dishevelled and seedy, but with a sharp mind and wit and a laconic humour; yet there is also a vulnerability as he tries to inveigle himself into his drinking companion’s life and home.
Patrick Stewart’s Hirst seems at first to waver between drunkenness and sobriety but the actor gives the role an extra dimension of a once strong and intelligent writer on the scary edge of senility. There is a chilling sense of his delusions ensnaring the others in the house to the point where all become helpless.
Damien Molony and Owen Teale as Foster and Briggs stay just on the right side of being threatening – are they staff, family, lovers or jailers? Often coming across as bullies, they reveal themselves as educated and eloquent in their own ways, and perhaps there is no escape for them either.
Director Sean Mathias ensures that the play works on so many levels, with its complicated characters, enchanting poetic quality and a humour darker than night and colder than winter. He is aided brilliantly by Stephen Brimson Lewis’s set design, Adam Cork’s sound design and Nina Dunn’s projection design, which all add to the questioning about whether this is something unfinished, artificial, ethereal or imaginary.
By the end we continue wondering if this no man’s land is a place of limbo between life and death, or a dreamlike state between waking and sleeping, or a place between battlegrounds. And are the characters individuals with uncertain memories or aspects of each other?
The sheer quality of this production, with a cast dramatically bowling the most amazing googlies, means that however hard Pinter’s work may be to define, the audience wants to know the answers. It may leave the theatre in a state of bemusement, but it has been rewarded by a sublime and beautiful production.

Review: No Man’s Land (Theatre Royal, Brighton, until Saturday, August 27)


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Fickle Friends may be under the radar at the moment, but Charlotte Pearson predicts big things.
For anyone heading to Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend or Together the People next month, you might be forgiven for thinking that Fickle Friends are the new kids on the block.
However, the Brighton band have been a firm fixture on the festival circuit for the last two years playing Bestival, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Secret Garden Party.
“We have been going for a while,” says lead singer Natti Shiner. “But it isn’t until you get played on commercial radio that people say ‘oh wow those guys have come from nowhere’.
“The 1975 have been going for about eight years under different guises but it is only really now people are starting to take notice.”
Natti formed the band, made up of Harry Herrington on bass; Chris Hall on lead guitar; Sam Morris on drums and Jack Wilson on keyboards, about three years ago when the quintet met at the University of Brighton.
The name came not long after they formed, with Natti explaining that Fickle Friends was just meant to be a name to tide them over and the plan was initially to change it to something else.
“As time went on it kind of just stuck so we kept with it,” she smiles.
The band’s first EP Velvet was released in 2015 and Natti says they were very much a ‘DIY band’.
“That has shifted now as we have signed with a record label,” she explains. “The first EP we did ourselves and worked really hard to get it out.
“We have the luxury of someone else doing the work now and telling us when the singles are coming out.
“It is exciting and everything is a lot more structured than it was before.”
Releasing an EP was a great way for the band to show people what they are all about and Natti reveals that it got the band the buzz they needed to get noticed.
This lead to them being signed, with work then able to begin on an album which should be released at the end of this year.
The plan for the band is to record 17 songs and then pick the ones that will make the album.
“We are always writing and figuring out what we want the album to be,” explains Natti.
Fickle Friends’ sound has been described as upbeat with an 80s synth-pop feel to it, which is probably best illustrated by single ‘Swim’.
It is clear that many of their songs wouldn’t sound out of place on the 2011 film Drive’s motion picture soundtrack – something that crossed Natti’s mind when she heard former Radio 1’s DJ Zane Lowe curate such a thing with the likes of Bastille, The 1975, and CHVRCHES.
“I would love for the BBC, or anyone, to do a re-imagining of the soundtrack again. We would love to get on it and think our sound would fit really well,” she enthuses.
As for musical influences, Natti lists bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, Justice, Two Door Cinema Club, Friendly Fires and Michael Jackson, and admits you can hear a bit of all of them in Fickle Friends.
“Our sound has changed a lot over the years. I think it has got a lot more intelligent,” she reveals.
“Before it was really hectic and chaotic, but it would be because we would play bits and be like ‘oh I love that, put that in’, ‘that is great we need to have that’, so we would get it all in.
“Now we use sounds that complement each other so it works better as a song.”
The last few months have been hectic for the band, with a diary filled with festival appearances as well as trying to fit in recording their new album in LA.
“Our weekends would be filled with festivals then we would head over to America to record the album and then back over here for a performance,” reveals Natti.
The band have never played a festival in Brighton before so Natti says they are really looking forward to performing at Together the People this month at Preston Park.
The summer may be over, although many might debate it never really started, but thanks to Fickle Friends at least the sound of summer can continue well until the end of the year.
Fickle Friends will play the NME/Radio 1 stage at Reading Festival on Friday, August 26, and the same stage at Leeds Festival on Saturday, August 27.
Together the People takes place on September 3 and 4 at Preston Park, Brighton.
Other performers include Suede, Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds, Peter Hook and the Light, The Horrors and Turin Breaks.
For more information on the line up and to buy tickets, visit www.togetherthepeople.co.uk
To find out more about Fickle Friends, visit www.ficklefriends.co.uk
For more features like this visit etcmag.net

Brighton band Fickle Friends to play at Reading and Leeds


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Trevor Payne has enjoyed more than three decades of success with his touring rock ‘n’ roll variety show That’ll Be The Day, a recreation of popular music from the 50s to the 70s with plenty of added humour.
Its latest stop is Southsea’s Kings Theatre on Sunday, September 4 at 7.30pm.
Ask where he learnt his trade, and it was back in his home town Worthing where he enjoyed the best seat in the house: “My growing up was in Worthing at the Golden Key Club,” Trevor reminisces. “That was followed on from one of the most famous venues there used to be in Worthing, called The Mexican Hat. When it had been refurbished, it became The Golden Key Club. I used to watch the shows at The Golden Key Club when I was 16 or 17, and when I was 18, I used to play at The Golden Key Club. We were the resident band there, and we would be playing there six nights a week. That would be 1966. I remember seeing Dave Dee and the Bostons before they became Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. And then we transferred over to the Pier Pavilion and we would support every act that came down there on Thursdays. We were the support to bands like The Dave Clark Five and Herman’s Hermits and The Hollies and The Kinks and The Moody Blues. Those were all the acts that I would watch close up from the side of the stage. Jimi Hendrix came down. Cream came down. They used to come down after appearing on Top of the Pops on a Thursday. I suppose they could get down from London quite easily, and if they got delayed, then we would just have to play a bit more. Everyone came down. There was P J Proby. There were Freddie and the Dreamers.
“And they were all good guys. It was all very different then. There were all very approachable and more than happy to talk to anyone. We were all in it together. Maybe the ones that stood out for me were Cream. They were superb musicians, and Jimi Hendrix was extraordinary. And the pop bands like The Dave Clark Five drove the audiences crazy at the time. They had a good, thick sound, and everybody played their instruments.
“They were good tight bands. They knew what they were doing. And we were seeing these guys for the first time. They were still excited about themselves and about their sound. Herman’s Hermits were very tight. It was a real privilege to be there and to be seeing all these bands that close. And that excitement barometer is what I remember from that time when I am thinking about what songs to do in our show.”
Trevor reckons there are a number of reasons why That’ll Be The Day is still going so strong after all these years: “What we wanted to do is a variety show based on rock ‘n’ roll, but not just rock ‘n’ roll. There is dance and singing and music and impressions and comedy solos and big solos, and over the years, we have always tried to improve the quality of what we do.
“The musicians weren’t bad at the start, but eventually I found a bunch of guys that have really gelled together. A couple of guys have been with us 25 or 26 years. Another has been with us 28 years.”
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UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show.
The average driver now pays £715 a year for fully comprehensive cover, up 19 per cent on the same time last year.
The figures were revealed by the Confused.com car insurance price index, which tracks quarterly and annual trends.
After dropping for several years from a high of £843 in 2011, insurance costs have been rising since the start of 2015. The latest figures, for the period from April to June 2016 show that costs have risen by 6 per cent since the start of the year and drivers are paying an average of £115 more for their insurance than they were in the same period last year.
Northern Irish drivers have been worst hit by the latest rises, seeing their premiums climb 25 per cent year-on-year. They now face an average premium of £863.
Also feeling the impact badly are motorists in parts of Scotland - the Highlands and Islands saw rises of 24 per cent and drivers in the Hebrides were hit with a staggering 42 per cent annual increase.
Conversely, Orkney’s capital - Kirkwall - was one of only two places to see a drop in costs, with a quarterly fall of four per cent. Hereford, in the West Midlands, was the only other place to see a fall in quarterly premiums - down two per cent on the first three months of the year.
While younger drivers might face the highest premiums overall, they have actually escaped the worst of the rises. Drivers aged 17 saw an annual rise of just eight per cent - the lowest of any age bracket - but still face average premiums of £2,013. A the opposite end, 61-year-old drivers saw a 24 per cent rise - the highest of any age group - but still only pay £418 a year.
And the gender gap persists, with male drivers facing annual rises of 21 per cent in comparison with the 18 per cent faced by women. This continued difference means the gap between the sexes is growing as men pay an average of £92 a year more - up from £27 in 2013.
Confused’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton, said: “We’ve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years - a 19 per cent annual increase is substantial to say the least. And these price rises are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK regions.
“If prices continues to rise at the rate we’ve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of average comprehensive premiums reaching a high not seen since 2011. This, combined with rising fuel prices and increased motoring costs across the board, could result in a sizeable dent in drivers’ pockets.”

Car insurance costs soar nearly 20 per cent in 12 months


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There were A-grade smiles at St Philip Howard Catholic High School today as pupils opened their GCSE results.
A record 86 per cent of students achieved five A*-C grades at the Barnham school - 80 per cent including English and maths.
A group of boys who all did well
On average students made over four grades better progress in their best eight subjects than they would have done compared to students nationally.
Students to gain straight A* and A grades included: Eloise Carter, Holly Tarleton, Oliver Button, Charlotte Elliot, Chloe Roberts, Holly Leal Lukasz Sacharczuk, Solene Declas, Jodie Brierley, David Houghey, Cerys Owen, Bruno Owers and Nicholas Kabanas.
Between them, twins Emily and Katherine Broadhurst collected 22 A and A*s.
Delighted pupil Molly Sivyer said: “I got alls As and Bs so I’m really happy. It’s been a long wait but I’m glad to have finally found out my results and done well.
Molly Sivyer got alls A and B grades
“I’m going to stay on here because Philip Howard has a really good Sixth Form.”
A delighted Oliver Button got eight A*s and two As, while Sam Hills got seven As, one A* and two Bs.
One third of all grades were awarded A* or A and over 10 per cent of the year group achieved straight A*s and As.
One quarter of the year group left with 5 or more A* and A grades.
English, Spanish, German, music, PE, biology, chemistry, physics, computing and textiles all got well over 90 per cent A*-C and some 100 per cent.
Head teacher David Carter said: “The progress students make from their starting points have consistently placed SPH in the top 5 per cent in the country. “This year is no exception and we are delighted that our headline figures are the best the school has ever experienced.
“Behind the figures however are individuals for whom these results will make a life-changing difference.
“It has been a privilege to work with such delightful students and we look forward to welcoming the vast majority and those from other schools into the Sixth Form.”
Anyone wishing to attend our Sixth Form are welcome contact the school on www.sphcs.co.uk with enrolment on Tuesday, September 6.
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GCSE results: Record results at St Philip Howard


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Since its humble beginnings on BBC 2 in 2010, Great British Bake Off in the last six years has become a national institution and a ratings juggernaut, with last year’s final attracting more than 15 million viewers and making it the biggest television event of 2015.
And with the culinary classic hitting our screens again tonight, not only are TV insiders predicting it will be the most watched hour of television in 2016 so far, but a poll shows it’s by far and away the nation’s favourite reality talent show, completely outshining the likes of Strictly, Britain’s Got Talent and the X-Factor and well ahead of its biggest foodie TV rival MasterChef.
The survey by digital retailer Very also found that it is the show we are most likely to take to social media to tweet or talk about on Facebook.
It’s the show’s controversial moments, as well as some superb baking and fantastic baking-banter between hosts Mel and Sue, and the wonderful Mary Berry, that make it such a ratings smash. And it seems the show is also having a positive impact on retailers, with some even noticing a surge in television sales ahead of the show’s return that rivals demand usually seen ahead of big sporting events.
“Big TV events such as the Olympics often result in a peak in sales of televisions as people want to feel like they’re part of the action. But it’s not just sport on the box that can lead to a spike and last year we actually saw an increase in searches for TVs in the run up to The Great British Bake Off,” said Brendan Shepard from digital retailer Very.
“With Bake Off now probably the biggest TV show in Britain, we expect to see this trend again this year, with everyone getting ready for another autumn of exciting telly.”
The survey also shows whether it’s Bake Off or box sets, we are still a nation of TV addicts, with a third of Brits saying they would prefer to stay in and watch TV than go out, while one in ten have not left the house for an entire weekend because they are so engrossed in a TV series or boxset.
Game of Thrones was voted the best boxset or series of all time ahead of Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad, Sex and the City and Band of Brothers.
The fantasy smash hit was also rated as the TV show those who haven’t watched it need to see, ahead of Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
http://www.very.co.uk/electricals/televisions/e/b/4740

As Bake Off kicks off tonight poll shows it’s our all-time favourite reality talent show


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Sussex headteachers have shared their concerns about the rising cost of university education.
With a number of universities in England announcing they would be raising their annual fees above the £9,000 limit, there are fears higher education could once again become the playground of the elite.
Michael Ferry, Headteacher at St Wilfrid's, Crawley. Pic Steve Robards SR1520189 SUS-150820-140229001
Michael Ferry, head of St Wilfrid’s School, in Crawley, said the idea of increasing fees was “alarming” and added: “This will only put students off from entering university as they will be saddled with increased amounts of debt.
“Although many schools, including St Wilfrid’s, spend a lot of time demystifying what you pay for and when, it will certainly put people off from applying if fees rise.
“If we are not careful as a society, we will go back in time to an age when only a small minority were able to access a university place and even they were given a grant to do so.”
Peter Woodman, head of The Weald School, in Billingshurst, said he did not think students had been put off by the high fees, but were more selective about their choices.
We should do everything we can to ensure that access to university is fair and that people get in on merit, not because of which school they went to or how much money their parents have. Michael Ferry, headteacher, St Wilfrid’s School
He added: “They want to go to a university where the teaching is good and the support first class. They do not just want a degree.
“They want the right course that is also value for money and provides them with the right educational experience for their next step in life.”
When it came to earning a place at university, Mr Woodman felt the increasingly difficult A-levels would lead to a fall in the numbers making the grade.
He agreed the rising fees could also see students from less well-off backgrounds deciding the cost was too high.
Currently, any student debts not paid back after 30 years are wiped out and there are that, if that safety net was withdrawn, talented youngsters would choose to enter employment or an apprenticeship rather than achieving their full potential at university.
Mr Woodman recognised the difficulties faced by the government when it scrapped free university education.
He pointed out the percentage of students participating in higher education had risen from 10 per cent in the 1980s to more than 40 per cent and added: “This comes at a cost.
“Providing virtually free higher education to 10 per centr of the population was one thing but providing it to over 40 per cent of the population is expensive.”
Summing up his feeling, Mr Ferry said: “Universities are great places for their further development and although not everyone wants to apply, we should do everything we can to ensure that access to university is fair and that people get in on merit, not because of which school they went to or how much money their parents have.”
Mr Woodman agreed, describing a framed extract of a speech made by playwright Alan Bennett, which hangs in his office.
Called Fair Play, it reads: “We all know that to educate, not according to ability but according to the social situation of the parents, is both wrong and a waste.”
He said: “I whole heartedly agree. As such, I worry that increasing university fees yet again will allow the sons and daughters of those who can afford university to go and those who cannot afford it, not to go.
“Unless mechanisms are put in place to encourage and support those students and families this would be both unfair and a tragic waste of potential.”
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Heads share concerns over university fees


Motorists from around Sussex are being advised to avoid using the M20 if travelling to Kent after a bridge collapsed.
Kent Police said that officers were called at 12.10pm today to a report of a bridge collapsing between Junction 4 and Junction 3 on the M20 London-bound.
Police said a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which collapsed onto the carriageway below.
Officers are in attendance along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service.
No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life threatening at this time, Kent Police said.
Police are treating this as a major incident and the M20 has been closed in both directions to allow this incident to be dealt with.
The scene on the M20 between Borough Green and Leybourne in Kent after a lorry hit a foot bridge and it collapsed. Picture: @emmaraphaelx / SWNS.com
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take an alternative route.
Highways England has said that the road closure will last until at least tomorrow. For the latest updates, click here.
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The scene on the M20 between Borough Green and Leybourne in Kent after a lorry hit a foot bridge and it collapsed. Picture: @emmaraphaelx / SWNS.com
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COUNTY NEWS: Traffic chaos as bridge collapses


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A young Arundel dancer is relishing the chance to work with the prestigious National Youth Ballet.
15-year-old Cleo Badcock will be taking part in a memorial gala performance on Sunday, September 4, at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, London at 7.30pm (020 7863 8000). The memorial celebrates the work and legacy of company founder and artistic director Jill Tookey who died in March this year.
Over three decades, Jill Tookey quietly became one of the industry’s most influential dance leaders, inspiring generations of young dancers and choreographers, many of whom have embarked upon successful professional careers after their time with NYB. Jill was appointed a CBE for services to dance in the 2016 New Year Honours.
Cleo is delighted to continue Jill’s work.
“I know a few people who have done it before, and they suggested I do it,” Cleo said. “I auditioned in January and then I got a letter saying I had got through to the final auditions in April. I did a few pieces from the choreographers for that – and I got through. I got a big information pack through detailing what dances I am in and what I am going to have to do.”
And then it was into ten days of rehearsals: “We have been doing it all day every day, but it has been brilliant. I love the dances I am in, and it is great fun. I am in Ruth Armstrong’s Swing Time and also in The Tribute. Swing Time is swing-style 1930s New York, and there are about 20 dancers in the piece. It is interesting because it is all different sections, and the music is so diverse you get to do different styles. At the moment, we are rehearsing The Tribute separately, and I am guessing we are going to put it all together later.”
It’s all fantastic experience for Cleo: “I am one of those people that started dancing when they were two or three, and then when I was 11 or 12 I started taking more and more classes. I dance six days a week now. The difficulty is fitting in the homework!
“But I can express myself when I am dancing in ways that I can’t when I am just walking or talking. I can use different parts of my body. I don’t know how to put it into words really, but it is like I am in a different world when I am dancing, when the lights are on and you can’t really see the audience.
“I suppose it depends on the setting or the piece, but I don’t really get nervous. I am not a wreck. But it is always good to have a few nerves. I guess it focuses you more. It turns you on more to what you are doing.”
Cleo is hoping to audition for vocational schools – and she would love to think her future lies in dancing.
She knows a lot of hard work lies ahead and that she will need to be tough and determined: “You have to accept that you might not get the dance or the company that you want, and you have to cope with that.”


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The focus at Sussex this season has been very much on nurturing players for the future.
Fast bowlers George Garton, Stuart Whittingham and Jofra Archer have all emerged and played their part in both red and white-ball cricket.
Chris Nash. Sussex v Hampshire, NatWest T20. Picture by Phil Westlake SUS-160717-110048001
But coach Mark Davis still relies on a core of experienced players – none more so than opening batsman Chris Nash who, along with skipper Luke Wright, is the last survivor of the team which became serial trophy winners a decade ago.
Nash was seriously considered for the captaincy when Ed Joyce stepped down at the end of last season but Davis opted for Wright instead.
The 33-year-old instead poured his energies into re-booting his technique in South Africa under the guidance of Gary Kirsten and on making sure he and Joyce gave Sussex a strong platform in the County Championship.
At Cardiff this week the peerless Joyce passed 1,000 runs for the ninth time in his career and, all being well, Nash will join him on that landmark after making 132 in the first innings against Glamorgan to move onto 994 runs.
Job done, according to Nash.
“At the start of the season we knew it would be a transitional season and that the senior players had to stand up,” he said.
“Ed Joyce and I have put a huge emphasis on our opening partnership and for him to go past 1,000 runs already and me to be on 994 is just what we wanted really, and there are still four more games to go to push on.
We have put a lot of the onus on ourselves to get off to good starts because it takes a bit of pressure off some of the less experienced guys behind us in the middle order.
“I was delighted with the way I played because, on the second day, Glamorgan bowled outstandingly.”
With Essex beating Leicestershire in three days to stretch their lead at the top, Sussex probably need to defeat Glamorgan and win another three matches to have any chance of finishing in the one promotion place.
The likelihood is that Sussex will still be in the second division next season but it remains to be seen whether Joyce, who turns 38 next month, will be striding out with Nash to open the batting.
Davis and Joyce, who is out of contract at the end of the season, will sit down soon to talk about the future but Joyce might be tempted to extend his stay so he can finish his career with 50 first-class hundreds. He is currently on 45.
Meanwhile Nash was among several Sussex players to offer messages of congratulation to coach Phil Hudson, who played club cricket at Horsham with Nash, and his Sussex under-15s after they beat Staffordshire on Thursday to win the Royal London National One-Day final at Kibworth. Among the Sussex team was opening batsman Scott Lenham, who could one day continue the family tradition which is woven into the fabric of Sussex cricket.
His father Neil and grandfather Les both played for the county - as opening batsmen.
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A boy has been taken to hospital after being stabbed, and police are appealing for witnesses.
Sussex Police said officers are investigating the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Kings Road, Brighton this morning.
Emergency services were called at around 2.10am and after treatment by paramedics the victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Two men were arrested by police officers nearby; one by Pavilion Gardens, the other near Jubilee Street.
An 18-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and currently remains in police custody.
A 28-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He also remains in custody at this time, police added.
Detective Constable Rowan Carter said: “We would very much like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who saw something suspicious.
“It was a fast moving investigation at the scene and so even if you spoke to officers in the early hours, we’d still like you to get in touch to ensure we have all of your information that could help.
“Witnesses can email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 188 of 27/08.”
Alternatively, witnesses can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org.
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COUNTY NEWS: Two men arrested after boy is stabbed


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A superb all round performance from Sussex under-15s resulted in Sussex being crowned the winners of the A Division Royal London ECB under-15 Cup Final.
Having lost the toss Sussex were invited to field, and Staffs got off to a great start making 54 without loss.
Sussex wicketkeeper Mason Robinson got things moving with a spell-binding flying catch.
Skipper Tom Clark then turned their innings upside down with a double wicket maiden on route to figures of 3 for 17, and from that moment Sussex were on top. Max Lincoln wowed the crowds sprinting 30 yards to take a high catch in the deep, and it was left to Tom Gordon (3 for 39) to have Staffs floundering on 164 all out.
Alastair Orr completed the job with a well timed catch on the ropes.
In reply our openers faced a real barrage of pace and bounce as Staffs were not going to lie down easily.
The players jump for joy
At 68 for 5 Sussex were having their first and only wobble throughout the whole campaign. However our team is resilient and man of the match Tom Gordon lead the recovery with perhaps one of his most important innings thus far, and against a spirited and energised attack Tom grafted hard making a match winning 68 runs. He was backed up by Oliver Carter (39 not out) who demonstrated a very straight bat from the off. He was rewarded by hitting back to back cover drives to win the match.
Huge celebrations then ensued as Sussex became the 2016 Royal London ECB U15 Champions.
The squad: Oliver Carter - Seaford, Tom Clark - Horsham, Henry Crocombe - Hailsham, Tom Gordon - Eastbourne, Tom Hinley - Lindfield,
Scott Lenham - Eastbourne, Max Lincoln - Preston Nomads, Dominic Morgan - Lindfield, Alastair Orr - Lindfield, Joe Pocklington - Eastbourne, Mason Robinson - Preston Nomads, Louis Storey - East Preston, Freddie Longley - Lindfield
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Sussex under-15 win the Royal London ECB Cup final


A man from Hove who bombarded Sussex Police’s contact centre with 3,000 emails in just six hours has been handed a suspended sentence.
The incident, which happened in October 2014, meant the police’s contact centre was ‘significantly impaired’ for six hours.
A police statement says that Kyoji Mochizuki, 28, of Mansfield Road, Hove, appeared for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (August 19) after pleading guilty at Hove Crown Court in July to four counts of unauthorised acts with intent to impair the operation of or prevent/hinder access to a computer, contrary to Section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
He was given a ten-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.
The statements adds that the court heard how on October 26, 2014, Mochizuki – also known as Tariq Elmughrabi and Taz Rider – sent around 3,000 emails from various domains to the Sussex Police contact centre at 9.25am.
It was to tie up the force’s email system for more than six hours.
During this time Sussex Police said its contact centre and the non-urgent reporting mechanism for the public was hindered.
It took staff a further 11 hours to restore the email inbox to full operation order.
Earlier that year, in February, an email was received from a sender purporting to be from a man working for a company called Uberex, threatening to attack Sussex Police services in revenge for the force seizing electronic property belonging to Mochizuki in connection with another case, for which he was on bail.
Police said Mochizuki was identified as being a director of that company.
On Monday, November 10, at 5.45am, more emails started to arrive in the public contact centre from a ‘hackerforhire’ domain with the subject line ‘Contact UBX Technology’, in what police called ‘a deliberate attempt to flood the system’.
The statement adds that on November 20, the Surrey and Sussex Cyber Crime Unit raided Mochizuki’s home address and seized a number of items including a computer, a CCTV system that covered all rooms in his house, the entrance and the exterior.
When interviewed he claimed to have carried out work for the FBI and the NCA (National Crime Agency).
He stated that he worked for a company called Uberex as an ethical hacker and with the people whose names were used on the attacking emails.
However, he was unable to put police in contact with them.
Detective Constable Paul Constable from the Surrey and Sussex Cyber Crime Unit said: “In addition to Sussex Police, Mochizuki launched an attack on Brighton and Hove City Council’s email system after he had been summonsed for failing to pay his tax. Their system effectively captured the 2,000 emails aimed at the council tax email inbox.
“An Essex-based insurance company insured a company called Xerosec, which made a claim in 2013 for £36.576.11 due to their computer system overheating after a hacker attack. They paid a sum of £10,000 in settlement to Kyoji Mochizuki of Mansfield Drive, Hove. The following year, the company claimed for equipment damaged in a power surge. The insurer asked to examine the equipment, but was told that was not possible and then received correspondence from the managing director of Xerosec complaining about their incompetence.
“The insurer sent a representative to visit the company where he met with a relative of the accused who stated she had no knowledge of the claim and had been appointed as MD without being consulted. The claim was subsequently refused and on November 6 three of the insurer’s email addresses, including that of the person dealing with the claim, were subject to a denial of service attack.”
Detective Inspector Andrew Haslam, also from the Cyber Crime Unit said: “The scale of Mochizuki’s activities and deceit is breath-taking. Behind each of the events mentioned in court lie a complex web of aliases, email addresses, false employees and considerable technological skill, sadly put to criminal use.
“His attacks on Sussex Police cost nearly £4000 in specialist time to resolve, but of far worse consequence was the significant amount of time lost by contact centre staff that should have been devoted to non-emergency callers and others making contact through email.
“However, I would stress that our 999 emergency operation was not affected by his attacks, nor our operational response effectiveness. The security of the emails from the public was not compromised in any way and there was no impact on any other force IT, email address, web or telephony systems.
“Since the attack, a significant amount of work has taken place to improve the resilience and security of all our IT systems, including emails.” Mochizuki, who had been remanded in custody since breaching bail conditions in June last year, was released upon sentencing.

COUNTY NEWS: Man sentenced for cyber attacks on police contact centre


A diver has been lost at sea after a five-hour search by the coastguard and RNLI near the coast of Selsey and Bognor Regis.
The coastguard in Dover requested both Selsey RNLI lifeboats to launch at 3.48pm yesterday after the dive boat Huntress 4 reported a diver from the vessel had failed to resurface after a drift dive.
The volunteer crew mustered and both boats launched at just after 4pm and proceeded to the position given by the dive boat which was three miles north east of the Selsey lifeboat station, the RNLI said.
Both Littlehampton RNLI lifeboats and the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent were sent to the incident.
The Huntress 4 and the charter vessel Final Answer also assisted in the search, the RNLI added.
The RNLI said the weather was calm, with smooth seas and hazy sunshine.
The area was comprehensively searched by all units with unfortunately nothing found, it said.
At 9.10pm all the search units were stood down and returned to their stations.
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A woman who suffered serious injuries when her car was in collision with a lorry on the B2139 at Houghton Hill, near Amberley, last month, has died in hospital.
She has been named as 77-year-old Mary Sherlock, of Fern Road, Storrington, who was driving her Toyota Avensis west when it was in collision with an eastbound Daf articulated lorry near the George and Dragon pub just after 3.20pm on Monday July 18.
Mary’s husband, Steven Sherlock, paid tribute to her. He said: “Mary was a respected member of the Storrington community. She was treasurer of the Village Hall and ran a ballet school in the village for many years.
“She helped at St Philip’s Catholic Primary School and was active in organising the music and liturgy at the local Catholic church playing both the piano and organ.
“She is very much missed by our family and many friends.”
Following the crash, Mrs Sherlock was flown by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where she remained in a critical condition, but died in the early hours of Friday.
The lorry driver, a 69-year-old man from Liss, Hampshire, was not injured.
The road was closed for five hours for investigations and for the HGV to be removed.
Anyone who saw what happened is asked to contact police by emailing collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting Operation Sedgebrook.


The makers of popular ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s has recalled four batches of its product after pieces of metal were discovered in them.
Unilever said it had identified a period of production where small pieces of metal may have found their way into tubs of Cookie Dough ice cream.
As a precaution it is recalling all potentially affected items.
The affected batches are 500ml cartons of Cookie Dough, with batch codes L62110L011 / L62111L011 / L62112L011 / L62113L011.
Unilever has urged anyone who bought the affected product to dispose of it immediately and contact its customer care line on 0800 146 252 to arrange a replacement.

Metal flakes found in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream


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Ian Christie will be challenging perceptions of the great Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky 30 years after his death.
The Chichester International Film Festival at the New Park Cinema will be offering a Tarkovsky retrospective during which Ian will give a talk on the man and his work (Saturday, August 27, 4pm).
“I defer to no one in my admiration of the man, but I do think we must take him off a pedestal and have a more rounded view of him.
“I have been involved in Tarkovsky’s work for a long time really in different ways. I interviewed him on his first-ever visit out of the Soviet Union in the early 80s. It was a strange encounter. He was suddenly told that he could travel abroad, and he arrived in London with his minder whom we assumed to be a KGB minder, and he was a bit like a frightened rabbit. He was very self-contained. It was a public event at the National Film Theatre, and people queued around the theatre. The thought of actually seeing him in the flesh was very exciting. People jumped at the chance.
“Really my job was to try to put him at ease and not to ask him difficult questions with somebody in the front row listening to his answers. I tried just to say ‘Tell us what the film process is like for you, how does it go?’ rather than asking him questions about censorship that he would not be able to answer. And he gave me very straight answers, that he had had a lot of opportunities and a lot of support.
“People build up this image of him as beleaguered, censored and muzzled, but in fact he was working in an era where there were incredible privileges and freedoms for film-makers in Russia. He didn’t have to worry about finances. People have nurtured this view of him as a victim of the Soviet system, but I would say that in many ways, he was one of its proudest products. The Soviets really did believe in the art of cinema.”
However, Tarkovsky did go into exile, encouraged by the cellist Rostropovich: “It was a huge decision. He knew that things would be difficult, but like a lot of Russian artists, he was very attached to Russia in a very deep emotional way. He was encouraged by other people to make the jump and that things would not get better.
“It was a very difficult time. At the time, nobody realised that Perestroika was coming. That was his tragedy. I was there a lot at the time, and we didn’t really believe it was going to happen. By the time he left, I would not say he had burnt his bridges, but he had made his decision. And he had a support network in the west. He also got ill with cancer not long after he decided to leave. Even when he died, at the end of 86 (aged 54), nobody knew how Perestroika was going to go.”
But it is important to remember the respect he was still held in back in Russia.
“I was in Russia when the news came of his death in Paris, and I remember the KGM man who was monitoring us just said ‘We have just lost our greatest film-maker’.”
Tarkovsky had been part of the great optimistic era under Khrushchev in the early 60s, but then in 67-68 the shutters had come down: “Party discipline was imposed. He did and he didn’t have artistic freedom. He could make films, but it was a question of whether they would be shown. In the end, he decided to leave.”
It is a fuller picture of the man that Ian is intending to give in Chichester…
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Ian Christie offers a new perspective on Tarkovsky


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This is the latest column from Lucy Saunders, who provides a regular agony aunt feature - Ask Lucy.
Dear Lucy. My husband has got this terrible habit of washing his hands lots of times and checking all the switches to make sure they’re off. It takes us hours to leave the house every day as he has all these rituals. In fact, his life has become unbearable as it seems like he has become a prisoner in his own world of checking. Please can you explain in detail, what you think is wrong with him?
Lucy: I am sorry for your distress regarding your husband’s condition it must be an anxious time for you? It sounds like your husband is suffering from an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD. This is a complex condition that occurs in many people. Your husband could have a genetic predisposition in his personality or it could also be a social conditioning due to stresses he feels in his life. It seems he is acting out rituals and repetitive actions in order to block out thoughts and feelings that he is uncomfortable with. There are many unconscious conflicts in the sufferers mind that can cause the OCD and it will help him if he finds an outlet to explore these through counselling or a support group. Your first port of call should be his G.P. who will advise him. This is a journey that affects both of you and I am sure your husband can find the help he needs for both of your sakes. I would definitely advise him to join a local Support Group as this will give him the ongoing support until he feels he has conquered the condition.
Dear Lucy. I don’t know which way to turn. I could really use some advice.
I have been married eight years and feel out of love. I stay with my husband as he recently had cancer. But both myself and my teenage daughter are unhappy in this loveless argumentative home.
What should I do?
Lucy: It sounds like you’re in a difficult situation. I hope your husband has recovered well but this is clearly difficult for you as his illness can make you feel obliged to stay. You say you are out of love but I am wondering if it may be the cancer that might have got in the way of your relationship. Perhaps you and your husband have been preoccupied with his battle. The stress of the cancer plus life’s daily struggles would put a strain on any marriage and I can understand that you may have felt shut out at times. I am wondering if you can try and find the love with your husband that you once had when you first met him? It is very important that you both try and work on your relationship to figure out what has caused the problem and try not to argue in front of your daughter. Maybe the stress has stopped you from spending enough special time together. I also do suggest you could try some couples counselling to work through honestly what has caused the problem together and how his cancer impacts on your marriage and your decisions. These sessions could also be used to discuss your own feelings about your own inner world, which understandably has taken a back seat in recent times. All marriages deserve open communication and honesty with each other and a commitment to try and understand what has gone wrong whether you stay together or not.
Lucy is a BACP Accredited Qualified Counsellor. She previously worked in the media as an actress.


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Graham Wagg’s three wicket burst in four balls completely changed the course of Sussex’s innings and also the game as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for only 51 runs in 25 overs.
The Glamorgan seamer thrived in the cloudy conditions, and during his spell also claimed his 200th first class wicket for Glamorgan.
Sussex were indebted to Chris Nash, who struck the 22nd century of his career, before Glamorgan reached 50 for 1 in their second innings- a lead of 19.
Sussex had resumed on 111 for 1 with night watchman Danny Briggs giving Nash useful support, and the second wicket pair had added 69 before Nash called his partner for a risky single in the last over before lunch with Briggs comfortably run out for 36.
Briggs had been fortunate to survive an excellent opening spell against Tim Van Der Gugten who regularly passed the outside edge, but Briggs’ determination carried him through until his dismissal.
Nash, meanwhile played watchfully, sharing a partnership of 52 with Luke Wells before Wells was bowled by Craig Meschede, and at 232 for 3, Sussex were in sight of a substantial first innings lead before Wagg’s dramatic over and the subsequent collapse.
Nash had completed his third championship century of the season from 284 balls with 18 fours, when Wagg began his 18th over; with his second ball Christian Davies edged to the wicketkeeper, his fourth dismissed Luke Wright who wafted outside the off stump, then the next delivery bowled David Wiese.
An early tea was then taken because of bad light, which might have made the three batsmen dismissed by Wagg wonder why the decision had not been taken before the over had started.
After the break, Nash’s six and half hour vigil ended when he was bowled by Van Der Gugten for 132, and the tail quickly followed with Glamorgan’s seamers rewarded for their accuracy throughout the innings.
Apart from David Lloyd, who only bowled one over, Van der Gugten, Meschede and Wagg’s economy rate was under three runs an over with Hogan’s under two.
When Glamorgan started their second innings, 31 runs adrift, Selman did manage to get off the mark after four successive ducks, but did not last long before he was leg before in Steve Magoffin’s second over.
Nash praised Glamorgan’s bowlers after his century: “They bowled really well, in the right areas, and kept it tight throughout the innings”.
He also praised Briggs who as nightwatchman put on 69 for the second wicket, saying: “Danny helped me a lot and is in the form of his life with the bat these days. We are still in the game, and need to fight back tomorrow.”
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Sussex collapse changes course of Glamorgan clash


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The Festival Players Theatre Company bring their outdoor summer tour of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to the Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) on Thursday, August 31.
Spokeswoman Su Gilroy said: “This year is the 400th anniversary of the death of the nation’s (arguably the world’s) greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, and The Festival Players Theatre Company is proud to present his most famous play, Hamlet. This theatre company from Gloucestershire, which has been touring professional outdoor Shakespeare productions for over 30 years, is taking the play across the UK and into Europe.
“Presented in full costume, an all-male company brings the excitement of this great thriller: intrigue, ghostly visitations, passion, a play-within-a-play, a gripping duel, and humour, in a crystal-clear and fast-paced two-hour production.
“The players perform more than 80 shows over the summer across England, Scotland, Wales and the Isles of Scilly and as far afield as Belgium, Berlin, the Netherlands and Norway, at an increasingly varied number of locations from stately homes to London commons, Scottish castles to English village greens, island botanical gardens to Roman amphitheatres.”
Su added: “Thought to have been first performed in 1600 and possibly the greatest tragedy in the English language, Hamlet is a story of revenge. Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is haunted by the ghost of his father, who tells him that he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius. Claudius not only wears the late king’s crown but has also married his wife, Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet has lost his father and his opportunity to be king, and possibly his sanity; can he believe the ghost, and if so how should he exact revenge? And who else will suffer along the way?”
Festival Players Artistic Director Michael Dyer has reduced the play to two hours.
He said: “Our shows are an amalgam of energy, entertainment and colour, and we aim to make them clear and transparent, as well as keeping them short for the comfort of our patrons. We set out to take audiences of all ages on a journey and make them feel very much part of the production.
“A small cast of six play multiple roles demanding quick costume changes, as well as performing as singers and musicians. This gives an exciting opportunity for the actors to show their energy and versatility.”
This will be Michael’s 12th all-male production in a row for the Players: “It is, of course, totally authentic. We are following in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre when all roles were taken by men. The Players have built a reputation for strong, all-male shows over the past eleven years.”
Last year The Festival Players toured As You Like it and Henry IV and many of those actors have returned this year. The title role of Hamlet will be played by Benjamin Way, who was Rosalind in As You Like It and Poins, Justice Shallow and Prince John in Henry IV. Mark Spriggs was Falstaff in Henry IV and Touchstone in As You Like It, and this year will play Claudius. Joel Daffurn, who has been with the company since 2013, will play Laertes, Guildenstern and the First Player, and taking the roles of Polonius, Gravedigger and Second Player is Paul Mills, also with the company since 2013. Michael Dyer himself will play the part of the ghost of Hamlet’s Father.
Newcomers to the company this year are Lee Peck and Jonny James-Jones, both of whom trained at East 15 Acting School. Lee Peck will be playing Gertrude and Horatio and has previously played Romeo in Romeo & Juliet and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Young Shakespeare Company, and was Malcolm in a radio production of Macbeth. Jonny James-Jones will be playing Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Osric.
Tickets on www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk/tour.
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Sussex motorists who are travelling to Kent can now use the M20 motorway after it reopened following a bridge collapse.
Highways England said the northbound lanes were fully reopened and two out of three of the southbound lanes had reopened after being closed between junctions one and four for more than a day.
The collision on the M20 is causing problems for anyone driving to Kent. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
The closure comes after a lorry struck a footbridge in Kent yesterday, causing it to collapse. Read more here.
Prior to the reopening, Highways England south east operations manager Gary Coleman said everything was being done to reopen the motorway again, but safety had to come first both for workers and drivers.
“We are facing a real challenge to lift two HGVs and a motorbike clear of the scene and deal with all of the rubble from the collapsed bridge strewn across both carriageways. “There is also the issue of the remaining part of the footbridge, which is still in place over the coast-bound side of the motorway. We have crews on scene ready to take action as soon as the police have completed their investigation. We also have cranes en route and lighting so work can continue through the night.
“We are doing everything we can to safely reopen the motorway, but we’d ask drivers to please bear with us as this is a complex operation and it will take time and skill to complete. We’ll keep everyone updated.”
The collision on the M20 is causing problems for anyone driving to Kent. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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TRAFFIC UPDATE: Motorway reopens after bridge collapse


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Two South Downs National Park projects have been shortlisted for an award.
The Arun and Rother Connections Project and Butterfly Conservation Sussex Branch have been selected in the final six, from 26 ‘excellent nominations’, by a judging panel.
The Duke of Burgundy butterfly PNL-160226-143841001
A grant of £2,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Campaign for National Parks’ Park Protector Award, due to be announced in October.
The award aims to ‘recognise, rewards and celebrate exceptional projects that are making a lasting contribution to the protection, restoration or conservation of the National Parks of England and Wales’.
In a statement about the shortlist, the Arun and Rother Connections project volunteers were highlighted.
It said: “1.2 million people use the water that filters through the chalk of the South Downs on a daily basis.
Pond training event at Pulborough Brooks - www.photographersussex.com
“The Arun and Rother Connections project works with over 1,000 volunteers to run a diverse suite of activities which promote a rich, thriving river system, where wildlife flourishes and people value and enjoy the landscape.”
While the Butterfly Conservation Sussex Branch project was credited for ‘working tirelessly’ to increase the numbers of Duke of Burgundy butterflies.
This work has seen the numbers ‘rise exponentially’ from eight being spotted in Sussex in 2003, to 1,487 seen in 2016.
Caroline Quentin, the new Campaign for National Parks President, admitted learning about the ‘fantastic projects’ has been a ‘wonderful way’ to start her role.
She said: “These projects are the perfect demonstration of how much people care about National Parks and want to improve them for the future.”
Jeremy Colls, from the award’s sponsors Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust, added: “The overriding message is the remarkable level of volunteer commitment that is evident among the groups taking part. Many people really do care about maintaining and improving our rural environment, and convert their passion into action to achieve tangible results.”
For more information visit www.cnp.org.uk

Two South Downs projects shortlisted for award


Wedding season is in full swing and it’s not just brides who will be meticulously planning their dresses.
So if you’ve got a big wedding coming up and you’re worried about the dos and don’ts of what to wear or just need some tips on this summer’s key wedding trends then read on and watch our video where stylist Naomi Isted runs through this year’s top looks
Up and down the country beautiful couples are tying the knot, in the most exquisite dresses and gorgeous suits... but let’s face it while we all love to look at the bridal party most of us are more concerned with our own outfits!
From being the best dressed guest, to making sure you’re not in agony by the end of a long day thanks to high heels, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to preparing for a wedding this summer. So what are the main things to think about?
Here are our 3 top tips
1 Dress code – while weddings in this day and age are usually much more relaxed affairs than in years gone by, some weddings will still have a very ‘dressy’ dress code. Check your invite, if it says black tie, or even white tie then that means suits and tails for the men and formal dress for the lady…similarly if the invite says smart casual or relaxed, then whatever you do, don’t go overly formal – you will feel out of place and stick out like a sore thumb in the photos!
2 Don’t upstage the bride – and that doesn’t mean you can’t wear white (see our video for a way to wear white without getting mistaken for the bride). While we all want to look our best as a wedding guest, the day is really about the bride (or groom) so make sure not to go too OTT on your outfit, jewellery, make up and footwear. Stand out but don’t STAND OUT!
3 Comfort – and we’re not just talking about making sure your shoes aren’t too tight, or your spanx aren’t cutting off your circulation. You want to feel your best on your…I mean THE big day. Take a few pics of yourself in your outfit, selfies if you like, sit down in your dress to make sure you feel comfortable with the way it sits as you will be sitting for a long time, walk around for 20 minutes to make sure you feel happy at all angles….and if you’re really brave…ask your partner how you look.
Oh and tip number four, have fun (there’s nothing better than a summer wedding..!) and watch our video for some bang on trend wedding outfit ideas from stylist Naomi Isted who has joined with Suuna Sunglasses to give you her top tips.


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Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice.
Mankind Divided and so am I when it comes to reviewing the latest Deus Ex game after its launch last week.
There is so much to rave about in DEMD and I’m still enjoying it now over a week into the game.
But there are a number of elements which do not quite sit right with me.
Let’s start with the positives, though, and there are plenty of them.
There is layer upon layer in this game all expertly crafted together and beautifully designed.
The gameplay stands up to the high standards set by previous Deus Ex games and goes beyond them in many respects.
This is a game that will suit all types of gamers too.
Looking for a quick blast for an hour, you can jump on and get enough done to enjoy the experience, looking for longer, more involved sessions on your console then the gameplay rewards your patience, curiosity and creativity.
You play augmented human Jensen who is essentially the most deadly Power Ranger on the planet. I mean this guy has everything and would even give Superman a run for his money.
There are so many options to negotiate each scenario
And this is where my first problem lies with DEMD.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy.
‘Ramp up the difficulty setting!’ I hear you cry.
Well yes there’s that but my point is no matter what level you are playing at, Jensen just has too much at his disposal for his enemies to trouble him.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy. Damien Lucas, gaming columnist
But don’t get me wrong it’s still great fun entering a room littered with foes and walking out past a pile of them without breaking a sweat.
Another thing that doesn’t quite land for me is the Apartheid type references between the humans (naturals) and the augmented race. It is a poor attempt to give the storyline resonance with real life - for example there are posters dotted around saying things like ‘Augmented Lives Matter’ and it just feels a little frivolous.
I’m being hyper critical, though, and Deus Ex will go down as one of the games of the year of that there is no doubt.
Rating: 8.5/10

Console Corner: Deus Ex Mankind Divided review


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University of Chichester graduate Joe Perkins tries to capture a little bit of chaotic Quo in his new album.
Joe, who studied commercial music graduating in 2012, has long been a huge Status Quo fan: he first saw them, aged ten, in Bristol 16 years ago.
“And I have seen them with the modern line-up loads of times, always the perfect Quo. But then they played with their original line-up, and they were just all over the place in terms of the timing and the notes, but in terms of the musicality, they were just so exciting.
“They had the danger back, and it was just so much better for not being perfect, and I think that is one of the lessons I have learnt.
“You record a song and then you can edit it and edit it until it is perfect, but that’s not necessarily the best way to do it.
“You want the edge, which is what Quo had. They looked terrified! But that nervous energy made it the best Quo show I’d ever seen. It was so much more exciting for being edgy and dangerous. It was four humans all playing together with the whole thing likely to implode at any point. It was pure rock & roll!
“We are human beings. We are not perfect. We all make mistakes. With technology, you can make it perfect, but you lose the fact that we are all musicians playing together. It’s about the spontaneous things that can happen, and that’s what I have wanted to capture.
“There are little mistakes, but the album is what I sound like when I play the guitar. And it is the first album I haven’t done in a recording studio. I did it in the dining room at home. It was about giving free rein to the music.”
It was while he was at Chichester that Joe did his first album: “It was a very good course, but for me the most important thing was the studio facilities that we could book out. The course was very wide-ranging, but in your spare time you could get into the studio and having the studio was great. You got taught all the basics of making a record, but then you could develop it all further.
“I did my first album then which I released free online. So many people had got involved and given their time for free that it wouldn’t have been right to try to sell it.
“It was call Host of Other Artists. It was all songs I had written and played pretty much every instrument, but it was other people doing the lead vocals. I did some backing vocals, but I am not strong enough a singer to do the lead vocals.”
Now comes the new album, purely instrumental. Double Denim is released on Friday, September 2, as a vinyl + CD bundle (limited to 300 copies) and as a download – both available from joeperkins.co.uk. Both are priced at £7.99.
“Releasing the album on vinyl isn’t purely nostalgic,” Joe says. “Sure, I personally prefer buying music as a physical entity and enjoying it as a piece of art, and I think vinyl is the best for that.
“But the audio is actually much higher definition than the CD and has a more dynamic master. You’ll have to turn it up a bit, but it sounds more natural. Nowadays we all need to own our music digitally too, so with the enclosed CD you get that as well.
“So that’s Double Denim. There’s rock; bluegrass; ballads; a snare drum with far too much reverb on it; potentially the world’s loudest cajón; an army of pots and pans; an outrageous amount of guitars; a sense of humour; and real human musicians playing their instruments.
“And who else gives you all that on an outdated format from the 1930s?”


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The average driver in Sussex will be travelling 67 miles over the Bank Holiday, a new poll has found.
More than 2,000 motorists from around the area were asked where they would be travelling over the three-day break, and how much they would be using their vehicles.
More than half – 52 per cent – said they would be using their car, and one in ten said they would be going away for the Bank Holiday.
The most popular scenic route around the UK driven by motorists in Sussex is around Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, with more than one in five, 22 per cent, having taken this road.
More than two thirds of motorists from this area, 69 per cent, have been on a driving holiday, more than any other region in the UK according to the poll commissioned by Confused.com.
And it’s not a surprise when just over four-fifths – 81 per cent – of those questioned said that they enjoy driving.
Abroad, more than a quarter – 26 per cent – of South East motorists said they would like to take the Route 66, the famous road in America which spans a distance of more than 2,000 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica.
What will you be doing this Bank Holiday weekend? Comment below.
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POLL: Sussex drivers ‘will travel 67 miles’ during Bank Holiday


Sussex motorists who are travelling to Kent are being told the M20 motorway will be shut until at least this evening.
Highways England issued a statement saying that the M20 is closed between junctions one and four, and ‘is likely to remain closed until at approximately 6pm’.
The collision on the M20 is causing problems for anyone driving to Kent. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
The closure comes after a lorry struck a footbridge in Kent yesterday, causing it to collapse. Read more here.
Highways England said that diversions are also in place and it is likely the M26 which links the M25 to the M20 will also remain closed until the incident is cleared.
The diversion for the M20 is via the A2 or M2 using the A229 and A228, and the diversion for the M26, closed at M25 junction five, is to use the M25 junction two and then travel on the A2 or M2.
Highways England south east operations manager Gary Coleman said everything was being done to reopen the motorway again, but safety had to come first both for workers and drivers.
The collision on the M20 is causing problems for anyone driving to Kent. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
“We are facing a real challenge to lift two HGVs and a motorbike clear of the scene and deal with all of the rubble from the collapsed bridge strewn across both carriageways. “There is also the issue of the remaining part of the footbridge, which is still in place over the coast-bound side of the motorway. We have crews on scene ready to take action as soon as the police have completed their investigation. We also have cranes en route and lighting so work can continue through the night.
“We are doing everything we can to safely reopen the motorway, but we’d ask drivers to please bear with us as this is a complex operation and it will take time and skill to complete. We’ll keep everyone updated.”
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TRAFFIC UPDATE: Motorway closed until ‘this evening’


On the neighbouring table a party of four were celebrating an 18th birthday.
Coincidentally, we knew the Dudmans but hadn’t seen them in some years.
The Halfway Bridge
Now daughter Emily had reached the first key milestone in her life and had persuaded family and friends that she wanted to mark it with a lunch at the Halfway Bridge.
What made the choice the more remarkable was that for more than a year, Emily has worked there serving at tables.
Most youngsters would rather celebrate a birthday anywhere but the place of work. But clearly Emily knew quality when she saw it - and had an ambition to enjoy a taste of it as a customer too.
New head chef Luke Gale had made her a stunning cake with a handcrafted and rather cute little elephant on the top.
The Halfway Bridge
She was thrilled.
But then, Luke is something of a culinary wonder. A rare find in a country pub.
His plates are not merely packed with local produce, they are presented with a certain creative elegance.
We chatted to him as we left. A trained pastry chef he is as unassuming as he is talented. In his six months since he arrived, he’s made a number of changes to the menu.
The Halfway Bridge
For him it’s about preparing everything from scratch.
He’s good. The food is excellent. It aims to focus on seasonal dishes with a traditional English and Mediterranean flair.
When we visited on a Saturday lunchtime, there was a choice of the set menu - two courses £18; three courses £22 - or the a la carte. Some daily specials increased our options.
The prices are dearer than you would find in city centre chain restaurants. But this is unpretentious quality dining.
The Halfway Bridge
For those wanting something more akin to pub grub, there are the classics. Beer battered haddock, hand cut chips, pea puree (£15.50) or chargrilled burger with all the trimmings (£14.50).
This is, after all, a country inn and is proud of the traditional drinking area even though the restaurant is an increasingly vital part of the economic mix of places to which most customers must drive.
It’s an old pub - standing for some 250 years. And as the name suggests, it’s located half way between Midhurst and Petworth.
Originally a watermill it became a coaching inn in the 17th century and now offers six en-suite rooms and one suite housed in Cowdray Barns, the inn’s former stable yard.
The young team is led by general manager Billy Lewis-Bowker, a man with a warm smile and a reassuring sense of calm.
Sophie served us. But I guess on any other day it could have been Emily.
The Halfway Bridge
Fish of the day and roast loin of pork followed starters of homemade soup, and gin and tonic cured sea trout.
Strawberries and cream with a twist and warm triple chocolate brownie with honeycomb and lime ice cream completed the meal.
It’s a beautiful location in the heart of the South Downs for an inn.
On the day of our visit, the weather was mixed. Sunshine one moment, rain the next.
But there was nothing mixed about the quality of the visit. The service was pleasant and the food was excellent. A real cut above pub grub.
It was all in the detail. The slight bitterness of the tonic gave a real edge to the sea trout.
The triple chocolate brownie oozed temptation.
Although we were invited guests of the AA rosette restaurant, there was no link to a commercial arrangement with them. We were there to write an honest opinion.
We raised a glass of Upperton sparkling rose to celebrate the chance meeting of Emily and her family.
And - having checked out other diners’ meals to ensure no favouritism - vowed to return and enjoy a little more of Luke’s cooking when we were off duty too.
There were no half measures at the Halfway Bridge.
The Halfway Bridge
The Halfway Bridge
The Halfway Bridge

Restaurant Review: Halfway by name but no half measures


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University of Chichester music graduate Jennifer Owens releases her debut EP on August 26, available from iTunes, all the usual online outlets and her website jenniferowens.co.uk.
Originally from Basildon, Essex, Jennifer has opted to stay in West Sussex following her studies. She now lives in Trotton: “I moved to Chichester to study at the university, a three-year course which I have just finished. It was the BA hons in music, and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the first year, and I struggled with the second. I was not sure what was happening, what I wanted. I didn’t see any longevity in the music industry, but I was lucky to come across the right people. But then once that started happening for me, I was able to settle down and enjoy the last year. I got a lot of experience from my degree. I got a lot of social skills, and I grew up a lot. I think it gave me direction. I now know exactly what I want to do.
“I only really got serious about music when I got serious about the solo stuff in the past couple of years. Before that, I was not really sure about what direction would be best. I thought about theatre for a while. But with other things, I just didn’t feel appreciated enough in that sort of environment. It was not enough. And now I have fallen in love with doing my own stuff, and that’s definitely the way I want to go.
“Most of my material is my own. I do a few covers. I cover some of the music of a writer in New York who is quite fond of me and what I do. He popped up last year, Scott Alan. He gave me free rein with his music. I do some of his stuff; the rest is originals. I started writing really recently. I never really had the tools to do it myself. I don’t play an instrument. I didn’t know how I could write songs by myself until my manager set me up with some co-writers, and now I do write by myself.”
As for the music: “Well, I want to say it is old-fashioned, but that sounds out-dated. I have got influenced by Karen Carpenter, Barbra Streisand, people like that. It’s a throw-back, not like the music now. There is a lot of heart-felt meaning to it. For me, it is really important that all music should reach out to people. It should be there for people and it should offer a hand in good times and in bad times. I really want people to relate to the lyrics in the way I relate to the lyrics in songs by Karen Carpenter and Barbra Streisand. I can really see what they are saying and understand that, and I want people to feel the same about my music.My nan passed away before Christmas. I wrote a song about her called Turn To Me. I have also written about my strange relationship with my father. I think we all have a tough ride, don’t we? Not everything is easy. The songs are very personal to me, but also for everyone else. We all go through things. I have also written a song about staying with someone forever.”
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Ex-Chichester student ready to seize her chance in the music business


Railway station staff are due to strike over cuts to ticket office opening hours planned across Sussex.
The RMT union has already called a 48-hour strike starting Wednesday September 7 over Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans to change the role of conductors to on-board supervisors on Southern services.
Now RMT members will also hold a 24-hour walkout on September 7 over GTR’s plans to cut the opening hours of its station ticket offices.
The union fears the reorganisation will affect dispatchers and barrier staff in the near future.
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said; “The Govia Thamelink franchise is in meltdown and not fit for purpose. Not content with axing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards they now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike.
“Our members have made it clear that they will not stand by while this basket-case franchise unleashes yet another attack on jobs and services in the drive for profits and that is why we have no option but to take strike action.
“These cuts plans fly in the face of the response from the thousands of passengers who objected to the closure of ticket offices and the de-staffing of stations as Govia drives on with plans for a “faceless railway” where the public are left to fend for themselves on rammed-out, dangerous and unreliable services.
“It is about time Govia Thameslink started acting responsibly, halted their cuts plans and got round the table with the union in serious and genuine talks.”
Proposals would see most ticket offices across Sussex open on weekday peak times only, typically between 7-10am, with ‘station hosts’ selling tickets on concourses at other times of the day.
Both Falmer and Lancing’s offices are set to close completely, while locations facing cuts include Angmering, Barnham, Bexhill, Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Hassocks, Horley, Horsham, Hove, Lewes, Littlehampton, Polegate, Portslade, Shoreham, and Worthing.
Late last week the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) started to ballot more than 250 ticket office and platform staff, with the results due to be announced on Friday September 2.
Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said: “We cannot stand by and allow GTR to reduce Southern Railway to a second class operation which is not fit for passengers and staff.
“Passengers have suffered enough over the past few months and it is now time for Chris Grayling [Transport Secretary] to act. GTR should be stripped off this franchise and it should be handed over to the publicly run Transport for London as Sadiq Khan has suggested.
“Then we will have a publicly run franchise which will be operating in the public interest, not in the interest of private shareholders.”
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BREAKING NEWS: Railway station staff to strike over ticket office cuts


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