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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Worthing Raiders assistant coach Ben Coulson says he is pleased with the way things are progressing for the team in pre-season.
Raiders overcame Guildford 57-10 in a friendly on Saturday and are now just over a week away from playing their first National 2 South game of the season at Exmouth.
Coulson said: “The pleasing aspect from Saturday was we were trying to put into practice some things we had been working on in training.
“The game wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline may suggest as we were put under quite a lot of pressure at times.
“We’ve got four more training sessions between now and Exmouth, so we’ll look to go there and hit the ground running.
“Ian (Davies), Jody (Levett) and I are very happy with how things have gone in pre-season so far. We’ve changed a number of things but the squad is much the same as last year.”
A couple of new players have joined Raiders’ squads and the club will also welcome loan players from Harlequins again this season.
Charlie McGowan, after a year out, and Jamie Redmayne, after missing much of last season through a knee injury, are back involved with the team.
Coulson said: “They’re like two new signings and it’s great to have both of them around.
“We expect Charlie to be back involved around October time as he’s still getting back up to full fitness after his year out.
“Jamie had a good run out on Saturday and looked very good. We missed him a lot last year when he was out injured as he’s a very good player and very experienced.
“We’ll also have a couple of guys coming down from Quins again, which is a nice stepping stone for their careers and we’ll look forward to welcoming them here.”
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To 18th 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.
Grey Cardigan with Tom Johnson, Huntsman of the Charlton hounds, seen through the Archway by John Wootton
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 8.15am until they killed at 5.50pm, covering a distance of approximately 57 miles with just the Duke and two others present at the end.
When the hunt was moved to Goodwood in the mid-18th 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.
The Goodwood House summer 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.
More than 300 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, 1-5pm (last admission 4pm)
www.goodwood.com
Reader offer: Luxury Afternoon Tea for Two £34.50. To book call the Ticket Office on 01243 755 055.
For further information and occasional closures please call 01243 755 040 or visit the website.

New exhibition explores history of The Charlton Hunt


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New research conducted by Foster Grant has established the average person takes around nine shots before choosing the perfect photo to put on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook but are you of the many that feel like they are missing a trick and just can’t get it right?
Take a leaf out of Kylie Jenner’s book and follow these easy to remember tips to make the most of your pictures;
Tip 1
Try different angles
Most of us have a “good side” and by tilting your head to the right it tends to be more interesting than just a straight on shot and can also be a more flattering angle. Taking a photo from above is also a great way of displaying different angles and can highlight all the bits you want to show off.
Tip 2
Don’t underestimate good lighting and a filter- from black and white to sepia tones- accentuate your features and bring out your inner model with your Instagram filters or just pose with a good ray of sunshine on your face.
Tip 3
Get creative
Take a selfie snorkelling in the sea or the side of a mountain. Not only is the scenery eye catching but you will be the envy of all your friends. Don’t be afraid to use accessorise and incorporate these items into your selfie. New glasses, big jewellery and rings are great at grabbing people’s attention
Tip 4
Use your arms as a frame- whether single armed or using both, let your arms show the rest of your body off, just be careful your fingers don’t cover the lens! If you are not a fan of the extended arm selfie then you should definitely consider a selfie stick.
Tip 5
Show off your personality. Smile, frown, laugh make a silly face or pout- just try and avoid the duckface where possible. When you share your picture let your friend feel the true essence of you.
For all this watch the video featuring blogger Kativa Donkersely for her top tips on how to get the celeb inspired selfie from the likes of Kylie Jenner herself as well as trendsetters Rihanna and Gigi Hadid


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Worthing WOW (World of Words) Festival announces Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing as part of BFI Presents: Shakespeare on Film.
The season is a UK-wide series of screenings and events celebrating the impact the playwright’s life, work and legacy has had on cinema.
Worthing WOW’s special screening takes place on Thursday, September 15 at the Dome Cinema in Worthing and forms part of national celebrations marking the bard’s 400th anniversary.
Melody Bridges, artistic director of WOW, said: “Kenneth Branagh’s exuberant 1993 adaptation of this classic feel-good comedy stars Mr Branagh himself alongside Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale and Hollywood hunks Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves. WOW have received funding from BFI Film/London to host the event and include Worthing as part of this countrywide celebration. They chose Much Ado for its summery romantic feel – a perfect frolic to end your summer.
“Much Ado is being shown in screen two at the historic Dome Cinema, Worthing for one night only, and is being introduced by Miles Leeson, senior lecturer from the University of Chichester who will be giving a brief pre-screening talk about the potent mix of farce and politics in this, one of the Bards most important comedies.”
Presented by the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) and led by Film Hub London, BFI Presents: Shakespeare on Film will see more than 300 screenings and events taking place across the UK with multiplexes, independent cinemas, film clubs, pop-ups and community venues the length and breadth of the UK.
Melody added: “I'm thrilled to share this uplifting film with Worthing audiences. Worthing WOW has been looking for a really special way to tie in with the celebrations of Shakespeare this year – and this evening is our way of Worthing being a part of these national events. I'm excited to learn beforehand from Dr Miles a bit more about the story and then enjoy a glass of Italian white wine whilst watching one of Shakespeare's finest plays on film. "
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “Shakespeare might have been a man of the theatre but his work offers endless possibilities to film-makers. Somehow the power of his stories, characters, his all too human resonant and relevant themes of power, politics, family, romance, tragic conflict and joyous comedy, manages to transcend barriers of time and the English language such that specific cultural settings can be interpreted by filmmaking artists, in all different kinds of locations, contexts and languages.”
Much Ado About Nothing is screening for one night only on September 15, 7.30pm at the Dome Cinema; tickets are £5 adult, £4 concs, £3 students available in advance only from http://www.eventbrite.com/e/much-ado-about-nothing-tickets-26898961518.
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The stylist at Jacques Vert talks to Charlotte Pearson about the store’s new collection.
Summer is in full swing but if your wardrobe is still in need of an update Jacques Vert may be able to help.
The occasion-wear brand has revamped its current collection targeting it at those aged from 25 to 50 and going up to a size 24.
Its new campaign features three key areas from tailoring to outfits for weddings or heading to the races and a holiday essentials edit.
“The ‘relaxed tailoring’ edit focuses on key versatile separates and essential pieces to invest in now,” explains stylist Sasha Barrie.
“The traditional understanding of occasion dressing is re-imagined for the season with the ‘occasions boutique’ to infuse an avant-garde narrative to the range.
“Whereas holiday dressing is redefined with the ‘holiday essentials’ edit; tropical florals, bold prints and zesty bursts of vibrant shades take on this season’s trends and add an undoubtedly modern-edge to the range.”
Be it for a night out, a new look for the office or a holiday aboard you are sure to find something in the new collection.
To see the full collection or to find your nearest store visit www.jacques-vert.co.uk
For more features like this, visit etcmag.net


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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Littlehampton’s Edwin James Festival Choir remembers fondly one of its finest at its forthcoming concert performance of One Sun, One World, an environmentally-themed work by Peter Rose and Anne Conlon.
Spokeswoman Madeleine Wadley said: “Commissioned by the World Wide Fund for their 50th anniversary, One Sun, One World has an environmental theme that reaches out with a message of hope for the future of the natural world and humanity’s place within it. The musical takes the audience on a journey through the great forces of earth, the power of the sun, the ocean tides, wind patterns, the miracle of rainfall and a web of cold and heat.
“One Sun, One World has been chosen as a musical memorial for Joe Costa, a larger-than-life, well-loved member of the choir and Littlehampton local community who lost his battle for life in February.
“Joe was born in Singapore in March 1940 during the Japanese occupation and was the youngest of five children. His father was Spanish and a civil engineer who had been posted to Singapore prior to the war and unable to return to Spain. He met Joe’s Vietnamese mother while travelling. She was very strict with her children to protect them from the soldiers and died ensuring they had food daily. Joe remembered little about Singapore except the Japanese encampment near the village where he lived, Jalan Seyom. Joe spoke several languages – Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and English and was looked after by his step-sis. They immediately took him out of education and used him as a household servant. When his sister returned she sent Joe back into full-time education under the care of a French priest at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
“Joe lived there and served at services held in Latin, later gaining work experience as a messenger and later in a shoe shop. Joe wanted to emigrate and the priest encouraged him to save hard for his journey and kindly gave him half the money. At the age of 15, Joe finally secured what proved to be a traumatic sea passage, alone but befriended by a Vietnamese man. Joe had met an Englishwoman prior to his departure who had him encouraged to visit Newcastle-upon-Tyne to see her parents. His journey took him via Genoa, Marseilles, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Dover and finally a train to Newcastle. On arrival he discovered the Englishwoman was staying at her parents home and they set about making a safe life for Joe, helped him secure a job at the Royal Station Hotel and wanted to adopt him.
“Joe Costa met his future wife Eva at a dance hall in 1960 and within six months of meeting they were married. In 1966 they moved to Colchester where they lived for 38 years where Joe worked as an engineer. Following redundancy the couple set up tea rooms which they ran for several years before moving to Selwyn Avenue in Wick in 1995 with Joe obtaining work at Euro-therm and Eva at Hi-Tech. Joe retired at the age of 68 due to ill health. He loved his family, his many friends, gardening (winning awards in the Littlehampton Town Garden Competitions), cooking - famed for his curries, profiteroles and lemon drizzle cake. Joe and Eva attended Wick Chapel for a few years and then Parkside Evengelical Church where he played in the music group.”
James Rushman, musical director for the Edwin James Festival Choir, said: “Joe and Eva joined the choir seventeen years ago. Our motto is Music is Life and it certainly was for Joe who not only sang but played the oboe, clarinet and keyboard. He became very accomplished and joined The Littlehampton Town Concert Band and the music group at the church. Joe was small in stature but big in heart. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him and he will be remembered by all who met him as a gentle man with a big heart. He loved the choir, his music, the concert band and was a loyal friend. His big smile, Geordie/Asian accent and tam-o-shanter will long remain in the memory of all who knew him, not to mention his famed lemon drizzle cake.”
The Edwin James Festival Choir will be performing One Sun, One World on Saturday, August 27 at the Parkside Evangelical Church at 4pm. There is no admission charge but there will be a retiring collection in aid of St Barnabas Hospice. All are welcome.
The Edwin James Festival Choir rehearse every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm at St James’s Church Hall, East Ham Road, Littlehampton, and prospective members of all ages are welcome to visit. More information from www.edwinjamesfestivalchoir.co.uk. The choir is currently rehearsing the Faure Requiem, Goodall’s Every Purpose Under the Heaven as well as Rock Nativity by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent.


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’


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It’s the farcical comedy which leaves critics stony-faced. But now Mrs Brown’s Boys has been voted the best British sitcom of the 21st century, beating Ricky Gervais’s observational masterpiece, The Office.
Mrs Brown’s Boys, starring Brendan O’Carroll as the foul-mouthed Dublin widow, topped the Radio Times poll which asked readers to choose the funniest shows broadcast since 2000.
Described as “the worst comedy ever made” by one reviewer, the broad humour of O’Carroll’s creation, initially unveiled on a RTE Ireland radio series, has been labelled sexist and homophobic.
But the BBC1 show, which O’Carroll described as a reaction against the politically-correct “alternative comedy” revolution of the 80s, has become the most-watched programme on Christmas Day and even spawned a feature film.
The troupe of largely extended family members – O’Carroll’s wife Jennifer plays his fictional screen daughter – honed their characters through live stage performances, adding to the anarchic atmosphere of the television episodes, which often embrace mistakes.
O’Carroll said of the poll victory: “It vindicates the fans’ belief in the show. They have kept us on the air – it certainly wasn’t the reviewers.”
He added: “There is an audience out there that comedy forgot, that Are You Being Served? audience has been left behind. Us winning this award proves that.”
The show was rewarded with a Bafta in 2012 as critics began to accept its merits.
Radio Times readers voted from a shortlist of the 40 funniest shows broadcast since 2000, compiled by critics and experts from the British Film Institute.
When the 14,000 votes were counted, the unashamedly populist Mrs Brown’s Boys finished ahead of the understated charms of The Office, first broadcast in 2001 and widely regarded as the most influential comedy of the century.
Peter Kay has two entries in the top 20 with Car Share and his breakthrough Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights
The poll suggested that the comedy audience has yet to fully embrace funny women. Miranda, the sitcom vehicle for the comedy actress Miranda Hart appears at number 8 ahead of Raised By Wolves, the loosely autobiographical Channel 4 family series written by Caitlin Moran and her sister Caroline.
But the poll is dominated by male performers and writers. Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan has three entries with Count Arthur Strong, The IT Crowd and Black Books all featuring.
Armando Iannucci’s The Thick of It, The Inbetweeners and Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education are other sitcoms in the list which have been expanded into feature films.
James Corden’s hit BBC romantic comedy Gavin & Stacey, co-written with Ruth Jones, remains highly regarded and makes the top ten. ITV has a one entry with Benidorm.
Best British sitcom of the 21st century
1 Mrs Brown’s Boys
2 The Office
3 Peter Kay’s Car Share
4 Count Arthur Strong
5 The IT Crowd
6 The Thick of It
7 Gavin & Stacey
8 Miranda
9 Raised by Wolves
10 Outnumbered
11 Peep Show
12 Black Books
13 Green Wing
14 The Inbetweeners
15 Bad Education
16 Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights
17 Yonderland
18 Twenty Twelve/W1A
19 Benidorm
20 Detectorists

Mrs Brown’s Boys voted best British sitcom of the 21st century


Following the search for a missing swimmer earlier today and a string of beach deaths in Sussex, the safety of our seas has been called into question.
Today’s search for the woman at Camber Sands in East Sussex was called off after she identified herself to the RNLI at 11.45am. A coastguard spokesperson said the reason for the large-scale search, which also involved the police, was because ‘it is a dangerous beach’ and it was reported before lifeguards were on duty at 9am. Read more here.
But it begs the question: can more be done to prevent deaths like the five men who lost their lives on Wednesday at Camber Sands, or the man who drowned in the sea at Bognor Regis?
Have your say in our poll.
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POLL: Do we need greater safety measures on our beaches?


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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A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.
Financial recruiter Goodman Masson took first place in the list by jobs site Glassdoor, based on reviews submitted to its website by current and former staff.
The company, which is based in London and also has offices in Dusseldorf, was praised by staff for its “huge investment” in staff benefits and “great” parties twice a year.
“The attention paid to the wellbeing of staff is at a level rarely matched elsewhere,” said an anonymous employee working in the London office.
In second place was technology firm Cisco Systems, and in third place was insurer HomeServe.
West Midlands-based HomeServe, which employs 1,200 people at its headquarters in Walsall and has 2.1 million customers in the UK, was commended for its attitude towards the treatment of its staff.
“The salary is very competitive and you are rewarded very generously for your hard work and just for carrying out your role. The company has a great framework for career progression and is always looking to promote people internally for job roles,” said a water supply engineer working at the firm.
Greg Reed, chief marketing officer at HomeServe, said: “We believe if you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers. This means creating a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day because they feel what they do really makes a difference in our customers’ lives.”
Temping firm LOLA and Screwfix completed the top five. Other companies in the top 20 included Apple, American Express Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever and John Lewis.
Google is known for its plush offices, but doesn’t make the top 20 companies for work-life balance. Its new London office has sleep pods so workers can take a nap, although perhaps this is an indication of long hours.
For a company to have been considered, at least 50 work-life balance ratings must have been submitted by UK-based employees in the past year.
The top 20 companies for work-life balance:
1. Goodman Masson
2. Cisco Systems
3. HomeServe UK
4. LOLA Staffing
5. Screwfix
6. American Express
7. BP
8. Peninsula Business Services
9. ARM Holdings
10. Unilever
11.Thomson Reuters
12. Kantar Worldpanel
13. Atkins
14. Téléfonica
15. Credit Suisse
16. Rolls-Royce
17. John Lewis
18. Waitrose
19. Lloyds Banking Group
20. Apple

Revealed: The top UK companies for work-life balance


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Brighton Early Music Festival prepares for its 15th outing this October, with tickets going on sale on September 5 – the latest chapter in a story of remarkable success.
Festival co-artistic director Clare Norburn said: “I think we have been successful because we take quite a different approach to other classical music festivals in the way that we work with artists, and that’s becoming clearer and clearer every year. We have now started calling ourselves a development agency for early music. We don’t just take off-the-peg programmes from artists. We do that, but what is so distinctive about what we do is that we are also about commissioning work.
“We have always commissioned works, right from the start, but in the first ten to 12 years, we commissioned works and they were performed at BREMF and that was it. But what is exciting now is that one of our 2013 productions is now on tour. We put together a tour of 13 promoters.”
The piece explores the life and music of the Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo and is being performed by The Marian Consort: “And it is great for them because it has really accelerated their development, which is great for everyone. I think that is the kind of model we want to be working on.
“Brighton is at the forefront of creating new work with artists that then goes on tour, and this year we are commissioning at least a couple of works that will definitely follow that model. For one of them (recorder consort Palisander, Saturday, November 12, 11.30am), we have already approached promoters, and their performance will be the first performance of a tour if they can get their Arts Council funding. We are increasingly helping artists in a much more holistic long term way rather than just giving them a platform in Brighton. Increasingly we have had promoters that have given engagements to artists, but now we are much more proactive in helping them be much more forward-thinking.
“We are aiming to put our energies more into things that go on to have another life. It is great that we get the premieres in Brighton, but we want to support the artists further. The fact is that it is incredibly difficult for young performers to get started.
It has never been harder for young groups to make headway.
“Young people coming out of college might know a lot about music, but they probably don’t have any administrative experience or contacts, and that makes it terribly difficult. We passionately believe that the arts should be a meritocracy, that you should have an audience, that it shouldn’t just be about who you know.”
This year’s Brighton Early Music Festival takes the theme Nature & Science and runs from October 28 to November 13, with flagship events including a new play with music about the life and work of Galileo (Oct 29 and 30). Set during his final days, the play will relive key moments in Galileo’s life including his trial and excommunication.
www.bremf.org.uk or 01273 709709.

Ambitious programme for Brighton Early Music Festival


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Dave Herbert hit a hat-trick as Arundel Football Club romped to an emphatic 6-0 home success over Storrington in the Peter Bentley Cup second round on Tuesday.
Herbert’s treble included two fine free-kicks and strikes from Barney Boutwood, Rory Biggs and Alex Biggs helped Mullets see off division-lower Swans.
Mullets joint boss Craig Stuart felt it was an ideal way to follow up Saturday’s FA Cup win at Loxwood.
He said: “I think we struggled in the first 20 minutes and I was a little bit disappointed with the way we started.
“After Saturday it was always going to be tricky, we were nowhere near as good as we were against Loxwood, but in the end our quality shone through.
“I think our third goal was the killer, they dropped their heads and we really went in for the kill.”
After a slow start, Herbert’s curled free-kick stuck a post before finding the net to give his side the lead on 24 minutes.
It was 2-0 five minutes before the break as James Fernandes’ long-kick sent Herbert racing clear before he pulled the ball back for Rory Biggs to slot home.
The game was effectively ended in the space of three second half minutes as Herbert completed his hat-trick.
First, he curled a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner on 56 minutes.
Then, three minutes later, a sweeping move saw Nathan DaCosta pick out Harry Russell whose header back across goal was poked home by the in-form forward.
With time running out, Arundel further added to their lead. Boutwood got in on the act when he netted from Russell’s cross against his former side.
Alex Biggs then rounded it off as his drive crept under Swans goalkeeper Matt Neocleous in the last minute.
Arundel travel to Broadbridge Heath in the league on Saturday (3pm), before hosting rivals Pagham on Monday (11am).
ARUNDEL: Fernandes; L.DaCosta, Peake, Jenkins, N.DaCosta; R.Biggs, Jarvis, A.Biggs, S.Herbert; D.Herbert, Boutwood. Subs: Tipper (D.Herbert), Russell (R.Biggs), Butt, Rennie, Jones.
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Herbert’s hat-trick helps Mullets progress in cup


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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


A shop in Worthing has been found selling £900 worth of illegal tobacco following an investigation by Trading Standards.
A statement by West Sussex County Council said 1.6kg of tobacco and 600 cigarettes were found concealed in a stock room wall behind a fire exit sign and in the ceiling of the stock room covered by a light fitting.
The tobacco was found by West Sussex Trading Standards working alongside Phoebe and YoYo, sniffer dogs from B.W.Y Canine Ltd.
The council said officers visited the shop on Thursday August 25 following a tip off from a local resident.
David Barling, county council cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “This successful investigation by our Trading Standards team once again highlights our committal to stopping illegal trade in West Sussex.
“The excellent work our Trading Standards team has done here helps to protect consumers and businesses who comply with the law from unscrupulous traders.”
Illicit tobacco is often cheaper than legal tobacco but carries increased risks.
Richard Sargeant, Trading Standards team manager, said: “While cheap tobacco products may seem attractive the fact is that it does not self-extinguish, which is a major fire hazard and has led to house fires in the past.
“We are grateful for the information provided by the resident and will continue clamping down on this illegal trade.”
The investigation continues.
Anyone with information about illicit tobacco can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or can report details online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport.
For help stopping smoking visit www.smokefreewestsussex.co.uk.
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Illegal tobacco and cigarettes found in shop raid


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Midfielder Danny Holla has left Albion after the club and player agreed to mutually terminate his contract.
The 28-year-old Dutch midfielder did have a year left to run on a three-year deal, signed when he joined Albion in 2014 on a free transfer from Den Haag.
He has played in Albion’s two EFL Cup fixtures against Colchester and Oxford this season but had limited other first-team opportunities.
Seagulls boss Chris Hughton said: “With the options and competition we have in midfield, Danny has found his chances very limited, and that situation is unlikely to change.
“It hasn’t really worked out as Danny or the club had hoped. That can sometimes happen in football, but what I can say is that he has been really professional in his approach and his attitude to training has been first class throughout my time as manager.
“He works hard in training, and he has been ready to play when needed, but those times have been far too infrequent for his liking, and at this stage of his career he wants to be playing regular football, so this is the right move for the club and player.”
Holla scored once in 33 appearances for the club.
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A man has been arrested after being rescued from the rooftop of a building in Worthing.
Sussex Police said they were called at 10.50pm yesterday to reports of a man that had been threatened at an address in Buckingham Road, Worthing.
Police arrested a man after he was rescued from the roof of a three-storey building by firemen in Buckingham Road, Worthing. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
When officers arrived, a male occupant of the three-storey building was on the roof, police said.
The fire and rescue service was called to the scene at 11.40pm and sent one vehicle from Worthing Fire Station with an aerial ladder platform, which was used to remove the man.
A fire service spokesperson said they left the scene at 12.30am.
After the man was brought down, police said he was immediately arrested. They left the scene at 1.45am.
Police arrested a man after he was rescued from the roof of a three-storey building in Buckingham Road, Worthing. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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Police arrested a man after he was rescued from the roof of a three-storey building in Buckingham Road, Worthing. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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PICTURES: Man arrested after rooftop drama


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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


The paperback version of The Hidden Legacy, Graham Minett’s debut novel, comes out on August 25, the same day as the e-version of his second book, Lie in Wait.
These are exciting times for Pagham-based Graham, a former head of languages at Felpham Community College. After a period as head of sixth-form at the Angmering School, he is now the school’s time-tabler and data analyst.
The novels follow on from Graham’s time as an MA creative writing student at the University of Chichester, a time which gave him three very important things, he says. “The first thing was that they showed me I was not quite as good as I thought I was! I was not the finished product, and they had very nice ways of making it clear that I needed to change what I was doing! Secondly, they made me much more professional,” Graham recalls. In other words, they gave him the confidence to say “I am a writer” without feeling like a poser, rather than simply saying “I am a teacher.”
And thirdly: “The most important thing was that you had to complete various assignments while you were there, and these were workshopped and polished to within an inch of their life. And that gave me a CV, and all of a sudden I was winning competitions.”
On the back of it all, came the debut, released earlier as an e-book and now coming out as a paperback. The Hidden Legacy combines two time lines: “One timeline is in the 1960s: a young boy commits an atrocity in the playground and becomes demonised… In the background, all through the novel, this boy’s background is seeping out into the rest of the novel in the modern day.”
In the modern day, recently divorced and with two young children, Ellen Sutherland is up to her elbows in professional and personal stress. When she’s invited to travel all the way to Cheltenham to hear the content of an old woman’s will, she’s far from convinced the journey will be worthwhile. But when she arrives, the news is astounding. Eudora Nash has left Ellen a beautiful cottage worth an amount of money that could turn her life around. There’s just one problem – Ellen has never even heard of Eudora Nash.
Her curiosity piqued, Ellen and her friend Kate travel to the West Country in search of answers. But they are not the only ones interested in the cottage, and Ellen little imagines how much she has to learn about her past . . .
The Hidden Legacy will be joined as a paperback next February by his second novel Lie in Wait which comes out on Kindle on August 25.
“The book concerns a man called Owen Hall in his late 20s. All through his childhood he had been bullied because he was different. There was an accident at his birth, and he was starved of oxygen. He was very backwards in all his social skills. When he was at school, he was a big fat lad and was picked on by everybody. But the one thing he did have was a gift for numbers, and he allows numbers to rule his life. He is wary of prime numbers, but when he sees multiples of prime numbers, he thinks it is good news...”

Graham can now call himself an author...


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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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


Ferring Football Club boss Ross Harnes believes his side will get better – after shipping 33 goals in their opening two Southern Combination Football League Division 2 matches this season.
Ferring crashed to an 18-0 opening-day defeat at Jarvis Brook on Saturday, before they suffered a 15-1 reverse at home to Bosham on Tuesday. Despite those heavy losses, Harnes – who had to put together a squad after taking over in the summer – has confidence that his determined side will turn things around.
He said: “It was a lot better on Tuesday than the Jarvis Brook game but it’s still the same story as we’re working hard to put a team together.
“The lads are working hard and not getting much of a result out of it. We lost again but at the same time the determination of the lads will help us to progress and grow.”
Jack Neave scored Ferring’s goal against Bosham, making it 2-1, before the visitors ran out comfortable winners.
Harnes’ side host Rottingdean, who lost 6-0 in their last game, on Saturday.
He said: “Rottingdean is going to be interesting as they were stuffed in their last game. We’ve got the mentality to try to get a result.”
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Sussex side ship 33 goals in opening two matches


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Scottish alt blues singer Dave Arcari follows up the release of his latest EP Hellbound Train with a live show at Brighton’s Komedia on Thursday, September 22.
Released on Buzz Records, the EP features three new tracks from Dave plus a version of Son House’s classic Pearline.
Other than the release of McPherson’s Lament as a digital single to mark Burns’ Day earlier in the year, this is Arcari’s first release in three years – and pre-empts a full-length album Givers & Takers which is scheduled for release in early 2017.
“I’ve been working on a whole bunch of new songs for a while,” says Dave. “But despite plans to record and release them long before now, things have been so busy on the road there just hasn’t been time – not that I can complain about that!”
After his Brighton visit Arcari plays the Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale (Saturday, September 24) and Balmaha’s Braw Weekend festival (Saturday, October 1) on the shores of Loch Lomond before heading across the Atlantic for a five-week USA tour through October and into November.
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Arcari offers Brighton gig ahead of album


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Littlehampton Football Club claimed their first Southern Combination League Premier Division victory of the season with a 3-1 success over rivals Lancing at Culver Road today.
Strikes from Chris Darwin, Ben Gray and substitute Jack Cole ensured Ady Baker bagged his maiden competitive victory since taking charge in the summer.
With Littlehampton leading 1-0 on the hour, Danny Hand was shown a straight red card for a late lunge on George Fenton but a fine showing in the final 30 minutes helped them to victory.
Golds boss Baker felt it was a much deserved triumph and said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get this first win.
“I was really pleased with the way we performed, especially after going down to ten men.
“Our discipline after we lost Danny was absolutely superb, we kept our shape and I was just over the moon with everyone.”
Golds took a one-goal lead into the interval thanks to Darwin’s strike on 35 minutes.
Neat play from Gary Peters saw him find Ben Gray, before his chipped pass played Darwin in and he fired home.
Hand then received his marching orders on the hour mark following a reckless tackle on Fenton.
Despite being a man down, Golds doubled their lead six minutes later.
Darwin’s trickery saw him create some pace before his fizzed cross was tapped home by Gray.
Baker’s first three points as boss were all but secured 15 minutes from time thanks to substitute Cole’s crisp half-volley finish.
Lancing were given some hope on 83 minutes when Ross Adams was felled by Dean Janman, with a penalty awarded.
Lewis Finney slotted into the bottom corner but that proved just a consolation as Littlehampton held on.
Lancers boss Ash Bailey felt his side’s showing was not good enough and said: “It’s tough to take if I’m honest. I thought we were the better team in the first half but I’ve said this before it’s pointless having all the possession but making no use of it.
“It’s all about goals they win you games, they’ve had three of four opportunities and scored three times, we’ve probably had five or six and only got one goal.”
LANCING: D’Cruz; Taylor, Bygraves, Pollard, Fenton; Hendy, Mills; Donaldson, Caplin, Finney; Garnham. Subs: Sharman, Waterman (Caplin, 76) Heath (Donaldson, 76), Adams (Taylor, 76) Green.
LITTLEHAMPTON: Hutchings; Peters, Farrell, McKay, Chaplin; Janman, Ball; Hand, Kew, Darwin; Gray. Subs: Bates (Janman), O’Connor (Ball), Cole (Darwin, 76), Van Crughten, Askew.


For young people around the UK, now is one of the most important times in their lives for deciding what they want their future to look like.
While many will take the university path, the rising popularity and continued government emphasis on apprenticeships, means they are an alternative option being preferred by a large number of school leavers.
But is the apprenticeship pathway suitable for everyone; and if you or your children are considering one, what can you do to stand out from other candidates as you look to secure an apprentice position?
Watch the video for some first-hand advice from those in the know – young people who chose the apprenticeship route.
Daniella Tubb-Whittington, an early talent recruitment specialist from GSK who sees its apprentice scheme as a vital tool in recruiting amazing young talent, also gives shares some pointers on what employers are looking for when it comes to the ideal apprentice candidate.

Advice from apprentices on how to secure one in 2016


Visit now for the latest business news - direct from the Littlehampton Gazette


Albion signed Belgium international defender Sebastien Pocognoli from West Brom on a season-long loan last night.
The 29-year-old left back adds competition to Brighton’s full-back areas, with Gaetan Bong the only recognised senior left-back in the squad, while Liam Rosenior missed the Newcastle game with the ankle injury he sustained at Reading.
Albion boss Chris Hughton said: “We are delighted to add Sebastien to our squad, as the injury to Liam has left us a little bit short of cover in both full-back positions.
“Sebastien has a vast amount of experience having played in some of the top divisions in Europe, as well as in the Champions League. He is the type of quality player we want to add to the squad, and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Pocognoli began his career in the youth team at Standard Liege before moving to Genk at the age of 15.
He made his first team debut aged just 16, and went on to make a total of 46 appearances before moving to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. After 70 appearances and five goals for the Dutch outfit he returned to Standard Liege, where he played 98 times, scoring twice. A move to the Bundesliga followed with Hannover 96, before switching to the Premier League with West Brom in July 2014. He has made 21 appearances for the Baggies. Pocognoli has represented his country at under 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels, as well as making six appearances for Belgium in the Beijing Olympics. He has won 11 senior caps.
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Pocognoli joins Brighton on season-long loan


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?”


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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This year has already been a huge year for new tech trends, with the boom in virtual reality technology around the world, the ever growing fitness-tech market and the never-ending improvements to smart phones and smart TVs.
So what else can we expect to see before the year is out, and if you haven’t already jumped on some of the existing tech-trends, then how will they become a part of your life in the not too distant future?
And more importantly, if you’re already looking ahead to Christmas (and many of us will have already started planning) what will be the most in-demand tech gifts this year?
To find out, we caught up with experts at the recent Argos Christmas in July event who gave us the lowdown on everything from virtual reality to retro tech, super high definition television to wearable tech and everything in between.

Top Tech trends for Summer 2016 and what to look out for later this year


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New images have shown the ongoing siege between police and an armed man in West Sussex.
As previously reported, Sussex Police were called to Harbour Road in Pagham following reports of a 72-year-old man with a gun using threatening behaviour.
Police are still at the scene of the armed man siege in Pagham. Picture: UKNIP
Police said negotiations with the man are still ongoing at this stage.
The siege is well into its second day. Read more here.
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Police are still at the scene of the armed man siege in Pagham. Picture: UKNIP
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COUNTY NEWS: New images show armed man siege


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Police have provided an update into the sudden death of an 18-year-old man, saying that a ‘hazardous chemical substance’ was believed to be near the body.
Emergency services were called to a house in Grove Road, Broadwater at lunchtime yesterday and ambulance staff wearing bio-hazard suits were seen entering the property. Click here to read the original story.
Emergency services were called to a chemical incident at Grove Road in Worthing yesterday, where an 18-year-old man died. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
The road was temporarily closed, and neighbours are believed to have been told not to leave their houses while emergency services dealt with the incident.
Sussex Police has issued a statement, which said: “Police were called to a report of a man found dead at his home in Grove Road, Broadwater, Worthing on Monday (29 August) at 12.35pm.
“It is believed that there may have been some hazardous chemical substance near the body of the 18-year-old so specially trained ambulance and fire crews attended the scene. The body was recovered safely.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner’s officer is dealing with the incident.”
Emergency services were called to a chemical incident at Grove Road in Worthing yesterday, where an 18-year-old man died. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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Emergency services were called to a chemical incident at Grove Road in Worthing yesterday, where an 18-year-old man died. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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Emergency services were called to a chemical incident at Grove Road in Worthing yesterday, where an 18-year-old man died. Picture: Eddie Mitchell
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PICTURES: Hazardous chemical involved in teen death


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A union representing Sussex railway station ticket office staff will hold talks with Southern bosses over proposed cuts to opening hours.
Govia Thameslink Railway unveiled proposals earlier this year to introduce ‘station hosts’ selling tickets on the concourses, limiting ticket office opening hours to weekday peak times only at most of its stations in the county.
Station staff represented by the RMT union are already planning to strike on Wednesday September 7, while the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association are currently balloting its members on industrial action.
The RMT strike coincides with a separate 48-hour walkout planned to start at the same time over GTR’s plans to change the role of conductors on Southern services to on-board supervisors, with drivers operating train doors instead.
The TSSA is attending talks with GTR, hosted by conciliation service ACAS today (Wednesday August 31) in an attempt to head off the cuts.
The results of the TSSA’s strike ballot will be announced on Friday (September 2).
Yesterday Lorraine Ward, TSSA’s organising director, said: “Govia Thameslink’s management of Southern is running the service into the ground.
“It is clear to passengers and staff alike that to serve the public effectively and ensure a safe running of the service, Southern should not reduce current staffing levels.
“This is the largest and busiest franchise in the UK rail network and, up to now, the measures Govia are proposing will simply slash passenger and staff safety standards on this dangerously over-strained service.
“All unions have been resolute in standing firm in the face of this plan and we are now optimistic that Govia will be showing willing to abandon it at tomorrow’s talks.”
Responding to the RMT’s decision to strike over proposed cuts to ticket office opening times late last week, GTR explained that after talks with both unions it had decided to take the original proposals off the table.
Instead the rail operator would be conducting a six months pilot at eight stations using volunteer staff to test the new station host role.
Alex Foulds, GTR’s passenger services director, said: “These pilots would be manned by volunteers on a secondment basis and would allow concerns around personal safety and cash handling to be addressed. Staff would keep their jobs, get more money and many would work fewer hours.
“To call a strike over proposals that no longer exist is a stunning own goal by the RMT leadership.”
Under the original proposals ticket offices at Lancing and Falmer were due to close completely.
Stations at Angmering, Barnham, Bexhill, Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Hassocks, Horley, Horsham, Hove, Lewes, Littlehampton, Polegate, Portslade, Shoreham, and Worthing were also due to be affected by the cuts.
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Union in talks over cuts to station ticket offices


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Bill Bryson didn’t pull any punches when he compared a Sussex town to a ‘patient on life support’ in his latest book.
The famous travel author made the comment about Bognor Regis in The Road to Little Dribbling, which documents Bryson’s journey from the West Sussex seaside town to Cape Wrath in Scotland.
In the book, Bryson criticises the local authority for its handling of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force initiative, which he said had an initial goal to bring £500million of investment into the town before being ‘quietly reduced’ to £100million and then £25million before being ‘wound up’.
He then went on to say: “As far as I could tell, all the authorities are doing for Bognor is just keeping it ticking over, like a patient on life support”.
Despite his criticisms – and his observation that the second-most popular Bognor Regis attraction behind Hotham Park was ‘a shop selling mobility scooters’ – he goes on to say that Bognor ‘isn’t such a bad place’, complimenting its ‘long beach with a curving concrete promenade’.
He is more reserved about the town centre, describing it as ‘compact and tidy, if not thriving’.
As far as I could tell, all the authorities are doing for Bognor is just keeping it ticking over, like a patient on life support Bill Bryson
Do you agree with his comments? Have your say with our poll.
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POLL: Bill Bryson bashes Sussex town in new book


Singing for Pleasure, which has been running successfully in Brighton, Hove and Southwick for five years under musical director Simon Gray, will show its skills on Saturday, September 10 in a concert at Portslade Town Hall at 2.30pm.
As Simon, who has been involved in the musical scene for more than 30 years, explains: “Singing for Pleasure Goes to the Movies offers a programme of songs that have featured in films and film musicals. There will also be a Last Night of the Proms finale in which the audience will be invited to join in and wave union jacks!
“SFP is delighted to announce that Loren Bennett will be one of the soloists. Fifteen year-old Loren, diagnosed with chronic anxiety and Asperger’s, has made astonishing progress in just a few months since joining Singing for Pleasure.
“Singing is now widely recognised as producing a whole host of health benefits, and it could be argued that singing should more broadly be part of everyday life. Singing, through the emotional experience of one’s feelings, has the power to alter and enhance the mood of the singer. Since ancient times singing has been considered a great healing tool as it can influence brain wave frequencies and promote well-being.
“Medical papers have now proved singing and listening to music helps relieve a large number of health conditions. It can lower blood pressure, ease depression, improve lung capacity, and help breathing as when you sing your lungs take in more oxygen. Joining a singing group helps make new friends which in turn helps the feel good factor.”
Simon is pleased to include Loren among the group’s success stories: “Loren had been suffering with chronic anxiety and had been diagnosed with Asperger’s. Loren is a gifted singer with an exceptional voice but singing in front of anyone, other than her voice teacher or parents, had become impossible for her. It was suggested that maybe she should come along to Singing for Pleasure and sing along with other people with no pressure to perform on her own.
“Loren (who lives in Rottingdean) came along with her mother to the Hove group and within a couple weeks she was feeling very comfortable singing and socialising with the other members – so much so that by week four Loren felt brave enough to get up and sing a solo! This was a huge breakthrough, and Loren has since gone on to perform solos with SFP on a weekly basis as well as taking part in concerts elsewhere, including a solo recital for family and friends. She also appeared in a concert at the Barn Theatre in Southwick alongside experienced professional performers from the world of musical theatre and opera.”
Loren’s mother Rebecca Bennett said: “Since being diagnosed with Asperger’s and chronic anxiety, we had really given up on her singing, but since coming to [SFP] she has made incredible progress, so much so she is now enjoying performing and socialising with the lovely group of people each week, both of which I never thought she would feel comfortable doing. I will definitely recommend Singing for Pleasure as a form of therapy for Asperger kids and adults.”
Simon added: “Also in the groups there are singers living with cancer, Lupus, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, all of whom find great comfort, relief and inspiration from singing in a friendly environment on a weekly basis. Indeed, several of them have even reported a distinct improvement in their conditions which they attribute to regular singing.
“If anyone is tempted to come and join SFP then come along to Portslade Town Hall to see what the group does. There is no upper age limit and there are no auditions. Song choices are taken from musical-theatre shows, some classical songs as well as some of the great standards. We also welcome song suggestions from the group members.”
Simon added: “Throughout the year there are Singing for Pleasure fund-raising events in support of local charities. Indeed, the group is happy to assist all charities by singing free of charge at suitable events. Please phone 01273 555089 for more information. SFP have supported events raising funds for The Martlets Hospice and Chestnut Tree House.”
Tickets from Robert Blass on 01273 555089 or singingforpleasure@hotmail.co.uk.
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Concert illustrates health-giving benefits of singing


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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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East Preston Football Club made it two cup victories in just four days with a 5-3 home victory over division-higher Crawley Down Gatwick on Tuesday.
Jared Rance bagged a brace and strikes from Hayden Hunter, Dan Huet and Lukas Franzen-Jones saw EP follow up their fine FA Cup win on Saturday.
East Preston boss Bob Paine was delighted with the second-round victory and said: “The lads have been excellent and this great run continues. It was another higher-level opposition but we performed really well.”
Dan Huet slotted EP ahead after two minutes but Lee Thomas levelled seven minutes later. A manic first quarter was completed as Rance got his first on 11 minutes before Kerran Boylan made it 2-2 soon afterwards.
Hunter ensured EP led at the break with his 35th-minute effort, before Franzen-Jones added a fourth three minutes after the break.
Oliver Leslie’s spot-kick meant a nervy last 30 minutes but Rance’s strike in stoppage-time ensured EP’s progress.
EAST PRESTON: Punter; Josh Parazo, Lyne, John, Jacob Parazo; Rance, Frazen-Jones, Hallett, Barnes; Hunter, Huet. Subs: Hardman (Frazen-Jones), Witten (Huet), Smith, Beaney, Purkis.

Five-star EP seal another shock cup success


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West Sussex provides the second best area in England and Wales for quality of life for pensioners a new report claims.
The Quality of Retirement Index from Prudential assessed counties against seven criteria to indicate the extent to which people could enjoy a happy and comfortable retirement. These were: access to healthcare, crime levels, pensioner incomes, the weather, life expectancy, how many pensioners already lived in a particular area and how many were moving into the county. The counties were then given a score and ranked.
Prudential used data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) among other sources to make its findings. Dorset topped the table but West Sussex and Herefordshire came joint second, with Devon in fourth position and the Isle of Wight and East Sussex ranked joint fifth. Prudential said Dorset topped the rankings for quality of retirement owing to its “all-round appeal”. The research also found pensioners in Surrey, ranked at number 10, received the highest average annual retirement income, at £21,200. The full table is:
1. Dorset =2. Herefordshire =2. West Sussex 4. Devon =5. Isle of Wight =5. East Sussex 7. Rutland 8. Dyfed 9. Norfolk 10. Surrey

Retiring? Then West Sussex is the place to be


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