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Readers letters May 21 2010
THIS week's letters from our readers
FOLLOWING a long, hard fought election campaign, I would like to thank the people of the Horsham constituency for their strong participation in the recent election and for the reception they gave to the Liberal Democrat team on the doorsteps.
We spoke to many people across the constituency and were deeply impressed by the seriousness with which many of them approached the election.
I congratulate Francis Maude on his victory, and wish him well in his future efforts to deliver a new hospital for our area and also as cabinet minister.
He will need to address many other issues facing our constituency and the country, particularly the economy, jobs for young people, affordable homes and caring for vulnerable people.
I would also like to thank the other candidates who made this an enjoyable yet busy campaign.
The Liberal Democrats campaigned for a fairer society, fairer taxes, a fairer voting system, and investment in 'green' infrastructure to provide new jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
Whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, our newly elected MPs will continue to work for these changes, whilst putting the national interest ahead of party politics.
The new coalition government has taken its first steps and we all wish it well.
GODFREY NEWMAN
Lib Dem parliamentary candidiate for Horsham
Smithbarn, Horsham
I ENCLOSE a copy of a letter I have sent to the director of Hall and Woodhouse having found out that they plan to change the name of The Green Dragon pub in Horsham's Bishopric to The Olive Branch.
They don't appear to have made any effort to research the origins of the pub name or its provenance, which seems a dreadful oversight given that it is one of our oldest buildings, let alone inns.
My letter to Hall and Woodhouse reads as follows.
While I have been pleased to see that The Green Dragon in Horsham is the subject of some refurbishment, I have been most disappointed to discover that its name is to be changed, to something which has absolutely no local relevance.
This building dates from the mid-1400s, was almost certainly built when the Archbishop of Canterbury obtained licence for a weekly market and yearly fair on land which belonged to him, and later was a meeting place for the associated manorial courts.
Its first recorded name, as an inn, was appropriately The Cross Keys, and it has been The Green Dragon since the 18th century.
As a building with such a history, surely this could enhance its status and any name change be more directly relevant to its episcopal origins. If not The Cross Keys, perhaps The Bishop's Mitre.
Dr ANNABELLE F. HUGHES
Research consultant: historical buildings
Hillside, Horsham
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008 I lost my sister Joanna to breast cancer.
She had battled against it for five years but lost her battle at the age of 38 and left behind her daughter Ella, aged just five.
Joanna and I had decided that we were going to put on an 'In The Pink Ball' in the summer of 2009 but sadly it was too late for her.
So now I have decided to put the ball on at The Green Man pub, which my husband and I own, on July 10.
It will be a wonderful evening with champagne and canap reception followed by a five-course dinner.
The highlights of the evening will be singing by Grace Chadwick followed by the highly acclaimed Classic Frank Sinatra Band who have appeared on TV numerous times and played at Andrew Lloyd Webber's Wedding!
We will be finishing off with a fantastic auction of prizes.
We are trying to raise between 5,000 and 10,000 on this one evening alone and I have been told that this would be one of the highest amounts raised by an individual on one event alone!
I am going to do my very best to reach this target and I was hoping that your readers and business leaders in the West Sussex area might be inspired enough by my story to make a contribution or help with sponsorship of marquee, wine, champagne, flowers etc or if anyone had something that we could auction on the night.
This is a cause very dear to my heart and it's something you never think will happen to your family but unfortunately one in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.
If your readers could assist me in this, and it would be greatly appreciated, I can be contacted either by email to
nickilles@hotmail.co.uk or by phone at The Green Man on 01403 710250.
REBECCA ILLES
The Green Man,
Church Road
Partridge Green
MUSICARE Productions have arranged a Country and Western Dance at Silverton Country Music Club, Broadbridge Heath Village Centre, Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath, on Sunday May 23, 7.30-10.30 with award winning Dane Stevens.
Tickets are 6 on the door, and further information is available from 01903 761267.
This event is to raise funds for Ziggy Tate, from Littlehampton, who is GB Junior Waterpolo team player.
There is no funding for under 20s men's junior squad.
All costs have to be met by family and fundraising. This includes training camps, tournaments, accommodation and travel to represent Great Britain.
There will be a raffle, refreshments, bar, free car park and large dance floor.
ROBIN ATTWOOD
Musicare Productions, Haigh Close, Broadway Park, Lancing
WELL done Metrobus for your revised bus service for Southwater - I think not.
You have removed the valuable 23 bus service which arrived at Cripplegate Corner at 8.30am taking us fare-paying passengers into Horsham for a 9am start.
What you now offer is the 98 bus service which we have to catch 34 minutes earlier (7.56am) or alternatively the 'school bus' (8.09am) taking us the scenic route via Tanbridge House School, which may I add takes 30 minutes for a three mile trip, not to mention the possibility of a headache to start the day.
So well done Metrobus in this lack of thought for Southwater and congratulations in adding to the pollution with more people taking to their cars.
M. WAIT
The Fieldings, Southwater
TO PUT the other side of the coin from the article on April 24, I have just made my first return journey to town on the rerouted 65 bus which now stops, on request, from just around the corner from my house.
As a partially disabled 'oldy' - 'I've never had it so good'.
Well done Metrobus and thank you to all concerned.
L.R. SMITH
Padwick Road
Horsham
I READ an item from a woman saying that she would miss the Horsham District Council playschemes as they were a cheap form of childcare and berating private schemes that are expensive.
We run a private holiday club in Roffey and compared to many of the other schemes at 35 to 40 our 25 charge for a session from 7.45am to 6pm (including breakfast, a hot tea and insurance!) seems pretty good value.
As we are not subsidised by grants or government money, our charge covers the cost of care (at around 3 per hour, cheaper than a lot of childminders), food, activities.
It is used to pay for qualified staff, rent, registration, insurance, food, stationery, equipment for the children etc.
Parents working more than 16 hours per week, as I assume the woman who wrote to you was, are able to claim 80 per cent of their childcare costs up to 240 per week for two children (cost to her 300 per week before tax credit).
So if you send a child for a full day's care, 7.45am to 6pm at a cost of 25, you only pay 5.
If she sent two children to our breakfast and after school clubs (including breakfast, tea and school drop-off and pick-up) this would cost her around 105 per week, or after tax credits only 21.
Some parents are able to get Childcare Vouchers through their employers (you pay for your childcare before your income is subject to income tax deductions) but tax credits seem a good way of getting quality childcare at the affordable cost parents are looking for.
Further information from 01403 260909 or 07512 985700 or email roffeyfunclub@hotmail.co.uk.
KAREN COMPTON
Manager
Roffey Fun Club Ltd at Northolmes Junior School
Leith View Road, Horsham.
READERS, particularly those who suffer from arthritis, will be interested to hear that the medical research charity Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) has changed its name to Arthritis Research UK.
Arthritis Research UK is the charity leading the fight against arthritis.
We're working to take the pain away from sufferers of all forms of arthritis, and helping people to remain active.
We do this by funding high class research, providing information and campaigning.
Everything we do is underpinned by research.
Our name change is part of a major strategy to relaunch the fight against arthritis, and one of the many positive changes we are making to play a more proactive role to help sufferers with this painful and often crippling condition.
We plan to start campaigning on behalf of people with arthritis and to ensure that the condition is taken more seriously by the medical profession – and the government.
We have also relaunched our website www.arthritisresearchuk.org and are improving and redesigning our patient information material.
Here in Billingshurst we have a volunteer fundraising branch and we would love to hear from any of your readers who would like to find out more about Arthritis Research UK and what we are doing locally.
We have a quarterly magazine and patient booklets on all types of arthritis available.
Please contact me on 01403 782828.
CHRIS FULLER (Mrs)
Chair
Arthritis Research UK, Billingshurst and District Branch
Hurstlands, Billingshurst
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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