Broadridge Heath Football Club is in a race against time to have its new home ready for next season.

As part of a development of around 1,000 homes south of the village Countryside is delivering a range of community and sports facilities including a new football ground.

While the football club’s new pavilion was finished last summer a number of works have yet to be completed. The new pitches are not in a fit condition to use, with contractors missing numerous deadlines over the past year.

The league allowed the club to stay at its current home this season as a temporary measure.

But the situation is now becoming desperate as it has just weeks to have everything ready at the new ground so it can pass an FA ground grading for the 2019/20 season.

If this does not happen the men’s team could face expulsion from the league and this would put the entire future of the club in danger.

Andy Crisp, senior club secretary and director, said: “We are in a desperate situation because of not being in our new ground. If we are not in there in the next four weeks it could be disastrous for the club.”

The club has made urgent appeals to both Countryside and Horsham District Council.

Earlier this week it received a draft timetable of works due to be completed and a meeting has been arranged for next week.

Although the pavilion was finished last August the club has to wait until everything is finished and the entire ground handed over so volunteers can get in, fit everything and make sure it is all up to standard.

Currently the club is using the changing rooms in the new leisure centre with portable toilets for supporters, an ‘embarrassing’ situation for the club.

At present the new pitches are ‘in no way playable’.

The numerous delays have already cost the club dear, as it is supposed to be marking its 100th anniversary but due to the uncertainty has not been able to organise anything to celebrate the achievement.

Both a premiership and football league club had promised to send clubs down to play but this has not happened.

It has also lost out on advertising revenue, while a pre-school wanted to use the pavilion but has since gone elsewhere.

They have had enquiries from people wanting to host tournaments while there are exciting plans to establish women’s and girls’ teams at the new ground.

Tim Roberts, youth development manager, vice chairman of the junior section and a director, said: “It’s stuff that is slipping through our fingers on a daily basis.”

The club is currently applying to the league for next season and by June 1 has to say where it is going to play and have a ground that meets the grading requirements.

Andy said: “If we have not got a ground by June 1 we would probably be expelled from the league.

“We have told the council this but I do not think they realise the seriousness of the situation.”

If this happened they would drop down three divisions and would essentially be playing park football.

This would have a ripple effect right through the club and all teams including the juniors.

Paul Clark, junior club chairman, described how it was hard to attract young players and the club’s whole business plan is based on playing at the current level.

Tim said they were already struggling to accommodate the youth teams they have got, playing at a number of different locations.

The new ground has four pitches and Tim described it as massive for the club and community to have everything located in one place.

Paul added: “It’s a community facility that’s what we want to promote it as.”

The possibility of a new home for a club was mentioned at least two decades ago.

Malcolm Curnock, a long-time parish councillor and club stalwart, played a huge role in securing the new football ground. After he died in 2016 his widow Lin joined the executive committee to see the project through.

She described how people in the village are not aware of what is holding the project up and what is going on in the background.

She added: “We are doing this for the community and for the children.”

Club officials said it was ‘disheartening for everyone involved’ given they were supposed to be celebrating 100 years, while ‘frustration is starting to turn into anger’.

A Horsham District Council spokesman said: “The council remains committed to facilitating this project and doing everything within its remit to reach a final solution which meets the needs of the Broadbridge Heath Football Club and the local community. We are keen to see the club in its new home and continue to work closely with all parties to deliver this and are pleased that the work is due to be completed shortly.”

A Countryside spokesman said: “Countryside has invested over £30 million pounds in the provision of new infrastructure, community and sporting facilities at Wickhurst Green and has worked in partnership with Horsham District Council and Broadbridge Heath Parish Council to ensure these meet the needs of the local community as far as is possible.

“This has included evolving the proposals for the sports pitches beyond the scope of the original planning permission to provide a new home for Broadbridge Heath FC. The new facilities, which are now substantially complete, include a new £1 million pavilion, stadium and two full size football pitches, as well as a junior size pitch.

“These are being provided principally at the expense of Countryside, which has also sponsored Broadbridge Heath FC over the last seven years. Final works are now being undertaken by specialist contractors to ensure the pitches meet the appropriate standards following the adverse weather conditions experienced last summer and during parts of the winter and these works are scheduled to complete shortly.”

Ahead of their performance at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing, actors from Torben Betts’ biting comedy Caroline’s Kitchen paid a visit to a nearby vegan restaurant to sample some of the local cuisine.

Things were really heating up as Tom England, who plays vegan Leo in the play, and Jasmyn Banks, who plays Amanda, were invited to flip the Cactus Kitchen Gals’ famous soya patties while manager Sophie Cohen prepared their meals.

Caroline’s Kitchen review: Crazy night at Connaught Theatre, Worthing, with a serious message

The pair then tucked into the diner’s signature dishes of a bacun double cheez burger and a BLT made with tofu bacon and burger sauce, both served with skin-on-fries.

Sophie said: “It was really fun to have a TV star in the diner. As their show is all about cooking, we thought it’d be great fun to get them involved in the kitchen to see if they could pull it off.

“Their acting skills have clearly paid off. I think we have two professional chefs in the making if they fancy a career change.”

Jasmyn is best known for playing Alice Branning in EastEnders and has also appeared in Call the Midwife.

The actress said: “It was so kind of the diner to invite us for a meal in between our busy schedule. The food was absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend it. We’ll be looking to pay another visit before our tour moves on.”

An ex-convict who was struggling with his mental health took his own life at a railway crossing last year, an inquest concluded on Tuesday.

Jason Alun Walker, formerly known as Jason Asthana, of Burton Court, Park Way, Horsham, was 38 when he died at Spooners Foot Crossing near Littlehaven on August 29 last year.

An inquest at the West Sussex coroner’s court in Crawley heard Mr Walker had been diagnosed with a number of mental health issues since his release from prison and was facing further criminal investigation.

The court heard that after his release Mr Walker had been arrested although charges were not specified.

After the inquest, Sussex Police confirmed Mr Walker had been arrested in August 2018 on suspicion of child sex offences, and was under investigation at the time of his death.

In a statement read to the coroner’s court, medical practitioners at Sussex NHS Partnership Trust said that Mr Walker had sought help for suicidal thoughts and had been diagnosed with depression and OCD.

He was also told he would receive psychotherapy for trauma, although this promised ‘trauma stabilisation work’ was not delivered. The statement added that ‘although troubled regarding his conviction’ Mr Walker appeared insightful and made contact with mental health services.

It added that throughout his referral, Mr Walker had maintained that he ‘had done nothing wrong’ and ‘felt he had been wrongfully imprisoned’.

His mother, who attended the inquest, said that he had confided to her before that he was struggling with suicidal thoughts.

She said: “I feel that the health people let him down, mentally, but I also do know that he had a very good way of convincing people that he wasn’t a risk.”

She said her son had requested when he was arrested that he be remanded in custody and she thought he wouldn’t have been able to face the ‘possible results of the investigation’.

She added: “Both of his sons have said there’s only one question they wanted to ask but nobody can answer: Why have you ruined our lives and why did he have to do it on that day?”

The court heard from Abigail Lewis, a coroner’s inquiry co-ordinator for British Transport Police, that recommendations had been made to Network Rail regarding the safety of the crossing. She said: “They did feel that ideally the crossing should be closed or it should be made more pedestrian friendly.”

Measures proposed include removing the step at the crossing. White warning lines around the crossing could be made more visible, the angle of the crossing changed to make it shorter and the fencing improved.

She added that messages to family members on the day and other written evidence supported the view from police that the death was not suspicious.

Assistant coroner for West Sussex, James Healey-Pratt gave a conclusion of suicide.

He said: “What is clear to this court is that Jason was not a well person. He had spent some time in prison and he had come out of prison and seemingly he had difficulty transitioning back into civilian life, in the face of further criminal prosecution.”

He said the absence of the promised psychotherapy was noted, although it was impossible to say conclusively whether it could have prevented Mr Walker’s death.

A Sussex mother-of-two was killed by an 'obsessed' family friend who then killed himself, an assistant coroner has concluded.

Maryna Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske and Alex Chernoff were both found dead in her home in South Farm Road, Worthing, on April 13 last year.

At Crawley Coroner's Court yesterday, assistant coroner Joanne Andrews concluded that Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske was unlawfully killed and that Chernoff took his own life.

The inquests heard that the police ruled out a number of other hypotheses, including a suicide pact, that the mother-of-two killed Chernoff and then herself, and that a third party killed them both.

DC Dawn Robertson from Sussex Police led the investigation. She said that by speaking to friends and family, officers had ruled out that the pair were in a relationship.

She said: "We couldn't find any hard evidence that suggested that Maryna had been in a relationship with Alex. Alex was obsessed with Maryna, but we never found any evidence to suggest she was in a relationship with him.

"She spoke incredibly highly of her husband and family, and how important that was to her."

DC Robertson said that Chernoff, a family friend who was helping to look after their children, had displayed 'strange behaviour' towards her in the run-up to their deaths.

She said: "Alex had cut up her clothing, cut telephone lines in her home address and turned up at her place of work, but Maryna was of the opinion that she wanted to protect him and look after him."

Her husband Giedrius Kavaliauskas was in Lithuania with their two children at the time of the deaths, and was at his wife's inquest. In a statement read out at the inquest, he said he believed Chernoff killed her.

He said: "She was a very forgiving, loving person and tried to give someone a chance and do their best for them.

"All she had done was try to help him."

"We were very happy together"

Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske, from Ukraine, and Mr Kavaliauskas, from Lithuania, first met when they were flower pickers at a farm in West Sussex. They got married and had two children together, who are now 12 and 9, and moved into their home in South Farm Road, Worthing in 2007.

He said: "We were very happy together and had a perfect relationship. We would share any problems and talk them through. She was very kind and thoughtful.”

The couple first met Chernoff, known by different names but to them as Viasa, in 2004 through his then-wife. They became close and asked him to be their daughter’s godfather.

In 2009, Mr Kavaliauskas got in trouble with the police and went to prison for four years. “Maryna stood by me and visited me every week,” he said.

By this time, Chernoff had split with his wife and had nowhere to live, so he moved into their home and helped Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske look after the children.

“I was not happy with this arrangement, but there was nothing I could do,” Mr Kavaliauskas said.

"I trusted her; she was only interested in family"

He believed it was at this point that Chernoff developed feelings for her. He added: “She only saw him as a friend. I trusted her; she was only interested in family.”

The breakup affected Chernoff’s mental health and led to him drinking excessively, the inquest heard.

When he came out of prison, Mr Kavaliauskas found a job as a HGV driver and was away from home a lot, so Chernoff was still needed to help around the house, he said.

They bought a flat in Salisbury Road, Worthing, and rented it out to him.

Chernoff was diagnosed with mental health problems and said he ‘was not made for work’ so relied on benefits - and Mr Kavaliauskas believed he was ‘playing the system’, he said.

According to Mr Kavaliauskas, Chernoff sent abusive messages via text and social media, and there was one occasion where he came to her workplace in Victoria Lodge Dementia Care Home in Shakespeare Road, Worthing, and shouted abuse at her and smashed a window or door there.

Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske reported him to the police a few times, including on November 22, 2017, the inquest heard.

What were the events leading up to the incident?

On Sunday, March 8, Mr Kavaliauskas flew with the children to Lithuania to see his family, but Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske had to stay behind as she had just started a new job and could not take holiday, the inquest heard. She saw her family off at the airport, which was the last time she saw them.

She was meant to pick up her brother Vitalie Jitnic from Gatwick Airport on April 12. But when she did not arrive, he contacted family member Ainious Greggaliulas and together they went to her home.

When they could not rouse anyone, they went to Chernoff's flat, but he was not in, so they returned to Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske's home and broke in through the patio doors before making the tragic discovery and calling the police.

The post-mortems for Mrs Zhytnyk-Kavaliauske and Chernoff found that they both died from hanging. Both had bruises and injuries consistent with a struggle, but it could not be confirmed whether these happened before or after their deaths, the inquests heard.

The inquest into Chernoff's death heard how he was being treated by his GP for depression, auditory hallucinations, alcohol problems, OCD and erectile dysfunction.

His internet search history on his laptop showed he was researching suicide days before their deaths, DC Robertson said.

Compassionate and devoted people working in social care were celebrated at West Sussex Partners in Care Accolades 2019.

The annual awards ceremony was held at Field Place in Worthing and involved staff from across West Sussex.

Hosted and judged by West Sussex Partners in Care and supported by West Sussex County Council, the inspiring evening saw 21 staff recognised for going the extra mile and making a significant difference to the lives of those who use care services.

Paul McKay, director of adult social services, spoke of the exceptional contribution and commitment shown by all the nominees and gave moving examples of high-quality care being provided across West Sussex.

Rosemary Pavoni, chairman of West Sussex Partners in Care, said: “It made me so incredibly proud to read the amazing stories of this year’s nominations. It has been an honour to read about how staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to care for the people for who they support, which has in turn helped them to lead meaningful lives with compassion, dignity and respect.

“The only challenging part of the accolades has been to choose the finalists as in my eyes everyone is a winner.”

The evening ended with a special award for Rosemary herself, a lifetime achievement trophy marking her 54 years in social care. She is currently the owner and manager at Rosedale Care Home in Horsham and has shown true dedication to the sector and to improving the lives of others throughout her career.

Awards

Ancillary Worker: Winner Anne Richards from Koinonia Christian Care in Worthing, runner-up Karon Pederson from Rustington Hall.

Best Practice: Winner Oak Lodge nursing home in Burgess Hill, runner-up Diana Roba from Aldingbourne Trust’s Hatherleigh Gardens in Bognor Regis.

Care Employer: Winner Dhanajay Dalmond and Mira Gopal from Oak Lodge nursing home in Burgess Hill, runner-up Sue Ewing from Independent Lives in Worthing.

Care Home Worker: Winner Lilly Hill from Albany House residential care home in Bognor Regis, runner-up Lesley Barber from Koinonia Christian Care in Worthing.

Chair’s Award: Winner Bryoni Novell from Hambrook Meadows care home in Hambrook, runner-up Katy Harding from Sussex Grange care home in Selsey.

Dementia Care: Winner Lia Merisescu from Acorn Lodge nursing home in East Grinstead, runner-up Rebecca Amos from Koinonia Christian Care in Worthing.

End of Life Care: Winner Albany House residential care home in Bognor Regis, runner-up Southdown Housing Association staff team at St Botolph’s in Worthing.

Home Care Worker: Winner Sarah Haffenden from Egalite Care in Worthing, runner-up Emma Easey from Independent Lives in Worthing.

Registered Manager: Winner Sara Hornsey from Albany House residential care home in Bognor Regis, runner-up Angela Preston from Drumconner in Lancing.

Unsung Hero: Winner Anne-Marie McHugh from Sussex Grange care home in Selsey, runner-up Shana Evans from Amberley Lodge nursing home in Worthing.

The pool, which has now been named 'Splash', is due to open to the public on Saturday (April 6).

A Butlin's spokesman said: "It features stick-of-rock slides, rapids, a wave machine, a state-of-the-art changing village complete with underfloor heating, as well as the world’s first Helter Skelter water ride, standing at an impressive 7.4 metres tall.

"The new hires include: 39 lifeguards, four gardeners, four pool cleaners, five food and beverage recruits, two receptionists and a dedicated pool photographer.

"Each applicant went through a thorough recruitment process, with the successful candidates selected in time for the opening. As well as employing local talent there have also been five transfers to the pool by existing Butlin’s team members, from other areas of the resort, reinforcing the company’s commitment to upskilling employees."

Amanda Southall, resort recruitment manager at the resort said Butlin's is 'thrilled to welcome more fantastic talent'.

She added: "A considerable amount of care, consideration and training has been given to our new team to aid their long-term career progression with us and ensure our guest experience is the best it can possibly be. We very much look forward to opening the pool doors and unveiling the dedicated team.”

Butlin's said that, since construction on the pool began in 2017, an additional estimated 1,250 people have worked on the site, 'reinforcing Butlin’s efforts to enhance the local economy'.

It added: "As a result of such projects the Bognor Regis resort has seen a 9 per cent year-on-year increase in bookings.

"Giving the opportunity of a lifetime, all new team members for the pool have been enrolled in a special Butlin’s coaching day, providing insight on the company’s unique approach to hospitality, 83-year heritage and long history of innovation.

"The new set of lifeguards will also undertake additional coaching, as part of the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, involving two weeks of intensive lessons and concluding in an assessment."

For more information on careers at Butlin’s and current vacancies, visit www.butlinscareers.co.uk.

See also: Butlin's to unveil 'world's first' helter skelter water ride at Bognor resort

Sneak peek inside Butlin’s new £40m family pool at Bognor Regis resort

This Grade II listed former Turkish bath house has undergone a stunning conversion with a vintage fairground theme

The property, in St Leonards, close to the sea has its own bowling alley, cinema room and mezzanine and offer a stunning unique interior.

Offers In Excess Of £1,500,000. To arrange a viewing, or for more information, call M&W Sales on 01424 420073 or email Luke on luke@mandwsalesandlettings.co.uk. See also:Stunning Bath House property goes on the market

The town centre is set for a spectacular summer thanks to a Horsham project.

Horsham in Bloom is gearing up to transform the town into a floral delight.

Horsham’s Year of Culture 2019 provides the ideal opportunity to make Horsham a delightful place for visitors, shoppers and residents alike.

Invitations have gone out to the town’s businesses and organisations inviting them to sponsor railing planters and hanging baskets throughout the town and already the response has been encouraging according to the group.

Peter Ind, spokesman for Horsham in Bloom, said: “Sponsoring a planter basket is an effective and original way to highlight your company profile.

“The name on a logo board will be in front of the people of Horsham for four months over the summer as well as on the Horsham in Bloom website and Facebook page.

“Sponsors will be able to generate publicity for themselves and the feel good factor created by the riot of colour throughout the summer and early autumn will in addition lend eye-catching background support during the Year of Culture 2019.”

The railing planters will enhance the railway station and the bus station and it is proposed, subject to take-up, that the hanging baskets should adorn the Carfax, Market Square, and West Street.

The cost for a railing planter (£195+VAT) and for a hanging basket (£175+VAT) includes the container, plants and compost, planting up, siting, watering, maintenance and removal.

The location of the basket or planter will be determined by the Parks and Countryside team at Horsham District Council, with whom Horsham in Bloom works in close partnership to make the venture a success.

Peter added: “Thank you to local businesses for helping to create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere in the town, especially this year to support the Year of Culture 2019. It all makes such a difference to the people in Horsham and its environs.”

A copy of the form is on the Horsham in Bloom website www.horshaminbloom.org.uk

For more information please email the group at hib.committee@gmail.com or alternatively phone 01403 253284

A Handcross pupil came top of the class when she triumphed in a national story writing competition.

Everyone at Handcross Primary School celebrated when Odilja Pula was revealed as the winner of the contest which received more than 700 entries from 17 schools.

Sharon Bondonno, headteacher at the school, said: “At Handcross Primary School we have been working hard on developing the children’s writing skills and have a large number of talented writers throughout the school.

“I am very pleased and proud that Odilja’s story was selected from hundreds of entries to win the top prize.

“She is a worthy winner, showing a skilful command of language, plot and character.

“Odilja has the creativity and talent to become a successful author in the future and we are delighted she has had her first national success at our school!”

MOTO’s Young Writer Competition asked pupils from its network of adopted schools across the country to choose from a selection of story starters and use them to write their own story.

The entries had to be 200 words or more.

Author Maria Farrer, who has written books for children of all ages from picture books to young adult novels, had the unenviable task of picking the winner.

She recently visited Handcross Primary School where she met Odilja and presented her with her prize for her winning story ‘Lighthouse’.

Maria also talked to pupils about being an author.

She said: “I had terrible trouble choosing a winner because there were winning parts to every single story.

“I loved getting caught up in the plot, the intrigue and the atmosphere of the stories.

“Some were happy, some sad, some mysterious and some scary. Imagination can take us to so many different places!

“Odilja‘s story kept me hooked from beginning to end and was a very worthy winner but I would like to say congratulations to everyone who entered and keep on writing!”

Odilja won a £50 WH Smith voucher for herself as well as an enormous £2,500 towards outdoor play equipment for her school.

Handcross Primary School, the adopted school of Pease Pottage service station, has also recently had a number of stimulating author visits from Vashti Hardi and M. P Robertson, as well as a snuggles and stories evening event in school with pyjamas and hot chocolate which families attended and shared stories with each other.

Last week I warned that the “Indicative Votes” were unlikely to form a consensus in the Commons on Europe. They didn’t.

The reality is that in 2017 the UK elected a Parliament with no political party (and no majority viewpoint on the form Brexit should take) having an overall majority.

The Government have a “supply and confidence” arrangement with the DUP which has allowed Government to continue smoothly for the last two years. However on Brexit this independent political party have a different viewpoint stemming from the unique history and geography of Northern Ireland.

Last week I supported, as I have consistently supported, the agreed Withdrawal Agreement which has been negotiated with the European Union and which (if Parliament had approved it earlier) would have enabled our departure last week, on March 29.

The Withdrawal Agreement is the gateway to our departure from the EU and to future negotiations on trade. Shorn of its accompanying “Political Declaration” there is nothing apparent within it to which the Opposition objects but it was rejected nonetheless.

In the coming days we will see if there is any prospect of reason prevailing.

Despite all the shenanigans on Europe the UK economy, though seldom reported, prospers. Our growth outstrips most of Europe including Germany.

One particular highpoint is employment – we have the highest rate of employment ever recorded and unemployment is lower than at any time since the early 1970s. In Horsham our unemployment level continues to be well below the national average and one of the lower levels in the country.

That is half the battle but the other half is ensuring that people get well paid. Horsham employment pays on average well above the national average but as with every area of the country, wage levels vary.

Wages are on average increasing above the rate of inflation and the fastest rate of growth has been among the least well paid. The Government’s National Living Wage has helped boost the wages of the lower paid and this will shortly increase again by almost 5%, the highest rate increase since it was introduced in 2015.

Tributes have been paid to a ‘kind and beautiful’ mother who died in a crash along the A29.

Gaye Harwood died after being involved in a collision with a lorry at Codmore Hill in Pulborough on Monday morning (April 1).

Daughter of champion rider and racehorse trainer Guy Harwood, Gaye ran and helped create the Coombelands Equestrian in the village.

Paying tribute to her sister, Amanda Perrett, herself a renowned racehorse trainer, said: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that my dearest, beautiful, kind and much loved sister Gaye tragically died in a road accident near Pulborough on Monday morning. Our family, her partner Ben and gorgeous daughter Willow are devastated at our loss.”

Gaye was a keen rider herself and was part of the Lord Leconfield Pony Club.

Amanda said she rode successfully on the flat as an amateur and apprentice jockey and at point to points.

At Coombelands Gaye helped and taught many riders including multiple Olympic medal winners.

Amanda said: “She worked tirelessly in designing, building and running Coombelands Equestrian, we are all so proud of what she has achieved. On Sunday, she re-opened the cross country course in great condition for the year. The best way you can support us as a family to go forward is to come and use her wonderful facilities, help us to continue developing them in her memory and enjoy riding, training and competing your horses here in the years to come.”

Olivia Hancock, a 13-year-old activist who has raised thousands for the Teenage Cancer Trust and helped homeless children’s charities in Brazil, paid her first visit to The Dripping Pan in Lewes on Sunday.

She dragged dad Gary all the way from Leicestershire to see Lewes FC Women narrowly lose 1-0 to Championship League high flyers Durham Women.

What did she think of it? “I love it!” she enthused. “And mostly because of equality – all female players should play on the same pitch as the men.”

The visit was part of Olivia’s latest campaign – to take a stand against sexism in the beautiful game.

Sadly, she was punched in the stomach by a boy when she tackled and scored against him during a football match at school recently.

She said: “He didn’t like that a girl played better than him. I asked him if he loved his mum, and what would he think if a man punched her in the stomach while she was walking along the street? That made him think twice.”

The experience made the teenager decide to take matters into her own hands and attempt to make an educational film about sexism in football for school children to watch.

Footie-mad Exeter City fan Olivia has been garnering support to raise funds for her mission from the likes of Lioness Millie Bright, England manager Phil Neville, players like Wilfried Zaha, and celebrities Stacey Dooley and Davina McCall.

Lewes FC Women players have also got behind  Olivia’s activism on Twitter  and say they are ‘proud of what she is doing’. Striker, and New Zealand international, Katie Rood called her ‘an inspiration’, whilst midfielder Leeta Rutherford said Olivia was ‘incredible’ and urged people to get behind the young football player’s initiative.

On her ‘Go Fund Me’ account Olivia says: “I have played the game since I was four years old. Like many girls I have had sexist abuse from boys – and even some parents – simply for being a girl playing football. As if football should only be played by boys!’

Lewes FC is the first, and currently the only, football club in the world to assign equal playing budgets to both its first teams. Was this the draw for Olivia’s visit to Sussex? “Definitely,” she said, “because at the moment boys can have a dream of playing for big clubs, but girls generally can’t. They’re changing that here in Lewes – girls can dream right here!”

The jury in the inquest of Burgess Hill man Duncan Tomlin who died after being arrested has been told to ‘set aside feeling and sympathy’.

Mr Tomlin was 32 when he died after being pinned down and arrested by officers in Haywards Heath in July 2014.

Over the last four weeks a jury inquest has been taking place at Centenary House in Crawley to try and establish how he died.

This morning the last piece of evidence was heard and assistant coroner Elizabeth Bussey-Jones began her summing up of the case for the jury.

She said: “You must set aside feeling and sympathy for anyone involved in this inquest.

“You are not trying issues between parties deciding if somebody is innocent or guilty or whether someone is liable or not.”

READ MORE: Duncan Tomlin inquest - police officer 'pepper sprayed' by arrested man

Seizures are 'extremely traumatic'

One final piece of evidence was heard this morning, in which Ms Bussey-Jones said that all parties had agreed that Tasers were not used in the incident.

Ms Bussey-Jones then began the process of recapping each piece of evidence and witness account for the jury.

Paul Tomlin, Mr Tomlin’s father, was summarised as saying that son’s seizures were ‘not what one imagines’: “It is not just falling into the street and kicking out, it varies.

“It is extremely traumatic, a mixture of terror, fear and shock.”

READ MORE: Burgess Hill man who died after arrest was ‘screaming in pain’ when restrained

'His behaviour started to become less coherent. He was paranoid'

Jack Fulger, who had been drinking with Mr Tomlin and others on the night he died, had described how he started acting ‘weirdly’ after taking cannabis.

He was summarised as saying: “Duncan was sort of breathing really heavily.

“His behaviour started to become less coherent. He was paranoid.”

The jury heard Mr Fulger’s recollections that Mr Tomlin had been threatening to kill the people in the house and was screaming.

A neighbour heard ‘a lot of thumping as if somebody is being pinned up against the wall’ and called the police, the inquest was told.

She described seeing a man push Duncan out of the house and close the door.

A woman arrived soon after at the scene and asked one of the people in the house if Duncan was having a seizure. They replied: “No he’s not having a seizure he’s been drinking.”

PC Watson: 'Duncan punched me'

The evidence of PC Watson – the first officer involved in the restraining of Mr Tomlin – was also summarised.

The inquest heard that he and others were at Haywards Heath Police Station when they were called to a ‘disturbance’ in Wood Ride.

When he got there he saw Mr Tomlin running away and gave chase.

“Duncan turned and with his right hand punched me to the left side of my face

“The punch heard and shocked me as I wasn’t expecting him to attack me.”

The inquest heard that PC Watson did not think Mr Duncan was having a seizure, rather that he thought he was on drugs due to the ‘immense strength’ he had.

He denied that he failed to explore the ‘seizure issue’ with Anne-Marie Botting, Mr Tomlin’s girlfriend.

“I don’t accept that I failed to tell Police Sergeant Glasspool relevant information.

“I don’t accept that I lost my temper and control.”

Off-duty detective helps out officers

Off-duty detective David Shabazi – who went over to assist the officers restraining Mr Tomlin – said Mr Tomlin displayed ‘extreme strength’.

The inquest heard that he advised the other officers that Mr Tomlin needed to be sat up.

“It was a difficult situation. I did say it to them but they did not respond and I did not reinforce it.

“I didn’t know he was going to die. I suggested the ambulance because in my view he needed urgent medical assistance.”

Neighbours describe the struggle

Carol Anderson, who lived near where the restraining incident took place in the street, was summarised as saying: “She heard him saying ‘get off me I’m ill’ and then she heard a wailing sound.”

Ms Anderson said she saw officers pinning Mr Tomlin on the ground while they waited for a police van to arrive.

She added: “The man was not kicking or flailing as he was put in the van.”

Another neighbour, Storm Croydon, said she saw the van stop at one point after it set off.

“The officers acted like they were in a state of concern or emergency and went off up our road.”

Assistant coroner Ms Bussey-Jones is expected to finish summing up the evidence tomorrow, after which the jury will be sent out.

The inquest continues.

A Horsham college team earned several awards at the Young Enterprise area finals.

The Collyer’s students picked up several prizes at the national charity’s awards, including runner up best company and best product. Nathaniel Kennedy won the young achiever award. This is on top of the prizes previously awarded for best stand and best business plan.

Young Enterprise specialises in financial and employability education.

Collyer’s employability co-ordinator, Lucy Hargreaves, said: “[It’s] an amazing achievement to have won so many awards.

“The group have been absolutely wonderful, superbly supported by Nick Broom and Dominic Wakefield, who we are massively grateful to for their motivation and support.

“The overall winners of best company were the students from Hurst.”

Although the Collyer’s students are now out of the competition, they will continue with the meetings, support and guidance, as they will keep their company running until their exams begin in May.

Deputy principal Steve Martell added: “The Collyer’s community could not be prouder of this talented, creative and hard-working team. Well done everyone.”

A group of students have graduated from a fire service training scheme at Horsham Fire Station.

The youngsters successfully completed West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s FireBreak programme.

The pass out parade was watched by family and friends of the graduates, who were from various schools in the area.

The 11 students completed a week of training, which included hose running, ladder climbs and wearing breathing apparatus.

They also learned about fire safety, CPR and have gained a HeartStart first aid training qualification.

Group manager Adrian Willard, who presented the graduates with their awards, said: “Well done to another fantastic group of young people who have shown hard work and determination in what has been a challenging week for them.

“They should be really proud of their achievements and I hope they take away with them positive memories and valuable skills such as discipline, teamwork and improving self-confidence.”

The graduates were Chloe Walker-Smith and Liv Aylmore from Millais, Codie Reid from The Forest School, Kai Nahar and Rosie Lastra from Hazelwick, Logan Taylor from Oriel High School, Ollie Mercer and Saxon Dockerill from The Weald, Preston Gale and Tommy Berwick from Tanbridge House and Tyler Mounteney from Muntham House.

FireBreak is run by the service’s targeted education team. It is aimed at secondary school students encouraging them to become positive role models and learn skills they can use to help towards maintaining a safe community.

The fire service is at the heart of West Sussex County Council’s Communities and Public Protection Directorate, working to support communities to become safer, stronger and more resilient.

Britain was meant to leave the EU last Friday. But the House of Commons rejected the Withdrawal Agreement for a third time.

I deeply regret this as I continue to believe that we should honour the referendum result by leaving the EU with a deal.

Some people feel that we should just leave without a deal. While I understand the sentiment, we must consider the implications. It would risk disruption and damage to our economy which could be serious. In any case, MPs have rejected ‘no-deal’ by a very large majority.

On Monday the Commons once again considered potential alternatives to the deal, none of which achieved a majority. I voted against a second referendum and revoking Brexit because I believe both would be wrong in principle.

However, I supported two options, a Customs Union and Common Market 2.0, because I believe it is necessary to compromise if Brexit is to be delivered.

Being in the Customs Union would restrict our ability to promote an independent trade policy for goods, although not services. But we must weigh against this the benefit that it would also eliminate tariffs on goods for half our trade, which would be good for business and jobs.

Britain would still be leaving the EU and outside its political institutions. And, unlike the Common Market 2.0 idea, the Customs Union would allow us to control immigration, we would not be paying large sums into the EU budget, and we would not be under EU laws except in relation to the customs policy.

The Prime Minister’s deal in fact includes ‘a free trade area, combining deep regulatory and customs co-operation’, which is what the Conservative Manifesto also promised. So agreeing a Customs Union would actually be a less dramatic change than some are suggesting.

I would have preferred the deal, and if it had gone through last year we would already have left the EU. It is ironic, and frankly extremely disappointing, that the most ardent supporters of Brexit have repeatedly prevented it from happening, voting against the deal alongside MPs who clearly wish to frustrate Brexit.

When the country is divided, MPs cannot agree, and the economy is being affected by the uncertainty, we need to find a sensible way through. We must deliver on the democratic decision of the British people to leave the EU, and that means being willing to compromise.

You can find further information, including the highlights of my diary each week, on my website: www.nickherbert.com.

• If you would like to get in touch with me, please email me at nick@nickherbert.com

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A rather one-sided debate saw Crawley borough councillors agree to ask their county colleagues to continue funding a project for vulnerable families.

Think Family is part of the county’s Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help service (IPEH), which has seen its budget cut by £4.9m.

It works to support vulnerable families – offering help and advice on a variety of issues such as mental health, disability and relationships – to stop family breakdowns and to prevent children from being taken into care.

The consequences of the budget cuts on the families in need was described as ‘deeply concerning’ at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday night.

Members were told that, by next year, Think Family will have helped more than 5,000 families in Crawley.

A Notice of Motion was submitted to the meeting, with leader Peter Lamb saying it was unacceptable to see ‘more preventative measures being dragged out of the system’.

Suggesting that the cuts would lead to more children being taken into care, he added: “We cannot afford for that to happen to local families.

“We must do all we can to deliver this service, which has been delivered by Crawley Borough Council in the past – and I hope will be delivered jointly in the future.”

Geraint Thomas added: “This sort of problem is very much intertwined with the problem of poverty and particularly the poverty that affects young families and children.”

And Chris Cheshire added that properly funding Think Family would save ‘a huge amount of misery for the future’.

While none of the Conservative group disagreed with the motion – and most of them voted in favour – there was no contribution to the debate from any of the councillors on the blue side of the chamber.

After the meeting, some of them pointed out that the issue was a county matter, saying it should not have been raised at borough level.

This issue is likely to be raised again at a West Sussex County Council meeting, in Chichester, tomorrow (Friday April 5).

Tributes have been paid to a ‘much beloved’ and talented West Sussex mum who taught music to both the old and young members of her community.

Musician, singer, songwriter and former Hazelwick School student Sally Paice, 57, died from cancer at St Wilfrid's Hospice in Chichester after years of teaching people how to play the ukelele and the guitar.

Sally, who lived in Selsey, leaves behind her dad Fred Burgess, 88, husband John Paice, 67, her two daughters Sammie Harvey, 32, and Katrina Dyer, 39, step-son Nigel Paice, 45, and five grandchildren whose ages range from four months up to 20 years old.

Sammie, 32, spoke to the Observer about her ‘very kind and caring’ mum.

She said: “She did a lot of music in the community. She took classes for under five-year-olds and played for the elderly in care homes. She also taught children in Bognor schools and privately in St Peter’s Church Hall, whilst raising some money as well.

“Mum had a long battle with cancer. She was first diagnosed 11 years ago but it came back in the spine in 2017.

“She continued teaching throughout the chemotherapy and most people were unaware. She wanted to continue as normal.”

Sammie said her mum was born in the then Crawley New Town, and spent the first year of her secondary school life at Hazelwick in 1973.

She said: "My grandad [Fred] was a builder at the time, but he loved music and he played the guitar. He is self taught. That's where my mum got it from.

"My mum moved to Selsey with her parents in 1973 and was there ever since. My whole family, including my grandad still live there."

Sally was admitted to St Wilfrid's Hospice on February 1, where she died on March 21, but not before a 30-strong ukulele band, named Sally’s Strummers, gathered to honour their former teacher.

“St Wilfrid's were incredible,” Sammie said.

“About 30 people she taught played the ukulele for her the day before she passed. She held on for that and she enjoyed it. It was really lovely and emotional.”

Director of nursing at St Wilfrid's Hospice, Suzy O’Callaghan said it was a ‘lovely testimonial to a lovely woman’.

She added: “Sally’s kind and affectionate nature touched everyone who met her here. We were all moved by the musical tribute of so many of her ex-music students paid her.”

Faith Slater, one of the many nurses who cared for Sally, said it was a 'real privilege' to look after her.

She added: "She was a real joy to be around at all times. An unbelievably kind soul who gave so much of herself to her family and friends, you felt the love shining out every time you with her.”

Sammie said she was ‘extremely proud’ of her mum, who played the guitar from a young age.

She said: “We have had so many comments from people who played with her and who were taught by her. She used to sing in pubs and clubs. She also wrote some of her own songs.

“She had a lot of patience. She was very kind and caring. She never put her own needs above anyone else. She was very strong and never complained about her situation. She would never worry about herself and was always thinking of others.

“It’s been amazing how many messages and cards people have given. People will miss her dearly.”

Facebook community page The Selsey Grapevine said Sally was ‘well known and well loved in Selsey’.

Its post added: “She played a huge part in bringing music to us all. Always found with a guitar or a ukulele in her hands, Sally loved passing on her talent through her music classes and her music for the Under 5’s group, as well as playing for our elderly in the care homes.

"Our love goes out to her family at this terrible time, rest in peace little songbird, you are free to fly.”

Selsey Folk and Music Club said Sally was a 'constant musical presence' in Selsey with her guitar and 'her many ukuleles'.

Its post on Facebook added: "When I first wanted to learn the uke, Sally was who I turned to. Taken before her time but remembered by all as a champion for live music especially with learners young and old."

Coustics Guitar & Ukulele Clubs also paid tribute on social media. It said: "Although the club has developed without her for several years, 'Coustics' was very much Sally’s concept.

"Indeed many of the songs, and members from those original sessions at The Winterton Arms in Crockerhill still form an integral part of the club. Those nights, and the people we have met through them, have formed an important part of many of our musical journeys.

"She was an inspiration and tutor to so many aspiring local musicians, and will be sorely missed."

The results of this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch have been revealed with more than 7.5 million sightings across the UK over the weekend of January 26 to 28.

In West Sussex, the top three most common garden visitors were house sparrows, starlings and blue tits.

While house sparrows held the top place in the West Sussex charts, residents reported 0.3 per cent fewer sightings than in 2018 and West Sussex was the only county in the South East to show a continuing declining in house sparrows.

UK house sparrow numbers have fallen by 56 per cent since the public began tracking these birds as part of the Big Garden Birdwatch, but in recent years, national numbers have slowly started to rise again.

West Sussex residents also reported 14 per cent fewer sightings of starlings this year.

Starlings have faced dramatic population declines across the UK in the past few decades and these already threatened birds are still very much at risk across the country.

Another threatened species, the song thrush, does seem to be faring well in West Sussex, with the 2019 results showing a 25.9 per cent increase in sightings across the county compared to 2018.

Now in its 40th year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden helping the RSPB build up a picture of how they are doing.

House sparrows remained at the top of the UK rankings with almost 1.2 million sightings throughout the weekend, but the latest results have revealed a mixed national picture for garden birdlife with 15 of the top 20 species returning fewer sightings in gardens across the country than in 2018.

Almost half a million people across the UK spent an hour watching the birds that visit their garden or outdoor space.

In the South East, 92,594 participants took part in the survey; a 21 per cent increase on South East participation compared to 2018.

This figure includes 11,354 children who took part in the Big Schools Birdwatch, designed to help school children contribute to the valuable citizen science project.

Nic Scothern, the RSPB’s South East regional director, said: “It’s incredible to see that so many people across the South East show a real passion and concern for the wildlife in their gardens and green spaces. People are becoming more and more aware of the challenges and threats that our UK wildlife is currently facing. Citizen science surveys, such as the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, really help empower people of all ages and backgrounds to play an active part in conservation, and to speak out for the wildlife they love and want to protect.”

Let Nature Sing

To highlight the crisis that nature is facing and the loss of over 40 million wild birds from the UK in just half a century, the RSPB is releasing a specially-created track of birdsong titled ‘Let Nature Sing’.

The single contains some of the most recognisable birdsong that we used to enjoy, but that are on their way to disappearing forever.

A compilation of beautiful sound recordings of birds with powerful conservation stories including the cuckoo, curlew, nightingale and turtle dove.

The charity is calling on the public to download, stream and share the single (available to pre-order from today) and help get birdsong into the charts for the first time, spreading the word that people across the UK are passionate about nature’s recovery.

Martin Harper, the RSPB’s director of conservation, said: “Birds are such iconic parts of human culture but many of us no longer have the time or opportunity to enjoy them. The time we spend in nature, just watching and listening, can have huge benefits to our wellbeing, especially in these stressful times. The RSPB wants to help more people reconnect with their wilder sides and is bringing birdsong back into people’s busy lives by releasing a soothing track of pure unadulterated bird song. We hope that by understanding what we have lost that we inspire others to take part in the recovery. Without nature our lives are so less complete.”

The track is designed to help reconnect the nation with nature, helping people find a moment to relax and promote a feeling of tranquility, as birdsong has been proven to aid mental health and promote feelings of well-being.

For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

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Hundreds with vitamin D deficiency admitted to hospital at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

One in ten babies in West Sussex born to single parents

More than 40 per cent of jobs in Worthing could be under threat from automation

A huge rise in electric car ownership in Sussex has failed to spark a widespread network of charging points across the county, an investigation has revealed.

More than 3,000 electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in Sussex by the third quarter of last year – up 3,945 per cent since the end of 2011.

But according to BBC Local News Partnerships research, all but two of the county’s local authorities rank below average when it comes to the ratio of charging points to electric vehicles.

The ‘patchy’ availability of charging points is replicated nationwide, according to RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes.

He said: “These findings show that despite the Government’s ambitions to accelerate the take-up of cleaner vehicles, charging infrastructure is presently something of a postcode lottery, and patchy at best in some parts of the country.”

“RAC research has found the lack of charging infrastructure is one of the three main barriers for electric vehicle take-up, along with range anxiety and high upfront vehicle costs.”

At the end of 2011, there were just 80 registered electric vehicles in Sussex – and Adur had none, according to the BBC.

By the third quarter of 2018, 3,236 vehicles were registered, with Adur still having the fewest at 87 and the most being in Wealden, which had 447.

The biggest percentage increase came in the Arun district, where registrations rose by 11,200 per cent from two to 226.

Despite Arun’s increase, according to the BBC it ranked in the bottom 20 per cent of locations for its rate of charging locations per 1,000 registrations.

Likewise Wealden was also in the bottom fifth.

At the other end of the scale, Eastbourne and Crawley were ranked by the BBC in the top 20 percent.

But the rest of Sussex’s local authority areas were rated as below average.

Bridget Fox, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “We need a nationwide fast charging network on motorways and A roads managed by Highways England and in rural areas Government support should help to provide a charging point for every community.

“There is more being done in towns and cities, but there are practical challenges in providing a public charging network without encroaching on pavements or competing for kerb space with bikes and buses.

The BBC also calculated the mean average distances to a charging point, conducting 49 million calculations to build up a nationwide picture.

Crawley and Eastbourne again ranked among the best in the county, joining Worthing and Brighton and Hove with an average distance of less than one kilometre.

Brighton and Hove was one of just 28 authorities across the country to have taken advantage of the Government’s £2.5million On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, which aimed to help drivers to charge their vehicle.

Rother and Arun scored lowest in the BBC’s distance tables, with mean average drives of 4.5 and 4.05-kilometre journeys respectively.

Wealden was third-bottom in Sussex at 3.98 kilometres.

Ms Fox said councils could help by requiring off-street charging points as part of planning applications and by prioritising electric vehicles in car parks.

Arun District Council officers produced a study alongside its new local plan, setting out guidelines for new developments.

In January, 2018, Arun adopted its Vehicle Infrastructure Study. Minutes from full council read: “It was felt to be vital for the council to be ready to deal with the need to be able to accommodate the future expansion of electric vehicles and the need to provide adequate charging points throughout the district.

“It was hoped that the council could address, at a future council meeting, consideration to enhancing the number of rapid charges points on its own land.”

The availability of charging points in Wealden was raised with the district council in an FOI as early as two years ago, the response to which was posted on its website.

The council said: “WDC actively encourages the take up of electric vehicles and has previously been successful in bidding for funds for the installation of rapid chargers and a standard charger in the district.

“The council regularly reviews central government initiatives to improve EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure and where appropriate will consider further projects.”

Data on charging points used to compile the results of the BBC’s investigation came from Open Charge Map. There is currently no definitive government resource mapping out charging locations.

The Government has stated 80 per cent of charging takes place at home.