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|  Flags will again be flying over Hurstpierpoint High Street, thanks to a generous donation by Hurstpierpoint Society and the joint efforts of a number of other societies and the parish council.
Health and safety concerns meant new brackets needed to be fixed to buildings along the High Street before bunting could be used. Hurstpierpoint Society agreed to pick up the bill, and negotiations started to obtain permission for the brackets from the owners of the buildings. With funds and permissions in place, local builder Chris Pitt, with the aid of a hired cherrypicker, successfully fixed the new brackets.
The popular Hurst Festival was to be the first local society to benefit, with a banner advertising the start of the 2008 festival on September 13. Other village groups backing the initiative include the St Lawrence Fair Committee and the Hurst Players.
Anyone wishing to use the brackets to hang bunting or banners will need to contact the Parish Council and agree to a set of guidelines, including a maximum weight of any banner. The brackets will also be checked every year.
Maxine Tyler, acting chairman of Hurstpierpoint Society said: “We are delighted to have provided the funds to ensure bunting will again fly over the village High Street. The brackets will allow local societies and clubs a unique chance to advertise their events safely and effectively and the banners and flags will add to a feeling of festivity in the village. Now we just need to say to everyone: Put out more flags!”
| | | Hurstpierpoint Society has created a unique village charity calendar – unique because in this calendar everyone gets to keep their clothes on! The only revealing is of the historic buildings and street scenes that make up increasingly bustling Hurstpierpoint.
It includes bird’s eye views of the village taken from a hot air balloon – and the month of May also contains a surprise. Villagers were asked to vote for the picture postcard view they thought should be included. You will have to buy a copy and turn to the month of May to see which picture won through!
Hurstpierpoint Society, which boasts the largest membership of any club or society in the village, has worked for almost half a century to protect and improve the environment of Hurstpierpoint and surrounding areas.
The idea for the charity calendar came about after the Society’s secretary, Andrew Hair, was showing committee members his photographs taken from a hot air balloon during a family celebration. It was agreed to use the pictures, together with a number of seasonal shots, to showcase the village in all its glory.
Profits will go towards purchasing vital equipment for H.E.A.R.T – BEAT. This organisation, also known as Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks Community First Responders, provides a vital link in the chain of survival before the arrival of the ambulance crew.
Committee member Jackie Milton said: “We hope people will buy the calendar to send to relatives and friends – if they are lucky it may even feature the street where they live! It was really hard choosing just 12 pictures of the village when there’s an interesting view round nearly every corner.”
Hurstpierpoint Society is planning a year of special celebrations in 2009 to mark its 50th year of activity. Recent achievements include reinstating the ancient mile post and finger posts, replacing and preserving old village signs, tree planting and compiling Hurstpierpoint’s first conservation guide.
Copies of the charity calendar are on sale from The Mint House and charity shop, for £5.
| | |  AGMs are not normally noted for being either informative or fun-filled affairs. But our annual meeting promises to be both – with a glass or two of wine thrown in for good measure!
Information will come through an illustrated talk on the Souoth Downs, including an update on the proposed National Park, by David Sawyers, of the South Downs Society. And fun will be in the form of a opportunity to vote for your favourite village photo to be included in a charity calendar being published by Hurstpierpoint Society.
The official business will be washed down with refreshments – another good reason to get along to Hurstpierpoint Village Centre at 7.30pm on April 22. All welcome.
| | | Give us your money! It sounded like a menacing demand from Robin Hood’s merry men when a bunch of singing and dancing youngsters tried to get their hands on a fundraising cheque. But just like in every good panto there was a happy ending when Jackie Milton, of Hurstpierpoint Society, took centre stage to hand over a cheque for £250 towards Hurstpierpoint Players’ theatre renovation.
The youngsters were all auditioning for the chorus of the Player’s Christmas pantomime – Robin Hood and the Singing Nun. Said chairman Bob Burrows: “The building work is an ambitious project involving creating a new entrance to the theatre.”
Total cost of the works, which includes replacement of the front windows and repairing a leak in the roof, is expected to cost around £20,000. Said Bob: “We are extremely grateful for donations like this one from Hurstpierpoint Society which all help ensure the show goes on.”
Jackie Milton added: “We felt this was a deserving cause. The Players’ theatre is a 200-year-old building in the centre of the village and a lot of local residents – including children – get a huge amount of pleasure and benefit out of its activities.”
| | |  If you want to follow in the footsteps of the Romans, we can show you the way! Hurstpierpoint Society has marked the route through the village of the old Roman road which runs from Barcombe Mills to Hardham. With the help of some strong-armed members of the Monday Club, the Society erected three inscribed oak posts. Says Hurstpierpoint Society treasurer Patrick Haworth, pictured with one of the posts: "Walkers will be reminded of the history of the area every time they pass one of the posts - who knows, Roman legions may have trod the very same route."
The Roman road is marked at Crossways Lane on the boundary between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint, in Danny Park and at the end of Bedlam Street. | | |  We are delighted to have been able to provide funds to help Project Owl get off the ground. This initiative, to provide 28 owl nesting boxes in the area, is proving an outstanding success already. Just months after the first barn owl boxes were installed, a check showed them to be used by 3 adults, 13 young and five eggs!
| | |  Our 2007 AGM held on Tuesday April 17th at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre, treated everyone who attended to a fascinating presentation called A Bird's Eye View of Hurst. After the formalities were over, our secretary Andrew Hair presented a photographic show of the village taken from a hot air balloon. This unique view highlighted the beauty of Hurstpierpoint surrounded by downland countryside and was a treat for the eyes. The evening finished with a glass of wine and informal chat.
| | |  We are proposing to install an historic plaque on St George's House to commemorate the residence there of Bishop Hannington. The Hannington family lived in the house in the mid 19th century and built Little Park Chapel, now known as St George's Church. James Hannington became the first Bishop of East Equatorial Africa. He was killed in Uganda on October 31st 1885.
We are keen to mark the former homes of other influential figures who have lived in our lovely village. Please let us know if you have any suggestions. | | |  We are very grateful to have received two generous bequests. The Society is using these kind and generous legacies to good effect, with the interests of the village in mind. We are currently looking at a variety of worthy projects in keeping with the remit of our Constitution. | |
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