A dream come true would have been winning, but it was a great experience - that was the verdict of Southwater golfer Toby Tree after his Open debut.

It speaks volumes of the standards that the 23-year-old sets himself. Not content with just making up the numbers at his maiden major.

Yet, the former Tanbridge House School pupil didn’t even just do that, he made the cut and finished tied 54th with household names Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson.

The Golf at Goodwood player carded a level-par 70 and was as low as 37th after his opening round at Royal Birkdale, before going on to finish on +4 with a total four-round tally of 284.

Tree, who lifted his world ranking to 577th with the result, said: “The tournament was pretty good and it was nice to make the cut. I felt I played alright, but I just did not seem to score that well, which was a bit of a shame. I do not really have a stand out moment.

“It was pretty cool having all my family and friends there and walking up and down the holes and keep seeing them in the crowd. The 18th on the final day was good as well with everyone clapping and cheering.

“It was a weird feeling being there and it did not really kick in for a little while that I was actually going to be playing. I got in through pre-qualifying which is a bit of a lottery as it is out of 90 players.”

On the experience, Tree, who turned professional in 2014, continued: “I would have preferred to have won it than just played. It’s not really a dream come true for me, it would have been a dream come true to have won it.

“Playing (in practice) with Dustin (Johnson) was pretty sweet as he’s my favorite player. I do not really get too worried about who I am playing with, but that was pretty cool.

“Lots of friends I grew up playing with were playing as well so it wasn’t so surreal. It was obviously pretty cool playing in my first major, but if you want to do well in the game, you have to be playing in a few more.”

His avid supporters were pictured a plenty during the four-days, sporting their blow-up palm trees on the course, “They made a few headlines of their own, I kept seeing things pop up on the internet about them,” Tree quipped.

Qualification came for his first British Open two weeks ago after he finished joint second on six-under par along with Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter at Woburn. Tree then claimed an eighth-placed finish at the Prague Golf Challenge on the European Challenge Tour so headed into the week at Birkdale in good form.

But standing at the first tee - a 448-yard par four, often rated as one of the hardest on the course - he admitted: “I did not know how I was going to react. I had started playing well in practice and I got off to a good start. I was one under until the 13th on my first round.”

Tree’s highest score was a five-over 75 on a tough weather-hit day two. Plenty of the field struggled, with the average score on the day 74.8.

And in a nervy moment in that round, he had thought he had blown his chances of making the cut on the final hole. “On the 18th in the second round, I thought I needed a par to make the cut and I tried laying one up off the tee,” explained Tree.

“The shot was so low that it hit the tee box and only went about 90 yards. I was thinking what have I done here? I only needed a par and I have gone and topped it off the tee. But I managed to lay-up in pitch-and-putt style and make it.”

He followed that up with rounds of a one-under 69 and level 70 to finish ahead of well known Danny Willett, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

Tree now travels Finland next week as part of the European Challenge Tour, then back to South Africa where he plays the majority of his golf - especially during the winter.

He added: “The next aim is to get my European Tour card and make my way up the rankings, really. It will make it a bit easy to qualify for majors rather than going through all the qualifiers.”

Officers found a body near the River Arun on Tuesday evening, police have confirmed.

A Sussex Police spokesman said police were called at 8.15pm to a report that the body of a man had been found near to the tow path near Penfolds Place in Arundel.

They added: “His death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.”

A warning has gone out that social media reports of two bogus South East Water employees requesting entry to homes across Sussex is, in fact, a joke.

In a stement, the company says that the message wrongly claims the two men are saying they work for South East Water and are requesting entry to homes to check internal taps for leaks – but in fact the people in the photograph are film stars from Home Alone!

In the meantime, South East Water says the message behind the joke is a serious one as bogus callers do use the company’s name to attempt to gain unauthorised access to homes.

People are being reminded to thoroughly check the identity of any unexpected doorstep callers claiming to be from or working on behalf of South East Water before letting them carry out work on their property or letting them inside.

One action that elderly residents and people living alone can do is to register with South East Water for a security password which will be used by anyone from the company needing entry into the person’s home.

Signing up for a password is a simple and effective way to avoid becoming a victim of this kind of crime.

Steve Andrews, Head of Service Management at South East Water, said: “Sometimes our staff or contractors working on our behalf do have to make unplanned visits, but if there is no security password in place, they will always be happy to wait while customers check their credentials.

“In addition our staff or contractors will always show their photographic identity cards before asking to be let in, be in the company’s uniform and have a liveried van parked nearby.

“It is worth bearing in mind that if there had been a serious leak then the house probably would have been without water or be experiencing low water pressure and we would only be there if the resident had actually called us out.”

Many distraction crimes reported to the police involve callers claiming to be from a water company, or ‘Water Board’, a description no longer used by all British water companies.

It is known that a number of distraction burglaries go unreported because many vulnerable victims – particularly the elderly – feel too embarrassed or scared to report the crime.

South East Water’s advice is to:

· Register for a security password on 0333 000 0002

· Make sure the back door is always locked before going to the front door

· Put on the door chain if there is one before opening the door

· Check to see who is at the door by looking through a window or spy hole

· Look for an identity card, a uniform and a liveried van

· Check the person’s identity via the bogus caller telephone line on 0800 519 2222

· If still suspicious telephone the police - better to be safe than sorry.

Littlehampton Cricket Club face a crucial clash at West Sussex Invitation League Division 1 leaders Southwater on Saturday.

James Askew saw his side’s six game winning run brought to an end at the weekend when their scheduled home clash with Horsham Trinity was cancelled owing to the bad weather.

A fine recent run of form has seen Littlehampton climb into third, seven points off place-above Felbridge & Sunnyside and a further 13 points behind league leaders Southwater, with a game in hand.

The fixture list sees Littlehampton travel to Southwater on Saturday, for what could prove crucial in the fight to be crowned champions and gain promotion to the Sussex League next term.

Despite such a massive game, Askew is not putting any pressure on his players.

He said: “It’s a big game but I don’t think it is going to decide anything just yet.

“There will still be plenty of games to go after this one, including our game in hand. However, with a positive result we will put ourselves in a great position with just a few games to go.”

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Music, sport, entertainment, food and fun are guaranteed during Wick Week.

The festival launches on Saturday with a vintage fair and car display. It runs until Saturday, August 5, following the Wick Week tradition of taking place in the first week of the school holidays.

Funded by Littlehampton Town Council and supported by volunteers from many organisations, Wick Week is an eight-day celebration for the community and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

Ian Buckland, chairman of the town council’s community resources committee, said: “Wick Week is a fantastic community festival where people of all ages come together to enjoy the wide range of activities on offer.

“Many of the activities are free or low cost, it’s a great opportunity to try something new.”

A wide range of activities are on offer, showcasing the outstanding groups and organisations that serve the area. From a baby disco to a family film night and computer tuition for the over-50s, there is something for everyone.

Those involved include Wick Information Centre, Wick Village Traders Association, Arun Community Church, Project 82, The Keystone Centre, Freedom Leisure and The Littlehampton Academy.

Wick Week vintage fair and car display will be held at the Wick Hall, in Wick Street, Littlehampton, on Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Entrance is 50p for adults, children free.

There will be live music, a free raffle, scrumptious cakes, children’s games, a bouncy castle, Punch and Judy, and a vintage car and motorbike display.

Littlehampton historian Roger Butterworth will lead a free walk, called A Short Walk Around Old Wick, on Monday at 2pm. It starts at Wick Information Centre and will take people through Wick Village as Roger talks about the rich history of the area.

Danny Surridge, a volunteer who has helped organise the walk, said: “One of the highlights of the walk is Leila Cottage. It’s one of Wick Village’s oldest buildings and dates back to 1719.

“It’s thatched and was originally used as a smith’s forge. Roger Butterworth will be leading the walks and has a great knowledge of the area and will be on hand to ask any questions.”

Programmes detailing all of the events will be available in and around Littlehampton. Visit www.wickweek.org for more information or follow Wick Week on Facebook.

The following are the latest results contributed by HM Courts Service, for cases sentenced by West Sussex Magistrates’ Court sitting at Worthing from July 10 to 14, 2017.

Ben Dillon, 26, of Cambridge Court, Shelley Road, Worthing, was given a ten-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with rehabilitation activity requirement after admitting sending a grossly offensive message of an indecent, obscene or menacing character in Worthing on April 8, 2017. He was given a restraining order and must pay £115 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Mustapha Mbye, 38, of Queen’s Road, Worthing, was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with rehabilitation activity requirement after admitting having a knife at Worthing Railway Station on February 12, 2017. He must pay £115 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Michael Doggett, 38, of Southfield Road, Broadwater, was fined £500 and must pay £50 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drink-driving (84mg alcohol in 100ml of breath) in Clifton Road, Worthing, on April 16, 2017. He was disqualified from driving for 20 months. He also admitted drug-driving (800 benxoylecgonine) in Clifton Road, Worthing, on April 16, 2017.

Frazier Furlong, 20, of Marshall Avenue, Findon Valley, was discharged conditionally for 18 months and must pay £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting possessing cocaine in Worthing on May 6, 2017.

Courtney Grimster, 25, of Homefield Road, Worthing, was fined £415 and must pay £41.50 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drug-driving (44 cocaine) in Marine Parade, Worthing, on April 23, 2017. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He also admitted drug-driving (>800b benzoylecgonine) in Marine Parade, Worthing, on April 23, 2017; and drug-driving (6.8 Delta-9-THC) in Marine Parade, Worthing, on April 23, 2017, no separate penalties.

Anthony Nye, 39, of Horsham Road, Littlehampton, was fined £224 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drug-driving (5.8mg Delta-9-THC) in Sea Road, Littlehampton, on March 6, 2017. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Georgina Starkey, 23, of Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, was fined £224 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drug-driving (5.8ug/l Delta-9-THC) in Bridge Road, Littlehampton, on April 13, 2017. She was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Anthony Whiteman, 31, of Millers Court, Old Worthing Road, East Preston, was fined £369 and must pay £36 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drink-driving (85mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) on the A259 Felpham on June 25, 2017. He was disqualified from driving for 36 months.

Julian Bentley, 31, of Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, was fined £660 and must pay £66 victim surcharge, £150 costs, after being found guilty of driving without insurance in Rose Walk, Goring, on February 7, 2017. He was also fined £220 after being found guilty of driving without the correct licence.

Sharon McDonald, 53, of Chesterfield Road, Goring, was fined £162 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £300 costs, after admitting failing to provide a specimen for analysis when required in Goring on April 2, 2017. She was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Josie Fooks, 22, of St Michael’s Road, Worthing, was fined £50 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drug-driving (6.3mg/l Delta-9-THC) in High Street, Crawley, on December 15, 2016. There was no licence endorsement or disqualification due to special reasons, found on basis of emergency.

The following are the latest results contributed by HM Courts Service, for cases sentenced by West Sussex Magistrates’ Court sitting at Worthing from July 10 to 14, 2017.

Michael Conners, 27, of Scant Road, Hambrook, was given a community order and must carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work after being found guilty of two charges of joint assault beating in Market Avenue, Chichester, on November 8, 2016. He must pay £50 compensation to one victim and £100 to the other, plus £85 victim surcharge, £250 costs.

Felix Connors, 32, of Scant Road, Hambrook, was given a community order and must carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work after being found guilty of two charges of joint assault beating in Market Avenue, Chichester, on November 8, 2016. He must pay £50 compensation to one victim and £100 to the other, plus £85 victim surcharge, £250 costs.

Michael Connors, 54, of Main Road, Emsworth, was given a community order and must carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work after being found guilty of two charges of joint assault beating in Market Avenue, Chichester, on November 8, 2016. He must pay £50 compensation to one victim and £100 to the other, plus £85 victim surcharge, £250 costs.

Wojciech Sitny, 45, c/o Oving Road, Chichester, was given a community order and must carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work after admitting assault by beating in Chichester on March 26, 2017. He must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Sheena Godden, 78, of Main Road, Bosham, was fined £210 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting damaging a vehicle in Main Road, Bosham, on June 22, 2017. She must pay £400 compensation after admitting damaging a vehicle in Chichester on March 28, 2017, no separate penalty.

Georgina Starkey, 23, of Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, was fined £224 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drug-driving (5.8ug/l Delta-9-THC) in Bridge Road, Littlehampton, on April 13, 2017. She was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Martin Chitty, 45, of Stalham Way, Bognor Regis, was given a community order and must carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work after admitting drink-driving (130mg of alchohol in 100ml of breath) in Felpham Way, Bognor Regis, on June 24, 2017. He must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 30 months.

Alex Clark, 28, of Halliwick Gardens, Bognor Regis, was given a community order and must carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work after admitting drink-driving (60mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) in Vinnetrow Road, Chichester, on June 25, 2017. He must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 36 months.

Edvinas Deksnys, 27, of Oakhurst, Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis, was fined £350 and must pay £35 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drink-driving (58mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) in Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, on June 24, 2017. He was fined £200 after admitting driving without insurance. He also admitted driving without the correct licence, no separate penalty.

Daniel Sargent, 26, of East Cosham Road, Portsmouth, was given a community order and must carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work after admitting drink-driving (107mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) in St James’ Road, Chichester, on June 24, 2017. He must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Matthew Roberts, 23, of Binsted Avenue, Felpham, was fined £333 and must pay £33 victim surcharge, £40 costs, after admitting failing to identify a driver when required by police in Shoreham on August 4, 2016. His driving licence was endorsed with six points.

Kevin Kelleher, 38, of Connaught House, The Esplanade, Bognor Regis, was discharged conditionally for 18 months after admitting attempting to steal stationery worth £82.86 from Squires Model and Craft Shop, Bognor Regis, on March 25, 2017. He was given a restraining order and must pay £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Cidney Greenshields, 23, of Phoenix Close, Chichester, was discharged conditionally for 12 months and must pay £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting stealing tracksuit clothing worth £99.99 from Sports Direct, Bognor Regis, on June 29, 2017.

Michal Polec, 21, of Charlwood Street, Bognor Regis, was discharged conditionally for 24 months and must pay £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting stealing five pairs of sunglasses worth £177.95 from TKMaxx, Chichester, on June 27, 2017.

Barry Welsh, 35, of Bishop Luffa Close, Chichester, was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and msut carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work after admitting driving while disqualified in Clay Lane, Chichester, on February 1, 2017. He must pay £115 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 40 months. He also admitted driving without insurance, no separate penalty.

Ellie Lacey started 2017 by ‘turning yellow’. A fortnight later she was close to death but came through a liver transplant. And now she’s about to go for glory on the athletics track.

The British Transplant Games take place in North Lanarkshire from Saturday to Tuesday and will be full of remarkable stories. But few will be more amazing than that of Ellie, who has certainly had a year she won’t forget in a hurry.

Ellie, who grew up in the Witterings and whose family still live in the area, is a runner who created an event called ‘Running the Rift Marathon’ in Uganda.

She staged the inaugural one last November – just weeks after a cycle tour to Greece and getting married in Slovenia.

But at the end of November her health took a turn for the worse.

“I’d just returned from five months cycling across Europe and organising an international marathon in Uganda, I was very fit, active and healthy but felt a bit tired, a bit off,” said Ellie, 31.

“Blood tests confirmed my liver wasn’t happy but the doctors just said it was a virus and I’d fight it. Blood tests continued for the next month or so but doctors couldn’t work out what was wrong.

“Then on New Year’s Day I started turning yellow. Two days later I was admitted to hospital then six days after that I was taken to the Royal Free, London, by ambulance.

“I was put on the super-urgent liver transplant list. Toxins started reaching my brain and I didn’t recognise my husband. My family started being tested as liver donors but none was compatible and I was moved to intensive care.

“I lost consciousness. Things got a bit dicey, my husband was told I was in a life-threatening condition and wouldn’t survive more than 48 hours without a new liver, but at 11pm on Friday 13th, a match was found and the next day, I had seven-and-a-half hour surgery.”

Ellie was out of intensive care two days later, eternally grateful to the medical staff who had saved her and cared for her, and soon took her first steps. She was out of hospital on January 24 and six weeks later, tried her first tentative run... lasting ten seconds.

April brought Ellie’s first parkrun since her illness – and now the Transplant Games beckon.

She said: “I had never felt so euphoric or grateful as I did for the first three months after life-saving surgery. Everything glowed and my brain was in overdrive, wanting to make the most of every moment.

“My recovery felt excruciatingly slow for somebody so active – I couldn’t walk to begin with but in a few days I was. Running took a little longer and caused a bit more upset, but I had two goals to keep me focused, the Transplant Games and the second Running the Rift Marathon in Uganda this November.”

At the Transplant Games, Ellie has entered the 400m, 400m relay, 800m, 1500m and 3k. She said: “It’s all the running events that weren’t sprinting because I thought sprinting was a bit punchy six months after surgery and didn’t want my liver falling out. I can’t wait to meet other people who’ve been through similar things.”

She added: “They never found out what caused my acute liver failure which is scary because I don’t know what to avoid.

“I’ll be on anti-rejection meds for the rest of my life, these have to be quite strong for somebody my age to suppress the immune system enough.”

The Transplant Games helps to raise awareness of organ donation and promote active lifestyles. See more at www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk

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The Arundel Festival is looming large on the horizon, starting Saturday, August 19, and running for a full ten days up until Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

Last year it was awarded the accolade of Festival of the Year by Sussex Life and every year it attracts thousands of visitors from far and wide, with a great variety of events to be experienced.

2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the festival and promises to be better than ever.

This year sees the return for the third year running of a series of educational and fun wine events arranged by the Arundel Wine Society, now under the patronage of her Grace Georgina Duchess of Norfolk.

Having started originally with just three, the wine events go from strength to strength with this year seeing no less than seven events during the festival.

The whole ethos of the Arundel Wine Society, of which I am chairman, is based on the educational principle that the more you know about wine, the more you can appreciate it.

Emile Peynaud, emeritus professor of Oenology at Bordeaux University in the mid 20th century, wrote that knowledge of how to taste is the basis of drinking well.

“Tasting teaches us to master the use of our senses. Good wines favour sobriety whilst alcoholism is the result of drinking badly. Drink less, but be difficult with your choice.”

Wise words from a revered world expert. In 1980, he published a 235-page large format book, called Le gout du Vin (The Taste of Wine), which, even more than 30 years later, is still used as a reference work by Master of Wine students.

Four themed wine tastings form the Arundel Festival Wine Trail with each tasting being on a different day in a different venue around the town.

These tasting events include an illustrated presentation, followed by a tutored tasting of six wines which showcase the wine region or style of wine.

This year, the themes are Wines from the Dordogne Valley, Wines from Northern Italy, Sparkling wines made by the same method as Champagne but not champagne, and different grape varieties from New Zealand.

Last year saw a new wine event launched, which was the Arundel Restaurant Trail – four courses each in a different restaurant and each paired with a different glass of wine. This sold out very rapidly, and this year it sold out even quicker – within two weeks. Thus, a second night has been organised and that too sold out – within two days!

With the ever-increasing popularity and success of our home-grown wines made here in Sussex, a tour of some of the local vineyards will take place on Monday, August 21.

Participants will be able to visit four different vineyards and the whole day tour by minibus includes lunch and tea.

All will leave with an in-depth understanding of wine making and the fast-growing English wine industry.

We are lucky in the UK in that we have probably the most diverse range of wines available to taste and buy, from all around the globe, of any country in the world. Hence the growing interest in knowing more about the different wines and finding opportunities to gain more knowledge and experience of them.

The Arundel Festival Wine Events are designed to provide some of this knowledge and tasting experiences in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

But if you are interested, don’t delay. All events have limited numbers and are selling out fast.

Further details are available from richard@arundelwinesociety.co.uk.

Richard Esling BSc DipWSET is an experienced wine consultant, agent, writer and educator. An erstwhile wine importer, he runs a wine agency and consultancy company called WineWyse, is founder and principal of the Sussex Wine Academy, chairman of Arundel Wine Society and is an International Wine Judge. Twitter @richardwje. Visit www.winewyse.com.

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A West Sussex county councillor whose family was rushed to hospital after a crash has paid tribute to the emergency services and has given an update on her family’s condition.

Jacqueline Russell (Con, East Grinstead South and Ashurst Wood) praised the ‘priceless service’ of the emergency services following the collision involving a van and a car in Sloughgreen Lane, Warninglid, yesterday afternoon.

Her seven-year-old granddaughter, her grandson and her daughter-in-law were all rushed to St George’s Hospital with serious injuries.

She said: “Where in the world could you be where you have an accident, you are cut out of a car, you are airlifted by two helicopters to a team of 22 doctors at a top hospital and not have a bill at the end of it?

“Where would you get that in this world? We are very very lucky and it’s a priceless service.”

Mrs Russell said her granddaughter was in the operating theatre this morning.

Her daughter-in-law has had surgery to repair an injury to her leg while her grandson suffered seat belt injuries.

She said all three were on the mend.

“I am eternally grateful to West Sussex Fire and Rescue, Sussex Police, the two helicopters that flew my family into the care of the superb staff at St. George’s Hospital in Tooting who looked after us all,” she said.

“They have been absolutely amazing to us and our family.”

Early reports from the ambulance service indicated that five people were rushed to hospital however, Mrs Russell said only four people were injured in the crash.

She said: “My son got to the scene and he went up in the Air Ambulance with my granddaughter. My son’s partner went in an Air Ambulance and my son’s partner’s sister went with my grandson in the ambulance by road.”

She said another man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Roffey skipper Matt Davies knows his side have to win every game for the rest of the season because he believes East Grinstead will not lose any of their remaining fixtures.

Davies was left frustrated at the weekend after the Premier Division match against title rivals East Grinstead and the T20 Cup semi-final with Horsham could not be completed because of rain.

The league abandonment meant both Roffey and East Grinstead received ten points, leaving the reigning champions one point ahead of their nearest rivals.

Davies said: “Obviously it’s frustrating to have both games rained off this weekend, as they were both important games in both competitions and ones we felt we could win.

“It’s difficult to analyse the games with so little cricket being played.

“Both us and EG have a lot of cricket left to play this season, I think we have to go into every game trying to win because I can’t really see them slipping up.”

Grinstead found themselves in a good position on Saturday before the heavens opened.

They were 127-3 from 35.2 overs before umpires Matthew French and John Gray called an end to proceedings.

Will Adkin hit 35 and Fynn Hudson-Prentice was 50 not out.

Ben Manenti (2-51) and Rohit Jagota (1-17) were Roffey’s wicket takers.

Roffey face bottom-of-the-table Ansty on Saturday as they look to stay top of the Premier Division while East Grinstead travel to Brighton.

But Davies will not be looking out for Grinstead’s progress during the game.

He said: “Saturday’s game against Ansty is another big game for us, we can’t worry about Grinstead and just have to focus on winning our game.”

There is just over a week to go until Medieval mayhem is unleashed at Loxwood Meadow.

This year’s Loxwood Joust will be held on the site over two weekends, on August 5&6 and 12&13, giving families plenty of opportunity to revel in the spectacular event.

As part of the build-up, event organisers have compiled a series of fascinating facts about all things Medieval.

Here, we explore the world of the witches.

The Myth

Witches were the foulest creatures known to walk the world of the Middle Ages, dabblers in the dark arts, servants of the mysterious spirits of this world and worshippers of pagan beliefs.

People believed that Witches made secret pacts with the Devil that allowed them to haunt the skies on flying broomsticks, create storms and even transform into animals to keep watch over their woodland territories.

Those that hunted these vile creatures were known as the Malleus Maleficarum, Witch Hunters. Popular beliefs spouted that to break the curse or hex of a witch, you needed to first draw her blood.

The Truth

Most practitioners of the arts usually provided services to the people of their communities. These individuals were known as White Witches, Wise Women or the Cunning Folk. They used their knowledge of healing herbs and plants to aid those they came into contact with.

There were those who were said to have used their arts for more selfish desires, helping only themselves in the harming of their enemies. These individuals were known as Black Witches, the distinction between the two would be lost in the chaos to come, during the Renaissance era.

What would become the name given to the Witch Hunters first began as a book, which would lead to the hysteria surrounding these practitioners of the dark arts. The Malleus Maleficarum (also known as the Hammer of Witches) was a tome published by two inquisitors of the Dominican. After the terrible wars and outbreaks of famine and disease throughout the land, the people were looking for someone to blame for their ill –given lot in life. The Hammer of Witches provided the people with a united front against such bad times, with its talks of satanic rituals and the summoning of abominations through depraved acts of sexual natures, it wasn’t long before the fate of all witches was set upon a bloody path of religious zealotry.

Role

A witch’s role in Medieval England would have been that of the village wisewoman. She helped birth babies, she healed the sick with herbs and muttered incantations, maybe she practised a little divination by casting the runes or even bits of twig. She dispensed advice and was able to use astrology to help the querent, often she was versed in astronomy, since at the time, the two sciences were considered to be inseparable. She could make love potions and on occasion, if the need arose, curse someone’s enemy.

Witches were often indistinguishable from common folk, since later in the era to be a recognisable witch was punishable. So it could be the person in the hovel next door and not necessarily a batty, toothless, wild haired old woman clad in rags who lived alone and had many cats.

Witches were mainly women, but it was not unknown for a man to be one.

The Tools of a witch:

Cup and Chalice: This is usually silver coated and is used to symbolise the female reproductive system.

Wand: Usually made from natural materials such as oak, the wand represented the power of wind.

A Knife: The knife would usually be black handled and was a symbol of fire.

Platter: Most traditionally here, a pentacle would be used. Both were symbols for stability and Earth.

The Book of Shadows: This tome or grimoire is the repository of a witches spells, incantations and ritual practices.

Witch Facts:

The term Coven, was used to describe a gathering of witches.

Legend states, that a Spanish armada was destroyed in a storm conjured by a coven of witches.

Witch Hunters were advised to shave the Witch of all bodily hair, so that they could not hide magical items that would ward them from the hunters.

In England, a total of 270 witches were put on trial. 247 of those tried were women, while 23 were men.

Ten random facts about witches!!

• They can walk backwards without falling over ( most of the time)

• They can float on water in a sieve

• All witches are a bit cross eyed (one eye needs to be in the ‘other realm’)

• Cats are their preferred pets or familiars, but anything will do, I knew a wise woman who kept a pet pebble from the beach, it was her best friend

• Witches can’t drink cows’ milk (it has a tendency to curdle in their presence) they prefer goats’milk, which tastes rank anyway

• Witches love to sing, the louder and more out of tune, the better

• A witch’s cauldron is not just for spells, most give it a quick wipe between potions and then make the supper in it.

• Witches don’t have to be just women, in fact, a male witch is called a witch.. NOT a wizard or warlock!

Worthing is among the top ten towns that will suffer the most by Britain’s exit from Europe, according to a study that overturns assumptions that poorer areas of the UK will suffer the most.

For the first time, research by the Centre for Cities think-tank and the Centre for Economic Performance at London School of Economics has analysed the likely impact of both hard and soft Brexit in the decade after any trade deal is done with Europe.

The study shows that all British cities are set to see a drop in economic output, regardless of whether the Brexit deal is hard or soft, because of the predicted rise in the costs of trade.

But the economic impact will be almost twice as large in the event of a hard Brexit, which researchers say will bring an average 2.3 per cent reduction in economic output across all UK cities, compared with a 1.2 per cent fall under soft Brexit.

In both scenarios, “economically vibrant” towns and cities predominantly in the south of England will suffer more – as they specialise in the businesses and financial services that could see the biggest downturns.

Centre for Cities has now called for the Government to do all it can to minimise economic shocks by securing the best possible trade deal with the EU and to give cities extra investment and powers to help them weather the storm.

Andrew Carter, the think-tank’s chief executive, said: “All UK cities face significant economic challenges after we leave the EU, but the impact of both hard and soft Brexit will be felt very differently across the country.

”Contrary to much of the received wisdom, it is the most prosperous UK cities which will be hit hardest by the downturn ahead, but poorer places across the North and Midlands will find it tougher to adapt.“

He said the Government must ensure Britain’s post-Brexit trading arrangements are ”as close to our current relationship with Europe as possible“ and it is ”critical“ that Whitehall gives cities across the UK the investment and powers they need to stay competitive.

Worthing, Slough, Swindon and Reading are among the top ten towns that will suffer the most, with a predicted cut of between 1.4 per cent and 2.8 per cent in economic output, according to the study.

On the flip side, the study says Crawley will suffer the least impact overall, with a drop in output of between 0.7 per cent and 1.1 per cent.

Earlier this year, researchers at think-tank Demos said several parts of Britain that voted Leave including Wales, the North East and the East Midlands are among the most vulnerable to the economic impact of Brexit due to their resilience on exports to the EU.

Professor Stephen Machin from the Centre for Economic Performance said: “A hard Brexit would amplify the negative impact of leaving the EU on local economies across the UK.

”The estimated decline in economic activity is higher in richer local economies like London. But Brexit – whether hard or soft – would still hurt economic activity in poorer areas like Hull and Burnley that have some of the lowest incomes in the country.“

This story was originally published on our sister site the i. For the full story, visit https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/cities-towns-south-england-will-hit-hardest-brexit/

The following are the latest results contributed by HM Courts Service, for cases sentenced by West Sussex Magistrates’ Court sitting at Worthing from July 17 to 21, 2017.

Christopher Booth, 41, of Alberta Walk, Durrington, was fined £300 and must pay £50 compensation, £30 victim surcharge, £250 costs, after being found guilty of assault by beating in Worthing on November 28, 2016.

Paul Feest, 48, of Whitebeam Road, Durrington, was given a community order and must carry out 120 hours’ unpaid work after admitting breached a non-molestation order by telephoning in Worthing between May 31, 2017, and June 3, 2017; and breaching court bail conditions. He was given a restraining order and must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Stephen Phillips, 42, of Harvey Court, Blackbourne Close, Littlehampton, admitted breaching a suspended sentence order, which was revoked. He was dealt with for the original offence, receiving a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, for stalking in Bognor Regis between December 8, 2014, and January 14, 2015. He was given a six-weeks consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, after admitting harassment through numerous text messages in Littlehampton between June 27, 2016, and July 31, 2016. He was given a restraining order and must pay £115 victim surcharge, £250 costs. He also admitted breaching a conditional discharge order and was dealt with for the original offence of common assault, receiving no separate penalty.

Mandy Darke, 51, of Salvington Road, Worthing, was fined £120 and must pay £339.59 vehicle excise back duty, £85 costs, after admitting using an unlicensed vehicle on the A23 Pease Pottage on August 9, 2016.

Karlie Everson, 30, of Norfolk House, Worthing, was fined £30 and must pay £50 costs, after admitting breaching supervision requirements following release from prison.

Kenneth Beattie, 32, of Dorking Court, Copper Hall Close, Rustington, was fined £288 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting drink-driving (91mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) in Sea Lane, Rustington, on July 1, 2017. He was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Adam Chiswell, 25, of Kingsland Close, Shoreham, was fined £80 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £150 costs, after admitting obstructing a police contable in Shoreham on April 28, 2017.

Ernest Doll, 58, of Pavilion Road, Worthing, was given a community order with 16-week curfew, electronically monitored, from 9pm to 6am daily, after admitting drink-driving (98mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath) in Pavilion Road, Worthing, on July 2, 2017. He must pay £85 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Geraint Harding, 27, of The Lawns, Sompting, was fined £120 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting driving without insurance in The Lawns, Sompting, on March 17, 2017. His driving record was endorsed with six points. He was fined £80 after admitting using a vehicle with a tyre that did not meet the 1.6mm minimum tread depth in The Lawns, Sompting, on March 17, 2017.

Aaron Melloy, 28, of Hammy Lane, Shoreham, was discharged conditionally for four months and must pay £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting resisting a police constable in Shoreham on June 15, 2017.

Deborah Wiltshire, 21, of York Road, Littlehampton, was given a community order with rehabilitation activity requirement and must pay £50 compensation after admitting assault by beating in Littlehampton on April 11, 2017; and breaching a criminal behaviour order by using violence towards a person, causing distress.

The following are the latest results contributed by HM Courts Service, for cases sentenced by West Sussex Magistrates’ Court sitting at Worthing from July 17 to 21, 2017.

Jade Everitt, 23, of Meaden Way, Felpham, was discharged conditionally for 12 months and must pay £150 compensation to one victim, £20 victim surcharge, £250 costs, after admitting two charges of assault by beating in Bognor Regis on October 5, 2016.

Sharon Puleston, 59, of Templesheen Road, Bognor Regis, was fined £80 and must pay £6.67 vehicle excise back duty after admitting using an unlicensed vehicle on the A35 Stinsford on January 9, 2017. She was fined £80 after admitting using an unlicensed vehicle on the A35 Stinsford on February 13, 2017.

John Brazil, 19, of Clayton Lane, Bracklesham Bay, was fined £120 and must pay £30 victim surcharge, £85 costs, after admitting possessing cocaine at Chichester Custody Centre on June 30, 2017.

Paul Dickenson, 26, of Baffins Lane, Chichester, was given a five-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and must pay £100 compensation, £115 victim surcharge, after admitting assault by beating in Chichester on July 1, 2017. He was given a five-week concurrent prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and must pay £100 compensation after admitting a second charge of assault by beating in Chichester on July 1, 2017. He was given a five-week concurrent prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and must pay £85 compensation after admitting using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause distress in Chichester on July 1, 2017.

Stephen Worsley, 36, of Petts Close, Selsey, was given a four-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months and must pay £379 compensation after admitting stealing groceries worth £379 from Sainsbury’s, Chichester, on April 29, 2014. He was given a given a four-week consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months and must pay £286 compensation after admitting stealing groceries worth £286 from Sainsbury’s, Rustington, on May 16, 2014. He was given a given a four-week consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months and must pay £665.38 compensation after admitting stealing groceries worth £665.38 from Sainsbury’s, Bognor Regis, on June 10, 2014. He was given a given a four-week consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months after admitting stealing groceries worth £665.38 from Sainsbury’s, Rustington, on July 7, 2014. He was given a given a four-week consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months after admitting stealing groceries worth £661.73 from Sainsbury’s, Bognor Regis, on July 7, 2014. He was given a given a four-week consecutive prison sentence, suspended for 24 months and must pay £152.70 after admitting dishonestly making off without paying £152.70 for a taxi fare fom London to Selsey and a McDonalds meal in Selsey on September 23, 2014.

An inquest for a man who died when he was hit by a train in Chichester earlier this month has been opened and adjourned.

Ben Collins, 32, of Lumsden Road in Southsea, died on Sunday morning, July 16, near the footbridge by Tesco Extra, a spokesman for West Sussex County Council said today.

British Transport Police confirmed at the time that his death was no being treated as suspicious.

A date for his inquest is due to be set.

The fatality closed all lines between Barnham and Havant until the early afternoon.

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Police are appealing for information after four people were injured in a village crash yesterday afternoon (July 26).

Emergency services were called to Sloughgreen Lane in Warninglid after a white Citroen Berlingo and a black Ford Mondeo collided at about 1.35pm.

A 27-year-old woman from Haywards Heath, who was driving the Ford, was airlifted to hospital along with her seven-year-old daughter who was a passenger in the car.

A four-year-old boy, who was also a passenger in the Ford, was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Police said all three suffered serious injuries.

The family has praised the work of the emergency services and have said the three are ‘on the mend’.

A 50-year-old man from Burgess Hill, who was driving the Citroen, was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton.

Anyone who attended the scene but left before speaking to police or who saw what happened is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Derwent.

Related stories: UPDATE: Family praise emergency services after village crash

A swell of support for exploratory drilling south of Billingshurst has been received from Newcastle, Wales, Glasgow, and even Northern Ireland.

UK Oil & Gas Investments (UKOG) is looking for oil deposits at a site off Adversane Lane in Broadford Bridge.

Protesters have been campaigning against the company’s activities for months over environmental concerns and fears of water contamination.

Temporary permission for exploratory drilling was granted by West Sussex County Council in 2013, but UKOG has now submitted a further application for a 12-month extension.

Testing is due to be completed in October or November, but the original permission runs out in mid-September.

The new application has already received more than 130 objections, but also 92 submissions in support.

However of those 92, only five appear to be from residents in the surrounding area, with supporters writing in from Abercynon in Wales, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Somerset, Glasgow, Bristol, Sheffield, Essex, Ipswich, Rochdale, Merseyside, and even one from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.A

A number of submissions are identical and read: “I support the application for a one year extension to the Broadford Bridge oil exploration site in Adversane Lane to complete the flow test programme.

“It is very important to the UK balance of payments, the UK economy. UK fuel security, and will contribute to the local economy

“This application will prove the Weald Basin oil reserve potentially worth many billions.”

On the county council’s planning portal, one Billingshurst resident wrote: “Until such time as renewable energy is available for everything that oil currently is used we should support onshore oil exploration.

“I know that fracking is not taking place at BB1 and the scaremongering from protestors is dreadful.

“As there are currently around 84 oil/gas wells in East and West Sussex, I find it difficult to make any objection to this application.

“Better to produce our own oil/gas than to import it with the huge carbon footprint involved.”

While many of the objections are from around Broadford Bridge, Billingshurst, Pulborough, and West Chiltington, others are from the rest of Sussex, or from as far afield as Kilmarnock, Preston, Devon, North Yorkshire, and Suffolk.

They raised issues with industrialisation of the countryside and the possibility of chemicals affecting the water supply and ecology.

Many also called for greater support of renewable energy sources instead, and felt a fresh application should be submitted as the plans were too different to the original one approved by the county council.

One objector wrote: “This just cannot be allowed to happen. The environmental risks are too great, and it would be a disaster for the Weald.”

In a previous letter to residents, Stephen Sanderson, executive chairman and chief executive of UKOG, said: “We are not fracking. We do not want to or need to.”

Addressing concerns about acidisation, he explained that they were solely using dilute hydrochloric acid ‘only when an oil well is first tested or prepared for production’.

He added: “Note that the acid is put into rocks thousands of feet below any fresh water bearing horizons and directly and solely into the oil and salt water-bearing oil reservoir.

“Critically, acidisation is done in an oil well comprising three cemented steel casings (concentric pipes).

“There is therefore no possibility of a leak to the surface or to shallow rocks.”

Keith Taylor, a Green MEP for the South East, visited Broadford Bridge on Thursday July 20 to meet campaigners to highlight concerns about Sussex Police’s handling of peaceful protests, particularly its approach to ‘slow-walking protests’.

Afterwards, Mr Taylor said: “The people I’ve met here today are residents and campaigners concerned about the future of their communities and the future of our planet.

“I have seen them be nothing but warm, friendly, and, crucially, peaceful - during today’s protest and every other while I’ve been down on the site.”

He added: “Earlier this month, I called on the National Police Chiefs Council to urgently review the guidance issued to police officers attending fracking protests amidst an increase in reports of the use of excessive force against apparently peaceful protesters by police and private security forces.

“I’m now renewing my call for the Sussex PCC to undertake a similar review. I’m also calling on Sussex Police to communicate more clearly and more consistently with residents and campaigners on the ground.”

In response chief inspector Howard Hodges said: “Safety is the paramount consideration when we are policing this type of protest.

“We have engaged with the protesters at the site to make clear the areas where slow walking as a protest is tolerated, where it is safe to do so.

“Any slow walking protest that falls outside of the designated areas will not be tolerated and officers will deal with it swiftly.

“I consider this approach to be proportionate to keep the pubic safe, facilitate peaceful protest and ensure that the wider community can conduct their lawful business.”

To comment visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/planning using code WSCC/029/17/WC.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder this afternoon.

At about 12.41pm on Thursday (27 July), police were called to an incident in Clyde Road, St Leonards. Once at the scene further enquiries led to the discovery of a 37-year-old local man with serious injuries in Wishing Tree Road.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the injured man was pronounced dead at scene, police said.

A section of the street has been closed off while forensics investigations are carried out, police say.

Police say a 21-year-old man from London was arrested in Clyde Road on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody at this stage.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, however anyone with any information is asked to report it online at https://sussex.police.uk/appealresponse quoting Operation Lexus.

Photos by Eddie Mitchell.

The Rocks have had their biggest boost of pre-season with news they have talked keeper Dan Lincoln into staying at Nyewood Lane - a further sign that things are falling into place nicely for the new National League South season.

Fans and management had feared losing last year’s player of the season to a higher-ranked club but Lincoln is staying put – at least for now.

This does not rule out the chances of him moving on to bigger things at some stage, as many think he is sure to do, but it is a big plus for the club as they prepare for life in a higher division.

Losing him at this stage would have left a mad scramble to find a keeper with experience who could take his place.

General manager Jack Pearce told the Bognor Observer: “We’re delighted he is signing for us again. He had an excellent season last term and is an important player for us.”

Coach Darun Killpartrick and management assistant Gary Charman also spoke of their delight Lincoln would still be in goal in a team containing many of the players who secured promotion last season via the Ryman League play-offs.

Charman said: “It’s a hell of a statement, both from Dan and for us as a club. It’s massive.”

Lincoln was due to sign forms at last night’s home friendly with Crawley.

He was voted fans’ player of the year last season after a string of superb performances that were vital in helping Bognor finish second in the Ryman premier and win their play-off semi-final and final.

There were so many games where he’d made vital saves to turn potential defeats into draws or draws into wins.

He has been keeping his options open as far as the new season is concerned, with the possibility on the horizon of a move to a club higher up the football pyramid.

The Rocks have also signed four new players this summer - defender Corey Heath and midfield trio Joe Lea, Pat Suraci and Tommy Scutt - and continue to run the rule over a number of young trialists. They also remain in the hunt for another striker.

Youngsters who have featured in friendly wins at Chichester City (5-2) and Horndean (6-0) include goalkeeper Lewis Boughton, full-back Luke Robinson, central defender Harry Docherty and forwards Lyndon Miller and Lloyd Rowlatt.

The Rocks’ final friendly will take them to Gosport on Friday evening – then they start their league campaign at home to Bath City on Saturday week.

Coach Killpartrick is pleased with the way training and matches are showing the players progressing in terms of fitness and ability.

He said: “The friendlies have been useful workouts and the players are working hard in training. We’re looking to build up fitness all the time and get them working with the ball exactly as we want them to. We’ll be ready for the first league game.”

Charman has been impressed by some of the young hopefuls who have linked up with the squad.

“Most have been brought in by Dabba (Darin) and are very, very impressive,” he said. “They have a hell of a future in the game. But they will have to see this season as a learning curve. They’re not going to be playing every week.”

See a report from the Crawley friendly plus post-match reaction at www.bognor.co.uk

STEVE BONE

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