See something that needs doing? Willing to take on responsibility? How will you help?
Ian Hart, prominent locally and fellow columnist, kindly bought me a beer on Saturday before Worthing’s top football team overcame Weston super Mare.
The first half was spectacular with five goals in the first 30 minutes. The club will now compete in the play-off semi-finals on 28th April. Cheering, we wish them success.
George Howell MBE has helped make possible the progress of the club for which he played. The national honour was for his efforts for Association Football and for Disability Awareness. ITV describes his achievements during the past ten years: the new 3G pitch, the dedicated Sports Bar and Café, together with the vast improvements to the Woodside Road grounds. There is a good wiki article that gives the Worthing FC history.
Soon there might be one for players at the Ferring Football club in Greystoke Road. When the present great organisers picked up the club about six years ago, there were one or two teams. There are now around 15. I praise the volunteers who give activity to hundreds of girls and boys, as well as having a community hub that could have evaporated.
If anyone knows the youths who attacked the clubhouse, do please take positive action. Ask them to contact the club and the police. There is always the possibility of rehabilitation and the better alternative of doing worthwhile things for the community. I will discuss with relevant authorities whether patrolling can interrupt and reduce the lower-level misbehaviour.
This week I have heard there is a pause, hopefully temporary, in the progress by East Preston’s Sea Road Beach Access proposal for a broad boardwalk wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass, with a good size beach platform. It will connect the village to the sea.
Arun District Council has approved the plan, subject to the consent of the landowner who is . . . the Arun District Council. I am asking the office of the chief executive to authorise that consent or to have a meeting if there is a problem in giving it. The project is to be delivered by a special body because it appears to be outside the powers of the parish or district.
I am glad to know the East Preston Festival Committee and other groups will contribute to the necessary funding. I will too. Do consider helping if you wish to. The beach will be made available to all.
Margaret Bamford is known to many because she has invested her interest and energy in many ways. Virginia and I knew her with her great husband Terry, the leading social services director, over decades.
With her introduction, I visited the Findon Village Store. The Committee together with many volunteers make the shop a centre of the wider community. Provisions are delivered to those who cannot reach the centre of the village. Were I seeking a thesis subject on community activism, I could try a history and description of how funds were raised in a fortnight to purchase the store and post office when it suffered an overnight closure.
Closure is threatened for the Rustington Nat West Branch. We will be meeting the managers this week to put the concerns of local residents and businesses to them and highlight the need for local banking services and access to cash.
Tim Loughton and I were pleased to meet English producers of sparkling wines, some created in Worthing, others made more traditionally at our local vineyards.
This week I will attend Speaker’s House for a celebration of St George’s Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare. The first painting at the National Portrait Gallery is of the great playwright, then thought to be as important as a monarch.
Another is of Eleanor Rathbone MP. Her family motto: If it should be done, it can be done.
