September’s talk
Our next talk will be on Friday, 19th September 2025 when Brian Lavery will be talking to us about Brigadier Green and the Steyning Home Guard. The Home Guard was a very serious matter in 1940, when a German invasion was expected. Brigadier Green commanded the Home Guard from Chantry Green House in Church Street and wrote perhaps the best manual on Home Guard organisation and tactics, with many local references. Brian, as a member of our committee, needs no introduction. .
As usual, the talk will take place at the Steyning Centre and will start at 7.30 pm. Liquid refreshments will be served from 7 pm. Guests at our talks are always very welcome at our talks, subject to an admission charge of £5 each.
Cruise on the Waverley Paddle Steamer, Wednesday, 17th September
We are planning a cruise on the Waverley Paddle Steamer on Wednesday, 17th September from Shoreham to the Solent and the Isle of Wight. The Waverley leaves Shoreham at 10.30 and we should be back in Shoreham by 20.30. We are planning to arrange transport to Shoreham for those who want it. The sea trip costs £66 with a stop at Yarmouth, or £69 if going on to the Needles. Please follow the link Paddle steamer Waverley for full details of the day and how to book.
Glebe Farm
An application has been made to Horsham District Council (“HDC”) for approval of the matters which were reserved when outline planning permission was granted last autumn for 265 new homes to be built on part of Glebe Farm. The application and the supporting documents are now available on HDC’s planning website. Anyone wanting to comment about the application can do so via HDC’s website by 27th August 2025, when the consultation period closes. This process does not provide a way in which the decision to grant outline permission can be reopened: it is only concerned with the detailed plans which have been submitted in respect of the reserved matters. .
Trip to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Monday, 3rd November
We are now taking bookings for our trip to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. on Monday, 3rd November. The day will include guided tours of the Museum in small groups, a one-hour talk on the SOE with the focus on the Special Duty Pilots who operated out of Tangmere during the War, and lunch at the Anglesey Arms. The cost is £40 per person to include coach travel, Museum entrance, talk and guided tour. Note: this does not include lunch. Please follow the link Tangmere Trip for further details and a brief history of the airfield by Brian Lavery. To book a place please pay online: The Steyning Society s/c: 20-98-74 a/c: 60832235. Please let our Treasurer know that you have purchased places for the trip: adriangobat@hotmail.co.uk
Photographic Competition and Calendar for 2026
We invite members to submit recent photographs of Steyning and the surrounding area through the various seasons of the year for inclusion in a Steyning Society Calendar for 2026, which will be published by the Society. You may submit as many photographs as you like (within reason!) and you may make more than one submission.. Please send your submissions to our Treasurer, Adrian Gobat, whose email address is adriangobat@hotmail.co.uk.. There will be a prize for the best photograph which will consist of a bottle of Smock Alley sparkling wine and a tasting at the vineyard, both kindly donated by Sarah Lavery..
Capture the beauty of Steyning through the seasons and have your photo featured in our printed calendar! Whether you’re using a smartphone or camera. Click Competition information sheet to find out how to take part:
Al Fresco Jazz Party
We held a garden party at the beautiful gardens of Tim Melton and Bernardean Carey in Holland Road on 16th July 2025 to raise funds for the grants we make to local organisations, with background music provided by The Riverboat Shuffle. The event raised over £1,700. Many thanks to everyone who attended for your support and company. A full account of the evening can be found in the Events Section and pictures of the evening can be found by following the link Al Fresco Jazz | Steyning Society
Winchester Trip
In conjunction with the Friends of Steyning Parish Church, we arranged a coach trip to Winchester on 20th May 2025 to see the Hospital of St Cross and the Cathedral. The Hospital of St Cross is a medieval alms house which has a fine Norman church. The masons who carved in the church are thought to have carved in our church as well. A financial scandal at the Hospital provided the idea for the plot of The Warden in Trollope’s Barchester novels. We also had a tour of the Cathedral, which included the 12th Century Winchester Bible and the Kings and Scribes Exhibition about the Wessex Royal Family. A full account of the trip can be found in the Events Section or by following this link Winchester trip.
Annual General Meeting
This year’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Steyning Centre on Wednesday, 16th April 2025. The formal AGM was followed by this year’s Steyning Bowl Awards, which were presented by Nigel Hartley. The Bowl was won by Vintage Years, which also received a certificate. There were six runners up, who all received certificates. Catherine Mant and Nick Bennett ended the evening by sharing their memories of Steyning in the 50s and 60s. A full account of the evening, including photographs, can be found at this link.
The Local Heritage Lis
The Local Heritage List has been adopted by Steyning Parish Council and by Horsham District Council. A limited number of copies of the list has been printed and are available at £10 each. They can be bought at the Society’s meetings or copies can be ordered by contacting the Society on cmantsteyningsoc@gmail.com.
For the latest newsletter, please click: June 2025.docx
