Whispering Smith Column published in the Littlehampton Gazette December 10th 2015

THE weather was not kind to Littlehampton and yet those who organised and took part in last week’s Christmas events plugged on with a smile. Extra markets set up by LOCA and supporters did their very best to ignore the whining westerly and true stalwarts they are, brought at least a semblance of good tidings to those who braved the elements as did the Bamboo Band with their carol singing and other regular songsters and performers. Still to look forward to, the Traditional Yuletide Celebration gig on the 22^nd. at Evans Garden in Arcade Road from 10am to 4pm. At around 2pm you can light a candle from the burning yule log. A pagan ritual backed by traditional music and artistic displays, should be fun.

LAST weekend I visited the lovely church at Sullington, near Storrington, so peaceful even on a stormy wet day where the mist obscured what must, on a clear day, be an incredible view of the South Downs. If I have it right, the beautiful yew tree in the church grounds dates from the ninth century it stands wide and tall, the dark bark twists down like long strands of auburn hair and the photograph I took could not do it justice so a return visit is on the cards, that old tree alone made the journey worthwhile. I have taken up Canon Mark Sugden’s very kind offer of a second visit to St. Margaret’s and I am looking forward to it early in the New Year when he is a little less busy.

MY friends and I are very much saddened by the passing of our pal John Morris. John was a keen and astute observer of local politics and regular contributor to the letters column of this newspaper. To an intimate few he was fondly known as ‘the sidler’ for no matter where you were, be it on the High Street, the war memorial on every Remembrance Sunday, the riverside walk, the allotment, the pub, the supermarket or even the Shoreham Air Show you would suddenly hear that gentle Scottish burr as he appeared seemingly from out of nowhere and launched straightway into a chirpy conversation. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with Mary and the family, another good man gone.