West Sussex County Council Newsletter 2019

D-Day 75: West Sussex people played their role

A West Sussex man, whose invention helped make the D-Day landings possible, is just one of the stories in a new edition of a book produced by West Sussex Record Office.

‘D-Day West Sussex’ explains how Lieutenant-Commander Robert Lochner, RNVR, experimented in the garden pond at his home at Linchmere near Midhurst to create ‘floating sea walls’ (Mulberry Harbours) which allowed supply lorries and other support vehicles to land safely on the Normandy beaches.

The book is available at the Record Office in Orchard Street, Chichester and from all public libraries in West Sussex.

Visitors to the Record Office will also be able to read the diary of a General, written just days before D-Day.

This, along with other significant documents, is on display in the reception area. In the diary General Lashmer Gordon Whistler of the Royal Sussex Regiment, described how he felt before D-Day: “A very strange feeling being in England waiting for the final campaign to start.”

“I hope I am not going to be too frightened.”

Whistler took command of the 3rd Infantry Division for the final push from Normandy to Bremen in Germany.

The book priced at £7.95.

You can find more information on the Record Office site.

For more information about the Record Office visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro

Rare Sussex Declaration displayed during US Presidential State Visit to UK

West Sussex County Council is delighted that the Sussex Declaration – a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence – has been displayed in No 10 Downing Street during the Presidential State Visit to the UK.

The Declaration is one of only two contemporary handwritten ceremonial parchment manuscript copies, the other being the signed copy housed in the National Archives in Washington D.C.

West Sussex County Archivist Wendy Walker delivered a short presentation to Prime Minister Theresa May and President Donald Trump about the document and its historical significance.

Great efforts were taken to transport the document from the Record Office in Chichester to Downing Street this week. A conservation expert from the National Conservation Service was involved and a specially-designed exhibition case, previously used for the Magna Carta, was loaned by Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust to display the historic document.

Read the full story online.

Become a foster carer and #ChangeALife

It’s the small things that make the biggest difference. That’s what our children in care tell us.

For Foster Care Fortnight in May we launched a new campaign asking everyone to consider if they could #changealife by fostering.

If you, or someone you know is interested in fostering please help us share this campaign. Our monthly information evenings are a great way to find out more and are hosted across the county, the next event takes place 13 June in Horsham.

Take a moment to watch an interview with Harry, one of our care leavers, who recently shared his experience of being in care and follow the campaign on social media at #changealife.

 

 

 

Speed kills West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service warns

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging residents to cut their speed as part of speeding prevention month.

Last year, eight people died and 123 were seriously injured on West Sussex roads due to speeding.

A new video made by the service highlights these statistics and also features the voice of a young child asking his father why he is driving so fast.

Being caught speeding could result in:

• Up to six points on your licence
• Fine of up to 175% of your weekly income
• Driving ban or licence revoked (if you’re still within two years of passing your test)
• Disqualification
• Criminal record
• Prison sentence
• The death or serious injury of either yourself or an innocent person.

Crews from WSFRS will be out supporting the campaign in their local communities. Follow @WestSussexFire on Twitter and @WSFRS on Facebook for updates.

Connections Survey

Over 385,000 copies of our latest West Sussex Connections newspaper will be delivered to households across the county from Monday (10 June).

This edition includes features on ash dieback, which means tens of thousands of West Sussex trees have to be felled; ways to improve air quality; details of the Summer Reading Scheme in our libraries; the latest prosecutions by our Trading Standards team and how we are tackling social isolation and loneliness.

Will you read it? Do you enjoy it? What changes could we make? Should we keep printing it, go digital only or look at other options to save costs?

Take part in our survey and let us know: www.westsussex.gov.uk/connections2019

Experience West Sussex this summer holiday

If you’re thinking ahead to the summer holidays and planning where to take the family for fun days out, don’t forget to check out all that West Sussex has to offer.

The Experience West Sussex (EWS) website has plenty of information – from free cycle routes and walks to details about events taking place, family-friendly places to visit and themed itineraries for days out.

Keep your eyes open as well for five EWS branded vehicles hitting the road this month. The branding promotes the EWS website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to visitors and residents alike.

Have you seen them? Let us know via WSCC Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Latest headlines:

Have your say: SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2019-24

Step forward for exciting new Worthing Community Hub

Solar schools gear up for a bumper summer

#SaveTimeGoOnline

1. How can I request a birth/marriage/death copy certificate? Order a copy or make amendments here.
2. How do I book a Registrar for my wedding? Click here for details on how to book.
3. How do I report a pothole? You can report it quickly via Love West Sussex.

4.  How do I find out where our grass cutting crews are working? Click here.

 

You are able to keep up to date with our articles, news and publications by following us on our social media channels below: