insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 13 - March 2016 | Page 14
NEWS
RECOGNITION FOR UNSUNG SUSSEX HERO’S LIFE OF GIVING
Bob Phillips, a Sussex man who has dedicated his life to supporting
the community, has been presented with the prestigious ‘Certificate of
Achievement’ award from Pat Arculus, chairman of West Sussex County
Council, for the outstanding contribution he has made.
Having been born in Peckham in 1936, Bob was evacuated to Shipley
in 1939 with one of his sisters and two brothers. After attending Shipley
Church of England School until 1951, Bob remained in the area and
studied woodwork in Billingshurst. He then trained as a gardener on a
local estate, where, except for a small break to complete his national
service, he remained until he retired in 1995.
But, it’s Bob’s dedication and commitment to a number of organisations
in the area that has earned him the thoroughly deserved award. Having
joined the 1st Shipley Scouts as a Cub in 1944, Bob has remained
devoted to the group ever since and was one of the first in the troop
to receive the Queen’s Scouts Award in the early 1950s. As well as
becoming a troop leader in 1958, Bob has dedicated his free time to
the group by taking on many other duties, including driving the minibus
to collect and drop off children for meetings, maintaining the land
surrounding the scout hut at the base at Dragons Green, arranging the
restoration of several village ponds and wells, and organising the annual
Christmas carol singing group who visit local residents to raise money to
help support the Shipley Scouts.
Amanda Jupp, of West Sussex County Council, nominated Bob to
receive the certificate. “One of Bob’s greatest attributes is his modesty
and willingness to help anyone,” she said. “He has always been one of
the first to volunteer for any projects in the parish, and there is not much
he does not know about it, or its history. He is a very kind and generous
person and deserves recognition for the contribution he has made to the
Shipley and Coolham community over the years.”
SECRET CAMPSITE TO HOST SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST FESTIVAL
The Secret Campsite, near Lewes in East Sussex, isto host this year’s
Sussex Wildlife Trust Festival from July 1-3. The weekend will be packed
with a full programme of talks and planned activities for adults and
children.
These activities will include guided night walks, bug hunts, moth traps,
small mammal traps, pond dipping, bush craft activities, woodland walks,
trail cameras, bats, badgers, bird spotting and more.
Now a highly popular annual event - this will be the fourth – the weekend
generates vital funds for the trust, and last year’s festival raised £1,790.
Prices for the special two-night stay are £72 for adults and £36 for
children aged 5-16. It is expected that under 5s should make a donation
of £6 to Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Working with Secret Campsite owner, Tim Bullen, the event is coorganised by Sussex Wildlife Trust’s community wildlife officer, Michael
Blencowe, who runs the Lewes Community Wildlife Project. Michael
works across Lewes in green spaces, and at nature reserves in
Malling Down and Southerham.
Photo credit: Sussex Wildlife Trust
A conservation charity, the Sussex Wildlife Trust Festival is focused
on protecting the rich natural life that is found in the county’s towns,
throughout the countryside and along its coast. Its aims are shared by
the Secret Campsite, which was revealed by The Guardian newspaper as
one of the top 10 campsites in the country. The Secret Campsite, which
is often described as the ‘antidote to glamping’, provides real camping
opportunities, getting back to nature and relaxing in the great outdoors.
To ensure a tranquil stay, the Secret Campsite features widely spaced,
individual pitches devoid of cars, caravans, dogs or large groups. Places
are limited, but campers can book online via www.thesecretcampsite.
co.uk/blog/2016-sussex-wildlife-trust-festival-at-the-secretcampsite
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