Q and A with Findon Village resident Valerie Martin

I guess that I have been asked to do the Questions and Answers because I have a website on Findon and everyone in our area who is on the Internet has been into it at some period or other.

It seems that surfers from every country in the world have "visited" Findon over the past few years from their armchairs.   Much to my amazement I have regular visitors each day from Canada, the States, Australia and New Zealand etc.   I can't imagine why they are so interested to know what I have put "on" ..... but they are.

I don't look to see what "hits" I have each day as most webmasters do — as long as someone somewhere is dialling into www.findonvillage.com that's fine by me.

What do you like the best about Findon Village?   It goes without saying that the best thing about Findon is the easy walking reach of the Sussex downland.

What do you like least about Findon Village?    The penalty I pay for living in Findon Village is the presence of the hum of distant traffic on the busy A24 that goes on day and night.    On the good side.... the disturbance is fortunately only noticeable if I am out in my garden in Nepcote or if my bedroom window is open during the summer.

How long have you lived in/around Findon Village?     I've resided in Findon Village for 14 years.  I moved here from Henfield for a quiet life with my daughter, Janine, three Chihuahuas, two Siamese and one beautiful white/tabby Moggie.   We had only been here for a few weeks when one of the dogs was killed by another dog on Nepcote Green.   It was not a very good start to our introduction to Findon but I always try to look on the bright side and prayed that things would look up from then on.

If you could change anything about Findon Valley/Village, what would it be?   If I could miraculously alter anything in the village it would be to remove some of the housing development and eateries of recent years and substitute them with the shops of yesteryear.   That may sound strange but it is only a fanciful idea.   Some of the past establishments such as saddlers, boot menders and coal merchants have seen their day — but others would be welcomed back.  Did you know for instance that there was once a Barclay's Bank in The Square?   Wouldn't it be useful if it were there today?

Where is your favourite place to go in/around Findon Valley/Village?    My favourite haunt is most definitely Cissbury Ring.   It is the best area for walking my Shetland Sheepdogs, Suzie and Katie.   I periodically try different locations at Church Hill, Muntham and Findon Valley Gallops but I always come back to the Cissbury environs as the best.   This is firmly seconded by Suzie and Katie.

How do you relax?    You may think this an odd answer to give.... but I relax on a ramble with the dogs and I can leave my troubles behind.   I am often stopped by cyclists and walkers who recognise me from my website.... and say...

"You are Valerie Martin aren't you?"

I do not mind the intrusion in the least and I am not big headed enough to believe that I am a local celebrity, it is more likely Suzie and Katie they recognise more than myself.

What keeps you awake at night?     You are expecting me to say that it is the roar of the A24 traffic that keeps me awake at night aren't you — but you are wrong, in the dark of the night, nightmares are everyone's fear..... and I am no exception.

What would your motto be?    Think before you speak.   Difficult sometimes to do, but it does pay dividends.

How would you like to be remembered?     I suppose I'd better say I would like to be remembered by my Findon website and my various jottings of an historical nature in local publications.   These are my only claim to fame.

I started the website as something to do on miserable, rainy winter days and I thought documenting Findon history would be interesting.   That was back in 1999.  I had never touched a computer in my life and started very tremulously.   The website quickly became so popular (I'll never understand why) that it could easily have taken over my life.... so I've had to limit the time I spend on it.   I still can't fathom out why 99% of the feedback comes from the male population.

6th November 2007

Hello Valerie,   With reference to your recent "Question & Answer" article I will try and explain why I, an Englishman residing in Sweden, visit your site almost daily.

Firstly, my wife and I have spent our summer holidays in Worthing for the past 23 years and,of course, "discovered" Findon Village early on in the day. Even then we were captivated by the charm of the village where many of the old shops still existed in the village square.

My wife, being Swedish, was overjoyed visiting the two pubs where she saw scenes apparently coming direct from the early episodes of "Emmerdale Farm" (which was incredibly popular in Sweden in years gone by, when Annie Sugden, granddad, Jack and Joe and all the others greeted each other with an 'eh opp').

When she also saw a cricket match between Findon and the English ladies team and then had tea and cakes in the tent during the interval her happiness was complete when the ladies gave her a consolation prize because she hadn't won anything in the little lottery they were running. Being referred as "dear" by little old ladies made her think of Miss Marples and her charming world (thankfully no murders in Findon) was simply a bonus for her.

I might add that we stayed at the "Burlington Hotel" for 15 years and are convinced that this was THE original Fawlty Towers Hotel. We now stay at the "Kingsway Hotel" (for the past 8 years). The hotel has just been taken over by two elderly ladies from London. They are very friendly indeed and we believe they will bring a lot of charm and character to the place. Watch this space as they say...

I suppose the reason why I visit your site is a yearning for the old England when people were polite to each other; honest and hard-working. I love seeing the photographs of old Findon and, as you know, of old Worthing. Of course, one would like the village to be full of small shops (my father was a shopkeeper - Tobacco & Confectionary) and a highstreet bank but unfortunately today's society with all its' high-tech and stress has killed it all off. Findon Village is not alone in this.

Our favourite past-time when visiting the village is to struggle up to Nepcote Green and enjoy sandwiches that we usually purchase at the "Gun Inn" and contemplate the tranquil scene.

We agree with you re the new housing developments that have popped up in the last few years, especially on the site of the old "Sandena Rest Home" (?). That was really a large elegant building.

We have walked from Chanctonbury Ring to Cissbury Ring in our early days - alas no longer as we're not as young or fit as we used to be. The scenery is so beautiful and relaxing to the eye so we can understand why you walk up there to get away from it all.

Visiting your site makes me, and I am sure many of your other visitors, feel as if we are cyberspace inhabitants of the village.

Other websites associated with Findon Village which I think are interesting and visit now and then are:

So, I hope this explains why at least one of your "fans" visits your website regularly. And, who knows, perhaps one day I may stop you and ask if you are Valerie Martin without fear of being considered a nuisance.

Kind regards and best wishes to the other cyberspace inhabitants of the village.

Anthony and Karin Dodds,Stockholm, Sweden.