One of the county’s most prolific local historians is preparing to share tales of “Silly Sussex” at a light-hearted lunchtime event at one of the area’s most seriously spectacular gardens.
Kevin Newman will be joined by two more entertaining experts on the county’s past for the occasion at Leonardslee, in Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, on Saturday (25 April).
Mr Newman said: “Silly Sussex was a phrase sometimes used about folk from Sussex, hinting we were all a bit daft in the head. Anyone doing so was mistaken, however, as the phrase actually derives from ‘Selig Sussex’.”
Selig is an old Saxon word that means holy, blessed or fortunate – and Mr Newman added: “(We) may not be able to offer anything particularly holy but we will be looking to get a bit ‘silly’ with our next light-hearted lunchtime event.
“This unique lunchtime event of local history, food, foolishness and fun is headlined by three engaging and entertaining Sussex speakers on local history and food.”
After Mr Newman’s opening session, the first of his two guest speakers will be Janet Pennington, known across the county and beyond for her funny, saucy and always entertaining talks.
Dr Pennington’s talk is entitled “Keep your hat on! The history of hats through the ages”.
Mr Newman said: “Janet will be telling us everything we probably need to know about hats from history – and some things we don’t need to know, but she thinks we should.
“By the end of the talk, you’ll be looking at hats in a completely new way.”
After a sandwich, cream tea and cake break for lunch, it’s the turn of cookery book writer and radio presenter Ian Dowding with a talk called “The pheasants are revolting”.
Mr Dowding is perhaps best known as the inventor of the banoffi pie from his time as the chef at the Hungry Monk restaurant, in Jevington, in the 1970s and ’80s and co-author of its well-known cook books.
Mr Newman said: “He will be bringing his wit, charm and wealth of experience as a celebrity chef along with his experiences of appearing in several television programmes as chef and food adviser.”
Those shows include Regency House Party, The Diets that Time Forgot and more recently Turn Back Time.
Mr Newman will round off the event with a second session, looking at the funnier side of the county’s foolish past.
The author of Secret Brighton and the Little History of Sussex will also be taking questions.
The event is due to start at 10am and finish at 3pm and costs £29.50 per person. For more information or tickets, click here.
