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Telegraph
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
This couple believe they've found the recipe for the perfect rural life
Do you live in a small town or village with a great sense of community? Write to us about it money@ or tell us in the comments section Vicky and Tom Horwood arrived in Petersfield, Hampshire, to find the answer to an important question – was this somewhere they could move to? The couple, 34 and 36, had been living in Slough, but during lockdown they decided to sell their flat and moved in with Tom's parents in Sutton, south London, while looking for a new place to live. Their new home had to be close enough to both their parents and within commuting distance of Tom's work, near Heathrow. They wanted a reasonably sized town with a choice of pubs, a cricket club and an arts scene for Vicky – who is a sustainable jewellery maker. But most of all, they were looking for community – a small town with a village feel. They had visited Petersfield by chance the year before, and liked the feel of the place. 'I'd grown up on the south coast in a friendly community – you'd always say good morning to your neighbours. I missed it. I felt I was anonymous living in London,' says Vicky. 'I wanted to move to a place with a creative spirit, an interest in environmental causes, and where there'd be like-minded people… I wanted to feel part of something.' Tom, who has played cricket since childhood, had researched Petersfield's cricket club meticulously. He'd noted that the club's match reports had a warm feel –it was volunteer-run and still provided cricket tea for home games, a tradition other clubs had scrapped. When he emailed for information, the chairman replied in 10 minutes. On the day they were visiting the village, they went to check it out in person. 'It was the middle of January but the flower beds were well-maintained and the [cricket] square had been well-cut and aired for the winter. Being on a heath, it had a rural feel about it. You could tell that it was very well looked after,' says Tom. 'One of the things that really mattered to me when considering whether to move to Petersfield was: does it have a nice, friendly-feeling cricket club? The social part of the sport is as important as the game itself.' Like Vicky and Tom, there are buyers up and down the country looking for lively WhatsApp groups, bustling high streets, local pubs and recreational groups. Richard Speedy, who covers the South West at Strutt & Parker, estimates that around a third of his clients relocate for community. 'It's been a preference for quite some time, pandemic or no pandemic,' he says. 'But it's getting stronger and stronger.' Retirees with new time on their hands, downsizers or people with older children are more likely to relocate for community than those with school-age children, agents agree. In many towns and villages, the pandemic accelerated these kinds of moves, setting up local infrastructure – like WhatsApp groups, mutual aid and meet-ups – and highlighting the importance of community. 'People felt quite isolated over that period,' says Speedy. 'They want to be within walking distance of their community.' 'You feel like you're part of something' Vicky and Tom moved to Petersfield in 2022 and have a busy social calendar. Vicky offers regular jewellery repairs at the town's eco café and attends meet-ups for Petersfield's climate action network, artist networking nights and the local embroidery club. She says that through these groups she has connected with people of different ages. Meanwhile, Tom is heavily involved with the cricket club and coaches on Friday evenings. All of these activities were on offer where they lived before, but Vicky feels more inclined to participate in Petersfield, where events are a 10 to 15 minute walk away. 'In London, there must be similar groups, but I would never have gone to them.' She adds: 'I feel a lot happier, and not so overwhelmed. It's a better work-life balance. It's nice to know that if you leave your house, the neighbours will be looking out. 'I wasn't lonely in London, but I didn't feel that I'd be missed if I wasn't there. Here, you feel like you're part of something.' For Tom, the trade-off to living in Petersfield is a 100-mile round-trip commute. 'It's well worth it to be in such a beautiful place. Heading away from London in glorious countryside, I suddenly get this wonderful feeling of: I'm heading home, I can relax now.' Vicci Johnson and her husband Robin took a similar plunge – albeit at a different stage of their lives – when they moved from Macclesfield to Steyning in 2020. They had lived in the North West, including Manchester, for almost 40 years. 'We're both newly retired, and that sense of community was something we've never really had before,' says Vicci, 62. 'I did a lot of online research trying to find places where there was a lot going on: different groups, exercise opportunities – things that made me feel that I would be part of a community.' It was the Steyning website – advertising Pilates, yoga, walking, film, music and University of the Third Age (U3A) groups– that drew her to the West Sussex town. When she visited in 2019, she was struck by the high street. Thanks to Steyning's bypass, it's not dissected by a busy road and it's packed with independent shops – including two grocers, coffee shops and a bookshop, which hosts regular events and is well-known for its connection with children's author (and Steyning resident) Julia Donaldson. That the town was walkable was a big plus. Since moving there – on the first day of lockdown in 2020 – Johnson has joined a gym, walking group, local environmental organisation Greening Steyning, and started sea swimming with a group of women nearby. Robin runs the town's repair café, volunteers for Steyning Good Neighbours, and is involved with the community fridge, which prevents food going to waste. 'It's the sort of community where you can start something, and you get enough people involved. It's intellectually stimulating, but I've also got a good social network. It spreads from the grassroots,' says Vicci. 'My daughter's disappointed, because she wants us to move back to Manchester. But she can also see how happy we are here. I feel I'll be supported even if I'm 95 years old. I never wanted to grow old in Manchester. I knew I needed somewhere where I felt more held by the local community.' For Andrew Openshaw, 56, it was also a prominent community website that put Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, on his radar. It 'punched above its weight' with its calendar of local events, electric car hire scheme for residents and community orchard and apple press, run by the group 'Zero-Carbon Haddenham'. Unlike Vicci and the Horwoods, he felt he was leaving a strong community in Frinton, Essex, where he had lived for four-and-a-half years. He, his wife Kate and their oldest child, were moving to Buckinghamshire for Andrew's work at a faith-based charity, and could be anywhere within the county. When they first viewed their house, their first impression was the traffic outside. 'Some people might think it was terrible, but the reason it was rammed was because of the football pitches, which were being used for junior football. We thought it was fantastic, because it showed how many people were engaging in an activity and using the new facility.' Andrew also scouted out the local electric car scheme and the village hall, which showed that there was more going on than he'd been able to glean online. 'There was an ethos that it was a genuine community that you could contribute to as well as taking something away from. We felt that this was a place we could be part of,' he says. 'There's even more going on when you scratch the surface.' '[Community] is not about money at all,' says Speedy. 'There is something for everybody in every different area. You've just got to dig it out and find it. A lot of the time, it won't be on Facebook pages or noticeboards.' Since moving in 2023, Kate has found work at the garden centre and the couple have joined a string of local societies: rotary groups, running, church, German conversation classes, golf, U3A. They have used the community apple press and volunteered at the biannual beer festivals. The village has formed a community interest company to save its local greengrocer from closure, in which the couple have invested shares. Saving the local pub, the Rose &Thistle, is next. 'When you move, it's not just 'What will this place give to me' but 'What are my opportunities to give to this place?' If you take, take, take, you're going to find yourself isolated. You don't build relationships in that way,' says Andrew. 'That's been my experience of life in general: you participate, then you receive.'
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plan for more than 100 homes next to South Kirkby cricket club
More than 100 homes could be built next to a cricket club in West Homes wants to build a range of terraced, semi-detached and detached houses on agricultural land in South Kirkby, Mayfields Way site, which neighbours South Kirkby Colliery Cricket Club, has been allocated for housing as part of Wakefield Council's local scheme for 104 properties also includes creating two public open spaces, a "biodiverse green corridor" alongside the nearby Langthwaite Beck and building new pedestrian routes and cycle paths. An existing public right of way through the 4.5 hectare location would be retained if the proposals are approved, according to planning to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the project would take about three and a half years to build, if approved.A planning statement submitted behalf of the housebuilder said: "The design will create an attractive, high quality and sustainable neighbourhood with a distinct sense of place."The proposed design of the development seeks to be consistent with, and enhance the character of, the local residential area."Persimmon Homes said it would bring a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes "in ten different styles" and bring properties to an area that has an "identified need for new housing". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Man in his 60s ‘sexually assaulted' outside cricket club another man, 46, arrested
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 60s was "sexually assaulted" outside a cricket club. A 46-year-old man has been arrested following the assault in Purbrook between 5:30pm and 6pm on May 25. 1 is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Coronation Street star reveals he's working as a groundsman at local cricket club days after being killed off on soap
CORONATION Street star has revealed he's swapped the cobbles for the cricket pitch - just days after his character was dramatically killed off. The actor, who recently bowed out of the ITV soap in emotional scenes, is now working as a groundsman at his local cricket club. 6 6 Coronation Street fans have been left in tears following PC Craig Tinker's passing. The loveable policeman died in hospital in sad scenes after being brutally murdered by Mick during a botched arrest. Craig had attempted to arrest drunk driver Mick but after turning his back for a moment, Mick was able to grab hold of a baseball bat in his van and club Craig over the head and left him to die in the road. Having been raced to hospital, his family and friends and long-standing colleague PC Jess watched on as he succumbed to his injuries and passed away. Craig's death comes after actor Colson Smith was axed from the show as part of on-going cost-cutting measures at the soap and ITV. The soap favourite has now shared a behind-the-scenes snap from the pitch, trading scripts and stunts for mowers and maintenance. Taking to his Instagram stories, Colson posted a snap of himself getting his hands dirty while he looks after his local cricket club's pitch. He captioned the snap: "Groundman duties @castleford_cricket_club". The Cricket fanatic has been volunteering there since his departure from the soap. The Sun exclusively revealed his character was being killed off back in March. Coronation Street's Colson Smith reveals the moment soap boss 'binned him' from show and says 'I knew it was coming' A source told us: 'Craig has grown up on the street and he's become part of it so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it. 'PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer and there won't be a dry eye in the house when it goes out. 'Colson is taking it well and there's a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him and there are bigger and brighter things ahead." The star marked his soap exit with a wild, booze-fuelled leaving bash. Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025 ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap. This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama. Colson Smith - Craig Tinker The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig's on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role. Sue Cleaver - Eileen Grimshaw After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she's already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future. Luca Toolan - Mason Radcliffe Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him. Sue Devaney - Debbie Webster In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline. Charlotte Jordan - Daisy Midgeley The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she's hungry to see what other opportunities await. Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter. The police themed party paid homage to his character PC Tinker and featured fancy dress, balloons and police tape at the tapas bar and restaurant El Gato Negro Tapas in Manchester. Many of Colson's Corrie co-stars attended full of smiles including Andy Whyment, Brooke Vincent, Georgia Taylor, Lucy Fallon, Jacobs Roberts, Tony Maudsley and Sam Aston. The 26-year-old actor was one of several stars who have been axed from the ITV soap. Corrie is gearing up for a number of exits for some iconic characters this summer, including Eileen Grimhshaw who is set to exit the cobbles with actress Sue Cleaver quitting the soap after an incredible 25 years. The soap has already seen several characters depart the cobbles from the likes of Daisy Midgeley to Mason Radcliffe. ITV is facing a financial crisis due to soaring production costs, a decline in advertising revenue, and a drop in viewing figures, leading to budget cuts and cast departures. Consequently, the broadcaster is reducing the length of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale episodes from hour-long to 30-minute installments, starting in January 2026. This change will create a "soaps power hour" where Emmerdale airs at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm each weeknight. But with ratings falling and viewers switching to streamers like Netflix, more soap stars are fearing the axe - should they be worried? Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX. 6 6 6 6
