It was an honour for us to host the newly appointed High Sheriff of West Sussex, Mr Andy Bliss, QPM, recently to show him around the community buildings and projects Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) run.  Visiting as part of his key role in taking an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to voluntary organisations within the county, it was an ideal opportunity to discuss with him the great works going on around the county.

With a degree in history and archaeology, Andy was particularly interested in the way that the heritage of the Graylingwell Park site had been maintained throughout the community buildings and kept alive.  How the mental health care ethos of the Graylingwell Hospital, previously the West Sussex County Asylum, is retained in the mind body wellness activities of The Pavilion and the Chapel’s exhibition to the century of mental health support delivered from the hospital until its closure at the start of this century.

“I was really impressed with the way that the heritage of the site had been incorporated into the new development and even more so by the way that you have worked with local people to help to use the spaces to create a real sense of place and community,” said Andy. “All too often purpose built modern estates have very little in terms of infrastructure that truly meets the needs of the community. The work that you have done with the community at Graylingwell has created a very different atmosphere which is clearly valued and appreciated by local people.”

He added, “The Chapel was really impressive and I really liked the way that its history has been retained as part of the ‘story’ of the site  – and now strikingly transformed into a modern multi-purpose meeting/performance space. I shall be fascinated to see what use is made of the Water Tower in due course!”

We will be sure to keep in touch with the High Sheriff and hope to see him back in all his finery, as pictured here, to help open some of the new projects and buildings currently under development.