A man who was a key witness in a fatal collision needs to be traced by police.

The witness had valuable information on a collision on Thursday, August 9 in Broyle Road, Chichester at 5.07pm.

The driver Angela Wilsher, 79, of The Drive, Chichester collided with a tree. She died from her injuries in hospital last Wednesday (August 15).

PC Doug Park said: “This man came forward and gave us his details but we can’t get hold of him. He is a key witness and we need to speak to him. Please can be get in touch on 101 quoting Op Boreham.”

More details have emerged after a motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital in Southampton on Sunday, August 19.

The 21-year-old man suffered serious injuries after his orange and black Suzuki motorbike left the road and collided with a lamp post at 11am on the A259 via Ravenna in Chichester.

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this collision and would appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw the motorcycle on Via Ravenna before to contact Sussex Police.

“The road was closed until 4.45pm while police carried out an investigation. This caused a lot of traffic disruption in the area and we would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Duffield.

The county council’s highways department has been criticised for ‘nodding through’ plans for 52 acres of glasshouses in Almodington.

After a planning inquiry, the scheme was dropped – but the process has cost taxpayers at least £125,000.

The vice-chairman of the district council’s area development control south, Peter Clementson, has called for an urgent meeting with the county council to explain why it did not object to the highway repercussions of Madestein’s plans for Easton Farm, in Almodington Lane.

The 14-day planning inquiry was resolved, when an inspector ruled the plans should be dropped.

Costs

Cllr Clementson, who chaired the meeting, said the inquiry was very costly to all parties involved.

“The cost to the council taxpayers comes to more than £125,000,” he said.

“Costs are still being accumulated which will come to a great deal more.

“Access to the planning site was said to be adequate enough for large commercial vehicles.

“This seemed to me to be obviously wrong. The county council declined to come along to the planning meeting.

“There were subsequent road-widening schemes but this was still not good enough, in the opinion of the planning inspector.

“This is an unsatisfactory situation and I propose to ask our senior officers to seek an urgent meeting with the county council to discuss this matter and report back.”

Appeal

The district council had unanimously voted against the plan, based on its scale, siting and access, and refused planning permission in March 2011.

Madestein appealed against the decision.

A planning inspector dismissed the appeal, much to the joy of campaigners.

As part of the inspector’s decision, partial costs of the inquiry were awarded to the Almodington Association, Chichester District Council and the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group.

Andries De Vaal, chairman of the Almodington Association, which fiercely opposed the glasshouses plans, said the group was upset the highways department ‘nodded through’ the planning application and road-widening schemes which had been put forward by Madestein during the planning inquiry.

He added: “How could they have made that decision when every time we demonstrated beyond all doubt that every one of those schemes was inadequate.”

County

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “The highway authority fully reviewed the information that was submitted with the planning application and concluded there were not sufficient grounds to object to the application on highway capacity or safety grounds – and that a road-widening scheme could, in principle, satisfactorily address the safety concerns of additional vehicles using the lane.”

The planning inspector, Claire Sherratt, ruled: “I consider the proposed development would be of a height and bulk that, together with the associated activity, would seriously damage the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

In her concluding remarks, she said ‘a safe and suitable access cannot be achieved’.

Cllr Peter Clementson said: “I am proud of the people of Almodington.

“They formed the Almodington Association and together they dug into their pockets to add to their defence.”

West Chiltington was the site of a further crash in West Sussex at the weekend.

The accident happened near midday last Saturday, August 18 on Monkmead Lane.

Two cars were involved in a collision, with three people suffering injuries.

They were all treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

The scene was made safe by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

On Sunday the A259 Via Ravenna was closed for several hours in Chichester, after a motorcycle crashed into a lamp post.

NEW education links between Chichester and a German city look likely following a visit by two councillors during a holiday.

Pam and Tony Dignum, who are both members of the city and district councils, discussed the idea of greater co-operation with the city of Pforzheim, which was one of the last in the country to be severely bombed, only weeks before the end of the second world war.

A private charity sought help in recent years with the financing of a memorial to the raid, in which 18,000 people were killed, and among the sources turned to was Britain’s Dresden Trust, whose chairman, Dr Alan Russell, lives in Chichester.

A contribution was made by the trust, which is recognised by a plaque on the memorial, commemorated in 2010.

A party of people from Pforzheim visited Chichester last year, and Cllr Tony Dignum told the city council’s community affairs committee he and his wife decided to return the visit during a recent holiday.

“As well as tours, we were given family receptions, musical evenings and plenty of conversation in German and English to consolidate friendship,” he said.

Cllr Pam Dignum said they presented books about Chichester, calendars, cathedral music, a cathedral guide in German and a book about Chichester’s Council House.

They discussed with city representatives how co-operation might be taken forward.

“Perhaps the most promising is the education route,” said Cllr Dignum.

“While there we met the head and deputy head of a Pforzheim secondary school which also enrols mature students.”

David Friel, 22, of Chichester started his web development business in June, and things have taken off quickly.

He decided in his summer break from university, to set up a business where he could help small local companies to advertise themselves better online. Three months later, things are going well.

Mr Friel works to make a comprehensive but easy-to-use website for his clients, makes sure it has the best SEO keywords attached to it so that people find it first, and once the website is complete he will give a tutorial on how to use it.

He said: “A website is the front door and first impression of a business so it must be well designed and user friendly to attract people in. It is also important that people can find your website in the first place. I can find out how many people are looking for your business online and are not finding a website. Then I can make sure your website contains the key words they are looking for, so your site comes up first on the search engine.”

After being involved in business for years, this is his most successful venture which he hopes to continue through his last year at university studying International Business.

“I have started up small businesses for a long time from when I was about 13 when I went to Ford market and sold cameras I found there on ebay for profit. But this business is the most successful as I love working with people and helping them.

“I make sure my clients know how to use the site which is the most important thing, because what’s the use of a great flashy website you can’t operate.”

Lynn and Arthur Smith run a B&B business, The Cottage Guesthouse in Chichester, and Mr Friel built their website for them.

Mrs Smith said: “I attempted to build a website myself but it was too difficult so I gave up. I decided we needed a website when people would say they couldn’t find us online and it started to become embarrassing telling them we didn’t have a site.

“Dave was very reasonable and we got a great service. He taught me how to use the site and it has been great for business.”

Mr Friel said he aims to help small businesses and individuals who don’t know much about the internet.

He said: “I go to these people, offer them a decent price for a quality product that will help them boost their business, and that is why I think I’m doing well.”

For more information and to see Mr Friel’s work, visit www.frieldesign.co.uk

Tangmere parish councillors have blasted Chichester district councillors for a policy which they claim ‘opens the floodgates to greenfield applications of up to 100 houses at a time’.

The claim, which is in a letter sent to every district councillor, calls on them to answer three key questions regarding the council’s planning policy:

1 Do you believe we should see the building of hundreds of houses to meet house building targets that are based on the ‘boom’ economy of the late 1990s?

2 Do you believe greenfield land should be built on when brownfield sites are still available for development?

3 Do you believe housing development should take place in areas where there are insufficient services, like schools, shops, transport, play areas, surgeries and water treatment?

The letter has also been distributed to all the parish councils in the district, in the hope they can form a united front to oppose the rise in development plans.

Andrew Irwin, chairman of Tangmere Parish Council, said: “Everywhere you look there are people objecting.

“We are trying to get people to object together and we want this to be noticed.”

The letter has been sent following a meeting of the parish council’s environment committee last Thursday, August 16, to discuss a further planning application for 50 houses in the area, which was unanimously opposed.

Mr Irwin told the meeting, which saw a very large public turnout, that the district council’s interim policy statement on housing, Facilitating Appropriate Development (FAD), flies in the face of protecting villages such as Tangmere.

The parish council has launched a campaign called B WiSe (Build With Services) on Facebook, which they are hoping can influence planning policy, and can be seen at: {http://www.facebook.com/groups/174009892723726|http://www.facebook.com/groups/174009892723726}.

A copy of the letter is available to view on the site.

Other parishes have had meetings to discuss similar applications, including Birdham, Bracklesham and Donnington.

Have your say

Are Chichester villages in danger of losing their identity as a result of planning proposals?

Cast your vote by clicking on the poll at the top right of this story.

Alternatively, comment below or email {mailto:letters@chiobserver.co.uk|letters@chiobserver.co.uk}.

Police officers will take to the city centre today in a bid to raise awareness of cycling in the city

The ongoing issue has raised concerns among members of the public and the Chichester City Centre Neighbourhood Management Panel, which has prompted police to take to the city’s streets.

In recent weeks more than 20 cyclists had to be stopped by police for cycling on the pavements or through the precinct.

Officers will be in the city centre from 10am today and will be speaking to any cyclists if they are breaching the law in relation to cycling through the city centre.

The law currently prohibits cycling through the precincts of the city centre between the hours of 9.30am-5.30pm Monday-Saturday.

PCSOs will be issuing £30 fixed penalty notices if they find cyclists in these areas.

“We want cyclists to be aware that their actions not only pose a danger to pedestrians but they could receive a fine too,” said Insp Will Rolls. “Cycling in Chichester is prohibited in the pedestrian area between certain times on different days of the week. This prohibition is routinely ignored and police receive many complaints from the public.

“This is the main priority of the City Neighbourhood Management Panel and we are working with others to try to improve signage in the relevant areas and educate people on the law. An enforcement day aims to deal robustly with cycle offences with the intention of reducing them,” added Insp Rolls.

Police action following the concerns raised by the public and Neighbourhood Management Panel have been welcomed.

“ChiCycle encourages safe and responsible cycling in Chichester and the surrounding district. We would wholeheartedly support the police in their attempts to educate cyclists into respecting the rules for the city centre,” said Sarah Sharp, of ChiCycle.

Chichester City Council clerk Rodney Duggua said: “Educating and awareness is important and the city council would applaud this and any ongoing initiative by the police to educate, inform and reinforce.”

Chichester High School for Boys (CHSB) has recorded its best ever results at GCSE.

About 60 per cent of students have achieved the government’s ‘Gold Standard’ of five or more A*-C grades, including English and mathematics.

Headteacher of CHSB, Gavin Salvesen-Sawh said: “I am absolutely delighted and thrilled for the whole school community.

“Our students achieved record attendance last year and now they have achieved fantastic results, which significantly beat the previous record by some margin.

“2012 will be remembered for a lot of reasons, but the class of 2012 are the new record holders; they have won our gold medal.

“I would like to congratulate the staff, who have worked tirelessly and have shown great determination in securing our success.

“Thanks also to the parents for their excellent support during the year. We salute the students – we are very proud of them.”

Special commendations to the following students who achieved amazing results: Ben Thair (ten A*s, three As), Harry Crocker (five A*s, seven As), Zachary Savage (five A*s, seven As), Luke Hudlass-Galley (three A*s, eight As), Adam Millard (three A*s, seven As), Daniel Knowles (two A*s, eight As), Luke Tibbetts (one A*, nine As), Robert Walker (one A*, nine As), James Wilcock (one A*, nine As), Michael Stephens (four A*s, five As), Henry Russell (nine As).

Staff and students at Bourne Community College are once again delighted with the academic achievements of their 132 Year 11 students, who have done themselves proud in their commitment, effort and attitude over the past two years.

A total of 46 per cent of them achieved 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths, with 74 per cent of all the grades being A*-C.

17 per cent of our students achieved 3+ A/A* grades and an impressive 14 per cent of all grades achieved were A/A*. Almost every student (92 per cent) achieved at least 1 A*-C grade.

The traditionally high English results (69 per cent A*-C) have been maintained whilst the Maths results (56 per cent A*-C) show their third successive year of improvement, as have the geography and drama results. As an International School we are thrilled to have sustained our outstanding Modern Foreign Language results in French, Spanish and German, which bucks the national trend.

Having introduced BTEC Engineering to the curriculum for some students they achieved an impressive 100 per cent pass rate.

Assistant Head Ranjit Verghese acknowledged the sustained hard work and commitment from BCC students and their teachers in achieving these results and congratulated all the students, commenting on how proud all the staff are of the many students who exceeded their personal GCSE targets.

BCC’s 2012 ‘High Flyers’ include: Liam Lancaster (15 A/A*), Tyler Howells (13 A/A*), Emma Castle (12 A/A*), Mattias Chambers (ten A/A*), Charlotte Newton (ten A/A*), Ian Bamforth (nine A/A*), Catherine Hoolihan (nine A/A*), Rumena Islam (nine A/A*), Adrian Langford (nine A/A*).


Chichester High School for Girls is celebrating GCSE success with a record breaking 76 per cent A*-C of all grades achieved and maintained 73 per cent of students achieving at least 5 or more A*-C.

Nearly a quarter of all grades achieved were A*-A and 49 per cent A*-B. 53 per cent of students achieved 5 or more A*-C including english and maths.

Seven students attained a clean sweep of up to 12 A* and A grades.

Fiona Oliver-Watkins, headteacher, said: “There are some excellent individual performances and our students are delighted with their success. We congratulate not only those who obtained the highest grades, but everyone who achieved GCSE success, especially if it was their personal best.

“We are proud of what Year 11 students have achieved and very grateful for the hard work of staff and the support of parents. We are also very pleased that so many subjects have improved upon their success rate from last year. The ability profile of each cohort varies year on year and there have also been some surprises, as reported in the national press today. We are currently in discussion with the relevant examination boards.

“Nevertheless, there is a great deal to celebrate with these results. They enable another cohort of accomplished, confident and well qualified young women to move on to the next phase of their learning.”

Many of the students are expected to continue their education at Chichester High School Sixth Form.

Hannah Adams, who received 9 A*s and 3 As, said “I really am ecstatic about my results, and now I’m really excited about starting 6th form and now I’m feeling more confident about my A levels.”

Heather Curtis was also among the high flyers, achieving 11 A*, an A and a B. She said, “I’m speechless, it is everything I could’ve hoped for and I’m glad my hard work paid off.”

Jodi Elliot received 9 A*-C, and was especially pleased with her A* in media studies. Jodi said, “I really wasn’t expecting an A* at all but I’m so pleased, now I can go onto study creative media at Northbrook.”

Academia is set to go into the bed and breakfast business in an ‘iconic’ Chichester building, following a decision by district councillors.

The southern area development control committee agreed that the Edwardian property, which already has consent to be converted into accommodation for 88 students from the University of Chichester, can also be used for both summer courses and B and B outside term-time.

Twelve of the units will be available on the open market for anyone to stay in.

The building is at the former Chichester High School site, in Stockbridge Road.

Committee members decided that - subject to the completion of a formal legal agreement - one of the planning conditions attached to the earlier consent precluding B and B use should be removed.

They also approved an application to vary the consent to allow alterations to the fenestration of the building, and changes to a rear extension and cycle and vehicle parking.

The committee was told the building was not listed, although it was on the council’s ‘local list.’

Some local objectors complained about overdevelopment and increased noise, and the council’s own historic buildings advisor objected to the proposed window alterations.

But planning officers recommended approval. They said the changes proposed for the approved scheme still received ‘broad support’ from all tiers of planning policy Cllr Tony Dignum said it would be enormously valuable to the community to have people in purpose-built student accommodation, rather than creating more houses in multiple occupation in residential streets.

The proposed changes would not have any impact on the environment compared with the application already approved.

But Cllr Tricia Tull said that while this was a perfect place for student accommodation, she was really unhappy with the amount of alteration needed to the building.

Chairman Cllr Peter Clementson said this was an iconic building, close to the hearts of many Cicestrians, a lot of whom went to school there.

The scheme brought the building into a practical use, and made it viable to alter it.

“It will be an expensive alteration in any case,” he added.

“If this is not done, I fear we would lose the whole building, which would be a loss to Chichester and a loss to the ambitions of the university and the college for housing their students.”

Pupils at Lavant House School near Chichester filled the front hall with delighted shrieking this morning (Thursday, August 230 as they opened those all important envelopes containing the GCSE results.

Nerves were rapidly forgotten as they realised that, yet again, Lavant House girls had achieved an impressive array of results.

A total of 43 per cent of all results were at A or A* with 83 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C grades.

Jemma Swan was particularly pleased as she discovered her grades, a very commendable nine A*s and one grade A. She said: “I was so nervous coming in this morning to find out what I’d got; my hands were shaking when I opened that envelope but now I’m really pleased. I’m not sure it’s quite sunk in yet.” Jemma is now going on to study four A levels in English, French, maths and Latin.

Faith Withinshaw was also happy with her seven A grades and 3 Bs. She said: “I did work hard I think but today makes it all worthwhile. The teachers were brilliant and helped me every step of the way.”

High flier, Tamzin Barnett was unable to come into school this morning to pick up her envelope so sent her father, Mr Ian Barnett, on her behalf.

He was very happy with her results; four A*s, five As and a B.

He said: “She did a lot of work for this, she was very conscientious – much more so than I was at her age – and this has confirmed that it was very well worth it. She very much deserves these brilliant results.”

Millie Clark couldn’t hide her delight at her six A*s, three As and a C and said that she was thrilled to be able now to choose her A levels from across the board of subject choices.

She said: “I am so relieved to finally get these results. I had hoped I’d done enough and thank goodness it’s all worked out for me and I can now go off and celebrate.”

Headmistress Kate Bartholomew was similarly delighted. She said: “It’s another excellent year for results at Lavant House which have been consistently impressive for some years now. Everyone has worked hard and this has been reflected in their achievements.”

Pressure is mounting to get rid of Chichester’s biggest eyesore, with councillors demanding urgent action.

Its owners were accused by one councillor this week of making promises which were never kept, and another described the situation as ‘an absolute disgrace’.

The two-and-a-half-acre site, in Winden Avenue, owned by Hyde Martlet, has more than 50 homes on it, which have been standing empty and decaying, surrounded by overgrown vegetation, for more than four years.

Angry local residents want them either demolished as soon as possible to make way for a new development planned by Hyde Martlet, or brought back into use.

West Sussex county councillor Margaret Whitehead, who represents the county’s Chichester south division, in which the site is located, this week wrote direct to Hyde Martlet development manager John Martin warning that residents in the locality were ‘at their wits’ end’.

“You keep making promises which you and Hyde Martlet never keep,” Cllr Whitehead told him in the letter. “I was at the meeting in March, 2012, when you yourself stated that demolition was imminent and that you intended to start in the next few weeks.

“I have a letter from Rhys Daniel dated February 22, 2012, stating that you are proceeding with arrangements for demolition. It is now SIX months since this statement and FIVE months since yours yet still no sign of anything happening.

She added: “The whole site is a mess, with tatty hoardings and an infestation of rats. It is five years since the last residents were made to leave the building. Yes, I know there were some problems but does it really take this long?

“On your website under the heading ‘Service promise – Our promise to you’ it states under item 2 ‘We will listen and communicate clearly and quickly when you get in touch’. Item 3 ‘Complaints matter and make a difference’. Where in your attitude to the residents of Winden Avenue and the surrounding area have you kept these promises?

“I, on behalf of the residents of Winden Avenue would like a response, with the date you intend to start demolition and a promise that you will keep to that date.”

City and district councillor Michael Woolley, who is chairman of the city’s planning and conservation committee, said this week it was an absolute disgrace that more than 50 homes were still vacant at the site, which was becoming more overgrown.

“There have been problems with rats and problems with squatters, and it is very understandable that the neighbours are worried,” said Cllr Woolley.

“That a housing association committed to ‘helping people get a home’ should be responsible for this makes the matter worse.”

A Hyde Martlet spokesman said: “Hyde is eager to begin work on this site and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen as soon as possible. In the meantime, we’re working with the local community to address their concerns and keeping them informed through meetings and newsletters.”

The Academy, Selsey has continued going from strength to strength.

Year 11 students have achieved the best GCSE results the school has ever had, as the number of students gaining five A* to C grades rose by five per cent, up to 78 per cent of students.

Vicky Wright, headteacher, said: “These results are a testament to all the hard work and effort of the students, staff, governors and parents of the school.

“The students in this year group rose to all of the challenges that we set them, proving not only to be a very resilient set of young people but also a group showing an independence and understanding that a future is something that you work hard for, in order to have all the opportunities open to you so that you can be the best you can be and make a smooth transition to the next stage in life.”

100 per cent of students achieved at least five grades of A* to G.

The deputy headteacher at Bishop Luffa School has praised the hard-working year group who collected their GCSE results today (Thursday, August 23).

Colin Lankester said the achievements were ‘well-deserved’ after 86 per cent of pupils were awarded at least five A*-C grades, and 77 per cent gained at least five GCSE grades A*-C including English and maths.

40 per cent of all entries were awarded A* or A grades.

“It’s good to see our young people celebrating: they deserve it,” said Nick Taunt, headteacher.

“They have worked exceptionally hard across the board, those who are academically gifted as well as those who have found school subjects difficult. They are a group of young people with a bright future. I know our teachers and support staff will also be delighted for them.”

“I would like to pay credit to our staff who have gone the extra mile in helping our pupils develop into responsible, caring and characterful young people.

“And I appreciate parents’ support for their children and the school.”

36 pupils performed exceptionally well by gaining at least nine grades at A* or A in their GCSE exams: Katie Adams, Ruth Allan, Lily Applebee, Sophie Bennett, Kizzie Bridgman, Nicola Brown, Alice Budeja, Sebastian Burgess, Benjamin Duncan-duggal, Jade Ewers, Georgina Freeborn, Eleanor Grant-Richardson, Rebecca Harrington, Rachel Harris, Sophie Hawker, Ruby Kane, Krysia Karas, Thomas Liddell, Maria Luc, Esther Millington, Lucie Mirams, Beth Mitchell, Edward Mudd, Hannah New, Heritage Oluwarounke, Susannah Pendle, Hannah Pocock, Jack Scott Green, Holly Shippam Ridgewell, Joseph Skinner, Hannah Smith, Christopher Taylor, Matthew Thompson, Samuel Thrussell, Charlotte Vawdrey, John Wilkinson.

Jason Denman launched Arun Valley Campers, hiring out classic VW Campervans, in the summer of last year. Based in North Stoke, near Arundel, the vans are all fully refurbished and are proving very popular.

Mr Denman, who is also a mechanic has two VW vans and three more that he is currently renovating.

He has a passion for all sorts of vehicles, so he thought it’d be great to channel that enthusiasm into something a bit more creative, and ultimately more fun.

He said: “I used to go surfing in Devon a lot and my gran lives down that way. She gave me money for a campervan and I think her idea was to get me to go and visit her more!

“As I have a mechanical workshop, and that is my full time profession I decided to start restoring VW vans and rent them out as a side project.

“It’s worked out really well and I’m almost fully booked up until the end of October. People like to get away from London and have a long weekend away and the campervans are perfect for that.”

Mr Denman said that if it really takes off, he hopes to buy a new VW van each year and slowly build up the business. He currently owns JD Autos, a mechanical workshop based in North Stoke Farm, Amberley, and VW Campervans is a part-time project which he hopes to expand into a full-time venture.

For more information visit the 
website at www.arunvalleycampers.co.uk or call 01798 839106.

EARLY indications from West Sussex schools and academies show the proportion of pupils achieving five or more A* to C, including English and maths, is broadly the same as in 2011.

A number of schools across the county made significant improvements this year in contrast to national reports which suggest a slight decline in results across the country.

Peter Griffiths, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for education and schools, said: “I am delighted to see a significant improvement in the results of a number of schools in West Sussex.

“I am particularly pleased to see some excellent improvements in many of the academies.

“Inspired leadership and excellent teaching make for wonderful learning and great results. I congratulate the students and teachers for their hard work and success.”

Sidlesham Parish Council voted to approve a £300 conciliation session with SALC after recommendation to do so by the Standards Board.

After a complaint by Cllr Pound regarding the behaviour of chairman Adrian Harland and Cllr Tricia Tull, who is also the district councillor for the award, the Standards Board suggested the three have a conciliation session to sort out their differences.

The council agreed to this at the council meeting on August 15, but it will cost the parish more than £300 for the meeting, travel expenses and VAT.

Cllr Tull and Cllr Pound were absent from the meeting but the chairmen abstained from the vote of whether to approve the costs.

An elderly woman who was seriously injured in a car crash at Goodwood has given a heartfelt thank-you to all those who came to her aid.

Diane Wills, 81, from Westgate, Chichester was returning home from the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, where she works as a volunteer, when the Peugeot she was driving collided with a Land Rover on Kennel 
Hill Road.

Mrs Wills, who thought she was going to be trapped inside her burning car, was rushed to 
St Richard’s Hospital.

“I was really frightened,” she said. “I thought the car was on fire and I was trapped, but then I realised the smoke was actually coming from the airbag which exploded.”

Firefighters were called to the scene at 6.49pm on August 9 and had to cut Mrs Wills free from her car using hydraulic cutting equipment.

She was kept in hospital overnight and has since been resting at home.

“God bless you all and the marvellous work you do,” said 
Mrs Wills, discussing the efforts made by those who helped rescue her and have assisted her 
recovery.

Mrs Wills suffered two cuts 
to her head which needed 
stitches and her right collarbone was fractured.

There was a large distortion to her left knee which caused some concern, as Mrs Wills has had two knee replacements.

Emergency services had been concerned that Mrs Wills had sustained serious neck injuries.

“They didn’t know where all 
the blood was coming from which was around my neck and head,” added Mrs Wills.

She was placed on a spinal-board and headrest for several hours until various x-rays and tests were completed, confirming she hadn’t injured her neck.

Mrs Wills is now recovering from the ordeal of the crash, and is receiving support from a dedicated team of nurses 
and physiotherapists connected to Langley House Surgery in Chichester.

She added: “Everybody all the way along has been most kind and very patient.

“The police, firemen, ambulance people and the hospital have been absolutely marvellous to me and I am just so grateful.”

A Weald and Downland spokesman said: “We’re very keen to have her back. Diane volunteers at least two days a week in the museum to welcome visitors.

“She is part of the happy family of the museum. We all miss her very much and we hope to see her again very soon.”