Editor's letter August 2009

We welcome at least two distinguished new residents to Sussex this month and both are members of the clergy. Caroline Currer is the new vicar of Poynings and she's defintely a welcome addition to the Sussex community. The mother of three has worked as a missionary in Pakistan, lectured in Cambridge and is generally an all round good person - did I mention she's also my mother-in-law? There has to be a joke in there somewhere doesn't there? The other lucky fellow moving to the county is Mark Sowerby, the new Bishop of Horsham - we thought we'd help him with his introductions with an interview on page 80.

I like to think that Sussex Life is a must-have for anyone moving into the area. Readers often tell us how it keeps them up to date with the month's activities and events but also provides a regular insight into some of the more entertaining aspects of life in Sussex.

So as well as the article about Bishop Mark, this month's instalment includes an interview with Adam Hargreaves - son and heir to Roger Hargreaves' Mr Men empire. Adam tells us about growing up among the wonderful characters, how he initially wanted nothing to do with them and how he learned to love his father's wonderful creations.

If you've got children or grandchildren in their teens then you'll probably be waiting anxiously for this month's exam results, whether A, AS or GCSE. I'm sure that if the results are better again this year there will be accusations that standards are slipping, but as Ardingly's head teacher Peter Green explains on page 50, we should all be giving our youngsters some credit rather than undermining their achievements. And if you'd like to test your own knowledge you'll find a couple of examination questions on page 51. There's no need to worry if you're a newcomer though, it's not an entrance exam.

Enjoy your Sussex Life.