To celebrate the release of their fascinating new book The Long Man & Friends: Sacred Sussex, authors David Bramwell and Philip Carr-Gomm invite you on a mystical pilgrimage to uncover the myths and magick behind our most ancient, sacred Sussex landmarks. Also joining us is Henri Brocklebank, Head of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, who’ll explore her thoughts on how we can protect and conserve our county’s sacred natural spaces. This slide-illustrated talk will be held in the beautiful ambience of the Church of St Andrew & St Cuthman, a 12th Century Norman Church in Steyning. There will be a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks. ABOUT THE LONG MAN & FRIENDS: SACRED SUSSEX Wild, pagan, sacred Sussex. From the glorious goblin-haunted landscape of Devil’s Dyke to the magic circle of Chanctonbury Ring, from holy springs and revered yew trees to ancient burial mounds and iconic chalk figures, this book reveals a county criss-crossed with mysterious ‘lines of power’ linking one sacred place to another. Walk the old tracks with us, uncover the ancient mysteries and let them speak to you. This petite hardback book contains a Gazetteer of sacred sites and nine magical walks, which will take you on an inspirational journey of magic, mystery and enlightenment. About David Bramwell
David Bramwell is a British writer, musician, performer and broadcaster. For BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, he has made programmes on diverse subjects, including Ivor Cutler, clapping, time travel, and the murmurations of starlings. He is the founder and host of Brighton’s spoken word night, the Catalyst Club. About Philip Carr-Gomm
Philip Carr-Gomm is an English writer in the fields of psychology and Druidry, a psychologist, and one of the leaders and former Chosen Chief of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. About Henri Brocklebank
Henri is the Director of Conservation at the Sussex Wildlife Trust. She has dedicated her career to restoring and protecting Sussex’s natural landscapes. She leads the Trust’s marine conservation work, chairs the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project and is Deputy Chair of the Sussex Local Nature Partnership. EVENT DETAILS:
Slide illustrated talk, Q and A and book-signing.
Doors & bar open 7pm
Talk starts 7.30pm
Disabled access available.
Tickets – Online Tix via link below or in person from the bookshop, by phone on 01903 812062.
An immersive evening of mesmerising melodies, pagan poetry and spoken word in the beautiful ambience of St Andrew’s Church, Steyning. Featuring SWIFT WINGS, a spoken-word and live-music performance by Justin Hopper and Sharron Kraus, based on their album of the same name, and THE CULT OF WATER, a captivating monologue by David Bramwell accompanied by music, animation, the voice of Alan Moore and archive film. ABOUT SWIFT WINGS SWIFT WINGS is a haunting performance piece featuring Justin Hopper reading Victor Neuberg’s Sussex landscape poems, set to Kraus’s original music performed live on recorders, flutes, synths & vocals, with hypnotic visuals by Wendy Pye.
The poet Victor Neuburg is best known for his early, tragic relationship with the infamous Aleister Crowley and, later, for ‘discovering’ Dylan Thomas. But he was also a prolific writer and poet, and ran a small publishing press from his home in Vine Cottage in Steyning during the 1920’s, publishing writers from the Bohemian subculture.
Writer Justin Hopper has long been fascinated by Neuberg, and in 2022 published the book ‘Obsolete Spells‘, which collects Neuberg’s Sussex poems and Vine Press oddities along with essays. Justin is also the author of Old Weird Albion, a psycho-geographical meander along the South Downs Way.
Sharron Kraus is a weaver of musical spells best described as “‘Pagan radiophonica meets medieval balladry”…
ABOUT THE CULT OF WATER David Bramwell will take you on a magical odyssey, in search of the occult secrets of our rivers, and a drowned village which has long haunted his memories. From his roots in Doncaster, Bramwell travels up the river Don and back in time, through the ladybird plague and drought of 1976 to the heavily polluted Don of Sheffield’s steel industry, up into the Pennines and back into a pre-Christian era when rivers and springs were worshipped as living deities. Along the journey Bramwell battles with his own thalassophobia (the fear of ‘what lurks beneath’); learns about hydromancy from magician Alan Moore, and encounters Jarvis Cocker on his own adventures, sailing down the Don on an inflatable inner tube…. His journey finally brings him face to face with the goddess of primordial waters, Danu, who gave her name to the Don.
David Bramwell is a writer, musician, broadcaster and performer who also organises the popular Catalyst Club events in Brighton & elsewhere. Hisother books include The Haunted Moustache, No9 Bus to Utopia, The Odysseum and The Mysterium, and his podcast, Adventures in Nutopia, is well worth a listen! THE EVENING WILL ALSO FEATURE A short talk by Victor Neuberg’s daughter Caroline Neuberg on her father’s life, work & legacy. EVENT INFO: Doors open 7pm. Performance starts 7.30pm. There will be a bar serving local ales, cheap plonk & soft drinks. There is a large car park at Fletcher’s Croft, opposite the church. There is a bus service running hourly buses from Shoreham-by-Seato Steyning.
Upcoming events
Kids Event: Vicky Woodgate’s BIG, AROUND THE WORLD ANIMAL ADVENTURE
