regarded as the father of modern calligraphy David Jones – poet John Vernon Lord – illustrator, author and teacher Dame Vera Lynn – singer Esther Meynell – writer, author of Sussex Cottage (1936) John Neal – cricketer Hilary Pepler – printer, writer and poet Brocard Sewell – Carmelite friar and literary figure Sir Donald Sinden – actor Hilary Stratton - sculptor and pupil of Eric Gill Jamie Theakston – radio presenter Len Howard – naturalist and musician Notes References External links Acclaimed BBC documentary film series 'A Very English Village', filmed in and around the village of Ditchling by resident film maker, Luke Holland Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft Ditchling Parish Council Ditchling Village Association Villages in East Sussex Market towns in East Sussex Civil parishes in East Sussex Lewes District