12 September 2011

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

In the second of our biographies this month, we turn the spotlight on Cllr Dick Sweatman who represents Herontye Ward.

DICK Sweatman was born and bred in Edenbridge, but was a regular visitor to East Grinstead as a teenager, when he would cycle over to see pop heroes including The Rolling Stones and Dusty Springfield perform at the Whitehall theatre.

Newly-married in 1980, Dick finally arrived here to live, and has run his own business in and around the area ever since.

His two daughters, now 24 and 26, both attended Sackville school, and Dick himself is a member of the Holtye Golf Club.

Like many of his fellow councillors, Dick was elected to public office for the first time last May, and is still learning the ropes, both on the Town Council and on Mid Sussex District Council where he also won a seat.

“It’s still all pretty new to me,” he admitted, “but I decided to stand because I am interested in people and I thought it was time I gave something back to the community.”

As a local businessman himself, Dick is all too aware of the challenges facing the town’s traders, and is keen both to support those already working in East Grinstead, and encourage anyone considering starting up here.

“East Grinstead is a fantastic place to live and work," he said.

“I also want to promote the work of Herontye Ward’s Neighbourhood Panel, and to make myself and the Council more visible and more available to the town’s residents.”