Author: Andrew Taylor

Guests at a local charity’s winter party were treated to the appearance of a special guest – British singer, songwriter and dancer Aston Merrygold of boyband JLS.

Aston, who has just released a new solo single called ‘Too Late’, very kindly took the time to chat and be photographed with many of the young people at the party. One, Hannah, aged 16, said: “This has really made my day – I was a huge JLS fan. They honestly helped me to get through the death of my dad. I went to see loads of their live performances. I can’t believe he’s here!”

The singer arrived at Jigsaw (South East)’s Winter Party on Sunday 4 December at Meridian Hall at East Court, which was attended by dozens of families it has supported who have all suffered the loss of a loved one.

East Grinstead Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone was on hand to officially open the party – Jigsaw is one of his nominated charities – and show off some of his own dance moves to the delight of guests.

“I would like to thank Jigsaw for inviting me to meet everyone at their wonderful Winter Party. There was so much fun for everyone and the visiting dance group ‘Sugar Free’, all the way from Dartford, got us all joining in with their amazing routines. I had the opportunity to have a chat with families that have been through sad times and to listen to how Jigsaw has supported them.”

More about Jigsaw’s work here http://www.jigsawsoutheast.org.uk

County of West Sussex
Local Government Act 1972, Section 87

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy exists in the office County Councillor for the East Grinstead South & Ashurst Wood Electoral Division

30 November 2016

A J KERSHAW
Director of Law and Assurance

County Hall
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1RQ

One of the town’s major Christmas events this year was opened by Town Mayor Bob Mainstone together with the East Grinstead May Queen at the Lions Club Santa’s Grotto. Crowds turned out in the bright sunshine to enjoy a huge choice of festive fare from the stalls at the French Market as well as local groups and charities packed into stalls along Queen Walk. Plenty of entertainment was on hand including a giant Ferris Wheel parked up in King Street.

Photographs from today’s opening of the new Rebuilding Bodies & Souls exhibition at East Grinstead’s Museum the event was covered by both BBC and ITV local TV news programmes and was opened by Mrs Susan Pyper the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex with speeches by Sandy Saunders of the Guinea Pig Club and Air Marshall Chris Nicholls (retired) from the RAF Benevolent Fund. The exhibition opens to the public from November 30th and will be a permanent fixture of the Museum.Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10 to 4 and Sunday 1 to 4 Entrance to the Museum is free.

Famed surgeon Archibald McIndoe had a long tmie wish that one day the true story of his work and the Guinea Pigs story would be told and that the people of East Grnstead could be proud to know that they were indeed ‘The Town that didn’t Stare’ Now at long last the story is being told in East Grinstead and will be worthy on a national scale for all to see.

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Large crowds turned out in the High Street for the town’s first combined Christmas Street Lights and Rotary Club Christmas tree switch on. Town Mayor Bob Mainstone, together with his wife Christine, joined the crowds with the East Grinstead Concert Band taking their traditional place and playing seasonal music.

Spotted among the crowds was Santa and some of the cast from this year’s Chequer Mead Pantomime Dick Whittington all adding to the festivities.Speaking after pressing the switch the Town Mayor confessed that he had the fingers of his other hand crossed for good luck in case the lights didn’t all come on at once!

But all was well as for the first time ever the street lights shone forth together with those on the Christmas Tree.

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Town Mayor Bob Mainstone was Guest of Honour at a performance of The Music and Letters of John Mason Neale at Sackville College performed by the Sackville Community Choir. Neale was a past Warden of the College and is best known for his Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

At the finish of the performance Bob presented a cheque for £500 to Assistant Warden Chris Rolley. The cheque was part of this year’s Community Awards.

If you are looking for a stocking filler for someone who loves East Grinstead, a student living away from home or an expat on distance shores then the Town Council has just the thing. A range of East Grinstead themed Souvenirs is available from the Tourist information desk in East Grinstead library or the Town Council offices at East Court.

Tom Mitchell, the Great Britain rugby 7’s captain at the Rio Olympics, was recognised for his achievement for winning a silver medal by East Grinstead Town Council on Wednesday 23 November.

Town Mayor, Bob Mainstone welcomed Tom and his family to East Court and presented him with a special certificate of recognition on behalf of the Council.

Tom grew up in East Grinstead and attended Escots Primary School before moving to Worth School. He had his first experience of rugby at the East Grinstead Rugby Club at the age of nine. He went on to gain a blue at Oxford University and to become a member of the England 7’s squad. He was then selected to captain the GB Rugby 7’s squad for the Olympics. The exciting tournament saw GB beat Argentina and South Africa on their way to the final where they met the eventual gold medallists Fiji.

At the Mayor’s reception at East Court councillors enjoyed seeing film of Tom playing rugby and they asked him questions about the Olympics and his rugby career. Tom explained in detail the excitement of being selected and the mounting pressure as the GB team won their way to the final.

Tom’s gran, Betty, described how she watched Tom’s Olympic matches on TV and prayed he would not get injured! His parents, Sue and Alan, spoke about Tom growing up and his love of sport. They were in Rio for the Rugby 7’s but had to book their tickets, flight and accommodation before Tom was officially selected to represent GB!

Andy Poole, President of East Grinstead Rugby Club, joined the Council celebrations and thanked Tom for visiting the club and meeting the junior members.

Town Mayor Bob commented, “We are very proud of East Grinstead’s Rio Olympians in Rugby 7’s, men’s hockey and women’s hockey. It was a great pleasure to recognise Tom’s achievement and to hold an evening in his honour. We wish him success in his future rugby career.”

The Town Council are working with the town’s hockey club to arrange a date when all of the hockey Olympians are in town so their achievements can also be recognised. Laura Unsworth and Sophie Bray were members of the gold medal winning women’s hockey team.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, and Mayoress Cllr Christine Mainstone were invited to visit the East Grinstead Food Bank. They met the volunteers at the Jubilee Centre and were given an explanation as to how the Food Bank helps those in need.

Bob commented,”The Food Bank is a vital service for those in crisis. They are very well organised and supportive to those families unfortunate enough to have to be referred for help. I now have a clear understanding of how the Food Bank offer support. I will be donating something for the Food Bank box every time I go shopping in Sainsburys in future”

Photos: With volunteers in the Food Bank distribution store.