Author: Andrew Taylor

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, and Deputy Mayor, Julie Mockford, both joined the litter pick along London Road last Sunday.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, joined 225 walkers who braved the rain to complete the Bluebell Railway Track Trek. Bob welcomed everyone to East Grinstead station before they set off on the 11 mile walk to Sheffield Park along the railway track. The sponsored walk raised funds for the “Accessible Steam Heritage” and “Operation Undercover Phase 4″. The walk raised £11,000 towards these projects.

Bob added,”I was generously sponsored by many people and I raised enough money to receive a medal at the end of the walk! It was hard going along the track but a rare opportunity to walk through the tunnel at West Hoathly. I was very pleased to do my bit for Bluebell who are one of my mayoral charities. I aim to raise enough funds to build a childrens’ playground at Kingscote Station”

Photo shows Bob during the walk having reached Horsted Keynes Station (Photo credit: Mike Hopps)

Photo shows Bob trying to dry out in front of a roaring coal fire at Horsted Keynes Station (Photo credit: Mike Hopps)

Age UK East Grinstead and District  is having a problem  finding transport to pick up people wanting to attend their Saturday Club. Do you have a minibus/driver that could help us with this?

This would involve Saturday mornings twice a month at about 10am and then again at about 4pm. If so, please contact:

Pam Mitchell (Chief Officer)

Age UK East Grinstead & District  Swan Mead  Queens Road  East Grinstead  RH19 1BE

01342 327046 / 07803 538638

ceo@ageukeastgrinstead.org.uk

Due to adverse weather over the last few days there has been a delay in the installation of the East Grinstead Christmas lights. The lights are due to be switched on Saturday afternoon at a ceremony in the Historic High St from 3.15pm.

Contractors are hopeful they will be in place on time though and will be working this evening (Thursday) and tomorrow night to get them up along the High Street, London Road and Railway Approach.

East Grinstead Town Promotions, a service of the Town Council based in the Town’s library, has always supported school projects. Each year students from both Sackville and Imberhorne studying Travel and Tourism, take a town tour with our staff to prepare for exam coursework.

This year, Sackville student Megan Williams has been inspired to produce a leaflet an ‘Historic guided tour of East Grinstead’ and this will be stocked at the Tourist Information desk.

Town Promotions manager Dawn Spalding commented ‘We are always impressed with what the students come up with for their leaflets and it is a pleasure to be able to offer them to visitors and residents. We encourage feedback and Megan has given us some forms to be completed and these will be added to her portfolio for the examiners. She has obviously worked very hard to produce the tour and we wish her every success’

The Town came together to hold the annual Remembrance day parade and service on Sunday 13th November. Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial and two minutes silence was observed.

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Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging people to shop locally and support their community by reducing parking to £1 every Saturday in December.

In the run up to Christmas, shoppers won’t have to worry about parking prices in specific long stay car parks across Mid Sussex. Mid Sussex District Council is providing discounted parking on Saturdays to support local shoppers and traders. As parking on Sundays is already free, it will cost just £1 to park in the Franklynn Road, Queens Crescent, Station Road, the Vicarage or Norton House car parks for the whole weekend.

“Christmas is a really important time for local shops and it’s vital that we show them our support by doing our present shopping locally in our towns when we can.,” said Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery. “We are aiming to spread Christmas cheer and good will to residents and those visiting from outside of Mid Sussex, so take advantage of our £1 offer and shop locally this Christmas.”

Short stay car parks in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath will also be free after 1pm on the day of the Christmas light switch-on. To support these town events you won’t have to pay during the afternoon on:

• Saturday 19^th November, at
  • The Martlets, Burgess Hill
  • Church Road, Burgess Hill
  • Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill
• Saturday 26^th November, at
  • The Orchards, Haywards Heath
  • Hazelgrove, Haywards Heath
  • Haywards East, Haywards Heath
  • Gower Road, Haywards Heath
  • Haywards West, Haywards Heath
  • Queensway, East Grinstead
  • Kings Street, East Grinstead
  • Chequer Mead, East Grinstead
  • Christopher Road, East Grinstead

These free Christmas celebrations will feature some great Christmas activities such as a free ice rink, funfair rides, live entertainment, craft stalls and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas.

For more information please contact our parking team on 01444 477212 or at parkinginfo@midsussex.gov.uk  or visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/xmasparking.

East Grinstead Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone will switch on the Rotary Tree of Light and the Christmas lights on Saturday 26^th November 2016.

The lights (provided by the town council) are set to timers to start coming on 3.59pm from the High St, along London Road and Railway Approach.   All lights will be lit by 4pm at which point the Town Mayor will press the button to light the tree.

This year is the first time that the lights have been co-ordinated with the Rotary Clubs tree of light.

There will be activity in the Market Square from 3.15 with music from the East Grinstead Concert Band and singing of carols led by local choirs.   The Chequer Mead panto characters will be in costume and Santa’s elves (courtesy of poppies parties) will also be there to entertain.

Members of Rotary in official tabards will be present throughout the town centre during the day collecting for local Rotary charities as part of their Annual Christmas Appeal.

Mid Sussex District Council have granted free parking from 3pm in their short stay car parks for that afternoon.

East Grinstead Rotary Clubs will be undertaking their santa sleigh ride around the town in the evenings leading up to Christmas to raise funds for local charities. Full details of where and when they will be visiting can be found on their website www.meridianrotary.co.uk

Other Festive activities in East Grinstead will include

• the High St “Big Reveal on Friday 18^th November (at 5pm),
• Elf the Musical at Chequer Mead (Friday 25^th and Saturday 26^th November),
• the London Road Christmas market (Sunday 4^th December),
• EGConcert Band at St Swithuns church (Sunday 11^th December)
• ‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas on the High St (Sunday 18^th December).
• Dick Whittington pantomime  –  Chequer Mead Saturday 17^th –  Thursday 29^th December

http://www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk/whats-on/festive-east-grinstead/