Author: Andrew Taylor

HUNDREDS of onlookers enjoyed the Dance in the High Street yesterday, which saw a two-hour variety show mounted in the heart of the town centre.

After days of sunshine, the weather broke and it was grey skies overhead as a steady drizzle rained down for most of the day.

But East Grinstead folk are made of stern stuff, and they weren’t going to let anything rain on their parade or dampen their enthusiasm.

More than 120 volunteers had spent months planning the event and it just showed, said organiser Lex Eichner, the importance volunteering plays in the life of the town and in bringing the community together.

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Photos courtesy of East Grinstead Online

On Monday 6 July at the Disability Access Group AGM three local businesses were presented with Burrin Awards for their special efforts to assist the disabled, people in wheelchairs and for pushchair access.   The London Road clothing store White Stuff , the Queens Walk café Poppins and the Forest Row restaurant Roochi were the recipients of the 2015 awards.

The Burrin Awards are presented annually and are named after Matthew Burrin who was a former Chairman of the Disability Access Group and local Councillor.

Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone presented the awards to representatives of the three businesses and said “White Stuff, Poppins and Roochi deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in making their premises easy for access and providing facilities for people with disabilities.  Their staff are very helpful and welcoming to all customers. We look forward to seeing their Burrin Award certificates proudly displayed in their premises.”

Cllr Peter Reed, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council, opened the AGM and  congratulated the Disability Access Group for the excellent service they provide.  He thanked the volunteers who work tirelessly to help others.

A proposal was agreed that each year the East Grinstead Town Mayor would be appointed President of the Group.  This proposal was accepted at the Town Council meeting later that evening with thanks to the Disability Access Group for the Honour.

The Disability Access Group committee for 2015 – 2016 was elected as follows:

• Chairman:  Paul Johnson
• Secretary: Kathy Mackie-Clark
• Treasurer: Olive Harper
• Executive committee members: Cliff Barrow, Eddie Harper, Rosemary Rowe, Bob Astington, Andrew Brock

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

 

 

Guy Francis Ormand DEVITT

Second Lieutenant 7th Battalion, The Rifle Bigade. 14t. Light Division.

Killed in action near Ypres. 30. 7.15 Aged 23.

Son of Andrew and Jane Dales Devitt of “Coldshott” Oxted, Surrey.

Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium MR. 29

Arthur Francis Bewicke LITTLEWOOD

Corporal 1603 1st Battalion, The Honourable Artillery Company (Infantry) 3rd Division.

Died of wounds in base hospital at Etaples 7.7.15. Aged 31.

Son of The Rev.E.H. and Mrs. J.F.Littlewood of Lingfield Lodge, East Grinstead. Enlisted, Armoury House, Tower of London.

Buried Etaples Military Cemetery. F.40

Charles James TREE

Lieutenant 9th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment. 13th Division.

Killed in action on Gallipoli 20. 7.15 age 25.

Son of Warren Williams Arrowsmith and Juliana Bevan Tree of 4, Landsdowne Crescent, Worcester. Local connection unknown.

Buried Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli.

TOWN tourist officer Simon Kerr hosted friends, family and colleagues at the library last night (Friday) for a celebration of his retirement in two weeks’ time.

A much-loved and familiar figure in the town for the past 18 years, Simon’s enthusiasm for photography and his natty dress sense were celebrated in a retirement cake decorated by his colleague Dawn Spalding with a camera and silk ties.

His colleagues said they had valued Simon’s devotion to duty, his willingness to get involved with whatever was going on, and the sheer good fun of having him around in the library, where the tourist desk is based.

Joan Roberts, the former chief librarian, said she was delighted to have been proved so comprehensively right when, as one of the interview panel nearly two decades ago, she had decided Simon was the right man for the job.

“The tourist officer post ago was a new idea, a new venture, and I think it has been a spectacular success,” she said.

Simon, in reply to these plaudits, said he had had the time of his life, adding that while he was retiring from the tourist desk, he had no intention of retiring “from being Simon” and is now looking forward to becoming involved in other areas of town life

Photos courtesy of East Grinstead Online

WITH the route for the judges in the South and South East in Bloom competition now published, the East Grinstead in Bloom committee has made a final plea to the whole town to back their bid for Gold this year.

Last summer East Grinstead won a Silver Gilt award – but this time around the committee is determined to go one better.

But to succeed they need the help of everyone in the town.

Judging is less than two weeks away, on Tuesday 14 July from 10am until 5pm, and between now and then Bloom is asking everyone in the town to make sure they take their litter home, pick up any litter they see and help keep East Grinstead looking tidy.

“The judges will be inspecting various sites along the route we have worked out, and taking a look at some of our pretty front gardens too,” said Bloom’s Sam Baldery.

“Everyone on the judges’ route can help – residents and businesses can do simple things such as giving their front lawn a quick mow, pulling out weeds or just brushing up debris along the path.

“Every little bit helps and may win extra points for the town.”

* If you think you can help EG in Bloom in the run-up to judging they will be holding a working party at East Grinstead Train Station this Sunday, 5 July from 10am where you can help plant, weed and lay mulch on the beds.

There will also be a final working party on Sunday 12 July from 10am – the location is to be confirmed.

For further information on EG in Bloom please contact Julie Mockford, Chairman on 01342 325552 or Samantha Baldery, Secretary on 01342 322322.