DEPUTY Mayor Dick Sweatman (centre below) attended the town NTC awards ceremony last week.
Author: Andrew Taylor
All lit up for Christmas
THERE has been a minor problem with the lights on the High Street cherry trees due to the recent very heavy rain.
But the lights are all now working and the High Street is lit up and ready for Christmas.
REMEMBER: The lighting of the Rotary Clubs’ Christmas Tree will be on Saturday from 2.45pm. There will be carols accompanied by the East Grinstead Town Band and the Reverend Clive Everett-Allen will give a blessing.
Town Mayor Nick Hodges will switch the lights on at 3pm.
Parking on Saturday afternoon will be £1 in all the MSDC car parks, so why not shop in town to support our traders and then go along for some carolling around the tree?
* The Town Council will not be responsible for the Christmas lights display in their entirety until 2016, and in the run-up to that date will be meeting interested parties and, where possible, taking their views into account.
Love is in the East Grinstead air…
EAST Grinstead’s most romantic hero Dan Glover wanted to make a unique proposal to his girlfriend Becky Hamblett so during an apparently routine date to the town cinema he plotted with staff to show Becky a home-made video in which he listed the Ten Things I love About You.
Then – more conventionally – he went down on one knee to ask her to marry him.
And a delighted Becky – watched by the cinema audience – said “Yes!”
Since then, the sheer good-hearted fun of their special moment has captured the imagination of the media across the south east, and they even made an appearance on BBC South East news where extracts from Dan’s video list were broadcast to the home counties.
Town Clerk Julie Holden said “It’s always good to see happy news about the town, and the councillors and staff at East Court would like to add their congratulations to Dan and Becky and wish them every happiness for the future.”
If you would like to see Dan and Becky’s magic moment it is on: youtube.com/dackytv
Time to comment on Draft District Plan
THE period of consultation on the Draft District Plan opens today and will close in eight weeks time at midnight on 16 January.
To see the Draft Plan, and to comment on it, go to http://www.midsussex.gov.
Christmas music at the home of The Good King
Money raised by Mid Sussex Marathon
TOWN Clerk Julie Holden has accepted £3,000 from Mid Sussex District Council on behalf of two East Grinstead sports clubs.
The cash was raised by last May’s ‘three towns’ Marathon which saw more than 1,000 runners complete the three-part Mid Sussex Marathon run in East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.
The hugely-popular event helped to raise money for local charities and attracted hundreds of visitors into the three towns to spectate on race days.
The Marathon money raised has now been given to sports clubs across the District to improve sporting opportunities for residents.
The East Grinstead Athletics Club and Activate East Grinstead have been granted £3000 for local running projects. The clubs will use £1500 for the 321 initiative, a project pioneered by Run England which encourages people who have stopped taking exercise to become active again. Signage will be displayed around the town to mark out jogging routes from 1 to 5km, varied distances that will appeal to runners of all abilities.
The remainder of the money has been set aside to establish a weekly Park Run in the town.
Photo above: Representatives from local sports clubs meet Cllr Pru Moore to receive their funding.
(Left to Right) Stuart Condie from Burgess Hill Runners, Councillor Mims Davies, Mike Essex from Haywards Heath Harriers, Councillor Pru Moore, Lucie Venables from Haywards Heath Harriers and Julie Holden, East Grinstead Town Clerk who accepted the funding on behalf of East Grinstead Athletics Club and Activate East Grinstead.
Family Fun Day attracts the crowds
TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges arrived in an open topped car with Father Christmas and May Queen Millia McQuade to declare the annual Family Fun Day open today (Sunday 30 November).
The mild weather, and the French market, attracted large crowds to mark Advent Sunday and the official run-up to Christmas.
And we’d be “lion” if we said Deputy Mayor Dick Sweatman wasn’t there too…
Nick poses with Father Christmas – Nick’s the one on the left
Deputy Mayor Dick Sweatman makes friends with a lion – Dick’s the one on the right
The Mayor, Father Christmas and the May Queen arrive by car
Watch out – elves about!
Photos: Courtesy of East Grinstead Online
School crossing patrol person needed
THERE is a vacancy near Halsford Park Primary School, Heathcote Drive, East Grinstead for a school crossing keeper.
West Sussex County Council is anxious to fill the position as soon as possible as the safety of children en route to school is of paramount importance.
For more information contact Julie Finn, SCP Manager julie.finn@
West Sussex Connect to Support
Family Swap Shop at the library
DEPUTY Town Mayor Dick Sweatman was at the library on Saturday for the Family Swap Shop organised by West Sussex County Council.
The event was to bring families together to swap unwanted household items, meet their neighbours and find support from community organisations including the Food Bank and the police.
Music was provided by St Swithun’s choir and a group of Filipino singers.
Photos courtesy of Sue Young