Author: Andrew Taylor

Colin Fry – Celebrating 35 Years

Monday 1 December at 7.30pm

TV entertainer Colin Fry will be bringing an evening of ‘mediumship’ to Chequer Mead.

Evenings of mediumship are not scientifically proven and are presented for entertainment purposes only.

Tickets £17.50

Forest Row Lifeboat Choir presents A Concert of Christmas Carols

Tuesday 2 December at 1.30pm

THE Forest Row Lifeboat Choir was formed in 1946 after the loss of the Rye Harbour Lifeboat Mary Stanford and her 17 crew in 1928. The brother of a crew member lived in Forest Row, met the village postman and moved by the disaster, they formed the choir to sing carols to raise funds for the RNLI which they continue to do to this day.

Tickets £4.50/concessions: £3.50

Lingfield Silver Band presents A Christmas Concert, with Redhill Corps of Drums and Band

Thursday 4 December at 7.30pm

LINGFIELD Silver Band was formed in 1913 and has always supported village life.  Its first public concert was in July 1914, and despite the onset of the First World War the band continued with a smaller ensemble throughout the war, and re-formed afterwards, purchasing a new set of instruments in 1919.

The band continues to thrive today with 31 playing members in the senior band and 18 players in the Youth Band. Joining them are the Redhill Corps of Drums and Band, which was established in 1981, and as well as performing in venues in England, has toured extensively in Europe, winning numerous awards.

Tickets £10/concessions £8

Michael Portillo “Life – A Game of Two Halves”

Friday 5 December at 7pm

IT took Michael Portillo little more than 10 years to get a seat in the Commons and then rise in power and esteem to a point where he was a favoured leader of his party and possible future PM.  A track record like that suggests to many a privileged friend of the rich and famous with little or no understanding of, or care for, the ordinary citizen. But since leaving the House almost a decade ago Michael has endeared himself to many with his obvious respect for solid workmanship like our great Victorian Railways, his care for the underprivileged in TV’s Michael becomes a Single Mum 2003 and the troubled Death of a School Friend, 2002. Listen to his extraordinary story and then feel free to question him about it.

Tickets £16/concessions £14

CMYT presents The Party & The Prison

Saturday 6 December at 7pm

THE Chequer Mead Youth Theatre is very much in its infancy, but is proud to present two short plays to show how much they have achieved in their first year.  Both plays have been written by our director Charlie Watts, especially for CMYT.  All monies raised from tickets will go back to the CMYT to enable them to grow further.  Please come and support your local young people, and your local theatre, in their debut performances.

Tickets £3.50

Ariel Choir & Guests

Sunday 7 December at 7.30pm

ARIEL Choir is part of Ariel Company Theatre. Following on from their appearance with Peter Andre at the O2 and the Brighton Centre, the Choir will perform both rock and pop classics. They will be joined by the Ariel Musicality Choir and the Ariel Tempests finalist of the BBC Sports relief goes Glee. www.arielct.co.uk

Tickets £11/pensioners £8/children and students £5

NT Live Screening: JOHN

Tuesday 9 December at 8pm

JOHN is a new dance-theatre work by Lloyd Newson, Artistic Director of DV8 Physical Theatre. Newson interviewed more than 50 men asking them frank questions, initially about love and sex. One of those men was John.

What emerged was a story that is both extraordinary and touching. Years of crime, drug use and struggling to survive lead John on a search in which his life converges with others, in an unexpected place, unknown by most. JOHN authentically depicts real-life stories, where movement and spoken word combine to create an intense, moving and poignant theatrical experience.

…and that’s why I come here, because it’s another door that’s opened, you never know where this is gonna lead.

Contains adult themes, strong language and nudity. Suitable for 18yrs+

Tickets £12/concessions £10

Winter Concert in aid of SSAFA presents The Band of the Irish Guards

Friday 12 December at 7.30pm

CHRISTMAS starts here!  Chequer Mead is delighted to welcome The Band of the Irish Guards for this popular concert.  Book early to avoid disappointment and support SSAFA, giving essential assistance to our Armed Forces and their families.

Tickets £18/concessions £16

Choirpower and Greenstede Singers present A Christmas Concert

Monday 15 December at 7.30pm

Tickets £9/concessions £8

THE Company of Friends proudly present Aladdin

THE Company of Friends are back at Chequer Mead and full of Eastern promise this Christmas with their magical production of Aladdin.

They’ll take you on a magical carpet ride and with prices to suit every pocket you won’t have to part with many dinari to enjoy this spectacular trip to Pantoland.

Saturday 20 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Sunday 21 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Monday 22 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Tuesday 23 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Wednesday 24 December at 11am and 3pm
Saturday 27 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Sunday 28 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Monday 29 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Tuesday 30 December at 3pm

Tickets £15/concessions £13.50

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges presented the East Grinstead Pensioners Club with a cheque for £250 on behalf of the Town Council at St Mary’s Church Hall.

A pony was found in the Isaacs Lane area of Haywards Heath around 9.30pm on November 25.

The bay coloured pony was wearing a rug and a head collar and was found on Butler’s Green Road and Tyler’s Green.

Anyone who knows anything about it or who it belongs to is asked to contact police on 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1466 of 25/11.

If you are looking for stocking fillers, why not pop into the town library in West Street or the museum in Cantelupe Road and take a look at the attractive town souvenirs which are on sale? Ideal gifts for anyone and all reasonably priced.

THERE is a vacancy near Baldwins Hill/Imberhorne Lower school for a school crossing keeper at the Lingfield Road/Burston Gardens area during term time.

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@westsussex.gov.uk or 0330 2226713.

ALL the town centre Christmas lights – installed jointly for the second time this year by East Grinstead Town Council and the Christmas Lights Committee – are now on.

The Christmas Lights Committee, which has been organising the lights for 30 years as volunteers, indicated in 2013 that they would soon want to stand down.

The Town Council offered to take the lights on and agreed a transition period over four years.

Last Christmas the Council arranged for the lights in the High Street between Middle Row and the roundabout, and it was agreed that further areas would be handed over until Christmas 216, when the entire project would be in Council hands.

The town’s traders have always donated towards the cost of the lights by appeal from the Committee, but this year the Town Council asked the traders in Railway Approach and the bottom of Kings Street to contribute directly to the Council as they were looking after that area.

The Town Council’s lights are erected and maintained on a contract basis, which means that the Town Council does not own, nor does it have to store or repair them, and that they can replaced every few years with new designs.

The first contract in 2013 was for five years, and as more areas get added to the Council’s orignal contract with the provider they will have the same end date, so that when the contracts run out together, a new scheme can be put in place.

The Town Council will be asking the town’s traders and residents for their views and ideas – but of course it will not be possible to meet everyone’s preference.

When there is just one scheme, the intention will be to liaise with the Rotary Clubs and to have a joint switch-on event for the lights and the Rotary Festive Tree.

TOWN councillor Danny Favor has been awarded a Presidential Banaag Award for his work in promoting the Filipino community in East Grinstead.

Danny will be flying to the Philippines to attend the presentation ceremony at the Malacanan Palace on 5 December with his wife Maribel.

“I received a phone call from the office of the Phillipines President’s Commission on Filipinos Overseas to say I had been chosen as the recipient of the award from among hundreds of Filipino individuals and organizations nominated worldwide for their significant contribution to advancing the cause of overseas Filipino communities,” said Danny.

“This once-in-a-lifetime award is huge honour, but my acceptance of it would not be complete without paying tribute to the team effort and generous support of everyone who have made this milestone a reality.

“I did not made this journey alone but with wonderful people who tirelessly guided and supported me all the way.

“And I will be accepting this award on behalf of them all – East Grinstead Town Council, Chequer Mead Community Art Centre, Extra Care Team, various community groups and organisations, the Philippine Embassy in London, the generous people of East Grinstead, my constituents, my family and friends.

“This award is for all of you. Countless thanks, and God bless you all.”

Town Clerk Julie Holden said: “We all offer our congratulations to Cllr Danny Favor.

“Danny has represented Ashplats Ward since 2011 and is vice chairman of the Charities Committee. He is a committed community enthusiast and started a volunteer health check service at local events with colleagues from the QVH where he works.

“We are delighted he has been chosen for this well-deserved honour.”

EAST Grinstead Town Council will be studying the implications of the newly-published Airports Commission report on the three options it has shortlisted for increasing the UK’s long term aviation capacity.

The Commission’s consultation, which is open until 3 February, is seeking views on the three options for a new runway in the South East – two at Heathrow and one at Gatwick.

In particular, the Commission wishes to:

• test the evidence base it has assembled
• understand stakeholders’ views as to the accuracy, relevance and breadth of the assessments it has undertaken
• seek views on the potential conclusions that might be drawn from them.

The Commission is also interested in evidence and ideas about improving the short-listed options – for example through mitigation measures to address specific impacts.

There is also a large number of supporting documents such as a sustainability assessment and business case for each of the three schemes.

Click here to see the consultation document.

Click here to see the Commission’s press release.

Gatwick Airport Limited has also issued a press release click here to see.

There is also a large number of supporting documents such as a sustainability assessment and business case for each of the schemes.

Click here to see the Gatwick business case and sustainability assessment.

Click here to see the detailed technical reports which underpin the Commission’s analysis.

Work submitted to the Commission by the three scheme promoters has also been published.

Click here to see Gatwick Airport Limited’s submission.

During the consultation period the Commission is undertaking a series of engagement events including two public discussion sessions, one in the Heathrow area on 3 December and one in the Gatwick area on 16 December. Members of Parliament, Local Authority leaders, community groups and business representatives have been invited to appear as witnesses setting out their views on the proposals.

There will also be opportunities during each event for stakeholders and local residents to make statements from the public gallery. Registration for the public gallery will open shortly and the Commission will provide details about how to register. The Town Council will be considering and compiling their response to the report over the next few weeks and will discuss it at the Council meeting on 2 February 2015 prior to submission to the Commission on the 3rd.