Author: Andrew Taylor

Do you know a fantastic carer in West Sussex? Has a local care organisation shown outstanding care to you or someone you know?

Now is the time to nominate them for the West Sussex Care Accolades, the county’s ‘Oscars’ for care workers.

The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of people working in a wide variety of jobs in adult social care including dementia care, caring for people in their own homes and caring for people at the end of their life.

The awards are a chance to honour the individuals and organisations who make a special effort to go above and beyond their normal day-to-day duties to help people who receive care.

Nominations close on Monday 22 September at 5.00pm.

The awards, now in their fifth year, are organised by West Sussex Partners in Care and are supported by West Sussex County Council.

This year there are nine categories:

• Ancillary Worker Award – for example, cooks, bus drivers and cleaners;
• Dementia Care Award – for someone who has improved the quality of life of people with dementia;
• End of Life Care Award – for someone who has demonstrated a commitment to a person and their family at the end of that person’s life;
• Individual Student Achievement Award;
• Lifelong Learner Award;
• The Chair’s Award for Endeavour – for someone who has overcome personal difficulties while still going above and beyond their normal day-to-day duties;
• The Young Carer Award;
• Excellence Award – which is awarded to an organisation; and
• Individual Employers Award.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care and Health, which is supporting the accolades, said: “These awards highlight the achievements of people who go that little bit further to enhance people’s lives.

“They demonstrate attention to care and duty and set a marker for others to aspire to, which will help to improve the high standards of care delivered to people who receive care in West Sussex. If you know someone who has done that please nominate them.”

Chairman of West Sussex Partners in Care, Rosemary Pavoni, said: “There are about 25,000 social care staff working in West Sussex, who every day change the lives of people for whom they care, and this is the time to celebrate and recognise their dedication, hard work and commitment.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in October. Winners receive a trophy and shopping vouchers.

For a nomination pack or more information please contact Rosemary Pavoni by email at rosemary.pavoni@wsf-tb.org.uk.

THE East Grinstead Business Association will be hosting a Drink & Meet at La Farola (in the London Road opposite the Fire Station) between 6pm and 8pm on Monday.

The meetings are for the town’s business community so if you are working in the town go along and meet your local business colleagues in a relaxed social environment.

There is no need to book or to be on time, just turn up, buy yourself a drink and chat over some free nibbles.  Take a friend if you want to – and plenty of business cards. Parking opposite the restaurant in the town car park.

Trevor Marriott presents The World’s Worst Serial Killers on Thursday 11 September at 7.30pm

THE WWSK is a two-hour audio-visual show presented by retired murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, the author of the highly acclaimed best-selling book titled The Evil Within -The World’s Worst Serial Killers.

The show describes the murders committed by 20 of the world’s worst serial killers and features more than 200 photographs of the victims, their killers, and the original crime scenes, many of which have never been seen before.

Trevor Marriott goes to great lengths to show the errors and bad decisions made by law enforcement officers in allowing some of these killers to roam free to kill again before finally being captured, as well as showing the pain and suffering the victims endured before succumbing to death.

This show is not for the squeamish or faint hearted as many of the photographs shown are of a very graphic nature, which some may find disturbing.

No one under 16 will be admitted without a parent or appropriate adult.
Tickets £12. Concessions £10.

Jimmy Jemain is Cliff, together with The Fabulous Shadows on Friday 12 September at 8pm

The World’s Number One Cliff Richard look-and-sound alike is in town with a must-see tribute show with The Fabulous Shadows featuring all Cliff’s hits from 1958 … Move It, Living Doll, The Young Ones, Summer Holiday and with The Shadows classic hits Apache, Wonderful Land, Kon Tiki and many more.

Tickets £13.50. Concessions £12.50.

Sandarac Productions present The Floyd Effect – Saturday 13 September at 7.30pm

THE Floyd Effect returns to Chequer Mead with an evening of timeless Pink Floyd classics concluding with a complete performance of Dark Side of the Moon. The Floyd Effect experience includes a dramatic lightshow complete with the iconic circular screen, smoke lasers and projections.

An unforgettable evening that will take you on a journey from the Gates of Dawn to the Dark Side of the Moon.

Tickets £17.50.

EGOS presents The Full Monty on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 September at 7. 30pm

THIS bright and brassy musical is set in Buffalo, New York. It is about a group of unemployed steel-workers who try to make a few bucks by becoming male strippers. In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun.

Parental Guidance: this musical contains nudity.

Tickets £15. Concessions £14. Group discounts available.

Rollermania – Les McKeown and his legendary Bay City Rollers – Thursday 25 September at 8pm

THE music of the Bay City Rollers became a musical phenomenon and the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers growing up in the mid 70’s, with Les McKeown leading the way.

The band’s huge hits, such as Bye Bye Baby, Shang A Lang, and Summer Love Sensation, propelled them to world-wide superstardom, with their trademark Scottish tartan being copied across the planet.

Rollermania is a celebration of those hectic days of hit songs, touring, TV shows and the behind-the-scenes pandemonium that followed the band everywhere they went. A transformed Les McKeown has come through the extreme highs and lows of life’s great road and he is here to tell us all about it. All the hits songs are there and audiences are promised a fantastic night of fun and nostalgia as they take a trip back to those innocent days of growing up to the sounds of The Bay City Rollers starring Les McKeown.

Tickets £19.50

Neil O’Brien Entertainments presents Ben Montague on Friday 26 September at 8pm

AFTER a very successful debut at Chequer Mead in October, Ben Montague returns to East Grinstead for another evening of amazing music. His second studio album Tales of Flying and Falling quickly became BBC Radio 2’s Album of the Week. 2014 is another exciting year for Ben, who, in addition to supporting Shane Filan on tour, will also be releasing his next single.

Tickets £10.

VANDALS have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the baby changing-unit in the Kings Street public toilets.

The metal table, which folds down from the wall, has been badly bent and is now too dangerous to use as a child resting on it could slip to the floor.

Commenting on a photograph of the damaged unit which is made of 4mm steel, the manufacturers said it would have required several people sitting on it to bend it out of shape.

It is too damaged to be repaired and will cost the town’s residents well over £700 in Council Tax to be replaced.

Cllr Peter Wyan said: “It is an instance of mindless vandalism which is going to greatly inconvenience a lot of parents trying to care for their babies as well as costing a considerable amount of money to repair damages. Clearly the culprits have no regard for the problems they have caused but I would ask the sensible residents of the town to look out for this sort of stupidity and report it to the Police.”

Below: Before and after pics of the unit

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges’s family took advantage of a holiday in the New Forest to make Nick take the infamous ice bucket challenge.

Nick – seen for once without his chain of office – took his dunking in good part, and has now nominated Deputy Mayor Cllr Dick Sweatman to take the same icy shower.

The stunt, which originated in the USA, is to raise funds for, and awareness of, Motor Neurone Disease or ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) as it is known in America.

CATALYTIC converters (CATs) controls and converts exhaust emissions from a vehicle into less toxic substances.

But did you know that CATs are valuable, due to the precious metals from which they are made?

All vehicles with a catalytic converter are at risk of theft, especially vehicles which have a high ground clearance, such as vans, 4x4s, pick-ups and people carriers, as these can provide thieves with easier access.

To reduce the risk of your catalytic converter being stolen:

• Park your vehicle in a locked garage when it’s unattended.
• If it’s not possible to store your vehicle in a garage, park it in a busy well-lit area as close to your property as possible.
• If you see anyone working under vehicles, and they are acting suspiciously, report it to the police.
• For business fleets, consider good quality, strong perimeter fencing and try defensive parking (if you have a fleet of vehicles, block those with high ground clearance using vehicles with low clearance to obstruct access underneath the vehicle).
•  Install and monitor CCTV and / or compound alarm systems.
• Mark your catalytic converter with a marking and registration system.

MID Sussex District Council is teaming up with the charity Dogs Trust to offer local pet owners the chance to microchip their dog, absolutely free of charge before the law makes chipping compulsory in 2016.

Microchipping ensures that lost or stolen pets can be quickly identified and reunited with their owners.

In September, the charity Dogs Trust will be running free microchipping sessions at parks and open spaces across Mid Sussex. They will be supported by the Mid Sussex District Council Park Rangers team, who will be on hand to provide advice and information on other aspects of responsible dog ownership.

Currently, every dog owner is legally required to ensure that their dog is wearing a collar and tag, but these can easily get lost or removed if a dog is stolen. A microchip is permanent and, from the 6 April 2016, a change in the law means it will be compulsory for owners to have their dog microchipped.

The microchip is a small electronic device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is coded with a unique number that can be read by a scanner. As the chip is so small, once it has been implanted the dog will not be able to feel it.

Once microchipped, Dogs Trust will register the dog and owner’s details and from then on it is essential that owners update their information when necessary, such as after a change of address.

To ensure local people are ready for the new law, Mid Sussex District Council and Dogs Trust are hosting a series of free microchipping events at parks and open spaces right across Mid Sussex.

The free events run from 11am – 3pm and are located as follows:

• Thursday 11 September, Mount Noddy Recreation Ground, East Grinstead
• Friday 19 September, St John’s Park, Burgess Hill
• Friday 26 September, Hickman’s Lane Recreation Ground, Lindfield

“It is so important to get your dog fitted with a microchip because, should they ever stray, the chances of being reunited with your missing pet are significantly increased,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “Microchipping does not hurt the dog; the process is carried out by a trained professional and causes no more discomfort than a minor injection.

“The law is changing in 2016, and we do not want any of our residents to suffer a fine, so please come along to one of our free microchipping sessions and make sure your dog can be easily returned to you.”

For more information please contact the Mid Sussex District Council Park Rangers on 01444 477561, email rangers@midsussex.gov.uk or visit www.chipmydog.org.uk.

SUSAN Hill, who represented the Godley family at last weekend’s unveiling of a memorial stone honouring Private Sidney Godley VC has written to thank the Town Council for a “wonderful” and very special day, and for ensuring she had photographs of the event.

“Thank you so much for sending me the photos. Roland and I thought the ceremony wonderful and extremely well organised and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole day,” she said.

DEPUTY Town Mayor Dick Sweatman welcomed Colin Godley to East Grinstead today (27 August) when he paid a poignant private visit to the town to see the Memorial stone unveiled at the weekend in honour of his grandfather, Private Sidney Godley VC.

Colin missed the unveiling because he was at Mons with 26 members of his family for the 100th anniversary visiting the spot where his grandfather’s heroism had earned him the nation’s highest award For Valour.

“Exactly a century after it had happened, we stood under the same bridge where my grandfather held off the Germans with a machine gun so that his comrades could escape,” said Colin. “It was very emotional and we all had wet eyes.”

Three generations of the family paid their respects including Colin’s 14-year-old grandsons Zac, who wore his ATC uniform, and Matthew, 17, who is in the army cadets.

They were joined by three more grandchildren – Harry, 16 and nine-year-olds Eloise and Kate.

The boys all laid wreaths at the spot and the girls laid crosses after a service commemorating all those who had taken part in the battle.

After the ceremony at Mons,  the family visited Ypres where Colin was invited to read at the nightly Menin Gate tribute to the fallen. They also laid wreaths at the grave of Sidney’s older brother Percy, a sergeant in the 32 Fusiliers, who died in battle and is buried on the Somme.

“We were the first family members ever to have visited his grave,” said Colin.

But for Colin there was something very special about coming back to his grandfather’s home town to see the newly-unveiled tribute which will be a permanent part of the High Street scene.

“Grandad was from East Grinstead and he never ever forgot that – or lost his country burr,” said Colin.

And it was another historic moment for Colin himself to stand proudly by the East Grinstead War Memorial with his own grandchildren to see the stone laid in their great, great grandfather’s memory.

“People in East Grinstead have never forgotten Sidney Godley,” he said, looking down at the newly-installed memorial at his feet.

“And now they never will.  Grandad will always be here, at the heart of the town.

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Photos Copyright East Grinstead Online

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges unveiled the paving stone commemorating the valour of East Grinstead’s Private Sidney Godley at the High Street War Memorial this morning.

It was a beautiful summer Saturday as the crowds gathered just before 11pm to see the Band of the Royal Logistic Corps march up London Road and assemble in front of the memorial where the paving stone lay covered by a purple silk drape.

Private Godley became the first private soldier to win Britain’s highest award for gallantry exactly 100 years ago when, on 23 August 1914, he held a bridge for two hours, despite being badly wounded, in order to allow his comrades to retreat.

His citation was given ‘For coolness and gallantry and fighting with a machine gun under hot fire’.

‘He was the first private soldier, the army’s lowest rank, to be awarded its highest honour,’ said the Mayor. And unlike so many other soldiers from WWI, Private Godley survived the war, and returned alive to collect his medal at Buckingham Palace in 1919.

Also at this morning’s ceremony was Eric Pickles MP, the man who came up with the idea of laying memorial paving slabs to honour the nation’s bravest soldiers.

He said that Godley had not been from a privileged background and his being in the military at all had been from force of circumstance rather than choice.

But ordinary as he had been, on the bridge at Mons a century ago, he had made his family and his nation very proud of him.

He then added that unlike Private Godley’s stone, most of the commemorative slabs will be placed outside the homes where the VCs actually lived.

‘There will be 626 ceremonies across the nation over the coming four years,’ went on Mr Pickles, ‘and we should remember these men not just as people from the pages of history, but as  members of our own communities, like you and me, who had a choice to make and who put themselves at risk to save the lives of others.’

The Rev Clive Everett-Allen then blessed the stone and prayed for all the men ‘whose courage, duty and discipline led them to sacrifice themselves for others.’

It was not only a very proud day for the town, but also for members of Private Godley’s family who came to see their relative honoured today, who included John Tanner and Susan Hill.

“It has been amazing,’ said Susan. ‘It has been such an emotional occasion and I am very, very proud to be here today representing the family.’

Click the ‘read more’ link below to see our photo gallery.

Continue reading “A proud day for the town and the nation”