Author: Andrew Taylor

THE Town Council’s tourist team – Simon Kerr and Dawn Spalding – joined forces with East Grinstead’s biggest tourist attraction at the Ardingly Show this year.

The resulting collaboration was not only “good fun”, said Simon afterwards, but it gave both of them a new insight into the many events and activities which the Bluebell runs in the course of a year.

Simon was slightly surprised to hear the words Santa Specials bandied about quite so often under the hot June sun as people claimed their early bird discounts during the Ardingly event.

But he had nothing but praise for the Bluebell’s catering.

“We were looked after very well by the Bluebell crew who supplied us with tea and coffee throughout the day. In fact the service was so good we felt that we just had to present them with two of our very own new East Grinstead mugs by way of a thank you. It’s good to think that our mugs will now follow the Bluebell’s crew as they go from show to show through the year.”

SIR Archibald McIndoe’s tribute statue has been in place on the McIndoe Lawn for less than a week but he is already proving himself at home and making friends.

Cllr John O’Brien caught this group taking in our new neighbour, but they were just some of the many visitors who popped along on Saturday to say hello and welcome…

McIndoe Statue in #EastGrinstead is proving a real magnet for visitors this morning. @McIndoeMemorial pic.twitter.com/RL9hujymNl

— John O'Brien (@objohnny) June 14, 2014

WHEN four-year-old, four-inch-long tortoise Galaxy was rounded up by immigration staff at Heathrow he faced a bleak future, until he was adopted by the staff at East Grinstead library and offered a new home.

He’s been named Galaxy – because like the library computer of the same name he can be a bit slow – and according to Town Promotions Officer Simon Kerr, who photographed him, he is the perfect library pet.

“He’s quiet and he doesn’t rush around,” laughed Simon, describing his new library colleague.

FOLLOWING the unveiling of the McIndoe statue on Monday, Jacquie Russell – one of the organsiers of the town’s first-ever food swap – asked if she could switch venues for the event from outside The Market Square to the site of the statue.

And she was delighted when the Town Council gave its wholehearted consent.

‘We are the licensees, and we do have to give permission for events to take place on the McIndoe Lawn,’ said Town Clerk Julie Holden. ‘But provided the event is appropriate, and people clean up properly afterwards, it will be lovely to see the area become a new hub for community activities.’

And Jacquie wasn’t alone in being quick off the mark. The Lions have also asked if they can use the Lawn for next year’s May Fair.

But Julie did have one word of warning.

‘We have had complaints in the past about the quality of the grass in the area. The problem is that there are two huge trees which take up all the water and so the grass has always been poor.

‘We will be reseeding shortly it but the long term difficulty will always be getting anything to grow.

‘As the on-going custodians of the area, the Town Council certainly doesn’t want to discourage people from using the area with permission. But we would just say that if it is over-used the grass will suffer. You can’t have it both ways and that is something we would like people to be aware of.’

But Julie fully expects – and welcomes – the idea that the new focal point at the far end of the High Street will become a place where people will gather to chat – and to remember.

* The Food Swap will take place on 21 June from 10.45am for an 11am start.

A must for foodies, it offers the chance to exchange goods and ideas with people who share a love of cooking.

Find out more about the Food Swap go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/507391619371696/?fref=ts

TOWN Clerk Julie Holden has asked visitors to the McIndoe statue to donate money to the Appeal fund rather than spending it on flowers which will be removed at the end of each day.

Just 24 hours after the unveiling, two floral tributes had been left at the statue by visitors from Basingstoke and Brighton.

But while she was touched by their stories, Julie said the money would have been better spent paying off the more than £50,000 which still needs to be raised to pay for the statue.

‘The statue is a public memorial, not a private one,’ said Julie, ‘and no-one wants it to look like one of those roadside shrines full of dead flowers.

‘I fully understand why people feel they have a very strong connection to the statue, and I was touched to speak to the Brighton visitor who came in memory of her father. But we will be clearing flowers away at the end of each day. So I would urge anyone who comes not to spend a fiver on flowers, but to donate it to the Appeal fund instead – that way they will be part of the statue forever.’

THIS was the moment when Princess Anne was handed a posy of flowers which had been picked and arranged earlier by Town Council gardener Jenny Watson.

Jenny selected seasonal flowers including roses, lavender and ivy from the East Court gardens for an informal arrangement tied with raffia.

JENNY Watson, the Town Council’s gardener, is having a good week.

On McIndoe Monday it was Jenny who provided a posy fit for a Princess from the flower borders at East Court.

And she has also received wide-ranging praise for her imaginative and touching planting scheme in the High Street flower beds which are war-themed to commemorate the outbreak of WWI a century ago.

Jenny – the town salutes you!