Please note that Blackwell Hollow will be closed between 9.30am and 3.00pm on Monday 11th May to allow urgent treeworks to be carried out. Diversions will be put in place
CLOCKWORK and Clocksmiths is the latest exhibition at the town museum in Cantelupe Road.
It features locally-made clocks alongside the history of time and its measurement through the ages, in a fascinating exhibition which is on until 2 June.
Entry is free.
BOTANIST Steve Alton, who ran the Millenium Seed Bank project at Wakehurst Place for 12 years, is to help make East Grinstead bloom next summer.
With his wife Dr Karin Alton, an insect specialist, the pair have devised a wild flower mix which will brighten some of the darker corners around the town for up to six months, and encourage bees.
“There are 40 varieties in the mix we have chosen,” said Steve, “including viper’s bugloss, cornflowers and poppies, which have been selected because they are practical and will help insects to pollinate the area, and because they have a ‘wow’ factor.”
The East Grinstead in Bloom committee asked Steve for help after reading about the work he has done on grass verges in Ardingly.
The two areas they will seed are around the new East Grinstead railway station and the grassy area on the corner where College Lane meets the Lewes Road.
But if the scheme is successful the knock-on effect could spread around the town, said Steve.
“I’m really excited about this scheme. The changes around the station in particular are going to look great – imagine a splash of colour around the new building.”
And lazy gardeners will be glad to know that Steve is all in favour of mowing the grass a little less too. He suggests lawns should either be dug up and replaced with flowers, or that gardeners should simply mow a pathway through their lawn and let wildflowers grow naturally in the long grass.
Julie Mockford, for the Bloom Committee, said they welcomed Steve’s expertise.
“It’s particularly timely because this year we are entering the whole town into the competition, not just the High Street.”
* Sowing will start this month and the first flowers should be out in June.
TALENTED youngsters from Chequer Mead’s Hawthorn School will be bringing their guitar ensemble and their senior choir to Chequer Mead theatre for a lunchtime concert on Tuesday 5 March.
Quintessential, formed in June 2012 under the direction of Ashley Hards, is a classical guitar quintet with an eclectic repertoire, and they use their performances to support the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.
The girls will be performing a relatively modern set at Chequer Mead, including a Beatles’ Suite and some contemporary blues pieces by the Croatian composer Miroslav Loncar.
The Hawthorn’s School senior choir draws on some 90 members. Within the senior choir is the Chamber Choir, overseen by Michael Burbidge as an ensemble made up of invited singers, aiming to develop confidence in performing some very complex music.
The children learn to blend their voices, thereby creating a rich sound. The choir has thrived and developed over the years, with successful past tours to Germany and Paris. Helen Hankey took over as Director of Music in September 2002 and during her tenure, the Choir has performed at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London to 600 people at a charity event for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and participated in concerts at The Royal Albert Hall and the O2 arena.
Locally, they have performed at a number of venues, winning festivals and being proclaimed ‘Youth Choir of the Year’, and are now thrilled to be participating in the Barnardo’s Choir of the Year Competition.
2013 also brings the exciting challenge of touring in the Czech Republic to participate in The Young Prague Festival.
Tickets: £5. For more information contact the Chequer Mead Box office 01342 302000.
THE Town Museum in Cantelupe Road has retained its accreditation after meeting Arts Council standards for its management, services and facilities, and for the way in which its collections are curated and displayed.
Museum chairman Mike Hollins said: “The award demonstrates the quality of service we offer the local community and the museum’s commitment to managing its collections effectively for the enjoyment of our visitors. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers and we would urge anyone who hasn’t been to the museum before to come – this definitely shows we are worth a visit.”
Natural Landscapes and Life through the Seasons from 15 to 20 March
AN exhibition by Surrey artist John Burgess who works with oils to create evocative pastoral scenes. The artist also creates enchanting pencil drawings of British wildlife and other animals.
Original work and limited edition Gicleé prints will be available.
For full details of What’s On, including times and ticket prices, see the theatre website at: www.chequermead.org.uk, or contact the box office on 01342 302000
Gerard Kenny – Saturday 2 March at 8pm
PERFORMING on the grand piano especially purchased for Chequer Mead with proceeds from his earlier fund-raising concerts, international singer-songwriter Gerard Kenny returns for a relaxed evening of hits from his legendary songbook including Made it Through The Rain, I Could Be So Good For You and New York, New York (So Good They Named It Twice).
Tickets: £12. Chequer Mead Friends: £10.
Deborah Lamb Theatre School presents Living Art – Saturday 9 March at 1.30pm and 7.30pm
A theatrical extravaganza featuring performing arts students 5 – 18 years.This is a youth production.
Tickets: £12.
Los Endos presents Ultimate Genesis – Sunday 10 March at 7.30pm
LOS Endos capture the excitement of a live Genesis gig from the 70s and 80s with nearly 3 hours of scintillating musicianship and a state-of-the-art light show.
Tickets: £15.
Cuisine Studio presents Jazz Café on Friday 15 March at 7pm
RELAX and enjoy the best of live Jazz with the New Orleans Echoes combined with Cuisine Studio’s finest bistro menus. Tickets £5. Please reserve a table in advance by ringing Mandy, Roger or Paul 01342 324860.
Authentic live tribute to the Music of Pink Floyd on 16 March at 7.30pm
THE Floyd Effect 8-piece tribute show spans the complete Pink Floyd canon and includes much loved material including Wish You Were Here, Animals, Meddle, The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. Featuring lasers and projections, the show concludes with a complete performance of one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, Dark Side of the Moon.
With special guests, the Ariel Drama Plus Academy.
Tickets: £17.50.
Celtic Flames on 23 March at 8pm
A spectacular show of music, song and dance direct from Ireland, this atmospheric production generates a brilliant and energetic night’s entertainment.
Tickets: £10.
THE Town Mayor’s Ball will take place on Saturday 27 April at the East Grinstead Sports Club.
Tickets at £35 include Dinner, live entertainment from Naked Bass, a disco and pay bar.
All proceeds in aid of the Town Mayor’s Charity The Advance Centre.
Tickets available from East Grinstead Town Council at East Court or email l.williams@eastgrinstead.gov.uk
Temporary Footpath Closure – Public Footpath No. 14EG, Stonequarry Wood
Temporary Closure Notice in respect of Footpath No. 14EG. This closure is necessary to protect public safety while a water main is installed.
The path will be closed for 19 days starting on 11 March 2013.
The Special Finance and General Purposes Meeting due to be held on Wednesday 20 February has been cancelled.
The items on the agenda will be placed on the agenda for the regular meeting due on Thursday 21st March 2013 and notices will be issued as normal.