Author: Andrew Taylor

THE Company of Friends bill themselves – with very good reason – as the best pantomime outside London.

And only someone imbued with the humbuggery of a Scrooge would disagree. Not only are their productions uniformly marvellous, but their commitment to putting on 15 shows over the Christmas period must surely be unrivalled by any amateur group anywhere in the country.

So with my expectations of this year’s Cinderella already sky-high, I was delighted to discover that this exceptional company excelled even by their own high standards.

The script was fresh and funny, the performers uniformly excellent and the costumes – always lovely – were particularly colourful.

Who would have thought the Ugly Sisters would have had quite so many dresses, each ghastlier than the one that went before?

Leading lady Abbie Lomax was born to play Cinders.

As pretty as a princess herself, she has a beautiful voice and acts with a heartfelt sincerity which is far more touching than the pertness often associated with pantomime ingénues

Transformed for the Ball she was indeed magical. And in Robert Barnes she had a Prince Charming worthy of her hand, with a baritone voice which blended so beautifully with her own that another duet would have been a real treat.

Nick Gibbs was back again this year as a very able and handsome Dandini, and Matthew Ryan was an immensely likeable Buttons.

Buttons plays a pivotal role in warming-up the audience and moving the plot along, and Matthew’s engaging performance – and his endless supply of chocolate buttons – easily won over his audience.

Michael Spencer as ghastly Grizelda and John Shepherd as Mona were delightfully Ugly Sisters, inside and out.

While Jill Spencer’s sparkling appearance as the Fairy Godmother made this  a real family show onstage as well as off.

Phil World and John Barnett were excellent as the Broker’s Men Mr Hammer and Mr Tongs, and Des Henderson made an endearingly ineffectual Baron Hardup.

But a special word of praise must go to the littlest (and dare one say cutest?) member of the speaking cast, Jake Tuesley.

Young as he is, this was his fifth time in panto at Chequer Mead, but his poise and confidence betray him as a veteran. He has had two West End appearances to his credit in recent months (in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and in The Doll’s House at the Young Vic) and as he made his entrance for his first spoken role in panto there was a collective “aaah!” from all the mums in the audience.

I was sorry we didn’t see more of Jake’s marvellous dancing, but there must be plaudits for the Friends’ step-perfect singers and dancers, and for musical director Michael Burbidge.

So I’d just like to thank the entire Company of Friends for bringing their special magic to Chequer Mead again this Christmas.

The entire run is virtually sold out, but there are one or two tickets still available, so if you haven’t already booked, make sure you don’t miss this Christmas cracker of a show.

* Box Office is 01342 302000.

Geraldine Durrant

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Dates for Mid Sussex 2013

Please note change of date for East Grinstead to 6 February 2013.

The Mid Sussex Wellbeing Advisor, Jann Palmer, will be providing a Wellbeing Outreach service in a private office at East Grinstead Help Point (Surgery room) on the third Tuesday of every month.

Outreach dates 2013 are:

• Tuesday 22 January
• Tuesday 19 February (+ Health Checks)
• Tuesday 19 March
• Tuesday 16 April
• Tuesday 21 May (+ Health Checks)
• Tuesday 18 June
• Tuesday 16 July
• Tuesday 20 August (+ Health Checks)
• Tuesday 17 September
• Tuesday 22 October
• Tuesday 19 November (+ Health Checks)
• Tuesday 17 December

At other times, one-to-one appointments may be made by contacting the Wellbeing Team. E-mail info@midsussexwellbeing.org.uk or phone on 01444 477052

Would you like a FREE 15-minute Wellbeing MOT?

Come and find out:

• How much you weigh, your BMI and waist size
• Body fat %
• Are you active enough?
• Do you drink enough water? Too much alcohol?
• Smoking? What is your carbon monoxide level?
• How well do you feel?

The Mid Sussex Wellbeing Service being provided by Mid Sussex District Council, has been up and running for a number of months and has recently expanded what services are provided.

Here’s a taster of what we now have to offer:

• Advice, guidance and support for local people about local health and wellbeing services.  This can be in person in outreach settings, by telephone or email.
• Wellbeing MOTs – Opportunity to find out – Weight, height, BMI waist size, body fat, and hydration levels.
• Junior Weight Management programme providing one-to-one activity sessions and parental support for young people above healthy weight aged 5 – 16yrs.
• Adult Weight Management Service –  12 week course and on-going support for people who cannot  / do not want to access Why Weight (tier 2) Service.
• Alcohol worker to support young people aged 11 – 24 year who are (or are at risk of) drinking to hazardous levels
• On line Mid Sussex Physical Activity Directory and free physical activity taster sessions to get sedentary adults more active
• Carer Wellbeing Advisor service – Advice, guidance for local carers,  supporting them to stay well
• Targeted Affordable Warmth (Fuel poverty) initiative providing energy efficiency advice and measures.
• Engagement project for older people  – connecting older people with local services (home visiting available)
• Community Connections Directory of Services for Older People
• Website of local health and wellbeing services www.midsussexwellbeing.org.uk
• and it’s all free

Our aim is to support local residents and businesses with their health and wellbeing needs and goals and to provide a signposting service for use by residents and local organisations.  We cover issues which you may expect, such as smoking and alcohol and weight management and some which you may not, such as debt, social isolation and cold homes.

If you would like more information on any of the above or to organise for the Mid Sussex Wellbeing Team to work in your area please contact Mid Sussex Wellbeing Manager on 01444 477191 or email info@midsussexwellbeing.org.uk

“This has been an amazing year for East Grinstead, with the Grenadier Guards marching through the town on Armed Forces Day, a magnificent three days of celebration for Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic torch passing through the town.

“These were wonderful celebrations which brought us all together as a community. We have the most incredible volunteers, charities and societies in the town and I would like to thank you all for the time and dedication that you give.

“Our town would not be the same without you – you keep us going and are why we have such a strong community spirit. Let’s carry this through into 2013.

“I wish you, your family and friends a very merry Christmas, and send my very best wishes to everyone in East Grinstead at this special time of year.”

Town Mayor Liz Bennett

TOWN promotions officer Simon Kerr was up early on 17 December to witness the first train to leave the new station.

Simon joined bleary-eyed commuters to capture the historic moment and to pay tribute to East Grinstead’s smart new gateway to the town.

“It was an early but interesting start to the day,” he said afterwards.

“The new structure is altogether an impressive structure with an excellent café, and all those I spoke to were happy with the new facility – well as happy as one can be at 5.30am on a Monday morning!”

The official opening of the station will take place sometime in the Spring when alterations to the car park and surrounds are finished.

EAST Grinstead Town Council has applied to Mid Sussex District Council for ‘winter supply packs’ to supplement its store of snow shovels and high visibility vests available for residents to borrow in the event of heavy snow fall this winter.

Rural areas are often the worst affected during heavy snow because compacted ice and snow on the roads makes it hard for support to reach isolated villages. The quickest way to get communities up and running again is for local volunteers to pull together and Mid Sussex District Council is supplying the equipment to help them do it.

The equipment can be loaned to any local resident who would like to support their community by helping to clear pavements and walkways or checking on vulnerable members of the village. The only requirements are that volunteers should be aged 18 or over, physically fit, suitably dressed for winter weather and able to make it safely to the local Town/Parish Council offices.

Winter equipment packs will be stored at Town and Parish Council offices so that they are at the heart of the community should heavy snow fall. The packs contain heavy duty snow shovels, warm hats, gloves, high visibility vests and emergency blankets.

“When heavy snow falls it is inevitable that there will be some disruption, but as residents we must do our best to keep it to a minimum by being prepared and helping each other,” said Councillor Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community. “With these new winter supplies we can help to equip local people, and by working alongside volunteers we can make sure vulnerable people do not become isolated in times of severe weather.

“There is no law to stop us from clearing snow and ice from the pavement outside our property, pathways to our houses or other public spaces. As long as residents use common sense and are careful not to make surfaces more dangerous than it was before then they are free and encouraged to help out. Clearing the snow at the front of your house may seem like a small step, but if we all do it then together we can quickly get our communities moving again after heavy snow.”

The money for the winter equipment packs has been allocated from the government’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People Fund’. Local authorities from around the country were invited to bid for the funding, and a partnership bid by local councils and voluntary organisations in West Sussex secured more than £397,000 for the county. The money will be used to deliver a variety of innovative schemes that help vulnerable people keep warm and safe and to prevent any avoidable trips to hospital during the winter months.

The winter equipment packs are available to all Town and Parish Councils in Mid Sussex but the packs are going quickly and Parish Councils should order now to avoid disappointment. To order a pack call Ben Toogood, MSDC Emergency Planning and Outdoor Services Manager on 01444 477379 or email Ben.Toogood@midsussex.gov.uk.

Gatwick’s major airline EasyJet has confirmed that it will make slight modifications to their easterly take of flights in order to reduce the noise disturbance over East Grinstead.

Town Councillors who represent the Public Service Committee and the wards most affected by the noise met with EasyJet officials in November who agreed to try some modifications that would mean fewer flights overflying the western arc of the town. They have now confirmed that they will implement these modifications immediately. They have also confirmed that the changes will not result in any other settlement being flown over.

The Easterly trajectory for take offs is used only about 30% of the time, therefore it may take some time to appreciate the change however EasyJet are monitoring the changes and hope to see an improvement to the residents
in East Grinstead.

“The change has been confirmed by EasyJet that it will not simply move the problem elsewhere. Solutions and not passing the problem was a priority for the Town Councillors” Said Chairman of Public Services Cllr Heidi
Brunsdon “We are pleased that EasyJet have reacted positively and agreed to work with us to make the situation better for the residents.”

Councillor Norman Webster Leader of the Council welcomed the news and praised the committee and officers who have been seeking a resolution since this was brought to the Town Councils attention in September as aircraft
noise became increasingly intrusive.

The Farmers Market will not be in the town on Thursday 27 December 2012

TOWN Mayor Liz Bennett cut the ribbon for the official launch of the new website at www.visiteastgrinstead.com, a collaboration between the Town Council and the East Grinstead Business Association to promote the town, its businesses and facilities.