Author: Andrew Taylor

TOWN Mayor John Saull took a trip down memory lane when vintage buses took to their old routes around the town for a taste of yesteryear during April’s annual Vintage Bus Day.

TOWN Clerk Julie Holden will be running the 10km Burgess Hill leg of the May Bank holiday Three Towns Marathon to raise money for restoration projects at her local church, St Peter and St John in Wivelsfield.

A veteran of several 5km runs for her local hospice and Race for Life, this will be the first time that Julie has tackled 10kms, but she is confident pride and a following wind will see her through the second half.

“I’ve never run more than 5km but the route is a double loop around the same course, so I hope that by the time I get to the halfway mark, I’ll just start again and think ‘well at least I won’t have to do this a third time…'”

* To sponsor Julie, sign her form at East Court during office hours.

THE Registrar Service will be back in the town library, by appointment, from 11 May. Ring 01243 642122 for details or to make an appointment.

For more information about any of the shows, times or ticket prices ring the box office on 01342 302000.

 Jazz Café, Thursday 10 May at 7pm

ENJOY live Jazz Café combined with the finest bistro menus from Cuisine Studio. Open from 7pm, entry £5. Please reserve a table for a meal in advance only by calling Mandy, Roger or Paul on 01342 324860.

Pericles Theatre Company presents The Flying Ship from Friday 11 May to Friday 18 May

A flying ship, a kind heart and a beautiful princess combine to make magic in this Russian fairy tale. Supported by the parents and friends of Pericles and the RTR Foundation.

Desperado presents The Very Best of the Eagles on Saturday 12 May at 7.30pm

DESPERADO faithfully recreates The Very Best of Eagles, the definitive Eagles hits collection, delivering a wealth of material with the reverence and authenticity Eagles fans deserve.

Chequer Mead Lunchtime Concert Series presents Hilary Needhamand pianist Janet Gillbard, on Tuesday 22 May at 1.30pm

OUTSTANDING professional musicians with impressive credentials, concert regulars Hilary and Janet are back with an exciting and quirky programme of well-known classics.

VB Dance presents Fancy Footwork on Saturday 26 May at 2pm and 6.30pm

This is a youth production for a dance school.

HANNAH Kester, who has been working at the town’s community arts centre and theatre for the past five and a half years, has left Chequer Mead to take up a new post in London.

‘I have had a fantastic time at Chequer Mead,” said Hannah, who was promoted from deputy manager to manager in June 2010. “I will be leaving with a lot of happy memories of all the fantastic people I have met through work here and they will be what I will miss the most. All the staff and volunteers are hugely proud of the theatre’s achievements in recent years, and are looking forward to an exciting future for Chequer Mead.”

“I’m going back to London to take up the post of manager at the Kingsgate Workshops in Hampstead. Kingsgate is a collection of studios and galleries working with artists, and work is about to start on developing the building within a converted Victorian factory so there will be plenty to get my teeth into.”

Hannah, who will continue to live in East Grinstead, left at the end of April.

THE Town Mayor’s official regalia has been repaired and upgraded with a new velvet collar which will stop it slipping and prevent wear and tear on the links.

“The chain was designed to be worn with a business suit, the collar of which kept it in place, but women’s clothes are cut differently and it is inappropriate for female mayors,” said Town Clerk Julie Holden.

The chain was made for the old Urban District Council in 1951, and various clubs and organisations in the town donated links to it, including the Guinea Pig Club.

But alterations over the years, which included making the central motif detachable, have changed the shape of it, and it no longer fits in the heavy wooden box made to house it, and presented to the UDC by local company John Stenning and Son in 1952.

On the demise of the old UDC the Town Council subsequently inherited the chain but with recent mayors undertaking far more appearances than their predecessors, it is no longer practical to use the heavy handle-less box to carry the chain around in.

The new box has been purpose-made by regalia specialists Thomas Fattorini to fit the chain, and the lightweight design in the shape of a large briefcase will house it securely when the mayor is on the move.

The old box will now be put on display in the mayor’s parlour.

EAST Court’s gardener Jenny Watson will be hosting a guided walk Mansion to Memorial around the grounds on Sunday 27 May between 10am and noon.

Price is £5, and includes tea, coffee and cake afterwards.

TOWN Major John Saull has presented a cheque on behalf of the Town Council to junior members of the East Grinstead Cricket Club.

Pictured with John are Oliver Kirby, an U10 batsman padded up and ready for action, and receiving the cheque U8 bowler Oliver Main.

DEPUTY Town Mayor Liz Bennett was among the crowds of railway fans who took a trip over the Hill Place viaduct as part of the Bluebell Railway’s two day fundraiser in April.

The Open Days took train enthusiasts over the viaduct to Imberhorne North on 4VEP unit number 3417 ‘Gordon Pettit’, hauled by a Class 73 electro diesel locomotive.

The event was the last chance to ride the East Grinstead extension line before the engineering works ramp up towards next year’s re-opening of the fully extended line.

But with hundreds of thousands still needed to pay for the extension, the Bluebell Railway is asking everyone to contribute A Fiver for the Finish.

Liz, who handed her fiver over in return for a certificate, said: “The arrival of the Bluebell Railway into East Grinstead will be an historic event in the story of our town, and one which will bring visitors and prosperity to local businesses.

“The Town Council has give its whole-hearted support to the project and I encourage everyone to donate a Fiver for the Finish to see the extension line completed on schedule.”

* To contribute to the final fundraiser visit the Bluebell’s website and donate online.

Life!  Until 2 May: Movement on Canvas by Nickie Todd

Enjoy a lively exhibition of work featuring exotic birds, Cornish seascapes, portraits and figures.  The artist’s unique perspective using a variety of media brings a canvas to life.

The Indigo Group – Thursday 10 May to Wednesday 16 May

THIS is a new venue for a small group of local artists who are getting together to showcase their varied and exciting work. Veronica Double, Audrey Head and Ann Woodhouse will be exhibiting their textiles, watercolours and paintings on silk.

We are Example – Friday 18 May to Wednesday 30 May

Example is a group of contemporary artists who live in and around East Grinstead. Experience their experimental and traditional printmaking, evocative gestural painting, unsettling textiles and drawings in stitch.