Author: Andrew Taylor

East Grinstead’s Remembrance Sunday will be very different this year as the World continues its battle with Covid-19. The country is now about to enter a second period of lockdown and we must all do our bit to follow advice, not to gather in groups and to protect each other.

There will be a short service of Remembrance at the High Street War Memorial. We ask that you do not attend, but rather take time to remember all those lost in conflicts, in your own way at home. We will be live streaming the service from 10.55am our Facebook page and later the footage will be available on this website. Please mark 2 minutes silence at 11am in your home, your gardens or your front doorsteps.

The road will only be closed for a short time as there will be no parade this year.

We also ask that you support The Royal British Legion.

For the Fallen

BY LAURENCE BINYON

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

Please share so we can honour the fallen who did their bit to protect the living.

Poppies in the High Street beds provided by Sackville Lacemakers East Grinstead

The NHS are urging West Sussex residents struggling with ongoing memory issues to contact their GP for a memory assessment.

Bikram Raychaudhuri, Clinical Lead for Dementia at the Sussex NHS Commissioners said: “We can all experience memory problems from time to time, for example forgetting where you have left your keys or forgetting why you went into a certain room. For the most part these are not things to be too concerned about. However, if you or someone you know begins to experience regular memory loss and disorientation, or subtle changes in personality over a prolonged period, especially if it is impacting your daily activities such as difficulty in cooking, cleaning or taking medication, then it is a good idea to speak to a GP. Family, friends or carers may often recognise these changes before the person affected.”

The Dementia Assessment Service are a team of healthcare providers, working with dementia advisors and dementia support workers from the Alzheimer’s Society, whose focus is the early assessment, diagnosis and treatment of people suspected of developing a dementia.

The NHS is working hard to deal with coronavirus but it is still here if you need it. There are currently delays in assessments by the Dementia Assessment Service due to the pandemic but the service is working hard to contact people as soon as they can.

Living with dementia brings everyday challenges for the person, their family and carer, and unfortunately, the coronavirus is making daily life that bit harder. People living with dementia and those around them may feel anxious, scared or lonely, but it’s important to remember that you are not alone and help is available. There are a range of community services available to offer support you including telephone befriending services and doorstep deliveries. Visit the West Sussex Connect to Support website which offers an extensive list of local support services.

Due to coronavirus, the way that you access services may be different to what you are used to. To protect you, NHS staff and prevent the spread of coronavirus, initial appointment may be online or by phone.

Four parks in Mid Sussex will proudly fly the prestigious Green Flag in 2020/21, a sign to the public that they boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.

Beech Hurst Gardens and Victoria Park in Haywards Heath, St Johns Park in Burgess Hill and East Court and Ashplats Wood in East Grinstead join more than 2,000 green spaces across the UK to receive the Green Flag mark of quality and will be raising their flags with pride in a year when millions of people have seen the value of having great quality green spaces on their doorstep.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Councillor John Belsey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said:

“We are absolutely delighted to once again be awarded Green Flags for Beech Hurst Gardens, St Johns Park, East Court and Ashplats Wood but we are especially pleased to receive a Green Flag Award for Victoria Park for the very first time.

“High quality green spaces mean so much to our local residents, even more so during these difficult times when we really value the time we’re able to spend outside. It’s wonderful that four of our parks meet the Green Flag standard of excellence and these awards celebrate the dedication that goes into maintaining them to such a high level.”

Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said:

“This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, four Mid Sussex parks have achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

West Sussex County Council provides Concessionary Travel for eligible West Sussex residents including a free older persons bus pass, along with bus passes or railcards for people with disabilities. Applications can be made online or by printing a downloadable form for a postal application. Details can be found on the West Sussex County Council website at this link.

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/travel-and-public-transport/bus-and-coach-travel/bus-passes-and-discounts/free-older-persons-bus-pass/

Mid Sussex District Council offers a discounted Senior Railcard at £24 for eligible residents. Details can be found on the Mid Sussex District Council website at this link

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/parking-travel/concessionary-cheaper-travel/

Concessionary codes for the Senior Railcard can be obtained for East Grinstead Town Council Offices Mon to Fri between 0900 – 1200. You will need to be a resident of East Grinstead and bring photo I/D and a utility bill with you.

Our Council of Governors has agreed to resume the elections which were postponed earlier this year and we are now launching the process to find people who would like to stand for election to one of our fourteen public governor vacancies. This is an opportunity for you to represent the public constituency and be involved in scrutinising decisions taken by the Board and Council of Governors.

What is a governor?

Governors have an important role in making an NHS foundation trust publicly accountable for the services it provides. They bring valuable perspectives and contributions to its activities. Governors hold non-executive directors to account for the performance of the board and represent the interests of NHS foundation trust members and the public. Governors are volunteers and are not paid. You can find out more in the Brief guide for governors .

Can I stand as a public governor?

You can stand if:

• you are a member of the Trust
• you are at least 18 years of age
• you reside in the electoral wards of Kent, Surrey, Sussex or South London (as defined in the Trust’s Constitution)
• you have attended a pre-election event (see below)
• you complete the self-nomination form by the deadline and according to instructions
• you are not already a foundation trust governor elsewhere, or, if you are, are prepared to resign if elected.

Standing as a governor is a decision which will need some thought and all potential candidates need to attend a pre-election briefing about the role. You will also need to prepare a statement explaining to other members why you wish to stand.

No experience of being a governor is necessary, just commitment, enthusiasm and some spare time (approximately a half to full day each month depending on your level of involvement). Governors are not paid, but, where appropriate, receive travel expenses so that their support for the trust does not leave them out of pocket.

When are the pre-election events?

If you are interested in standing, you need to come to one of our pre-election events.  These will be held via Teams and are scheduled for:

• Monday 2 November 4-5pm
• Thursday 5 November 5-6pm
• Monday 9 November 11-12noon
• Thursday 12 November 10:30 – 11:30am

These meetings are an essential part of deciding to stand for the role. You will hear from Beryl Hobson, QVH chair, other members of the Board, some of our current governors and members of the Corporate Affairs team. This will provide you with a good insight into the governor role at QVH.

If you would like to come along please let Hilary Saunders, Deputy Company Secretary know via email Hilary.Saunders1@nhs.net of or call ext. 4200

When are the elections?

The election itself will take place between 18 December 2020 and 12 January 2021. The new governors will take up their role from 1 February 2021.

You can see more on our public website https://www.qvh.nhs.uk/for-members/

The Town Mayor joined the High Sheriff of West Sussex to present the Outstanding Contributions to the Community during the Pandemic Award to Sarah Howland for her work at the Quarry Cafe and Community Fridge.