Author: Andrew Taylor

THE sellout success of Chequer Meads Dick Whittington and his Amazing Cat was particularly appropriate given the connections between East Grinstead and the eponymous panto hero who turned again and became Lord Mayor of London.

The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington was founded in 1424 under the will of Richard Whittington who was four times Mayor of London and three times Master of the Mercers Company, and it was to the Mercers Company that Whittington entrusted the care of his several almshouses.

One Whittington College, which was originally in Highgate, was rebuilt in Felbridge in 1966, to provide a home for 56 elderly ladies and several married couples.
In addition to providing its residents with homes, the charity also gives them grants and allowances which are paid out annually from its funds.

The other connection between East Grinstead and Londons former mayor are the three Bow Bells milestones which fall within East Grinsteads parish boundary.
These are part of a series of Bow Bells milestones on the A22 between Hailsham and East Grinstead, and form one of the longest sequences of milestones in the country.

Others can be found on the A26 between Uckfield and Lewes, and between East Grinstead and Forest Row.

This particular type of milestone is known as a ‘rebus’ or puzzle milestone because of the visual reference to Bow Bells Church in the City of London from where most roads heading south were once measured.

The milestones feature a string of five bells of diminishing size below a buckle referring to the coat of arms of the Pelham family who once owned a great deal of land in Sussex.

The milestones were erected by the Turnpike Trusts which were formed in the 18th century to improve roads.

John de Pelham, along with Sir Roger La Warr, was instrumental in the capture of John II, King of France at the Battle of Poitiers (19 September 1356) which was fought against Edward, the Black Prince, son of Edward III.

In honour of their deeds, John de Pelham was knighted and given the buckle of a belt as a badge.

* Left to right above: Richard Whittington’s coat of arms, an engraved portrait of Whittington himself, and one of the Bow Bells mileposts, with one of the bells missing.

JULIE Holden is leaving her current post as Head of Revenues and Benefits with Tandridge District Council to become East Grinsteads new Town Clerk.

Julie will succeed Chris Rolley who retires at the end of April after 25 years service to the town.

Her appointment was announced at a Special Council on 9 December when Town Council leader James Baldwin told the meeting: Mrs Holden has shown she fully understands the Councils values and will apply these with pride, authority and dignity.

She will be a worthy and effective ambassador for the Council within the community.

In reply, the new appointee told councillors she felt deeply grateful for the trust and confidence they were placing in her.

This role will be a formidable opportunity and a challenge, but one that I will relish and to which I will commit much hard work, she said.

Julie will have a months handover with Chris Rolley to ensure a smooth succession, said James.

The comprehensive handover process will allow Julie to get to know the town, and – just as important – the town to get to know Julie.

TOWN tourism officer Simon Kerr has welcomed the recent arrival of several new businesses in town as a sign that the realities of the current economic situation are encouraging both landlords and tenants to agree more practical and reasonable rental agreements on the towns commercial properties, rather than see them stand empty.

The two bargain stores now occupying the site of the former Woolworths in London Road have already proved immensely popular with shoppers, said Simon, as has the new cut-price book shop opposite.

And he had little doubt that the next national chain to find a home in East Grinstead – Kentucky Fried Chicken – will find an equally warm welcome.

EAST Court Mansion will be opening its doors to a new venture in art education in East Grinstead from 10 January.

Based in a well-equipped studio overlooking the surrounding parkland and Ashdown Forest, the South East School of Art will be offering a wide range of two and three dimensional classes for interested students of all ages and abilities.

Professional artists and experienced art teachers will help small groups of 8 to ten pupils develop their skills and experience in drawing, painting, printmaking, lettering, calligraphy or sculpture.

There will also be classes for A level students, workshops for 11 to 14-year-olds and an after-school drawing class for 7 to 11-year-olds.

To find out more visit the school’s website at www.sesart.co.uk, phone 01342 316315 or email info@sesart.co.uk

HEAVY snowfalls didnt deter shoppers determined to make the most of the High Streets Dickensian Christmas promotion on the last Sunday before 25 December.

The event, which featured the High Street traders dressed in period costume offering seasonal treats including mince pies, hot chestnuts and mulled wine to customers, was the second organised by the traders to encourage townsfolk to keep it local.

And it proved just as popular as last year despite heavy snowfall in the preceding 24 hours.

There was a wonderful turnout, said Carole Weighill of haberdashers Threadneedles. We are very grateful to everyone who supported us and we cant thank the Council outdoor staff enough for the effort they put into keeping the town clear.

We simply couldnt have managed without them.

A BUSY year on the town’s tourist desk has thrown up some odd requests over the past 12 months, but tourism officer Simon Kerr prides himself on being able to deal with whatever visitors throw at him – however unusual.

Neither is he a man afraid to go the extra mile when it comes to customer service, as one couple in Berlin found out.

"Our most intriguing questions this year both revolve around Sackville House, the property in the High Street which belongs to the Landmark Trust.

"Our first request was from a family who were coming to stay and wanted us to find them a chef to come in and cook them their final meal on their last evening, so that they could enjoy eating in the house without all the hassle of preparation and washing up.

"We did indeed find them a suitable chef and received a lovely letter from the family full of praise for their stay.

"The second memorable tourist question came in an email from Berlin also wanting information about Sackville House.

"A brother and sister were bringing the rest of their family including their father who couldnt walk very far, so we arranged with the EG Access Group the free loan of a fold-up wheel chair for the duration of their stay.

"There was also a large pack of information that I was due to post them, but it just so happened that I was going on a city break to Berlin, a place I visit quite frequently, so I took the envelope and popped it in the letter box of the address they had given me, which was just around the corner from my hotel.

"This so impressed them that when they arrived here they came in with a huge box of marzipan chocolates and a bottle of Cherry Brandy."

The family also wrote Simon an appreciative note thanking him for going beyond the call of duty.

"When I sent my first email to you I was hoping for some help but did not expect in any way so much support and dedication. We all look very much forward to meeting you in October and to expressing our thanks personally.
With very best wishes from Berlin

Claudia Fritze