Author: Andrew Taylor

East Grinstead commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the end of the first world war with beacon lightings, poppies, parades, services and thousands turning out to be part of it.

The day started at East Court where the Town Mayor lit the beacon at 9.45 before the well-attended first short act of remembrance at the East Court war memorial.

Then at 10.40 the parade left King St and marched to the High Street to roads thronged by residents, young and old to pay their respects. The church choir joined them and along with the East Grinstead Concert Band music filled the streets. The two minute silence was relayed via the PA system from the Cenotaph in London and a big screen positioned outside of the Market Square showed a recording of the Town Mayor lighting the Beacon earlier. As the image of the beacon burning filled the screen, the names of the East Grinstead fallen (as etched on the war memorial) were scrolled through. A poignant reminder of the reason for the silence.

Hymns and prayers were joined in by the 1000 plus attendees, wreaths were laid and the public invited to do so also. Pictures of the towns commemorations over the past 4 years were shown on the screen, the National Anthem was sung and then the parade marched away from the High Street.

The Big Screen then showed some short documentaries about war as provided by Mike Rumsey.

The Town Mayor returned to East Court along with 150 others, including an honour guard provided by members of Sussex bonfire society at 7pm to light the beacon a second time. The last post sounded and exhortation given by John Grantham from the Royal British Legion, St Swithun’s Bells were rung and a reading as to the entombing of the unknown warrior.

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Mid Sussex is set to take part in the next round of the 2019 Voter ID pilots along with 10 other local authorities across England.

The pilots will take place at the 2019 local elections, providing further insight to the Government into how best to secure the voting process.

At the last local elections in May, five local authorities took part in the first round of Voter ID pilots, which are being run by the Cabinet Office. The evaluation following the first trials showed they were a success, with the overwhelming majority of people able to cast their vote without a problem.

To verify that voters are who they say they are, each of the 11 local authorities in the 2019 pilot will test one of four models of Voter ID checks. In Mid Sussex, voters will be asked to present their polling cards as a means of identification.

Anyone who does not have their poll card with them on polling day will be asked to present another form of photo ID including a UK or EU photo-card driving licence (full or provisional) or a valid British, European or Commonwealth passport.

Local authorities will provide alternative methods of ID to individuals who do not have a specified form of ID, free of charge, ensuring that everyone who is registered has the opportunity to vote.

Mid Sussex Returning Officer Tom Clark said:

“We want to give everyone the maximum amount of notice that Mid Sussex is going to be one of the government pilot areas for voter ID. The government see this as a crucial step in ensuring the integrity of voting processes across the country and we are happy to be involved.”

Minister for the Constitution, Chloe Smith MP said:

“I am pleased to see Mid Sussex District Council is taking part in the 2019 pilots. Their participation will help us gain a deeper understanding of how voter ID will work on a wider scale ahead of a national rollout, and see what works best for voters.

“We want people to have confidence that our elections are safeguarded against any threat or perception of electoral fraud.

“People are already required to show ID to pick up a parcel from the Post Office, rent a car, or apply for benefits and this is a common sense next step to securing the integrity of our elections.”

To contact Mid Sussex electoral services about the 2019 Voter ID pilot or any other election matter, please call 01444 477003 or email elections@midsussex.gov.uk

Cards with a conscience, Charity Christmas card shop is open in east Grinstead library until 15th December.

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Town Mayor Rex Whittaker joined Weston Homes and Sharron Davies in welcoming the launch of the show flats within the Queens Walk development.

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Following a recent tender, WSCC Children’s and Young People Joint Commissioning Team are delighted to announce from 1^st November 2018, blended counselling services for young people in West Sussex will continue to be provided by YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA).

The service offers face to face counselling at various locations across the county to young people aged 11-18 years who present with mild to moderate emotional wellbeing and mental health needs.

The service also offer online counselling via a new counselling and mental health support platform called “e-wellbeing”.

A new development within the service will be the delivery of a group work programme.  YMCA will be working with key partners in developing an integrated group work programme for young people which should be available in specific locations towards the end of the year.

Referrals to the counselling service can be made via the find it out centres, self-referrals, CAMHS panel and via the contact details below:

Dialogue, YMCA DownsLink Group

The Y centre, Albion Way

Horsham RH12 1AH

T 07739 893707        E community.counselling@ymcadlg.org

Please note there has been a change to the online resource young people have been accessing, the Kooth website will no longer be available in West Sussex after 31^st October.

Instead Find, Get, Give is a YMCA produced national website that supports young people, parents and carers and professionals around mental health. The site has been co-produced with young people and provides access to a range of self-help tools, resources, guides and blogs as well as a service directory of national mental health services that young people can rate and review:

• Find, Get, Give https://findgetgive.com/

For information and advice about mental health support the following websites are also available for young people, parents and carers and professionals:

Young Minds: Includes resource booklets, self-help guides, service directory and a parent and carers helpline:

• Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/

Your Space: West Sussex’s site for young people, includes information on Find It Out centres and other local support services

• Your Space https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/your-space/

More than 110 singers joined voices when three choirs combined for a very special concert at St Mary’s Church, East Grinstead.

East Grinstead Choral Society hosted a visit by Coral Cypsella from East Grinstead’s Catalan twin town Sant Feliu, and they were joined at the concert by children from St Mary’s C of E Primary School Choir on Saturday 3 November.

The sell-out audience, which included East Grinstead Town Mayor Rex Whittaker, were treated to a wide range of music ranging from Oliver! and choral masses, to traditional Catalan songs and even Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade sung in Catalan.

The children from St Mary’s performed two solo numbers Oleo, a traditional African chant, and Londonderry Air, which is also known as Danny Boy.

The three choirs came together for the final song, John Rutter’s The Lord bless you and keep you.

East Grinstead Choral Society Chair, Gill Olliver, said it had been a very special occasion and the audience gave the three choirs a lengthy ovation at the end.

“‘We had a wonderful evening,” said Gill. “East Grinstead Choral Society was proud to welcome Coral Cypsella from our twin town St Feliu and the children from St Mary’s C of E Primary School Choir to sing in our joint concert. The blending of the choirs was a truly uplifting experience.”

Musical directors from each of the choirs – Richard Jenkinson from EGCS, Visi Diaz from Coral Cypsella and Tanya Johnston from St Mary’s – all conducted during the evening.

The concert was the culmination of a long weekend visit to East Grinstead by around 70 singers, friends and families from Sant Feliu. On arrival, East Grinstead Town Twinning Society hosted a reception at East Court and Town Mayor Rex Whittaker presented them with Meridian Line certificates to confirm that they had stood astride the famous line of longitude that runs through East Court.

East Grinstead Choral Society’s year will be rounded off with a Family Christmas Concert at Imberhorne Lower School on Saturday 8 December, when they will again by joined by St Mary’s C of E Primary School choir.

East Grinstead Choral Society rehearses every Thursday evening during term time from 7.30pm to 9.45pm at the Jubilee Community Centre, East Grinstead, and new members would be made very welcome. To find out more, visit www.egcs.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

IN HARMONY: The three choirs filled St Mary’s Church, East Grinstead, with music.