Category: News

SIAN Taylor O’Hanlon, who has appeared in several Chequer Mead shows produced by the Company of Friends, will be absent from their panto this year because she has been cast in the London production of Shrek the musical.

Sian has also toured recently in The Sound of Music.

Her stage success follows that of Alex Watts, another panto regular, who will be appearing over Christmas in a tour of Oliver! with Brian Connelly.

But Jake Tuesley, who regularly provides the panto’s “aaah!” factor will be back in time to appear in Snow White after his own autumn run in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

“A lot of local young people who have worked both on stage and back stage with us are now professionals,” said CoF’s spokesman Lesley Lowy. “Perhaps it is time we opened an agency.”

*Chequer Mead is offering “early bird” discounts on all panto tickets booked before 1 October.

The latest in our series of biographies introducing the council members elected last May features Cllr Jackie Beckford.

JACKIE has lived in East Grinstead for more than eight years having moved here from Canada.

Originally from London, Jackie is a post-graduate of the city’s South Bank University and a qualified sports practitioner. She has played and coached netball at a very high standard and is an ex-athlete and very keen sportswoman.

She has many years’ experience as a volunteer at the Queen Victoria Hospital, the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, the East Grinstead & District Credit Union and various other local organisations.

Previously, Jackie worked for the Civil Service and then moved into the legal profession for 17 years, covering all aspects of law.

Renowned for being very active in her local community, Jackie has a passion for seeing lives transformed. She always has a positive outlook on life, has led many motivational seminars and is a trained personal coach.

Jackie has sound knowledge and expertise within the voluntary sector having worked for West Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Service, during which time she successfully organised three youth events. She also led a hugely successful young people’s event at Chequer Mead theatre.

Jackie strongly believes that we all have a responsibility to create an environment conducive to integration, respect and friendship within our communities.

THE CVS has now moved from the Old Court House to a newly refurbished office on the ground floor at East Court Mansion.

To contact them ring 01342 328080, fax 01342 324664 or email them at mail@egcvs.fsnet.co.uk

THE permanent new public toilets planned to replace temporary facilities in the Kings Street car park should be open by May next year.

A revised scheme which will go before the Public Services committee in September provides for an attractive and modern design with disabled access and baby-changing facilities said Council Leader Norman Webster.

It will also answer councillors’ concerns that there should be separate entrances for men and women, said committee chairman Cllr Heidi Brunsdon.

The “innovative use” of tubular skylights means natural light will be used to minimize the daytime need for electric lighting, which in turn will reduce both carbon emissions and running costs, she said.

THE Town Council has asked residents to consider signing an online petition asking the Home Office to introduce legislation which will make it illegal to offer cash for scrap metal.

Metal which is stolen from churches, homes and war memorials often causes thousands of pounds in damages, but thieves who receive cash for it usually remain untraceable.

So a new online petition is asking the public to back a move to make the Scrap Metal trade make its payments into bank accounts or by cheque.

“Thieves who damage public buildings cost everyone money. East Court mansion has already been targeted for the lead on its roof, so I would urge people to support this petition, which should reduce similar incidents of theft from public and private property,” said Town Clerk Julie Holden.

Cashless Scrap Metal Trade – Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964

Due to a significant rise in value, metal has become a much sought-after commodity. This increased demand has resulted in a sharp rise in metal theft nationally. Metal fencing, gates, manhole covers and other metallic items are stolen on a regular basis. Property is raided for lead, copper and cabling. War memorials and statues have been taken. Overhead power lines are stolen at serious risk to personal safety with huge costs for replacement and major inconvenience to the public. Historically the scrap metal trade has been a cash-in-hand industry. This creates difficulties as there is no audit trail, making identification of individuals who may be trading stolen metal or who may be committing tax or benefits fraud, a difficult proposition. An amendment to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory and would be a significant component in reducing metal theft.

To sign the petition go to: https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/406/signature/new

MID Sussex District Council ranger Katie Chatfield will lead her final “healthy walks” of the summer on 1 and 15 September.

The gentle strolls, which are on the first and third Thursdays of September, will last up to an hour.

Katie says she plans routes which will be no longer than 2.5 miles in length and promises no clambering over stiles will be involved.

Departures will be from the East Court car park at 5.30pm.

TOWN Mayor John Saull will be attending the following events in September:

September 4: Cllr Rex Whittaker, the Council’s representative on the East Grinstead Business Association, will stand in for the mayor at a Fashion Show being put on at Sackville College by the shop Wear It Again in aid of College funds.

September 8: The Mayor will open the Forest Garden (Ecotourism) project at Shovelstrode (see below for more details).

September 9: There will be a concert in aid of Help for Heroes by Champagne Supernova at Chequer Mead. Deputy Mayor Liz Bennett will also attend.

September 10: The Mayor will be at Blacklands Farm camp site with the East Grinstead Beaver Scouts celebrating 25 years of Beaver Scouting, when they will plant 25 trees.

September 11: The Mayor and Mayoress will attend the Soroptimists President’s Lunch at Apsley Grange, which this year is promoting Fair Trade.

September 16: The East Grinstead Music & Arts Festival will hold their AGM and Cheese & Wine evening in the Meridian Hall which will be attended by the Mayor in his role as their President for the year.

September 23: He will attend the presentation by the Lord Lieutenant to East Grinstead Museum of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

September 24: The Mayor will be the guest of the new Mayor of Burgess Hill at a bonfire procession and celebrations.

September 26: The Access Group will hold their AGM in the Cranston Suite at East Court when the Mayor will present their annual Burrin Awards to local businesses and other establishments which give good service to those with disabilities.

September 27: Concorde Evening with a talk by the Mayor and his colleague Capt Hutchinson with anecdotes on flying Concorde. There will be a raffle, with some Concorde themed prizes, and guests will be asked to contribute to a collection bucket as they leave for the Mayor’s charities, the Guinea Pig Club and St Catherine’s Hospice.

September 29: The Mayor will present prizes for the EG4KIDZ project which ran throughout the summer holidays at the town library.

September 30: He ends the month at the Meridian Hall where the Ashdown Ramblers will celebrate their 50th anniversary.

EAST Grinstead residents who fail to return their voters registration forms will lose their right to a say in future elections.

Town Clerk Julie Holden is reminding residents to return their electoral registration forms to Mid Sussex District Council to make sure their voices are heard. The District Council is due to deliver 59,000 forms to households across the District over the coming days.

Legislation is currently in the Houses of Parliament to create elected Police and Crime Commissioners across the country next year and residents must ensure they are on the 2012 Electoral Register if they want to be eligible to vote for these new posts.

Registering is easy.

If the pre-printed details are correct, residents have the option to confirm their details by internet, SMS text message or over the telephone. Last year, over 5,000 more households chose these efficient and cost-effective methods compared to 2009.

If the information on the electoral registration form is not up to date, residents must use the form to send the correct information to the Council. New voters can be added, former residents removed and alterations can be made to names and other personal details. The form must then be signed and returned, by post, to the Electoral Registration department.

Residents can opt to have their details excluded from the edited register, which means they cannot be bought by individuals and commercial organisations.

“Registering to vote is very simple. All you have to do is update the annual canvass form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote, and return it to us as soon as possible,” said Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex.

“If you are already registered then confirmation is still required, and this can be done very easily using the phone or internet.

“There was a lot of interest in this year’s referendum on the UK voting system and we were pleased with the increase in registration shortly before polling day. However, some people may not realise that they have to register every year to take part in all future elections.”

It is up to individuals to ensure that they have registered to vote. Paying Council Tax or logging details with another Council department does not automatically entitle people to vote as their details must be entered for the Electoral Register separately.

The independent Electoral Commission has a website, www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, packed with information about registering to vote, who can register and the different ways of having your say – you can even visit a virtual polling station.

Anyone who has moved house in the previous few weeks and has not received a form for his or her new property should contact the electoral services office immediately.
For more information about the registration process and voting go to www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections, contact Electoral Services on 01444 477003 or email elections@midsussex.gov.uk.

* The annual canvass takes place every autumn. An annual canvass form will be sent to every property in Mid Sussex. A revised electoral register will be published by 1 December 2011.

* You can only vote if your name appears in the register of electors and you are aged 18 or over on polling day. Any eligible person over the age of 16 can register to vote but must be 18 or over on polling day.

* Special provisions to register also apply to members of the UK armed forces serving abroad to allow them to vote. For more information, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

THE following councillors will be available at the town library in West Street between 10am and noon, to meet local residents and offer advice.

• September 3: Cllrs Bob Mainstone and Jackie Beckford
• September 10: Cllrs Ben Burns and Garry Sillitoe
• September 17: Cllrs Bob Mainstone and Jackie Beckford
• September 24: Cllrs Tony Scott and Danny Favor

COUNCILLOR Danny Favor was honoured by the Deputy Philippine Ambassador Reynaldo Catapang as the first-ever town councillor of Filipino origin to be elected in the UK, at a recent ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy. The Deputy Ambassador presented Cllr Favor with a certificate recognising his historic achievement.

Danny said he hoped his achievement will “inspire and encourage Filipinos to be more proactive, motivated, and productive members of society and continue making a difference in their communities, both in the UK and the Philippines”.

Danny who is an Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, was elected in May this year as Councillor for Asphalts Ward on the East Grinstead Town Council. He is also President of the Filipino-British Association and works closely with several local charities.

With the support of the Town Council, he will continue his work with various groups in organizing social, cultural and sporting activities which promote good relationships, cooperation and participation in pursuit of common goals within the community. In particular he hopes to organise a large inter-town sport festival in East Grinstead, supported by various local groups and neighbouring towns.

Cllr Favor, who was interviewed by the BBC about his honour, has also started a Health and Wellness Action Team, composed of Registered Nurses and other health care professionals who will volunteer to perform free blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks and BMI checks for interested residents, with the aim of preventing, detecting and monitoring common health problems such as hypertension, diabetes and malnutrition.