Category: News

TOWN Mayor John Saull and his wife joined internationally renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd at the opening of the East Grinstead Arts Festival which took place at various venues around the town in August.

CONTRACTORS Willmott Dixon have won a government contract to build six new theatres at the Queen Victoria Hospital in the Holtye Road.The £8million project will also include a new admissions suite and a day surgery unit.

MERIDIAN FM, East Grinstead’s community radio station, will be playing host to a Picnic in the Park from noon until 4pm on Sunday, 11 September.

The popular event will take place, weather permitting, on the Rolley Terrace behind East Court.

So pack a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of live music, hosted by MFM’s Pru Oliver and Terry Sumner.

Also available, will be paella from the Paella Fella, a champagne bar and refreshments.

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.

MEMBERS of the emergency services will be taking part in 999 Day this Sunday at East Court between 9am and 3pm.

The programme for the day includes:

• 10am – Opening by the Town Mayor
• 10.30am – Chip Pan Fire demo
• 11am – Police dog demo
• 1pm – Road traffic accident re-enactment
• 2pm – Police dog demo
• 2.30pm – Chip pan fire demo

Meridian FM will be broadcasting and helping with the public announcements throughout the day.

Search and rescue land rovers will be on display with ambulances and fire engines, and emergency service staff will talk about what they do.

The police sniffer dog unit will also be back.

* Please note that car parking will be greatly reduced as some of the displays will be in the East Court car parks. Anyone attending is advised to park elsewhere and walk to East Court.
The grounds will be open to the public as usual but some areas will be cordoned off for safety reasons around the demonstrations and displays. Everyone’s co-operation in respecting the barriers will be appreciated.

The old Caffyns site in King Street was an eyesore until a week ago when the Town Council staff stepped in to clear it up.

The site, which is empty pending development, was overgrown with weeds and fencing had been moved. It was advised at a recent Planning Committee that the owners had been contacted about clearing it themselves – or paying for the Council to get the work done.

The owners decided to pay the Council to do the job and within a few days this major town centre eyesore was looking spick and span.

Council Leader, Norman Webster, thanked the staff for their great effort and said “The Council is hopeful that a Planning application will be lodged shortly and this long running problem will be sorted to the benefit of the town.”

* Pictured below: the overgrown forecourt of the former Caffyns garage, before and after the outside staff cleared it up.

 

THE search is on for a Handsome Prince to play opposite lovely Abbie Lomax when she appears as Snow White at Chequer Mead this Christmas.

Aspiring Princes are asked to get in touch with Lesley Lowy at Chequer Mead theatre on 01342 302000.