Category: News

A Charity Big Band concert will be taking place at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath on Sunday 14 October 2018 from 7.30pm, hosted by Councillor Bruce Forbes, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council.

An evening with Glenn Miller and friends will feature all the popular Big Band tunes that inspired a generation and boosted morale during World War II. The 17 piece ConChord Big Band orchestra will stunningly recreate the sound of iconic 1940’s Swing orchestras like Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey. Performing as the wartime US Army Air Force Band, ConChord will deliver music and songs from the Big Band Era to help get you ‘In The Mood’ for an unforgettable evening.

A raffle will be held during the intermission and prizes have been kindly donated by Waitrose Haywards Heath, Hall and Woodhouse, Marks and Spencer, The Entertainer, The Crown Turners Hill and The Orchards Shopping Centre. All funds raised on the night will go to Sullivan’s Heroes, a local charity based in Turners Hill that funds home adaptations for disabled children.

Councillor Bruce Forbes, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“This promises to be a fantastic evening so please join us for a trip down memory lane with  an uplifting visit to the age of Big Band and Swing music.

“Sullivan’s Heroes is a fantastic local charity and every ticket sold will help them to offer support and financial assistance to families with disabled children.”

Tickets are on sale now priced at £15 (£12 Concessions) and are available directly from the Clair Hall box office on 01444 455440 or online at www.clairhall.org

An evening with Glenn Miller and friends will feature all the popular Big Band tunes that inspired a generation and boosted morale during World War II. The 17 piece ConChord Big Band orchestra will stunningly recreate the sound of iconic 1940’s Swing orchestras like Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey. Performing as the wartime US Army Air Force Band, ConChord will deliver music and songs from the Big Band Era to help get you ‘In The Mood’ for an unforgettable evening

A raffle will be held during the intermission and prizes have been kindly donated by Waitrose Haywards Heath, Hall and Woodhouse, Marks and Spencer, The Entertainer, The Crown Turners Hill and The Orchards Shopping Centre. All funds raised on the night will go to Sullivan’s Heroes, a local charity based in Turners Hill that funds home adaptations for disabled children.

Councillor Bruce Forbes, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“This promises to be a fantastic evening so please join us for a trip down memory lane with  an uplifting visit to the age of Big Band and Swing music.

“Sullivan’s Heroes is a fantastic local charity and every ticket sold will help them to offer support and financial assistance to families with disabled children.”

Tickets are on sale now priced at £15 (£12 Concessions) and are available directly from the Clair Hall box office on 01444 455440 or online at www.clairhall.org

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

John BENNETT

Corporal TF/200189 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 34th Division.

Died of wounds 27. 9.18. Aged 26.

Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Bennett of East Grinstead. Born and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium B.11

Thomas Harding BROADLEY

Lieutenant No 62 (F) Squadron The Royal Air Force. (Bristol Fighters).

Killed in action 15. 9.18. Aged 19.

Son of George and Elsie Broadley of Lonsdale House, East Grinstead.

Buried Chili Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle F. 1193

John Thomas CARTER

Private G/78636 2nd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. 29th Division.

Died of wounds 5. 9.18.

Born in London and enlisted in Brighton. Next of kin residents of East Grinstead.

Buried Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery, Steenwerck, Belgium.

Albert William COOMBER

Sergeant L.9162 1st Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. The Indian Army

Killed in action on attachment in Persia 25.9.18.

Aged 28 Regular.

Son of George and Maria Coomber of 5, Mill Cottages, Dunnings Road, East Grinstead

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead Buried Tehran War Cemetery, Persia (Iran) Asia 82

Thomas James DRAPER

Gunner 95855 Royal Field Artillery 1/36th Division. Ammunition Col.

Died 29. 9.18. Aged 25.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Draper of 9, Highfield, Forest Row.

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead. Buried Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium B. 84

J. GILROY

Stoker 1st Class 55462 Royal Navy HMS “Caesar”

Died 28. 9.19.

Buried Haidar Pasha Cemetery Istanbul, Turkey. (Possibility Only)

Arthur Thomas HARMAN

Private TF/505144 2nd Battalion, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps. 1st Division.

Died of wounds 7. 9.18. Aged 40.

Son of Thomas and Ellen Harman of East Grinstead. Born and enlisted in East Grinstead. Formerly with the 5th Londons.

Buried Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoignt F. 14

Francis James HILLER

Private G/31137 1st Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment. 5th Division.

Killed in action 26. 9.18. Aged 18.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hiller of 43, West Street, East Grinstead. Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Brighton.

Commemorated on The Vis en Artois Memorial MR. 16.

Sydney George HUGGETT

Second Lieutenant ‘A’ Company 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division.

Killed in action at Epehy Wood 18. 9.18. Aged 31.

Son of Sydney and Emma Huggett of London Road, East Grinstead. Husband of Mrs. Bessie Huggett of 120, Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.

Buried Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery F. 369

Sidney JOHNSON

Private TF/ 200239 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 34th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres 2. 9.18. Aged 21.

Son of Herbert and Kate Johnson of 11, Green Hedges Avenue, East Grinstead. Born in Lodsworth and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium MR.30

Herbert William KENT

Rifleman 43847 1/13th Battalion, The London Regiment. 56th London Division.

Died of wounds at home 16. 9.18.

Enlisted in Lingfield, Surrey. Formerly with the Royal West Surreys.

Buried Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton.

Charles Henry SLOMAN

Private 4564 2nd Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment. 19th Division.

Died in captivity in Hamburg, Germany, 26.9.18. Aged 37.

Son of Mr. J.H. and Mrs. Emma Sloman of 18, Council Terrace, East Grinstead. Born in East Grinstead. Enlisted in London.

Buried Hamburg Cemetery, Germany

John Lancelot SMEED

Private A/2685 1st Battalion, The Canadian Infantry 1st Canadian Division.

Killed in action 28. 9.18. Aged 24.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Smeed of East Grinstead.

Buried Ontario Cemetery, Sains les Marquion F. 481

Thomas Stewart SYMONS, DFC

Captain Royal Air Force.

Killed in action 29. 9.18. Aged 26.

Son of Alfred and Helen Symons of West Tarring near Worthing. Included on the War Memorials of Durrington, West Tarring and Worthing.

Buried Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers Plouich F. 379

This year Mr X Stitch, AKA Jamie Chalmers the Kingpin of contemporary embroidery is going to create a fantastic 20 foot tall decorated Christmas tree in the house courtyard at Standen House and Garden. Being the champion of contemporary cross stitch, Jamie will be festooning the tree and the courtyard with hundreds (if not thousands) of handmade brightly coloured cross stitched Christmas baubles and he wants your help to do this.

His plan is for people (that’s you wonderful people) to cross stitch baubles which he will then mount, label and use as part of the installation. Wouldn’t it be great to fill the house courtyard with works of art reflecting the style and talent of the local area and make this a truly local festive affair? Jamie has asked that due to the size of the workshops that there is a lower age limit of 10 for the workshops. I hope that this will be ok?

Jamie wants to invite groups to free workshops which will be based in East Grinstead in Sept and Oct this autumn to get the project going. Don’t worry if you are a newcomer to needle work… Jamie has created simple patterns to follow and will be providing you with all the materials, skills, encourage and inspiration needed to get you started… along with a great deal of fun and laughter. If you are already a dab hand with a needle and thread come along and learn something new, embellish the patterns and really put your stamp on the baubles and perhaps inspire other with your creativity.

There are going to be workshops on the 13^th and 14^th Sept (afternoon and evening) and two follow up Workshops (to finish off the pieces) on the 11^th and 12^th October. Everyone will be asked to commit to one in Sept and one in Oct so that Jamie can make sure all the works are completed in time.

The dates and times of the workshops are as follows:

PART ONE (Getting started)

Thursday 13 Sept

1.30pm – 3.30pm

5.30pm – 7.30pm

Friday 14 Sept

10.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 3.30pm

PART TWO (Finishing off)

Thursday 11 Oct

1.30pm – 3.30pm

5.30pm – 7.30pm

Friday 12 Oct

10.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 3.30pm

All the workshops will be in East Grinstead.

It is with great regret that we are cancelling this year’s FEast Grinstead event on October 7th. Our apologies to everyone involved.

Tanya Hayman on behalf of the The Royal British Legion Women’s Section for East Grinstead, laid a wreath for Great Pilgrimage 90 at Menin gates Wednesday 8th August.

Tanya stated that she was one of 1100 wreath bearers and 1100 standard bearers and it was “Quite a sight”.

The East Grinstead Women’s section of the Royal British Legion is the oldest in Sussex and the 4th oldest in the Country and is older than the men’s section by a year.