Category: News

The EG Choral Society trip to Ypres where they will take part in the last post at the Menin Gate.

East Grinstead Town Councils Flower beds in the High Street have once again surpassed themselves and are this year, commemorating four very different anniversaries.

EAST GRINSTEAD AND DISTRICT LIONS (BED 1)

The East Grinstead & District Lions Club was formed in 1968 and 2018 sees the club reach its Golden Anniversary or 50th year. The bed marks this anniversary with the Lions logo; the heads facing both ways, to represent pride in heritage and confidence in the future. All the flowers are blue and yellow to bring out the colours of the logo. Our hanging baskets this year have also given a nod to the Lions anniversary with the predominant colours being blue and yellow.

RAF100 (Bed 2)

1st April 2018 sees the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. Making it the oldest Independent Air Force in the world. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. The RAF motto is per ardua ad astra (through adversity to the stars).
Our bed depicts three plumes to represent the coloured smoke often emitting from the red arrows (RAF aerobatic team); one each in red, white and blue. We also feature models of the planes through history from WW1 bi-planes, WW2 Spitfires through to Typhoons of today, and the RAF100 logo.
The Armed Forces Day on 30th June this year (11am – 3.00pm) held at Meridian Hall in East Court will feature 100 years of the RAF with a static replica of a bi-plane, activities and other free exhibits. All are welcome.

JOHN MASON NEALE – WARDEN OF SACKVILLE COLLEGE (Bed 3)

2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Mason Neale, Warden of Sackville College between 1846 and his death in 1866. He translated many ancient and medieval hymns from latin and greek, wrote many original hymns and also wrote the carol Good King Wenceslas. Our bed takes inspiration from Good King Wenceslas, the King and his page are setting out against the winters wild lament to take flesh and wine to the old man he saw gathering winter fuel.

100th Anniversary of the end of WW1 (Beds 4/5)

Inspired by the poppies at the Tower of London in 2014, the beds this year have taken our 2014 theme to new heights. These Beds in 2014 won the prize for South East in Bloom’s best War Memorial. Lest we forget, this bed will mark the end of the four years of 100th anniversary commemoration and will remain in situ throughout the remainder of 2018.
A special thank you to the East Grinstead branch of the Royal British Legion who kindly donated the poppies which form the draping sash.

Bringing the Beds to the Town each year is a full team effort, from selecting the theme and the tableaus to be depicted, to agreeing the design, liaising with the nursery for the flowers, designing and producing the props and then placing them all during the first week of June. The East Court Gardener, Outside Service Team, Estates Team and Town Clerk all play a part in bringing the beds to the town.

The Town Council took over the planting of the beds when Mid Sussex district council pulled out in 2011. Over the years the beds have won many admirers, they have become a focal point for locals and tourists alike and are eagerly anticipated each year. The themes to be depicted are now determined well over a year in advance.

Cllr Adam Peacock, Chairman of the Amenities and Tourism Committee said “these beds are such an important focal point for the town centre, the team take great pride in designing and bringing the designs to life, it is an example where our local knowledge that these beds should not be lost to the town have created, not just a display but a feature of the town throughout the summer months”

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Public Newsletter – 18 May 2018

Mid Sussex District Councillors have changed the structure of the Council and placed an even greater focus on supporting economic growth.

A new Finance and Performance Cabinet position has been created to allow the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth to spend more time developing the local economy. The Cabinet now comprises the Leader and six portfolio holders.

At the Annual Council meeting on Wednesday 9 May, the number of Cabinet Members was increased by one, with Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke taking on the new role of Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance.

The Cabinet is now as follows:

• Leader – Councillor Garry Wall
• Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth – Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards
• Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance – Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke
• Cabinet Member for Service Delivery – Councillor Gary Marsh
• Cabinet Member for Customer Services – Councillor Mandy Thomas-Atkin
• Cabinet Member for Community – Councillor Norman Webster
• Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning – Councillor Andrew MacNaughton

There are also changes to committees and other working groups as new chairs have been elected.

Councillor Bruce Forbes was re-elected as Chairman and will hold the position for the next 12 months, during the civic year that runs until next May. Councillor Colin Trumble was elected as the new Vice-Chairman.

“Our new structure will enable Councillor Ash-Edwards to dedicate more time, and focus more council resources, on helping the Mid Sussex economy thrive,” said Councillor Garry Wall, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council.

“We are working hard to create a positive business environment in Mid Sussex; helping small companies to grow; providing grant support and tax relief; funding local business associations and buying services from local businesses.

“The next 5-10 years are going to be a really important period of growth for Mid Sussex and represent a real opportunity for us to ensure our towns and villages are fit for the future. It’s essential that we secure the right level of infrastructure funding and our new Cabinet structure will enable us to spend more time lobbying national Government for extra money that will ensure all future growth is sustainable.”

On Saturday 5th May East Grinstead hosted the first leg of the  Mid Sussex Marathon (The three towns, three races challenge that make up the classic marathon distance of 26.2 mile). Running for the 7th time the three races had record entries this year, with the East Grinstead seeing over 400 on the start line.

Runners were able to enter each race individually but those completing all three received a special commemorative Marathon Weekend medal as well as their individual race medals.

In addition to the main races, there were Mid Sussex Mile races and a Mid Sussex Fun Run open to all, including younger runners and those seeking a more leisurely distance.

East Grinstead’s 10 mile race, starting and finishing at the rugby club, has been recognised from the beginning  as being the most challenging of the three, although equally the most scenic and it lived up to its reputation this year, with sweltering heat and  a couple of exceptionally muddy sections to negotiate. Many runners crossed the line covered head to toe in mud, but most had a smile of relief on their faces.

The annual event hosted by  Mid Sussex District Council and the Town Councils of East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, is managed by Places for People and race management company Nice Work and relies on many volunteers to safely marshal the courses. Thanks as ever, was extended to all of them.

All the runners were congratulated over the line and presented with a medal by East Grinstead Town Mayor Cllr Julie Mockford and Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council Cllr Bruce Forbes.

Anyone interested in completing this challenge in 2019 should visit www.midsussexmarathon.co.uk and look for entry details.

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Mid Sussex District Council has installed new security measures at two community pavilions in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath to help deter criminals.

St John’s Park pavilion in Burgess Hill and Clair Park pavilion in Haywards Heath have experienced a number of break-ins over the past two years. The pavilions have been repeatedly targeted at night by vandals who have caused significant damage to the inside of the buildings.

The pavilions are used regularly by local volunteers to provide sports and recreational activities for local people. Mid Sussex District Council owns both buildings and representatives from local sports clubs approached the council to ask if any security improvements could be made.

The council has listened to the concerns of the local community and has fitted stronger uPVC windows and doors at both pavilions. Internal security screens have also been installed behind the windows and doors that users can slide across at night to provide an added deterrent to intruders when the buildings are closed.

The new windows and doors have been constructed to Secure by Design standards, an official UK Police flagship initiative that combines the principle of ‘designing out crime’ with physical security.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, MSDC Cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Growth said:

“Local volunteers give up their free time to organise sports and social activities for the benefit of the whole community, so it’s infuriating when mindless idiots try to destroy everything they have worked so hard to build.

“Our community leaders don’t deserve to have their hard work thrown back in their face by the actions of a few selfish criminals. I hope the security improvements we have made at these pavilions make the vandals think twice about causing any more trouble and help to prevent any further break-ins.”

Matt Jones, Chairman of Haywards Heath Cricket Club added:

“Everyone at the club is absolutely delighted with these improvements. We are very hopeful that these endless break-ins are finally now a thing of the past and we can now fully concentrate our resources on the 170 plus children we have involved in our junior programmes and our very successful senior league sides.

“Our sincere thanks go to everyone at Mid Sussex District Council that has made this possible, including local councillors Sandy Ellis and Jonathan Ash Edwards”.