Category: News

Large crowds turned out in the High Street for the town’s first combined Christmas Street Lights and Rotary Club Christmas tree switch on. Town Mayor Bob Mainstone, together with his wife Christine, joined the crowds with the East Grinstead Concert Band taking their traditional place and playing seasonal music.

Spotted among the crowds was Santa and some of the cast from this year’s Chequer Mead Pantomime Dick Whittington all adding to the festivities.Speaking after pressing the switch the Town Mayor confessed that he had the fingers of his other hand crossed for good luck in case the lights didn’t all come on at once!

But all was well as for the first time ever the street lights shone forth together with those on the Christmas Tree.

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Town Mayor Bob Mainstone was Guest of Honour at a performance of The Music and Letters of John Mason Neale at Sackville College performed by the Sackville Community Choir. Neale was a past Warden of the College and is best known for his Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

At the finish of the performance Bob presented a cheque for £500 to Assistant Warden Chris Rolley. The cheque was part of this year’s Community Awards.

If you are looking for a stocking filler for someone who loves East Grinstead, a student living away from home or an expat on distance shores then the Town Council has just the thing. A range of East Grinstead themed Souvenirs is available from the Tourist information desk in East Grinstead library or the Town Council offices at East Court.

Tom Mitchell, the Great Britain rugby 7’s captain at the Rio Olympics, was recognised for his achievement for winning a silver medal by East Grinstead Town Council on Wednesday 23 November.

Town Mayor, Bob Mainstone welcomed Tom and his family to East Court and presented him with a special certificate of recognition on behalf of the Council.

Tom grew up in East Grinstead and attended Escots Primary School before moving to Worth School. He had his first experience of rugby at the East Grinstead Rugby Club at the age of nine. He went on to gain a blue at Oxford University and to become a member of the England 7’s squad. He was then selected to captain the GB Rugby 7’s squad for the Olympics. The exciting tournament saw GB beat Argentina and South Africa on their way to the final where they met the eventual gold medallists Fiji.

At the Mayor’s reception at East Court councillors enjoyed seeing film of Tom playing rugby and they asked him questions about the Olympics and his rugby career. Tom explained in detail the excitement of being selected and the mounting pressure as the GB team won their way to the final.

Tom’s gran, Betty, described how she watched Tom’s Olympic matches on TV and prayed he would not get injured! His parents, Sue and Alan, spoke about Tom growing up and his love of sport. They were in Rio for the Rugby 7’s but had to book their tickets, flight and accommodation before Tom was officially selected to represent GB!

Andy Poole, President of East Grinstead Rugby Club, joined the Council celebrations and thanked Tom for visiting the club and meeting the junior members.

Town Mayor Bob commented, “We are very proud of East Grinstead’s Rio Olympians in Rugby 7’s, men’s hockey and women’s hockey. It was a great pleasure to recognise Tom’s achievement and to hold an evening in his honour. We wish him success in his future rugby career.”

The Town Council are working with the town’s hockey club to arrange a date when all of the hockey Olympians are in town so their achievements can also be recognised. Laura Unsworth and Sophie Bray were members of the gold medal winning women’s hockey team.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, and Mayoress Cllr Christine Mainstone were invited to visit the East Grinstead Food Bank. They met the volunteers at the Jubilee Centre and were given an explanation as to how the Food Bank helps those in need.

Bob commented,”The Food Bank is a vital service for those in crisis. They are very well organised and supportive to those families unfortunate enough to have to be referred for help. I now have a clear understanding of how the Food Bank offer support. I will be donating something for the Food Bank box every time I go shopping in Sainsburys in future”

Photos: With volunteers in the Food Bank distribution store.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, and Deputy Mayor, Julie Mockford, both joined the litter pick along London Road last Sunday.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, joined 225 walkers who braved the rain to complete the Bluebell Railway Track Trek. Bob welcomed everyone to East Grinstead station before they set off on the 11 mile walk to Sheffield Park along the railway track. The sponsored walk raised funds for the “Accessible Steam Heritage” and “Operation Undercover Phase 4″. The walk raised £11,000 towards these projects.

Bob added,”I was generously sponsored by many people and I raised enough money to receive a medal at the end of the walk! It was hard going along the track but a rare opportunity to walk through the tunnel at West Hoathly. I was very pleased to do my bit for Bluebell who are one of my mayoral charities. I aim to raise enough funds to build a childrens’ playground at Kingscote Station”

Photo shows Bob during the walk having reached Horsted Keynes Station (Photo credit: Mike Hopps)

Photo shows Bob trying to dry out in front of a roaring coal fire at Horsted Keynes Station (Photo credit: Mike Hopps)

Age UK East Grinstead and District  is having a problem  finding transport to pick up people wanting to attend their Saturday Club. Do you have a minibus/driver that could help us with this?

This would involve Saturday mornings twice a month at about 10am and then again at about 4pm. If so, please contact:

Pam Mitchell (Chief Officer)

Age UK East Grinstead & District  Swan Mead  Queens Road  East Grinstead  RH19 1BE

01342 327046 / 07803 538638

ceo@ageukeastgrinstead.org.uk

Due to adverse weather over the last few days there has been a delay in the installation of the East Grinstead Christmas lights. The lights are due to be switched on Saturday afternoon at a ceremony in the Historic High St from 3.15pm.

Contractors are hopeful they will be in place on time though and will be working this evening (Thursday) and tomorrow night to get them up along the High Street, London Road and Railway Approach.