1 January 2011

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

THE Town Council’s outdoor team faced almost insuperable odds when exceptionally bad winter weather at the beginning of December left East Grinstead snowbound.

The team shoveled paths and walkways, kept the East Court estate free for emergency vehicles at the police and fire stations, ensured all the local surgeries were accessible, and spread five tons of grit on pavements in the town centre.

Their efforts ensured the success of the French Christmas market on 5 December, which was particularly well attended as families left their homes for the first time in several days to grab some festive fun.

But the non-delivery of the town’s Christmas tree meant the annual lighting up ceremony had to be postponed for a week: and the Community Play lost three of its first week’s performances as neither players nor audiences could access a snowbound Sackville school.