1 July 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.

MAYOR John Saull marked the 70th anniversary of the town’s connection with the world famous Guinea Pig Club by inviting 26 members and their guests to tea at East Court.

Despite their long and affectionate association with East Grinstead, it was the first-ever official visit by the badly-burned former airmen who dubbed themselves Guinea Pigs after being operated on by pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archie McIndoe.

The tea was also attended by former mayors who had been made friends of the Guinea Pig Club, and members of the newly-formed Town Council.

It was one of the new mayor’s first official engagements, and – after his own career in aviation safety – one particularly close to his heart.

John, who has made the Guinea Pig Club one of the two official charities for his year in office, was himself honoured by being made a friend of the Guinea Pig Club at the AGM Luncheon, as was Mike Hollis, the president of the East Grinstead museum, and Town Clerk Julie Holden.