Category: News

The Trust Is in the process of changing its constitution to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and needs to appoint trustees to the board. The maximum number of trustees is to be 7, with a minimum of 5. Up to 5 will be appointed from the elected members of the East Grinstead Town Council and 2 would be external appointments.

The Trust operates a 300+ seat purpose built theatre and ancilliary facilities including art gallery and meeting rooms. It is currently tendering the catering franchise for an external contract. The board will meet regularly and work with the Centre Manager to ensure that this valued community asset continues to prosper.

All appointments will be made based on the experience and skills that the trustees can bring to the Trust. Applicants will have a strong proven background in finance, fundraising or theatre management, be able to attend regular meetings during the working day and evening to a notified schedule. Trustees are not paid positions although reasonable travel expenses may be met for trustees living outside of East Grinstead.

Written applications highlighting experience and why you wish to be a trustee should be submitted to the Clerk to the Trustees, c/o East Grinstead Town Council, East Court, East Grinstead, RH19 3LT. Applications to be received by 12.00 noon on 15th June 2014.

NEW Town Mayor Dick Sweatman has chosen the East Grinstead and District Lions Club, and the town branch of Age UK, as the charities which will benefit from his year in office.

THE East Grinstead & District Lions Club has been serving the people of East Grinstead and District for the past 46 years.

The town branch is part of Lions Clubs International, which has more than 1.3 million members world wide, serving communities in 205 countries.

The Lions’ year runs from 1 July to 30 June and during 2013/2014 the town branch donated more than £17,730 to local and international charities, and to disaster funds in the UK and abroad.

They also gave 3,500 hours of voluntary service.

The Lions have a caravan based at Pevensey for the use of families who would not otherwise be able to afford a holiday. So if you would like to use it, or know someone else who could do with a break, contact the Lions who will make the necessary arrangements.

And if you would like to join them for fun, companionship and helping the less fortunate in the community, email Rob Holwell at rob.holwell@aviareps-group.com, or give him a ring on 0845 833 9506.

The Mission statement of the Lions Club is: To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international co-operation.

AGE UK East Grinstead & District is run by an Executive Committee and Chief Officer, with a team of 23 staff and 12 volunteers.

The organisation receives local authority funding from WSCC and MSDC to help support the services it offers, which include the Swan Mead Activity Centre which was opened in 1974.

Swan Mead gets its name from a field on which the Queens Road cemetery is laid, which in turn took its name from the early 18th century Swan pub which fronted London Road and which was demolished in the early 1960s.

In 2003 Age UK East Grinstead, in partnership with the County Council and the Alzheimer’s Society, expanded its services to cater for a growing unmet need, dementia support, to assist the carers of people living with dementia.

The service operates on the second and fourth Saturday of each month between 10am and 6pm and gives carers the opportunity to bring their family members into a safe, stimulating environment. Carers are then free to spend some well-earned time on leisure or family pursuits, safe in the knowledge that their relatives are being looked after by trained staff.

The Help at Home service was established in 1996 and is now delivered by Age UK East Grinstead & District following many requests received by older and vulnerable people who needed reputable help to run their homes.

The service provides general housework, and help with shopping, pension and benefit collection, laundry, ironing and simple sewing repairs.

To find out more go to: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/eastgrinstead/about-age-uk-east-grinstead-and-district/

THERE will be a public consultation on the Sunnyside rec on Thursday 28 May, to find out how local people use the park and gather their ideas for ways of improving it.

Landscape officer Nicole Batten-Evatt will be at the rec from 10am to 2pm so if you have views about the future of the site go along and share them in a short survey.

The surveys are also available online at http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/leisure/8753.htm so if you can’t get down there in person, fill in the form before 11 June to make your voice heard.

Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3BS

Charity No. 1108890

Registered office address: c/o Clerk of the Council, Council Offices, East Court Mansion, College Lane, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3LT

Notice pursuant to section 121(2) of the Charities Act 2011

The Trustees of Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre give notice of their proposal to lease the Alfred Wagg Studio at the Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre of the above address to West Sussex Police for a period of 21 years for the police service’s use, which shall include public access to police services for the East Grinstead and District Community.  The Trustees invite representations from the public relating to such proposed lease to West Sussex Police.  Such representations must be received by the Trustees by [25^th June 2015] following which date the Trustees will consider any representations to them and make a final decision regarding the proposed lease of the Alfred Wagg Studio to West Sussex Police.

Dated this     18th  day of             May             2015

Please send any representations to:

The Trustees of Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre
c/o Clerk of the Council, Council Offices
East Court Mansion
College Lane
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 3LT

CLLR NICK Hodges handed over the mayoral chain to his successor Cllr Dick Sweatman at last night’s Council meeting.

In his speech Nick said he had had a wonderful year in office, and one packed with highlights.

These had included meeting representatives of many of the town’s community groups, as well as town events which had included the visit by Princess Anne to unveil the statue of Sir Archibald McIndoe and the unveiling of the commemorative plaque in honour of Private Sidney Godley, as well as social events such as the Edwardian Picnic and the recent VE Day Street Party.

During his year in office Nick also travelled to be with the East Grinstead Concert Band who played at the Menin Gate to mark their 40th anniversary and the Centenary of WWI, and to our French twin town Bourge de Peage to mark twinning’s half-century.

And he paid tribute to his wife Lucy and their daughter ‘mayorette’ Olivia, who raised £100 towards his charities with a bake sale, and had put up with having “an embarrassing dad” with a smile.

Nick presented newly-retired Sarah Bunting and Wendy Mackenzie with bouquets for all the help they had given him in their roles as Mayor’s secretary, and gave cheques for £5,000 apiece to each of his chosen charities for the year – the Town Museum and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

The new Town Mayor is Cllr Dick Sweatman, whose deputy will be Cllr Bob Mainstone.

Dick’s chosen charities for his year as East Grinstead’s first citizen will be the East Grinstead branch of Age UK and East Grinstead Lions Club.

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges, who will hand over his chain of office to his successor at this evening’s Council meeting, posed for this official portrait by High Street photographer Frazer Visser. It which will join those of his predecessors hanging by the stairwell at East Court.

JOHN Saull represents Worsted ward on the Town Council.

John has lived in Ashurst Wood for 34 years with his wife and family, and their three children were educated at local schools.

In his professional career spanning 45 years, he spent 32 years with the UK civil aviation regulatory authorities, The Air Registration Board and The Civil Aviation Authority and  his experience included working with the development of the Concorde supersonic airliner and overseas positions.

He served as the East Grinstead Mayor for 2011-2012 and has represented the Council on several outside organisations throughout his term as a councillor. He is President of the East Grinstead Branch of the Conservative Party

ADAM Reeves represents Herontye ward on the Town Council.

Since joining the Council nearly two years ago he has taken an active role to oppose Gatwick’s expansion proposals

He also opposes the large housing developments at Hill Place Farm and Great Harwoods Farm as he feels any development in East Grinstead needs to be ‘sustainable’ for current and future generations.

“I believe we need better infrastructure right now to address issues such as traffic relief for our very congested roads and more places at our schools and doctors surgeries.”

He is also passionate about small business entrepreneurial success. “My career running a local financial services business has allowed me to take on a senior role managing the Town Council’s finances to help ensure value for money for the taxpayer,” he said