Category: News

WEST Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will be offering East Grinstead residents free testing of their electric blankets to keep them safe as the weather gets colder this winter.

The free tests will be available in East Grinstead on 9 October at the Glen Vue Centre, Wareland House in Railway Approach.

Firefighters will be joined by a range of partner agencies to create a ‘one stop shop’ of advice and support services for older people and those who care for them.

The testing events are being supported by The Southern Co-operative’s online home shopping service, Co-operative Independent Living, which is offering a 20% discount towards the purchase of new replacement electric blanket for anyone whose blanket is found to be potentially dangerous.

Jackie Boyle, Community Fire Safety Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said:

“Last year over a third of the blankets we tested had a fault or was over 10 years old. Such a high number really highlights the value of getting them checked regularly. Every year, nationally, there are many fires caused by unsafe blankets and sadly, people are injured and some even killed.

“Blankets over 10 years old are a particular concern because they don’t have the overheat protection found in newer blankets. This safety system cuts power to the blanket in the event of a malfunction reducing the risk of it catching fire.

“The elderly can be especially vulnerable so we’d remind people to think about those around them – even if you don’t use an electric blanket yourself you may have an elderly relative, friend or neighbour who does and would benefit from this free service.”

The tests are by appointment only between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Please call 01243 752404 to make an appointment. Glen Vue has disabled access.

For more information on the safe use and storage of electric blankets please visit  www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire

Sunday 12th October at East Grinstead Sports Club, RH19 4JU from 10.30am – 3.00pm (doors open to sellers from 9.00am).

£10 per table (please bring your own)

Buyers £1 entrance (children free)

Free parking and refreshments available.

Proceeds to the McIndoe Memorial Statue Appear (Charity No. 1106240)

To book a table please contact enquiries@blondmcindoe.org or 01342 414295

PICTURED below are a selection of the foreign coins which Simon Kerr has collected on the town tourist desk in the library this summer. All the coins go towards funding the museum in Cantelupe Road.

THE library in West Street continues its 30th Birthday celebrations with two talks. See details below.

Do you know a fantastic carer in West Sussex? Has a local care organisation shown outstanding care to you or someone you know?

Now is the time to nominate them for the West Sussex Care Accolades, the county’s ‘Oscars’ for care workers.

The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of people working in a wide variety of jobs in adult social care including dementia care, caring for people in their own homes and caring for people at the end of their life.

The awards are a chance to honour the individuals and organisations who make a special effort to go above and beyond their normal day-to-day duties to help people who receive care.

Nominations close on Monday 22 September at 5.00pm.

The awards, now in their fifth year, are organised by West Sussex Partners in Care and are supported by West Sussex County Council.

This year there are nine categories:

• Ancillary Worker Award – for example, cooks, bus drivers and cleaners;
• Dementia Care Award – for someone who has improved the quality of life of people with dementia;
• End of Life Care Award – for someone who has demonstrated a commitment to a person and their family at the end of that person’s life;
• Individual Student Achievement Award;
• Lifelong Learner Award;
• The Chair’s Award for Endeavour – for someone who has overcome personal difficulties while still going above and beyond their normal day-to-day duties;
• The Young Carer Award;
• Excellence Award – which is awarded to an organisation; and
• Individual Employers Award.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care and Health, which is supporting the accolades, said: “These awards highlight the achievements of people who go that little bit further to enhance people’s lives.

“They demonstrate attention to care and duty and set a marker for others to aspire to, which will help to improve the high standards of care delivered to people who receive care in West Sussex. If you know someone who has done that please nominate them.”

Chairman of West Sussex Partners in Care, Rosemary Pavoni, said: “There are about 25,000 social care staff working in West Sussex, who every day change the lives of people for whom they care, and this is the time to celebrate and recognise their dedication, hard work and commitment.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in October. Winners receive a trophy and shopping vouchers.

For a nomination pack or more information please contact Rosemary Pavoni by email at rosemary.pavoni@wsf-tb.org.uk.

THE East Grinstead Business Association will be hosting a Drink & Meet at La Farola (in the London Road opposite the Fire Station) between 6pm and 8pm on Monday.

The meetings are for the town’s business community so if you are working in the town go along and meet your local business colleagues in a relaxed social environment.

There is no need to book or to be on time, just turn up, buy yourself a drink and chat over some free nibbles.  Take a friend if you want to – and plenty of business cards. Parking opposite the restaurant in the town car park.

Trevor Marriott presents The World’s Worst Serial Killers on Thursday 11 September at 7.30pm

THE WWSK is a two-hour audio-visual show presented by retired murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, the author of the highly acclaimed best-selling book titled The Evil Within -The World’s Worst Serial Killers.

The show describes the murders committed by 20 of the world’s worst serial killers and features more than 200 photographs of the victims, their killers, and the original crime scenes, many of which have never been seen before.

Trevor Marriott goes to great lengths to show the errors and bad decisions made by law enforcement officers in allowing some of these killers to roam free to kill again before finally being captured, as well as showing the pain and suffering the victims endured before succumbing to death.

This show is not for the squeamish or faint hearted as many of the photographs shown are of a very graphic nature, which some may find disturbing.

No one under 16 will be admitted without a parent or appropriate adult.
Tickets £12. Concessions £10.

Jimmy Jemain is Cliff, together with The Fabulous Shadows on Friday 12 September at 8pm

The World’s Number One Cliff Richard look-and-sound alike is in town with a must-see tribute show with The Fabulous Shadows featuring all Cliff’s hits from 1958 … Move It, Living Doll, The Young Ones, Summer Holiday and with The Shadows classic hits Apache, Wonderful Land, Kon Tiki and many more.

Tickets £13.50. Concessions £12.50.

Sandarac Productions present The Floyd Effect – Saturday 13 September at 7.30pm

THE Floyd Effect returns to Chequer Mead with an evening of timeless Pink Floyd classics concluding with a complete performance of Dark Side of the Moon. The Floyd Effect experience includes a dramatic lightshow complete with the iconic circular screen, smoke lasers and projections.

An unforgettable evening that will take you on a journey from the Gates of Dawn to the Dark Side of the Moon.

Tickets £17.50.

EGOS presents The Full Monty on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 September at 7. 30pm

THIS bright and brassy musical is set in Buffalo, New York. It is about a group of unemployed steel-workers who try to make a few bucks by becoming male strippers. In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun.

Parental Guidance: this musical contains nudity.

Tickets £15. Concessions £14. Group discounts available.

Rollermania – Les McKeown and his legendary Bay City Rollers – Thursday 25 September at 8pm

THE music of the Bay City Rollers became a musical phenomenon and the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers growing up in the mid 70’s, with Les McKeown leading the way.

The band’s huge hits, such as Bye Bye Baby, Shang A Lang, and Summer Love Sensation, propelled them to world-wide superstardom, with their trademark Scottish tartan being copied across the planet.

Rollermania is a celebration of those hectic days of hit songs, touring, TV shows and the behind-the-scenes pandemonium that followed the band everywhere they went. A transformed Les McKeown has come through the extreme highs and lows of life’s great road and he is here to tell us all about it. All the hits songs are there and audiences are promised a fantastic night of fun and nostalgia as they take a trip back to those innocent days of growing up to the sounds of The Bay City Rollers starring Les McKeown.

Tickets £19.50

Neil O’Brien Entertainments presents Ben Montague on Friday 26 September at 8pm

AFTER a very successful debut at Chequer Mead in October, Ben Montague returns to East Grinstead for another evening of amazing music. His second studio album Tales of Flying and Falling quickly became BBC Radio 2’s Album of the Week. 2014 is another exciting year for Ben, who, in addition to supporting Shane Filan on tour, will also be releasing his next single.

Tickets £10.

VANDALS have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the baby changing-unit in the Kings Street public toilets.

The metal table, which folds down from the wall, has been badly bent and is now too dangerous to use as a child resting on it could slip to the floor.

Commenting on a photograph of the damaged unit which is made of 4mm steel, the manufacturers said it would have required several people sitting on it to bend it out of shape.

It is too damaged to be repaired and will cost the town’s residents well over £700 in Council Tax to be replaced.

Cllr Peter Wyan said: “It is an instance of mindless vandalism which is going to greatly inconvenience a lot of parents trying to care for their babies as well as costing a considerable amount of money to repair damages. Clearly the culprits have no regard for the problems they have caused but I would ask the sensible residents of the town to look out for this sort of stupidity and report it to the Police.”

Below: Before and after pics of the unit

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges’s family took advantage of a holiday in the New Forest to make Nick take the infamous ice bucket challenge.

Nick – seen for once without his chain of office – took his dunking in good part, and has now nominated Deputy Mayor Cllr Dick Sweatman to take the same icy shower.

The stunt, which originated in the USA, is to raise funds for, and awareness of, Motor Neurone Disease or ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) as it is known in America.