Category: News

TIME appears to be standing still in East Grinstead where one face of the Town Clock is missing its hands.

But it’s just a temporary problem, and everything will soon be tickety-boo, said a spokesman for the Town Council.

‘At present one set of hands is disconnected from the clock, the other side is functioning as per normal.

‘The problem is a mechanical one which has been diagnosed by our contractors and we have placed an order that will enable us to replace the faulty part.

‘Sadly we have had to source this part from Europe as there is no longer a UK supplier who provides these very specialised items. But of course, this being August, it means our supplier has shut down for the summer holidays and we are going to have to wait until next month before delivery.’

CHEQUER Mead will be hosting its annual Friends Quiz Night on 9 September. Teams of six,or just go along and they will make up numbers on the night. £5 a head and a cash prize for the winners.

ERIC Pickles and the band of the Royal Logistic Corps will attend next Saturday’s unveiling of the Sidney Godley memorial slab by the High Street War Memorial.

The Army band will leave the King Street car park at 10.45am and march up the London Road to the High Street followed by a TA unit and the town’s Army, Air Force and Navy cadets. After they have assembled in the High Street the unveiling will take place followed by short speeches from Mr Pickles and Town Mayor Nick Hodges.

The army band will then play for about 20 minutes before marching back to King’s Street car park from where they will depart.

Town Clerk Julie Holden has stressed that there will be no events taking place at East Court in connection with the unveiling.

The road will then be reopened and the East Grinstead Concert Band will play in 20 minute sessions until around 2.30pm to entertain the town centre crowds.

Guests at the ceremony – who will include members of the Godley family – will be entertained afterwards at the Ex Servicemen’s club opposite the Fire Station.

The work of installing the slab will be generously undertaken by local builders B J Babb in the week before the unveiling.

ON Saturday 23 August Eric Pickles will unveil a plaque by the High Street War Memorial commemorating the 100th anniversary of the action for which Private Sidney Godley became the first private soldier to win Britain’s highest award For Valour.

Pte Godley, who was born in East Grinstead and already commemorated with a blue plaque at East Court, received the medal for his defence of the Nimy Bridge at Mons on 23 August, 1914.

His battalion, the 4th Royal Fusiliers, was one of the first to be sent to the Western Front following the outbreak of war in August 1914.

They arrived in Belgium on 22 August to defend two bridges over the canal at Nimy and prevent the Germans surrounding the British expeditionary forces.

During a German attack, Pte Godley was wounded by shrapnel in his back, and a bullet which lodged in his skull but despite his wounds, he took over a machine-gun from his fatally-wounded commanding officer and held the position single-handedly for two hours.

He was eventually captured by the Germans, and while imprisoned in Doberitz was told by the German officer in command that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Pte Godley, who remained a prisoner of war for four years, was invited to dine with the German officers one Christmas in recognition of his courage.

In 1918 he managed to escape and returned to England via Denmark, from where he sent a postcard to his family.

Unfortunately it did not arrive until the same day he did, and the first they knew of his safe return was when he bumped into his sister who was out shopping close to home.

In 1956 Pte Godley took part in celebrations marking the centenary of the institution of the Victoria Cross at Hyde Park in London. He died in hospital on 29 June 1957 and was buried with full military honours in Loughton Cemetery in Essex.

Since his death blue plaques have been placed at East Grinstead Town Council offices and 164 Torrington Drive, in Loughton, Essex, where he lived for some time.

In 1992 Tower Hamlets Council named a block of flats “Sidney Godley VC House” in honour of the former private soldier who had worked as a school caretaker in the borough.

The grounds of East Court were filled with townsfolk enjoying the recreation of an Edwardian Garden Party on a sunny Sunday in August. The East Grinstead Concert Band played throughout the day and many people joined in the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in the appropriate 1914 outfits. Traditional entertainment of other varieties was also available with archery, croquet and Punch and Judy as well as cream teas. The day commemorated what would have been the last day of peace before the outbreak of the First World War and reflected the great social changes to come with the emergence of the suffragettes and the Votes for Women movement.

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The free event was organised by the Town Council together with representatives of various voluntary groups and the sponsorship of Elaine McGloin Solicitors, The East Grinstead War Memorial Company and Mid Sussex District Council.

THE East Grinstead Concert Band – which also plays under the banner of the Bluebell Railway Band – is relaunching its website today at www.egcb.co.uk

The easy navigable design includes much more information about the band’s upcoming engagements, with pictures and video clips.

The website also has information for anyone interested in joining the band (new members are always welcome), booking them for a function, sponsoring them or making a financial donation to their funds.

The EGCB will be celebrating their 40th birthday this year with a trip to Ypres in October, to mark the centennial of the start of WWI.

They will play a series of concerts in Bruges and Ypres, culminating with a performance of the Last Post Ceremony at the world-famous Menin Gate.

The Last Post has been played there every night since the end of the War to remember the hundreds of thousands of men who marched out of the town to the Front and didn’t come back.

Photos: copyright East Grinstead Online

Talbot House – A Home From Home

Friday 1 August at 7:30pm

During the Great War, Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium, a few short miles behind the front line, became a haven for thousands of allied troops – a ‘home from home’ where they enjoyed some home comforts and remembered the men that they really were.

Run by a diminutive chaplain named Tubby Clayton the house became known by its army signaller’s code of Toc H and ultimately would be the inspiration for the Association with that name.

This play, written by Peter Gill, and aimed at a family audience, recreates the humour, music and wonderful atmosphere of this inspirational house.

Tickets: £12. Concessions: £10.

Ariel Drama Academies presents Alice in Wonderland

Saturday 9 August at 2:00pm and 6:00pm

Alice: “Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin; but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever say in my life!”

Tickets: £10.

Wow

Monday 11^th August at 2:30pm

Performed by Dr Bondini and Jezo, who are among the country’s foremost highly skilled and experienced magicians, this retro-modern show is a prodigious treat of the traditional and the contemporary. Dr Bondini is a master of spellbinding storytelling and illusion, whilst Jezo can’t fail to keep any audience enthralled with his quick jokes, quick tricks, quick wit and friendly boyish charm.

They blended their polar styles for the first time earlier this year and the PMB team have created a show jam-packed with big illusions, big surprises and big laughter.

Chequer Mead Silver Screen – Summer Nights: Sing-a-long Grease

Saturday 16 August at 7:30pm

Be part of the sing along screening of the classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a T-Bird or a Pink Lady but never quite felt cool enough to pull it off?

Well, now’s your chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening.

There’s also a free drink before the show for everyone who arrives in fancy dress!

Tickets: £5  Concessions: £4:  Family ticket: £15.

AFA Events present The Sooty Show

Wednesday 20^th August at 11am & 2:30pm

Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get Busy – It’s The Sooty Show! Sooty heads into town in a fabulous new show to delight the whole family. Joining the nation’s favourite bear will be Sweep, Soo and Sooty’s TV Partner Richard Cadell  – who will be attempting to keep Sooty from getting up to mischief!

It’s Sooty’s Birthday party and things aren’t going to plan. Sooty and Sweep get messy baking the cake and will Soo ever decide which dress to wear?

Special party guests include legendary Sooty favourites Butch the bulldog and Ramsbottom the snake.

There’s also a chance to meet Richard and Sooty after the show.

 “A real treat for the children and a dose of nostalgia for the parents” – The Stage

“Richard Cadell is as close to a Corbett as you will ever get- Sooty is on the right hands! ” Matthew Corbett

For more Sooty fun visit www.thesootyshow.com or watch Sooty every weekday on Citv.

Tickets: £12. Concessions: £10.  Family Ticket: £38.

Bullfrog Summer School present Beauty and the Beast

Saturday 23 August at 2pm and 6pm

Tale as old as time, true as it can be… Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr is coming to Chequer Mead as this year’s Summer Workshop, produced by Bullfrog Productions. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this beloved fairy tale has won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Suitable for all the family, don’t miss this charming show.

Tickets: £12. Concessions: £10.

Sid’s Deep Sea Discovery

Thursday 28 August at 2:30pm

A colourful set creates the scene for a voyage of discovery in a bubbly underwater world – with CBeebies Sid Sloane starring as the intrepid explorer Deep Sea Sid.

Encounter some weird, wonderful and fascinating sea creatures with fun songs, music, strange sounds and audience participation.

Tickets: £12. Concessions: £8.

CINESTOCK is back for August with the chance to see Iconic Open Air Movie Nights in East Grinstead

This summer there are two nights happening on August 16 (Saturday) and August the 24 (Bank holiday Sunday).

The concept is simple – take an iconic movie, take the great outdoors and combine the two for the makings of a great evening.

Bring a picnic, rugs and picnic chairs, sun loungers, inflatable chairs, and enjoy a movie sitting under the stars.

Onsite you will find:

• Licensed Bar
• Hot Dogs
• Fresh Popcorn
• Milk Shake Wagon
• Hot Doughnuts
• Candy Floss
• Hot Drinks – Tea/ Coffee/ Hot chocolate
• Toilets
• Free Parking
• Disabled Access

Bullfrog Music is arranging the event to raise money for the Peanut Ward (children’s ward) of the Queen Victoria Hospital.

Movies
Saturday 16 August – GOONIES
Sunday 24 August – Indiana Jones & The raiders of the lost ark.

Time:
6pm – 11pm
6:30pm – 8:15pm – Live music (both nights)
8:20pm – film starts

Venue:
Sackville School –
Lewes Rd, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3TY

Tickets:
ADVANCED TICKETS:
Adult price (16yrs+) – £8.
Children’s price (5yrs – 15yrs old) – £6.

ON THE DOOR TICKETS:
Adult price – £10
Child price – £7.50
(under 5s – FREE)

Tickets can be purchased on-line or from Bullfrog Music in East Grinstead (cash payment only).

Advance ticket sales will end at 17:00 hours on the day of each screening.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This event will be going ahead even if raining
We also cannot allow any glass on the fields, so please do not bring glass bottles with you, we will be able to decant these at the venue.

Free parking is offered, at owners risk.

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure they check the suitability of the film for their children, we go by the film classification awarded to the film by the BBFC.

The cross party town council surgery will take place on 9 August (second Saturday) between 10.30 – 12.00—do go along and speak to your councillors. It normally takes place on the first Saturday of every month in front of Market Square, but will be the second Saturday in August—just look for the Town Council gazebo.