TOWN Mayor Margaret Belsey was among the hundreds of people who enjoyed the traditional London Road festivities in the run-up to Christmas. Margaret is pictured below with the Lion’s Club mascot outside Santa’s grotto.
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Category: News
Park free for shopping and High Street Christmas tree
CAROLLERS and Christmas shoppers will be able to park free in East Grinstead from 1pm on Saturday 7 December.
Mid Sussex District Council offered the seasonal incentive which the Town Council decided to apply on the afternoon that Town Mayor Margaret Belsey will perform the official ‘lighting up’ ceremony for the Rotary Club’s Christmas tree in the High Street.
Cottage hospitals at town museum
THE town museum in Cantelupe Road will be hosting its latest exhibition 150 years of cottage hospitals in East Grinstead until January 2014.
Entry to the museum is free.
Town Mayor’s Bazaar
THE Town Mayor’s Christmas Bazaar is taking place on Saturday 7 December at the Meridian Hall, East Court from 10am to 4pm.
There will be choirs including St Mary’s primary school choir, Father Christmas, a tombola, refreshments, gifts to buy and more.
Come and support your local charities.
Check out Chequer Mead
Chequer Mead Lunchtime Concert Series presents the Forest Row Lifeboat Choir – Tuesday 3 December at 1pm
THE Forest Row Lifeboat Choir was formed in 1946 after the loss of the Rye Harbour Lifeboat Mary Stanford and her 17 crew in 1928.
The brother of a crew member lived in Forest Row, met the village postman and moved by the disaster, they formed the choir to sing carols to raise funds for the RNLI which they continue to do so to this day.
Sarah Benton Vocals presents Sing Out At Christmas – Wednesday 4 December at 7pm
SARAH Benton brings her hugely successful Sing Out show back to Chequer Mead, just in time for Christmas.
All profits will be going to the Queen Victoria Hospital charitable fund celebrating their 150 year anniversary. This is a youth production.
Desperado presents Eagles Greatest Hits – The Singles on Friday 6 December at 7.30pm
DESPERADO pay homage to a musical phenomenon by faithfully recreating everyone’s favourite Eagles songs in their latest UK tour.
The Supersonic 70s Show presents Christmas CrackerZ on Saturday 7 December at 7.45pm
THIS incredible live band featuring the West End vocals of Janey Bombshell and Mark Keen will take you on a journey of seventies hits from Queen and the ELO, through the The Osmonds, David Essex and David Cassidy, the Glam Rock of Sweet, Mud and T Rex, to the classic sounds of The Carpenters, Saturday Night Fever and Grease…
Ariel Choir and Guests – Sunday December at 7.30pm
ARIEL Choir is part of Ariel Company Theatre.
Following their appearance with Peter Andre at the O2 and the Brighton Centre, the Choir will perform both rock and pop classics.
They will be joined by the Ariel Musicality Choir and the Ariel Tempest’s finalist of the BBC Sports Relief Does Glee.
The Philippines Super Typhoon Haiyan Appeal presents Flame Of Hope – Monday 9 December at 7.30pm
IN light of the typhoon tragedy in the Philippines and with East Grinstead’s strong links through our Filipino community in town, we have organised a benefit concert at Chequer Mead on Monday 9 December, with all proceeds going to the Philippines Super Typhoon Haiyan Appeal.
Performers will include the amazingly talented Chris Andre, the ultimate 2 tone experience The Skatonics, fresh from X Factor Andrea Magee, the stunning cellist Lizzie May, swingster Stephen Dunnett, the stunning vocals of Kyla and Nat, and a selection from the musicals by The Bullfrog Youth Theatre.
Crockham Hill School presents Christmas Show – Wednesday 11 December at 7.30pm
CROCKHAM Hill School present their seasonal special. This is a youth production.
The Band of the Life Guards presents A Winter Concert – Thursday 12 December at 7.30pm in aid of SSAFA (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association)
CHEQUER Mead is delighted and honoured to have a return visit of The Band of The Life Guards who will perform a variety of music at this very popular annual concert.
Book early to avoid disappointment and support this very worthy cause giving essential assistance to our Armed Forces (both past and present) and their families
Company of Friends presents Jack and the Beanstalk from Friday 20 December to Monday 30 December
SEE story here for times and ticket prices.
Inaugural Sir Patrick Moore Award and Dedication of Observatory
THE first presentation of the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy award was made to Cameron Gray, at an award winners night held at Sackville school on 20 November.
Following the awards ceremony, a bench was unveiled to be placed in front of the school’s observatory dedicating the building “To the inspiration of Sir Patrick Moore, East Grinstead Stargazer”.
Sackville’s observatory was completed in 2012, shortly before Sir Patrick’s death, after which the Town Council approached the school to ask if they might like to dedicate it to the former resident’s memory.
The school had the idea for an annual award to recognise a student who makes the biggest contribution to Astronomy, not just the top grade. The Town Council readily offered to pay for the award and to make an annual prize of a voucher to the Telescope Shop in Lingfield.
The award is a piece of meteorite mounted on a wooden plinth with a reflective base (pictured below).
Town Clerk Julie Holden said: “I hope that this would have been thought of as fitting by Sir Patrick, and an encouragement for the next generation to create a passion for studying the stars.”
Panto tickets now ‘limited’
IT’S make-your-mind-up-time for anyone planning to see Jack and the Beanstalk at Chequer Mead this year, with many performances now close to sell-out
So to avoid disappointment check out times and ticket prices below:
- Friday 20 December at 5.30pm
- Saturday 21 December at 1.30pm (limited availability)
- Saturday 21 December at 5.30pm
- Sunday 22 December at 1.30pm (limited availability)
- Sunday 22 December at 5.30pm
- Monday 23 December at 1.30pm
- Monday 23 December at 5.30pm
- Tuesday 24 December at 11am (limited availability)
- Tuesday 24 December at 3pm (limited availability)
- Friday 27 December at 1.30pm (limited availability)
- Friday 27 December at 5.30pm
- Saturday 28 December at 1.30pm
- Saturday 28 December at 5.30pm
- Sunday 29 December at 1.30pm
- Sunday 29 December at 5.30pm
- Monday 30 December at 3pm
Tickets: £15
Pensioners: £13.50
Wheelchairs: £13.50
Chequer Mead Friends: £13.50
Children: £13.50
Students: £13.50
Family Ticket: £54.00 (two adults, two children)
For more information call the Box Office on 01342 302000.
A pound to park
SHOPPERS using the Norton Road and Vicarage car parks in East Grinstead on the 7, 14 and 21 December (Saturdays) will be able to leave their cars all day for just £1.
The £1 charge will also apply on the same dates to parking in Queens Crescent and Station Road in Burgess Hill, and to Franklynn Road in Haywards Heath.
Christmas travel reminder
THREE ‘significant’ upgrades scheduled to take place on the main railway line from East Grinstead into Victoria over the Christmas and New Year will mean changes to the usual timetable.
The infrastructure improvements include:
- a new platform and associated track and signalling work at Gatwick Airport which will provide greater flexibility for train services calling at the station from February 2014
- a major junction replacement between Redhill and Purley which will remove the need for speed restrictions and increase the railway’s reliability
- the completion of work to new signalling between London Victoria and Battersea
During the period that the work is being carried out Southern will run a revised service, and Gatwick Express services will not run from 25 Dec to 1 Jan. More information on these service revisions can be seen at www.southernrailway.com/
One option for passengers will be to travel to and from London via East Grinstead on a direct train.
Frequent rail replacement buses will run between East Grinstead station and Gatwick Airport or Three Bridges, with trains to/from stations further south. East Grinstead station will therefore be a hub for passengers changing at the station for their onward travel.
Going on in the Gallery
East Grinstead Camera Club – Thursday 5 December to Wednesday 11 December:
EAST Grinstead Camera Club’s exhibition of prints and projected images is testament to the diverse range of background, ability and the imagination of its members in producing photographic images. The equipment used ranges from Smart phones and compact cameras to SLRs. The club has been very successful over the last few years, winning competitions within both the Sussex and Surrey Photographic Federations. They have also represented Surrey Photographic Association at the PAGB national competitions. The Club meets weekly from September to May each year. New members of all levels are always welcome. Admission free.
Moths and More – until Wednesday 11 December:
ARTISTS Alex Duncan, Jackie O’Malley, Brenda Parsons, Emma Vining and Jane Whit from Moths and More, bring a sumptuous mix of creative textiles, paper cuts, jewellery and ceramics to The Greenstede Gallery at Chequer Mead in time for Christmas shopping. Admission free.