Category: News

East Grinstead Town Council last night set its budget and precept for the 2013/14 year.  The precept is set to rise by 2% to £67.02 per year per band D property. The annual rise ranges from 66p for a Band A to £2.64 for a Band H property, The annual Band D rise is £1.32.

Council Leader Norman Webster said: “In the challenging financial times that we find ourselves in, we have managed to make a number of efficiencies, whilst trying to maintain and indeed improve the services we provide for the town. We are aware of the national picture and proceed with the methodology of a minimal increase in precept to avoid large rises being necessary at a later time where the budget is out of step with real costs, which is the danger of a freeze.

The Town Council services include: civic planting, street furnishings, town promotions and concessionary bus and rail fares.   The Council also gives financial support to business initiatives and many local community organizations, as the national picture contracts, support to the local community is essential through small grants.”

Capital projects will include renovations at East Court and Meridian Hall and a new platform for performances of entertainment at East Court through the summer.

The total East Grinstead Town Council band D council tax, equates to £1.28 per week, comparing favourably with other consumer costs such as 1litre of petrol at £1.36 or a loaf of bread at £1.35.

For more details about any of the shows at Chequer Mead see the website at www.chequermead.org.uk or contact the box office on 01342 302000

X-treme Beatz Dance Academy presents Streetbeatz 4 on Saturday 2 February at 7pm.

AN urban and street dance show presented by a local street and breakdance school.

This is a youth production.

Kean Productions presents In Extremis by Neil Bartlett on Wednesday 6 February at 7.30pm

ON the night of the 24 March 1895, Mrs Robinson, a society palm reader, agreed to see Oscar Wilde in her London flat, as portrayed in this diverting two-hander.

Ardingly Prep School presents Bugsy Malone on Friday 8 February and Saturday 9 February

ARDINGLY College Prep school’s year 7 and 8 pupils present the classic family musical.

This is a youth production.

Sussex Youth Ballet presents A Cautionary Tale on Sunday 10 February at 4pm and 7.30pm

A Cautionary Tale tells of two sisters whose kind hearts and forgiving natures are tested by a mischievous and ungrateful little elf who pushes their loyalty a little too far.

This is a youth production.

Bullfrog Productions presents Seussical the Musical on Saturday 16 February at 2pm and 6pm

ENTER the enchanting world created from the stories of Dr. Seuss’s favourite characters including The Cat in the Hat,Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and The Grinch. This charming family musical features JoJo, a young boy and ‘thinker of great thinks’ who brings the story together.

This is a youth production.

Cuisine Studio presents Jazz Café on Wednesday 20 February at 7pm

ENJOY the best of live Jazz with the Institute Jazz Band combined with bistro menus at Cuisine Studio’s regular Jazz Café evenings.

The Blues Band on Friday 22 February at 7.30pm with Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.

IN their thirty-fourth year The Blues Band brings their new album Few Short Lines to Chequer Mead for an evening of classic and original Rhythm and Blues.

Magic Show Saturday 23 February at 11am

A Magic Show by Brekk Samey in aid of Wesley High School, Sri Lanka. During the interval balloon models and magic trick sets will be available for children at £2.

Classical Indian Dancing

Saturday 23 February at 3pm and 6pm

Classical Indian Dancing in aid of Wesley High School, Sri Lanka.

Imberhorne School presents an Evening of Dance on Wednesday 27 February and Thursday 28 February

IMBERHORNE School presents An Evening of Dance celebrating talented dancers throughout the school. The show includes a collection of choreographies produced by GCSE dance students as well as dances performed by Lower and Upper School dance clubs.

This is a youth production.

THERE is still time to catch the latest exhibition at the town museum in Cantelupe Road.

The ‘in house’ exhibition explains how the museum’s collections are managed, the sort of items that would be welcomed as donations, and how unwanted items are disposed of.

For a fascinating insight into what makes a museum, go along until 3 February. Entry, as always, is FREE.

EAST Grinstead’s Hockey Team has triumphed over Reading in the men’s final of the Maxifuel Super Sixes competition.

An attacking match in front of a 6,000 strong crowd saw East Grinstead take a record-equalling fifth consecutive title with a 7-1 win over their Reading opponents.

East Grinstead captain Glenn Kirkham opened the scoring for his side, but  celebrations were short-lived as Stephen Dick levelled things up for Reading seconds later to make it 1-1.

Reading’s Richard Mantell got a yellow card after 11 minutes which meant a three-minute stint in the sin bin, leaving East Grinstead to capitalise on their man-advantage when Kirkham scored his second goal of the match to give the defending champions a 2-1 lead.

German international Hendrik Geyer expertly netted to put his side 3-1 up, and  despite a time-out called by Reading with three minutes of the half remaining, they were unable to stop Grinstead’s winning streak.

Richard Smith slotted home powerfully making the score 4-1, and then followed up with Grinstead’s fifth goal less than two minutes into the second half.

Teammate Mark Pearn finished off a cracking move by East Grinstead to score what could easily be voted ‘goal of the finals’ for a 6-1 lead.

Adam Jordan was shown a green card, but despite being a man down, East Grinstead continued to maintain their command of the game when Pearn scored an unassailable seventh goal to clinch the title.

Speaking after their win, East Grinstead captain Glenn Kirkham said, “It’s always nice to get personal accolades but, more importantly, it was a great win for the team and everyone performed. It might be a cliché, but we took our chances, we played well and dug in deep to come out on top.”

Kirkham who was named player of the match added: “The crowd was fantastic. We have a great East Grinstead following who were here today in good voice which was a massive boost.

“And of course it’s nice to have a personal fan base and get my name on the score sheet, too.

“We have a good calibre of players who feature in and around the Great Britain and England setup which gives us the experience and ability to win big games like this.”

“And it’s a massive achievement to win five titles on the bounce.”

MUSEUM staff and volunteers welcome visits by community groups or organisations including schools, and can accommodate them outside normal opening hours. Younger groups can be offered a museum quiz and other fun things to do, and the visit can also be linked to the National Curriculum.

To arrange a visit, please email the museum info@eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01342 302233.

A TEAM of Arsenal legends is coming to East Grinstead in March to raise money for local charities and celebrate Bob Smith’s 25 years with the town’s football club.

Since joining the Wasps in 1988 Bob has turned out more than 400 times for the team – and broken his leg twice.

​As first-team manager he led Grinstead back into Division One of the Sussex County League in 2002, and the following year the club won their first major honour for nearly 50 years when they lifted the RUR Charity Cup.

In addition to the former Gunners players, it is hoped the charity team will also include familiar names such as EastEnders’ actors Joe Swash and Joe Attwater, Royle Family star Ralf Little and former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley.

Smith, who is a lifelong Arsenal fan, currently plays for and manages East Grinstead’s third team but says he will be pulling on his boots again to play for the Wasps and, if they agree, the Gunners.

“I am very grateful to the club for allowing me to stage the game and, of course, to the Arsenal legends for coming down to support lots of worthy causes.

“We hope it will be a fun day out for all the family and I’m sure they will see a great game of football.”

The game takes place at the GAC Stadium at East Court on Sunday, March 24.

Kick-off is 2pm and all the proceeds will go to charity, with 30 per cent donated to the Arsenal Foundation and the rest being distributed by East Grinstead Lions to local charities.

Admission is £6 for adults and £3 for children and there will be plenty of other attractions for all the family.

* If you would like to sponsor the game or for information about mascot packages, contact Bob on 07709 154350.

CHEQUER Mead Community Arts Centre has embarked on its seat refurbishment scheme for 2013 by holding a Grand Prize Draw.

Tickets are only £1 each and the great prizes on offer include an iPad2, a Fender Dick Dale Malibu Guitar, and a spa day.

Prizes have been donated by East Grinstead businesses including The Caravan Club, Fender, the Ashdown Park Hotel and Bullfrog Music, who are all keen to support their local theatre.

Centre Manager Nick Byrne was thrilled that Chequer Mead celebrated both its one-millionth visitor before Christmas, and its 15^th birthday.

But he is the first to admit that time has taken its toll on theatre’s fittings over the past decade-and-a-half

“We’ve seen an awful lot of bottoms on a great many seats over the past 15 years, so the time has come to look at replacing them, and the worn carpet,” he said.

Tickets are available from the Chequer Mead box office, Bullfrog Music and from The Caravan Club, and the draw will take place on 23 February.

 * For more information contact Chequer Mead 01342 302000

EAST Grinstead is one of over 500 UK towns to have joined Fairtrade, an international movement to reduce poverty in developing countries.

Two billion people in the world live on less than £1 a day but Fairtrade enables local communities to help global communities by promoting justice in the international market place.

East Grinstead’s schools, shops, churches and other community groups involved in the project would like everyone to try the wide range of Fairtrade products which are available locally and include tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, bananas, wine and flowers.

Find out more during Fairtrade Fortnight from 25 February-10 March or see the web site at www.fairtrade.org.uk

THERE are no exhibitions scheduled at Chequer Mead’s Gallery for February.