Down by the River – Monday 13 August
Make a collage and play games, all with a fish and frog theme.
Knights and Princesses – Tuesday 28 August
Part of East Grinstead’s Local Heritage Week. Come and make shields, swords, and hats.
There will be a prize for every child who comes in costume.
TOWN Tourist officer Simon Kerr dressed up as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland to take part in the first-ever Hartfield Storyfest.
“I spend my working life in the library, I am a great supporter of children’s literature, and it was great fun to get out and see young readers and their parents having fun with books,” he said.
THE new manager for Chequer Mead is Nick Byrne.
Nick, who was born and bred in Devon and describes himself as ‘a lover of live entertainment’ since childhood, replaces former manager Hannah Kester.
His past experience includes a spell with the RAF and ‘extensive work’ within the hospitality industry.
Most recently Nick has been responsible for the programming and management of a small council-run arts centre called The Watermark, in Ivybridge, Devon.
During his four years in post Nick’s guidance has made the The Watermark one of the leading venues for touring musicians and local theatre groups in the county.
And it was his love of ‘putting on a show’, and its reputation as a successful community venue, which led him to Chequer Mead.
‘I am looking forward to continuing the excellent work done by Hannah and developing the venue as the heart of East Grinstead’s art community,’ he said.
‘Along with my young family I am also looking forward to working and living in East Grinstead – its excellent reputation as a fantastic place to live and bring up children has been one of the key factors for my decision to move “up north”!’
Barratt Homes have advised the Town Council that works at the back of Holtye Road, for the new development, are moving in to the road construction phase.
The new entrance being constructed as part of the planning conditions will start on 9th July and are scheduled to take 3 weeks. The developers are restricted in the hours of operation and therefore the 3 weeks cannot be reduced. Temporary traffic lights will be implemented for the duration of the works.
Residents are being maildropped notices through their letterboxes to explain the process and give the contact details for Barratt Homes should there be any enquiries
The parade of the band of the Grenadier Guards will start at King Street at 10.30am and proceed along London Road to the High Street and continue to East Court via College Lane.
As the Band passes the war memorial in the High Street the Salute will be taken by: Mrs Margaret Collins, Deputy Lieutenant for West Sussex; Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, East Grinstead Town Mayor; Col Peter Gilbert RAMC; The Hon Nicholas Soames MP and Squadron Leader Graeme Stagg RAF (Ret’d).
The reception party will then follow the band to East Court in a WW2 Staff Car. The parade watchers are asked to keep the road clear and if they choose to follow the parade, they walk along the pavements to East Court for their safety.
The celebration at East Court will include a brief act of remembrance at the war memorial at 11.00am and then after a Fanfare of Trumpets to open the event in the Meridian Hall, followed by some short addresses from the VIPs. The Grenadiers Guards will then play a half hour musical programme on the lower terrace in front of Meridian Hall until 1215. Around 12.20 the Halsford Park School choir will sing followed by the awards of the veteran’s badges and then refreshments will be served around 1pm. As larger numbers than normal are expected, the public are asked to please leave the seating and buffet in the Meridian Hall to the Veterans and the Invited Guests, a second buffet for the public will be laid out in the Cranston Suite (entered via the terrace) after 1pm.
The Roads will be closed between 10.00am and 11.30am to allow the parade to pass once the parade is safely on to the East Court Estate the roads will be reopened but this should not be expected before 11.30am.
The road closure is for:
| Kings Street (Christopher Road to London Road) | College Lane (High Street to Blackwell Hollow) |
| London Road (Kings Street to High Street) | Blackwell Hollow (College Lane to Holtye Road) |
| High Street (London Road to College Lane) |
There will be no access on to these roads during the road closure and while parts of the route may only be closed for 10-15 minutes motorists and residents are asked to be patient and take advice from the stewards. The presence of the Guards is a great honour for the town and underlines the importance of remembering all past and present serving personnel on Armed Forces Day.
East Court has limited parking and while the event organisers have asked that the estate be left open, there will be restricted car parking for invited guests and disabled. If the general public could walk or park in the town centre car parks this would be appreciated.
TOWN Mayor Liz Bennett – and a giant Blue Bear – were guests of honour at a Teddy Bear’s Jubilee Picnic at East Court to mark the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
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SUBJECT to funding being available, East Grinstead Town Council is committed to providing assistance and support to local community groups which are set up to promote community life for East Grinstead residents. The Council’s financial support is provided by way of Grants which are decided against criteria set by, and which can be amended from time to time by, East Grinstead Town Council.
In order for the Town Council to be able to rationally and objectively assess applications, many of which will inevitably be totally dissimilar in content, it is both necessary and helpful to assess all applications received against a range of criteria. These are designed to be a general indication of need but are not exclusive and can be flexibly applied.
When considering Grants the Town Council will take into account the following guidelines.
More information and the application can be found here . Hard copies of applications can be obtained from and returned to the East Court Offices.
If you are uncertain about any of the questions on the form, please contact the Town Council on 01342 323636. Applications must be received by 10 September and applicants will be contacted by 14 October with the Council’s decision.
THE East Court Diamond Jubilee celebrations culminated in a torchlit procession by members of the Air Training Corps, Army Cadets and the Nautical Training Corps.
Each unit carried four torches through the darkened East Court estate, and Cadet Flt Sgt Simon Petitt presented his to Town Mayor Liz Bennett who lit the taper for the Jubilee beacon, with a little help from the town Fire Brigade.
Flt Lt Nigel Foster said: “The cadets were all extremely proud to be involved in the parade. It was a unique part of the celebrations and watching the torches move slowly through the trees down the drive at East Court gave a real sense of occasion. The young people who took part now have a place in the town’s history.”
The procession was a reprise of that held on Coronation Eve, 1 June 1953, when there was a torchlit procession from the High Street to East Court where a bonfire beacon was also lit in celebration.
Following the beacon lighting, the estimated 5000-strong crowd watched a 12.5 minute firework display while listening to Sing (the Commonwealth Jubilee song), I vow to Thee my Country, Jerusalem and the National Anthem.
THE downpours which rained steadily on the Queen’s parade over the four day Jubilee weekend didn’t put a dampener on the town’s determination to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne.
Heavy overnight rain may have put paid to picnics in the park on Jubilee Sunday, but there was a good turn out for the town’s procession of floats which made its way from Railway Approach to East Court.
And what is more, the estimated 6,000-strong crowd which then followed them to the estate surprised tourist officer Simon Kerr.
“Given the weather we thought people would just watch them go by, but a great many then followed the procession up to East Court afterwards.”
And once there business was brisk, despite the drizzle, with stalls for community groups, hot food, a bar and a fun fair for those determined to make the best of the historic day.
Monday afternoon saw the winners of the Town Council’s Jubilee Literary competition awarded their prizes.
The East Grinstead Soroptimists had sponsored the under-eights poetry competition, Hollywood’s Neil Gaiman had donated the 13-18s short story prize, and children’s author Geraldine Durrant, who also does the Town Council’s PR, had given signed copies of her latest book for the smallest winners (see full details of winners under Events).
Their winning entries will be recorded for broadcast by Meridian FM and copies put into a book which will be sent to Buckingham Palace.
But the real surprise was on Monday evening, said Simon, when the largest crowd he has ever seen at East Court assembled for the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon and firework display.
“East Court was absolutely rammed,” he said. “I have never seen so many people there at one time.
“The fireworks were absolutely magnificent, and incredibly noisy, and at the end everyone applauded and burst into a spontaneous chorus of God Save the Queen.
“It really was a night to remember.”
Simon also paid tribute to the Council staff who had spent months planning the weekend’s celebrations, and who worked all over the extended bank holiday to carry them out.
“It not only went off without a hitch, but by Tuesday morning East Court had been restored to its usual award-winning state, with nothing but a bit of squashed grass to show for a wonderful weekend which we will all remember for a very long time,” he said.
*Anyone who missed the East Court Jubilee Fireworks can see them on YouTube
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A huge thank you to all of the organisations and individuals that made the Jubilee celebrations so spectacular. From the people who took their dogs walking at East Court earlier than usual to clear the car park to those who walked and played and danced in the parade, to those who simply came along and had a great time. Thank you so much for all your support.