Category: News

DEPUTY Town Mayor Liz Bennett was among the crowds of railway fans who took a trip over the Hill Place viaduct as part of the Bluebell Railway’s two day fundraiser in April.

The Open Days took train enthusiasts over the viaduct to Imberhorne North on 4VEP unit number 3417 ‘Gordon Pettit’, hauled by a Class 73 electro diesel locomotive.

The event was the last chance to ride the East Grinstead extension line before the engineering works ramp up towards next year’s re-opening of the fully extended line.

But with hundreds of thousands still needed to pay for the extension, the Bluebell Railway is asking everyone to contribute A Fiver for the Finish.

Liz, who handed her fiver over in return for a certificate, said: “The arrival of the Bluebell Railway into East Grinstead will be an historic event in the story of our town, and one which will bring visitors and prosperity to local businesses.

“The Town Council has give its whole-hearted support to the project and I encourage everyone to donate a Fiver for the Finish to see the extension line completed on schedule.”

* To contribute to the final fundraiser visit the Bluebell’s website and donate online.

Life!  Until 2 May: Movement on Canvas by Nickie Todd

Enjoy a lively exhibition of work featuring exotic birds, Cornish seascapes, portraits and figures.  The artist’s unique perspective using a variety of media brings a canvas to life.

The Indigo Group – Thursday 10 May to Wednesday 16 May

THIS is a new venue for a small group of local artists who are getting together to showcase their varied and exciting work. Veronica Double, Audrey Head and Ann Woodhouse will be exhibiting their textiles, watercolours and paintings on silk.

We are Example – Friday 18 May to Wednesday 30 May

Example is a group of contemporary artists who live in and around East Grinstead. Experience their experimental and traditional printmaking, evocative gestural painting, unsettling textiles and drawings in stitch.

THE East Grinstead Swimming Club will be celebrating its centenary by swimming 100 miles this month – in the High Street.

Swimmers and their families are being invited to take part in the Big Swim which will take place in an Aquatrainer pool donated for the event by Hyropool in Felbridge.

The pool will be placed on the paved area outside Broadley Brothers and the Casablanca cafe and swimmers will take it in turns to swim a non-stop 100 miles over two nights starting at 4pm on Friday 25 May and finishing on Sunday 27 May.

To support the event 100 local businesses are being asked to take an advert on the scrolling screen which will form a backdrop to the unique challenge.

For more details contact Paul Crowther on paul@planespeaking.wanadoo.co.uk

A guided walk around the East Court Estate with EGTC head gardener Jenny, following by questions and tea on the Rolley Terrace.

Sunday 27 May 2012, 10am to 12pm.

£5 – all proceeds to Mayor’s charity. Booking essential as numbers are limited.

Call 01342 323636 or email towncouncil@eastgrinstead.gov.uk

WEST Sussex County Council has put back its deadline for East Grinstead residents to comment on its revised proposals for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in areas of the town.

The move comes after residents felt parts of the scheme needed reviewing or extending. In particular, residents of Crossways Avenue, Parkside and Hurst Farm Avenue were concerned that vehicles would be dispersed into their roads if the proposals were implemented as they stood.

As a result Mid Sussex has decided that its proposals for Brooklands Way, Copyhold Road, Garden Wood Road, Hurst Farm Road, West Hill, Campbell Crescent, Crossways Avenue, Garden Wood Road, Turners Hill Road, Blount Avenue, Crossways Avenue, Parkside and Fairfield Road should be formally re-advertised.

A CPZ is an area of streets where parking is controlled through the day. Residents, local businesses and their visitors are given priority to park by purchasing permits or vouchers. This can also improve road safety, reduce congestion and prevent obstructions to private driveways by removing indiscriminate parking.

Christine Field, Chairman of North Mid Sussex County Local Committee, said: “We have listened to the comments received from residents in these roads and have put forward revised proposals which we hope will help improve the parking situation.

“We want to reduce congestion and access difficulties, and free the roads up from all-day parking by commuters and shoppers to improve traffic flow.”

Site notices have now been placed in each of the roads affected, and plans of the revised proposals are available at East Grinstead library and East Grinstead Town Council.

They can also be  viewed on the Traffic Regulation Order pages of the County Council’s website.

The new closing date for comments will be May 3, to allow time for councillors to collate and study the results ahead of the next County Local Committee meeting on June 14.

THE Bluebell Railway is on track for an Easter opening next year.

The clearing of the old Imberhorne Cutting, which was used as a domestic waste tip, is virtually finished, and the 50^th Anniversary Appeal is now concentrating on raising another £800,000 to complete the extension of the track into East Grinstead’s mainline station.

Artist’s impression of how the new Bluebell station will look when it opens next year.

Hanging Together VIII

Friday 23 March to Wednesday 4th April: An Exhibition by 6 Textile Artists

Special challenge Openings and theme Green Shoots

Meet the Artist Saturday, 31 March, 11am to 3pm.

Open Monday – Saturday 10am to 4.30pm.

Life!

Friday 27 April to Wednesday 2 May

Movement on Canvas by Nickie Todd. Enjoy a lively exhibition of work featuring exotic birds, Cornish seascapes, portraits and figures.

For more details see the theatre website at www.chequermead.org.uk or ring the theatre Box Office on 01342 302000

Ariel Young Actors presents Oliver! On Saturday 14 April at 2:30pm and 6:30pm.

ARIEL Young Actors returns with Lionel Bart’s Oliver!

As a follow-up to their successes with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Charlie and the Chocolate Factorythese talented young performera will leave ther audiences wanting ‘more’ – so book early to avoid disappointment.

This is a youth production.

ConChord Big Band presents Swing for Spring on Sunday 15 April at 7:30pm.

THE hugely popular  ConChord Big Band is back at Chequer Mead for a night of Swing and Big Band favourites.

Chequer Mead Lunchtime Concert Series presents pianist Maureen Galea on Tuesday 17 April at 1:30am.

MALTESE pianist Maureen Galea has performed in innumerable concerts as a soloist, in chamber groups and as an accompanist in Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy and Malta, and has been a prize-winner at several competitions. Her appearances include Dorking Halls, the Purcell Room, St Martin-in-the-fields and the Guildford International Music Festival.

Cuisine Studio presents Jazz Cafe with The Sussex Jazz Kings on Thursday 19 April at 7pm.

RELAX and enjoy the best of live Jazz Café combined with the finest bistro menus. Open from 7pm. Entry £5. Please reserve a table for a meal by calling Mandy, Roger or Paul 01342 324860 in advance only.

No Jacket Required presents The Phil Collins Tribute on Friday 20 April at 7:45pm.

No Jacket Required the UK’s only 11-piece Phil Collins tribute band, bring their spectacular show back to Chequer Mead. The line-up is exactly the same as Phil’s live shows, with a full brass section, percussion and backing vocalists.

Vienna Festival Ballet presents Swan Lake on Thursday 26 April at 5pm and 8pm.

SWAN Lake is one of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet.

Lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars and Tchaikovsky’s glorious music make this a night not to be missed.

IF you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Chequer Mead theatre, their website now provides a unique insight into the effort which made last Christmas’s panto happen.

The Company of Friends’ production of Snow White needed a crew of five, including the theatre’s in-house technical department, who took more than four days to build the set, rig the lighting, put in the sound and get everything ready for the first performance on 17 December.

But thanks to time-lapse video audiences can now see the team at work making the magic happen in less than four minutes on the theatre website: www.chequermead.org.uk