Category: News

MAYOR John Saull, pictured with Deputy Mayor Liz Bennett, turned the first turf to mark the start of the project to renovate the town’s railway station. Work will begin immediately on the tracks and platforms, which will allow 12-car carriages into East Grinstead for the first time. The second phase of the project will see the station itself upgraded with a new retail area, ticket office, retail space and passenger toilets.

Mayor John Saull said: "The station is the first place many visitors see when they come to East Grinstead and the arrival of the Bluebell Railway into town next year will significantly increase tourist numbers.

"The new station will give a very welcome facelift to the area, and a boost to the local economy."

A stunning recent production of Les Mis set the bar high when it came to expectations for the Ariel Theatre Academy’s end-of-year show, but the talented youngsters who took part proved they were up for the challenge in a varied and well-thought-out programme of music, dance and drama.

The smaller members of the Academy certainly have the “aaaah!” factor, but they didn’t rely on cuteness to carry them through a series of well-executed dance routines.

And there were some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, when their comic timing belied their tender years in the Little Red Riding Hood sketch, which was enjoyed as much by the small actors themselves as it was by their appreciative audience.

Natalie Boyd gave a simply beautiful performance of Hallelujah, with lovely harmonies provided by Lauren Merry and Charlotte Kenward. While Beth Elliott’s heartbreakingly original rendition of Winner Takes It All wrung real pathos from the end of a love affair turned sour.

The Prospero team’s choice of a dramatic tribute to the victims of 9/11 should on paper have been a difficult one for children still of primary school age: but their youthful gravity and careful delivery brought a special poignancy and dignity to their words as they recalled the horrors of the terrorism attack on New York.

Other highlights of the evening included monologues by James Rowsell and Polly Beaumont, and Gabriel Rathbone’s sweet-voiced Who Will Buy? from Oliver!

And by the time the whole school joined in the Shake Your Tail Feather finale, there wasn’t a parent – or a grandparent – in the audience – who didn’t want to shake along.

THE Town Council is looking at ways in which the whole of East Grinstead can celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June next year. 

There are already plenty of ideas up for discussion including flower shows, gala dinners, concerts and fun fairs, with the broad intention of holding several days’ worth of activities around East Court over the proposed long Bank Holiday weekend with a real “something for everyone” community celebration.

A small working party of Councillors, supported by Council officers, has been set up and members are hoping to identify others within the community who would be willing to join this steering group through a public meeting.

Invitations have been sent to organisations within the town, but the Council is also extending a general public invitation to gauge interest, explore ideas, and co-opt people to the working party: and if raising funds is a goal to cover costs and support a charity, how these funds would be directed.

The meeting will be held in the Main Hall in East Court Mansion at 7pm on Thursday 4 August

Chairman of the Amenities and Tourism Committee Frank Osborne said: “This is intended to be ambitious, a real community event with all areas of the town contributing. Our first step is to hold the meeting to see who is prepared to step forward and help make the Jubilee celebrations something the town can really be proud of, as the whole nation celebrates.”

Sackville Community College Summer Exhibition – until 13 July:

A Level and GCSE students celebrate their studies with an exhibition of painting, sculpture and photography. Many of Sackvilles senior students will go on to work in the field of art, craft and design. Some of the paintings on display have previously been hung at the annual schools exhibition at the Mall Gallery in London.

The Goodies and Some Untold Kapers – 15 to 27 July:

This exhibition celebrates the 1970s hit comedy show The Goodies and features fan-art produced by Jenny Doyle, with tribute images from episodes and some new fan-fiction ideas.

(For full details of ticket prices and performance times, or to reserve tickets, contact the Box Office on 01342 302000.)

THE Saltmine Theatre Company presents The Pilgrim on 1 July, a modern dramatisation of John Bunyans classic tale of redemption. Follow Christian as he sets out on a dangerous adventure which will see him encounter friends, companions and enemies along his journey to the Heavenly City.

ARIEL Company presents Tina Turner – Tribute Act on 2 July with Claude Hopkins strutting her stuff as the Queen of Rock.

ARIEL will also be back on 4 July with their Drama Academy Showcase, when they will mark their 5th anniversary with an evening of song, drama and dance.

THE Eunice Walton School of Dance presents Balance at two performances on 9 July with a show which features a variety of dance styles from ballet to tap.

DORMANSLAND primary school presents Treasure Island on 14 July.

THE Meads School presents its own Summer Production on 15 July.

BULLFROG Productions return on 16 July with The Rhythm of Life as they celebrate the second year of their East Grinstead Youth Group at Chequer Mead.

Featuring a mix of magical musical theatre moments, hip hop, tap and contemporary classics, students from three to 20 combine their talents in dance, drama and singing into one stunning show.

CHEQUER Mead Lunchtime Concerts series presents The Ashgrove Duo on Tuesday 19 July at 1.30pm.
Julie Groves and Ashley Hards will be returning to Chequer Mead to give a flute and guitar recital with a repertoire which includes Latin dances and some classical favourites.

BLACKWELL primary school presents Hoodwinked on 20 July, a fun-filled musical performance of the traditional Robin Hood story.

CHOIRPOWER presents Feeling Groovy on 22 July, to showcase their extensive repertoire of pop, musical show stoppers, jazz and modern classics. Guest musical comedy duo Kennard & Marks round off the perfect summers evening.

JAZZ CAFE will be back on 27 July with an evening of live jazz combined with the chance to sample Cuisine Studios bistro menu. Table reservations in advance only by calling Mandy, Roger or Paul on 01342 324860.

THE West Street library will be holding a circus-themed reading challenge during the summer holidays in which children will be encouraged to read six books. They will be given rewards for each step of the challenge, culminating in a certificate and medal for those who finish six titles.

The scheme is aimed at 4-12 year-olds and is free to join.

Children can register for Circus Stars in the library from Saturday 16 July and will have until 10 September to complete their challenge.

After reading their first books children receive a hologram membership card and pull-out circus stage.

There are 3 sets of scratch and sniff stickers to collect, plus a bookmark, certificate and medal.

There will also be a variety of fun, circus-themed events taking place in libraries across the country throughout the summer holidays.

* For more information ask at the library in West Street.

EAST Grinstead’s Tourism Initiative will once again be organising the children’s competition EG4KIDZ.

This year’s scheme will run from 19 July and will challenge children to look around East Grinstead to find the answers to questions about the town.

Eentry forms will be available for collection from the Tourist Desk in the library, which for 2011 has the addition of a cut out and keep snow leopard mask.

All completed forms returned to the tourist desk will be entered into a free draw and the lucky winners will receive a prize.

THE Bluebell Railway’s new £2.8 million museum was opened by Lord Faulkner, the president of the Heritage Railway Association, at 11.30am on Thursday, 23 June.

The new visitor experience at Sheffield Park, which has been several years in the planning, has been funded by a grant from the National Lottery Fund.

Visitors entering via what was the old waiting room entrance on platform 2 will first see a display of the Bluebell Railway’s history showing how it has progressed from its inception in 1959 to become one of Britains leading heritage railways.

The story details the battles of the early pioneers who fought to save the line, and records the more recent challenge of raising funds to complete its extension into East Grinstead’s main line station.

Visitors can explore the history of the south east’s rail network using information panels and inter-active and audio-visual displays.

The museum will be open between 10.00 and 16.00 daily, whenever trains are running, which is usually from Easter till October, and at weekends throughout the winter.

For further information ring 01825 720800 or view the Bluebell’s website at www.bluebell-railway.co.uk.

COUNCIL leader Norman Webster and town clerk Julie Holden have visited the East Grinstead Sports Club to see the site of the club’s proposed new squash courts.

Work on the courts, which is being funded by the club with the help of grants from East Grinstead Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council, is due to start this autumn.

Cllr Webster is pictured, right, with Jeff Morris who conducted the tour of the club’s facilities.

MAYOR John Saull performed the official opening for the new exhibition at the town library in Cantelupe Road.

Running until the autumn, the exhibit tells the story of East Grinstead’s Art Deco past.

Entry to the museum is free.