Category: News

TOWN tourism officer Simon Kerr has made two recent broadcasts on BBC radios Surrey and Sussex to encourage donations to the Bluebell Railways 2 million appeal.

The railway preservation charity needs the cash to finish clearing the former domestic landfill site which is all that now stands between the present end of the line and its new extension into East Grinstead’s mainline railway station.

"The early completion of the extension project is of huge importance to East Grinstead", Simon told listeners.

"We have a major tourist attraction all packaged and ready to be delivered to our doorstep – if the Bluebell can raise the 2 million they need to finish clearing the track into town.

The arrival of the Bluebell will bring huge benefits to East Grinstead in the form of an estimated 55,000 extra visitors a year, with a projected boost of 1.1 million into the local economy."

TOWN Mayor John Saull was among the audiences who enjoyed a series of performances by the East Grinstead Group of Schools (EGGS) at Chequer Mead last month.

It was the second year that primary and secondary pupils from 16 schools in and around the town had combined their talents as part of a joint Creative Learning project to make education exciting, and to encourage cooperation between schools.

Pupils worked on projects related to this year’s theme Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow within their own schools, before coming together for two days of workshops and performance at the town theatre.

Among the young musicians showcasing their talents were the Sackville rock band TwentyOne.Ninety and The Imberhorne Jazz Band who provided the foyer entertainment.

Nine-year-old Lilli Lacey from Felbridge school said she had enjoyed the chance to take part in the music-based show and hoped the audience would join in the "big finale" which saw the stage filled with youngsters singing their hearts out.

While Hayley Covel, ten, from St Peter’s, said the EGGS project had given her the chance to meet children from other local schools.

* The Garden Gallery Art Exhibition run in conjunction with the school shows was sponsored by East Grinstead Town Council.

EAST Grinsteads historic High Street, which contains one of the longest uninterrupted runs of Mediaeval buildings in Britain, will be enhanced by the addition of four new wooden planters this summer, jointly funded by the Town Council and West Sussex County Council.

MID Sussex District Council ranger Katie Chatfield is organising regular healthy walks over the coming summer.

The gentle strolls will take place on the first and third Thursdays of the month and will last up to an hour.

Katie says she plans routes which will be no longer than 2.5 miles in length and promises no clambering over stiles will be involved.

Departures will be from the East Court car park at 5.30pm on 7/21 July, 4/18 August and the 1/15 September.

CLLR Nick Hodges will be the new chairman of the Town Council’s Charities Committee. Vice chairman will be Danny Favor.

ARTIST Ursula Stone is the new tutor for the weekly life classes hosted by Chequer Mead every Monday.

Ursula, an art therapist who has taught at the Tobias School of Art, runs the two hour classes between 11am and 1pm each week for anyone who wants to drop in and draw – no advance booking is required and there is no commitment to a minimum number of sessions.

The 10 fee covers the cost of the model’s fees, and easels and boards are provided.

Ursula, who tutors every fourth session, is also available for more informal guidance and advice during the other three, and suggests themes which artists may like to explore.

As part of the celebrations to mark Chequer Mead’s birthday there will be an art exhibition in November which will feature the work of artists who attend the Life Classes regularly. There will be no fee for taking part in the exhibition.

* For more details contact Chequer Mead on 01342 302000.

THE Bluebell Railway has added a newly-restored Victorian carriage, specially adapted for wheelchair use, into its extensive fleet of vintage train stock.

First to try out the vehicle was East Grinstead Para Olympian Richard Schabel.

“I was delighted to help launch the carriage into service,” said Richard, who is in training for the discus and javelin events in London next year.

“Before my accident 30 years ago I worked for a time as a volunteer in the Bluebell Railway’s Carriage and Wagon Department, so I know how much effort goes into these restorations.”

Although the Bluebell has a fully-accessible 1960s carriage in operation, wheelchair users have, until now, been unable to travel on the magnificently restored and highly popular Victorian trains for which The Bluebell Railway is so famous.

The new carriage was originally built for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in 1889, but was eventually sold, without its undercarriage, for use as a domestic dwelling.

Its last owner donated the carriage to the historic steam railway in 2003, and it was recovered by a team of volunteers to await restoration.

Work on the four-wheeled No 3360 was finally funded to the tune of £49,500 after the Bluebell was featured on Meridian TV in 2009 and won a grant from the Big Lottery’s People’s Millions competition.

Volunteers then contributed a backbreaking 10,000 hours of effort over 15 months into restoring it.

“This was an extremely fast turnaround for a project of its size but the addition of the adapted No 3360 to the Railway’s unique collection of carriages underpins our commitment to disability access,” said funding director Roger Kelly.

Before and after; the Victorian carriage which has been restored by Bluebell Railway volunteers and adapted for wheelchair use.

  

THE town museum in Cantelupe Road will host a new exhibit, celebrating 75 years of East Grinstead’s Art Deco past, from mid June. Entry free

CLLR Norman Webster is the new Conservative Leader of East Grinstead Town Council.

Cllr Peter Wyan will chair the Planning Committee with Cllr Rex Whittaker as his deputy. Public Services will be chaired by Cllr Heidi Brunsdon, with Cllr Dick Sweatman deputising, and Cllr Frank Osborne will head the Amenities and Tourism committee which will have Cllr Tony Scott as its vice chairman.

Cllr Webster will be also be chairman of the Finance and General Purposes committee with Cllr Margaret Belsey as his vice chairman.

CLLR Heidi Brunsdon has announced a £1.3 million grant from West Sussex County Council for a new sports hall at Imberhorne Upper School.

Heidi is pictured at the school with headteacher Jon Ford and Bob Darvill who is chairman of the school governors.