Category: News

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

Thomas James COMMERFORD

Sergeant L.7271 6th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers.

Died at home 28. 9.17. Aged 34.

Son of John and Susan Commerford Husband of Mary Commerford (remarried) later of Hounslow. Regular Soldier.

Buried Brentford and Chiswick (New Brentford) Cemetery.

George ELLIS

Lance Corporal G/3687 11th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres 26. 9.17. Aged 24.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H.Ellis of 4, Mill Cottages, Dunning Road, East Grinstead. Born in Lingfield, Surrey and enlisted in Chichester.

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium MR.30.

Charles FIELD

Private 70118 16th Battalion, The Notts and Derby Regiment. (The Sherwood Foresters) 39th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres. 22. 9.17.age 24.

Son of Mr. H. and Mrs. Elizabeth Field of “Felcourt” East Grinstead. Born in Warlingham, Surrey and enlisted in Petworth

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium MR. 30

George PIPER

Private G/17891 12th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres, 25. 9.17. age 20.

Son of William and Ellen Piper of Hoskins Cottage, East Grinstead. Enlisted in East Grinstead

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium MR. 30

Harry SKATES

Private G/19629 12th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres 25. 9.17.

Born in Hammersmith and enlisted in East Grinstead

Buried Zantevoorde British Cemetery, Belgium B. 116

Henry WELLER

Private SD/2425 12th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres 25. 9.17. age 28

Husband of Bertha Kate Weller of 6, West Street, East Grinstead. Born in Forest Row and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium MR.30.

West Sussex County Council only provides a free older person’s bus pass OR a free senior railcard.

The form to apply for either an older person’s bus pass or railcard can be obtained from the West Sussex County Council Website www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/10162/encts_older_persons_application.pdf or can be collected from the library or Town Council Offices at East Court

Senior Railcard

West Sussex County Council provides a one-year Senior Railcard which can save you a third off standard and first-class off-peak rail fares across Britain

To qualify for a West Sussex County Council senior railcard you must:

• Be a permanent East Grinstead resident and pay part of your council tax to WSCC.
• Have reached the State Pension age and not be in possession of a bus pass
• If you do not want to relinquish your free County Council bus pass to get a free senior railcard you can buy one yourself.
• Mid Sussex District Council offer their residents over and above West Sussex County Council’s concessionary travel scheme, annual Senior Railcards can be purchased for a discounted price of £24.00.
• A unique promotion code can be obtained from the library or Town Council Offices at East Court with proof of address and age.
• The railcard can only be purchased online senior-railcard.co.uk or by phone 08448 714036 with the unique code.

What you need to provide when you apply

 Carefully read the guidance notes and complete the application form.

•  This should be posted with your photocopied validation documents to: West Sussex Bus Pass, PO Box 212, Waterlooville, PO7 6ZN.
• Your application MUST include:
  • the completed application form
  • one photocopy of a proof of age document
  • one photocopy of a proof of address document

Do NOT send original documents.

Bus Pass

Or the County Council offers Bus Passes for older people

West Sussex County Council provides a five-year Bus Pass offering free off-peak (weekdays 9.30am to 11.00pm and all day at weekends and on bank holidays) bus travel in England for those who are eligible.

• Bus passes for older people, providing free bus travel for West Sussex residents of State Pension age
• Your pass is valid for up to 5 years. The expiry date is printed on the front of your pass. Expired passes are replaced free of charge and will be issued automatically.
• West Sussex County Council does not charge for a stolen pass, if you provide a crime reference number.
• This replacement cost for lost, damaged passes or those without a crime reference number is £5.00
• Contact the West Sussex Bus Pass Information Line on 0845 075 1018

What you need to provide when you apply

• Carefully read the guidance notes and complete the application form.
• This should be posted with your photocopied validation documents to: West Sussex Bus Pass, PO Box 212, Waterlooville, PO7 6ZN.
• Your application MUST include:
• the completed application form
• one photocopy of a proof of age document
• one photocopy of a proof of address document
• one passport style/sized colour photograph of your head and shoulders with your name printed on the reverse

Do NOT send original documents.

Disabled Persons Bus & Railcard

• West Sussex provides a bus pass offering free bus travel to people who are disabled, incapacitated or medically unfit to drive.
• The form to apply for either a disabled person’s bus pass or railcard can be obtained from the West Sussex County Council Website https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/6355/encts_disabled_nov_2015.pdf

or can be collected from the library or Town Council Offices at East Court

• Mid Sussex District Council is pleased to inform their residents that over and above the West Sussex County Council’s concessionary travel scheme, Mid Sussex District Council sell a yearly Disabled Railcard Voucher at a reduced charge of £18.00. A unique promotion code can be obtained from the library or the Town Council offices at East Court with proof of age and address.

Now that we are at the end of the summer, it’s a time for us to reflect on our three East Court Live events 2017. All we can say is ‘wow.’ The weather for all three was absolutely fantastic and the audiences were even bigger that we expected. It was lovely to see so many family groups spilling out from the Terraces onto the field beyond and the picnic spreads were a sight to behold.
There is as always a long list of people to thank and in no particular order they are as follows:

• The East Grinstead Ukulele Club, Underhill Rose, The Allen Family, Lauren Housley , 2205 Promotions, Cantu Amici, Ariel, The Buffaloes, Cherry Suede, InChoir, Joanne Larcombe, The Radiators and Duck Soup for all your performances. You all will have made new fans and we’d love to have you at concerts in the future.
• High Gain Events for all technical expertise and hard work with sound, staging and bar facilities.
• All who filled out our feedback questionnaires; we will be collating the information, making changes if necessary and taking note of special requests for future events.
• Our sponsors Coles Estate Agents and easyDogwalker and to Mid Sussex District Council for their support.
• The Sussex 4×4 Response team for help with car parking.
• The Seasoned Sausage Company, Apple & Corr and The East Grinstead and District Lions for bringing along all the tasty treats.
• Members from the Town Mayor’s charities for coming along and raising awareness of what they do and to everyone who donated.
• Meridian FM for their presenting skills
• All the staff and Councillors who gave up their time to manage the event and lastly-
• Thank you to YOU East Grinstead for coming to East Court.

Believe it or not, we are already making bookings for 2018 so get the dates in your diaries. Sundays; 3rd June, 1st July and 5th August.

See you there,

The East Court Live Team of East Grinstead Town Council

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The East Grinstead Town Councillors and Staff are deeply saddened to announce the death of Cllr Robert (Bob) Mainstone following a short illness.

Cllr Mainstone had represented Imberhorne Ward for both East Grinstead Town and Mid Sussex District since 2007. In 2016 Bob was Town Mayor. The Council’s thoughts are with his wife Christine, daughter Sally and grandson Toby at this sad time.

As a mark of respect the Town Flag will be flown at half-mast today and on the day of the funeral, details of which have yet to be released.

Details concerning the Council Vacancy will be advertised on the Council’s website in due course.

East Grinstead Town Council have recently taken possession of a Speed Indicator Device, for use on the roads around East Grinstead. This device is provided by West Sussex County Council through the County Local Committees (CLCs), for use on a rotation basis by councils in the northern parishes of Mid Sussex.

Speed Indicator Devices (or SIDs for short) are temporary vehicle activated signs which detect and display real-time vehicle speeds. SIDs are a relatively cheap method of speed management, which aim to highlight drivers’ speed behaviour in different driving environments. The device is easy to install, and can therefore be moved from location to location, depending on local driving issues.

Councillor Norman Webster, Vice Chairman of the Public Services Committee stated, “These devices have a very real effect on road safety, by making drivers more mindful of their speed. This is even more of a factor as we move into the winter months, where familiar roads can become quite dangerous through water or ice, especially first thing in the morning.”

The device will move away from East Grinstead after 4 weeks, but will come back on rotation and be placed in different places as appropriate. If you require any further information regarding this matter, please contact our Community Liaison Officer, Jonathan Ansley on j.ansley@eastgrinstead.gov.uk or on 078 706 706 49.

A date has been set for works to begin the demolition of the former Martells’ department store and the buildings of Norman’s Gardens and 26 -36 and 38A Queen’s Road – 12 September 2017.

East Grinstead’s latest Town Guide is now available from the Tourist Information point in the library and the Council offices. Including a comprehensive A to Z street map, the guide contains useful information and high lights life in the town. The guide is also available to view online here.