Category: News

Should anyone suffer a cardiac arrest while visiting the East Court Estate in East Grinstead their chances of survival are now greatly increased. A new defibrillator has been installed outside the public toilet block. The life -saving device can be accessed by code after a call to the emergency services should the operator deem it an appropriate course of action.

There has been a campaign since 2015, spearheaded by East Grinstead’s Steve Morris, to increase awareness of CPR and Defibrillators. He has dedicated many hours to see 24/7 defibrillators installed in and around the town for community use. The bright yellow boxes can now be seen in various locations including the High Street, Queen’s Walk, the library and Estcots Primary School.

Steve’s own life was saved by one operated by quick thinking staff at the Kings leisure centre. Please support the campaign in any way you can and those wanting to be trained in the use of the defib. You can find information on Facebook ‘Survival Can be Shocking’.

The device at East Court was jointly funded by East Grinstead Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council and was officially unveiled on Friday by East Grinstead Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Julie Mockford and Chairman of MSDC Cllr Bruce Forbes.

Sir Nicholas Soames retains his seat as the elected Parliamentary Member for the Mid Sussex Constituency following the result of the General Election on 8^th June.

The General Election results for the Mid Sussex Constituency are as follows:

• Sir Nicholas Soames (Conservative Party) 35082 votes – Elected
• Greg Mountain (Labour Party) 15409 votes
• Sarah Jane Osborne (Liberal Democrat Party) 7855 votes
• Chris Jeremy (Green Party) 1571 votes
• Toby Brothers (UK Independence Party) 1251 votes
• Baron Von Thunderclap (Official Monster Raving Loony Party) 464 votes

On Election Day (8 June 2017), there were 69 polling stations in the Mid Sussex District, which were open all day from 7am -10pm. The total number of people eligible to vote in the Mid Sussex Constituency was 84,685 and the turnout was 73.3%.

Two Mid Sussex District Council by-elections for the Hassocks Ward also took place on the same day. The results of these were as follows:

• Michelle Binks (Conservative Party) 2023 votes – Elected
• Susan Margaret Hatton (Liberal Democrat Party) 1931 votes – Elected
• Gemma Jane Stockford (Liberal Democrat Party) 1536 votes
• William Matthews (Labour Party) 1042 votes
• Harry William Mitchell Young (Labour Party) 812 votes
• Vivienne Alloy (Green Party) 512 votes

Full election result details are also available on the Mid Sussex District Council website at www.midsussex.gov.uk.

Following complaints to the Town Council regarding people cycling on the pavements, East Grinstead Town Council will be placing the following signs around the town. Please be considerate to others, and do not cycle on the pavements.

Please don’t cycle on the pavement!

Rule 64 of the Highway Code: You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.

The local Dementia Action Alliance will be attending an open day at the Care UK home at Millview on Friday 16 June allowing businesses to find out how they can make their businesses more dementia friendly to their customers and staff who may be diagnosed. They can also support East Grinstead to become more Dementia Friendly by joining the alliance.  It costs nothing but does need a commitment to an action plan.

Members of the Alliance will be at the Centre on Friday from 11-3 to help sign up. They will also be able to discuss the role of the Alliance and arrange free dementia awareness sessions for businesses or members of the public.

Care UK have organised the day and there will be other stalls with information about services available in and around East Grinstead.

At 3 pm there will be a screening of the Alive Inside film to highlight living with dementia. It is a powerful and emotional film often moving the watcher to tears; it won the 2014 Sundance Festival Audience Award and is well worth watching.

There is no charge to attend the day organised by Care UK and all are invited to pop in and see the stands and chat about dementia.

For more information about the East Grinstead Dementia Action Alliance contact:  Julie Holden (East Grinstead Town Council) j.holden@eastgrinstead.gov.uk or Kate Bennett (Visit East Grinstead) kate@visiteastgrinstead.co.uk.

For more information on the Dementia Day at Millview contact Amy Pepperrell amy.pepperrell@careuk.com

The first of the town Council run East Court Live! Picnic concerts, took place on the terraces at East Court on Sunday 4 June. The weather was fantastic and people of all ages spread themselves around the grounds to settle back to listen an  afternoon of music with an Americana theme. Over a four hour period 1pm to 5pm the audience was entertained by four performances.

First up was the East Grinstead Ukulele band with 26 members. They were joined by one very recognisable lady, Margaret (known for bringing her flags to every town event) draped in the American flag she sat to the side of the stage and strummed along.

Following them came Underhill Rose a three piece all female group from North Carolina. All three were accomplished musicians, guitar, double base and fiddle and sang a mixture of their own compositions and a few covers.

Next came The Allen Family Band who specialised in ‘Bluegrass’ very American in sound, but in fact are from Kent and last up, Lauren Housley. A very accomplished performer from Manchester she completed the Americana theme, again a mixture of her own songs and covers.

‘It is fantastic to see so many family groups coming together and enjoying themselves in the grounds at East Court. Every year we are amazed at the lavish picnics that people bring along and as we are working it always makes us feel very hungry’ said Town Promotions Manager Dawn Spalding referring to the group of Council staff that put the day together. ‘A highlight for me is seeing Margaret Cook strumming away with the Ukulele band. Last year she got up on the stage to play her ‘air guitar’ so this year we were pleased to see her sitting down!’

The East Court Live! team were helped to source the performers by 2205 Promotions who host Americana music nights on a regular basis at the Dorset Arms.

The next East Court live will be held at East Court on Sunday 2 July and information can be found by calling Tourist Information on 01342 410121 or email tourism@eastgrinstead.gov.uk. You can also visit the website www.eastcourtlive.co.uk, Twitter @eastcourtlive and Facebook eastcourtlive

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):

Albert DANIELS

Rifleman 44826 15th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles 36th Ulster Division. Died of wounds 7. 6.17. Aged 20

Son of Richard and Caroline Parks of Welgars Cottage, Newchapel.Husband of Mrs. Emma Daisy Parks.

Born in Crawley Down and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Formerly with the Royal Sussex Regiment. Buried Westhof Farm Cemetery Belgium.

Alexander Harold GODWIN

Private G/20438 1st Battalion, The East Kent Regiment. 6th Division. ‘D’ Company Killed in action 6. 6.17. Aged 23.

Son of James and Mary Godwin of The Cottage, Fonthill, East Grinstead.

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Formerly with the Royal Sussex Regiment. Buried Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe. F.115

Alfred James HILL

Corporal G/2669 8th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. Pioneer Battalion, of the 18th Division. Killed in action 1. 6.17. Aged 23 ‘D’ Company.

Son of James and Jane Hill of Acacia Cottage, Felbridge.

Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Chichester. Included on Felbridge Parish Church War Memorial.

Buried Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux St. Marc F.1184

Ormond Edwin MEPPEM

Private TF/225100 12th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers 24th Division. Killed in action near Messines 15. 6.17.

Son of Ormond Edwin and Isabella Meppem of Rose Villa, Imberhorne Lane, Felbridge, East Grinstead. Husband of Mrs. Lilian Meppem.

Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium MR.29

Henry Edward STEWART

Captain ‘D’ Company. 8th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. (Pioneer Battalion) of the 18th Division. Killed in action near Arras 1. 6.17.

Son of Lt Colonel E. Stewart (JP) and Lady Phillipa Stewart of “Brook House” East Grinstead. Graduate of Oxford University (BA) Employed by Cammell and Laird, Shipbuilders.

Resident of Sheffield. Included on Sheffield City Roll of Honour.

Buried Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux St. Marc. F. 1184

Albert William George WHITTINGTON

Private 24848 23rd Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment. 41st Division. Killed in action at Messines 7. 6.17. Aged 18.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Whittington of ‘The Studio’ Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead.

Born in Arundel and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, Belgium MR. 29

 

Please join the Town Mayor at the front of East Court Mansion at 10.58am tomorrow to mark the one minute silence at 11.00am.

The Town Council will be observing the silence and therefore phones will not be answered at that time – your understanding is appreciated.

The annual East Grinstead 10k run needs help from local volunteers to help marshal this years race which is on Sunday 24th September, starting at 10am at Imberhorne School.

The race is in its 8th year and was set up by 4 local runners in memory of Andy Ripley, an ex England Rugby player who lived in East Grinstead but sadly died of Prostate Cancer in 2010. The race donates all proceeds to our chosen charities being the Prostate Cancer Charity and the East Grinstead Lions Club. To date the race has raised nearly £20,000 for good causes.

Being a local race organised by a small group of runners we rely heavily on volunteers to provide marshalling support. The race team struggled to secure enough volunteers for last years race and would like to ask for your help.

If anyone would like to support what has become a great local event with a buzzing atmosphere and an aim to raise money for good causes please contact Colin Day at colinjamesday@yahoo.co.uk.

Mid Sussex District Council are offering grants of £250 to help local groups celebrate Silver Sunday this October.

They will be hosting a special Tea Party in East Grinstead on 8 October but it would be great if other local community organisations and groups decide to get involved by holding their own Silver Sunday event or activity.

Silver Sunday was launched in 2012 by The Sir Simon Milton Foundation and Councillor Christabel Flight, after a report discovered more than a third of people over 75 said they were lonely. The aim is to celebrate older residents and to help them get out and about and meet new people.

They are offering grants of up to £250 for any activities held in October that provide an opportunity for older people to try something new, meet new people and have an uplifting day. It could be a tea party, a classic film showing, an informative talk, music or dance performance or simply a healthy walk. Any activity for older people over the age of 65 that’s fun and engaging will be considered.

To apply for a grant simply complete an online grant application www.midsussex.gov.uk/grants and submit it by Friday 23 June 2017.