East Grinstead Living December Issue

S u p p o r t i n g lo c a l B u s i n ess

200

5 -201 5

living December 2015

Š Front cover courtesy of Julian Perry, www.jp-digitalart.com.

See page 14

Future Comic Strip

living One Man, One Vision Enquiries: 01342 300152

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Book yourself a post-Christmas de-stress (and save 10% if you book in 2015) Mindfulness-based stress reduction courses have been proved, over and over again, to reduce stress and increase health and well-being.

You can even try it out for free by coming to the free introduction on Monday, 18 January, 7.30 – 9.30pm at the Old Court House, East Court, East Grinstead, RH19 3LT. The course itself then runs for the next 8 Mondays. *New* Monday morning sessions in Godstone, 10.30-12.30pm.

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Whats inside this month

Dear Residents, Welcome to the December issue! Of course with the start of this month we can all finally admit that the Christmas season is upon us.

Hopefully our little magazine will not disappoint!

Christmas is all about charity and the unstoppable Harry Townsend is undertaking yet another incredulous challenge for the charity he founded, the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund. Find out more by reading ‘One Man, One Vision’.

Garen Ewing, comic book author extraordinaire, tells us about his latest project that has already been viewed by millions across the country, see page 6.

We have other little features to get you in the Christmas spirit.

History notes: Not Just ‘Jam & Jerusalem’

One Man, One Vision

Christmas customs we didn’t know existed

Please try to support local business this holiday season.

Thank you so much for all your support over the year.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New Year.

With Best Wishes,

Sackville College and Christmas

In a Split Second

Tally & Chris

East Grinstead Living To advertise call 01342 300152 info@egliving.co.uk www. egliving.co.uk

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East Grinstead Living Notice: East Grinstead Living prints various articles, features, and advertisements. Although these appear in East Grinstead Living, any opinions expressed are the opinion of the author, these are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. © Copyright East Grinstead Living 2015. The contents of this publication are written specifically for our readers, no part January be reproduced elsewhere without express and prior permission.

The Future Comic Strip

Christmas as it should be! living

Enquiries: 01342 300152

Recipe

The Future Comic Strip East Grinstead’s own Garen Ewing, award-winning comic book author and illustrator extraordinaire (Rainbow Orchid Series), was commissioned

by JCDecaux, the biggest outdoor advertising company in the UK/world, to write and illustrate a comic book story of Norwegian bird Arni, a baby Pine Gros. The comic strip has just finished airing on thousands of digital screens across the country throughout November. It’s the first graphic arts story of its kind on digital screens ever! It told the story of Arni being swept away when his tree was felled and then his perilous journey to London, with a happy ending, just in time for Christmas.

Hopefully you may have caught the story if you took a trip to the capital last month.

Here we have a Q&A with Garen about this very special project: How did the story of Arni come about in the first place and why did JCDecaux choose you for this project?

I was contacted by JCDecaux after they came across my website. As well as selling advertising space, they also have an editorial department (a growing area of out-of-the-home digital content) which I believe is to present non-advert content for all these digital screens that literally span the UK. They’d been thinking of the idea of having a comic strip appear, daily, on their screens, and they seemed to like my style.

The concept of Arni (a little bird who follows his felled tree on an ‘epic adventure’) came from JCDecaux themselves. They had the basic idea of the plot, but I developed the character (making him a Norwegian Pine Grosbeak) and wrote the actual script, as well as drawing the whole comic, of course!

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Was the process hard from start to finish, what was the highlight?

The script came quite easily once I was given the rough idea. JCDecaux asked for some nice vistas and landmarks on Arni’s journey, and I contributed more of the character and action stuff. The drawing has been a big challenge, not just because of the fairly tight timescale (as this goes to print, the story has already been running for two weeks and I’ve still got the last page to draw, as I write) but also because of the technical aspects - drawing lorries, ships, various animals, countryside, cars and several views of London - many from Arni’s bird’s eye view. The highlight is probably the idea that comics are being brought to tens of millions of people across the UK - an exciting thought.

digital screens, but a comic flashing out of the corner of the eye is certainly something different - the first ever in this format and delivery method - and it does seem to draw people’s attention. People have been sending me photos of screens they’ve spotted from all over the country. I’ve yet to go out and see one myself, I’ve been chained to the drawing board!

What do you hope this project will do for digital outdoor advertising in the future?

It will be nice if this leads to other comics appearing on the screens throughout the year. It’s a great way to get a daily strip that develops over the course of a month, a quick read as you go by, leaving you wondering what the next instalment will bring. I guess it could develop, with animation, and book and

What has the reception to Arni been so far?

game tie-ins, perhaps even interactive stories. It has

From what I’ve seen, very positive. It’s hard to know how much commuters and shoppers notice these

great potential, and is good for showing how diverse and accessible comics are for every & anyone.

living Visit: w w w.egliving.co.uk

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YoUR LoCAL BIkE SpECIALISt

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS SuppoRt youR local BuSineSS

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living Enquiries: 01342 300152

‘Family Fun Christmas Quiz’ Can you score 20/20?

1.

2.

What date is St Stephen’s Day?

3.

London’s Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is traditionally given by which country?

4.

In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, ‘... my true love brought to me nine...’ what?

5.

Which Christmas carol includes the lyrics ‘...To save us all from Satan’s power, when we were gone astray..’?

In Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol, who was Scrooge’s dead business partner?

11.

12.

Who wrote “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?

13.

14.

How many points does a snowflake have?

15.

16.

17.

What are the traditional colours of Christmas?

18.

What is the total number of gifts in in the Twelve Days of Christmas song?

Which Christmas song by Irving Berlin is considered to be the best selling single of all time?

Who is officially credited as the author of Auld Lang Syne?

What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas?

What does the ‘X’ stand for in Xmas?

6.

What colour are the berries of the mistletoe plant?

7.

What are the names of the three wise men said to have brought gifts to the baby Jesus?

8.

9.

What is New Year’s Eve called in Scotland?

In what year was the original Band-Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ the UK Christmas chart-topping record?

19.

10.

In which modern country is St Nicholas’s birthplace and hometown?

20. In the iconic Christmas movie ‘Home Alone’ in

In which European country is it believed that decorating Christmas trees originated in 16th century?

which city is Kevin left?

Answers on page 19 Bertie the ‘Ball Boy’ Local resident, Michael Carden’s golden retriever Bertie likes nothing better than a good romp over Ashdown Forest in all weathers. While he’s been there he’s been busy on his very own ‘forest mission’ and is doing his bit to keep the forest tidy by finding any abandoned or lost balls. Here is a photo of Bertie with the first 100 balls.......... And counting!

10

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So, What’s for Christmas?

This time of year the push is on to tempt you to slip the latest electronic gadgets under the Christmas tree. Where once this might have been a laptop, increasingly tablets are the electronics gift of choice. The new tablets’ release schedule confirms the bewildering range of new tablets available. So how do you get the right one?

of choice due to their wide range of applications and ease of use. This advantage is becoming less pronounced as Android’s app library gradually catches up. Recent Windows tablets are based on the still-developing Windows 10 with its wide range of software but raises the question of whether your needs would be better served by a laptop.

The first step is what screen size you need. Is it a laptop substitute or just a handy browser/music centre? Will you slip it into a small bag to carry around, or watch films on the sofa?

The next question is storage. In this area, more is definitely better. Storage comes in two forms: shortterm recall (RAM) and long term. Many tablets allow you to add extra long-term storage, but others such as the iPads or Google’s Nexus do not. Too little storage will lead your gadget to complaining vociferously. Be generous to yourself by purchasing more storage than you need so you have space for your apps, music and photos in years to come.

If a (gentle) man is his manners then a tablet is its screen both in size and quality. There are now three main screen sizes: large pocket (7.9”), satchel (10”ish) and the new super-size (12”-ish). The 12” tablets can make light and capable laptop-substitutes when supplemented with a keyboard but try them before you buy. Turning to screen quality, the very best (albeit small) screen is currently found in the iPad Mini 4 to make your images come alive.

Tablets come in three main flavours: Android, Windows and Apple. IPads have been the tablet

Finally, a suggestion for where to buy your tablet: John Lewis. Their guarantee is one of the best around.

By Roger Lyons of RL Computer Solutions, see ad above.

living Enquiries: 01342 300152

11

ONE MAN, ONE VISION

By Harry Townsend

When my wife Myfanwy was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 48, we knew nothing about this disease - it’s possible that it could be attributed to her getting badly sunburnt on the beach at Skegness as a child. Unfortunately the cancer spread and she died twelve years later in 1999. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is also the most rapidly increasing cancer amongst young people: It affected 1 in 1500 in the 1930s, now it affects 1 in 65.

So myself and our three sons set up the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund to raise awareness, educate and fund practical research. In 2013 we launched an initiative, the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code, to encourage children to enjoy themselves outdoors but to stay safe in the sun (www. oksunsafetycode.com).

Presenter Julia Bradbury is our main ambassador, alongside a wide array of high profile sportspeople and we have the support of 100 of the national governing bodies of sport and outdoor activity associations and groups. We are very proactive in the community and will be increasing our work with local schools in 2016.

Recently I decided I had to do something that makes people realise that I’m prepared to go beyond the bounds of normal common sense, because my objective means so much to me! I did lots of fundraising ‘challenges’ in the past 10 years (in my 70’s) such as pushing my wheelbarrow ‘George’ from end to end of the North Island of New Zealand: but

in those days I was fit and active, running obscure marathons (Death Valley, etc.) or trekking the Grand Canyon from rim to rim.

Now, aged 80 next summer, I can hardly walk, but I can ‘row’ on a rowing machine in the gym. This is the basis of what will probably be my final major challenge, so it’s got to be out of the ordinary!

I’ve always loved indoor rowing so that helps; I’ve twice rowed a non-stop marathon at the Kings Centre (42,195 metres), and with the enthusiastic support of the staff there, this is my personal mission: ONE MAN - ONE MILLION METRES - ONE MILLION SPONSORS - ONE MILLION POUNDS It has a nice ring about it!

Obviously, it’s impossible to row a million metres non-stop, so it’s an ongoing target, rowing a few thousand metres most days, keeping people up-to-date with the ‘running’ (rowing) total on our website and hoping, as it rises, people will want to add their sponsorship on my JustGiving

12

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13

page, www.justgiving.com/harry-townsend2, before I reach the ‘magic million’!

It’s got to go viral to be a success, but it can only do this with support and this must surely start in my home community (East Grinstead and surrounds).

We’ve made it even easier to help too. You can either visit our website at www.melanoma-fund.co.uk or text HMMM80 to 70700 and donation £1 that way.

My training has consisted of getting down to the Kings Centre; I’ve been a member there for some 25 years! I start by warming up on the bike or the treadmill, I then go on to complete 3000 metres, or 5000 metres, or (hopefully) more at a time, keeping this steady as I progress towards the million target.

Please do track my progress; I keep the website and the JustGiving page updated.

to their friends and work colleagues. Lots of people have put down £5, or even more, which is fantastic, of course! But if you have the chance, instead of ‘£5’, why not write down five members of your family (or friends) with £1 each? That gives us FIVE SPONSORS: and remember, we want A MILLION SPONSORS! Is there a Guinness Book of Records record in the offing?

I want US (because it’s not just ME, it’s US) to set an unbeatable world record for a) most sponsors for person for one event and b) to raise a million pounds: and it will be based on this, the most wonderful little town that I know, East Grinstead.

Shortly we’ll also be organising a wonderful one day event at the Kings Centre in January. This will be a Million Metres Non-stop Community Row, taking place in the foyer where we invite supporters to ‘row’ the magic million metres in a ‘tag’ relay as a further fundraiser, and of course I’ll be joining in.

I am also urging people to download one of my sponsor forms from the website and take it round

Front Cover Artist East Grinstead is no less picturesque in the winter months when the snow brings a whole new quality to the landscape.

Local artist Julian Perry has been inspired to produce the image shown on the front cover based on photographs taken over the last 5 or so years. He uses digital brushes, algorithms and creative techniques to bring out the best of each scene.

As with all his work they are available to be seen at: www. jp-digitalart.com and any orders or enquiries about them can be made using the ‘Contact Me’ form or email details on the site.

Julian will also be displaying samples of his work in the library on Saturday, December 12th.

These will include examples from 14

the ‘East Grinstead Collection’ as well as others from his wide selection of subjects.

If enquiries or orders are made

by December 15th, prints will be ready in time for Christmas.

Prints can be customised to fit your own frames, or framed at the Graham Stevens gallery in Middle Row, and ordered via the ‘Contact Me’ form on his website.

A selection of greetings cards, including Christmas scenes, are available at ‘The Bookshop’ and the local library.

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15

Well I Never!

Christmas customs we didn’t know existed.

Japan: Kentucky Fried Christmas

Ukraine: A Spidey Christmas

Christmas turkey is a must-have meal at Christmas, but for the Japanese, can you believe that it’s the Colonel’s very own chicken! Since the beginning of a very successful marketing campaign four decades ago, KFC has been associated with Christmas in the minds of the Japanese for a few generations now, a tradition passed on from parent to child despite its commercialized beginnings. Clearly someone in Japanese KFC marketing from four decades ago should have been given a very hefty bonus! More than 240,000 barrels of chicken will be sold during Christmas, five to ten times its normal monthly sales.

Instead of glittering baubles and tinsel, Ukrainian Christmas trees are covered with artificial spiders and cobwebs. Why such eccentric tastes? According to folklore, a poor woman could not afford to decorate her Christmas tree. The next morning, however, her children woke up to see the tree covered with webs. As the first light of the day touched the web threads, they turned into gold and silver and the family was never left for wanting again!

Therefore seeing a spider web on Christmas morning is thought to bring good luck.

Finland: A Christmas of Remembrance Families in Finland usually visit the graves of their ancestors and relatives on Christmas Eve to light candles in memory of the deceased.

Even those who don’t have their kin’s graves nearby visit cemeteries to place candles in honour of their family members buried elsewhere.

Sweden: Let the Goat Live (Until Christmas ) In the town square of Gavle, in Sweden, in 1966 a 13-metre tall goat figure made of straw was erected.

At the stroke of midnight, Christmas Eve, the goat was set alight. However the town still builds it year after year, and naughty people never stopped trying to burn the goat down! In 2013 the goat had already been burned down 27 times. The burning of the Gavle goat happened so often that bookmakers began taking bets for the survival of the goat since 1988.

To clarify the town DOES NOT want the goat to be burnt down!

16

Santa’s own Postal Code (H0H 0H0) Did you know that Santa has his own postal code, H0H 0H0 (with zeros instead of the letter ‘o’) and it’s in Canada. Letters, the kind that bypass parents, used to end up undelivered because there was no centralized address.

But for the past 30 years, Canada Post volunteers (in their thousands) have been helping Santa reply to a million letters every year from children around the world even in different languages, including Braille.

What lovely people!

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17

Sackville College and Christmas

By Caroline Metcalfe

Sackville College, East Grinstead’s seventeethcentury almshouse, is linked with Christmas, through the Christmas carols written by The Rev’d Dr John Mason Neale, who was warden there from 1846 until 1866.

Sackville College was founded

by Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset, in his will written in 1609, shortly before he died.

He wished his almshouse to be called Sackville College: the word ‘college’ has an older meaning - the gathering of people for a common purpose. Some almshouses were called ‘colleges’, others ‘hospitals’, though there was little medical help. Poor people were a great concern after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, because the monasteries used to provide charity to the poor. Founding an almshouse was one way to help the deserving poor. The Founder’s son, Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset, had the college built, probably by 1619.

John Mason Neale (1818-66) was warden for 20 years, until his death. At Cambridge he turned to High Church ideas. His friends included John Keble, who was part of the Oxford Movement, which sought a revival of High Church practices, including forms of worship, church buildings, vestments, and music.

Neale was ordained, and served briefly as Vicar of Crawley but left, due to serious lung trouble after a short time. Winters in the West Country and abroad

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followed, to help his chest. In 1842, Neale, aged 24, married Sarah Webster, who was 4 years older than him. In May 1846 he came to Sackville College with his wife and 2 small children: Sarah Agnes, and their son, Cornelius Vincent, born only weeks before.

Three more daughters followed: Mary Sackville, Katherine Erminild and Margaret Isabel. Neale and his family lived in the north east wing, the Dorset Lodgings, no longer being used by the Sackvilles or their De La Warr successors. Neale’s salary was £28 a year.

Realising that some residents were very poor, Neale invited the residents to the dining hall in the Dorset lodgings for sunday lunch, every week, from Whit Sunday 1846. Neale was an energetic warden who brought about improvements to the buildings of Sackville College using the architect William Butterfield.

Neale was also a very caring warden: a room next to the

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chapel with a quatrefoil window became an Infirmary, so that sick residents could hear the services, and he taught an elderly resident to read. Neale’s High Church ideas caused conflict with his bishop and unfortunately created distrust from some local people.

Neale suffered from chest troubles - probably Tuberculosis, which was then incurable. He intended to help the vicar of St Swithun’s, the Rev’d Christopher Neville, with Christmas services, but wrote on Christmas Day 1846, that he did not dare sit for long without a respirator.

He was pleased with the household arrangements for Christmas that first year: ‘The hall is a goodly sight; and the kitchen and larder with 2 great pieces of beef, 7 plum puddings, mince pies, etc. The only person who has merit in this is my wife, for the trouble she takes is great.’

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Local Grants for local Youth The trustees of the ‘East Grinstead Common Good Trust’ are making available funds of £10,000, for grants of up to £1000 for young people’s groups (those up to 25 years old) in the East Grinstead area.

This is particularly for infrastructure building and organisational development.

If you would like to apply, please send through a letter detailing who will benefit and the full reason for the grant. All grant applications of up to £1000 will be considered.

Send letters to: Chairman East Grinstead Common Good Trust. Brooks & Co, Hampton House, High Street, RH19 3AW Letters must be received by 31st December.

Christmas Quotes “Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more....”

Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Edward & Ellie the East Grinstead Elephants

The name of the game is to locate the 2 Ellies & 2 Edwards hidden on 4 pages in the magazine. Good luck!

Win £10 Let us know the page numbers, enter online: www.egliving.co.uk or email: info@egliving.co.uk.

Closing date: 22/12/15

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Quiz Answers 26th December Jacob Marley Norway Ladies dancing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen White Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar Hogmanay 1984 Turkey

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Dr Seuss Robert Burns Six Panettone Red, Green, Gold X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ 17. Germany 18. 364 gifts.

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veined), through extremity of heat (nb: they would have been sat next to the fire). After supper, we moved away the table, gathered round the fire, had a glass of wine and drank to the pious memory of our founder’.

Years later, their daughter, Mary, remembered how the warden’s children sang carols to the almspeople after their supper on Christmas Eve, in the hall: ‘with its oak wainscot and gallery, wreathed with shining ivy and holly, where the children stood to sing... the old men in their clean smocks, the old women in their granny bonnets seated round the open hearth with its big log fire... the smell of spiced elder wine...the ruddy glow of the lined and wrinkled faces, and bent forms of those whose old age had found a shelter in this harbour of refuge’.

Neale described Sackville College at Christmas: ‘The chapel looks so delightful with the holly, yew and laurel... The hall also looks well, and so it ought, for it took Master Weller and me the best part of a day to manage. We have the high table placed before the fire, now...all encaustic tiled, and thick with laurel above. My wife sat at one end, I at the other, then we had mince pies and bread and cheese, and the old folks grew quite merry, those that sat in the corners gradually becoming ‘gules veined purpure’ (heraldic terms: red and purple

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Neale wrote many hymns and carols, including ‘Jerusalem the Golden’, ‘A Great and Mighty Wonder’, often sung during Advent, and ‘All Glory Laud and Honour’. He wrote some from scratch, but translated others from their original language. ‘Good King Wenceslas’ is probably the most famous of Neale’s carols, inspired by the view from his study window.

Looking out over Ashdown Forest, he thought of the very poor people who then lived there. He knew about saints of old, and remembered Wenceslas, the ruler of Bohemia in the ninth century, who helped the poor. Neale had already written a story about Wenceslas for children. Neale and a friend, Thomas Helmore, used a recently re-discovered sixteenth-century book of hymns, Piae Cantiones and chose the tune of a spring carol. Neale fitted his words to the tune, and the carol was first published in 1853, in ‘Carols for Christmastide, edited by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore. A popular carol entered our Christmas traditions. The poet Laurie Lee in Cider With Rosie’ described boys on carolsinging expeditions as ‘bawling Kingwenslush’.

Sackville College is a small independent charity, which provides affordable accommodation for retired local people of limited means. Instead of the original single rooms, residents now have comfortable flats for independent living.

Next year, 2016, will be the 150th anniversary of the death of John Mason Neale. If you have never visited Sackville College, why not come for a tour and hear more of the story of this remarkable almshouse?

For details of forthcoming events and opening times, please see the website www.sackvillecollege.org.uk Or telephone the Almoner on 01342 323414 to arrange group visits at other times.

(The extracts from the Letters of John Mason Neale are taken from the book, edited by his daughter, Mary Lawson, but can also be found online.)

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Christmas as it should be! appearances around the town at some of the special events we have planned.

You can visit his grotto at the Christmas Family Festival on Sunday 6th December 10am to 4pm London Road and Queen’s Walk will be over flowing with festive family fun, stalls, music, fun fair rides for children and the ever popular French Market.

Christmas is something we do well in East Grinstead. The lyrics to Good King Wenceslas were written in our jewel of the historic High Street, Sackville College, and we take pride in that. The festive lights have been turned on and the traders will have revealed their fabulous Christmas window displays.

Wearing robes of rich purple, Santa makes a last stop before the big day at the ‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas’ Dickensian themed shopping day in the High Street. 20th December 10am to 4pm. The High Street traders pull out all the stops to create a relaxed shopping day. With Mulled wine, mince pies, carols a steam bus and a little bit of fairy dust.

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This year Father Christmas has promised to take time out from his busy schedule, to make

He will be dressed in traditional green attire if you would like to have hot chocolate with him at Standen NT. The house will be decorated for a family Christmas through the ages and you don’t want to miss the Christmas tree decorated by Dame Zandra Rhodes and Andrew Logan until 27th December.

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Don’t forget you can visit the Bluebell Railway during and after Christmas for a whole host of magical events and just to give you a little incentive to stay local this year you will even be able to park for £1 all afternoon each Saturday in December.

Visit the Tourist desk to find out more about what’s on offer in East Grinstead or call 01342 410121 Wishing you a fabulous time.

Dawn Spalding Town Promotions Manager

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Dutch Christmas Tree Cookies Great recipe for keeping the kids occupied in the Christmas holidays - suitable for adults too!

Ingredients »

Turn the dough on to a floured board and roll out to 3 mm or an 1/8 inch thick.

250 g plain flour

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1 teaspoon baking powder

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1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

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pinch of salt

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165 g caster sugar

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1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind

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165 g unsalted butter

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approx. 1 tablespoon milk

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To decorate: Icing Sugar, cake decorations, chocolate, etc. (to taste)

Method Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar and grated lemon rind.

Cut up the butter and add to the flour then rub into a breadcrumb consistency and knead into a soft dough, add a little milk if needed. Shape into a ball and put in a cool place for at least 1 hour before rolling out

Using biscuit cutters, cut out a variety of shapes (Christmas trees, stars, rings and animals). Re-roll the dough trimmings to make more cookies until it is all used up.

If you wish to hang the finished cookies up on the Christmas tree or use them as decorations then, with a thick skewer, pierce a hole in the top of each one.

Bake all the shapes in a preheated moderate oven at 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4 for 15 to 20 minutes or until set and golden. Cool on a wire tray.

Decorate to taste using icing sugar and decorations.

When the cookies are set, thread a narrow red or green ribbon or a tinsel cord through the hole in each cookie and hang on the Christmas tree or wherever you like.

Boots on for Boxing Day At Standen House and Garden, with the trees laid bare, the formation of the Arts & Crafts inspired hillside garden is revealed each winter. Perched at the top of the garden, the new viewing platform on Rock Top Walk provides the perfect vantage for the dramatic wintery scenery over the High Weald, Ashdown Forest and East Grinstead.

On Boxing Day, join the head gardener on a guided walk of some of the estate’s special areas, including Hollybush Woodland. Part of the Forest Ridge of the High Weald and one of the most wooded areas in Britain, Hollybush is home to a large collection of ancient trees, one of which is said to be rarer than a Giant Panda. Also on New Year’s Eve a guided woodland walk will help to blow the festive cobwebs away.

Boxing Day stroll, Saturday 26th December, 12pm-1pm. New Year’s Eve Woodland Walk, Thursday 31st December, 12pm1pm. Both walks are free with no booking needed, meet on Goose Green.

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In a Split Second

‘Field mouse on hazel tree' Photo Competition runner up 2015 ©Glenn Alford.

In a world full of smartphones where so many of us are now amateur photographers, congratulations must go to East Grinstead’s Glenn Alford who came runner up, ‘by a whisker’ in the Prestigious Sussex Wildlife Trust’s annual photography competition. His photo will be featured in the Trust’s 2016 calendar.

We got in touch with Glenn to find out how he got this amazing shot: How did you get into Amateur photography?

I have always had an interest in photography, but it’s only in the last year and a half, that I really got the bug for it. My cousin came to visit and showed me some of the pictures she had taken of the wild flowers in the garden using a modern digital DSLR camera. This was the first time I had seen the quality of the photos these cameras we capable of getting and I was stunned, I decided then and there to invest in a good DSLR camera and get back into photography. After spending hours taking lots of photos, I decided to get a longer zoom lens and try some wildlife photography, as nature and our countryside have always been close to my heart having grown up in West Sussex. It is one of the most rewarding forms of photography as every photo is unposed, unplanned and nearly always spur of the moment, but the feeling you get from that one fantastic shot never fades.

How did you manage to capture such a special shot?

The photo of the field mouse in the hazel tree was again a case of being in the right place at the right time, but also knowing your camera inside out so you can concentrate on getting that split second photo opportunity.

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I had been at my parents garden that afternoon taking photos of the flowers and butterflies that gather there during the summer. I was just packing up to go home when I spotted something moving in the hazel tree, I froze for a moment and saw a small mouse desperately trying to get to the last of the hazel nuts the squirrels couldn’t reach, it was so intent on what it was doing it hadn’t noticed me. Waiting for what seemed like ages for it to look away from my direction, gave me the opportunity to raise my camera and keep a focus on it until it popped its head up and looked straight at me. I got the shot you see in the photo just at the moment it realized I was pointing a 400mm lens at it and it shot off, hence the very surprised look on its face!

So it’s just a case of always being ready with wildlife photography, as it nearly always presents itself at the most unexpected moments!

What was your reaction when you found out you were runner up in the competition?

I had an email from the Sussex Wildlife Trust to say my picture had made it to the final 12 in the photo competition and it would now go out to the public vote. The other 12 final photos were all very good, so I wasn’t expecting to get any further. A few weeks later I received another email to say I had got runner up in the competition, I couldn’t believe it!

I must say a big thank you to my sister, Elsa Bridger, who told me about the competition but mostly to my wonderful girlfriend, Carol, who very patiently comes with me and helps me out with all my camera gear when out looking for my next wildlife pictures.

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31

Not Just ‘Jam & Jerusalem’ Local History Notes

by Dorothy Hatswell of the East Grinstead Museum

Kingscote WI at the opening of their own hall, 1920' This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the Women’s Institute (WI) and to celebrate East Grinstead Museum has mounted a special exhibition ‘Not Just “Jam & Jerusalem”’, focusing on the roles of six local WIs. East Grinstead Kingscote WI Kingscote WI can count itself as being one of the earliest WI’s in the country, being founded in 1920.

Many diverse subjects were covered in their early talks, such as “How to make new garments from old”, “Care of young children“ and “Air raid precautions”.

Monthly competitions were also varied, ranging from the best darned sock in the twenties through to the funniest dressed potato and the best Egyptian mummy, to the most recent, “Flying Souvenirs”. Over the years many causes have been the recipients of their charity: St Swithun’s Church Tower Appeal, the, then, new hospital on the Holtye Road (Queen Victoria Hospital) and we at the East Grinstead Museum have all benefited.

Felbridge WI Felbridge WI, is also one of the earliest WI’s in the area being founded in 1924. The group took an active role in the well-being of the village from the off, working to make local improvements and assisting with the war effort in the 40’s. The group

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gave women the opportunity to learn practical skills such as dressmaking and raised funds for charities.

They have produced blankets and jumpers for Oxfam, jackets for the Redhill Hospital premature baby unit and, together with Copthorne WI, sent treats to troops. More serious activities and charitable endeavours such as these are balanced with events such as competitions and walking trips, skittles and crafts.

Crawley Down Evening WI Crawley Down had an afternoon WI for some years but women who worked were unable to attend the meetings so, in 1959, an evening WI was formed.

Apart from the usual business such as resolutions from headquarters and day to day practicalities, there were many social activities. A choir was formed, a darts club started and innumerable outings were organised and enjoyed. Visits locally and internationally took place as did meals, walks, demonstrations, fetes and competitions. They supported various nationwide campaigns such as the “Keep Britain Tidy” campaign, held debates and raised money for charities.

Sharpthorne WI The Sharpthorne WI was founded in 1961. By its fiftieth anniversary in 2011 it had music, reading and

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craft groups. The anniversary year saw celebration as well as talks including “Under the Microscope” and “Behind the Scenes at the National Gallery”.

Members held stalls for surplus produce, shared books, made heart shaped cushions to help make breast cancer sufferers comfortable and more – quite a lot for just one year! Recent events have included running a coffee and cakes morning in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Fund and a discussion about the WI’s resolution focused on increasing organ donation. The group is well known for its music group.

Dormans Evening WI Dormans Evening WI was founded in February 1964 as a solution to make welcome, support and provide friendship for new mothers who had recently moved to the village and were unable to attend the daytime meetings held by the Dormansland WI. The group’s activities have included competing as the “Dormansland Dusters” in the Surrey County WI games, clay pigeon shooting and having a float in the Lingfield Bonfire Procession. Like all WI’s the Dormans Evening WI plays a role in supporting the local community. They’ve prepared flower beds within the village, raised funds for local groups and

helped to provide new stage curtains for the parish room. They now have two book clubs, a walking group, a “Computer SOS” group, a mah-jong club and a photography club.

East Grinstead Meridian WI Meridian WI is our newest WI - it was formed in January 2002 with 22 members. In addition to community based work, the group exhibit in local shows; have a monthly walking group which usually incorporates a stop for coffee and a chat; and craftier members knit outfits for the babies in the premature baby unit at The Princess Royal Hospital or through the Salvation Army. Several of the group’s members have visited the WI’s Denman College for weekend courses which are “always most enjoyable events”.

So, although each individual WI has its own history and role, at the heart of each is a strong sense of friendship and a desire to bring about the best within the local community. It is this combination of helping others and providing a forum for education, whilst enjoying themselves and each other’s company that is in the true spirit of the WI. Our exhibition runs until 13th December.

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What’s On in December Wednesday 2nd December EG Flower Club Christmas Demonstration by a top arranger, a raffle and free tea or coffee. Visitors are very welcome to a friendly club at £5 per meeting.

EG Flower Club meets at the Central Sussex College in Queens Road on the first Wednesday of each month. At 7:15 for 7:45pm.

Friday 4th December Charity Christmas Fayre in aid of Spinal Research. Lots of stalls with fabulous Christmas temptations and present ideas, as well as a cafe with live entertainment. Come along and do all your shopping whilst supporting a life changing cause.

Cumnor House School, Danehill. 10am -4pm.

Friday 4th December East Grinstead Society ‘Belgians in Sussex’ by Sally White, curator of the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. At 7:30pm in Main Hall, East Court, with a charge of £1/member for coffee. Non-members welcome at £1.50/person for Friday meetings and £2/person for other events, children free. Tel: 01342 325449. 7:30 - 9pm. Email:shirley@shirleyking. wanadoo.co.uk. www.eastgrinsteadsociety.org.

Saturday 5th December Halsford Park Christmas Fair. Play festive games, visit Santa in his grotto, take part in arts and crafts and try your luck in the raffle and sweetie tombola.

Then relax and take in the festive atmosphere in our Christmas cafe. At 1pm, Halsford Park Primary School.

Saturday 5th December Carols and Cakes. The Forest Row Lifeboat Choir present a Christmas Carol Concert to raise funds for the RNLI. Tickets £6 including refreshments.

Available on the door or from Roger 01342 324196.

At 2:30 PM, The Trinity Methodist Church, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead.

Saturday 5th December East Grinstead Christmas Tree switch on. In the Historic High Street, the lights will be switched by the Town Mayor. Carols and music. At 2:45pm - 3:30pm.

Tuesday 8th December The History of the WI. A talk by Joy Greasley president of Dormans Evening WI and former National Vice Chairman of the WI. East Grinstead Museum, Old Market Yard, Cantelupe Road, RH19 3BJ, call: 01342 302233. 7:30 - 10pm. www. eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk.

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If you would like your event on these pages email info@egliving.co.uk for more information

Wednesday 9th December Meridian Probus Club of East Grinstead. A friendly group of retired professional and business men meets locally at 10:15am for coffee followed by a talk

by Michael Dunn on ‘A Tour of Western France’ and an optional pub lunch. New members welcome. For information call 01342 323098.

Thursday 10th December - Sunday 13th December Tree Festival daily from 2pm, there will be an interesting display of illuminated and decorated trees plus a range of musical contributions and refreshments to be enjoyed. Free entry!

All donations will benefit RNLI, Christian Aid & Family Support Work (supporting families in need in Sussex). At 2pm, St Mary’s Church, Windmill Lane, East Grinstead. RH19 2DS. More details of times & performances during the event at www. stmaryeastgrinstead.co.uk.

Friday 11th December U3A Christmas Concert in aid of Riding for the Disabled. East Grinstead U3A Singing for Pleasure will be performing a selection of modern and traditional songs, including carols. £5 on the door, refreshments and raffle. 2 - 4p.m., Jubilee Community Centre, Charlwoods Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3HL. Saturday 12th December Estcots School Christmas Fair. With a ‘Polar Express’ theme the Estcots School Christmas Fair is sure to be a fun filled afternoon for all the family. Children’s crafts and activities, mini steam train ride, grand prize draw and auction, Santa’s photo booth, tea cup ride, hot chestnut stall, festive bar with mulled wine and traditional ales, games & tombolas, also featuring gorgeous gifts and treats from outside stall holders. Festive fun for everyone. From 3-5pm, Estcots school, Bourg De Peage Avenue, East Grinstead.

Saturday 12th December Christmas Cheer! East Grinstead Choral Society presents an evening of carols for choir and audience.

Adult £12 incl. glass of wine & mince pie, student in full time education £5, family ticket £25 for 2 adults and up to 2 children. Available from Bullfrog Music, Ship Street, East Grinstead or on the door. At 7pm, The Church of St Peter and St Paul, (Lingfield Parish Church) Old Town, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6AH. www. egcs.co.uk.

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What’s On in December Saturday 12th December Mansion Market solve all your christmas gift problems at this unusual, festive market held in and around an atmospheric 18th century mansion. you will find toys, clothing, fresh local produce, crafts, wood/glass/leatherwork, hand-made dolls and more. Puppet shows, all-day cafe and taster therapy sessions. 11am - 4pm, Kidbrooke Park, Priory Road, Forest Row. Sunday 13th December Join us for a Mince Pie at East Grinstead Museum.

We’ll be treating our visitors to a mince pie on our last open day before we close for Christmas. Free admission! 1 - 4pm. www.eastgrinsteadmuseum. org.uk.

Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th December Holy Trinity Church Forest Row Christmas Tree Festival. Come and view the wonderful Xmas trees in this years display. 10am to 6pm. Holy Trinity Church, Forest Row. Running until 6th January Art Exhibition “Wilde about Kingscote “ by William De Wilde. William said, ‘Christen Monge asked me in September 2014 if I would make a record of life and landscapes at Kingscote in drawings and paintings over the course of a year.

This exhibition is the fruit of that request and a tribute to the memory of Christen and his wonderful vision for the place he loved’. Address: Mill Place Farm, Vowels Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 4LG.

What’s on at Chequer Mead Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th December at 7:30pm & Saturday 5th December at 2:30pm & 7:30pm

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If you would like your event on these pages email info@egliving.co.uk for more information

crew member lived in Forest Row, met the village postman and moved by the disaster, they formed the choir to sing carols to raise funds for the RNLI which they continue to do so to this day. Tickets: £4.50 Concessions: £3.50.

Tuesday 8th December at 7:30pm Choirpower and Greenstede Singers present Christmas Concert in the Pavilion. An evening of traditional and popular Christmas music, laced with some favourite show songs and some less well-known modern carols. Audience singalong is encouraged! Directed by Marion Shuster. Tickets: £10.50, Concessions: £9.

Wednesday 9th December at 7:30pm Winter Concert in aid of SSAFA presents The Band of The Scots Guards. Christmas starts here! We are delighted to welcome the Scottish Guards for this hugely popular concert. Book early to avoid disappointment and support SSAFA. Tickets: £18.50, Concessions: £16.50.

Thursday 10th December at 7:30pm ABBA Reunion is the creation of the director, producer and choreographer of the award winning Abbamania musical. Starring the original ‘Frida’ from the London West End cast! “Did We Just Witness the Real ABBA Reunion?”. Tickets: £17.50.

Friday 11th December at 8pm Jimmy Jones; The Guv’nor Returns to East Grinstead. Respectfully referred to, by his fellow comics, as ‘The Guvnor’, Jimmy Jones is a true comedy legend, who is now in his 56th year in show business. Age advised 18+, due to mature content.

Tickets £17.50, concs £15.50.

Saturday 12th December at 7:30pm

Imberhorne School presents The Wizard of Oz. Following their previous sell-out successes, Imberhorne School are back at Chequer Mead presenting the classic musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

This magical production features students from across the school. Tickets: £12, Students: £8.

East Grinstead Christmas Comedy Gala. Another cracking line up, including Kerry Godliman, who had to pull out of the Summer Gala due to unforeseen circumstances. The show will once again be MC’d by the hilarious James Gill who wowed the audience last time out. £12, On the door £14.

Tuesday 8th December at 2pm

Pantomine: Snow White

Forest Row Lifeboat Choir presents A Concert of Christmas Carols. The choir was formed in 1946 after the loss of the Rye Harbour Lifeboat, “Mary Stanford” and her 17 crew in 1928. The brother of a

Saturday 19th - 23rd, 27th - 29th December at 1:30pm & 5:30pm Thursday 24th & Wednesday 30th December at 11am & 3pm. Tickets £15, Cons £13.50

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Orchard Lodge and Boldings Lodge

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