Issuu

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The Town Crier

Online Community Magazine for East Grinstead, Lingfield, Forest Row, Copthorne, Crawley Down, Turners Hill, Ashurst Wood, Newchapel and the surrounding areas

Issue 23 August 2026

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Welcome to the August 2026 issue of the Town Crier

The cover photograph is by our resident genius with a camera, East Grinstead photographer, Russell Prain. Find him on Instagram.

Hello! If you are a local charity, community activist, club, artist or business, your news, announcements and communications with your community are important and the Town Crier is the place to make yourself known. For its fast-growing readership, that means a wealth of interesting articles, features and local news for you to enjoy. If you are a charity or any form of not-for-profit group, club or enterprise, you will not be charged for being promoted in this magazine. If you are a small local business, we provide space for you to advertise at very affordable rates which you can find here. The door is now wide open for your submissions for the September 2026 issue so don’t miss out, send us your contributions today! For more information, explore the Town Crier website or Email: egtowncrier@gmail.com

In this issue … Alice Watkyn’s Marketing Tips page 2 Ashdown Probus Club page 5 Crawley Down Ladies’ Choir page 6 The East Grinstead Society page 8 Local Artist of the Month page10 St Swithun’s Restoration Trust page 12 Diagrama Foundation page 13 Dormansland WI page 15 Making It Count Maths Tuition page 16 East Grinstead Bowling Club page 17 Talking Cat for Sale page 18 Recipe of the Month page 19 Art Society Upcoming Events page 20 Christians Against Poverty page 21 JJ’s Epic Eats page 22 The RH7 History Group page 26 “BUG” this month’s poem page 27 The Wildlife of Sussex page 28 Care UK page 29 Fairtrade Fortnight page 33 Ashdown Forest Open Studio page 35 Lingfield Farmers’ Market page 36 The Feelgood Station page 37 Roger Lyon’s Computer Solutions column p 38 Meridian FM: Myths versus Reality page 40 The Magic of Girlguiding page 41 Pronouncing French Sounds & Words page 42 1

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

3 More Marketing Tasks Small Business Owners Should Do Every Week by Alice Watkyn of Mouthy Marketing • • •

A while ago, I gave you 3 marketing tasks every small business should do every week to keep themselves visible.

A quote graphic A short caption post A before-and-after photo

This keeps your feed active without demanding fresh ideas every single week.

Here are 3 more: Once email, reviews, and blogging are covered, a few more small habits can keep your marketing working in the background.

3. Reach out to one past customer or partner A quick message to someone you've worked with before costs nothing and often pays off.

1. Update your Google Business Profile

This could be:

A profile that never changes looks abandoned, even if business is booming. Once a week, add a photo, post a short update, or refresh your opening hours if anything has changed. It takes minutes and signals to both customers and Google that the business is active.

•

Checking in on a past customer

•

Thanking a supplier or partner for a referral

•

Asking a happy client if they know anyone who needs similar work

Referrals often convert faster than any paid advert, and a short personal message is usually all it takes to stay on someone's radar.

2. Repurpose one piece of content Not every post needs to be new. Take something you already have, a review, a finished project, a blog article, and reshape it for social media.

None of these tasks take long, but done consistently, they keep a small business visible, memorable, and easy to recommend.

A single testimonial can become: 2

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Ashdown Probus Club is open to retired or partly retired professionals and businesspeople, both male and female from Crowborough with a catchment area stretching from Tunbridge Wells to Uckfield, and East Grinstead to Heathfield.

Theatre visits continued in July with members enjoying the cooler evenings during the heatwave when attending two outdoor events, the first ‘The Wind in the Willows’ performed by the Groombridge Amateur Dramatic Society and then ‘The Wife’, this year’s Rude Mechanicals production in Wadhurst. Both plays were enjoyed by all.

The club has a continuing programme of events which extend beyond the monthly lunch held at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club. Regular activities include walking groups, croquet, golf, and outings plus a summer picnic. Formal Club events are the Christmas lunch and the annual President's lunch.

Full details of the club and its activities can be found on the website here.

The three walking groups organise one walk per month, followed by a pub lunch. As an example, the Thursday group did a four-mile walk from the Boars Head in June and scheduled a walk centred on the Green Man Pub in Horsted Keynes in late July.

Anyone interested in joining should contact the Secretary mailto:info@ashdownprobus.org.uk or Mobile: 07539 851862.

Recent outings include a trip to Salters' Hall, the home of one of the twelve great City livery companies followed by lunch in Williamsons Tavern (once the residence of the Lord Mayors of London) and in May there was a scheduled visit to Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre for the most amazing TWODS production of ‘Evita’. 5

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Crawley Down Ladies Choir The Crawley Down Ladies Choir is pleased to announce that following our summer concert on Saturday 13th June, the receipts from our retiring collection and raffle monies enabled us to donate £300 to St Catherine's Hospice, our chosen charity. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came along and supported us. On our return in September, we will begin practising the carols and songs for our next concert which will be a matinée performance starting at 2pm on 12th December in the hall of the The Haven Centre, Crawley Down. The first Monday of our return sees us holding another “Come and Sing” event there but in the Birch Room at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start on Monday September 7th when we invite anyone interested in joining us to do just that - Come and Sing with us with a view to joining a friendly group of ladies who sing for the sheer joy of it, socialising and making new friends along the way. Singing has many benefits, not least to both our physical and mental health. For more information about the choir please see our website at: crawleydownladieschoir.co.uk

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Local Artist of the Month

Jean Mendez I was born in Beckenham into quite an artistic family – Dad painted and drew, Mum was involved in all sorts of crafts and my sister does beautiful cross stitch pictures and also knits and crochets. I remember drawing when I was small when my dad encouraged me. In fact, he gave me my first box of ‘proper’ water colour paints – which I still have incidentally. I am not a great academic but did gain O level Art at school. I must admit I enjoy looking at the work of various artists namely Bob Ross, Terry Harrison, Geoff Kersey, Charles Evans and others. Their handy tips and information are very useful especially when you are faced with a ‘blank canvas’ – that is scary! I do use photographs and pictures to give me ideas for subjects. Sometimes I wonder when I had time to go to work as I always seem to be busy particularly with my other hobbies gardening, growing vegetables, salads and flowers also reading.

However, after I retired in 2003, I joined the Bill Lehan Art Class and East Grinstead Art Society. I started working mainly in watercolour however, I now prefer acrylic (more forgiving). I have dabbled in pastels (too messy!) also encaustic (wax) being taught by Ann Kent and Ann Waterman, both great teachers, which is different but a lot of fun – results are frequently a surprise. I still paint water colour flowers mainly for cards. Over all the years I have been on the EGAS Committee in various roles as Secretary, Exhibition Organiser now as Chairman. I arrange the display at the High Street Dentist and assist in the Broadley shop window arrangements also I am the ‘annoying’ Raffle Monitor! Whereby all the money collected goes to the society. East Grinstead Art Society is friendly and welcoming – we have various and interesting demonstrations and a workshop to bring some painting (if you wish) but mostly to chat and eat cake! Continued on next page

My work life was very busy with running the local recruitment agency Whitehall Recruitment. After we sold that part of the business, David (my late husband) and I started Whitehall Polymer Recruitment – an international specialist recruitment agency involved in surface coatings which included industrial paints, which we ran successfully for over 20 years. When you are working for yourself, there is very little time for hobbies. 10

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Jean Mendez continued from previous page Now that I am widowed, I try to socialise as much as I can otherwise you feel like you are in ‘solitary confinement’ – it is great to meet up with friends particularly EGAS and Solace (a church run bereavement club) even if it is to just chat and drink tea. I am lucky enough to have great friends and neighbours, we support each other whether it be Drinks and Nibbles or a cuppa as we are all in the same boat. I now feel I need to come out of my comfort zone which is mainly landscapes and seascapes, trees, and sunsets - maybe I will try people, buildings, cityscapes or at a push animals. Who knows?

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

To visit our website, please click here Follow us on Facebook

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Diagrama Foundation Team Takes to the Skies to Raise £25,000 for Vulnerable Children and Adults

The Skydive team from Duckyls Farm LR Reece, Ed, Paul, Maxwell and Peter

The Skydive team from Cabrini L-R Asif, Nicola, Arun, Anson and Adithya.

An inspiring team of 11 people from Diagrama Foundation will be reaching for the skies this September as they take part in the Diagrama Charity Skydive 2026 to raise vital funds for vulnerable children and adults supported by the charity.

The team hopes to raise £25,000, with every pound helping to create lifeenriching opportunities for the vulnerable children and adults supported by the Foundation across its fostering, adoption, residential care and supported living services.

The fundraising skydive will take place on Friday 18 September at Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent, bringing together staff and people supported by Diagrama in a remarkable demonstration of courage, teamwork and determination.

Funds raised will support projects including:

The idea for the skydive came from Graham, a resident at Duckyls Farm Cottage, one of Diagrama Foundation's residential services for adults with a learning disability. Wanting to give something back to the charity that has transformed his life, Graham suggested taking on the ultimate challenge to help improve the lives of others supported by Diagrama.

•

Creating accessible learning spaces.

•

Providing sensory and wellbeing resources.

•

Expanding enrichment activities.

•

Increasing access to therapeutic support.

•

Developing outdoor learning opportunities. Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Diagrama Foundation continued from previous page These initiatives will enable the people Diagrama supports to build confidence, develop new skills and enjoy experiences that enrich their lives. Reece, who has been living at Duckyls Farm for nine months said: “I like that Duckyls Farm is quiet most of the time and it's in the middle of nowhere. I like the countryside a lot more than living in a town or a city, although I do like visiting places like that sometimes. It's a very nice environment, and the people here are very nice, I know what I like, and I think skydiving would be pretty fun. I've never done it before, so I thought it would be an interesting thing to do, and I am a little bit of an adrenaline junkie, as it is. I quite like raising the blood pressure a little bit. I love going on roller coasters and looking at fast cars.” Paul who has lived at Duckyls Farm for two years said: “This will be the first time I've ever done a skydive and I always wanted to do it. It’s very exciting, because I've never done one before. I really enjoy helping with the animals and doing the gardening and living at Duckyls in the cottage. The reason why I'd like to do the skydive is so we can get more machinery on the farm and it would be nice if we could get more people on the farm too.” David McGuire, Chief Executive, Diagrama Foundation, said: "This skydive is about much more than jumping out of an aeroplane. It is about people challenging themselves to create opportunities for others. We are incredibly proud that the idea came from Graham, one of the people we support, whose determination to give something back perfectly reflects the values of Diagrama. Every donation, no matter how large or small, will help us continue creating brighter futures for vulnerable children and adults." The charity is encouraging individuals, businesses and local communities to support the team by donating or helping to spread the word. continued on next page 14

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Diagrama Foundation continued from previous page Every contribution will help create opportunities for learning, wellbeing and independence, ensuring the people supported by Diagrama can continue to thrive. To support the Diagrama Charity Skydive and make a donation, please visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/diagramacharityskydive Together, we can help create better lives.

News from Dormansland YWI We continue to enjoy the summer weather and spending the time outside.

about scams and frauds and how to protect yourself, something we all need to be aware of.

August found us doing a local Scavenger Hunt, which involved solving puzzles or limericks about local houses and landmarks around the village. Its amazing how many local cottages have amazing names, a gentle reminder of times gone by.

November will see us bracing ourselves to get our pelvic floors in good order which will take place after our annual AGM. This is all before we have to think about the ‘C’ word! We always like to welcome new members to our meetings which are held at Parish Rooms in The Platt at 8.00pm usually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. If you would like more information, please contact us on the membership enquiry on the website or call Fiona on 07836 334794. Our full meeting schedule and information about the subgroups can be found on our website.

We also have a group off to see ‘Oliver’ in the West End at the end of August, and although many of us have seen it before, it’s always great to see a new production with all the familiar songs. With Autumn approaching, in September we have arranged a talk about MGM Musicals which should be entertaining hearing about life on film and the glamourous lifestyles.

www.ywidormansland.org.uk. Marion Hornall on behalf of YWI Dormansland

In October, we have arranged for someone to come and inform us 15

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Data Handling and Statistics Maths tutor, Helen Chisholm’s monthly column gives valuable tips on how to excel or help your children excel at maths.

It's been a fantastic summer of sport! England's journey to the FIFA Men's World Cup had us cheering every match, and although the semifinal against Argentina ended in disappointment, the team finished on a high with an exciting 6–4 victory over France to secure third place. By the time you read this, many of us will also have enjoyed watching athletes from across the Commonwealth compete in Glasgow.

successful passes and tournament standings. During the Commonwealth Games, children can track medal tables, compare race times, or investigate how performances improve over successive events. Looking beyond the headlines encourages them to ask questions such as, What does this data actually tell us? and Is this a fair comparison? Data is Everywhere Data handling doesn't stop with sport. Families can compare daily temperatures during the summer, record rainfall, track journey times on holiday, or even survey favourite ice cream flavours and display the results in a chart. Older children could investigate whether two sets of data are linked, introducing the idea of correlation using simple scatter graphs.

While these events are entertaining, they also provide a brilliant opportunity to explore one of the most important areas of maths: data handling and statistics. Bringing Graphs to Life Children begin by learning to read and draw simple bar charts before progressing to pie charts, line graphs and scatter graphs as they move through school. These graphs aren't just colourful pictures—they help us organise information, identify patterns and make informed decisions. Being able to interpret data is a skill that is used throughout education and in many careers.

Learning to collect, interpret and question data helps children become confident problem-solvers and critical thinkers. In today's world, we're surrounded by information, so understanding statistics has never been more valuable. The next time you watch a sporting event or check the weather forecast, take a moment to look beyond the numbers—you might be surprised by the mathematical stories they tell.

Making Sense of Real-World Data Sport is full of statistics. We compare goals scored, possession percentages, 16

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

East Grinstead Bowling Club Celebrated 90 Years at Mount Noddy The East Grinstead Bowling Club proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary at Mount Noddy on Saturday 18th July from 2pm.

by Janet Gill, one of our bowlers, to mark this special day.

Founded in 1936, the Club has remained an important part of the local community for generations, offering both competitive and social bowling in a friendly and welcoming environment. With its well-maintained green and active and increasing membership, the Club continues to attract players of all ages and abilities throughout the bowling season, which runs from April to September. To mark this special milestone, members and guests participated in a variety of indoor and outdoor games during the afternoon.

Money raised through the “bowling games” and other donations, meant we have been able to donate £210 to the East Grinstead Defibrillator Group, supporting the valuable work they carry out within our community.

To help celebrate the event, Stephanie Reeves, the Town Mayor, together with two representatives from the East Grinstead Defibrillator Society and Volunteers from the Compass Garden attended. Stephanie agreed to cut the 90th Birthday Cake, which was made

The afternoon concluded with a buffet and refreshments, giving members, friends, and supporters an opportunity to come together and reflect on 90 successful years at Mount Noddy. WEBSITE 17

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Dear editor, My doctor recently told me that as I am dyslexic, I am never going to be any good at poetry. I told him that that is simply not true: I have already made two vases and an ashtray.

Talking Cat for Sale I was passing a local pub the other day when I saw a sign, “Talking cat for sale.” Intrigued, I went in and asked the landlord about it and he showed me through to a back room where the cat was licking its privates. I said to the cat, “I have been told you can talk.” The cat looked up and replied, “That’s right,” and then went on to explain: “My ability is as you know quite rare and this led to me working for several years as a spy for MI6. My handlers would put me in the vicinity of a target and I would just sit there listening because nobody was aware I could understand every word that was being said. Later I would report back to my handlers word-for-word what had been said. I was able to do this because as well as being able to talk, I have an eidetic memory and an IQ of 186. During my career with MI6, I was able to foil eight assassination attempts on the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, plus disband an international terror network funded by the front group, Help the Aged Oligarch. After I retired from British Intelligence, I got close to a London drug lord and gleaned enough information for the police to bring down his entire network. Of course, I was also helped by the fact that I can play the Banjo and am a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.” As you can imagine I was awestruck by this cat and excitedly went back to the landlord to see if he was willing to sell him. “You can have him for a tenner.” said the landlord. “Only a tenner?” says I, incredulously. “But surely he’s worth a lot more than that!” The landlord shook his head glumly, “The trouble with that cat.” he said, “is he is a compulsive liar and you cannot trust a ruddy thing that comes out of his mouth.” 18

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Recipe of the Month Chocolate/Banana Dessert (Sugar Free) I have been experimenting with this very quick, easy and highly nutritious recipe. Give it a try! Take two bananas and two eggs and put them in your blender. Add a cup of milk. Add about three tablespoons of cacao powder (you can use more or less than this according to your taste). Add about two dessert spoons of stevia (again, you can vary the amount according to your taste). Blend it all thoroughly and pour the mix into a small oven-proof dish. Bake for about 15 minutes at 180°C It is delicious with Crème Fraiche. Wherever possible, use organic ingredients

East Grinstead Torchlit Parade, Bonfire and Fireworks Volunteers Needed! Volunteers are needed on the evening of Saturday 17 October for no more than four hours to help our members marshal the bonfire parade. If you can help, please email marshalling.egcbonfire@outlook.com with your name and phone number. 19

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The East Grinstead Art Society Upcoming events for the Autumn Season 13th August Last day of Exhibition at Glen Vue

End August New art display at Broadley Brothers in the High Street

9th September Leigh Ann Gale Botanical Demonstration

14th October Roger Dellar Portrait in Oil Demonstration

11th November Joe Norris Landscape in Mixed Media Demonstration

25th November End of year party

Find us on Facebook 20

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Five tips to help kids kick start their journey to financial freedom by Fiona Staszynski Teaching our kids how to handle their money well and build and manage a budget helps provide a solid foundation for a financially secure future. Here are five top tips for adults looking to help the kids in their life to get to grips with money. 1. Talk about money as a family You can engage your children in conversations about money from an early age. Talk about how to make wise spending decisions, the benefits of using a budget and the importance of saving. Teaching them about budgeting is a great way to show that if they can’t afford it, having a tantrum isn’t going to change anything!

have to be large expenditures. You could treat each child to a ‘decision day’ where they can take it in turns to decide what to spend a set amount of money on or consider giving them some pocket money to help them make their own choices about money. 4. Challenge the family to save A great way of encouraging children to save is to set savings goals as a family, perhaps for a holiday or a day out. Get creative and make it fun – you could even have a display on the fridge to show targets. 5. Get help There are lots of brilliant free resources out there, created by money experts, to help you teach the children in your life about budgeting and money management. CAP has resources which are available to download for free from capuk.org/kidsandyouth.

2. Show children how to manage money Modelling good spending and saving habits as adults can be a very effective way of teaching children about money management. Why not demonstrate how you plan your finances by letting them see your own budgeting spreadsheets, which will show them how you manage household income and expenditure?

Worried About Debt or Financial Difficulties? CAP is committed to fighting poverty and helping people to gain control of their finances. For more information visit capuk.org/help. The East Grinstead CAP Debt Centre supports East Grinstead and all the surrounding villages— offering free, confidential, face-toface debt help. You’re not alone. We’re here to help! Call our FREE helpline on 0800 328 0006

3. Include kids in decisions about money Try involving your children in some of the family spending options – they don’t 21

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

JJ’s Epic Eats - the Best Grub Guide in Town I am pleased to welcome back JJ Suttle who, at just 14 years of age, may well be the world’s youngest food critic. This month he brings us a great review of local restaurant The Red Monkey

The service was efficient throughout the evening. Our starters arrived around 15 minutes after ordering, which felt like a reasonable wait considering the restaurant was busy.

The Red Monkey (previously The Peacock) The Red Monkey is a welcoming pub/restaurant that successfully combines the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional pub with the quality and variety of a modern restaurant. Although it specialises in Indian cuisine, the menu also offers a wide selection of dishes from other cuisines, making it an excellent choice for families or groups with different tastes.

To start, I ordered the Dragon Wings. The portion consisted of five generously sized wings, which was more than enough for a starter. They were packed with flavour, offering a delicious balance of sweetness, spice, and smokiness. The wings were cooked well, remaining juicy on the inside with a nicely coated exterior that made them very enjoyable.

From the moment we arrived, the restaurant felt warm and inviting. The interior features a combination of natural wood and modern finishes, creating a stylish yet comfortable environment. The darker colour scheme, paired with tasteful lighting, gives the restaurant a cosy ambience that works well for both casual meals and special occasions. The tables are well spaced, so you never feel crowded, and there is also comfortable booth seating available for those who prefer a little more privacy.

For my main course, I chose the Lahori Garlic and Chilli Chicken. As expected, it had a noticeable kick of spice, but it never became overwhelming. The garlic and chilli complemented each other perfectly, creating a rich and bold flavour throughout the dish. The chicken was tender, and the sauce was full of depth, making it an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys authentic Indian flavours with a little heat. My mum ordered the Chicken Tikka Continued on next page 22

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Overall, The Red Monkey offers much more than just excellent Indian food. Its varied menu, comfortable surroundings, attentive service, and high-quality dishes make it a restaurant that appeals to a wide range of diners. Whether you’re looking for authentic Indian cuisine or simply a welcoming place to enjoy a meal with family or friends, it is well worth a visit.

JJ’s Epic Eats continued from previous page with a fresh salad. She thoroughly enjoyed both, commenting that the chicken was well cooked and nicely seasoned, while the salad provided a refreshing contrast to the richer flavours of the meal. We also shared a portion of rice and a naan bread. The naan had a soft, fluffy texture with a slight crispness around the edges, making it the perfect accompaniment to the curry. It complemented the sauce exceptionally well and was ideal for scooping up every last bit.

Overall Rating: 8.37/10

To finish the meal, I chose the Double Chocolate Fudge Cake. The portion was incredibly generous and would easily satisfy any chocolate lover. It was rich, moist, and intensely chocolatey without becoming too heavy. Every bite delivered plenty of flavour, making it a fantastic dessert to end the meal. My mum selected the Apple and Blackberry Flapjack Crumble for dessert. She enjoyed it very much, praising the combination of sweet apples and slightly tart blackberries, along with the comforting crumble topping. It provided a lovely homemade feel and rounded off her meal perfectly. 23

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

To view the programme, click the image or https://heyzine.com/flip-book/36d12d15e2.html 25

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

LINGFIELD WORKHOUSE (“THE GARTH”) by Sue Quelch Withyham and Lingfield, serving a population of nearly 12,000. East Grinstead workhouse received the able-bodied (males and females) with any overflow going to Withyham. Worth took the aged and infirm, Hartfield the girls and Lingfield the boys.

Before 1834, responsibility for the relief of the poor lay at local level with parish overseers of the poor. Poor rates were dispensed to the needy, usually in the form of bread or money. In 1729, the parish agreed the building of a new workhouse. Cottages belonging to the parish were sold off to pay for the building. The image of the workhouse is one of harshness, severity and a lack of individuality. Life was dreary and uniform. There is nothing to suppose that life in the Lingfield Workhouse at that time was any different.

The Lingfield Governor appears to have tried hard to keep the boys busy and industrious. Someone was hired to teach the boys shoemaking, another to make straw hats and bonnets and also knitted stockings. Moleskin waistcoats ornamented with white metal buttons were also apparently made. In 1837 a new Governor was appointed after the previous one was found to be ‘in liquor’ at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and dismissed. With the new Governor and his wife, a much harsher regime was introduced with floggings for such misdemeanours as wetting the bed, stealing carrots and absconding.

It would appear that the inhabitants of the workhouse were put to work spinning and weaving, with a quilting frame and at least two weavers’ looms, listed in inventories. Food was boring and monotonous. Life in the Workhouse was intended to act as a deterrent. The idea was that only the destitute would wish to seek admission. Husbands, wives and children were to be separated. Workhouses rapidly entered the public imagination as symbols of degradation and the ‘respectable’ poor would do almost anything to avoid being put into them.

Over the next 14 years there was a high turnover of school teaching staff – some only staying a few weeks. Lingfield separated from the East Grinstead Union in 1897 and joined with Godstone Union. Nationally, workhouses carried on into the middle of the 20th century and still continued to be Continued on next page

In 1835 Lingfield joined the East Grinstead Union, which consisted of the parishes of East Grinstead, West Hoathly, Worth, Crawley, Hartfield, 26

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The RH7 History Group continued from peviois looked upon with fear and loathing by the poor. The original Lingfield workhouse is now a private residence – The Garth in Newchapel Road. The gardens are often open to the public under the National Gardens Scheme.

Our next talk is on Monday 13 July at the Jennings Hall, behind the High Street, Lingfield. Sue Macdonald will speak about “The Haywards and the Guest House”. The talks start at 8pm, with doors open from 7:30pm. Nonmembers are very welcome to attend our meetings - there is a £2.50 charge for visitors. For more details of future talks, see the “Events” page on our website, “rh7.org”. th

If you have any historical queries about our area the please contact us by email at mailto:rh7histsoc@gmail.com.

BUG Poem by Steve Cook Dewy with expectation Today opened like a flower ‘Til bad news like a bug crawled in And started to devour Its fragile petals hour by hour. I knew I must act swiftly Lest the day be dead soon after So I got out my best pesticide And sprayed the ruddy thing with laughter.

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The Wildlife of Sussex A talk by Michael Blencowe, the wellknown Sussex naturalist, to be held at St Swithun’s Church, East `Grinstead on 22 September 2026 at 7.30. "The diverse habitats of this southern county support a wide range of amazing species. Michael Blencowe takes you on a guided tour from the rock pools through the woodlands and up on to the South Downs and we’ll meet some amazing wildlife along the way." This talk is being presented by the charity, East Grinstead Memorial Estate (EGMEL), which is the owner of much of the East Court estate, including Ashplats Wood. All ticket proceeds will be donated to the St Swithun’s Restoration Trust, a charity responsible for raising funds to finance the preservation and repair of St Swithun’s. Doors open at 7 pm. The talk starts at 7.30 pm, concluding at approx. 8.45 pm. Each ticket costs just £5.24 (£5.00 face value plus nominal admin fee.) Tickets will go on sale to the public on 17 August and will be available via EGMEL’s ticket site partner at https://www.ticketsource.com. You can find it easily! Just use the search term “Blencowe” or “Swithuns”.

Life Hack Here is something that works for me when I am a bit restless and having trouble getting to sleep. Just chew two cloves. It not only freshens your mouth but evidently helps you relax. If just two doesn’t do it, chew two more. 28

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

School children name suites at Copthorne’s newest care home

Copthorne CE Junior School’s House Captains Ollie, Louisa, Izzy, Harry, Jason, Leo, Camille, Addie, with Headteacher Helen Denison, celebrate naming the suites at Francis Court with Care UK’s Janine Eckelt

pupils and the most popular were shared. The winning entries submitted are Wakehurst, Worth Way and Nymans and Burstow – named after beloved green spaces and villages in the local area.

Primary school pupils were chosen to name the suites at a new care home in Copthorne. Keen for names with cultural or historical significance to the area, Care UK’s Francis Court teamed up with Copthorne CE Junior School as part of its suite-naming competition.

Helen Denison, Head Teacher at Copthorne CE Junior School, said: continued on next page

The school gathered ideas from the 29

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Copthorne Schoolchildren continued from previous page “It was lovely to see our pupils have so much fun looking into the history of our local area to create the suite names.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone at Copthorne CE Junior School for coming up with the winning suite names!”

“We’re excited to see Francis Court when it’s complete and to build longlasting friendships with residents.”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, Francis Court incorporate plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home will boast its own cinema room, hair and beauty salon and pub.

The Borers Arms Road home will be divided into these four suites, each comprising a number of bedrooms and a lounge for residents. This will encourage the creation of close-knit communities within the home and provide space for group activities.

For more information about Francis Court, please visit careuk.com/franciscourt.

The purpose-built care home – which is expected to welcome the first residents in winter 2026 – will offer full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, for up to 78 older people and create 95 new jobs.

Dear Editor My uncle used to tell me that the most important thing about any journey is not arriving at one’s destination: it is the journey itself.

Janine Eckelt, Development Project Manager at Care UK, said: “Selecting the suite names for a new home is one of the key steps in preparing for opening, and we wanted to ensure the local community was involved in that decision.

He was a wonderfully wise man but a dreadful bus driver.

"The standard of entries was incredibly high, making it difficult to choose our favourites. Ultimately, we decided that names inspired by the local area and that hold meaning for the people of Copthorne were the perfect choice and reflect the community spirit we hope to create at Francis Court. 30

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Fairtrade Fortnight 2026

Fairtrade Fortnight 2026 is just around the corner!

y buying Fairtrade you are helping farmers and producers in developing countries. East Grinstead has been a Fairtrade Town since 2005 and has the support of the Town Council.

From 21 September to 4 October, people across the UK will come together to celebrate fairer trade and support the farmers, workers and communities in developing countries behind the products we rely on every day.

Two events worth putting in the diary: Harvest Big Brew with a range of stalls with local produce and Fairtrade foodstuffs and crafts, raffle and refreshments at Lingfield Community Centre, from 10-12 noon on Saturday 26 September and a Fairtrade stall, display and information point at EG Library Thursday and Friday 10am3pm and Saturday 10-1pm, (1-3 October). Please come along and support your local Fairtrade Groups.

Throughout the two weeks, the focus will be on the theme of Fair Pay and encouraging people to remember a simple truth: fair pay matters because everyone deserves the chance to live well. However we earn a living, we all deserve to be paid fairly. Supporting Fairtrade helps support fairer pay for the farmers and workers behind the products we love. Look for Fairtrade items in our local supermarkets and shops - flowers, wine, coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar etc.

Further information from Susan Joy. 07821379064. SusanJoy471@hotmail.com 33

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Inaugural Event We are excited to announce the inaugural Ashdown Forest Open Studios which is taking place this coming September to coincide with the centenary of Winnie the Pooh. The studios will be open from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September, 10am to 5pm. There will be over 80 artists/makers taking part at 20 venues situated on Ashdown Forest and in the surrounding villages, namely Forest Row, Hartfield, Crowborough, Herons Ghyll, Fairwarp, Nutley and Fletching. All the participants are Sussex based and some will be offering demonstrations and workshops, book now via the website.

Ashdown Forest, Crowborough Arts, Wealden District Council and Wealden Creative. There will be a Gala Evening at The Ashdown Forest Centre on Friday 4th September which will include a silent auction of works donated by some of the participating artists in aid of TAFF. Visit the studios and enter the competition to win a monetary prize to be spent with one of the artists/makers. Ashdown Forest Open Studios celebrates creativity, community and a deep connection to nature. Artists and makers living and working around the Forest draw daily inspiration from its unique and beautiful landscapes. The event not only aims to share this creativity response to place, but also, to contribute to the preservation and future stewardship of this special natural resource.

Come along and see the diverse creations from talented painters, ceramicists, textile artists, glass artists, sculptors and much more. The weekend is being organised in association with/sponsored by Ashdown Forest, The Ashdown Forest Foundation (TAFF), Friends of

For full details please visit our website www.ashdownforestopenstudios.co.uk

The Death Whisperer Part I: Hell hath no Fury . . . A tale of gangsters, demons, assassins, killer clergy, suicidal kittens and satanic corporations. Welcome to Planet Earth. Funny as hell.

Read excerpt Buy now 35

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The Lingfield Farmers’ Market

Brings you a warm community buzz

Lingfield Market has become one of the brightest little gems in our village calendar — a bustling, joyful gathering that brings neighbours together and celebrates the best of local produce. Held every 2nd Sunday of the month, 9am–1pm at Lingfield Primary School, it’s now a firm favourite for families, food lovers, and anyone who enjoys a warm community buzz. With 20–25 regular stalls, the market is a feast of colour and craft. You’ll find fresh fruit and veg, artisan bread, local honey, cheese, pastries, pies, sausage rolls, flowers, venison, and an ever-changing selection of handmade crafts. Truly — if it’s grown, baked, stitched, brewed, or crafted locally, you’ll find it here.

Every stallholder is part of the fabric of our community, and every visitor helps this event thrive. Month by month, the market grows stronger, more vibrant, and more loved. So come along, bring a friend, pick up something delicious, and help us continue building this wonderful community tradition. Lingfield Market is local life at its best — and everyone is welcome. Visit our website

What makes Lingfield Market special isn’t just the produce; it’s the people. 36

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Calling local musicians and singers! of the Station, every weekday morning and a Sunday Show called ‘In our Lounge’ when we step back in time a little and remember what life was like in our childhood. In addition to this, Lester brings you his weekly Feel Good Junior Fishing Show, aimed at young anglers, which has been instrumental in encouraging lots of youngsters to take up the sport. There truly is something for everyone on our Station and we have twentyfour brilliant Presenters, some from as far away as America and Australia, who bring their own kind of music daily to your computer, phone or tablet by means of our Feelgood Station App, Simple Radio, Deezer, and Alexa Skills or you can just log on at thefeelgoodstation.uk Want to hear one of your tracks played on my Radio Show and have the chance to tell people something about you or your band?

So whether you’re into rock, country, classical, the 60s,70s, 80s and much, much more, our Station is sure to be playing the kind of stuff YOU love to hear!

The Feelgood Station has listeners all over the world but my Show, Judith looks at Love and Romance, is broadcast from here, in Sussex, and I am always pleased to give our local talent the opportunity to widen their audience.

And if you would like to be part of the entertainment and appear as a guest on my Show, you can contact me at thefeelgoodmorningshow@gmail.com or through our Facebook page

As well as my own Show, I also present ‘The Feelgood Morning Magazine Show’ with Lester Jones, Co-owner 37

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Mac and Windows: which do fraudsters prefer? by Roger Lyon With all the new AI tools, image generators and productivity platforms now available, many people are trying these technologies for the first time. Ten years ago, if you downloaded software, there was a good chance it came from Microsoft, Adobe, Apple or one of a handful of familiar names. Today a search for an AI tool might produce thirty companies you have never heard of, just like cryptocurrency platforms 10 years ago. While we find our feet in the AI sector, there is plenty of room for criminals to insinuate their software.

Mac and Windows computers have changed a lot over the last decade or two. It used to be pretty easy to break into them to extract passwords and documents, or change the operating system files. Those bitter-sweet days are more or less gone. Apple and Microsoft have spent many years strengthening the security of their operating systems. Modern Macs and Windows PCs are far better protected, with systems designed to warn about suspicious software and put constraints on the damage that malicious programs can cause. As a result, successful attacks increasingly rely on persuading you to do something unfortunate rather than breaking the computer's security directly.

Fraudulent websites often look surprisingly good. They have become professionally designed, well written and almost indistinguishable from the genuine article. Artificial intelligence makes this so much easier – a persuasive website can be written and ready for visitors in minutes. You can help keep yourself safe by adding a reputation checker such as Malwarebytes Browser Guard in your browser. This will notify you about known malicious websites. It will also step in when a website starts behaving oddly such as blocking the back button.

There are many ways this can happen. Email links and attachments are a classic route – I keep receiving fake invoices asking me to fund fraudsters’ lifestyles. Another targets people when they are in unfamiliar software territory. Example: a recent malware campaign used fake ChatGPT download websites to attack computers by persuading visitors to install their special software. On the face of it, this is simply the latest online scam. What caught my attention was that it relied on people not knowing what to expect.

Continued on next page 38

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

By contrast, the Mac malware was based on a hacking framework that costs some £3000 /month to rent. It seems that while criminals must attack Windows, Macs have rich pickings too.

Mac or Windows continued from previous page Is Mac or Windows safer? Windows remains the obvious target for attackers if only because there are so many Windows machines. However, the number of malware variants for Mac grew by about 70% in 2025. Hackers are determined but generally frugal businesspeople. On the fake ChatGPT sites, the Windows version of their malware was based on freely available software.

Macs and Windows have some great security built in. Do check that your computer receives security updates. You might also like to supplement it with a malware protection package such as BitDefender or Malwarebytes.

Roger Lyon is the proprietor of East Grinstead-based RL Computer Solutions

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Volunteering at Meridian FM Myth versus Reality Meridian FM is run entirely by local volunteers, and you might have seen us in these pages last month asking for more of them. If you scrolled past thinking “not for me”, here's why you might have got it wrong. Myth: You need broadcasting experience. Reality: Most of our presenters had never touched a microphone before they joined. We train you from scratch, and you're never on air alone until you're ready. Myth: You need to sound like a radio presenter. Reality: We're not the BBC. Our best shows sound like a real person talking about something they love, whether that's music, film, local events, theatre, gardening, or their own business. Your actual voice, accent and all, is exactly what we want. Myth: You have to be a certain age or have some kind of qualification. Reality: We have members from 15 to 85. No qualifications needed,

just a willingness to give it a go. Myth: If you don't fancy being on air, there's nothing for you. Reality: Every show needs people behind the scenes too. We currently need help with our member database, IT, general admin and keeping members in the loop, useful, practical skills whether you're building a CV or just fancy learning something new. Myth: Nobody actually joins from adverts like this. Reality: Maybe not. But someone has to be first this month, and it might as well be you. If any of this sounds like it might be you, email studio@meridianfm.co.uk. No pressure, no obligation, just a conversation about what you might enjoy doing. 40

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

The Magic of Girlguiding Girlguiding East Grinstead Division covers the town and Felbridge. Every week we see over 260 girls grow in confidence, try something new, or surprise themselves. That’s the magic of Girlguiding. There are limited spaces for the new term to join Rainbows (4-7 years), Brownies (7-10 years), Guides (10-14 years) or Rangers (14-18 years). Groups meet in a range of locations and on different evenings during school term time. We’d love a few more volunteers to help make it happen. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now’s a great time to join our team. All our volunteers are DBS checked, trained and share their time, skills and enthusiasm to run or support the groups. Visit our Facebook page Girlguiding East Grinstead Division for updates, events and activities and to see a list of the different groups. To find out more and register for a place, or to volunteer, visit https://www.girlguiding.org.uk 41

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

Pronunciation of French sounds and words When you learn any language, including French, you will come across sounds that are not part of your language and are not natural to you. It is important to practise those sounds regularly to ensure that you are understood easily when speaking French. To get you started, here is a list of sounds that you will encounter during your learning journey: 1. Basic a, e, Ami(friend), moto French vowels are pure (don't glide). vowels i, o, u (Motorbike) 2. French u u Tu (you) Lips rounded while saying "ee." 3. Silent -t, -s, Petit (small), vous Many final consonants are not pronounced. final letters -d, -x (you) 4. Hard & c = /k/ before a,o,u; /s/ before e,i,y; ç always c, ç café, garçon (boy) soft C /s/. 5. Hard & Gare (station), g g = /g/ before a,o,u; /ʒ/ ("zh") before e,i,y. soft G girafe 6. CH ch Chat (cat) Usually "sh." Montagne 7. GN gn Like "ny" in canyon. (mountain) Pronounced simply "k." BUT for some Latin 8. QU qu Quatre (four) words uses in French such as Quid, you will pronounce qw 9. OU ou Vous (you) "oo" as in food. 10. EU / eu, Bleu (blue), sœur Rounded vowel; somewhere between "uh" ŒU œu (sister) and "er." “See you” next month for more pronunciation tips. Dominique French tutor, translator and interpreter Contact: 07948702788, domicook64@gmail.com for 1-to-1 lessons via zoom or face to face, or for the translation of your documents.

The Town Crier Issue 23 August 2026

[Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasise a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.]

Goodbye for now

The door is now open for your submissions for the September 2026 issue. Please address all enquiries to egtowncrier@gmail.com