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The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

The Town Crier The To wn Cri er Issue 24, September 2026

Issue 24 September 2026

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

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Welcome to the September 2026 issue of the Town Crier! This issue marks the completion of the first two years of life of our community magazine and I am pleased to mark the occasion with an issue rich in interesting and empowering content. 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 Octobert 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

Cover picture by local photographer Russell Prain. Find him on Instagram In this Issue: Alice Waykyn’s column page 2 Diagrama Foundation page 5 Bonx Trigwell profile page 8 Loving Foster Family sought page 10 Local Care Home marches ahead page 12 East Grinstead Lions page 14 Recipe of the month page 17 St Catherine’s Hospice page 18 The Natural History Society page 20 Dormansland YWI page 21 Making It Count Maths Tuition page 22 Local Artist of the Month page 23 EG Lions visit Air Ambulance page 25 Taking Care of Yourself page 27 Charity Shop Seeks Volunteers page 28 Expert Property Shop page 31 Come Join Us at the Shed! page 33 East Grinstead Bowling Club page 34 The Feelgood Station page 37 Meet the Menders (Repair Cafe) page 39 How to Handle AI in Business page 40 The Turning of the Year by Ross Symonds page 42 Poetry versus Politics page 43 Roger Lyon PC Tips page 43 Christians Against Poverty page 45 Lingfield Farmers Market page 46

Fairtrade Upcoming Events page 47 HerMove page 47

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

How to Use AI to Check Your Website Is Working Hard Enough by Alice Watkyn of Mouthy Marketing You don’t need to be a web expert to find out whether your website is doing its job. Any AI tool can look at text you give it and tell you, in plain English, what to fix. Here’s how to check three key areas, just by pasting in your own website text.

clearly explains what you do, whom you help, where you are based and how to get in touch. Ask it to list anything a new customer would still be unsure about after reading. This is a simple check to run and often turns up gaps you have stopped noticing yourself.

Can People Find You in Search? Paste the text from your homepage into an AI tool and ask it to check whether your page titles and headings clearly describe what you do. It will point out gaps, such as a confusing heading, or a title that doesn’t represent something a customer would search for. You can also ask it to suggest better wording.

Just ten minutes with an AI tool can show you key information to get more visitors and more buyers.

Do Visitors Turn into Customers? Paste in the text from your homepage or upload a screenshot and ask your AI tool to read it as if it were a customer trying to book, buy or contact you. Ask it to flag anything confusing or missing, such as a hard-to-find phone number, a complicated form or a weak call to action. Ask it to suggest what a stronger version of that page would say. Is Your Information Clear and Complete? Paste in the text from your key pages and ask your AI tool to check whether it

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Duckyls Farm Finalist for prestigious BBC Make a Difference Award

Diagrama Foundation’s Duckyls Farm near East Grinstead is a finalist for a BBC Make a Difference Award in the Environment category, to recognise its remarkable transformation into a thriving, inclusive space where adults with a learning disability are helping to care for and shape the land.

Woodland areas had become unsafe because of unmanaged trees and ash dieback, making the farm unsuitable for people to safely learn, work and enjoy the outdoors.

In just over a year, Duckyls Farm has been transformed from a neglected and unsafe site into a vibrant environment where people can learn, develop practical skills and enjoy the benefits of nature and working with animals.

Ditches have been cleared, safe pathways created and buildings renovated into welcoming, practical spaces. A former barn has been transformed into a working classroom with a kitchen, providing opportunities to learn practical life skills.

When Diagrama Community Services took on the 100-acre farm, it had been unmanaged for decades. Blocked ditches were causing flooding, fences were broken, buildings were run down and the site was littered with old tyres, waste and unused equipment.

Today, Duckyls Farm is a very different place.

The farm is also now home to alpacas, horses, goats, chickens and rabbits, with the people attending the service actively involved in their daily care. People are also helping to grow Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Duckyls Farm continued from previous page vegetables, plant trees, maintain the land and contribute to the running and development of the farm. Importantly, the vision for Duckyls Farm is being shaped alongside the people it supports, with individuals having a say in what is grown, which animals they care for and how the farm develops.

and hard work of the whole team.We wish everyone involved the very best of luck at the awards.”

Traditional land management practices are also being incorporated into the long-term plans for the farm, helping to create a sustainable environment that benefits both people and nature.

If you’d like to support the work at Duckyls Farm, you can help by purchasing an item from their Amazon Wishlist: https://linktr.ee/diagramaamazonwishl ist.

The winner will be announced at the BBC Make a Difference Awards ceremony on 22 September at The Chequer Mead Theatre in East Grinstead.

For more information about Community Services at Duckyls Farm please visit: www.diagramacommunity.org.uk

Every contribution, big or small, helps enhance their daily lives. (Picture Credit – Graham Baker Photography)

David McGuire, CEO of Diagrama Foundation, said: “We are incredibly proud of the Duckyls Farm team and delighted that their work has been recognised. They have achieved an extraordinary transformation, turning a neglected and unsafe site into a place where people can learn, develop skills, care for animals and take real pride in their surroundings.

About the BBC make a Difference Awards

“What makes Duckyls particularly special is that the people we support are not simply visitors to the farm, they are actively involved in shaping its future. This recognition is a wonderful acknowledgement of their contribution, as well as the dedication

Diagrama Community Services, which operates at Duckyls Farm, is for people with a learning disability, physical and sensory impairment, acquired brain injury and/or autism.

The BBC Make a Difference Awards celebrate people and organisations making a positive difference in their communities. About Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm

Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Duckyls Farm continued from previous page The Community Services provide a choice of meaningful, enjoyable occupational opportunities and activities, supporting people to develop skills that promote independence, transfer to employment and can be used in their daily lives. The life skills activities include looking after farm animals, growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, making bird boxes and hedgehog houses, repairing and maintaining fences, cooking, painting, drawing, online safety and managing money.

For more information go www.diagramacommunity.org.uk

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

The Inner Silent Way Our profile of local musician, songwriter and author, the multi-talented Bonx Trigwell Bonx Trigwell grew up in the Crystal Palace area of south London UK and moved to Sussex in his mid-teens, where secondary school was boring and very uneventful. At 15 the first band he joined, called ‘Anerley Park’ was based in South London and played a mixture of Jazz/rock fusion, inspired by trumpet player Miles Davis’s blending of many different styles of improvised instrumental music. With his brother Dave Trigwell on drums and Paul Thomas on guitar they were regulars at the Warehouse theatre next to East Croydon station, where after gigs a quick trip to the Porter and Sorter pub was a regular port of call. In later years Dave then started his own band ‘Karma’ with musicians from Sussex, including the fabulous Carolyn Hills on keyboards, and did hundreds of gigs on the south coast circuit culminating in Bonx winning a silver cup for best contemporary musician at the Southampton Jazz festival. Karma then carried on the tradition of playing gigs around the south coast circuit for many years and were very popular in Brighton and Hastings. By 1990 Bonx decided to form his own band ‘Pump’ as he had been writing

songs for Karma but wanted to branch out and became the singer as well as guitarist and over the years and after many personnel changes, Pump were regulars on the South London circuit and became very popular with the current ‘indie-pop’ label. In 1995 he worked with seasoned producer Colin Thurston, who produced the ‘Rio’ album for Duran Duran amongst many other charttopping acts at the Roundhouse studios in Camden, London. They recorded a tribute song called ‘Goodbye Johnny’ for the Evacuees of WW2, of which Bonx’s Mum was part. He was also active as a session musician/guitarist in two London studios, Clink Street, London bridge, and New World Music in Fleet Street/ Islington for several years. In the summer of 1999, a concert was held in a country house garden in Sussex and 1,500 free tickets were Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Bonx Trigwell continued from previous page printed for the event; and by the time Pump hit the stage there were almost 3,000 people dancing on the lawns and in the flowerbeds. Also, at the time he was playing in a fun covers band ‘The Bullfrogs’ which mainly did large venues, parties and functions. The highlight with the Bullfrogs was a New Year’s Eve gig in an old aircraft hangar on the Ashdown Forest in Sussex in 1999-2000, in front of a very large and very drunk crowd. He was now also performing as a solo artist, playing his own songs at venues around Sussex. In 2010 he began writing a series of books called Inner Silent Way. Pump continued to perform on the London/Sussex gig circuit up until 2019, when as we all know, things took a turn for the worse. Bonx continued to work on the idea of a series of books all linked together for a continuing story line that passes through time, called Inner Silent Way and has been interviewed on BBC Radio Sussex, Surrey and Kent about his writing escapades. It was also previewed at the London Book fair at Earls Court in 2011 on their 40th anniversary. He is also a prolific songwriter, having written over 50 songs to date; many of these are available to listen on the

music page. All songs, lyrics and arrangements are copyright Bonx Trigwell 2026. Except 'Wake me Gently' which is a song by Alice Cooper. Warner Bros inc. One of Bonx’s favourite quotes is… “To be able to paint pictures with words and music gives so much deeper meaning and often an explanation to the ups and downs of life.” Inner Silent Way has been hailed as, “Descriptive, eloquent and engaging. Vibrant characters, cracking humour and a superb author. A masterpiece and an absolute gem.” Links BOOKS MUSIC FACEBOOK

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Brother and Sister Looking for a Safe Place to Call Home Together A not-for-profit fostering agency is appealing for a compassionate family to provide a loving temporary foster home for a young brother and sister who desperately want to stay together. Diagrama Fostering, which supports foster carers across London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, is searching for a foster family with two spare bedrooms who can offer stability, security and warmth to a five-year-old boy and his seven-year-old sister. The siblings have times when they get on well and have fun together, they also have times when they need adult support to nurture their sibling relationship. They are the only family each other have and therefore there is a strong desire for them to grow up together and not be separated. The five-year-old boy has some developmental delays which we

anticipate will impact him throughout his childhood. He would benefit from patient, nurturing carers who can help him reach his full potential. His older sister is protective of her younger brother and finds it challenging to let go of these caring responsibilities. She struggles to enjoy her interests of reading and drawing because of the challenges she has faced so far in life. The appeal comes at a time when the UK is facing a critical shortage of foster carers. Around 100 children enter care every day, yet there are simply not enough foster families available. As a result, many brothers and sisters are separated because Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Diagrama fostering continued from previous page there is no suitable foster home that can accommodate them together. Kate Patel, Head of Fostering and Adoption at Diagrama Fostering, said: "These two young children have one simple wish, to stay together in a loving home where they can feel safe, go to school, make friends, enjoy after-school clubs and just be children. They have already experienced significant change in their young lives and being able to remain together would provide them with comfort, reassurance and a sense of belonging at a time when they need it most. "We urgently need more people to come forward and consider fostering. Every day around 100 children enter the care system, and sadly there are not enough foster carers to meet the growing demand. Keeping siblings together whenever it is safe and appropriate is incredibly important, as they are often each other's greatest source of comfort. "Many people dismiss the idea of fostering because they think they wouldn't be suitable but if you have a spare bedroom, patience, compassion and a desire to make a difference, you could provide the stable, nurturing home so desperately needed by so many children. You won't be on your own: fostering is a professional, paid

role, and we provide comprehensive training, ongoing support and a dedicated social worker every step of the way." Diagrama Fostering finds homes for the children who have waited the longest and sadly there are too many children who have been waiting too long. Diagrama welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, whether single, married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner. Previous experience of caring for children is not essential, as full training and continuous support are provided throughout every stage of the fostering journey. Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer with Diagrama Fostering is encouraged to get in touch for an informal, no-obligation conversation or to attend an online information session. By opening your home, you could help keep brothers and sisters together and give vulnerable children the safe, loving home they deserve, while making a lasting difference to their future. To find out more about fostering with Diagrama Fostering visit www.diagramafostering.org.uk or to book a place on a free information session visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/junebecome-a-foster-carer-withdiagrama-fostering-tickets1987705299057

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

East Grinstead care home marches ahead with veteran-friendly status

The Mill View team celebrating the home’s new accreditation

A care home in East Grinstead has been recognised for its commitment to the armed forces community. Care UK’s Mill View, on Sunnyside Close, officially received Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status to certify enhanced care and support for veterans living at the home. The VFF initiative was launched in 2023 with the aim of tackling loneliness and isolation and delivering improved health and wellbeing outcomes for more than 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England. To achieve its accreditation, Mill

View was required to meet eight standards, including recording armed forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services such as the local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide help for veterans and their partners. The care home has also introduced a range of activities, including monthly veteran-friendly roast lunches, for those from East Grinstead and the surrounding areas. Trish Banks, Home Manager at Mill Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Mill View Marches Ahead continued from previous page View, said, “We're thrilled to have become a VFF-approved care home. It helps ensure veterans living here, as well as those in the wider community, feel valued, recognised and supported. “Many residents have fascinating service histories and, through this framework, we can celebrate those experiences while helping them access the right care, support and connections. We’ve learnt so much throughout the process and have already started introducing new initiatives, such as poppy wreath making with the local school. “Achieving this accreditation has been a real team effort, and I’d like

to thank everyone involved. We look forward to welcoming more veterans from the community into our home.” Mill View has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. It features state-of-theart facilities including a cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub. For more information about Mill View, please email Customer Relations Manager Beverly Jordan at mailto:beverly.jordan@careuk.com, call 01342 590 415 or visit https://www.careuk.com/carehomes/mill-view-east-grinstead

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Recently, East Grinstead & District Lions spent a lovely morning at Duckyls Farm, West Hoathly. Earlier in the year, the Club had purchased three polytunnels for Duckyls and members were delighted to see that they are now full of fabulous produce. Set in 100 acres of natural beauty, Duckyls is a residential care home for people with learning disabilities. They provide personalised support for all residents so that they can thrive and fulfil their individual potential. Thank you to residents Paul and Robert and Duckyls' managers for showing us around and sharing their plans for the future. Visit our Website Visit Duckyls Farm

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

With grateful thanks to the Broadley family, East Grinstead Art Society are pleased to offer our new selection of artworks in Broadleys windows.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Recipe of the Month

Courgette Loaf This recipe is free of sugar and uses buckwheat flour instead of wheatbased flour so not only is it delicious it is also very healthy. It is also very easy to make. Take one large courgette, peel off the outer skin and grate it. You will need about 200g of grated courgette. Wrap the grated courgette in a clean tea towel and squeeze out excess moisture. Line a loaf tin with baking paper. Place in a blender a fistful of nuts and seeds (whichever you prefer – I used walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds) and blend for a few seconds.

Do you have a healthy recipe you would like to share? Send it now to egtowncrier@gmail.com

Then take the ground nuts and seeds and mix together with 175ml of olive oil plus 125g of stevia plus 2 eggs plus 1 tsp of vanilla essence. Then fold in 275g of buckwheat flour plus the grated courgette. Place the mixture in the baking tin and bake for about 55 minutes at 180° until is a golden brown and when you stick a knife into it, the knife comes out clean. If any loaf sticks to the knife, it means the inside of the loaf is not fully cooked and needs a few more minutes in the oven. Once cooked, place on a rack and allow to cool

CLICK HERE

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

St Catherine’s Hospice Partners with Local Hospice Lottery to raise £3.7 million over the next five years St Catherine’s Hospice is delighted to announce the launch of a new partnership that will significantly increase its lottery income over the coming years. The hospice will be working with Local Hospice Lottery to manage its lottery programme, and it is hoped that more than £3,700,000 will be raised for its specialist palliative and end-of-life care over the next five years. Local Hospice Lottery is a not-forprofit, hospice-owned society lottery. From the end of August 2026, St Catherine’s will be one of 46 hospice charities throughout Great Britain benefitting from the proceeds raised from its weekly draws. This regular and reliable income will help fund St Catherine’s vital care for people living with a terminal illness and their families across West Sussex and East Surrey. Taking part in the lottery is an easy, affordable and fun way to help provide hospice care locally and people can get involved by joining online now at www.localhospicelottery.org.

Danielle Murphy, Head of Public Fundraising at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Local Hospice Lottery, a collaboration that promises to significantly increase the funds available for our specialist care services. This new partnership will provide a reliable and sustainable income stream to support patients and their families across West Sussex and East Surrey. We want to thank our supporters for their continued generosity and encourage everyone to get involved. Together, we can make an even greater difference to the lives of those in our community requiring specialist end-of-life care.” Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

St Catherines Hospice continued from previous page By sharing costs and overheads, Local Hospice Lottery’s innovative and collaborative model ensures that as much money as possible goes directly to fund hospice care, whilst also giving supporters the opportunity to win a larger prize fund and be part of something incredible. For each £1 entry in the weekly draw, Local Hospice Lottery will give between 60% and 80% of profits from individuals playing in support of St Catherine’s to the hospice. This is significantly more than most other society lotteries, and, to date, Local Hospice Lottery has raised over £80 million for hospice care across the UK. £12 million was raised in the last year alone. The hospice considered various options to develop the income stream from its existing lottery and selected Local Hospice Lottery as the best option for the organisation and its supporters. St Catherine’s will now receive more from every £1 entry than it did previously and the more local people who play, the more income the charity will receive.

Susie Wallington, Senior Staff Nurse at St Catherine’s, is often reminded of the vital role the hospice plays in people’s lives: “Families often tell us how much they appreciate the little things; the way we listened, how we cared for their loved one with compassion and dignity and the peaceful environment we provide on our hospice Ward or our expert support at home.” Thanks to the sustainable income raised through this new lottery partnership, St Catherine’s can care for patients and their families, both now and in the future. Just £6 a month could make all the difference to the final moments of someone’s life. To help recruit new players and raise more money for local hospice care, a team of paid fundraisers will be working across the local area in West Sussex and East Surrey - both doorto-door and at venues - offering people the opportunity to sign up to the lottery. Each member of the team will be wearing a uniform and have a Local Hospice Lottery photo identity card. If you would like to view photos of the fundraisers, or are interested in becoming a paid fundraiser yourself, please visit the Local Hospice Lottery website at www.localhospicelottery.org

Visit St Catherines Hospice 19

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

The Natural History Society On Monday 21st September, the Natural History Society commence their autumn programme with a talk on The Surrey Nature Recovery Strategy. Then on Monday 19th October we welcome Steve Homewood, naturalist, wildlife photographer, tour guide and author who will talk about the “Living Shoreline” Please come along to hear how Surrey aims to reverse the nature loss caused by pollution, pesticide use, housing developments and climate change. This will be a fascinating talk and it comes highly recommended.

Venue Trinity Methodist Church, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead. £4.50 on the door (£3.00 for members). Refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 7.30 pm

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Latest News from Dormansland YWI by Marion Hornall on behalf of YWI Dormansland

August found us doing a local Scavenger Hunt, which involved solving puzzles or limericks about local houses and landmarks around the village. It’s amazing how many local cottages have amazing names, a gentle reminder of times gone by. The group going to see Oliver in the West End at the end of August had a great time; it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and although many of us have seen it before, it’s always great to see a new production with all the familiar songs. Unfortunately, September has seen some last-minute changes to our organised schedule; the monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, 15th September, a week later than usual. Our advertised speaker had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, so we are very grateful for Susan Howe stepping in at the last minute to tell us about “The Indiscreet Revelations of a

LIFE HACK HERE’S A HANDY WINDOW CLEANING TIP:

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Tour Guide”. In October, we are going to be informed about scams and frauds and how to protect yourself, something we all need to be aware of. 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. www.ywidormansland.org.uk.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

A New School Year, A Fresh Start Maths tutor, Helen Chisholm’s monthly column gives valuable tips on how to excel or help your children excel at maths

By the time you are reading this, children will have had a little time to settle into their new classes, routines and perhaps even some new mathematical challenges. The start of a school year can bring a mixture of excitement and nerves, particularly when it comes to maths.

who is struggling with a new topic doesn't necessarily need to work harder; they may simply have a gap in an earlier skill. Revisiting and strengthening those foundations can make new learning feel much more manageable.

However, September is also a wonderful opportunity to take a fresh approach.

Setting Realistic Maths Goals

A new year doesn't mean that everything has to be perfect from day one. It is simply a chance to build confidence, identify areas that may need some attention and set realistic goals for the months ahead. Settling In and Building Confidence It is completely normal for children to find some areas of maths easier than others. A new teacher, new topics or a step up into a new year group can sometimes make previously confident learners feel uncertain. Rather than worrying about what a child can't do, try focusing on what they can do already and building from there. Confidence grows through small successes! Finding and Filling the Gaps Maths is a subject where ideas build upon one another. Sometimes, a child

Rather than aiming for vague goals such as “getting better at maths”, encourage children to choose something specific. It might be learning a times table, becoming more confident with fractions, practising mental arithmetic or simply learning not to give up when a question feels difficult. The most important thing to remember is that progress doesn't have to happen overnight. A new school year offers a fresh opportunity to develop skills, confidence and resilience, one step at a time. Whether your child loves maths or currently finds it challenging, a positive start built on realistic goals and strong foundations can make all the difference in the months ahead.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Local Artist of the Month

Marijke Bentley I don’t remember any art lessons at school except a painting of harvest time done as a test. The teacher lined up the paintings in marking order and proceeded to trash mine with 15% in front of all the class. I learned what a bad teacher was; one who ruins your self-confidence.

that some abstract painting by an 8year-old Fairground boy looked better than the abstract painting that was a permanent feature of the entrance hall. I took secondary age Travellers to an exhibition of Traveller adult’s work at Greenwich University. I didn’t realise that I was getting inspiration myself.

I began Primary school teaching in an inner ring school. I remember a boy coming to school with bare feet as he had no shoes. The only art I did was for the children’s lessons. I finished working as a principal advisory teacher for Traveller education. My work had included developing a distance learning project with the EEC. It was designed to be used by any children who missed schooling because of their parents’ occupation e.g. living on barges on the Rhine, or in circus work. When I prepared teaching materials, there were tempting tins of graphite and coloured pencils provided. I remember thinking that I would like to try them. Perhaps I could do this.

I am a lifelong learner and when I retired it was very exciting to learn about making art myself as it was all new to me. I have always been a passionate gardener so when arthritis kicked in, painting the plants was the natural next step. So began 15 years of botanical artwork. I already knew the value of getting a good teacher. Where better to look than RHS gold medal winners and stars of the illustrious Society of Botanical Painters? That led me to a week-long course at Kingcombe nature reserve in Devon. Looking at a meadow at 5am I was astounded by the huge variety of plants, orchids, moths and butterflies. The overnight moth traps showed this too. We truly don’t know what we are losing or missing.

I put up an exhibition of Traveller children’s schoolwork in the OFSTED HQ in London. It was pleasing to note

Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Marijke Bentley continued from previous page I ordered moth and butterfly eggs online and tended them through their developing stages before release. This was fascinating for photographing and painting. Later this got me interested in painting pastel animals because of the life in them. I found an excellent teacher online, Will Kemp, who introduced me to oils and acrylics. Following those lessons gave me the confidence to be able to do it on my own. I have done the same to try watercolour, gouache and pastel work with Jason Morgan. I love the rich range of materials available. I blame being the stationery monitor at school for my getting carried away and delight in collecting far too many art materials. I’ve been busy with my art now for 20 years and it makes me look at the world in a different way. It enhances my appreciation of colour and tone and shape and form around me even if I am not making art. When my art group at Sevenoaks nature reserve closed down, it was time to look for likeminded company nearer home. I joined the East Grinstead Art Society 2 years ago and have enjoyed regularly watching skilled artists demonstrate. It makes your fingers itch to have a go. The members share their efforts and give and take advice and encouragement in the beautiful venue overlooking East Court parkland.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

East Grinstead Lions visit Air Ambulance at Redhill Aerodrome Recently, a number of EG & District Lions Club members joined members of other Lions Clubs in the Southeast at Redhill Aerodrome to visit the Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) to see some of the equipment they have been able to purchase with Lions Clubs’ donations. These include; night flying goggles, rapid response vehicles, video laryngoscopes and portable patient monitors. Lions Clubs in the Southeast have raised vital funds for the Air Ambulance since 2012. KSS are an independent charity, funded 91% through public funding. They are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Last year they attended 3,100 emergency incidents and on average receive nine emergency calls a day. Amazingly, the highly skilled doctors and paramedics can perform open heart surgery and emergency anaesthesia in the helicopters! Visit our Website Visit Air Ambulance

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Taking care of yourself when you work at a desk Here are some useful tips provided by professional translator and interpreter, Dominique. Do you have any tips on staying healthy? Write in to the Town Crier and let us know. As a professional translator of 30 years, I have spent a lot of time sitting down at my desk, typing away in English or in French, depending on the work received. There are many people who, like me, spend most of their days at a computer, and research has found that unfortunately this is not good for anybody’s health. Prolonged sitting can affect blood circulation and slow down metabolism, so it is important to move in between tasks. Here are a few tips to stay healthy and sprightly as a desk/computer worker: 1. Make sure to stand up every hour, stretch and walk about for around 2 minutes. You’ll avoid getting stiff, backache and you will “reset” your concentration. My favourite two-minute walk is to the kettle for a nice cuppa, but I sometimes just go and ruffle the cat’s hair. 2. If you can, work part of the time sitting down, and part of the time standing up, if you have a desk that enables you to do so. 3. Make sure to hydrate enough throughout the day. It is easy not to notice that you are dehydrating as you don’t feel like you are doing much. But you are.

4. Don’t snack unless you really are hungry. If you don’t move much, you’ll put on weight more easily, especially as the years add up, so will the extra pounds. 5. If you can have a walk outside at lunch time, then do so. You’ll get fresh air and exercise and putting your attention on the things around you will refresh you mentally too, making you ready to take on the rest of the day. 6. If like me you are on the short side, get a footrest. You’ll avoid sitting in awkward positions that are detrimental to your posture and blood circulation. 7. Make sure your chair is comfortable and at the right height for you. 8. At the end of the working day, if you are working from home, try and go into the garden or go for a walk and, if working in an office, see if you can bike or walk home. 9. To protect your eyes, get an antiblue screen to put on top of your computer. Dominique French translator and interpreter Passionate about good food, organic growing and herbal remedies. Email domicook64@gmail.com

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Volunteer at St. Catherine’s Hospice East Grinstead charity shop Looking to gain retail experience, meet new people, or simply give back to your community? Join the friendly team at one of St Catherine’s Hospice’s busy charity shops and enjoy a fun, hands-on role that makes a real difference. As a Retail Shop Volunteer, you’ll help with everything from accepting donations and sorting stock to steaming clothes, pricing items, and creating eye-catching displays. You’ll also assist customers, work the till (if aged over 16), and help keep the shop looking its best. Every shift is different – and every task helps fund vital hospice care. Whether you're a people person, a fashion lover, or just want to support a great cause, we’d love to welcome you on board. Full training is provided – all you need is a willingness to help! To find out more contact the Volunteering Team at St Catherine’s Hospice on 01293 447 351.

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The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

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The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Choosing the Right Estate Agent to Sell Your Home Some useful advice by Tina Reimer of the Expert Property Shop Selling your home is a big decision and choosing the right estate agent can make a real difference to both your experience and the result. The right agent could help you achieve a quicker sale, attract the right buyers and make the whole process feel much less stressful. The wrong choice could mean your property sitting on the market for longer than necessary, poor communication or marketing that simply doesn’t show your home at its best. So, how do you choose? It can be tempting to go with the agent who gives you the highest valuation or offers the lowest fee, but there is much more to consider. Look at how they will market your home A good estate agent should understand the local property market; know what buyers are looking for and have a clear plan for presenting your home in the best possible way. Ask what their marketing will include. Will there be professionalquality photography? Where will your property be advertised? How will they make it stand out from similar homes

already on the market? Good photographs, an appealing and accurate description and proactive marketing can make an enormous difference to that all-important first impression. Communication really matters It is also worth asking who will look after your sale. Will the person you meet at the valuation remain your main point of contact, or will you be passed to someone else once you sign the agreement? Who will do your viewings, and will they be knowledgeable about your property or not? Selling a property can have its challenges, so having an agent who knows your home, listens to you, communicates clearly and keeps you informed can make the experience considerably easier. Ask how often you can expect updates and how feedback from viewings will be handled. Be realistic about the valuation The highest valuation isn't necessarily the best one. Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Choosing the right Estate Agent continued from previous page An asking price that is too high can discourage potential buyers and leave a property sitting on the market. On the other hand, pricing too low may generate plenty of interest and quick offers but could mean you don't achieve the best result for your circumstances. An experienced agent should be able to explain why they are recommending a particular asking price and show you evidence from comparable sold properties through recent activity in the local market. Don't be afraid to ask questions about how they arrived at their figure. Interview more than one agent Finally, take the time to meet a few agents before making your decision.

Think of it as an interview. Ask questions, compare their approach and get a feel for the person as well as the company. Do they seem genuinely interested in your home and your reasons for moving? Do they have a clear plan for selling it? And, perhaps most importantly, do you feel you can trust them to give you straightforward advice when you need it? Choosing an estate agent shouldn't simply be about who wants your instruction the most. It should be about finding someone who you believe will work hard on your behalf and support you from the moment your property goes on the market until the keys finally change hands. A little time spent choosing wisely at the beginning could make your whole moving experience a much happier one.

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. 32

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Come and Join Us at the Shed!

Tucked away behind the Community Centre on Hartfield Road in Forest Row, The Shed is a wonderful little workshop where people from all sorts of backgrounds and with all levels of experience come together to make things from timber and, just as importantly, enjoy good company along the way. At the moment, wood is our main material, but we’re already looking at ways we can expand into other crafts and materials in the future. When are we open? Wednesdays & Saturdays 10am – 2pm There’s no need to be an expert — whether you’ve got years of woodworking experience or you’re simply curious and fancy having a go, you’ll find a friendly bunch of

people ready to welcome you. We ask for just £3 per session to help cover the cost of tea, coffee and biscuits (and there’s certainly no shortage of tea!). After you’ve popped in a few times and decided you like us, annual membership is just £35. Due to insurance requirements, membership is currently 18+ but there is definitely no upper age limit! So why not pop in one Wednesday or Saturday morning? You don’t even have to pick up a piece of wood! Come in for a cuppa, meet the gang and see what we’re up to. You never know… you might leave with a project! Find us on Facebook

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

East Grinstead Bowling Club

Finals Competitions Day The East Grinstead Bowling Club held their Finals Competition Finals Day on Saturday 5th September. This was the culmination of various competitions held throughout the year between Members. The Competitions included: Men’s Singles, Mixed Open Competition, Drawn Pairs and Mixed Competition. The sun shone for a fabulous day attended by many members to participate, watch and enjoy the game. Plus, homemade refreshments were shared afterwards.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

We decided to call it The Feelgood Station because that was what we wanted to do, make our listeners feel good, and we hoped we could enlist some other like-minded presenters to create the sort of station that we wanted it to be. But, as I mentioned in an earlier article, establishing a new Radio Station does not happen overnight! In the beginning, before we were able to sort out the necessary licences needed to broadcast music, we could only use music from CDs we already owned to keep the music constantly going because, enthusiastic though we were, we couldn’t broadcast shows 24/7 with only the 2 of us! It’s September now, which means that we at The Feelgood Station are celebrating the 4th birthday of our Radio Station and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal listeners who have made our enterprise such a success! Lester Jones and I met whilst working on another Station, which to us lacked the feel-good quality that we both felt was really important in radio. We had a lot of great ideas but just weren't able to use them so we thought why not start our own station so that we could do exactly as we pleased. And that is what we did!

There are 25 of us now, some from as far away as America and Australia bringing you everything from the rock, country, soul, punk, decades and everything in between, as well as Lester’s Feelgood Fishing Show, my ‘Look at Love and Romance’, our weekly invitation to join us both ‘In our Lounge’ on Sundays and our daily Feelgood Morning Magazine Show, full of music and fun chat every weekday morning between 9 - 11. So, if you fancy Feeling Good (and who doesn’t?) just tune in to thefeelgoodstation.uk or find us on our App, Simple Radio, Deezer & Alexa Skills!

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Meet the Menders at Forest Row Repair Café As part of an ongoing series, Fleur Britten meets repairer Andy Waye on the electricals team. At the Forest Row Repair Café, we like to say that we’ll have a go at fixing pretty much anything you can carry in. This turns out to be something of a shame when it comes to the talents of one of our repairers. Andy Waye, who’s been volunteering on our electrics and electronics team for about three years, built a successful career around repairing and modifying electron microscopes. If you know anything about microscopy (no, us neither), you’ll know that they’re not exactly portable: “The ones I worked on would fill a room and cost a couple of million pounds,” explains Andy. Which would explain why no-one’s ever brought one in. Andy, now retired and a resident of Forest Row for the last 24 years, made quite a name for himself in the field, becoming the go-to for epic electron microscope work. It took him to the USSR (“They were bloody awkward about signing it off!”), the US, Japan, Australia and all over Europe. Imagine dismantling a microscope that might be nine or ten feet high and then getting it all back together again – and working! In amongst that, he also did a physics

degree as a mature student (aged 40), at the University of Sussex. The subject was such a good fit for Andy that one of his professors would introduce him by saying, “He’s just playing here,” he recalls. During his varied career, he also found himself repairing “100,000-volt generators – not something you go into lightly”, developing containment materials for nuclear reactors, as well as passive magnetic bearings (no, us neither) and working in the same lab as Heinrich Rohrer, the Swiss Nobel Prize-winning physicist. So, we can’t help but feel rather lucky that yet another of our volunteers is so accomplished… and that no-one has yet brought in a broken electron microscope. The next Repair Café will be on Saturday 19th September and the one after that on Saturday 17th October at the Community Centre, Forest Row RH18 5DZ. 10am-1pm, with last orders at 12.30pm.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

MID SUSSEX BUSINESSES NEED AN AI ESCALATION RULE BEFORE AUTOMATION SPREADS by Gleb Tsipursky, PhD Mid Sussex businesses are already getting practical advice about how to use AI responsibly. The district council’s September 8 AI event focused on governance, cyber security, risk management and practical adoption. A useful next step is to make one rule explicit: when must an AI-assisted workflow stop and return the decision to a person? That question matters because AI rarely arrives in a business as one dramatic transformation. It usually spreads task by task. Someone uses it to draft a customer response. Another employee asks it to compare supplier documents. A manager uses it to summarize applications or organize information for a decision. Each individual use can look small, while the combined dependence grows quickly. The danger appears when a workflow keeps moving after the situation has changed. An AI system may be missing a relevant document, working from

outdated information, handling a case outside its normal pattern, or producing a recommendation that carries more consequence than the routine cases used to design the process. Businesses need an escalation rule before that happens. The rule can be simple. Identify the conditions that require a person to take over. Those conditions might include conflicting records, missing source material, sensitive personal information, unusually high financial consequences, a recommendation outside the employee’s authority, or an answer the responsible employee cannot explain well enough to defend. The exact triggers should reflect the work. A retailer, trades business, professional practice, charity, or local employer will face different risks. What matters is that the trigger exists before an awkward case arrives. East Grinstead businesses already operate in an environment where escalation and shared intelligence are familiar ideas. The Mid Sussex Business Crime Partnership includes East Grinstead and gives participating businesses ways to report incidents, Continued on next page

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Gleb Tsipursky, continued from previous page training. If employees repeatedly share intelligence and receive local override the AI for good reasons, that alerts. That model rests on a practical pattern says something important principle: unusual or risky events about where human judgment still should become visible to the right adds value. people rather than remain isolated This approach also reduces a common with whoever first encounters them. management problem: assuming silence means success. Employees AI adoption needs the same may quietly fix weak AI output discipline. without reporting it because correcting the answer feels faster than explaining An escalation rule should name the the failure. Over time, leaders see an apparently smooth automated process human owner as clearly as the trigger. while employees carry hidden rework. “Ask a manager” is weak if three managers assume someone else is A clear escalation rule makes reporting responsible. For each consequential part of the workflow rather than an recurring workflow, one role should admission that someone used the own the decision about whether the technology badly. automation may continue, needs AI can help smaller organizations correction, or should be paused. work faster, but speed becomes useful only when responsibility remains The business should also keep a short visible. Mid Sussex businesses should record of escalations. This does not decide where automation ends and require an elaborate compliance human judgment resumes while the system. A simple log can capture what workflows are still easy to understand. Once AI becomes routine, recovering triggered review, what the person that boundary gets much harder. found, what decision was made, and whether the workflow needs to Gleb Tsipursky, PhD, a behavioural change. scientist, is CEO of Disaster That record turns exceptions into useful information. If the same problem keeps appearing, the business can improve the prompt, source material, instructions, permissions, or

Avoidance Experts, and author of The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results (Georgetown University Press, 2026). https://disasteravoidanceexperts.co m/aibook

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

The Turning of the Year by Ross Symonds

September is an odd little month. Summer hasn't quite left but autumn is already creeping in around the edges. The first leaves are turning, berries are ripening and, after the first decent rains, the first mushrooms are beginning to pop up. For an ecologist, it's one of the most interesting times of year. Plants are preparing for winter, birds are moving through on migration and the woodland floor is suddenly busy with fungi. It's also a great time to explore the hedgerows. Blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, hawthorn and hazelnuts are all coming into season. But we're not the only ones after them. A hedgerow is a larder for birds and mammals too, so take a little and leave plenty behind. Our ancestors watched these changes closely. Before calendars and weather apps, the arrival of particular fruits, flowers, fungi and birds helped people understand the turning of the year. September marked the

transition from summer abundance towards winter preparation. I'm Ross, a local ecologist, forager and educator. If you need an ecologist for wildlife surveys, habitat assessments, ecological reports or advice on managing land for nature, I'm available for private work locally. Ecology, wildlife surveys & habitat advice Email: info@atobeeeacology.co.uk Web: atobeeecology.co.uk In the meantime, get outside and see what the season is telling you. Just remember don't munch on a hunch.

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

POETRY vs POLITICS

Some Handy PC Tips

by Steve Cook

by Roger Lyon

God help me I keep getting sucked into politics That holds me ‘gainst my will transfixed When I’d rather be writing poetry, And dream my dreams with probity. Some say a poem ne’er saved the world Nor kept the banners of our hate tight furled And no poem e’er set man free, I say, “We’ll my friend, we’ll see.”

I spend a lot of hours looking at computers. In the hope that I may have picked up an occasionally useful thing or two, here are some tips of handy features that you may not be using yet.

In truth no poem e’er made man a slave Or consigned a child to an early grave Or brought a nation to its knees Or silenced thought or spread disease. It makes fierce men weep but not for long And can remind the weak they can be strong. It springs from a well of infinite depth And echoes forever, transcending death. A poem can great hopes inspire And bid men set their goals much higher, Found a city or point to the stars Or guide a suitor to his true love’s arms. No culture great e’er lacked great verse But where it ebbed was the tide reversed. And politics ne’er will make us whole While there’s no poetry in its soul.

On a Mac, one of the most useful tools is Quick Look. If you select almost any file and press the space bar, a preview window opens instantly. This works for photos, PDFs, documents and even videos. You can also make quick edits here. For example, you can rotate or crop images, trim videos, or pop some annotations on a PDF – all without opening another application. And it is one of the simplest ways to review files. Another helpful macOS feature is Live Text, which allows you to copy text directly from images and videos. If you open a photo or screenshot containing text, you can simply select the words with your cursor as if they were in a document. This is brilliant for copying information from scanned documents, photographs of signs, or any picture that would usually require retyping. Mac offers several powerful screenshot tools. One of my favourites is this… Pressing Command + Shift + 5 opens a small control panel that lets you Continued on next page

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Roger Lyon continued from previous page capture the whole screen, a specific window, or a selected area.

Windows also offers nice tools for laying out several windows in your preferred pattern. If you hover your

It can also record your screen as a video, which is handy for demonstrations, quick tutorials or recording problems for your IT support. Windows has a similar feature which you can activate by pressing Windows key + Alt + R, or open the Snipping tool.

mouse over the maximise button at the top of a window, several layout options appear. These allow you to quickly organise several windows on the screen, handy when working with large monitors and several documents. Another convenient feature of Windows is the preview pane. In File Explorer, pressing Alt + P allows you to view many files directly within File Explorer without opening them. This works for images, PDFs and most documents and can make browsing folders much faster.

MacOS also offers text shortcuts for frequently used text, located in Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements. You can set up short abbreviations that automatically expand into longer phrases. For example, typing “addr” could instantly insert your full address. These shortcuts work in most applications to save you typing standard boiler-plate phrases again and again, or inflicting “acronym shrapnel” on your correspondents. Windows 11 is also stuffed with useful features, such as Clipboard History. Normally when you copy something, the memory of the previous item disappears. By pressing Windows key + V, you can open a history of copied items and paste any of them again. You can even “pin” frequently used snippets, so they stay available.

Finally… Windows allows you to use the much better camera on your smartphone for video calls. If you like the idea of having more flexibility of lighting and location, pop over to Window’s Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices to connect your phone and use its camera. Roger Lyon is the proprietor of East Grinstead-based RL Computer Solutions

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Four ways to save up for a more joyful Christmas I know what you're probably thinking: We haven’t taken off our sunglasses and I'm already talking to you about Christmas. ‘It's too early!’ is what you might be shouting at this article, but with all the wonderful things Christmas brings, it also brings cost. That's why starting to plan and creating a Christmas budget early can really help you avoid unnecessary spending, reduce stress and allow you to focus on the important things, like enjoying the festive period with friends and family when the time comes. Decide on how much to save Now is a good time to decide what you can save. Think about what is realistic and manageable to set aside between now and December.

when. It can be as simple as buying one or two presents per month. Spreading the cost can give you peace of mind, plus you’ll be able to take advantage of any special offers or bargains available in the run up to Christmas. Only buy what you can afford according to your budget. No one wants to start the New Year stressed and in debt and planning your purchases can help avoid that. Access free budgeting tools An online search will lead you to lots of free budgeting tools which can help you plan, save and track your Christmas spending. You may never have planned ahead for Christmas before, but doing so can really take the pressure off, leaving you relaxed to really enjoy what matters.

Allocate your savings Make a list of everything you want to buy for Christmas. Consider the decorations, food and treats, transport costs to see family or friends, as well as presents. Reduce your spending by checking what you can reuse. Once you’ve decided on how much you’re going to save for Christmas, you’ll be able to work out how you want to split this amount to spend on different things.

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-to-face debt help.

Spread your purchases out. Decide what you’re going to buy and

You’re not alone. We’re here to help! Call our FREE helpline on 0800 328 0006

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Lingfield Farmers’ Market Sunday 11th October Our next Lingfield Farmers’ Market will be held on Sunday 11th October, from 9am to 1pm at Lingfield Primary School and we’d love to see you there! Our market continues to grow, with 20–25 wonderful local and independent stalls joining us each month. There really is something for everyone, with an amazing choice of fresh, local and artisan produce. You’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, French patisserie, local honey, Mediterranean deli produce, plants and flowers, local venison, handmade crafts, coffee and tea, fresh bread, cheese, local beer, fudge, pies, sausage rolls, spicy chilli sauces, ground spices, Indian food, local jams and chutneys and plenty more besides! In October, we’ll also be holding one of our special fundraising events, following the success of last year’s fundraiser for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance (KSSAA). We’re incredibly proud of what our market community has achieved through your support, and we hope to raise even more this year.

So bring your shopping bags, come hungry and support your local producers and independent traders. Whether you’re looking for your weekly shop, something delicious for lunch, or simply a lovely Sunday morning out, come and enjoy everything Lingfield Farmers’ Market has to offer. Sunday 11th October | 9am–1pm | Lingfield Primary School We look forward to seeing you there! Dear Editor . . . Yesterday my wife came into the kitchen and found me brandishing a fly swatter. “I have been swatting flies” I told her proudly. “How many have you killed so far?” she asked. “Five,” I said, “three males and two females.” “How on Earth can you tell which sex they are?” she asked. “Easy” I said, “Three were on the beer can and two were on the phone.”

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

Fairtrade East Grinstead, Lingfield and Dormansland

Upcoming Events Harvest Fairtrade Big Brew to be held from 10-12.30 on Saturday 26 September at Lingfield Community Centre. Craft stalls, Fairtrade and Transform Trade goods, local honey, jams and chutneys, cheese, bread, wooden items, books and cards, the Coop (great supporters of Fairtrade), cheeses, calligraphy and stained-glass goods. Raffle and refreshments. Please support Fairtrade Lingfield and Dormansland Fairtrade Group. Fairtrade stall, display and information point at EG Library Thursday and Friday 10am-3pm and Saturday 10-1pm, (1-3 October). Fairtrade EG will have Fairtrade foods and Transform Trade crafts for sale. By buying these items from us and in local shops, we can help farmers, workers and communities in developing countries who produce the items on which we rely every day. Please come along and support your local Fairtrade EG Group. Learn more about fairer trade too.

HerMove Live brings women and girls together for a fantastic day of sport East Grinstead Sports Club was buzzing with activity today as HerMove Live ’26 welcomed women and girls of all ages for a fantastic celebration of sport, movement and community. The free event for the second year running gave visitors the opportunity to try a huge range of activities in a friendly and welcoming environment. From Continued on next page

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

HerMove continued from previous page Pickleball, squash and cricket to football, padel, netball, hockey and golf, there was something for everyone. Urban City Dance, Line Dance Fit and Fitness classes also brought plenty of energy to the day. The event was attended by Mims Davies MP, who came along to support the initiative and see first-hand the opportunities available to local women and girls. A particular focus for this year's event was encouraging more girls into football, with sessions on the club’s 3G pitch supported by East Grinstead Meads and Sussex FA coaches. The initiative was also about encouraging parents to consider getting involved as coaches, helping to create more opportunities for girls to enjoy the game locally. Local organisations and community groups were represented throughout the event, while Meridian FM was also on hand, broadcasting live on the radio. HerMove Live is all about making activity accessible, enjoyable and inclusive. Its message, “Try it. Move it. Love it!”, was certainly brought to life in East Grinstead, with participants able to discover new sports, meet local clubs and, most importantly, have fun getting active. The event demonstrated just how much East Grinstead has to offer women and girls who want to move more, try something new and be part of a supportive local sporting community. To find out more visit hermove.uk

The Town Crier Issue 24 September 2026

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