St Catherine’s Hospice sets out new five-year strategy
Local charity, St Catherine’s Hospice has today unveiled a new five year strategy to protect and strengthen specialist end of life care for local people, despite continuing financial pressures.
The plan has been shaped by the voices of patients, families, staff, volunteers and supporters, and puts compassion firmly at its heart. It commits the hospice to being there for those who need specialist palliative and end of life care when it matters most.
Supporting not only patients with the most complex needs but also those who love and care for them.
Building on its reputation for expert, person centred care, St Catherine’s will continue to deliver highly skilled, specialist support that goes beyond the clinical, recognising the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each person.
Care will be guided by the wishes and experiences of those it serves.
Partnership working will also be central to the local hospice’s strategy. By strengthening relationships with neighbouring hospices and other crucial delivery partners throughout the NHS, especially local hospitals, primary care and community providers, St Catherine’s aim to make sure that more people receive timely, coordinated support wherever they are being cared for.
Recognising that not everyone currently has equal access to care, the hospice is committed to reaching underserved communities, tackling health inequalities, and removing barriers so that more people can benefit from its services.
However, this vision comes at a time of financial challenge, so the strategy includes a clear focus on financial sustainability, making sure resources are used wisely and that the funding needed to protect services for the future is secured.
Giles Tomsett, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s said, “Our community deserves to approach the end of life with compassion, dignity and the specialist support only we can provide. We are committed to making that happen but we cannot do it alone. Every voice, every donation and every act of kindness will help us sustain this vital care for years to come.”
The five-year strategy is built around five key goals: outstanding care, system integration and collaboration, community engagement, financial sustainability and an exceptional workplace for staff and volunteers, the latter being the building block for all the important work the hospice seeks to do.
For more details visit: https://www.stch.org.uk/about-us/vision-mission-and-values or to make a donation to support St Catherine’s specialist care please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate
In this monthly column, Forest Row’s renowned artist Gill Bustamante, shares some of her hard-won knowhow with all you budding artists out there.
Fed up with bad news?
Town Crier Columnist Gill Bustamante gives some personal pointers on how to cheer yourself up a bit
I am very fortunate, being an artist, that I can de stress from most things by making art. However, I am aware that art is not always enough when things are getting serious and wars are raging for no good reason. So in this edition of the Town Crier, I want to briefly share three things that most help me when I am feeling alarmed by too much bad news.
The first is to stop ‘doomscrolling’and get some GOOD news to put bad news in perspective. Fix the News (https://fixthenews.com/) is a fabulous organisation that does just that. They report the positive things that are all around the world and there is considerably more than the mainstream media would have us believe!
The second thing I recommend is reading The Way to Happiness booklet. It is a non-preachy, common-sense booklet that gives the exact information about what causes unhappiness and how that can be resolved. It has no religious, political or other agenda. You can download one here: https://www.thewaytohappiness.org/ or email me (artist@gillbustamante.com) and I will send you one with my artwork on the cover.
And the final thing that works is simply going for a walk and looking at things. Notice the sights and colours and smells of nature and if you are feeling brave – do a little sketching of what you see. This is the simplest therapy there is and anyone can afford it!
This painting is called A Quiet Drama
by Judith Rayner
The leaves are turning and starting to drop. The days are subtly shortening, shifting our energy and how we spend our time. Nature is signalling that it’s time to change gears.
October's Hunter’s Moon is about preparing for the winter aheadgathering what's needed and letting go of what's not. Spiritually, it invites us to do the same to take stock, set intentions, and move forward with a calm, steady sense of purpose.
The Breathing Room Using the Seasonal Shift to Pause and Reset
Whether you apply this to re-assessing a busy life of juggling everything, or to a business that needs some attention, the season offers a powerful invitation to create a moment of pause, of reflection, and a moment to just breathe.
This is where the simple power of breathwork comes in. You don't need a yoga mat or a retreat, you just need your breath. When you want to create mental space and slow that busy mind, try this simple technique:
Take three slow, deep inhales through your nose, letting your belly rise, and three long, gentle exhales through your mouth. This act is a biological pause button. It calms your nervous system, clears the mental fog, and creates space for crucial reflection.
Reflect, Release, and Set Intentions
Use this time for quiet reflection: What truly served me well in the last few months, and what am I ready to let go of, like the leaves on the trees?
Once you’ve cleared the clutter, you can focus on intention setting for the next season. Ask yourself: How do I want to feel in my work and in my roles? What one boundary will protect my peace?
Using the autumn season to pause, breathe, and reflect isn't selfish; it’s an absolute necessity. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Take the seasonal cue. Breathe in clarity, shed what weighs you down, and step into this new season feeling supported, centred, and ready to thrive. And if you want support, get in touch.
Join me for my monthly Breathwork Workshop on 19th October at The Spirit, Mind and Body Studio in East Grinstead. Email to book or chat about coaching or breathwork.
mailto:Judith@spacetobreathecoaching.com
The Big Family Bike Ride
by Steve Ody
Hello everyone, Here is the latest news on our next Kidical ride.
We’ve got the insurance all sorted for the year and that means we can have rides of up to 200 people! That would be amazing!
The next ride is 26th October. We will have 2 start points again and both rides will merge in the Town Centre like before so our riders with little legs can enjoy riding with everyone as a group and aspire to ride on the longer route in the months to come.
Ride 1 will start at the train station car park entrance to Worth Way. It's a 5-mile route with different surfaces - down to Imberhorne, Gullege, Worth Way and back into town and meet our younger riders (with mums and dads and grandparents) at Chequer Mead Car Park.
Ride 2 then goes round a loop including Cantelupe Road, the High Street, Church Lane, right at Chequer Mead and into East Court for certificates and a well-earned drink for the adults, especially those that have run the route as well!
I will post the ride map on our Kidical Mass Facebook page, which you can find (and join!) here If you can help marshal the ride with us that would be great, you just need a high-vis and let me know in advance so that I can add you to the list.
Please do share far and wide with friends and other groups so that we can get as many people riding with us a possible, it's always great fun.
Thanks so much from us all in the team.
YWI Dormansland welcomes Barrie Griffiths, a Help for HeroesAmbassador to our meeting on Armistice Day, Tuesday 11thNovember. 8pm in the Parish Room, The Platt, Dormansland.
See www.ywidormansland.org.uk for full details.
All ladies welcome (18+).
Stop Guessing and Find Out What Customers Actually Search For
Monthly Marketing Tips by Alice Watkyn of Mouthy Marketing
Small business owners spend hours writing website copy and blog posts based on what they think customers want. That’s why most content goes unseen. You need to understand the real questions that people type into Google. Read on to find out how.
Start simple. Type a service-related term into Google and watch the autocomplete suggestions. These are real searches happening right now.An East Grinstead plumber, for example, might see “emergency plumber East Grinstead” or “leaking tap repair near me.” Note anything that fits, even if it seems obvious. These phrases are pure gold because they show exactly what people are typing when they need your services.
Next, check the “PeopleAlsoAsk” box. These are the exact questions customers are trying to answer. Each one is a content opportunity – turn them into blog posts, FAQ sections, or social media tips.
Another Recipe that Probably Won’t Kill You
Answering these questions clearly builds trust and gives people a reason to click through to your site.
Look at competitors too. Scan their meta titles, headings, and blog headlines. See if you can spot patterns. Which phrases keep popping up? Those are signals of what Google and your audience respond to. You can use these insights to shape headlines, subheadings, and page copy that resonates.
Now, organise your findings. Pick 10–15 key phrases and questions. Use them naturally in web copy, blogs, and social posts. Don’t stuff them in –drop them where they make sense.
The result should be content that connects with your audience. You can stop guessing and start showing up for searches that matter. And the best part is that you can do it this afternoon, without spending a penny.
This recipe is utter simplicity. Involves no heating or cooking, no sugar and takes just a few minutes. You wind up with a very healthy very tasty and very cheap alternative to regular jam.
You can vary the proportions of the ingredients to suit your own tastes. You can use almost any fruit but I used some of the blackberries I picked when they were in season and grapes that we get free from a neighbour who happens to have a grape vine in her garden. So apart from a little bit of Stevia, a spoonful of chia seeds and a tiny amount of electricity to run the blender for a couple of minutes, it cost nothing. To make one small jar of the “jam”:
Take about half a cup of blackberries, half a cup of grapes, a dessert spoon of chia seeds and a spoonful of Stevia. Put them in the blender and blend until you have a paste. Keep the paste in the fridge in a screw-top jar.
Eat - on bread or your porridge or straight from the jar.
The Feelgood Factor
by Judith Thomson
I had the great pleasure of returning to The Book Shop in East Grinstead last month, signing and selling copies of my historical novels, and, once again, was touched by the support that the town’s residents and, of course, the lovely John Pye and his staff, give to local writers.
Obviously, I love to put my books into the hands and homes of new readers, (and it was also very gratifying when one lady told me she had read all seven of my Philip Devalle books and thoroughly enjoyed them!) but I also love meeting people.
Even though my books are set in the seventeenth century, I thrive on the characters I come across every day and they are often the inspiration for those in my books, because people have not changed that much through centuries, have they? Whether politicians, adventurers, lovers or just down-to-earth individuals getting on with their everyday lives, they were basically the same people then as we are now. You can find out more about my novels at judiththomson.com or see them in John’s fantastic shop.
But I’m not just interested in characters to use in my books. I also a help run a Radio Station called The Feelgood Station, where Co-Owner Lester Jones and I present the daily Feelgood Morning Magazine Show and invite lively local people to come on and tell us about their projects or charities. In addition, I present my own weekly show, Judith Looks at Love and Romance, when I am delighted to have a local musician or singer as my guest and play a track of their music.
Interested? Get in touch with us at thefeelgoodstation.uk
You can listen to all our wonderful shows there too, or go on our App, Simple Radio, Deezer or Alexa Skills.
David Walliams to host Taylor-Made Dreams Dragonfly Ball 2025
Taylor-Made Dreams, a South-East based charity supporting children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, is excited to announce comedy legend David Walliams will host its charity Dragonfly Ball on Saturday 29 November 2025 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel.
Hosted every other year, the Dragonfly Ball offers an evening of entertainment and fundraising to help support the ten valuable services provided by the charity. With a ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme and David as host, there will be no shortage of entertainment throughout the evening. Guests can enjoy a live auction of star prizes, a raffle, casino tables, story book character performers, alongside a three-course meal and sparkling reception.
Suzi Mitchell, CEO of Taylor-Made Dreams commented, "We're delighted to announce David Walliams will host the Dragonfly Ball this year. As someone who has supported our charity over the past few years, we’re honoured that David has taken time out of his busy schedule to be with us on the evening. Following months of planning and preparation from the Taylor-Made Dreams Team, we’re looking forward to welcoming over 350 guests for what will be a truly amazing evening”
Tickets to the glamourous black-tie event are available at £150 per person, purchased as tables of 10, for more information please contact our fundraiser Dave Richardson: dave@taylormadedreams.org.uk
Warning: features some attempted probing and quite a lot of running away
A housewife, an accountant, a shopkeeper and a chicken factory manager inadvertently start Earth's first interstellar war and they are very sorry about that.
"Excellently hilarious book! " GK
"I thoroughly enjoyed it but I think you should put a warning on the cover, advising people not to read it in public, I giggled a lot & laughed out loud several times, very embarrassing when I'm sitting in a coffee shop! " GF
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE
Scientific Breakthrough Enables Cats to Vocalise Their Thoughts
No-one
Will Ever Regret It, Experts
Predict
by Steve Cook
Scientists have developed a device that enables cats' owners to know what their cats are thinking.
The small electronic instrument the size of a pea (and thus roughly the same size as the cat's brain\) was developed by technicians at Futile Gizmos Inc, in Pointless Nebraska. It attaches unobtrusively to the cat's collar or alternatively can be stapled to its head so that its three hundred terabyte processor can convert the minute electronic impulses of the cat's brain into speech through a tiny electronic vocoder. It is known as the Feline Universal Cognitive Unit, Mark 2 (The FUCU 2) and will be available in pet stores here in the UK from January.
It is expected to cost around the same as a ToyotaAvensis, a price millions of cat lovers will be willing to pay for the pleasure of finally knowing what their cat is really thinking. Field trials on thousands of cats have already revealed some remarkable insights into a cat's hitherto secret thoughts. The three most common cat thoughts thus far revealed by the FUCU 2 are, in reverse order:
3. "Where's me dinner?"
2. "I'm gonna take your ruddy arm off at the elbow if you don't stop that." and:
1. "I hate you, human scum."
When asked about this latest development, a black Tom named Ringo, told this reporter, "What you humans continually fail to appreciate is . . . " (see pages 97-332)
Related News
This development has led to trials of a similar device to be attached to the nation's politicians so that the vocoder will reveal what they are really thinking under the blather.
Field trials have revealed that the politicians' most common thought is, by a remarkable coincidence, "I hate you, human scum."
You are warmly invited . . .
To submit articles for publication in the Town Crier Topics include but are not limited to:
Humour and satire, recipes, poetry and verse, community news and events. For more info go to www.towncrier.uk
Brave New World Traveller
“We’re Leaving on a Jet-Plane” … for the first time in a decade!
by Alison Earnshaw
When I first started planning a week’s holiday to Switzerland I was rather dismayed to identify some unanticipated feelings of nervousness.
Oh, for the jaunty insouciance with which I had set off on travels a-plenty over the years, on holidays world-wide as well as working abroad in Europe. I’m not usually a faint-hearted traveller and any teachers reading this will know you need organisational skills and energy sufficient to run a small country to be able to party-lead 120 elevenyear-olds on day trips to France, as I used to on a regular basis. Yet there I was, feeling a tad daunted and not quite sure why.
A little introspection revealed two interlinking factors; firstly, the realisation that I hadn’t been abroad by plane for over a decade. Secondly the awareness that procedures, protocols and requirements for air-travel had changed in that time and I wasn’t sure what was currently involved. To put it succinctly, I was well out of practice! Whilst friends and family of all ages seemed to manage the whole process online, blithely and with confident ease, I was a bit tentative in doing so for the first time via the range of websites and apps so I decided it might be a good idea to seek some in-person assistance.
First port of call was ‘Hallmark Travel’, a longestablished travel agency located at the top of West Street in East Grinstead. Friendly, knowledgeable and infinitely reassuring, through them the whole process of choosing the holiday, booking, payment, documentation collection and on-line check in was professional and efficient. Very importantly, they provided a heads-up on some of the new procedures at the airport, for example recent E.U. regulations, the automated luggage labelling process and border controls. Forewarned is forearmed… and as the saying goes, “time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted!”
We needed to get a taxi to Gatwick at 4.00 a.m.; a cab was booked by phone with ‘Western Cars’ in East Grinstead who provided a punctual and professional service both ways for the transit.
The terminal was busier than I’d anticipated at that early dawn hour but we navigated the automated luggage drop and border controls without a hitch.
And so, just like that, we were in beautiful Switzerland! During our week’s holiday we made good use of a travel debit card conveniently pre-loaded with local currency and a user-friendly app to keep an eye on the budget.
I’d found this super-easy to set up well in advance of our trip under the guidance of the staff at the local Sainsbury’s bureau de change.
From closing the front door on departure to unlocking it again when we returned a week later, everything worked seamlessly and our week away was wonderful from start to finish.
Looking back, I honestly don’t know what I was worried about… but I do know that, for me, it was that little bit of in-person, rather than on-line, assistance that made all the difference to ensuring everything was in place, anxiety-free! So it was happy landings… and here’s to the local businesses still providing assistance and a friendly human face in this fast-moving digital age!
Alison is currently working on an original music and theatre production with 'Shot Full Of Rock & Friends'. To find out more go to: https://www.instagram.com/shotfullofrock/ www.shotfullofrock.co.uk
Brave New World Traveller Photo Gallery
Regular bicycle maintenance isn’t just about saving money on workshop repairs – it’s about safety, efficiency and confidence. With a few basic tools and a bit of know-how, most cyclists can carry out a wide range of routine jobs at home. From cleaning and lubrication to brake adjustment, tyre care and gear tuning, DIY maintenance keeps your bike running smoothly and helps you understand how it works. In this issue we’ll look at the ABC check, i.e. Air, Brakes and Chain.
Air
Thin tyres are better suited to the roads and wide tyres for off road. First and foremost, check your tyre pressures! A quick way is to squeeze the side of the tyre (not the side in contact with the road). It should be as hard as an apple, not as soft as an orange. Better still fit a pump with a gauge. There are two main types of valves:
Schrader (the wider one you’re used to seeing on a car tyre): and Presta: which are suited for thin road tyres. The correct pressure depends on the type of tyre, whether it has an inner tube or not, rider’s weight and the terrain. Check for the manufacturer’s recommendation which might be on the tyre side wall. As a rough guide for an adult, for thin road tyres aim for around 70 psi/5 BAR and for off road tyres start at 25 psi/1.7 BAR. The best thing to do is try out different pressures and see what feels best for your personal circumstances. Remember when putting air through a Presta valve you need to undo the bit on the end (and tighten back on afterwards).
Bicycle Maintenance
Punctures
If you get a flat first thing is to figure out if you have a tubeless tyre or an inner tube
Inner tubes
It’s easiest to take the wheel off the bike to work on the inner tube. For a back wheel get the chain onto the smallest spokes, undo the retaining nuts (or quick release lever) and with the wheel out undo the dust cap (put it somewhere safe not on the floor!) and if need be use the hooked end of a tyre lever to push the end of the valve to release as much air out of the tube as possible.
Then push the end of a tyre lever under the bead of the tyre (at the opposite side to the valve) and clip the other end of the lever onto one of the spokes. Now run a second tyre lever around the bead of the tyre, then you should be able to pull the inner tube out starting at the valve. To find the hole, pump the tube and hold it up to your face to feel the air coming out or else put it under water to see the bubbles. Dry the hole and mark it with a crayon. Match this up to where it was on the tyre to then check for remaining sharp objects still lodged there. Sand the punctured area to key it and help apply the patch. Put a block of tyre repair solution on the area and smear it round then leave it to dry. It’s not glue! Once dry, put on a patch and press it down for a minute. You can leave the clear plastic cover to the patch on so as not to jeopardise the seal.
Once done, inflate the tyre to check it’s OK.
Continued on next page
Whilst the tyre is off the rim check the rim is in good condition especially the protective band that covers the ends of the spokes. Then
Bicycle Maintenance continued from previous page
Wipe off any excess lubricant. You want the outside surfaces clean, so they don’t attract dirt.
There’s summer and winter chain lube which accommodate the conditions of the season so ideally buy one of each.
Conclusion
Basic bicycle maintenance isn’t complicated. Regular cleaning, lubrication, brake and gear adjustments and safety checks keep your bike running efficiently and extend its lifespan. Doing it yourself gives independence, saves money and ensures a safer, more enjoyable ride every time. Every so often we run bicycle maintenance courses at How To Basically’s workshop (10 minutes east of Haywards Heath) so please get in touch if you’re interested (www.howtobasically.co.uk).
Promote Yourself in the Town Crier
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As we want to avoid the Town Crier becoming just another advertiser in which articles play second-fiddle to advertisements, we ask that where possible you submit an article about your charity, activity, event and so forth that will provide an interesting and engaging read. Such articles can be any length up to about 600 words and should be accompanied where possible with some pictures that will help grab attention plus any contact/website/social media details you would like people to have.
Best formats for images are JPEG and PNG.
Free Promotion for Local Businesses
If you are a local for-profit operation, we will provide one free advertorial-style article per business. As described above we are looking for something that will engage, inform, inspire or interest our readers. Length can be up to 600 words, which would give you a full page of free advertising. Please also provide some pictures and full contact/website/social media details. Alongside the opportunity for a free advertorial, we also provide very affordable advertising space (see below).
PaidAdvertising in the Town Crier
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Farewell for now!
We hope you enjoyed this issue of the Town Crier.
The November 2025 issue is already under construction so please don’t miss out and get your submissions in early.
Browse our website for more info and look out for Town Crier bulletins and updates.