Hailsham Town Council will be implementing a number of safety measures after tests showed potentially high contamination readings in some local streams and ponds.
The tests were carried out throughout June by Dr. Stephen Hall who was appointed by District Councillor Neil Cleaver, after concerns raised by residents over sewage in key points around the town.
Water samples were taken from sites such as the Common Pond, Marshfoot Lane, Hailsham Country Park and locations in Hellingly.
last month as they again suffered from not having a mains water supply for a whole week.
It’s simply not acceptable in this day and age to be starved of a fresh water supply due to ‘supply issues’ which South East blame the outage on.
It brings back awful memories of 2015 when Hailsham suffered the same problem - but at least the water board could blame it on the bursting of the mains pipe out on the A22 bypass.
We wanted to ask South East Water some serious questions about the pipe which has continued to burst over the past eight years. See our full report on page 4 to see how they responded.
At last, this month will see the resurfacing of South and Ersham Road. Although this is likely to cause delays to our normal journeys, let’s just be thankful that something is actually happening and we can get back to concentrating on actually driving, and not avoiding potholes.
Thankfully, more money has been approved to improve the roads in the county - fingers crossed we will see this soon and we won’t have a terrible winter like the last one.
I’d like to just finally express my thanks to the members of our team who work on our Bexhill edition. We’re already celebrating the first anniversary of Bexhill News which is now picked up by 12,000 readers every month.
I can’t believe how quickly time flies by, but it fills us with joy when we hear of how much readers enjoy our newspapers - it makes all the hard work worth it. Thank you for your continued support.
We are continuing to build our team, with a new member of full-time staff joining us in August, so do look out for some new exciting developments from us and new titles in other areas of East Sussex.
Paul Gibson, Group Editor. editor@hailsham.news
Hailsham News is a publication by Regional Media Group Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales number: 13746177. We have taken care to ensure that the information in this newspaper is correct. Neither the publisher, nor contributors can take responsibility for loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions. Hailsham News does not endorse the accuracy of the advertisements or the quality of the products/services being advertised.
Information provided by businesses and community organisations are provided directly by their own representatives; please direct any queries or comments regarding content directly to the organisation. Any opinion or views expressed within this publication are solely those of the author. © 2023: No part of this newspaper may be reproduced in part or whole without express permission of the editor.
Mseries of main roads are finally resurfaced. Final details of the schedule of works which will take place from 3rd and 14th July, which will see the complete resurfacing of two main roads in the town. Resurfacing on Ersham Road between the junction with South Road and the entrance to Hailsham Cemetery are scheduled to commence Monday 3rd July lasting until Friday 14th July 2023.
From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July there will be two-way temporary traffic signals in place between 7am and 7pm whilst related works such as gully adjustments and kerbing take place.
From Monday 10th July to Friday 14th July, Ersham Road will be closed overnight to through traffic between 7pm and 5am whilst surfacing works are completed.
South Road will also be resurfaced, including the troublesome potholed bridge. There are no plans for weekend working during these dates. If you need vehicle access, residents will need to discuss this with the team on site to see if this is possible.
Highways contractors will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted.
All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Local homeowners are being warned that properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as these works can be a bit noisy. Additional investment to help improve the condition of East Sussex Roads and protect them for years ahead has been agreed by East Sussex County Council.
Cabinet members unanimously approved the additional spending of £5.6 million from reserves to pay for extra patching and drainage work, and to increase the capital programme by £5.1 million, funded through borrowing. They also agreed a recommendation to Full Council that a further £5 million be added to the council’s capital programme to help with early improvements to make the road network more resilient. meeting.
The results showed high e-coli levels at The Common Pond, Lower Horsebridge Scout Hut and tests from the Country Park on Gleneagles Drive were ’too numerous to count (TNTC)’. These were presented by Dr Hall at a recent Town Council Assets meeting, and committee members raised huge concerns about the readings on the land owned by the Town Council (Common Pond and Hailsham Country Park).
As a result, the council agreed to place a message on its social media pages and website as a matter of urgency to discourage residents from swimming and fishing at the two locations. It will also commission ‘No Swimming’ signs to be erected and installed at the ponds.
The tests presented to the council were not conclusive and were not conducted by a fully-qualified professional, but they gave an indication of the apparent e-coli levels in the area. It was also proposed at the meeting to hire a qualified professional to obtain more results to find out the true situation. This will have to be approved by Full Council at its next meeting.
Swimming is already forbidden at the two ponds, but due to the weather, people have been seen to be cooling down in the water which was a concern to councillors.
Fishing is also going to be discouraged at the Hailsham Country Park, although it is permitted, Dr Hall suggested it wouldn’t be wise to consume fish caught from ponds in those conditions.
Councillor Neil Cleaver said: “On the 18th June, I had a phone call from a resident who was concerned about the smell of sewage. I immediately met the resident and took a sample and handed it over to Dr Stephen Hall to check it for E-coli. The results were staggering, so I informed the Environment Agency, Southern Water and Wealden Environmental Health. I will continue to investigate local sewage issues around Hailsham and Hellingly alongside Councillor David White.”
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has purchased a site in Hailsham which already has outline approval for 200 homes.
The 37-acre site, off Station Road, will include enhanced community facilities such as extensive public open space, two sports pitches, changing/storage facilities, and biodiversity enhancements.
Nicholas Daruwalla, Land Director at Crest Nicholson South, commented: “This is a strategically important purchase for Crest Nicholson as we look to continue our delivery of homes across high quality locations near the south coast. This purchase in Hailsham will enable us to provide a collection of much needed homes, including affordable housing, to meet local demand. As with all our sites, we are committed to delivering not just homes, but a new destination for residents to enjoy open green spaces and amenities that are essential to building a community where people can establish a life and future for themselves.”
Paul Slingo at Gleeson Land, comments: “We were delighted to have secured outline planning permission for this scheme on behalf of our landowners and pleased to have worked with Crest on the sale. With its placemaking credentials Crest Nicholson will provide a residential environment ideally suited for buyers in the area that will blend seamlessly with the existing community in the surrounding area.”
Works are expected to begin towards the end of 2023, with the first completions expected in summer 2024.
CONTACT US | Telephone: 01323 33 70 70 | Group Editor: Paul Gibson, editor@hailsham.news
Features: Viktoria Cowley, viktoria@hailsham.news | Publication production: Dean Cook, dean@hailsham.news
Watching the developments of the recent water outages just a few miles north of us brought back some bad memories of just over eight years ago.
Thousands of residents In Crowborough, Rotherfield and Wadhurst suffered a whole week without water recently and Councillors say South-East Water failed in a number of areas causing misery to everyone without a supply.
There were few social media updates, water bottle stations were unmanned and they didn’t declare an ‘incident’ which meant other organisations and authorities could not step in to assist and help the situation. Residents were basically on their own and had to simply sit and wait to be reconnected to the mains.
So, what was the issue? South East Water said they struggled to keep up with the demand for water after an extremely hot period of weather. They urged users to think about their water usagealthough reservoirs were full, they couldn’t treat and clean new water quickly enough.
Well, Hailsham has been there, done it and definitely got the T-Shirt in a number of different sizes and styles!
In 2015, we suffered a huge water mains burst and the whole town was without supplies for around three days. That’s 20,000 residents who had no fresh water due to a huge mains on the A22 bypass which has been the pain in the backside for South-East Water ever since.
Hailsham News has recorded at least ten separate incidents where this particular water main has burst causing flooding and water supply issues to the residents of Hailsham - the most recent only a month ago.
Hailsham News has demanded some answers from South East Water as we’re not convinced lessons have been learned from the 2015 incident.
We asked South-East Water what upgrades have been made to the pipe to prevent a repeat of 2015 - how could be reassured following the Crowborough and Rotherfield problems last month?
Steve Andrews, Head of Service Management for South East told us: “The burst water main in Hailsham in 2015 was a trunk main, which drained down the local storage reservoir at Folkington. At the time, the main had limited isolation points which were flooded. This made them difficult to access and delayed the repair.”
It was down to a local group of volunteers who took it upon themselves to manage the crowds and limit water to two bottles per person.
This happened last month when I all kicked off in Crowborough and Rotherfield. So, it seems as if no lessons are being learned from all the previous incidents which is what worries me.
Wealden’s MP Nusrat Ghani attacked South East Water from the outset and called for a hosepipe ban to be implemented and more action from the water company to help local care homes, farmers and residents who were without water.
Nus said: “I have made urgent representations to Defra and I will continue putting pressure on South-East Water to fix and upgrade their infrastructure and deliver better service to Wealden customers.
It is unacceptable that Wealden was again been left without water for a week, especially after the disruptive outages just last Christmas. South East Water has failed yet again and it seems that the weather is never right for them to cope with demand.”
Mr Andrews added to his statement: “Throughout last week’s water supply issues, South East Water was running an incident team. We work with the local resilience forum to keep it informed of the situation and to help manage our response.
On occasions, the local resilience forum will help us by providing council staff as additional support at our bottled water stations or to assist with vulnerable customer deliveries. This was not necessary as we cancelled non-essential and planned activity to free up a
The declaration of a major incident is usually triggered when we are unable to manage the response on our own and we ask the resilience forum to help our response. As we were able to free up staff from other areas of the business, we were able to manage this
Wealden Distrct Council called an ‘Extraordinary’ meeting recently, which was to discuss a motion to force OFWAT to tackle South East Water over its lack of investment.
Proposed by Councillor David White, the motion read: “The Council is extremely concerned at the recent failures on the part of South East Water to maintain an adequate supply of water to parts of the District. The Council asks the Leader and the Chief Executive to write to South East Water asking for: a. a full explanation of the causes of the recent failures; b. full details of the actions taken to address them and to mitigate the effects to local residents including details of when the company first became aware of the problems and the timing of its response; and c. confirmation of the steps being taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of the failures.
2. Given the impact of climate change and the increasing demand for new housing in an area of acknowledged water stress, the Council also asks the Leader and Chief Executive to notify OFWAT and the Government of this Council’s considerable concerns at the failures on the part of South East Water to maintain an adequate supply of water to our existing residents and the effect of this upon their health and well being and to ask the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government to support a reduction in housing numbers for the District until there is a long term solution to the water shortage.”
Councillors voted animiously to carry the motion forward.
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IPensioners took time from their busy schedules to visit Hailsham recently.
To celebrate the town’s Bowling Club’s Centenary, the Chelsea Pensioners Bowls Team were welcomed by club members, Mayor Paul Holbrook and the Town Crier last month.
There was a fantastic atmosphere around the ground and a great turnout by members and the general public, who viewed their arrival from the leisure centre balcony.
The Chelsea Pensioners, in their scarlet livery, marched into the ground accompanied by a piper on the bagpipes. A welcome speech was then given by the club’s new Chairman Trevor Hill before the Chelsea Pensioners lined up on the green for a photo shoot with the Mayor, his Deputy, local Counsellors, Town Crier and our Chairman & President.
The proceedings got underway with a call-out from Hailsham’s very own Town Crier, Terry Tozer, ending with a cheer of “God Save the King”.
As so many of the club members wished to play in this prestigious game against the Chelsea Pensioners, a fair few of them only played half of the ends to give everyone a chance to play. Some of us even got the honour to play alongside the Chelsea Pensioners as they were a few players short.
During the course of the afternoon, the club worked tirelessly to make sure all members and guests were fed and watered during the swelteringly hot day. To mark the occasion, the ladies all dressed as Nippies, served food and beverages.
A spokesperson from the club said: “Making the club and ground look spectacular to host such a prestigious event takes lots of planning and preparation, none of which would have been possible without the help from some of our members who gave up their free time over the past few months to strim, mow, prune, weed and paint to spruce up the grounds ready for this very special visit. Our visitors even remarked on how fabulous the green was and probably the best they have played on so far this season!
It was such an honour for our club to host this event and will go down as a day to remember in the history of the club.”
All members were handed a commemorative Chelsea Pensioners pin badge and the club was presented with a banner, which will be proudly displayed in its clubhouse. As a result of the day Hailsham Bowling Club has been invited to play at the Chelsea Pensioners home ground in 2024, to
BY PAUL GIBSON
Councillors, veterans, residents and members of Hailsham’s Royal British Legion held a special ceremony recently to mark Armed Forces Day and remember a well-respected Chairman and Treasurer.
Held at the memorial on Sunday 25 June, a specially commissioned plaque was unveiled to remember Mike Weller, who died during the Covid Pandemic. Friends and colleagues were not able to say goodbye at the time, so the ceremony was in honour of Mike who was not only a regular standard bearer at local memorial events, but spent many years working tirelessly with the Legion in many roles.
Reverand Peter Clark who led the ceremony said: “In his time looking after the Hailsham and District Branch, he was the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Welfare Officer, Poppy Appeal organiser and a standard bearer. He was a strong member of the Borneo Association, and become their national standard bearer. It was his life and he lived for the veterans of the armed forces.
He added: “Now, we are going to dip the standards as would have been done at his funeral, in homage and in recognition of tireless work he did for the Royal British Legion.”
The plaque to remember Mike Weller will be fixed to the inside of the memorial wall.
The ceremony coincided with Armed Forces Day which is a moment to celebrate and give thanks for our armed forces and all they do on our behalf in peace and war.
Reverand Clark read: “Let us now remember before god those who bear the scars of service; those who suffer in body, mind or spirit. We pray too, for those who mourn, those who have lost husbands or wives, children or parents in the service of their country.”
In attendance was Mayor of Hailsham Paul Holbrook and newly-elected Chair of Wealden District Council, Christina Coleman. A number of other district and town councillors from all parties also attended to pay their respects.
Grovelands School Farm children have been awarded first and third place at the South of England Agricultural Show. With the theme ‘Water Wise’, the children designed and created two imaginative displays, using recycled materials alongside flowers and vegetables that had all been grown from seed in their horticulture lessons on the farm.
The School Farm pupils also learnt in their farm sessions about why bees are part of the biodiversity that we are all dependent on for our survival, and they entered six posters for ‘The importance of bees’ competition. Two of their posters were awarded in the competitions.
Heidi Greenwood, the School Farm teacher said: “I am incredibly proud of the children’s efforts, as are all the teaching staff at
Grovelands. They were all so enthusiastic to design and create their displays and were visibly thrilled to see the results.”
The children have grown over 20 different vegetables and fruits this year on the farm this year, as well as having planted fruit trees, which has provided them with extra learning opportunities that have been an integral part of their curriculum.
Heidi added: “To be able to show some of those off at this prestigious event is a fantastic achievement. I felt their displays were so wonderful that we brought them all back to school so that we could display them on the school farm for all of our school community to see!
Our next projects that we are looking to begin on the farm this summer are to build a duck enclosure and a tree house. We will
The Grovelands Farm project was set up in early 2022 to expand pupils’ education on rural and wildlife issues. It was thanks to many volunteers and donations, the farm was built, and now it is home to four goats, two donkeys, two ponies, two pigs, chickens, quails, bantams, guinea pigs, rabbits, in addition to a domestic dog and cat.
Please get in touch at farm@grovelands.e-sussex.sch.uk if you can offer some help with the projects.
The annual Hailsham Festival is a celebration of both professional and amateur talent, creativity and imagination with events including art, music, dance, drama, creative writing, poetry and film.
Just some of the details of what visitors to the festival can expect have been announced for the event which takes place from 9th23rd September.
The Festival began in 2007 with the Art Trail which has grown in strength and diversity and is a rich showcase for local artistic talent and skill.
Highlights this year include an appearance at the Hailsham Pavilion by acclaimed actor Jeffrey Holland (Hi de Hi) who will present his one-man show ...and this is my friend, Mr Laurel. Also at the Pavilion will be a chilling retelling of George Orwell’s seminal novel, 1984, and the singalong film version of Frozen to attract all ages. The Festival is also welcoming Baroque Alchemy with world-class performers, Piers Adams and Lyndy Mayle. Events will be held in venues across the town including
performances by the Hailsham Choral Society, Hailsham Voices, Milton Hide, and The Jivebeats. From music to murder, with a gripping Murder Mystery, while on the fun side, there’s Children’s Lego Building, Tango and Tapas, an evening of Burlesque, and the ever-popular Nostalgia Fair.
Once again, members of the community will be invited to showcase their creative achievements in the Virtual Art Gallery, and the 2023 Poetry and Short Story Anthology will be available to buy as an e-book or as a printed edition from 9th September. This year is the best ever, according to the organisers. Full information can be found online at hailshamfestival.co.uk.
Major work has finished on improvements to the children’s play areas located in Stroma Gardens, Battle Road and on the Maurice Thornton Playing Field, delivering an exciting upgrade to play equipment.
With the success of the upgraded play area in Western Road last year, the Town Council has taken this opportunity to bring the play areas up to optimum standard.
springy seesaw and inclusive toddler springy have also be installed on the site.
Ogave the opportunity to pupils to bring along their Dads for a unique lesson.
The event took place at the Sjaan Dance Academy in St. Mary’s Walk where Dads got the opportunity to learn some moves from their daughters at the state-of-the-art studios.
Owner Sjaan Mauger put them through their paces in the Sunday morning ballet class who said it could be the start of Men-only sessions in the future.
Sjaan told Hailsham News: “All the Dads looked amazing in their tutus. We started at the Barre with our exercises
Fondu and Développé. We then moved into the centre to perform our port de bras. Then they performed a pas de deux with their daughters and ended the lessons with Grand Jeté .”
She added: “It was such a heartwarming and funny lesson. Seeing their daughters’ faces when they danced with them was priceless. They worked so hard and I am very proud of them. Men’s only ballet class are next!”
The upgrade to the Maurice Thornton Playing Field play area involved the installation of a 30-metre aerial zipwire, replacement of the broken inclusive roundabout and complete overlaying of the wet-pour in this area. At the Stroma Gardens play area, new pieces of toddler equipment have been installed, in addition to the removal of the large slide and replacement with a toddler multi-play unit. A 4-person
Most recently, work has been completed on the play area situated in Battle Road whereby a new multi-play unit, new teen swings, a mother and toddler swing and a cradle swing have been installed. Additionally, the Whirly Bird roundabout has been replaced with an inclusive one and the site has benefited from a complete overlaying of the wet-pour surface.
Improvement works to the playground located in Quinnell Drive has also recently been completed, with the replacement of the chip bark surfacing there.
The play area upgrade project was funded by using the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money and will future proof the play areas for the next 10-15 years.
summer (it was winter in Hailsham but tropical by comparison).
It’s a good job he enjoyed it because there was no chance of returning until March. After this, he spent a couple of months on Palmer Station on Anvers Island which, being a little further north, is rich in wildlife, particularly penguins, seals and whales.
Tom is currently enjoying a short break in Hailsham after which he aims to fulfil his ambition of visiting all seven continents within 12 months. He will then depart for another six months in Antarctica, this time at the
services and opportunities for young people in the local area.
manufacturer of interactive collaborative meeting room panels, digital signage and large format commercial displays, the television will be used to support Hailsham Youth Service’s expansion – in particular, for educational and staff training purposes.
Hailsham Youth Service works in partnership with Hailsham Community College on a number of projects and the college has recently commenced additional lessons for students taking place at the Square Youth Cafe, to give extra support for students. The new interactive television will enhance student learning, providing interactive lessons. Other activities for students will take place at the centre, including cookery.
substance misuse risk, first aid, online safety, mental wellbeing in children and young people and anti-bullying.
The recent donation of the interactive touchscreen television will help with improving staff training and education facilities across the board.
Youth Service Manager, Andy Joyes said: “Youth workers are a vital ingredient for quality youth-serving organisations, and professional development, by way of a variety of interactive educational and staff training courses, can enhance the skills of both new and more experienced members of our team.”
Hailsham and Polegate has spent much of the past year working in Antarctica where temperatures can reach minus 60 on a regular basis. Tom Aled (31), who attended Willingdon Community School and Park College, Eastbourne, moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2016, where he was living with his wife, Sarah, and working as a freshwater engineer for the city. One day he saw an advertisement for a water treatment job in Antarctica and, being the sort of person who enjoys adventure and the unusual and who has always had itchy feet, he immediately applied for the post without a second thought. He arrived at the US Scientific Research Programme’s McMurdo Station in October last year, where he spent six months converting seawater to drinking water during the Antarctic
Tom told Hailsham News: “Despite all the challenges of travelling to, and living in, Antarctica, I can’t wait to return. It is the most beautiful place I have ever been to and it is amazing to look out over landscapes that have never been touched by humans. I have had some incredible experiences living “on the ice”, from sailing the Drake Passage to snow-mobiling to Erebus, the most southernmost active volcano in the world.”
IT was just a normal Thursday afternoon in Hailsham in June 1992 - but things were about to take a turn of the worse.
The Gateway Superstore stood in the centre of Vicarage Field, where Waitrose is now situatedbut it was to be its last as a fire was discovered in the warehouse. The shop was evacuated and fire crews from across the county were about to tackle a huge fire which could be seen from Lewes. Online records are sketchy and hard to find on this huge fire - but Hailsham News has done some digging - pinpointed the date and spoken with the crews and the people who worked in the shop at the time of the blaze.
Just minutes after the fire was discovered, fire pumps from Hailsham, Eastbourne, Herstmonceux, Lewes and even Burgess Hill were all on the scene with a total of 60 firefighters, and the town centre was on lockdown.
The fire soon spread from the warehouse onto the shop floor completely gutting the building and destroying every single product and fitting in the store.
Water from the swimming pool from what was called The Lagoon Leisure Centre was hosed out to put out the fire. Staff at the centre remembered the time the pool was taken over by crews and hoses laid up the car park to the scene of the fire.
The Hailsham Gazette reported how firefighters were supplied with food and drink from all the town centre shops during the 20 hours they were on scene.
Hailsham resident, Julian Thomas who worked in the store at the time of the fire told Hailsham News: “I remember the phone ringing in the hallway and one of my colleagues told me the shop was on fire. Looking through the living room window, I could see black smoke bellowing up into the sky.
I headed straight up the town and stood watching, in disbelief, with everyone else what was happening in front of us. The sound of things cracking and popping from inside the building, and the smell of burning material is a vivid memory.
I recall at one point when the fire reached the
household aisle, aerosol cans started exploding and flying about like missiles inside the shop. Eventually, the large glass windows at the front of the shop gave way and shattered.
It was a very strange feeling going to work the next day. Standing outside the back yard of the shop, all trying to come to terms with the fact that the shop was gone, and slowly realising this was the end of an era for the team of people who worked there. People we’d spent time with nearly every day whilst at work, we’d now only occasionally bump into when shopping up the town.”
The Chinese restaurant above the supermarket escaped and was able to continue trading. A subsequent fire inside the restaurant just a week after the Gateway blaze sealed the fate of the whole building.
What do you remember?
Send your memories to letters@hailsham.news
As a GCSE photography student at Hailsham Community College at the time, Editor Paul Gibson grabbed his camera and caught these selfdeveloped images below the day following the blaze.
He said: “I can still smell the burning to this day - I remember a firefighter at the scene let me cross the barrier tape so I could point my camera inside the store and capture these images of the checkouts.
Even when I go into the Waitrose store now, I can recall what we all witnessed so clearly.”
Alastair Burton was a firefighter based in Hailsham at the time of the Gateway Fire. Then 24 years old, now 55, he tells Hailsham News about the shout that he still remembers to this day…
“The call was early evening and obviously, we’re retained in Hailsham, so we were the first pump there, and we instantly got two crews with breathing apparatus in straight away. It had started in the storeroom, so at the time, the actual shop was untouched.
Other pumps started to turn up and as more and more crews arrived, we noticed boxes of alcohol in the store room had fallen over so that was actually accelerating the flames.
As the fire grew, we noticed the front window of the shop started to pulsate with the heat, and hundreds of people had come into town to see the fire and were standing almost right next to the store. When we saw the window was about to explode, we got the Police to move everyone all the way back to the main road.
As soon as this happened, aerosols started exploding in the shop and we saw some flying like missiles straight through the window leaving huge holes in it. They were like little bombs
going off.
The roof of the storeroom was made out of tar and straw which, as it melted, was again accelerating the fire. We then had to evacuate all the crews from the building as the roof started to collapse.
We were there until the next morning as we damped down and the site had to be secured. It was a really long job and certainly, the biggest fire Hailsham has ever seen.
We were called back to the scene many times over the next few days as people saw puffs of smoke and was thinking it was restarting.
I’ve been to many other large fires around Sussex including the Claremont, but this was for sure the biggest fire we’ve ever attended in Hailsham.
I’m probably the only firefighter that was there that is still working for the service. When I see old colleagues they always mention ‘the big one’ as it has stayed in their memories.”
In 2022, Josh, a Hailsham resident in 24-hour YMCA accommodation, was encouraged to take part in a sponsored walking challenge and has gone on to become a national YMCA Ambassador.
At 19, Josh faced homelessness due to issues at home. He’d lost his confidence and was struggling. He was given a home with YMCA and began to rebuild his self-esteem.
His keyworker encouraged him to get involved in the DownsLink Challenge and it proved to be a turning point. Although it was not a race, he was one of the first to cross the finish line and was bursting with pride at his achievement.
He’s since moved into semi-independent living, is working full-time, and has stepped up to become a Youth Ambassador for the national YMCA federation.
Have I missed the latest piece of guidance about driving on the potholed tarmac we laughingly call roads?
I assume it was issued by Scalextric and advises drivers not to move from the middle or outside lane unless absolutely necessary and always maintain half the allowed speed limit, this ensure that they and the queue of cars behind travels slower than the Tin Man walking past a magnet factory.
raise awareness of the charity’s impact so that they can help more young people like him.
Josh said: “The YMCA have helped me so much, I just want other people to get the support I have had. I felt so proud of myself when I did the challenge, I never thought I could walk 17 miles, but I did it and felt so happy with myself. I’m now doing all sorts of things I never thought I would. Without the YMCA I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
By taking part in the DownsLink Challenge on Saturday 15th July, residents can help give another young person, like Josh, a second chance.
The charity is seeing an unprecedented rise in need, which, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, means fundraising events like these are vitally important.
To sign up or for more information, visit:
In 2013 it was deemed illegal to ‘lane hog’ and it was reinforced in 2021, in the first 3 years only 135 people were charged yet it is arguably the single most flouted law on the road, it also is the reason why traffic is so congested on multi-lane roads.
The A22 from Polegate to Boship roundabout is a hotbed of drivers blindly sitting in the right-hand lane whilst the cast of The Cannonball Run (Google it!) follow behind at the speed of an arthritic, three-legged tortoise with nowhere to go and all day to get there, I’ve even seen a police car queued up amongst 15-20 cars behind a 1987 Nissan Micra driven by someone who was more Benjamin Button than Jenson Button…not a hint of stopping the perpetrator but if you dare to drive at 34mph in a 30mph limit then you’ll be grabbed by the fuzz quicker than a chav with a Nando’s voucher.
I should be grateful to be actually moving in a car as when you get to Hailsham it all grinds to a halt as we negotiate the traffic lights, poorly parked cars, the ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ potholes, roadworks and the newly appointed Land Rover Proving Ground that is the South Road Bridge, you
can wreck a car on that 40-metre stretch of road quicker than a Demolition Derby at Arlington Race Track on a Bank Holiday.
Maybe we could get ‘lane hoggers’ to cover the train drivers when they go on strike as you can’t change lanes on your own in a train either so the training would only need to be minimal and basic, it also feels like Southern Rail are still running 1987 era rolling stock so Benjamin Button will feel right at home.
If you have read this and thought ‘I don’t have problems with people driving on the wrong lane’ then next time you are on a dual carriageway have a look in the rearview mirror, if there is a queue of cars behind you THEN IT IS YOU!
Until next time people!www.verymagic.co.uk
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IF YOU’VE ORDERED YOUR KITCHEN AND CAN’T FIND A FITTER, LOOK NO FURTHER.
WE CAN OFFER THE FULL FITTING SERVICE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY. WE CAN ALSO SUPPLY YOUR KITCHEN.
‘THE YMCA HAS CHANGED MY LIFE’
As I write across a wide spectrum of life subjects and my observations of them, which include romance, humour, reflection and tragedy, and that last months poem was sad and poignant, I have chosen a light hearted topic for this months offering. It doesn’t have a specific story behind it like many of my poems, but I would strongly suggest nearly everybody will know and identify with the theme, and suggest as well that it has happened to virtually everyone at some time. So what is it?
Sadly it is the food and drink spilling, staining and smudging of our clean clothes, and especially when out and about! Has that happened to you, because its more than likely it has? It has certainly been the case for me and not on just one occasion either, therefore my poem is quite heartfelt and perhaps will be with you also. Thus initially from one of my earlier books, but popping up again in my 10h book and compilation of “Laurie’s Bundle of Poetic Humour”, comes “Spot of Bother”.
A crispy blouse or clean white shirt
Will almost certainly attract the dirt, So however you try not to be rude
Duelling Banjos meets the Baroque in the sizzling opening of this new piece by Director, Stephen Williams.
My wife and I were in London, so we dropped into the Vue in Leicester Square to catch this new release. Sadly, we sat in a completely empty cinema even though the square itself was heaving. A sign of the times that is sometimes the case at our own Hailsham Pavilion. I know all the reasons but please do try and drop in when you can. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a film with like-minded people.
The poorest eyesight won’t need to hunt. For the more you rub and wipe the stain It will look much worse and still remain.
But men have a problem very grave If hurrying too much when they shave, And nick themselves, though not too big It will still bleed out like a stuck pig, So that you wish you’d left off your top When your bleeding refuses to stop, And now you’re due to go smartly out So that being on time is a big doubt. For you must rapidly change your attire And readiness goes down to the wire, Till at last again you’re dressed to thrill With chances of staying clean almost nil.
www.lauriewilkinson.com
Chevalier is based on the true story of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-George. The son of a white plantation owner and his coloured mistress, whom he also owned. The boy was brought to Paris as a child and educated very well. By the time he was 17 he was an expert swordsman who spoke several languages and played the violin at the highest level. He was a friend of Marie-Antionette but went on to be a fervent supporter of the French Revolution, leading the first Black Battalion into the fray in support of “Liberté”.
This is a sumptuous and evocative film which cleverly weaves themes of racism, snobbery, class and sex discrimination into a fascinating story without making you feel that you are being lectured or preached at.
After Napoleon took control and restored slavery a lot of the records around the remarkably talented Chevalier were destroyed, along with much of his music. This explains why I (as a history teacher) had never heard of him. I am very glad to have discovered this remarkable man via the medium of a fascinating film. You can see it at the Pavilion in July.
This classic comedy starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis is as fresh and surprising today as it was when it was first released.
At the beginning, the two male leads witness a famous gangland killing. As a result, they have to flee. The safest way out is to mingle with a travelling group of female musicians, but the only way they can do that is to dress as … female musicians. The three leads have a great time exploring the complications that result from this as the film tumbles south to Florida. I’ve watched this many times and I’m still entertained by the final scene. Come and see it to find out why!
This film has real quality, which is not surprising when you realise that it was written and directed by Billy Wilder who was Oscar nominated twenty-one times, winning six.
Billy Wilder was forced to flee Nazi Germany because he is Jewish. He made his way to the USA via the Mexican border, which he had real trouble crossing, only being allowed over when he put down his occupation as “filmmaker”. “Some Like It Hot” can be seen at the Hailsham Pavilion on July 4th.
England. The plan provides a framework for investment in strategic transport infrastructure, services, and regulatory interventions from now to 2050.
Also, during the month the Chamber was represented on the Rampion 2 Business & Tourism Project Liaison Group 5 where we heard the results of significant consultation by Rampion with local interested groups.
Onshore the cable route across the South Downs will use the proposed Northern cable route between Oakendene and the Bolney National Grid substation. Offshore, the site extension is likely to be around 160 square kilometers with a maximum of 90 new turbines with a capacity of up to 1200 megawatts (MW).
Finally, the Business Improvement District project continues with some significant developments likely to be announced next month.
Several of us will be heading to our new member’s restaurant at Rustico afterwards. These events are for members and non-members alike, and we encourage non-members to join us for these relaxed and fun activities. If you’re a local business and have thought about joining the Chamber, these events are perfect for meeting existing Chamber members in a more informal
June has been a month with stubbornly high inflation, still a major concern for businesses and the community in general. Speaking on 21 June, David Bharier Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Todays CPI rate of 8.7% shows that inflation is remaining elevated for longer than expected. After 18 months of price shocks, the impact of sustained inflation remains the top issue for the vast majority of firms we speak to. What started as a commodity price shock has now created a wage-price spiral. However, much more positively, the Producer Price Index (PPI) rate has slowed significantly once again to 0.5%. With our research showing that gradually fewer firms expect their own prices to rise, energy and commodity costs may fall away as drivers of consumer inflation”.
With the interest rate currently at 5% and rising further to tackle inflation, widespread skills shortages, and trade frictions on the rise, the cost of doing business is the highest in years. Action by the government to help with the squeeze on the labour supply, reform of business rates and support on exports would go some way to helping them face the future with more confidence.
In the current state of economic turmoil it’s a great benefit for local businesses to be part of Hailsham Chamber of Commerce where we constantly support each other, provide business to our membership and lobby both locally and nationally.
Our Chamber continues to grow with a further two new members this month, Rustico Italian Restaurant and CBL Fastenings Limited.
Every month we have a business breakfast at the B12 Bar and Kitchen where members meet, and network promoting their businesses and discuss matters relating to the success of their firms. Every month we have a guest speaker who covers topics of interest and benefit to our members.
In June we heard from Abi Tappenden from the
Children’s Respite Trust who gave an excellent insight into the charity, how it supports the children and how we, as businesses and charity supporters can help to raise awareness and valuable funds through building relationships, and charity-focused events.
Both members and guests are welcome to attend the breakfast, tickets can be booked on our web site: hailshamchamber.co.uk. Breakfast is on the first Thursday of every month with the next one on 6 July, 7.30 for 8am start. July’s Speaker is John Bellamy from Print Matters.
During the month I have, as a director, attended a South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) board meeting to discuss the future of the LEP following the government’s indication that they will no longer be providing support.
Significant grants have been provided for many local projects over recent years benefiting businesses and local communities. However, since the UK’s withdrawal from the European Community, BREXIT, funds, which in large part were provided by the EU to the LEP’s have ceased and the future of the LEP will inevitably change.
During the month the Chamber has been represented at Team East Sussex (TES) where business works with East Sussex County Council and the five Borough and District to provide business and community development.
The Chamber continues to provide input into Transport for the Southeast developing a clear Strategic Investment Plan for the Southeast of
Looking forward to July we expect to welcome more new members to whom the Chamber provides significant benefits for just £90 annually, including an amazing deal with Lightning Full Fibre Broadband for members and also free provision of the Hailsham Card to members. The Chamber are always planning events and last week we were invited to a guided tour around Foundry Space in the Beacon, Eastbourne. This space is perfect for businesses who love to network, have meetings with other clients or just want to rent a space, or an entire office to increase their potential productivity as they don’t have a current office space themselves. In complete contrast to this, on Wednesday 19 July, Sam Beale from Stevens & Carter Estate Agents, our Events CoOrdinator has organised a social evening of paddleboarding at Cuckmere Haven for just £22 per person.
Once again, we are experiencing long spells of dry hot weather, and this can wreak havoc with ornamental garden plants. For the last few years, our weather here in the south of England is more Mediterranean, with longer, hotter drier summers coupled with warm but wetter winters and more erratic heavy downpours. My feelings are that as water is such a precious commodity we have a responsibility to use it wisely and perhaps to save it only for our food crops and for plant conservation purposes.
With this in mind, we have had a rethink about the Middle Garden at Bates Green which is the most formal part of the Garden and contains mainly herbaceous perennials. We spent the winter researching drought tolerant plants which sounds straightforward until you remember that here, we garden on heavy clay. This means concrete in summer and a sticky clay winter situation. Mulching with our home-made compost is helping but so does choosing climate resistant, biodiverse plants.
Our focus is primarily to encourage a diverse range of beneficial pollinating insects, and then we like to consider foliage, texture and form in order to create a planting scheme that is capable of withstanding periods of drought.
We are finding that the following plants are performing well for us this year so far. The Alliums have been glorious, there are so many varieties to choose from allowing a long flowering season. Be sure to deadhead assiduously though to prevent a mass of grass-like seedlings. It is also a good idea to plant them within a mass of herbaceous greenery so that one’s eyes are not offended by the manky foliage they bear!
Euphorbia tick all the boxes for us. Stunningly architectural, gloriously zingy colours and fine form are what they deliver whatever the weather. Superbly drought tolerant. Cover up when planting or cutting back as the sap can burn.
Stipa gigantea-the oat grass provides movement, atmosphere and flowers for the late summer garden. It bulks up rapidly over the years giving such presence. It is the super-model of the plant world, adored by photographers when the low sun of morning and evening shine through.
“Where do I get these plants and how should I choose varieties?” I hear you ask! The answer is to go and visit as many gardens as you possibly can. The National Garden Scheme has a garden in your area for sure and you will be helping them to raise money for nursing charities in the process. See https://ngs.org.uk/ for more details.
What nicer plan could there be for a summer afternoon than to walk around a plant-filled space with your camera and notebook making lists of suitable plants that catch your eye? You may even be able to
talk to the garden owner and there will be cake for sure.
Bates Green Garden, an RHS Partner Garden, is open every Wednesday until 25th October 2023. For details please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden
Herbaceous geraniums are a border stalwart, providing nectar and pollen for insects and bringing colour and interesting foliage shapes as a feast for the eyes. Once they have flowered, they tend to collapse looking rather dull and uninspiring so cut everything back and you will get beautiful foliage again and often a further flush of flowers. Our oriental poppies have been glorious this year providing large splashes of bright colours that sing out in the borders. They totally collapse once they are over and look completely exhausted. A bit like a gardener at the end of a long hot day. We remove the whole lot ( poppies not gardeners) with shears and await the new shoots with anticipation. The same can be said for aquilegias and pulmonaria. Give it a go! Water the roots well afterwards preferably with some seaweed fertiliser in the mix. All that spent foliage will be perfect on your compost heap too.
Then armed with your lists, visit your local specialist nursery where the advice will be vastly superior to the average garden centre. The nursery owners usually grow all the plants they sell themselves, and so they know them inside out. Check opening times before you go though and make an appointment if necessary. These are busy times for growers and there is much to do.
I am sure that you have all heard of the ‘Chelsea Chop’ technique but what about the ‘Hampton Hack?’ Both these gardening terms are named after their respective RHS Flower Shows, and I feel that they serve as a timely reminder to get your shears out and freshen up your beds and borders.
Unlike the Chelsea Chop where one prunes the plant before it flowers, the Hampton Hack is a trick for herbaceous perennials after they have flowered. This will extend their season and rejuvenate what can otherwise be a tired July border. Many species will reward you by sending up a new flush of flowers but even if they don’t, you will still get fresh new lush foliage rather than tired possibly mildewed leaves on your chosen specimens.
This is a job for the bold-seize the day and cut the whole plant down to the base, leaves flowers and all.
At Bates Green Garden we practice this technique on the following plants.
Alchemilla mollis: this pretty ground hugging plant looks so charming after rain-not that we have seen much of that recently. It bears frothy acid-green flowers which turn a rather dull brown colour as they go over. Remove everything and shortly those rounded leaves will appear again, catching the raindrops and turning them into jewels. This will also prevent self-seeding in unwanted places.
I consider a slow evening meander around my own garden to be the perfect after work activity. I like to take a small bucket and some secateurs with me so that I can pick flowers for the supper table or deadhead as I go. If you regularly pick sweet peas, pelargonium
blooms, marigold flowers (perfect to decorate your salads) then your plants will not run to seed but will continue to provide flowers all summer long. It’s a really good way to check on your containers and summer plants regularly too.
famously said, “If I had my way, I would remove January from the calendar and have an extra July instead”. I actually enjoy the hibernation aspect of winter but, right now, let’s hear it for summer.
The Hailsham Pavilion has been installing a new PA System and other technical improvements that will enable them to programme lots of alternative content as they continue to develop their role as a live arts venue at the heart of our lovely town.
HOPS (the Hailsham Old Pavilion Society) generously funded this project and the Pavilion Community said they are ‘eternally grateful for their wonderful support!’
Based on the installation of this new kit, the Pavilion has
embarked on a journey to book lots of new live content that will add huge variety and bring some brilliant entertainment to the programme.
Chair of the Pavilion, Gareth Jones said: “This is essential as we all now inhabit a post COVID world where we can no longer rely on Cinema to pay the bills.”
Some of the new material that has already been booked includes Live Kids Summer Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Live Music (Pop & Classical), Audience With / Talk Shows with slides etc, Live Shakespeare, a Weekend Film Festival with a prestigious short film competition, and a Live Family Christmas Show (Circus, Magic & Variety).
Details of all shows will be found on the Hailsham Pavilion website as the programme develops. You can book online there too, and the hardworking staff and volunteers at the Pavilion really hope that the people of Hailsham, old and young, established and new will do that in large numbers.
UNLESS you have been living in a parallel universe you will know that just one story dominated the headlines throughout May and June as television presenter Phillip Schofield found himself firmly in the spotlight for a variety of reasons.
Mr Schofield’s on-screen career started when he was paired with a puppet called Gordon the Gopher on children’s television channel CBBC and for those of us old enough to remember, Gordon was the undoubted star.
Sadly, Gordon was relegated to the dustbin of history as Mr Schofield moved on to bigger and better things, culminating in his lengthy stint as host of This Morning in tandem with Holly Willoughby.
All was fine and dandy until all hell broke loose when he admitted to an “inappropriate but not illegal” relationship with a much younger man who also worked on the show.
The presenter had previously announced that he was gay despite being married with children, prompting emotional scenes as he was supported by his colleagues live on air.
However, since details of his relationship with his former colleague hit the headlines one of the most famous faces on British television has been subjected to a witch hunt, culminating with him feeling he had no option but to resign from a show which he had been primarily responsible for making a success.
This is a price you must pay if you are a well-known “celebrity” and deemed to have stepped out of line. It started when he and Ms Willoughby were accused of “jumping the queue” when Her Majesty The Queen was lying in state but did the pair really deserve to be vilified to the extent they were? No, of course not. It was a misjudgement, but nothing
Since Mr Schofield’s resignation a variety of talking heads have lined up to put the boot in, particularly over his relationship with the much younger member of the production crew which is now over.
Ms Willoughby even went on to make one of the most ludicrous statements ever broadcast on national television as she returned to our screens after taking a break from presenting duties as the Schofield story hit the headlines.
“Are you Ok,” she began. Well, of course we are ok. Then it got worse as she continued: “I imagine that you might be feeling a lot like I have… shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions.
“You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth. Who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
“I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone.
“I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.”
I mean, seriously, have you ever head such utter claptrap?
Indeed, some have even gone as far to say that relationships between work colleagues should potentially be a sackable offence, which is without doubt one of the most ludicrous suggestions I have ever heard in my entire life.
As long as the relationship is consensual and is embraced by both parties while not adversely affecting their work it should not be deemed an issue.
Prior to the era of the internet most people ended up dating and in many cases either living with or marrying a work colleague.
First of all it tended to be a chat at the water dispenser or coffee machine, then an invite for a drink after work and if it was accepted the chances were that fledgling friendship would develop into something more.
If said invite is rejected then fine, such is the nature of attraction which is not always reciprocated. If that proves to be the case then move on.
Of course, there are those with predatory instincts within the workplace who think that anyone they have their eyes on is “fair game” but thankfully with the advent of Human Resources there are complaints procedures in place to protect workers from unwanted attention.
However, the suggestion that work colleagues should not have the right to embark on a relationship
Be
Hailsham House is proud to announce the opening of Beech House – a newly refurbished 32- bed care facility situated in the grounds of the home. Beech House boasts the latest automated care/ call-system for people with dementia and nursing care needs. We will be opening the first phase in July. The beautifully designed rooms, which are all en-suite, are decorated to the personal taste of each resident before they arrive. Beech House is also home to an on-site hair and beauty salon, a deluxe spa bathroom, relaxing communal areas and beautiful landscaped
The on-site wellbeing services and kitchenettes in each room provide the perfect blend of independent living with 24-hour support –an ideal way to transition if a little extra care is required.
The rooms are well appointed, spacious and wonderfully light and airy. Many have direct garden access too. A beautifully fitted out café called Daphne’s’ is situated in the main communal area of Beech House creating a warm and friendly community atmosphere. Residents can relax, dine and socialise with friends,
is palpable nonsense.
As far as we can ascertain, Phillip Schofield did nothing wrong, broke no laws, yet despite that his career lies in tatters due to trial by the tabloids.
I have worked in the media for 40 years now and during that time have witnessed punch-ups, screaming rows and, horror of horrors, work colleagues embarking on relationships, some successful, some ultimately not.
That is the nature of the business. Even today, it is an abrasive and competitive world, whether it be a career in newspapers or television.
On that basis, Phillip Schofield, whether you like him or not, did extremely well to rise to the top of his profession and on the rare occasions I have watched one of his programmes, he is clearly a consummate professional.
He says he is a “broken man” having seen his career implode just because he saw someone he fancied in the workplace and the colleague in question reciprocated in kind. The age gap between them doesn’t matter one iota on the proviso both parties are over the age of consent.
Yet like Gordon the Gopher he will become yesterday’s news once the media frenzy dies down. It is time to leave the man in peace and not become both hanging judge and jury.
Remember that Biblical quote which remains true to this very day. To paraphrase, it says… “you hypocrite. First, remove the beam from your own eye and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
family and the Hailsham team throughout the day.
The café was named after Daphne Marchant, a former resident of Hailsham House and the mother-in-law to John Godden, Director of Aurem Care. Although separate to the main home, there is easy access between Beech and Hailsham House. This allows the home to cater for couples with varying needs, allowing them to remain together and find the right package to suit them both. Each community at Hailsham House has its own unique and distinct feel. Hailsham House has always been highly regarded for its friendly, effective care. Beech House is surrounded by the most beautiful gardens which can be enjoyed all year round. The site also has an allotment where many residents enjoy spending time helping to grow and produce fresh fruit and vegetables some of which are donated to the local food banks.
If you would like to find out more about Beech House, or if you would like a guided tour of the home, please get in touch with Richard the Manager either by phone 01323 442050 or email mgr.hailshamhouse@aurem-care.com.
There is a private outside entrance door to the property with a staircase to the upstairs accommodation which is arranged with a lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Furthermore there is a garage ( With the option of two additional garages) and a communal gardens
There is no subletting allowed in the building and is for the over 55’s only.
and a family bathroom. There is a downstairs loo and three hall storage cupboards. To the rear is a paved sunny aspect garden and garage while to the side is a lawned area.
To explore this amazing opportunity please take a look at our 3D Virtual Tour teamed up with our professional photography before calling us for an accompanied viewing. The house is being sold chain free.
If you are looking for a ready to move into family house then this one could be for you.
Providing light & Airy accommodation arranged downstairs with an entrance hall, lounge and a wonderful open plan kitchen/diner and conservatory making this the social hub of the house. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Outside there is a long driveway leading through gates to the detached garage as well as front & rear gardens. Finally the property benefits from gas fired central heating and uPVC double glazing.
Please give us a telephone call if you wish to view this property.
This is a stunning Cottage occupying an enviable rural location along a picturesque lane within walking distance of the Historic Village Church.
Matching the outside of the property is the equally stunning interior with it’s spacious lounge/dining room with a wood burner inset into the chimney breast, fabulous fitted kitchen and the modern influenced family bathroom and shower room/ WC. There are four generous bedrooms located on the first and second floors.
Outside there is a driveway leading to a detached garage, a small raised flower bed to the front and a very wide rear garden ideal for entertaining on those balmy summer evenings. Look at our on-line 3D Virtual Property Tour and professionally taken photographs and if this one is of interest then please give us a call to arrange a viewing.
THE HAILSHAM CLUB IS A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB FOR THE OVER 18S ESTABLISHED IN 1920 AND CONVENIENTLY SITUATED IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN Bingo
Fresh Water Fishing Section
Wheel of Chance
Entertainment
Themed Evenings
Darts
Drinks Raffle
Fundraisers
Snooker Tables
Meat Raffle
Poker
Snooker League
Shove Halfpenny
Quiz Night
Sea Fishing Section
Whist
WE ARE A VENUE FOR LOCAL GROUPS INCLUDING ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, PROBUS AND WI. OUR KITCHEN SERVES LIGHT LUNCHES FROM 11am TO 2pm ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAYS
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME, MEMBERSHIP FORMS AVAILABLE FROM THE BAR.
MEMBERSHIP ENROLMENT HELD ON 1st THURSDAY EACH MONTH.
43 Vicarage Field, Hailsham, BN27 1BG 01323 842468 hailshamclub@live.co.uk
Full servicing or part repairs
Watch resealing & pressure testing
Watch batteries and straps fitted
Watch bracelet alterations
Watch bracelet cleaning
Quartz conversions
Glass replacement Free estimates
36 High Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1BB 01323 841898
www.hailshamjewellers.co.uk
We send anonymous members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an honest review. These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the food and drink!
burgers further celebrate the Long Man with different takes on the fillings and accompaniments, The Flying Man, Half Man, Long Man and Full Man, again, all contain locallysourced ingredients. The vegetarian/vegan option is the Halloumi burger.
We started with a few of the Light Bites: Marinated Olives and Homemade Hummus & Pitta. The pitta bread was really hot and went really well with the hummus which had a light drizzle of olive oil over it. We did find that the two pieces of pitta bread wasn’t enough to scoop up the very generous helping of the hummus, but that was soon rectified by scooping it up with the olives instead!
We headed west this time for our next gourmet adventure — off to the charming Long Man Inn at Wilmington.
Newly renovated and rebranded as The Long Man Inn, this establishment has always been a hotspot for diners. Formerly known as The Giant’s Rest, the inn has a rich history dating back to its construction in 1908. There’s a post on their Facebook page which addresses the names it’s had over the years since it was first built.
The Long Man Inn, just a quick stroll from the iconic Long Man of Wilmington, is now sporting its more recognisable and befitting name. It’s no wonder, as this famous pub perfectly captures the essence of its surrounding landscape and pays homage to the much-loved major human hill figure — one of only two in all of England (the other being in Dorchester).
This rural gem is worth the six-mile drive from Eastbourne and as the sun shines down and the swallows start to return, the surrounding fields come alive with vibrant wildflowers and wildlife. It’s the perfect time to visit and indulge in a mouth-watering meal.
Plenty of outside parking makes the pub easy to access and you can really enjoy the fresh new look. The logo blends perfectly with the natural surroundings, giving it a timeless charm. On entering the pub, it’s now spacious and clean, uncluttered and inviting.
As soon as you step inside, you’ll notice the abundance of art adorning the walls. It showcases the various interpretations of the Long Man from different artists throughout the years, ranging from vintage black and white photographs to modern, vibrant abstract pieces.
Even though the pub has been refurbished, the building still retains most of its character, from the intricate decor to the ornamental table decorations, it just feels as though everything has been very carefully thought out.
The menu is varied and exciting and bursting with excitement! Brimming with locally-sourced ingredients, every dish is a celebration of freshness and sustainability with minimal food miles. Whether you have dietary restrictions or not, there’s something for everyone — from mouth-watering vegan and vegetarian options to gluten-free choices. You won’t be disappointed!
Looking through the menu, the gourmet
For mains, we selected the Long Man’s Sausage which came with mustard mash and caramelised baby onion sauce as well as The Long Man — smoked bacon & Sussex Charmer with secret sauce.
The generous sausage dish came with three sausages, which we later learned are sourced by Sussex Larder in St Mary’s Walk, Hailsham are really tasty, packed with flavourful herbs and pepper. The creamy mashed potatoes are elevated by the subtle crunch of mustard seeds, while the sweet baby onions in the sauce add a delightful contrast to every bite.
The Long Man burger was probably one of the best restaurant burgers we’ve had. It was a challenge to simply pick up it due to the sheer height of it — but when you had it firmly in your grip it was perfectly cooked and had a generous serving of the ‘secret sauce’ which complimented the burger and salad excellently.
There’s also a great selection of children’s choices at very reasonable prices, including all the kids’ favourites from macaroni cheese, sausage, fish fingers, burgers and pizzas — there’s bound to be something your children will enjoy.
The dessert menu featured all of my favourites such as sticky toffee pudding, cheesecake, brownie, ice cream, and a Sussex cheese board. Unfortunately, I was too full to indulge, but it was probably for the best as I wouldn’t have been able to decide which one to choose anyway!
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a separate Sunday menu for those of you who like to go out and have your Sunday roast cooked by someone else!
The waiting staff were really happy to help with all our questions and requirements — we even found the waiter going the extra mile, as he sported a tattoo on his forearm of The Long Man! He explained it was a tribute to the local landscape he had grown up in. It was evident that his love for the local area extended to his work as well, as he went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was exceptional.
After our meal and a bit of a nose about, we also found a bookshelf containing an array of books all dedicated to the famous Long Man — a literary feast for the mind.
The meal cost just £66.00 which included two rounds of drinks, which of course you can choose from the wide range of fantastic beers from the local Long Man Brewery!
PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE - LICENSING ACT 2003
I, Nail Kussan, do hereby give notice that I have applied to the Licensing Authority at Wealden District Council for the grant of a Premises Licence at: Unit 11 Diplocks Buildings, Diplocks way, Diplocks Industrial Estate, BN273JF, Hailsham, East Sussex and known as Diplocks Café
The application is to: BEGIN THE SALE OF ALCOHOL FROM 07:00 - 22:00 MONDAY - SUNDAY
Any person wishing to make representations to this application may do so by writing to Licensing Officer, Wealden DC, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX or email licensing@ rother.gov.uk not later than 29/07/2023.................................. Representations received after this date cannot be considered.
Details of the above application may be viewed on the Licensing Register at the Council Offices
It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with this application, the maximum fine on summary conviction being unlimited.
With a good response from members of the public, the many improvements to Hailsham’s Common Pond over the two decades – including the installation of culvert fencing and the repair of some drain covers – have been successfully carried out, thanks to the regular maintenance and monitoring of the site by Town Council staff.
Other major improvements to the 1.86-acre site have included the removal of approximately 2,500 cubic metres of silt, the construction of a second island and sloping marginal wetland area and the installation of a hard surface path, benches and additional shrubs along the pond edge.
Regular users of the town’s Common Pond would have noticed some much-needed upgrades, ensuring sufficient drainage and prevent path flooding.
Certain sections of the perimeter footpath have been prone to flooding during the winter months, restricting access to some parts of the open space. In response to this, Town Council maintenance staff have worked with external contractors to counter the problem by installing a new overflow pipe and culvert.
Councillor Mary Laxton, Chair of the Assets Management Committee said: “Hailsham Town Council is responsible for a number of areas of public open space within the town. Most of these have designated footpaths to provide access to and around
the area and a number of them, particularly at the Common Pond site, have experienced flooding over the past few winters.”
“As it appears that the increased amount of rainfall has become the norm for the local weather during the autumn and winter months, the Town Council has taken the necessary steps to ensure that future flooding of footpaths is prevented as much as possible.”
The Town Council’s plan to undertake these improvements to the Common Pond site are just part of the Council’s vision to enhance its open spaces over the course of the next few years.
Since then, the Town Council has undertaken surveys of the site and, on the advice from the Environment Agency, additional work to improve and consolidate the island banks to prevent further erosion has been achieved in recent years by planting additional aquatic plants around the banks of the Town Clerk, John Harrison commented: “It’s always nice to receive positive feedback from people on the work undertaken by outdoor works staff at the Common Pond site and we look forward to the continuation of our work to maintain the area in the future to allow the pond life to flourish and make improvements so that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy this local beauty spot.”
“The Town Council is proud of its achievements to date at the Common Pond, which during the period between 1995 and 1998 saw the transition of the area from a rather raw and uninviting state.”
“I’d like to pass on the Council’s thanks to our pond warden Phil Hobden and the rest of the outdoor works team for all their hard work, and local residents who have been keeping a watchful eye on this wonderful site over the years.”
East Sussex cricketers were awarded a grant to help make their pitch perfect.
Herstmonceux Cricket Club secured a £300 Team Sport Award from electricity infrastructure company, UK Power Networks Services, towards new equipment for pitch improvements.
The power firm’s sports grant was put towards a fertiliser and seed spreader, also being supported by the parish council and the club itself.
Andrew Barrellie, a senior project manager at UK Power Networks Services, secured the grant from his employer to help the club where his son, Edward, 14, now a wicket keeper for the men’s third team, has played cricket for eight years.
Andrew, who volunteers at the club on match days, said: “You would be surprised what goes into creating a good cricket pitch. They put so
much effort into getting the ground just right for our players. I have been out rolling the crease myself.
“This grant from UK Power Networks Services is fantastic and I have received so many messages of appreciation. This will really help because we are forever raising money for the club and all our coaches are volunteers. It’s such a good club.
“We have fantastic coaches and the kids come away from training with smiles on their faces and to me the enjoyment of the sport is key, and what the coaches put into the training.”
The club competes in the 3rd XI Sussex Cricket League Division 12 East South playing at their home ground at Herstmonceux Recreation Ground in the summer and practise nets at Claverham Community School, Battle, during the winter. The club has 13 teams catering for all age
groups.
Alex Lazell, committee board member and under-14s club coach, from Herstmonceux Cricket Club, said: “The funding is very much appreciated, and has been put towards the purchase of much needed grounds maintenance equipment. Without the right tools for the job, preparing the ground and pitches for the cricket matches to be played on causes immense extra work, and we rely heavily on the goodwill and expertise of our groundsman to work his magic for us all.”
The company’s Team Sport Award scheme encourages staff to volunteer in the community, support grassroots sport, promote healthy living, teamwork and develop sports opportunities. Hundreds of community and sports groups have benefited from grants since the scheme was set up. During 2022, 86 teams benefited from a share
in £21,500.
Hailsham Cricket Club also received a much-welcomed boost recently from local car dealership group Caffyns.
A spokesperson said: “‘Here at Caffyns Eastbourne Audi, we are thrilled to be in partnership with Hailsham Cricket Club. We look forward to building this partnership and supporting the local cricket community throughout the year, something we feel very proud to be able to do!”
Rob Wilkinson said: “To partner with a business like Caffyns Audi is massive for the club and one that we are determined to make a huge success. They have been nothing short of superb to work with so far and I am sure this partnership can be a positive one for both organisations.”
The club caters for both children and adults, including disadvantaged young people and those who are in recovery from addiction.
Club owner Sam Buchanan, a former Scottish Junior Champion who has himself overcome addiction, founded the club after starting free boxing training sessions in a field during lockdown, later moving inside to The Warehouse. He said: “Vistry’s donation will be an incredible help to the club, as it allows us to keep our sessions free so that we can continue to offer
“We took 35 people to climb Mount Snowdon to help raise money for our club. Not only did this challenge our members, it gave them something to focus on and pushed them to achieve a specific goal. Outside of recovery, this type of motivation is essential for people working to overcome addiction as it teaches them motivational skills.
“The climb was such a success that we then went on to tackle Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike, to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, which was a great achievement for all that took part.”
The club is completely self-funded and donations from organisations such as Vistry help towards the running costs of the facility and help the club to reach more children and vulnerable adults.
The club has gained a SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Recovery licence which allows it to offer in-house support to those in recovery from addiction.
Candice McCabe, marketing manager for Vistry Kent, said “Hailsham Boxing Club plays a vital role in the local community, offering free training and support to those who need it most.
“As a local housebuilder, we are committed to supporting the community in Hailsham as we move forward with our plans to deliver new housing in the town at Liberty Place.
development in the town.
who need it most.
“As a club, we like to keep our members active, giving them goals to achieve and celebrating together when they achieve them. We don’t just work with people inside of the club, we enjoy taking them out on team activities to inspire them and raise money.
“We are therefore pleased to be able to assist the club for the duration of construction at this location to help its staff and volunteers continue the valuable work they do supporting disadvantaged members of the community, as well as providing a safe place and guidance to those in recovery.”
Vistry is building 300 new homes under the Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands at Liberty Place, off Marshfoot Lane, as well as providing new public open space.
BOXING PAGE 26
Hailsham Tennis Club held its finals weekend in the club’s annual tournament recently. In the Ladies’ final, four time previous winner Debbie Hughesman was up against the club’s Horam League captain, Narun Chea.
In the first set, Narun dominated, winning it 6-2.
Hchairman, with local resident Chris Weller taking the helm ahead of the forthcoming 2023/24 season.
Chris is joined by Paul Butler, as the new club treasurer, replacing Lee Mewett, who, along with the outgoing chairman, was given a warm round of applause and a vote of thanks at the wellattended recent club AGM (22nd June) for his sterling efforts in balancing the club’s books over the last four years.
Work has also taken place on the removal of the derelict former clubhouse, struck by fire in the late 1990’s, with a busy gang of volunteers, including players, led by Secretary Dominique Corbett spending a Sunday recently in blistering heat to tidy debris following professional demolition.
The former clubhouse building will be replaced in the near future by a new changing room
specifications under current Football Association ground grading regulations, which have changed in the years since the ‘new’ clubhouse, now close to 25 years old, was constructed.
The club publicly thanked Haulaway Skips and Littlewood Fencing for their assistance with the project.
Elsewhere, new manager Kyle Davis has been busy - both on and off the field - with the retentions of Harry Mills, confirmed as club captain, and Will Bacic, both of whom have significant experience at higher levels, with further signings to follow in the coming weeks as the club build towards the new campaign.
The season gets underway on Saturday 19th August, with the first fixtures expected to be announced shortly. The Under 18’s, meanwhile, will continue under the managership of Mike Madelin, and would welcome any new 16 or
17 year old players, who can find out more information via a message to the club’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hailshamtownfc
Underwood was playing Adam Beaney. Adam had beaten nine times champion Johan Jooste in the semi-final. Although there was some bighitting from both ends, Simon won the title 6-2, 6-1.
the doubles matches were played. The ladies’ doubles and the mixed doubles had to be postponed until July because of holidays, but the men’s doubles made some progress, with six times winners Neil Downer and Johan Jooste back together after Neil had taken a sabbatical last season.
The pair were too strong for their opponents, Nigel Ives and Manny Galitzine, taking their seventh title 6-1, 6-0.
Hailsham Harriers were out in full force at this years Heathfield Midsummer 10K last month - a race that forms part of the Sussex Grand Prix, a series of twelve running events from March to November whereby Sussex clubs compete against each other for team and individual running awards.
The Heathfield 10K follows a scenic, rural, undulating route around the quiet country lanes of Cross In Hand and Waldron in East Sussex. 225 runners braved the warm temperatures and the challenging course with Hailsham fielding the biggest club turnout of 27 members.
First Harrier across the line saw Rob Chrystie in 41:41 followed by Adam Davies 41:33, Graham Woolley 43:12, Sam Unwin 46:21, Helen O’Sullivan 46:41, Audrey Haddon 47:09, Mark Bassett 48:18, Robin
Warwick 49:12, Leeland Pavey 50:02, Tina Macenhill 50:18, Graham Purdye 51:44, Gary Smith 53:27, Steph Bassett 56:06, Victoria Little 56:15, Hannah Deubert-Chapman 56:46, Katy Reed 58:14, Frances Delves 58:30, Katie Manley 1:01:09, Samantha Neame 1:02:01, Michelle Hollands 1:02:29, Lisa Phillips 1:04:43, Julie Deakin 1:07:58, Louise Williams 1:08:44, Claire Hope 1:09:40, Darren Gillett 1:12:05, Roberto Proietti 1:18:31, Maria Stanford 1:20:25 and Norman Harris 1:27:30 Audrey Haddon, Tina Macenhill and Frances Delves placed first in their age categories after sterling performances, with Hailsham Harriers winning the award for the biggest team turnout. Longest serving Harrier, Norman Harris together with club treasurer, Darren Gillett took the honour of lifting the trophy on behalf of team black and red.
Hailsham Harriers organise the upcoming Hellingly 10K on Sunday enthuse.com/ps/event/TheJohnFauldsHellingly10k