Hailsham News, November 2023, Issue 27

We Will Remember Them Sunday 12th November

NOVEMBER 2023 | ISSUE 27

YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR HAILSHAM, POLEGATE, HELLINGLY & SURROUNDING AREAS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

LOCAL NEWS • EVENTS • FEATURES • MOTORING • SPORT

MAYBUGS FIRST PORT CHALLENGED PAGE 4

DEVELOPMENT SAFETY CONCERNS PAGE 6

BONFIRE SUCCESS PAGE 10

TRUSTED EMPLOYEE GUILTY OF FRAUD

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2 NEWS

EDITOR’S WELCOME

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

FOODBANK PRAISES ELECTRIC VEHICLE DONATION FROM LOCAL MANUFACTURER H

YET again, the volunteers who organise the annual bonfire celebrations smashed it!

It’s great to see so many residents come out to support the event which is purely run by donations. It also raised a massive amount for local charities, so hats off to everyone who not only organised it, but also took part and donated.

The event is vital for the town, not just to recognise the long-standing tradition, but it also generates a huge amount of revenue for the local businesses who open during the evening.

It would be good to see more involvement from the businesses that rely on the bonfire night to increase their revenue, as it can only survive if people give something back.

It’s been a very frustrating time on the roads of Hailsham recently with numerous roadworks all going on at the same time causing gridlocked traffic.

When the town was at standstill, I walked around the centre to see what was going on, and it was worrying to see how many vehicles were just stationary, pumping out fumes into the air and delaying everybody’s day.

What is also frustrating, is that any utility company can dig up our lovely brand-new surface on South Road, and already have done so. Obviously, emergency works have to be done, but when our town is constantly increasing in size, it won’t be long until the roads will return to replicate the surface of the moon I fear.

On a lighter note, don’t forget to support the Remembrance Service in town on Sunday 12th November at 10:30am. It’s always comforting to see so many residents come out to pay their respects. See you there.

Paul Gibson, Group Editor. editor@hailsham.news

READ ME, SHARE ME, THEN RECYCLE ME! 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.

AILSHAM Foodbank has expressed its appreciation for an invaluable contribution in the form of an electric van which has been assisting them with local collections and deliveries and reaching parts of the town that other vans cannot reach.

The van, known as the Orca, was built and supplied to the Foodbank by Hailsham manufacturer JLC EV, based in Lower Dicker.

Manager Julie Coates said: “The JLC EV’s Orca van was invaluable today in accessing a space that our other van wouldn’t have been able to get to. It also managed to fit in a significant harvest collection. The van may look small but it has plenty of space as it’s like a box inside with no wasted space. We appreciate the continued support of the company in giving us full use of the van.”

JLCEV, a renowned company committed to sustainable transportation solutions, has demonstrated its corporate social responsibility by providing Hailsham Foodbank with the support it needs.

Nathalie Hayes from JLCEV said: “This

Hailsham Foodbank benefits from the Orca electric van

partnership between us and the Hailsham Foodbank exemplifies the positive impact that collaboration between businesses and non-

LIONS URGE SCHOOLCHILDREN TO ‘CHANGE THE WORLD’ Hailsham Lions has announced it is sponsoring Grovelands County Primary and Hellingly Primary Schools for this year’s Lions Roar Competition.

The Lions Roar Competition is an inspirational and fun learning experience, run in partnership with the education company ‘8billionideas’. It allows children to discover how to use their imagination in Lion’s President exciting new ways, gaining important life Keith Dickman skills.

Aimed at 7-11-year-olds, children learn how to work together in teams, develop their communication and presentation skills, while boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem. 8Billionideas is recognised for its forward-thinking approach to giving students the skills and beliefs to change the world.

President Keith Dickman said: “As a Club, it is exciting to get involved with this Youth Programme, whereby children are given the opportunity to think big and create world-changing ideas.”

Since its inception in 2016, thousands of children have taken part and have generated hundreds of brilliant ideas linked to multiple topics, including health, environment and sustainability. There are around 27,000 pupils taking part in over 130 schools sponsored by Lions Clubs from across the British Isles.

For more information on the Lions Roar competition visit www.lions-roar-com.

profits can have on local communities. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the fight against hunger.”

TRAFFIC CHAOS AS ROADWORKS AND INCIDENTS GRIDLOCK TOWN AT least three sets of roadworks caused traffic chaos around Hailsham recently which was made worse by a serious incident on the A22.

Drivers suffered up to 60-minute delays as all the main routes through the town centre were gridlocked due to several roadworks taking place simultaneously.

Waterworks on the A271 at Upper Horsebridge, temporary lights due to the ‘Installation of Bus Priority equipment’ on Battle Road and emergency gas works on the South Road roundabout brought all the local roads to a standstill.

Local bus routes severely suffered due to the heavy traffic with a series of delays and cancellations.

Town centre traders were the biggest victims as many reported that trade was terrible as shoppers were unable to park due to the gridlocked roads. Food outlets also suffered as deliveries couldn’t reach their destinations.

The situation was worsened as a car fire on the A22 Hailsham Bypass created more chaos after it damaged the road surface and the dual carriageway was closed for many hours.

The collision between two vehicles at the Hempstead Land junction caused major delays on all surrounding routes. Fortunately, only minor injuries were reported following the accident.

East Sussex County Councillor for Hailsham New Town, Gerard Fox said: “It is inevitably infuriating when a set of unconnected events combine to cause gridlock. The Highways team did their best to schedule ESCC works on Battle Rd during half-term. Emergency works by SGN on South Rd or to repair damage from a car fire on the A22 are not something they can control or plan for.

They responded really swiftly with emergency works to get the A22 back up and running.

We’ve seen some great resurfacing work conducted on South Rd & Ersham Rd over the summer with more planned for Diplocks Way this financial year. I’m pressing Highways officers to ensure that we pursue the utilities for proper post work carriageway restoration so that the improvements are longer lasting.”

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

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4 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023

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MILLWOOD PARK RESIDENTS TOLD TO PAY £130,000 MAINTENANCE CHARGES

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ESIDENTS living on an estate in Hailsham say their lives have been turned upside down after receiving huge charges from its management company.

165 homeowners on the Millwood Park estate, just off Mill Road, say they’ve been invoiced for maintenance work apparently carried out by maintenance firm First Port over the last two years, and have been told to pay for their services for 2024 in advance.

In some cases, the charges are for thousands of pounds which the residents argue were not agreed in advance or there’s no service agreement in place. They claim hardly any work has been carried out over the period the charges relate to.

Janine Windsor told Hailsham News: “We had no communication from First Port, then suddenly we all received an invoice from First Port. My invoice personally is for £1300+, to say I was shocked is an understatement. The invoice was backdated from August 2022, detailing the amounts they were charging us all for cleaning, grounds maintenance, window cleaning etc.

“In one year, I and the other residents in my building had seen the communal area cleaned once, maybe twice. There had been one window cleaned, there was no evidence anything had been done. The communal area had a disturbing amount of spiders, dirt and bugs over the walls and floor.

“Since we have raised disputes over the invoices and lack of services undertaken, First Port has issued a further invoice for the coming year, my personal invoice is a further £800.”

The play park on the estate has apparently been constantly fenced off and children have been unable to use it.

Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani was contacted by a number of the residents as well as East Sussex County Councillor Gerard Fox who shared their frustrations about the level of estate maintenance provided by the company, and concerns about receiving the invoices for 2022/23 and 2023/24 in very close succession, which has placed an unexpected burden on households.

Nusrat convened an urgent meeting with First Port’s Head of Operations to convey her concerns

and demand answers.

During the meeting, she pressed for better communication and fairer invoicing, raised the need for a payment plan option for residents and called for the establishment of a resident committee to work directly with the company.

She also told the business she wanted to see a Service Level Agreement in place between First Port and residents and asked for the site manager to be present on the site more frequently.

She shared residents’ concerns about the lack of visibility of contractors carrying out maintenance, especially of the playground which was reported

WOMAN CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE FRAUDS AND THEFT WHILST WORKING AT HMI CLUB A

FORMER employee who abused her position at a not-for-profit social club to steal thousands of pounds has been convicted at court.

Jeanette Gardner was an administrator for Hailsham Memorial Institute (HMI) — a club established in 1920 in memory of a local soldier who lost his life during the First World War. She was appointed the paid role of administrator in 2006 and engineered absolute financial control of the club. However in 2019, club members became concerned about Gardner’s actions when they failed to receive confirmation of receipt of funds raised at a ‘Full Monty’ charity event held

by HMI in aid of Orchid Cancer Charity.

After an internal investigation conducted by HMI, Gardner was dismissed from her role in August 2019. The matter was then reported to Sussex Police.

A three-year investigation ensued which

uncovered large scale frauds, thefts and abuse of position offences.

The investigation found Gardner had stolen from HMI and made fraudulent claims against the club. These included falsifying her employment contracts to pay herself a higher salary, giving herself pay rises without authorisation, withholding payments to HMRC, false accounting and laundering £26,000 of the stolen money out of the country to India.

She falsified weekly accounts to steal cash from the social club and would often include personal purchases in receipts claimed back from the club. Payments were also received into her bank account for events and services provided by HMI. Gardner failed to pass on money raised at HMI fundraising events to charities, including approximately £3,000 to the male cancer charity Orchid.

When asked to account for the money that was

raised, Gardner insisted she’d made the payment but could not find the receipts to prove it. When confronted by the members she tried to falsify the receipts and staged a fake discovery of the ‘lost’ cash to cover her tracks.

During the investigation, Gardner also brazenly made fraudulent claims for Universal Credit which were uncovered by police.

The investigation resulted in 64-year-old Gardner, of Meadow Road, Hailsham, being charged with 11 offences.

Her trial began on 18 September 2023 at Hove Crown Court. During trial, she pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position but maintained her innocence in relation to all the other charges.

On Friday 20 October, Gardner was found guilty of eight of the 11 charges against her — four counts of fraud by abuse of position; fraud by false representation; theft; transferring criminal property; and fraud by failing to disclose

as a site of concern.

The company confirmed all residents would be receiving a further letter from First Port in the near future to provide clarity on the amount that they are asking residents to pay, with a breakdown of each budget to provide transparency on how residents’ money is spent.

Nusrat was also assured that First Port would be offering the option of a payment plan for the 2022/23 invoice to all residents.

Resident Kaden James said: “We were all shocked when we got the invoices as nothing seemed to have been done. We didn’t even know First Port were actually in control of the estate.

The company has given us three months to pay which totals more than £500 a month.

“We hope to resolve this matter with them but our request to see proof of all the work that’s been carried out has not been answered. Why should we have to pay for something which has not been done?”

Cllr Gerard Fox said: “I was really pleased to support Nus in making the case on behalf of Millwood Park residents and calling for action by the estate management company, and I look forward to seeing the results.”

A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We are grateful for the meeting with Ms Ghani and Cllr Fox and for their insight into issues raised by residents at Millwood Park.

“We are working hard to address the points raised as quickly as possible, and we will be issuing a further update to residents in the coming days.”

information.

She was found not guilty of three charges — two counts of fraud by abuse of position; and one count of theft.

Gardner has been released on court bail ahead of sentencing on 1 December.

Investigator George Shannon said: “Jeanette Gardner was trusted with managing all aspects of the club’s finances but abused that trust to manipulate the figures for her own personal gain over many years.

“The exact amount of money taken from the club is not clear due to a lack of paperwork and receipts kept by Gardner, however, it is believed to be in excess of £100,000.

“When discrepancies started to come to light and Gardner was confronted, she denied all wrongdoing and continued to maintain her innocence right up to and during her trial.

“Thanks to the diligence of other members at the Hailsham Memorial Institute and an extensive and thorough investigation by police, she has now been held accountable for her actions.

“HMI is an historic club that plays a key role in the local community. The money lost through Gardner’s systematic and despicable behaviour nearly resulted in its closure but thankfully she has been caught, and the club can now continue to thrive under its new stewardship.”

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

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6 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

WEEKEND CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC CAUSES FEARS FOR CHILDREN’S SAFETY An approaching lorry as children leave football practice at the Maurice Thornton playing fields

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ESIDENTS living close to a new housing development in Hailsham fear a child could be hurt as huge lorries continue to pass a busy recreation ground out of normal work hours.

Videos and photos have been sent to Hailsham News of cement lorries leaving the Marshfoot Lane site, passing children playing football at the weekend and trying to cross the road.

Vistry Homes is currently building 300 homes at the site, which has been the focus of protests and despair amongst residents who live along the quiet lane.

Neil Stone, who has been campaigning to make the authorities listen to his worries, said: “This is completely unacceptable. At 8.57am on Saturday morning, football over the park with kids and parents moving about, cars parked everywhere, and we had a concrete lorry going to the site!

Nothing like looking after the safety of the general population and preserving the public amenity whilst also completely ignoring the conditions set by Wealden District Council. Once again, someone in authority at the developers has made a conscious decision to make arrangements for this delivery to take place on this day at this time.”

“On October 17th, about 8.15-8.20am, a concrete lorry left the site and passed along Marshfoot Lane and past the school. This is prime time for the Phoenix Academy which is also housing another 200 or so pupils from the Burfield Academy. It appears the safety and security of several hundred local young children falls below that of building new homes.”

In January, an early morning protest took place by homeowners who blocked the road to construction workers trying to access the Vistry Homes site. They were met with angry responses from site workers and were forced to abandon the protest after a short time.

Jane, who lives in the lane, said: “It’s not fair. I watched two vans leave that site; they shot past my house and sped up the road at about 35 miles an hour.

I personally have been abused three times by a lorry driver when I asked them to slow down a bit. I’ve been called all the names under the sun.”

Residents say weekends are ruined by construction traffic

She added: “How long before a person, a child, a pet gets killed?

And what are they going to do then?”

Mr Stone is also concerned about a blocked public right of way near the site. He claims it has been blocked for many weeks, and it stopping access from residents on Town Farm.

A spokesperson from Wealden District Council told Hailsham News: “The council has received complaints regarding alleged vehicle movements at inappropriate times down the lane.

However, the authority has previously formally advised complainants that these matters do not fall within the remit of the local planning authority and that concerns need to be directed to the county council highways authority and/or police if the highway is blocked or drivers pose a risk to users of the lane.

The authority has also received complaints regarding mud on the road allegedly emanating from the site. The authority has contacted the developers to confirm their obligation to provide wheel washing facilities for vehicles exiting the site, and it has been confirmed that wheel washing facilities have been installed and are operated. The developers have also confirmed that they deploy a road sweeper along the lane.

The council will continue to monitor the site and investigate any legitimate planning breaches that are reported.”

A spokesperson for Vistry Kent said: “Vistry Kent has a robust Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) and Construction Management System (CMS) in place. Construction work is only permitted within agreed times on weekdays and Saturday mornings. There are several banksmen in place who make sure all deliveries are managed and controlled as per the CEMP/CMS. “There has been good engagement with local residents since the start of the project and extensive improvements have been made to local roads that were in poor condition. The development is bringing forward 300 much-needed homes to the area, 105 (35 per cent) of which will be affordable homes for local people.

“We are aware of one occasion when a lorry carrying concrete arrived on a Saturday. The lorry had to be brought into the site due to the ‘live’ load it was transporting and it was escorted down

Marshfoot Lane by a banksman at 10mph.

“Vistry Kent does share the access, so it is not necessarily the case that every vehicle moving towards the development is in fact headed there.

“Vistry Kent is mindful of planning restrictions and would encourage residents who have any concerns to contact our customer care team directly.”

The public right of way close to the site

NEWS 7

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

HEAVY RAIN CAUSES £25,000 RAISED TO AWARENESS LOCALISED FLOODING BOOST OF RARE CONDITION

PARTS of the town suffered areas of flooding recently as a period of heavy rain caused problems for motorists and homes.

Residents of Roebuck Park found it difficult to access or leave the estate as deep water covered Park Road near the entrance to the estate. Some tackled the floods in unsuitable vehicles and became stuck throughout the morning.

Drains were being pushed up by the fast-flowing water on Hawkswood Road, whilst the normal parts of Hellingly which suffer throughout the winter,

such as Mill Road and the Rover Cuckmere, were all at capacity.

The Common Pond also overflowed onto the surrounding path and the Western Road Recreation Ground had some

deep areas of water.

The Met Office issued a Yellow weather warning for rain for the weekend (28 & 29 October) which saw around 50mm of rain fall locally in 48 hours.

MAN IN 80S ROBBED IN TERRIFYING EARLY MORNING ATTACK POLICE were called to Hailsham in the early hours of Saturday after four men broke into a home and robbed an elderly man.

Officers were called to the property in Ersham Road around 00:35am on Saturday (7 October) after four people broke in and demanded money from the occupant.

The victim, a man in his 80s, was threatened and handed over a quantity of cash. He was hit on the head and taken to hospital for treatment and has

since been discharged.

Police attended the scene and carried out an extensive area search, with the assistance of police dogs and a drone, but no suspects were identified.

Enquiries are ongoing and officers ask anyone who saw what happened or who may have captured any relevant doorbell, CCTV, or dash cam footage from the area to get in touch.

Anyone with information can report online or by calling 101 quoting serial 37 of 07/10.

A PROUD dad, from Hailsham, who ran the Brighton Marathon in memory of his young daughter who died in her sleep aged just three, has raised more than £25,000 for charity.

Matt Vince, 31, a construction worker, decided to run his first-ever Marathon back in April for Chailey Heritage Foundation, where daughter Luna-Rose Vince attended.

Matt lives in Bodle Street Green and trains at FFH Gym in Station Road, Hailsham.

His target was to raise £5,000 for Aquamovers - a group providing expert therapy and socialising for severely disabled children between the age of 1 and 5 years old at the charity, based in Mid Sussex.

Luna-Rose and mum Sam were regular attendees at the sessions.

He smashed that target by more than £20,000 — and the money he raised will keep Aquamovers going for two years.

Matt said: “I am over the moon to have raised so much money and to be able to make such a big difference to other families.

Matt and the team celebrate total raised

“Aquamovers is very special to me and my family because it was so beneficial during some very tough times.

“I feel lucky that I was able to run a Marathon for such a wonderful cause.”

Matt and three friends — Hugo Porpora, Archie Quinn and Leon Collen — finished the Marathon in four hours 21 minutes.

He suffered a knee injury early on but the four stuck together, enabling him to raise £25,129. He visited the charity this week to hand over the money.

Matt’s daughter Luna-Rose died last October aged just three.

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rare genetic condition — Global Development Delay, which meant she was immobile, nonverbal and had frequent epilepsy seizures.

Will Folkes, Head of Fundraising at CHF, said: “We have such great admiration for Matt and what he has achieved.

“It is never easy running a Marathon, but we all want to pay tribute to what the four have achieved.

“Matt and team — Thank you very much from everyone here at Chailey Heritage Foundation.”

He is now planning further fundraising for Chailey Heritage Foundation in 2024.

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8 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

Hellingly Primary School

Burfield Academy

Grovelands Community Primary School

CRICKET CLUB DONATES THOUSANDS TO LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS

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ore than three thousand pounds has been given to Hailsham Primary Schools following a successful fundraising event.

In addition to raising money through the club’s very successful raffle and club quiz, it decided to reinstate an annual softball cricket tournament for Hailsham’s Primary Schools to get involved in.

It was a well-attended event with pocket money stalls run by the PTAs and children playing to

represent their schools.

Rob Wilkinson from Hailsham Cricket Club said: “We are pleased to say that we intend for the tournament to be an annual event for the schools to take part in and compete for the Hailsham Softball Cricket Shield.

“We are very proud to announce that £3010 was raised for Hailsham’s Primary aged children.

This meant we were able to give £430 to each of the seven primary schools.”

Hailsham Community College Primary School

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10 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023

BONFIRE CELEBRATIONS HAILED AS A SUCCESS T

PHOTOS: PAUL GIBSON

HOUSANDS of residents packed the streets of Hailsham once again last month as the annual bonfire celebrations took place. Societies from all across the county descended on the town to join in the celebrations.

The procession began at the Vicarage Lane Car Park and weaved its way around town to arrive back at the war memorial for a traditional prayer and minute’s silence. It was followed by a breathtaking explosion of firecrackers.

A large bonfire was then lit on the Western Road Recreation

Ground later in the evening where thousands gathered to watch the fireworks finale to mark the closure of the night’s celebrations.

Guy Fawkes night in most parts of Great Britain is traditionally commemorated at large public fireworks displays or small family bonfires, however, towns in Sussex and Kent hold these huge gala events with fires, parades and festivals.

The Hailsham event took a 16-year break due to funding and was recreated in 2005 by local man Guy Osborne, with support from Hailsham Lions. Since then, thousands have been raised for local charities.

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

NOVEMBER 2023

15 North Crescent Industrial Estate, Diplocks Way Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3JF Tel: 01323 840607

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12 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

WORK CONTINUES TO MAKE HAILSHAM’S ROADS POTHOLE-FREE

F

ollowing a motion passed recently by the Town Council calling on East Sussex Highways to address problems associated with potholes on many of the town’s roads, over 50 potholes have been identified as meeting the safety intervention criteria for repairs to be carried out.

The motion, which was passed unanimously by town councillors in July, expressed concerns about the number of potholes on Hailsham’s roads and requested that the Chair and the Town Clerk write to East Sussex County Council to express the Town Council’s “dissatisfaction with the level of management exercised by their Highways Department regarding road maintenance in and around Hailsham.”

The motion also expressed “too many roads can only be navigated

by traffic weaving around potholes and this is becoming dangerous for motorists and other road users and……. Far too frequently repairs have only been performed on partial areas of damage requiring repeat future visits to finish the job.”

Since contacting East Sussex Council Council to request assurances that repairs will be carried out before the winter season and following a survey submitted to the county council by individual ward councillors highlighting the condition of road surfaces, the Town Council’s efforts have resulted in 55 potholes being earmarked for potential repair, with some repair work having been carried out already.

Town Councillor Stephen Potts, one of the members who proposed the motion said: “With the assistance and intervention of county councillor Gerard Fox, who represents Hailsham New Town Ward,

MOVIES, SHOWS AND FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT THE HAILSHAM PAVILION BILLY ELLIOT

13 NOVEMBER - 14:30 The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner’s son, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Part of the Winter Warmer events - only £3.

BOLAN’S SHOES

24-27 NOVEMBER - 19:30 This story takes us on a tumultuous journey from the height of T. Rex mania in 1970s Liverpool to the present-day poignancy of what would have been Marc Bolan’s 75th birthday.

THE FULL MONTY

4 DECEMBER - 14:30 After losing his job at a steel factory, Gaz (Robert Carlyle) learns that his wife wants to sue him for missed child support payments. Desperate for money, Gaz and his friend Dave (Mark Addy) decide to create their own male strip-tease act.

GOLDA

10-15 NOV - 14:15 & 19:30 This amazing film focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Israel,’ faced during the Yom Kippur War.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

22-23 NOV - 14:15 & 19:30 Based on David Grann’s broadly lauded best-selling book, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation.

THE KING’S SPEECH 20 NOVEMBER - 14:30 England’s Prince Albert (Colin Firth) must ascend the throne as King George VI, but he has a speech impediment. An Australian actor and spech therapist, to help him overcome his stammer.

the motion has resulted in the highways team sending a local community steward to survey all the roads that the Town Council reported last summer. This in turn has resulted in several potholes meeting safety intervention criteria.”

“While this could potentially be good news, there is a concern however that, because ‘Safety Intervention’ is the only criteria that East Sussex Highways has applied, this leaves many roads — including Diplocks Way — without an agreed programme to restore surfaces to an acceptable level.”

“Taking this into account, the Town Council, supported by the county councillors representing Hailsham, will continue to make a case for the town’s roads to be drastically improved as soon as possible.”

TO BOOK TICKETS CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON 01323 841414

E: info@hailshampavilion.co.uk W: hailshampavilion.co.uk

THE LESSON

17-19 NOVEMBER - 19:30 Liam (Daryl McCormack), an aspiring and ambitious young writer, eagerly accepts a tutoring position at the family estate of his idol, renowned author J.M. Sinclair (Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant).

THE MIRACLE CLUB

6-30 NOV - 14:15 & 19:30 Ballygar, Ireland, 1967. A hardknocks community in outer Dublin marches to its own beat, rooted in traditions of loyalty, faith and togetherness.

There’s just one tantalising dream for the women of Ballygar to taste freedom

TROLLS: BAND TOGETHER

11-25 NOV - 10:30 & 14:15 Poppy discovers that Branch was once part of a boy band, BroZone, with his brothers.

But when Floyd is kidnapped, Branch and Poppy embark on a journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT HOPS POSTER AUCTION 25 NOVEMBER - 10:00

Come and join us for our annual Film Poster Auction raising money for H.O.P.S (Hailsham Old Pavilion Society). There’s hundreds of brilliant authentic film posters and film memorabilia (Photos, Production Notes, Posters) on sale. Auction catalogue available from Box office.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE SKYLIGHT 18 NOVEMBER - 19:30

Returning to the big screen after nearly ten years, Bill Nighy (Living) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) feature in the critically acclaimed revival of David Hare’s play, directed by Stephen Daldry (The Audience).

THE DICKER PLAYERS PRESENT – A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3 DECEMBER - 11:00

All proceeds to raise money for Eastbourne and Hailsham Foodbank this Chrismas!

ALL MATINEES SCREENINGS AND ALL DAY SUNDAY SCREENINGS - £6.50 / EVENING SCREENINGS - ADULTS - £9 CONCESSIONS - £7

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

NOVEMBER 2023

NEWS 17

FILM FESTIVAL SET TO BRING GLITZ, GLAMOUR AND THE RED CARPET TO TOWN A ROUND twelve months ago, Hailsham film expert and ex-teacher, Gareth Jones suggested the town would benefit from a dedicated film festival. Soon after an initial meeting, plans began to do just that!

Also, as Chairman of the Hailsham Pavilion, Gareth argued that such an event would raise the profile of the building and help to secure its future which, like many similar venues in these challenging times, is far from certain.

The three-day Sussex International Film Festival is to run from 3-5th November and features a number of locally made films by local directors and will conclude with a short film competition which received more than 700 entries from all over the world. The judging panel is chaired by Oscar-winning Film Editor, Chris Dickens.

Chris is an ex-student and resident of Hailsham, and was awarded the Oscar Academy Award for editing Slumdog Millionaire and is one of the judges.

The panel is also joined by Simon Woodgate who also has close links to Hailsham and is a top composer and producer working in television.

He has worked on a variety of different productions; from low-budget indie films, video games, to TV series like UEFA Champions League, Postman Pat and Gangs of London.

Gareth Jones said: “Initially, entry to the competition was free, and that, combined with the possibility of getting their films in front of

Director William Nicholson

an Oscar-winning film editor and a panel of professional judges, led to an explosion of interest.

This has meant many hours of sitting in darkened rooms with strong coffee watching the creative output of filmmakers from an incredible range of cultures and traditions as we slowly reduce the hundreds to a manageable amount for the screening of the semi-finalists and finalists on November 5th.

In fact, we have had so many marvellous pieces that we have decided to extend this aspect of the festival indefinitely and so, from January, we will

A flexible, on-demand transport service, for the price of a standard bus Book your ride with the app:

eastsussex.gov.uk/ Flexi-Bus Book your ride by phone:

01273 078203

be introducing the ‘Sunday Selections’.

These will provide opportunities for filmmakers whose entries didn’t fit our winning criteria, but whose work is important and remarkable, to have their films screened in our lovely auditorium and shared with a sympathetic and appreciative audience.

The journey so far has been eye-popping and energising and we really hope that you will want to join us in November.”

Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director William Nicholson has also joined the team as its Patron. William was nominated for best adapted screenplay for Shadowlands and also for Best original screenplay for Gladiator and he also directed Hope Gap, a film we are showing on the first evening of the festival.

The event is supporting Zylo Film school, a local organisation which works with young people introducing them to all aspects of filmmaking and will be opening the 2nd day with the screening of a selection of their best films.

November 3rd 2023 — Screenings of feature and short films made in Sussex. These are selected by the organisers.

November 4th 2023 — Screenings of feature and short films made by Sussex Filmmakers. These are selected by the organisers.

November 5th 2023 — Judged Short Film Competition. The panel will be chaired by Oscarwinning Film Editor, Chris Dickens.

To book tickets: www.hailshampavilion.co.uk.

18 FEATURES

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

Butterfly was unexpectedly filling, thanks to a generous amount of breadcrumbs, but it was undeniably delicious.

We send anonymous members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an Choosing our mains proved to be a challenging honest review. These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the task given the tempting selection, but we food and drink! ultimately settled on ‘Tandoori’ Fillet of Salmon (salmon fillet marinated in a rich and spicy blend The dim candlelight and hops hanging from of dill, fennel, ginger, and mustard oil, barbecued the bar contributed to its cosy charm. The and served with fresh coriander) and Lamb Rogan rustic ambience, with bare floorboards and an Josh. The Salmon dish, while not particularly assortment of non-matching chairs, Indian in authenticity, was created an inviting atmosphere. remarkably tasty and perfectly The menu was a delightful mix cooked, accompanied by a of different meats and curries, refreshing wedge of lime and including options like Lamb Rogan fragrant Jasmine rice. The Josh, Chicken Balti, and King crowd-pleasing Lamb Rogan Prawn Masala. It appeared to cater Josh, true to its name, was a to a wide range of tastes, except rich and tasty dish with a large perhaps for vegetarians and vegans. amount of chillies.

While there was no indication of We didn’t go out purposely vegetarian options on the menu, we looking to have a curry, but as it didn’t enquire, was Curry Night, it seemed rude Starters including Lamb Jal so it’s possible not to participate. The meals Pur and Butterfly Prawns that they may be were as curryavailable upon request. like as you would For nibbles, we decided on expect outside ‘Papadams’ with lime pickle, of an authentic mango chutney, and onion Indian restaurant. salad. The homemade lime If we had one pickle, with its generous small observation, ur culinary journey this month led us to the charming village of chunks of lime and tangy it would be about Hooe, snugly positioned between flavour, we had a feeling the naan bread, Hailsham and Bexhill, The Red Lion. must’ve been homemade. but it’s not really We were immediately welcomed by a For our starters, we a criticism, as member of bar staff and informed it was Curry ordered Jal Puri (diced lamb mince in a fairly replicating the Main courses of Lamb Rogan Night. We overheard another waitress turning hot sauce, served on puri) and King Prawn true essence Josh and Tandoori Salmon away walk-in guests, so pre-booking paid off!

Butterfly (succulent king prawn fried in crispy of naan bread This quintessential English pub embodied breadcrumbs). The Jal Puri, described as a lamb without a tandoori oven can be a challenge — not the essence of an old English pub, complete meatball served inside half a pepper, was not even the supermarkets can replicate this well. with all the aesthetically pleasing attributes. only flavourful but also creative. The King Prawn We couldn’t fit anything else in, so we didn’t opt

A MATTER OF TASTE

THE RED LION, HOOE

O

KNOW YOUR GARDEN

By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden

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

“November’s sky is chill and drear, November’s leaf is red and sear.” — Sir Walter Scott The nights are drawing in and there is (finally) a nip in the air.

Bates Green Garden is now closed for the winter, which means us gardeners can get to work!

We can delight in creating huge amounts of mess and chaos knowing that we can clear up as is convenient rather than having a mad dash at the end of the day, I feel that the more we can get done in the Garden at the tail end of the year, the more organised the Team will feel during the crazy months of spring and early summer. You can do this too in your garden; it’s such a great feeling to tick things off the list before the winter weather sets in.

Wrap up warm and get started.

You can start by taking hardwood cuttings of woody plants such as roses and viburnums. Climbers too, would you like more vines or honeysuckle perhaps? Did you enjoy a good harvest of gooseberries or are you planning to grow more willow this year, perhaps to create a living arch?

Hardwood cuttings are probably the simplest of all propagating techniques.

Select a really nice shoot that looks vigorous and healthy. It should be a good example of the plant in question. Remove any soft growth at the top and then cut your stem into sections of roughly 20-30cms, cutting cleanly above a bud at the top, with a sloping cut to shed water.

Then, cut straight across the base of each section just below a bud or

for a dessert. For the whole meal for two people with a round of drinks was £60.

After researching The Red Lion following our visit, I uncovered some fascinating history on the pub’s website. Dating back to the 15th century, this establishment has been family-run since 2014 when Leigh assumed ownership, only the sixth landlord in 120 years.

Most intriguingly, The Red Lion is credited with coining the phrase “Money for old rope.” This unique phrase finds its origins in the pub’s history, thanks to the presence of a smuggler’s tobacco mill in the attic. These crafty smugglers concealed their illicitly sourced tobacco in the core of woven ropes, which were then sold, thus giving rise to the popular saying.

The Red Lion is also known for its two resident ghosts, sparking numerous stories. One involves a man in antique attire entering the ladies’ bathroom and vanishing when pursued.

Former Landlord Mr. Keith Barton, serving 19681997, recalls waking to find a man in old-fashioned clothing at his bedside, who then disappeared into a wall, revealing a hidden passage leading to the attic roof and the smugglers’ tobacco mill.

While unconfirmed, local legends allude to a dramatic incident where a smuggler was shot over the cellar hatch, and a police officer met a similar fate just outside the ladies’ bathroom, merely feet apart.

During our time in the restaurant, I decided to take a photo of the bar area from our table. To my surprise, I noticed what appeared to be an orb in the photo, prompting me to capture a short video.

In the video, additional orbs became visible.

Uncertain whether these orbs are simply a result of the interplay of light and candlelight, but it certainly added a touch of mystery to our visit!

The Red Lion, Denbigh Rd, Hooe, TN33 9EW. Tel: 01424 892371

a pair of buds.

Insert your cuttings ensuring that the sloping cut is at the top and the straight at the bottom, into good soil in a sheltered spot or into a container with two-thirds of the cutting below the surface of the soil or compost. Keep them cool and sheltered from strong winds.

Check them periodically and water in dry weather. They will be rooted by the autumn of 2024 — Violà!

Other propagating jobs that you can get out of the way during this relatively quiet time is the sowing of hardy annual seeds.

By doing this now, your plants will be sturdier and flower earlier than spring-sown plants. We will be sowing the beautiful and frothy Ammi majus, brightly coloured Calendula, delphinium — like larkspur and bellshaped flowers of Cerinthe ‘Purpurascens’.

These will be sown in plugs, trays or pots and placed into our cold frame to sit out the winter. They will germinate swiftly, and then spring to life in the early spring when we will plant them out to enjoy early blooms.

November is a really good month in which to lift and divide summer flowering perennials. If the past few years are anything to go by, our spring months are dry which is not good for anything recently split.

Do it now and the new divisions will benefit from any autumn showers. Cut the clumps back and anything that looks bare in the middle is ready for splitting. Such a satisfying job!

Anything slightly on the tender

side such as Red Hot Pokers or Agapanthus, will have to wait until the spring. They won’t enjoy sitting in our wet clay soil all winter without an effective root system.

Instead, try Asters, Bergenia, Crocosmia and Hemerocallis. Your plants will reward your efforts by growing in a more upright fashion rather than collapsing in the middle.

There is such joy to be had by working through borders, selecting which plants to cut down, which to lift and divide and which ones to leave for winter beauty and also to create a wildlife habitat. You can make these decisions as you go and mark groups of plants such as dahlias before they collapse in the first frosts. We use short lengths of bamboo canes, putting them low in the ground so that you don’t poke your eye out.

If you have access to organic matter, homemade compost, mushroom compost (not for acidic gardens), leaf mould or spent compost from container displays then you are in for a treat.

Mulching is one of the joys of gardening, it feeds the soil, looks smart, keeps plants warm over the winter, protects the surface of the soil from eroding and is also an excellent exercise for us all.

You can either chuck it with gay abandon onto bare patches of your border and then spread with a soil rake or if, like us you like to encourage self-seeders, then you can ‘tickle’ the compost in between groups of plants with a fork.

So, get a cup of tea, don your woolly jumper, do a few warm-ups ups and then start your autumn gardening. The rewards will be clear to see next year.

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

NOVEMBER 2023

FEATURE 19

House of Colour HQ in Hailsham

‘WOW—YOU LOOK AMAZING!’

H

BY VIKTORIA COWLEY

ow would you feel if someone said that to you every day for the rest of your life?

When was the last time you really looked in your wardrobe and felt confident about your styling ability?

I’ve had the same routine every day for as long as I can remember: try on three different outfits and still feel completely deflated.

I’ve always been a comfort girl, opting for a pair of jeans and a baggy jumper. Growing up, I was always dressed in my brother’s hand-medowns (yes, you read that correctly!) Having grown up by my Grandmother’s mantra: “Who’s going to look at you?” Well, it turns out, if you dress correctly, in the correct colours and styles, EVERYBODY!!

I got tired of the same repetitive, dull routine.

I met Donna Lane about four months ago whilst networking and she immediately struck me as a powerful and confident businesswoman, before I even knew what she did. You know that saying: “She lights up the room when she enters”? That’s Donna! She introduced herself as a ‘Colour & Style Analyst’ and I couldn’t help but take notice.

“Having five skirts or pairs of trousers and five shirts or tops that all work well together colourwise, you have a possibility of 25 different outfits to wear. If the colours all look great together and amazing on you, you’ll know that no matter what you wear you’ll look great, and you haven’t had to put any thought into it.

“If you look great, you’ll feel great and with that, confident and powerful.”

I was sold. I knew I needed this to get my sorry wardrobe in shape, for both me and my business.

Donna’s workspace is beautiful. Clean and crisp with colourful drapes, a rainbow of colours, full-length mirror and make up amongst other carefully placed commodities that just instil knowledge, calm and competence.

In the initial consultation, I felt completely relaxed and open-minded to the adventure.

Donna started by going right back to the very

Donna Lane

beginning of the science behind the art of how colours work. Explaining that the most famous artists we know and love throughout history all painted in a particular set of colours, whether it be pastels, watercolours or block acrylics — they used these same colour spectrums in their colour palettes.

With my make-up removed and my hair scraped back, my clothes and hair were blanked out by a white cover as the only thing that mattered was my skin tone and facial features.

Then Donna started with the exercise of hanging the various coloured drapes around my neck to see which enhanced my skin tone and brought out the various different features.

The four collections of colours are separated into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Tried as I did, I wasn’t Summer but, in fact Autumn, and to be more specific, a dark Autumn. The rich, warm, earthy and vibrant palette of browns, olive greens, and blues was a real curveball of colours — colours I’d never have thought of before made my eyes pop and my facial

Colour drapes are used to find the perfect colours

features really stand out. I was seeing myself in a completely new light.

I was being educated in the knowledge that true black and the whitest of white are colours only suited to one season, and it’s not Autumn! Black has always been my go-to colour, over 50% of my wardrobe is black, be it denim jeans, T-shirts or shoes — now I’ve been told it’s not my colour!

But for the first time, I could see why. Instead, five shades of brown, blue and green and three shades of the correct red are amongst the colours in the Autumn spectrum.

Donna was so patient, kind and nurturing, explaining exactly why the science behind these colours work and how it empowers you to put the colours together, either as a full-length dress or whether it suits me better as just a shirt or below the waist as a skirt or pair of trousers.

I was given a colour fan, which contain the entire palette of colours I can wear so when I go clothes shopping, I know exactly what colours to buy, and I know my clothing investment will be a wise one.

Not only was Donna as confident in herself as she is in her brand, but everything she said made perfect sense. Right down to knowing what colour jewellery looks great on me!

For a small investment of understanding what colours and style suits me, I’ll no longer need to make rash, incompetent clothing decisions.

Buying the correct coloured clothing is also ensuring you don’t waste your time and money on the wrong items.

Donna also reassured me that transforming my wardrobe into my colour palette will be a gradual process as no one has the budget to just buy a complete wardrobe in the correct colours. Rest assured; the clothes police are not going to come knocking down your door if you don’t get onto it straight away!

However, removing everything that is incorrect is a great starting point, so you have a platform from which to base your wardrobe going forward.

I’m now safe in the knowledge that everything in my wardrobe will look great on me because the colours I wear compliment my skin tone and all the colours go with each other. I must have expelled at least the same amount of clothes as the value of the colour analysis. I just need to build on it now.

Now, that’s a no-brainer!

To find out what your colours are and transform your life, contact Donna Lane at House of Colour today.

Email: Donna.Lane@houseofcolour.co.uk Visit www.houseofcolour.co.uk

20 ARTS

NOVEMBER 2023

LAURIE’S POEM CORNER Laurie Wilkinson is a locally famous, published Poet who thrills and entertains at many locations promoting his books while raising money for Help for Heroes. To find out more about Laurie, see his books and support his cause, simply visit the website below.

HYPNOTIC DANCE Everyone has a love song Or poem deep in their heart, Maybe you can never sing it But knowing it is a start, To begin to seek your dream Of a love you never found.

So you slowly start to move Towards that luring sound.

So with bated breathe and hope That was never there before, You prepare to meet your muse Of which you’re really sure.

Because this love song tells you Something great is coming, And while you wait and tremble Loves music is now strumming.

Hypnotic rhythms stealing thoughts When drawn forward in a trance, To the person of your desires Who is wanting you to dance, And cuddling up so tight Before kissing that loving face You now know waits for you, At that magic, sensual place.

Therefore you sway and wallow In loves mood that’s oh so deep, Without the slightest movement To awake you from your sleep!

To purchase Laurie’s books, visit www.lauriewilkinson.com

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

MR. JONES AT THE MOVIES THE SUSSEX INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

It is nearly here! This fascinating mix of movies, many with Q&A’s, will be running all day for three whole days between 3rd to the 5th November. Come and support your hidden gem of an art-deco cinema at the heart of Hailsham! At £3:50 a ticket with a third free if you buy two, it really couldn’t be better value!

Look for the red SIFF panel on the booking page.

WINTER WARMERS RETURNS!

When the Pavilion launched these last year, they proved to be astonishingly popular, with people queueing at the doors waiting for returns!

Not only do you get to spend two hours in a warm, sociable space with a free hot drink for only £3, but you get to watch classic movies in good company, and that’s always better however big your big screen TV might be.

The season opens on 6th November with Chariots of Fire, followed by Billy Elliot, The King’s Speech and Brief Encounter.

For balance, this month I’m going to review one film from the Festival, and one from later in the month.

ADVENTURE BOYZ

If you have children that you want to bring along to the Pavilion during the Festival, then this is the film for you.

Adventure Boyz could have been made by the Children’s Film Foundation featuring, as it does, two brave boys who are forced off their devices to embark on an epic adventure to solve the

crime, save the day and get their dad out of jail in time for his Speedway race.

Written and Directed by locally based Howard J Ford (Never Let Go) it couldn’t be more of a Sussexbased movie made by Sussex-based film makers.

Please resist from pointing and saying, “I’ve been there!”, because you will have been.

The Crime Boss is played by John Campling (Harry Potter’s Death Eater) who brings just the right balance of threat and humour in the middle of a twisting, turning and very funny plot.

Howard will be taking questions after the screening and several of the cast will be present and may join him!

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Whenever I read that title the theme tune immediately plays in my head.

Written by Vangelis it won one of the films four Oscars. The others were for Best Screenplay, Best Costume and, most significantly, Best Film.

Written by Colin Welland (who’s first acting role was as the friendly teacher in Kes) and Directed by Hugh Hudson, this is a Classic British Historical Drama which tells the true story of the rivalry between Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell as they strove to win the 100-metre sprint at the Paris Olympics of 1924.

The title is originally found in the Bible, then in the poetry of William Blake, especially in hymn form with music by Sir Hubert Parry, and has come to be associated with divine energy.

This is definitely an uplifting film for a wintry afternoon. Book early!

You are cordially invited to join us and celebrate Christmas 2023

Call today and you can enjoy award winning food served with a smile in relaxed casual surroundings.

All our menus are available to view on line and we are now taking bookings for our fabulous Festive Menu, available throughout December (except Christmas Day) priced at only 29.95.

Call or message and make a date with Callenders.

From a romantic meal for two or a celebration dinner for 40, Call today and we’ll book you in.

2023

Ten Times Winner

01323 842400 www.callendersrestaurant.co.uk

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

NEWS 21

NOVEMBER 2023

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE — A TIME TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN

T

he annual service to remember those who died for our country is to take place in the town centre this month.

The Town Mayor will join fellow councillors and representatives from the Armed Forces, their families, veterans and local organisations for the Remembrance Sunday Morning Service at Hailsham Parish Church on Sunday 12th November at 9.30am (instead of the usual time of 10.30am) to enable the congregation and attendees to arrive at the War Memorial in time for the parade and service.

After the Morning Service, there will be a Parade of the Hailsham & District Standard followed

by Armed Forces veterans and local dignitaries together with Hailsham army and air cadets from the car park adjacent to the Charles Hunt Centre in Vicarage Field, commencing at 10.35am.

Anyone wishing to join the parade is asked to arrive at the Charles Hunt Centre by no later than 10.20am and to report to the Parade Master on arrival.

The Parade will finish at the Hailsham War Memorial, in time for a wreath laying service, playing of the Last Post and two minutes silence at 11am, at which members of the public are also invited to attend.

Immediately after the service at the War Memorial, attendees are warmly invited to return to Hailsham Parish Church for hot drinks as in previous years.

Hailsham High Street and Vicarage Lane will be closed from 09.30am to midday on the day.

“The Remembrance Service is an opportunity and a time for us to reflect and remember the sacrifices made both in the past and in current conflicts and thank them,” said Town Mayor Councillor Paul Holbrook, urging people to take time out to remember the fallen. “It is important that as a community we continue to remember those who lost their lives for their country and the Act of Remembrance continues to be of great significance to the people of Hailsham, including the members and staff of the Town Council.”

“It is a privilege for the Town Council to be supporting The Royal British Legion Hailsham & District Branch again in terms of organising this year’s Remembrance Day events — and marking the occasion — and I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and pay their respects.”

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THE HAILSHAM CLUB

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 Pool Table 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. NEWBLE POOL TA MEMBERSHIP ENROLMENT HELD ON 1st THURSDAY EACH MONTH.

43 Vicarage Field, Hailsham, BN27 1BG 01323 842468 hailshamclub@live.co.uk

22

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

GREG ROSE FROM MAYBUGS Greg Rose, owns Maybugs, the award-winning gift retailer in Hailsham, Eastbourne and Bexhill. Alongside his partner, John Dale, they have been trading in Vicarage Field for five years. In this five-minute article, Greg chats about his passion for Hailsham and his concerns for the town…

How long have you lived in the area?

We lived in the town briefly from December 2020 to Summer 2022, but we first opened the Maybugs store in Vicarage Field in 2018.

What is it you love about Hailsham?

I love the mix of independent shops, there are some fabulous little retailers around the town that all complement each other nicely. I also love the Saturday street market, if only it were bigger! For some reason, people seem to think we are against it, but we have never told the council to reject anyone because of our shop!

We’d love to see it full and bustling with people which would only be a positive thing for the town as a whole.

What do you think needs improving in Hailsham?

Policing is a major concern, those set on causing trouble seem to be allowed to run wild in the town, I also think parts of the town centre

multi-story would be much welcomed by us in Vicarage Field, as there is often nowhere to park.

are starting to look very unloved and tired. It would be nice to see Vicarage Field being cleaned as often as it used to be. Bins with lids on would also stop the seagulls turfing out rubbish all over the place.

How do you envisage Hailsham in ten years’ time?

I think Hailsham will continue to grow, there will only be more development, but I hope the powers that be see that the road infrastructure needs improving, and more car parking is needed, a

Tell us about your business?

Maybugs is an emporium of beautiful things for fabulous people. We stock a wide range of gifts and homewares including some of the most desirable gift brands including Jellycat and Wrendale Designs.

We have just celebrated our 5th Anniversary in the town and are lucky enough to have won multiple retail awards during that time. We pride ourselves on offering a real breath of price range, you’ll find products for just £1 up to £250 in our store, something for everyone. www.maybugs.co.uk

MONKSEY’S MUTTERINGS

OFFENSIVE?

BY BRAD MONKS

‘HAILSHAM 10% OFF QUOTE NEWS’ WHEN BOOKING

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15/04/2022 11:36

I know there are times when my brain-mouth filter is inoperative, usually after a few glasses of alcohol-based beverages; however, a recent interaction left me wondering if the world has turned into a pathetic collection of people who are offended if they don’t have anything to be offended about.

As a magician, I am used to gauging boundaries; a group of rugby players at a stag night will have a different level to that of a collective of nuns on a holistic retreat weekend…not that I’ve ever been booked for the latter, can you imagine?

At a recent booking, I was entertaining a group of three gentlemen and a lady. On requesting her to replace her chosen card in a random part of the deck, I added the instruction not to forget her card.

Leaving a well-timed pause, I followed up with, “Not that you will because you are a woman; my missus can remember my exact wording in an argument from five years ago.” This usually gets a smile from most females and nodding agreement from a majority of men.

I was then met with her retort that she found it ‘inappropriate’ that I incited women would remember arguments!

If she found that inappropriate, then she hasn’t been out with me for Long Island Iced Teas at B12 during Melvyn’s 2-4-1 promotions; I know for a fact I’ve insulted far better people than this woman, who I now refer to as Princess Karen of WokeVille.

Did this woman not realise that my joke repertoire

only has one clean one, and that’s about a dwarf?

She obviously had no idea she was being magished to by the very person who bought his wife-to-be gifts from Ann Summers for their first Christmas together, knowing they would be opened in front of all of her family.

I was offended that she only gauged me as inappropriate; I am more used to being told I’m wrong, disgusting or a lot worse…inappropriate is below my baseline level, and I must try harder in future.

I even apologised to Princess Karen on her departure as I was conscious of the reputation of the client I was working for; her parting comment was that I should think about what I say before I say it.

I took her advice and thought about it for a millisecond before turning away and responding with a cheery comment; the angry look on her face meant I had to repeat my comment of “going for coffee”, although I think she may have heard something else the first time I said it.

Until next time, people! www.verymagic.co.uk

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

COMMERCE UPDATE 23

NOVEMBER 2023

HAILSHAM AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATE

DEVELOPMENT OF HAILSHAM TOWN CENTRE T

he beginning of a new year for Hailsham and District Chamber of Commerce and one which promises to be both exciting and productive. We have just published the final Business Improvement District (BID) document which is available in either printed format, by request, or PDF on our website, www.hailshamchamberofcommerce.co.uk.

We’re launching our document at our breakfast meeting at B12 Bar and Kitchen this month, where we will have a presentation of the BID to members and guests.

During recent times many proposals and ideas have been put forward for development within the Hailsham Town Center including the Aspire project, an Old Peoples Home on the market site, and more recently moving a public toilet from the Asda car park to a site adjacent to the Leisure Centre.

Hailsham is the hub of Wealden, the heart of the business community, a historic town with a livestock market dating back to 1252, a successful shopping centre with supermarkets and niche shops, cafes, and restaurants.

It is equally important to businesses, whether they are in the town centre or within the greater Wealden area, that the town centre thrives and continues to develop.

Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce continually lobby for their members, we are in frequent dialogue with organisations such as Wealden District Council, Hailsham Town Council, East Sussex County Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership and Transport for the Southeast. As part of this dialogue, we are delighted to announce that Wealden District Council and the National Health Service will be presenting their proposals for the Hailsham Health and Wellbeing Hub. The team from Wealden District Council will include Chris Bending — Corporate Director — Place, and officers responsible for the many aspects of maintaining and developing Hailsham Town Centre and surrounding area. In addition, Wealden is organising for a representative of the NHS to attend as they have substantial input into both the specification and funding of the proposed new Medical Hub. Supporting the meeting will be representatives from Hailsham

District Council and Hailsham Forward as well as Hailsham Active so that, with the important attendance of businesses from both the Town Centre and the surrounding area including Diplocks, providing a full and balanced range of people and organisations who will be joining and participating in what will prove to be an important and productive meeting.

The success of Hailsham benefits everybody, businesses, the community at large and encourages visitors and new business, therefore, the importance of this meeting in creating avenues of communication and understanding cannot be overstressed in achieving this success.

During the past twenty years, Hailsham has changed dramatically, for some that is good and for others bad, one thing is sure though, and that is, this meeting will allow participants the

chance to ask questions and give their opinions influencing the future of Hailsham, the chance to develop relations between the participants.

Finally, businesses attending and supporting Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce at this meeting are signalling their interest in and support for the future of Hailsham and their desire to not only be part of that future but to have an input as well.

Date: Thursday 7 December, time: 7:30-9:00am Location: B12 Bar & Kitchen, 12 High Street, Hailsham, BN27 1BJ BOOK NOW: www.hailshamchamber.co.uk/General/events/ This meeting is an excellent opportunity for the community to voice your opinions and stay informed about the future of Hailsham. To those who can attend, be sure to book your spot and contribute to the town’s development and prosperity.

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SMALL, FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICAL FIRM OPENS NEW PREMISES IN HAILSHAM

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BRAND new shop has opened in the heart of Hailsham with the aim of offering a truly local, friendly and professional electrical service to the residents of Hailsham.

Established in 2016, Lyons Electrical & Security Ltd moved to the town from Polegate in May this year and now has a small team of five electricians who cover work throughout the town and surrounding areas.

The company offers Domestic, Commercial and Industrial electrical installations with the added benefit of finance solutions for any work costing over £500.

This is a fantastic option for any residents who are thinking about solar installations, as the cost can be spread over a longer period.

Steve Lyons

Local businesses in Hailsham can also benefit from 10% off the labour charges should they choose to use Lyons Electrical as a thank you for supporting a local business.

They offer a wide range of services and products from its shop in The Mews in George Street (opposite Wetherspoons) which include complete solar

solutions for residential and business properties, Rointe heating radiators, Nuaire DriMaster fans to combat condensation, fire and smoke detector systems and CCTV & security alarms.

All customers can benefit from a 5% discount throughout November on any solar installation purchased.

The company is doing everything it can to support the local community and initiatives. It has recently signed a two-year sponsorship deal to support Hailsham Cricket Club.

The team is MCS accredited for Solar PV and insured by NICEIC. For your free quote and site survey, please contact the team on 01323 920989 or email info@slyonselectrical.co.uk

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

COMMITTED TO STANDARDS, CUSTOMERS, VALUE AND DETAIL...

YOUR LOCAL HEATING, ELECTRICAL, CCTV & FIRE SYSTEM SPECIALISTS SOLAR: We can offer a full solar survey of any property & also include a 3D plan which explains the installation process & payback periods. We have examples of panels on show in the showroom to view. We are MCS accredited & have a wide range of knowledge on all brands including - Solax, Growatt, Solar Edge, Huawei and many more. We have completed additinal installer programs also to ensure we are approved installers.

ROINTE HEATING: We have working display models of the A* rated electric oil/gel radiators in the showroom which come in a variety of colours and sizes. These can be smart controlled via an app or controlled via remote control. These are a great alternative to storage heaters and are extremely economical. We have replaced many storage heaters on a local retirement site in Hailsham with these heaters and always received great feedback.

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WANT TO DRIVE A BUS? HailshamClassifieds VOLUNTEER DRIVERS REQUIRED

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We are a very busy charity operating several 16-seater mini-buses from our base at Berwick.

We provide many timetabled services each week in the rural Cuckmere Valley area, plus town services in Hailsham and Seaford. We’re always seeking to increase our team of drivers.

Waking Night Support Worker £12ph If you would like to know more, please use the QR code below or email your CV to jobs@sdrcare.co.uk https://sdres.bamboohr.com/careers

A shift is usually half a day, and you may drive as many or as few shifts as you wish in any month.

To find out more about being a driver and joining our team of volunteers, call 07834 558376 or email volunteer@cuckmerebuses.org.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard and to join an organisation where everyone is a volunteer. For timetables and other information about us, visit: cuckmerebuses.org.uk

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Residential Lettings Land New Homes

MARSHFOOT LANE - £395,000

GREEN WALK - ‘OIEO’ £350,000

Occupying a generous plot is this well presented 1920s built extended house enjoying miles of countryside views across the Pevensey Levels and is situated directly opposite playing fields.

This is certainly one of the nicest semi-detached house we have seen on this estate, having been extended to provide very good size accommodation.

Presented in excellent decorative order and boasting useful gadgets including built in Bluetooth speaker system, feature LED lighting, and a even a built in TV in the bathroom!!

If you are looking for a versatile family house then this one definitely is a must to see.

Arranged downstairs there is roomy entrance hall over 25ft in length with a WC, lounge, a kitchen/dining Room and a separate bedroom/office. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a modern fitted bathroom.

Outside the front of the property has a resin finish driveway affording off road parking for several vehicles and a rear garden which has a very useful garden room/office.

If you are looking for a move into property with no onward chain then give us a call to arrange a viewing.

Inside the house is arranged with a porch leading into the inner hall, from here there are two well sized receptions rooms, the lounge and dining area, to the rear is a 17FT kitchen leading onto the large rear garden with patio area and outbuilding.

On the first floor there are four or five bedrooms, depending on how you choose to arrange the room, presented what could be the fifth bedroom is used as a walk-in wardrobe. To explore all this wonderful characterful home has to offer please take a look at our 3D Virtual Tour teamed up with our professional photography before calling us for an accompanied viewing.

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DEANLAND WOOD PARK - £250,000

LONDON ROAD - £475,000

Occupying what could arguably be one of the best plot on the park, is this well presented CHAIN FREE 48x20 FT residential Park Home with a generous, mature plot and far reaching countryside views across to the South Downs.

Inside it is arranged with an entrance hall, lounge-dining room, kitchen with utility room, inner hall, main bedroom with ensuite bathroom, second double bedroom and a shower room. There is a long driveway leading to an ‘oversized’ single garage with other benefits including uPVC double glazing throughout and mains gas central heating.

Deanland boasts its own social club, snooker hall, shop, bowling green, pub/restaurant and miles of country and woodland walks closeby.

To explore this wonderful home please take a look through our 3d virtual teamed teamed up with our professional photography before calling us for an accompanied viewing.

This is an extremely well presented three bedroom detached bungalow that sits on a very large plot being only an easy level walk from the Town Centre yet far enough away to provide a high level of peace and quiet.

This versatile property is considered ideal for a growing family as there is space to extended the accommodation or for retirement purposes and those that enjoy gardening.

Finally, there was planning permission granted for a detached one bedroom annexe to the rear of the garden (recently lapsed), which could of course be used for a home office/Studio if required.

To explore this wonderful property please take a look through our 3D Virtual Tour along with the professional photography and call us for an accompanied viewing.

47 HIGH STREET, HAILSHAM, BN27 1AN CALL 01323 840444 or visit stevensandcarter.co.uk

26 SPORT

NOVEMBER 2023

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

DATE ANNOUNCED FOR SECOND HAILSHAM ACTIVE RUN EVENT L

AST month marked the official launch of the Hailsham Active Run 2024, with town councillors, corporate sponsors and event organisers attending a special launch event in the town centre.

Following the success of the inaugural run held last May, wheels are in motion for the planning of next year’s event, of which members of the public are encouraged to register now and take part.

Taking place on Sunday 19th May 2024, organisers are confident that the next Hailsham Active Run event will be bigger, even better and top the success of the recent running event, where over 500 people participated in 10k, 5k, 3k or all-inclusive one-mile runs.

The Town Council, which part-funded last year’s event, will be supporting the run next year by sponsoring the 5K race and is again partnering with Hailsham Active and specialist management company, Sport Systems, to co-organise and promote the event.

Full details of individual races, entry fees and how to register are available via www.hailshamrun.co.uk.

Whilst the main sponsor of the run is Hailsham Town Council, sponsorship has also been raised from businesses in the community, funds which will go towards the event’s overall expenses. Sponsors include Lightning Fibre (one-mile inclusive), Crown Wealth Management (3K) and Hallmark Glazed Extensions (10K).

“We are delighted to again be organising next year’s run, complementing our mission to create a healthier Hailsham community,” said joint project lead for Hailsham Active and town councillor Mary Laxton.

“The town hosted fun runs 31 years ago but now, running is a growing community activity beneficial to participants’ mental health, well-being and helping to combat isolation and stress into the bargain. Of course, like last year’s inaugural race, this will again be a prestigious event that will bring in runners and clubs

Cllr Mary Laxton, Cllr Karen Nicholls, Steve Wennington from Hailsham Active, Lightning Fibre’s Rob Reaks, Hallmark Glazed Extension’s Kerry deCaux, Alex Nicholls of Coulston Ltd, Roland Dunn of Roland Dunn Sales and Lettings

with their families from across the area — in turn benefiting our local economy and town centre trade on the day.”

Cllr Laxton added: “We are advertising far and wide to spread the word about next year’s event, and the run will go ahead regardless of the weather. Applications will be open from next month so let’s do this together and help put Hailsham on the sporting map.”

HAILSHAM TENNIS CLUB’S DRAWN DOUBLES WINNERS

Hailsham Tennis Club held the finals of their Drawn Doubles tournament at the weekend.

This is the tournament where pairs are drawn together from a hat, giving all the members a chance to shine.

Narun Chea and Barbara Cordner had fought through to the ladies’ doubles final, but sadly their opponents, Di Hicks and Teresa Hardwick had to withdraw, so Narun and Barbara were crowned as champions.

In the men’s doubles final, James Bywater and Ben Stonham Ladies’ drawn doubles winners Narun Chea and Barbara Cordner were up against Johan Jooste and Guy Coughlan. Multiple winner Johan was ably assisted by Guy, despite stubborn opposition from James and Ben, and came through to win 6-2, 6-2.

There was no rest for Guy, though, as he and Narun were playing Sam Noakes, another multiple previous winner, partnered by Tim Fellows in the mixed doubles final.

The first set was a close affair, finally decided on a tie-break which went the way of Guy and Narun. The second set was again closely contested, this time going to Sam and Tim 6-4.

The match was decided by a championship tie-break (first to 10), which saw Guy and Narun victorious 10-5.

The October weather which had seen floods the day before was kind to the finals, which were played mostly in cool sunshine. Club President and tournament organiser Graham Landon was pleased to hand out the trophies to mark another successful club tournament.

Town councillor Karen Nicholls, accessibility lead for the event, commented: “We are encouraging all residents with any form of disability or special need to participate in the 1-mile inclusive run especially, using any form of support that they require. There will be fully accessible facilities available and it’s so important to us to be fully inclusive as a community.”

CYCLE SPEEDWAY TEAM FINISHES SEASON ON HIGH

THE Hellingly Lions Cycle Speedway youth team came in runners-up in the South East Youth Division having had four home wins and three away wins this season.

Only losing three times all season, the Division Two team managed a respectable fourth place.

Three of the team also picked up individual first-place trophies in the BYJL South East Regional Championship, Samuel Ridley in the under 10’s, Dylan Geer in the under 14’s and Paul Edwards in the Under 16’s.

Samuel Ridley also finished Fourth in the under 10’s National Championship rounds.

Men’s drawn doubles finalists James Bywater, Ben Stonham, Johan Jooste and Guy Coughlan

Individual winners from left: Paul Edwards, Samuel Ridley and Dylan Geer

Mixed drawn doubles finalists Guy Coughlan, Narun Chea, Sam Noakes and Tim Fellows

Youth team Harry Sefton, Dylan Geer, Loan Watts, Samuel Ridley, Harry Ridley and Paul Edwards

Samuel Ridley

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28 SPORT

NOVEMBER 2023

SPORT

ACTIVE RUN DATE ANNOUNCED PAGE 26

WEATHER CURTAILS PROMISING MONTH FOR STRINGERS

For the latest local news, visit: www.Hailsham.News

END OF SEASON SUCCESS FOR CRICKET CLUB

BY ROB WILKINSON FROM HAILSHAM CRICKET CLUB

2023 was a really big season for Hailsham Cricket Club’s junior boys and girls with two new teams being added to those already ran in previous seasons.

It certainly did not disappoint, with 11 more games played and a big increase in the amount of training sessions taking place.

Winning games, league and cups is great fun and makes lifelong memories but also the small first steps into the sport and making small improvements are equally as satisfying for the coaches and families.

T

BY STUART FAIRWAY

he weather put pay to a promising month for Hailsham Town who won three on the bounce in the league against Ferring, Capel and Brighton Electricity, as well as beating Punnetts Town in the Eastbourne FA Challenge Cup, before rain stopped play for the home game against Upper Beeding and Saturday 28th October’s trip to St Francis Rangers.

Hailsham Town did though go out of the Sussex FA Intermediate Cup on Saturday 14th, going down 3-2 to divisional rivals Ferring.

Hailsham began brightly and almost took the lead within 30 seconds when Jordan Rudwick was just pipped to a through ball.

Harry Mills would then flick just wide on 4, with Ferring ‘keeper Honess making a smart stop on 9 to deny Rudwick after great work from Bayly Wright in midfield.

The visitors almost capitalised on a corner after 15 minutes, with Charlie Kneath punching clear from under his crossbar, but on 18 Hailsham took a deserved lead when a fine ball into the channel was unselfishly squared by Mike Mwaura for Jordan Rudwick to fire home.

Mwaura was then denied by the offside flag two minutes later after racing on to Eric Caicedo’s clever pass, before the visitors saw a free kick held and a header from a corner fly over from close range.

With rolling subs in effect Hailsham introduced Sammy Townsend for Josh Silva-Carvahlo at half time, with a scrappy start to the second period seeing Ferring shoot over from range in 54.

Hailsham made another change in response and immediately

reaped the rewards - a magnificent solo run from the newly introduced Reece Coughlan deflected over the line by a defender just three minutes later.

The lead would be halved on 62 when a free kick was headed in at the far post and wiped out completely on 65 when an early cross was glanced in.

Hailsham looked to respond quickly - the hardworking Rudwick shrugging off his marker but shooting narrowly wide on 70, before being denied two minutes later by a superb save from Honess, who got up well to tip a powerful header onto the crossbar.

Coughlan continued to probe for the Stringers with an impressive performance, and saw an 87th minute cross shot fly into the side netting, but at the other end a dangerous free kick was held by Kneath under pressure.

With penalties looming, Rudwick was then felled just outside the box on 90, only for Henry Thompson’s free kick to go over, before the sucker punch came two minutes into stoppage time - Kneath making a fine save to deny an angled drive, but then beaten by the shot fired in on the rebound.

Stringers; Kneath, Wilder (Little), Caicedo (Hobden), Mills (c), Ridgway, Wright, Silva-Carvahlo (Townsend), Butler, Rudwick, Thompson, Mwaura (Coughlan) Unused: Urwin-Oxley. Attendance: 55.

Goalscorers; Jordan Rudwick (Player Sponsor Linden Lodge Kennels and Cattery) Reece Coughlin.

Hailsham will hope for better weather on Saturday 4th November, when they welcome Storrington in the League Cup (2pm).

This happened every Wednesday evening when we regularly had over 40 under 5’s and under 8’s learning the fundamentals of the sport. It makes such a difference when they then progress to the U11’s or U12’s and already know the basics and can then be taught the more technical side of the game.

The new training facility was a game changer and allowed training sessions to run when previously they wouldn’t, it also allowed coaches to plan more inclusive and challenging sessions throughout the summer. Our big focus was girls’ participation in 2023 and through the new and expanding U13 team that was created and also the U11 girl’s only Dynamo sessions, we feel the club is in a better position with numbers of girls learning and enjoying the sport throughout the 4-18 age range.

Lastly a huge thank you to all the coaches and volunteers for their time, expertise and commitment to the junior section. Without everything you bring, we wouldn’t be able to deliver the program and help and offer a brilliant service to the local community.

We are actively looking for boys and girls of all ages, abilities and experience levels to join the club, learn and have fun playing the best sport in the world. Hailshamcc@outlook.com / 07980146841 or search Hailsham Cricket Club on socials.

DO YOU RUN A LOCAL SPORTS GROUP?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send us your reports and photos to appear in our monthly sports pages and website. Email editor@hailsham.news.