Mid Sussex District Council May update

Planning is approved for Burgess Hill Centre for Outdoor Sport

The planning application for the new state-of-the-art Centre for Outdoor Sport in Burgess Hill has been given the green light, marking a significant milestone in the town’s sporting landscape, with works set to start this spring. Situated on an 8.6-hectare block of land within the Brookleigh development, the Centre for Outdoor Sport (CfOS) will provide first-class facilities for the district and would not have been possible without the support from Homes England. The sports mix, refined over three years through extensive engagement, consultation and data analysis, will complement the district’s existing sports infrastructure, offering a variety of sports. The development of the CfOS is one piece of the jigsaw of sports provision across the district.

Mid Sussex Matters

Sign up to our digital newsletter! We have launched a digital Mid Sussex Matters newsletter, a monthly email to help residents stay up-to-date with what’s going on at the Council and in the wider District. It will include local events, opportunities to share feedback about new initiatives, and stories that impact our communities. To sign up, please visit our website and search ‘Mid Sussex Matters’ to subscribe.

To read the council’s full newsletter please click to enlarge the images provided, or pick up a copy of May’s Lindfield Life.

Lindfield Dramatic Club presents Deckchairs and Village Fairs

Lindfield Dramatic Club

Lindfield Dramatic Club will present a triple bill entitled Deckchairs and Village Fairs as its spring production at the end of May. Pairing two comic duologues from Jean McConnell’s popular Deckchairs series with Alan Ayckbourn’s evergreen short farce Gosforth’s Fete this promises to be a thoroughly entertaining evening with lots of laughs. The opener is Day Trippers in which a seaside outing takes an unexpected turn. This is followed by Cruise Missile where opposites collide on a holiday afloat. Rounding off the event is the hilarious Gosforth’s Fete which throws five disparate characters together in a damp tea tent as they try their best to run a successful village fair despite the surrounding chaos and confusion. Deckchairs and Village Fairs will be performed on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st May at King Edward Hall, starting at 8pm, with the bar open from 7.30pm. Tickets are available priced £12 from Caragon at 69 High Street, Lindfield, or online from www.tickettailor.com/events/lindfielddramaticclub

New minister at Lindfield Evangelical Free Church

Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, on Chaloner Road, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Holloway as its new Pastor. Stuart has succeeded Mervyn Weeks who has retired from the role after serving the church for the past ten years. Stuart, his wife Katie and their two primary school-aged children, live locally and have come to LEFC from Christ Church Haywards Heath, where formerly Stuart served as an elder, alongside his full-time job. Marvyn explained: “The family made their home with us at LEFC early in 2023, and very quickly established themselves in the church, blessing the fellowship with the many gifts they have as Christians. It became clear that Stuart was a competent bible preacher and teacher. Katie has also become involved in the fellowship whilst juggling being a wife, mum and freelance writer.” Currently, Stuart is employed three days a week as a graphic designer, whilst serving the church for the remainder of the week. Stuart was formally inducted as minister on 20th April. More information about the church can be found at www.lefc.co.uk

Lindfield Wanderers are fundraising for an Italian tournament

The Lindfield Wanderers – a Lindfield Juniors’ U13s squad – have an amazing adventure ahead of them. They have entered into a three-day football tournament in Italy at the end of May – the Bariano Cup, hosted by the Barianese Football Club. With 24 teams taking part from the UK, Italy, Malta, and Estonia, there are plenty of opportunities for them to play and watch amazing football, enjoy new experiences and cultures, and make some new friends. At last year’s tournament, they made friends with local children and some are still in contact today! Sam, Wanderers’ goalkeeper, played in last year’s tournament and remembers: “The pitch in Bariano was the best pitch I’ve ever played on, with a great atmosphere and music playing!” As you can imagine, it is a mammoth task to coordinate all the travel arrangements and accommodation for 18 young players and their family members. The whole team are very grateful for all the enthusiastic and hard-working volunteer coaches that are organising everything. The Lindfield team, plus a few other teams, will all be staying at a hotel that is only a few minutes away by coach. The Wanderers are fundraising to help with these costs and many more expenses. The main fundraising event was held last month, when they will had a BBQ and raffle, a few stalls, and a sponsored penalty shootout. There is also a GoFundMe page set up, where any contributions towards their trip would be greatly appreciated: www.bit.ly/3TRDURk

Lindfield Parish Council newsletter - April 2024

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Annual Parish Meeting 2024

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The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Tuesday 16th April from 8pm at The King Edward Hall and we invite all residents of Lindfield to join us. This is the opportunity for residents to meet their local parish councillors, learn more about what we do as a Parish Council and learn more about how to get involved. The Parish Meeting (which, it must be stressed, is NOT a meeting of the Parish Council) is a forum for local government electors to discuss parish affairs and to pass resolutions on them, although such resolutions are not binding on the Parish Council. As this Parish has a Parish Council, it is the Council’s Chairman who must convene the meeting and, if present, chair it. A representative from Good Neighbours CARE (Haywards Heath, Cuckfield and Lindfield) will be attending and giving a presentation on the charity’s work. We also hope that the District and County Councillors for Lindfield will be attending. The Agenda will be on the Parish Council’s notice board in Denmans Lane nearer the time, as well as on our website (www.lindfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk).

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up April’s Lindfield Life.

Mid Sussex District Council newsletter - April 24

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Mid Sussex District Council extends food waste collection trial

The Warmer Homes Programme offers significant funding of up to £25,000 for various energy-efficiency upgrades like insulation, air source heat pumps, and solar PV panels, all aimed at lowering your energy bills and keeping your home comfortable year-round. This opportunity is available until March 2025, so take advantage of this chance to strengthen your home against weather extremes and reduce your carbon footprint.

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By joining the Warmer Homes Programme, you not only enhance your living conditions but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Get in touch now to see if you are eligible, and to experience increased comfort, lower energy costs, and a greener community. For more details and to see if you are eligible, please visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme or call the team for free on 0800 038 5757.

To read the full newsletter, please click the images to enlarge them or pick up your copy of Lindfield Life today.

Easter services around Lindfield - 2024

Life out of death. Every springtime long-buried bulbs burst out of the ground in glorious colour. And creation reminds us of a simple but life-giving truth: Two thousand years ago Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for our sins. He was buried. And on the third day rose again. Today He offers His ‘forever-life’ to anyone. This Easter come and meet the risen Jesus, perhaps for the first time!

All Saints Lindfield
www.allsaintslindfield.org

Maundy Thursday – 28th March
7.30pm – Maundy Thursday Communion service at URC church, we are joining with the other two churches in the village to celebrate communion together.

Good Friday – 29th March
10am – A service for all ages as we explore the meaning of Good Friday followed by an opportunity to make your own Easter garden and enjoy hot cross buns.
12noon – An hour’s service of music, prayer, Bible readings and short reflective talks around the cross. 7.30pm – ‘Saviour of The World’ – A through-composed hour of contemporary and classical hymns, songs and performances linked together with readings from the book of John.

Easter Sunday – 31st March
8am – Holy Communion
9.30am – Easter All Age Celebration with communion followed by an egg hunt for the children in The Vicarage garden.
11.15am – Easter Communion Service
6pm – Lively Easter Celebration led by young people, also including communion.

Some of our services will be livestreamed: www.allsaintslindfield.org/live

Lindfield United Reformed Church
www.lindfieldurc.org.uk

Palm Sunday – 24th March
10am – The triumphant entry into Jerusalem

Maundy Thursday – 28th March
7.30pm – Maundy Thursday communion - a combined service with All Saints and Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, held at Lindfield United Reformed Church. Preacher Rev Ben Lucas

Good Friday – 29th March
10am – Remembering the Cross

Easter Sunday – 31st March
10am – Celebrating new life through the resurrection. You are invited to bring cut flowers to help decorate the Easter Cross on the High Street before the service begins.

Lindfield Evangelical Free Church
www.lefc.co.uk

Good Friday – 29th March
10.30am – Good Friday service

Easter Sunday – 31st March
10.30am – Easter Sunday service

St. Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill
www.sash.org.uk

Palm Sunday – 24th March
10am – Service for all the Family
6pm – Holy Communion

Maundy Thursday – 28th March
10.30am – Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday
7pm – Agape Meal incorporating Holy Communion followed by The Watch

Good Friday – 29th March
2.30pm – Hour at the Cross

Easter Sunday – 31st March
6am – Sunrise Service followed by Breakfast
10am – Celebration of Holy Communion

Mid Sussex District Council news - March 24

Upgrades for local leisure centres

In collaboration with Places Leisure, we are proud to announce upgrades for two of our leisure facilities. The Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill has recently undergone an impressive £765k refurbishment, while the Dolphin Leisure Centre has received a generous grant of £44,735 from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). The gym facilities at The Triangle Leisure Centre have been upgraded to feature cutting-edge equipment from Life Fitness. There has also been an installation of a £200k solar photovoltaic system to promote energy efficiency. In addition to the gym refurbishment, The Triangle Leisure Centre has revamped its sports hall and reopened a refurbished Costa store, creating a more enjoyable and holistic experience for visitors. Meanwhile, the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath, has received a significant financial boost through a £44,735 grant from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). This grant is a testament to the Centre’s dedication to providing excellent aquatic facilities and services to the local community.

To read the full newsletter, please click on the images provided to enlarge or pick up for copy of March’s Lindfield Life and turn to page 16.

Lindfield’s Anja’s Super Bowl advert

Advertising copywriter Anja Muller recently hit one of her career goals, when an advert she worked on was shown on US TV during the Super Bowl ad break.
The ad for Dove is titled Hard Knocks, and features young girls playing sports and experiencing the lows and falls of competition. Anja and her creative partner at ad agency Ogilvy London have been working with Dove for nine years.

“As a brand,” Anja explained, “Dove does a lot to help build the body confidence of women and girls, and this particular campaign is promoting their new Body Confident Sports Program. The aim is to combat the fact that 45% of girls quit sport by age 14 (in the United States).
“The idea for the ad was inspired by seeing how resilient my daughter is when she plays, as well as thinking back to when I was younger playing ice hockey and football. If you fall, you dust yourself off and keep going without thinking twice. But the mental strain of low body confidence is much harder to play through, which is why it’s the number one reason girls quit.
“Knowing that this film was shown during the Super Bowl is a dream when it comes to working in advertising. Although the UK doesn’t get to see the same ads as the US, so, sadly, I didn’t get to see my moment in the spotlight on my TV in Lindfield!”

Watch Anja’s poignant advert here:

St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill buries a time capsule

By Jenny Walker

On Sunday 21st January, in a history-making moment, time capsules were placed under the new floor at St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill.

This came at the end of a special service led by the Rt Rev Ruth Bushyager, Bishop of Horsham. St Augustine’s Vicar, Rev Beverley Miles, told the congregation that the wonderful space under the floor was just too tempting to leave completely empty! The intention had been to put a single time capsule under the new floor, but the number of interesting items had increased and actually four containers were needed - two time capsules, a metal document box and a bottle tin.

Much thought had been given to suitable items to include which would paint a picture of the church and community at this particular time and many members of the church and the local community were involved in the process.

Members of the congregation and friends at the church coffee shop were asked to write ‘postcards to the future’ giving details of their everyday lives and experiences. Children from St Augustine’s CEP School contributed drawings of the school capturing one of the seasons and children from Great Walstead School wrote about ‘Life at Great Walstead in 2023’. Scaynes Hill Sustainability Group produced a leaflet describing some of their projects and events.

Copies of the parish magazine for 2023 included in the time capsule provide a spotlight on the church and the village. The Pew News for 2023, service booklets and flyers of services and events give information about church activities throughout the year. A leaflet and postcards describe the ‘Jubilee Tapestry’ and its making. St Augustine’s Eco Church status is reflected in information about the church’s ‘A Rocha Silver Award’ and environmental initiatives. Also included are items that the church produced during the pandemic - the Lockdown Cookbook, the Lockdown Calendar and a DVD of the Lockdown Readings of St Mark’s Gospel. Items providing general information about our life and times complete the archive along with a bottle of communion wine in a special bottle tin.

The group placing the time capsules under the floor consisted of Bishop Ruth, the churchwardens, Kevin Deal and Sheila Argent, and Jenny Walker, the church archivist. The Bishop spoke first of the timeless nature of the church which is a wonderful and precious thing. Looking around the church at the stained glass, memorials and tapestry the Bishop spoke of those who had gone before in this place - generation upon generation of our forebears had witnessed here and this can be felt in the stone of the walls.

The Diocese itself would be celebrating its 950th anniversary next year. Now we were thinking about people we do not know who, in 100 years’ time, will open the capsules and be fascinated by what they find. The Bishop then placed the bottle of communion wine under the floor and this was followed by the two time capsules, the document box having been placed in the space earlier. In her prayers Bishop Ruth looked back, speaking of God’s love and grace through the ages and today. She prayed a forward blessing on those who will go before us in the decades to come. Finally, she prayed that the witness of the church in Scaynes Hill would be enduring and that it would be faithful to its calling to be the light of Christ in this place.

Lindfield welcomes AT The Salon

The much-anticipated refurbishment of Peake House on Lewes Road has finally happened and AT The Salon is open for business. The brainchild of Alice Townes, the salon represents her desire for a local working life, after 16 years specialising in the chaotic (and occasionally glamourous) world of film and theatre.
Her CV includes leading the hair and make-up team on Hairspray at the London Coliseum, working on the opening production of Harry Potter in the West End, and touring Asia for seven months with The Sound of Music. And the TV world of Downton Abbey, The Witcher and Bridgerton.

However, the pandemic changed something in Alice, and she sought something different on the other side. “During and immediate after Covid,” Alice explained, “I went back to renting a chair in a salon – which reminded me of my love for being in a salon environment. From that moment, I began looking around and planning to have my own place one day. And here we are!”

From her salon, they are able to help those who want an entirely bespoke service and that includes make-up. AT The Salon is open six days a week, will employ three stylists from the beginning of February and operates a completely ‘zero waste to landfill’ policy. “I’ve had an amazing reception since opening the doors before Christmas,” Alice said. “I really couldn’t have asked for better. The location is great; people just pop their head in on the way past, it’s brilliant!”

Tufnells gets a refit in Lindfield High Street

It is said that the High Street is always evolving, and this month we note that there will be (slight) reduction in the presence of Tufnells! Lisa Goodger opened her first shop in Lindfield in 2006, and seven years later took the plunge to open Tufnells Home further down the High Street. That was ten years ago, and now Lisa has made the decision to consolidate the two shops into one – the original unit at 75 High Street.
“It is really just a timing thing,” Lisa commented. “We have had ten good years down the road, but the lease was up and we have now decided to take the best lines from each store, and make a more efficient and future-proof the business, going forward.”

Lisa runs the business with husband Jeremy, and the pair are hoping the change will increase their chances of a holiday too! “We are grateful for a fabulous team and look forward to an improved work/life balance.”

The original shop will be closed for a few days for a mini-refit, while they reimagine the space to fit the best of both into one. “I love the merchandising side of the job particularly, and am looking forward to the refurb,” Lisa explained. Table cloths, cushions, candles, ceramics, art cards and photo frames are among the customers’ favourites to still be available.

Tufnells at 75 will be open seven days a week, Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and will be reopening on Sundays 12-4pm from February onwards.

Congrats to Lindfield's after school club Cool4School

An after school club that meets at King Edward Hall has just celebrated its one year anniversary. Cool4School was started by Rashid Moaddel, after falling in love with the area. Originally from Peckham/Dulwich, he moved down to Sussex working in roles at two local schools, including teaching swimming to children at Ardingly College. Rashid started as a lifeguard moving on to qualifying as a personal trainer and swim teacher.

Rashid set up and ran a holiday club with a business partner at Dulwich College Sports Club for 15 years, before the pandemic. “During Covid I focused on online personal training classes which we still run today, working with SEN children via webcam,” he explained, “but once the world had begun to return to normal, I really missed the interaction with the children – so I looked for an opportunity to move back into education.”

Following the closure of the after school club provision at Blackthorns Academy, Rashid decided to start up on his own. Cool4School operates after school five days a week from King Edward Hall, and will be expanding to include Saturday clubs after the February half term. “We are keen to not only open the minds of our children but also work with and support local businesses, so we have collaborated with Tamasha (local Indian restaurant) and That’s Amore Italian, for special food trips and events in the last year. ‘’We also make good use of the Common and play park nearby.”

Following his personal training experience and drama background, Rashid includes traditional games and also non-contact boxing sessions! Embracing expansion and growth, Rashid has opened up two new settings (Scaynes Hill and Ardingly) during the year too – proudly welcoming 167 youngsters through the doors of his clubs in the first 12 months. Reinvesting profits back into schools for essential equipment and resources, you may recognise the business name as Cool4School have just sponsored new kit for one of the Lindfield Juniors football teams too!

All Saints and Ensemble Reza present a music treat

By Hannah Carter

Join Ensemble Reza in Lindfield for a magical family concert and ‘wish’ away those January blues on Saturday 13th January at 3pm at All Saints Church. This concert is perfect for all ages and will feature the brilliant musical story the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, composed by Paul Dukas, (which was used in the film Fantasia), arranged and narrated for our group by Ensemble Reza musician, Anna Cooper. Accompanied by our Ensemble Reza quartet, plus a few extra instruments (double bass, bouzouki, accordion) this magical musical story will include plenty of audience participation and will have you on the edge of your seat!

We are passionate about giving young people the opportunity to experience live music and here are a few words from our younger fans … ‘Music connects people.’ Radin, aged 11. ‘The music makes me feel open and happy.’ Zysha, aged 11. ‘It made me feel relaxed and free in a cloud of song.’ Nora, aged 11.

And here are a few words from our very special Patron, Dame Judi Dench: “I’m a real fan of Ensemble Reza, having attended several concerts over the last year. The passion and virtuosity of the musicians is evident in every note they play, and their shared sense of musicianship results in outstanding performances which leave audiences cheering for more! We hope you will be free to join us for this special concert in January, which has been made possible with the support raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode Society Trust. Tickets are available from: www.ensemblereza.com/events

Lindfield Parish Council's January 2024 newsletter

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VILLAGE ARCHIVES

The Parish Council’s existing volunteer archivist, Richard Bryant, after over twenty years of service, has stepped down. The Council wishes to place on record our thanks to Richard for all his hard work. The Council is now looking to recruit a new volunteer(s) for the voluntary position.
The role will require:
• Reviewing our existing stock
• Maintaining records of our stock
• Liaising with other organisations (i.e. West Sussex Records Office) to see if they are interested in any of our stock
• Answering public enquiries
The successful applicant(s) will need to be comfortable using email and logging records in Microsoft Excel or Word. If you are interested in the voluntary role please contact us at clerks@lindfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk.

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AUTUMN CLEAN 2023 & SPRING CLEAN 2024

A massive thank you from Lindfield Parish Council to all the volunteers who took part in our Village Autumn Clean on Saturday 14th October. We would also like to thank Mid Sussex District Council for supporting the event with hi-viz jackets, litter pickers, extra refuse bags and for disposing of all the waste collected by the volunteers. We will be looking to organise a Spring Clean in March /April 2024. We will update our website, Facebook page, and noticeboard with further details once we have confirmed a date.

OUR OFFICE

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Lindfield Parish Council Office is usually staffed five days a week and is open to the public on Tuesdays 1pm to 4pm, Thursdays and Fridays 10am to 1pm – when members of the public are welcome by prior appointment only to come along to look at planning applications for Lindfield, acquire the codes for obtaining concessionary railcards, or simply seek advice on issues of concern. However, if you do need to speak with someone outside our normal opening hours, then please contact the Clerk who will be happy to make alternative arrangements with you.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up January’s issue of Lindfield Life and turn to page 41, or click the images to enlarge.

Lindfield Society - January newsletter 2024

Planning matters

The Welkin:
Readers may recall that developers have been attempting for some time to fill some of The Welkin’s green spaces with further housing. Following vigorous local opposition, Mid Sussex District Council refused permission earlier in 2023. We are pleased to report that an appeal lodged against the council’s decision was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate in September. The inspector’s decision cited ‘harm to the character and appearance of the area’ as the reason for refusal. In addition to countering the threat of overdevelopment that had been facing residents of The Welkin, this decision creates a useful precedent for responding to future attempts to urbanise our village.

Lindfield Society Talks

Our programme of free talks continues in the King Edward Hall. The details of this year ‘s talks will be emailed to members, shown on our website (www.lindfieldsociety.org.uk) and displayed on the Jubilee notice board when finalised. We would like to thank residents for their support in 2023 and we wish all Lindfield Life readers a very happy New Year!

To read the full newsletter, turn to page 26 of January’s Lindfield Life or click to enlarge the image above.

Lindfield churches at Christmas - 2023

All Saints Church

www.allsaintslindfield.org/Christmas
allsaints@lindfield.info

Sunday 10th December
8am - Communion
9.30am - Morning service with children’s groups
3.30pm - Traditional carol service (1)
5.30pm - Traditional carol service (2)

Tuesday 12th December
10am - Tiger@Ten Christmas special (fortnightly group for over 65s)

Sunday 17th December
9.30am - All Saints Kids Nativity – The children can come dressed up as a nativity character as we retell the Christmas story in this enchanting, fun and slightly chaotic service
11.15am - Communion Service
4.30pm - Big Band Carols (1)
7pm - Big Band Carols (2)

Christmas Eve
10.30am - Morning Worship (no children’s groups)
2pm - Christingle - This Christingle is an accessible service for all, including SEN families and those with very young children
3.15pm - Christingle
4.30pm - Christingle
5.45pm - Christingle
11.15pm - Midnight Communion

Christmas Day
8am - Christmas communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10am - Christmas celebration

Sunday 31st December
10am - Morning Worship (children will stay in for whole service)
6pm - Cornerstone – our informal band-led service for all ages

Please visit our YouTube channel to watch some of these services broadcast live.

Lindfield United Reformed Church

www.lindfieldurc.org.uk/Christmas

Sunday 17th December
10am - Family Worship
5pm - Carols by Candlelight - A candlelight traditional service of lessons and carols

Thursday 21st December
7.30pm - Christmas Concert - Join us in the church or online a light hearted Christmas concert with music from the Perdido Players, and more as we celebrate together the meaning and message of Christmas

Christmas Eve
10am - Family Worship
4pm - Crib Service – A retelling of the first Christmas, appropriate to and performed by the very youngest. Suitable for all ages

Christmas Day
10am - Family Service - We celebrate the birth of Jesus

Sunday 31st December
10am - Songs of Praise – We close 2023 together with a time of worship and reflection

All services and events can also be watched live or on demand from our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LindfieldURC

Lindfield Evangelical Free Church

www.lefc.co.uk

Christmas Eve
4pm - Carols by Candlelight Service

Christmas Day
10.30am - Christmas Day service

No need to book for either of these services – all welcome.

St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

www.sash.org.uk

Sunday 3rd December
5pm - Lighting of Scaynes Hill’s Christmas Tree with Carols around the tree and followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Monday 4th December
4pm - Christingle Service

Sunday 17th December
6pm - Carols by Candlelight

Christmas Eve
4pm - Crib Service
11.30pm - Midnight Communion

Christmas Day
10am - Christmas Morning Communion

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