Lindfield Dramatic Club's comedic return and upcoming shows

By David Nicholas

Members of Lindfield Dramatic Club staged a riotous return to the stage of the Kind Edward Hall on the first weekend after Freedom Day, giving the reopening performance for the venue and one of the very first non-restricted productions of a brand new play, Lockdown in Little Grimley by David Tristram.

The first half of the show starred Nellie Carey and Sarah Baldock in Cupboard Love, a gentle comedy set on two deckchairs, where the characters slowly realise that they share the same gentleman friend.

Lockdown starred Martin Linaker, Chrystelle Tar, Sue Blair-Fish and James McKinnie who, with spectacular comic timing, followed the antics of a hapless amateur society, desperate for audiences. The chairman calls an emergency meeting to discuss his idea for their next production when restrictions ease - a touching love story, set in a hospital, with all profits destined for the NHS and called the Phantom of the Operating Theatre. The performance recalled the height of lockdown with the characters maintaining social distancing, hoarding toilet rolls and wearing a bee-keeping hood for protection from the virus. The play descended into farce when rehearsing the scene in the operating theatre, one of the cast members suffered what everyone thinks is a heart attack, but turns out to be a bad case of banana cake induced indigestion.

Lindfield resident Jenny Slack said: “It was a very welcome and entertaining evening and so good to hear spontaneous laughter sitting within a live audience again. It was very pleasing to see LDC back in the King Edward Hall again. After a long break the performers obviously enjoyed their craft too and received well deserved applause.” LDC will return in October with their autumn show and if you would like to audition or be involved behind the scenes follow LDC on Facebook or Instagram @lindfielddramaticclub and the website: www.lindfielddramaticclub.webs.com

LHS Autumn Show goes ahead in September 2021

Members of Lindfield Horticultural Society are looking forward to holding their Autumn Show on Saturday 11th September, in the King Edward Hall, from 2pm - 4.15pm.

The classes have been carried over to this year due to the cancellation of last year’s shows and include:
#263 ‘Chrysanthemums, three blooms in one vase’
#290 ‘Apples, cooking, three’
#366 ‘Upcycle a vegetable can’

There are lots of children’s classes too, including ‘A painting of a sunflower’ for 10 and unders, and the LHS Junior Potato Competition – which is also available to 11-15 year-olds. For entry details, classes and show timetable, visit the LHS website, www.lindfieldhorts.org.uk and click on ‘2020 Show Schedule’ – which will download a PDF with all the information in.

All info is being carried over from last year’s shows which didn’t take place. Email editors@ lindfieldhorts.org.uk for any other details. Admission is free.

Climate change film screening

Fairer World Lindfield, in partnership with Earth Cinema, is screening the film ‘2040’ later this month at King Edward Hall.

The film provides ‘a refreshing outlook on climate change’ and has been directed by award winning director Damon Gameau. He embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040, if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to improve our planet.

Structured as a visual letter to his four year old daughter, Damon blends traditional documentary with dramatised sequences of how these solutions could regenerate the world for future generations.

A trailer of the film can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/p-rTQ443akE

2040 will be shown at King Edward Hall on Saturday 14th March at 7.30pm. This event is free, but it is essential to book by email: fairerworldlindfield@gmail.com.

Lindfield Village Run - booking now open

Lindfield Village Run – this year sponsored again by Lindfield businesses: Potential Personal Training and Six Physio – is open for bookings now, via the website.

The traditional cross country run takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May - and starts, as ever, from Hickmans Lane Playing Fields.

The run is organised by a team of volunteers on behalf of registered charity King Edward Hall. New this year will be a special award for the family of runners with the fastest average time - to encourage family group entrants.

The event features two routes - a 5k and 10k - with pre-booked runners needing to check in at 8.30am on the day. You can find more information about the event and book online at: www.kingedwardhall.org.uk

What's On at King Edward Hall, Lindfield - March 2019

2nd March - Sale of Teak Garden Furniture

9th March - A ‘Fairer World’ Brunch – 10-11.30am
Enjoy a locally sourced brunch with Fairtrade refreshments. See local produce stalls, hear from speakers on food today and packaging/waste issues (£5/£2.50 on the door - To reserve a place call Chris Lee 01444 484063 or email Fairtrade at growthinternational.com )

12th March - Lindfield Preservation Society – 2.30pm
An illustrated talk on ‘The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’ by Ian Everest. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was founded in 1917 and this illustrated talk will reflect on its origins and how it manages to inspire new generations to honour those who fell for their country (all welcome, entry free. Info: John Chapman 01444 484470)

13th March - Lindfield Horticultural Society – 8pm
‘Native Orchids of Sussex, Surrey and Kent’ a talk by Peter Lovett. Peter will be introducing the audience to our native Orchids, some common and some rare, and providing an opportunity to discover them in the wild (all welcome, £3 www.lindfieldhorts.org.uk)

16th March - RBL Afternoon Tea – doors 2.15pm
The Royal British Legion Lindfield Branch invites you to an enjoyable afternoon of music and anecdotes by Margaret Watson - a highly experienced harpist. Afternoon Tea will follow. (Tickets £10 from Gordon & Val 01444 482866, valerie.upton at btinternet.com)

18th March - King Edward Hall AGM – 8pm
(Rupert Ayton 01444 483716)

21st March - Stan and Ollie (PG) – doors 7.30pm
(Tickets from Tufnells, £6)

23rd March - Vintage & Antiques Fair – 10am-2pm
25 stalls offering vintage and antique items including books, maps, collectables, jewellery, silver, glass, vinyl records, vintage clothes, kitchenalia and lots more. All day cafe with hot bacon rolls and homemade cake. (£1 entry, all proceeds in aid of the Lindfield Bonfire Society)

29th March - Mini Skirts & Revelations – 7.30pm

30th March - A comedy by Margaret Graham performed by ACE Theatre Company. Sat Matinee at 3pm
(Tickets £10/£8 www.tickettailor.com/events/acetheatre or from Chrissie White on 01342 893010)

New Pedestrian Crossing in Lindfield?

Warning Sign: New Pedestrian Crossing Point on Lindfield High Street

Some residents of Lindfield may have been confused to see the above signs appear around the village in the last week (October 2017) or so. Well, so were we at Lindfield Life HQ! We hadn't heard anything about this work and were surprised about that - as we like to think we know what's going on in Lindfield. 

However, we have now had the following comment from Lindfield Parish Council, which rather shows we weren't the only people in the dark on this...

Lindfield Parish Council were not aware that the development had been approved. In  November 2016 the Parish Council opposed the proposed revised highways works to Lindfield High Street. We understand that the planning application to which the work relates is the Land to the East of Gravelye Lane, Lindfield, which dates back to 2013. We have been in contact With West Sussex Highways, and our West County Council Councillor, Andrew Lea. We understand that Andrew Lea, is on our behalf, making urgent enquiries regarding the works. We have reiterated that the Parish Council opposes the works. The Parish Council is concerned that the works will potentially remove parking spaces for the King Edward Hall, which is a building widely used by the local community. Additionally, we would like any proposed  traffic works within the Parish to be implemented as part of a cohesive plan following our Traffic Study. In summary, the Council wishes to see a holistic rather than piecemeal approach, having under gone full Parish consultation.

Lindfield Horticultural Society's 2017 Autumn Show

By Claire Cooper

The annual battle of the pumpkins will be played out in the King Edward Hall on 9th September, when rival pumpkins growers go head to head to see who can produce the biggest vegetable at Lindfield Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show.

Last year’s winning giant pumpkin, pictured, was grown by Ian Cooper on his allotment and weighed in at an impressive 56kg (123lb)!

“It was actually judged by circumference as the society doesn’t have scales big enough to weigh it,” said Ian. “After the show I cut it into quarters and weighed it piece by piece!”

Ian’s giant pumpkins have picked up the top award at Lindfield Horticultural Society’s autumn show for six out of the last seven years.

“I was beaten in 2013 by my rival, Richard Watson,” Ian recalled. “He’d been runner up the year before and had asked me my secret. Rather foolishly I ‘spilled the beans’ and the following year he beat me! 

“It was also the year I had presented the society with the Pumpkin Cup, and I didn’t get to bring it back home!” 

This year Ian has been cultivating two pumpkins and is quietly confident that one will scoop him a seventh award. “The recent weather has been absolutely perfect for pumpkin growing, so I’m certainly on track to beat my record and bring home the cup,” said Ian.

“The competition is always very good-natured, but we are all in it to win!”

[Full article in September 2017 issue of Lindfield Life]

A tribute to ‘Mr Lindfield’: Brian Newcombe

Our heartfelt thanks go to Gwen, Brian’s wife of 56 years, for sharing extracts from his eulogy. 

Born in Devon, Brian was educated at the King Edward Grammer School in Totnes where he excelled at sports, breaking school records and  swimming for the county team. On leaving school he became a member of the Old Totnesian Society and was elected as president in 1991.

Football and cricket were his great passions. His football skills led him to becoming a professional footballer in Devon, while his cricket led him into the arms of his wife Gwen!

“I met Bri in 1952 when my father had organised a cricket tour from Devon to Sussex and Bri was one of the tour members,” said Gwen.

“We actually met at Lindfield Fair on the Common by the bumper cars!”

After five courting years, spent travelling between Devon and Sussex on the old steam trains, meeting just once a month, the pair were married All Saints Church on 1st June 1957. 

Following his marriage, Brian went to work as a quantity surveyor for Rider Hunt and Partners, where he was involved in the building of many schools, hospitals, shopping centres and the development of St Katherine’s Dock next to the Tower of London.

“His ‘one claim to fame’ was preparing the Bill of Quantities for the Sydney Opera House and we constantly had the plans all over the floor of our house,” Gwen recalled.

This is an extract from the article published in full in the June 2013 issue of Lindfield Life.