Dawn’s Diaries

30 Jan Dawn’s Diaries

So here we are one twelfth of the way through 2020 already! I wonder how many of you are still on track with your New Year Resolutions? Me? There are too many hurdles in life already to bother to set myself up for failure!! But whether you would count this as a resolution or not, this year I am determined to shop as much as possible locally, try new restaurants and revisit as many of our local attractions as I can. I urge you all to do the same: East Grinstead is a beautiful place and we all must work hard to maintain it as such.  A special thanks is due here to all the community groups who have continued with their commitment to improve our environment and each local business that has supported them in their endeavors.

The evenings are beginning to lengthen and East Grinstead is drying out from the wet weather we have been plagued with lately, so thoughts turn to what there is for us to do.

We are blessed with a wealth of walking routes and great historic gardens around the town and now is the time to blow away the cobwebs and take a stroll. It’s surprising how quickly the signs of spring start appearing and it certainly lifts the spirits to be out amongst nature. The National Garden Scheme’s yellow booklets listing the gardens open for charity in 2020, have started to arrive at the tourist desk, so pick up one and plan your visits safe in the knowledge you will be helping a good cause.

We’re already thinking of Half term so there are a number of things for families to get involved with. It would be impossible to know about everything, however with this monthly round up I will highlight some of the great events coming up and give you some dates for your diaries. Hopefully there will be no excuses to miss a thing. There will also be a few pointers as to where to look for things to do and perhaps some of you will advise us at the tourist information desk, of any events that you are involved with that we should pass on and encourage people to attend.

Look through the latest Chequer Mead programme http://www.chequermead.org.uk/ There is a varied program on offer with something for everyone, including ‘An afternoon of total entertainment’ hosted by our Town Mayor fundraising for his three charities.

Discover all about electricity in the Victorian times, how it was brand new and exciting and how Standen was one of the first houses to be built with electricity.  Exhibition and children’s trail. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen-house-and-garden

Visit East Grinstead Museum and take a tour of the facility or attend one of the many talks, Children’s craft days and temporary exhibitions https://www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk/  and find out what special events are on at the Bluebell Railway https://www.bluebell-railway.com/. Children can travel for £1 over halfterm when accompanied by a full fare paying adult. It’s surprising how far a £1 will go in East Grinstead!

Live music and comedy events pop up around East Grinstead on a regular basis so keep your eyes open and regularly check venues you’d expect to find them; Chequer Mead Theatre, The Dorset Arms, The Ship and The Railway Tavern, but also keep checking smaller more intimate and unusual venues such as The Open Arms, The Engine Room, Nizam and …The Book Shop!

The Book Shop is more than that..it would be; it’s an East Grinstead Bookshop! There’s chess available most days, book signings, town tours, live music and much more https://www.eastgrinsteadbookshop.co.uk/events

There are too many events to list here, but hopefully this will give you a bit of a taster. Look at the what’s on calendars of both www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk and www.visiteastgrinstead.com

There is always a full range of leaflets and fliers on offer at the East Grinstead Town Council’s tourist information desk in East Grinstead Library where You are always welcome to pop in and say hello to me or my colleague Roger. You can contact us on 01342 410121 or tourism@eastgrinstead.gov.uk

I will look forward to letting you know all the exciting things coming up for March in next month’s Dawn’s Diary.

Dawn Spalding

Town Promotion Manager: East Grinstead Town Council.