CHRISTMAS gets under way at County Mall on Saturday – with a family fun day.

In previous years a mystery guest – usually an EastEnders star – had turned on the shopping centre's Christmas lights.

But last year, a change of approach saw a family fun day staged instead, with children's favourite Peppa Pig making an appearance.

Having been judged a success, a similar start to the festive season has been lined up for this weekend.

Santa's grotto will be unveiled on the ground floor, with Father Christmas meeting his first families of the season.

And Katsuma and Poppet from the Moshi Monsters will be entertaining visitors throughout the day.

The fun starts at 11am and shopping centre bosses will be hoping for a similarly high footfall to last year when thousands visited throughout the day and 400 excited people queued for the Father Christmas grotto to open.

The switch from bringing in a famous name came about as the mall's shops were not benefiting from the extra visitors, many of whom were stopping only to see the celebrity and not spending any money in the stores.

"YOU'LL never guess who I had in the back of my cab," James Kemp may well be telling passengers this week. And the likelihood is they won't guess – as the answer is dozens of three-foot high Santas.

Mr Kemp, who is director of Airport Cars Gatwick, has just driven the length and breadth of Britain dropping off the Father Christmas donation boxes.

It is hoped that they will be filled with money, that will then go towards helping children affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Having set off from Gatwick Airport in a Mercedes Sprinter van at noon last Wednesday, Mr Kemp finished his 2,200-mile drive early on Saturday morning.

Along the way he dropped off 65 Santas at 20 locations and had been everywhere from Somerset to Edinburgh to Suffolk to Wales.

The figures will be used by the Chernobyl Children's Life Line (CCLL), with the charity's supporters taking them to fundraising events in the run-up to Christmas.

On part of the journey Mr Kemp, 36, drove from Newcastle to Edinburgh in the middle of the night in 70mph winds to drop off a single Santa.

Gatwick Airport has been a long-term supporter of the charity, which was set up by Victor Mizzi in 1991.

It has helped 56,000 children in Belarus and Ukraine who have flown into Gatwick and stayed with host families for four weeks of recuperation.

Mr Mizzi, who sees each child off from Gatwick on their return journey, is at the airport at least three days every week.

He said: "This is the first time we have carried out such a challenge to spread our fundraising across the whole of Britain.

"Each year we have 2,500 children, who have been exposed to the radiation, spend 28 days in Britain where they are given good food and can enjoy the fresh air which aids their immune system. They return home and go back to school in better health."

Although there are host families supporting the charity all over Britain, there are none in Crawley at present.

"I would love to have families in Crawley to call on," he said.

"Being close to Gatwick Airport makes it an ideal location for us because it would limit the amount of travelling for the children on arrival and before heading home."

Any family interested in hosting a child should call 01428 642523.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a cemetery on Ewhurst Playing Field have officially been scrapped, as the council searches for a new site inside or out of the borough.

Crawley Borough Council's cabinet rubber-stamped the decision to reject the proposed Ifield site.

Plans to build there infuriated residents, with more than 1,300 signing a petition.

The decision to withdraw the proposal was made after research, costing approximately £38,000, found the water level underneath the site was too near the surface for a graveyard.

The cabinet unanimously agreed to reject the proposal at a meeting last Wednesday.

Sally Blake, chair of the council's overview and scrutiny commission, wants to see noise level criteria amended, so more sites can be considered.

She said: "We may not have to be so picky with this decision.

"People say they want a quiet area and good transport. I think we should look again at the noise level criteria, especially considering Snell Hatch (where the town's current cemetery is located) would not be suitable under the current criteria."

Richard Burrett, the council's cabinet member for housing, agreed, adding: "The majority of open land is in the north of the borough and close to the airport and affected by noise.

"A lot of potential sites are in this area."

He, too, suggested the strict noise level criteria should be reconsidered.

In the short-term, Snell Hatch, in West Green, will be extended to give the council time to find a long-term solution.

A new cemetery site must be identified and acquired by April 2016, as by then Snell Hatch will have run out of space.

Ken Trussell, cabinet member for environmental services, said: "The search continues at potential sites inside the borough, and we will welcome any more ideas (from the public).

"On top of this, we are also looking outside the borough."

VOLUNTEERS are wanted to encourage residents to recycle more. West Sussex County Council has this week launched a recruitment drive for volunteer waste prevention advisers.

And the advisers' keywords are the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle your waste.

Work that advisors have done so far has included attending various local events and giving presentations and talks to schools and community groups.

The council wants to hear from people who are enthusiastic and have an interest in the environment and waste prevention who would be prepared to help out at community events, give talks and help with presentations to local groups and schools

Lionel Barnard, West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for residents services, said: "This is a wonderful scheme that will help us to encourage people to think differently about their waste.

"We want people to produce less waste with improved knowledge."

Register your interest by January 10, 2014, on the West Sussex waste prevention advisers page, by phoning 01243 642106, or e-mail wastes.management@westsussex.gov.uk

TRAFFIC ground to a halt in London Road in 1958 when Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner paid a whirlwind visit to East Grinstead.

Famous as one of cinema's leading ladies, as well as for her tempestuous marriage to Frank Sinatra, the starlet was the guest of Sir Archibald and Lady McIndoe at their home, Millwood Manor.

Huge crowds flocked to the Whitehall Cinema where Miss Gardner arrived in a maroon Rolls Royce to attend the Queen Victoria Hospital's nurses' fair.

Dressed in a fitted black dress with an olive green tweed coat and five strands of pearls, the guest faced a barrage of blinking flashlights as she made her way to the fair.

East Grinstead Courier reporters at the scene said: "It was almost impossible to move on the first floor where the stalls were held. The heat became intense and people began to struggle to get out.

"Despite all the heaving and pushing Ava remained cool and collected. She had a smile and a word for every stallholder."

She spent half-an-hour signing autographs, which no doubt became treasured memorabilia for lucky residents.

After lunch, the star returned to the Whitehall – not before changing into a tweed suit with a cream sweater – and conducted an auction with East Grinstead's own star, Sir Archibald McIndoe, founder of the Guinea Pig Club.

"So excitedly did Miss Gardner enter into the fun and spirit of the novelty auction that she cast aside etiquette and started bidding against the bidders," the Courier observed.

Thanks to the superstar and the auction the sum soared to the enormous sum of £1,000.

Ava Gardner had met Sir Archibald in a professional capacity the previous year.

While filming in Spain and riding a horse in a bullfighting scene, she hurt her face. Some people advised her to have an operation but the pioneering plastic surgeon told her to "do absolutely nothing to it".

The long weekend was very much a stay-at-home affair with the McIndoes, but on Sunday morning she was driven to Old Surrey Hall to visit Colonel Ian Anderson.

Do you remember Ava Gardner visiting town? Send your memories in to editor.eastgrinstead@ essnmedia.co.uk

SHOPPERS aren't paying what they really should for food – as farmers are selling produce at a loss.

This is the message from local livestock farmer Jez Wheatland who says he and his counterparts are struggling to make ends meet.

Without government subsidies he warns that many farms would either go out of business or have to charge far more for produce, which would hit shoppers in the pocket.

Even with these subsidies, he adds that farmers still struggle to compete against rivals in parts of Europe, as they get more generous subsidies from their governments, allowing them to sell their produce for even less.

Mr Wheatland issued his warning after a debate on whether local produce is affordable took place last week at the South of England Showground in Ardingly. He believes lots of shoppers opt for cheaper food that has come from Europe, rather than paying a little more for local produce.

The 50-year-old, who owns Withypitts Farm in Turners Hill, said: "These are tough times but people still think farmers are loaded.

"What they [the public] don't realise is that their food [when bought in supermarkets] is subsidised, they are not paying the true value.

"People do not realise the production costs. My water bill is about £3,000 a month, but that increases in the summer when we use about 4,000 to 5,000 litres of water a week. And then there are the fuel costs.

"As far as I understand, farmers in other countries get excessive subsidies from their governments. I am not a politician, but sometimes I wonder why farmers in other countries who are running smaller acreage earn an income while we struggle?"

NOSTALGIC former pupils from a Tilgate school want to go back in time, by staging two reunions.

Pupils who walked the corridors of Thomas Bennett School between 1958 and 1968 are invited to a reunion today (Saturday, November 23) organised by former pupil Ray Fiveash, who now lives in Cobham, Surrey.

A separate reunion is taking place in February, for students who started at the school, which has since been replaced by Thomas Bennett Community College, in September 1986.

The organiser of that event, Karen Webb, 39, who now lives in Horsham, is keen for not only ex-pupils to attend, but three teachers who are still at the school.

Today's reunion will take place at the Toby Carvery, in Vancouver Drive, Langley Green, from 6pm onwards.

Anyone interested in attending can just turn up or call Ray Fiveash beforehand on 07704 171248.

The 1986 reunion will take place at Three Bridges Football Club on Saturday, February 15 at 8pm.

There will be a disco and buffet and tickets can be bought for £5 by e-mailing Peter Mitchell at pmitchellrfc@googlemail.com.

THE chips looked to be down earlier this year when soaring potato costs forced a popular Crawley chip shop to raise its prices.

But the Master Fryer, in Pound Hill, is ending the year on a high after winning a sought-after industry award.

It is claimed the Fish and Chip Quality Award, which is given out to chippies which have proved they have good quality products, high standards of hygiene and highly competent staff.

The idea is that the award will give customers confidence that they are at one of the best chip shops in the country.

And there is more good news – as potato prices have also dropped – having risen to three times their usual cost – allowing the shop's prices to return to normal.

The award, run by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), is valid for two years and chip shops only keep it if high standards are maintained.

One of the Master Fryer's owners, Peter Huzzey, says the team will do all it can to keep the award.

He said: "We're determined to maintain standards. But it is how we run the shop anyway.

"It's good to have our high standards recognised and have that sign up in the window."

An inspector approved by the NFFF came to assess the Master Fryer.

Mr Huzzey said: "An inspector came round to work with us for half a day and did a 126-point check through the building, looking at the structure, to how it is managed and the quality of the product.

"The inspector checks from the driveway out the back of the shop to the front door."

And it was the shop's attention to detail that allowed it to claim the award.

Mr Huzzey added: "It is about making sure that everything is as good as it could be, working with the NFFF and Environmental Health, keeping standards up and training staff.

"It is not something we try to get right on the day the inspector comes; it is how we run the shop all year round."

FESTIVE shoppers will receive an early Christmas present when car park costs are slashed in the run up to the festive season.

With Christmas approaching, Mid Sussex District Council is offering an early boost to local shoppers and traders by providing all-day town centre parking for just £1 on Saturdays.

The council is hoping to spread Christmas cheer – and bolster business – with the move.

The £1 parking offer will only be available in long stay car parks owned by Mid Sussex District Council, which are the Vicarage car park and Norton House car park.

As is normal in the district, parking will continue to be completely free on Sundays. The festive parking discounts will be available on Saturday 7th, 14th and 21st of December.

Cabinet member for economic development and property Norman Webster said: "We know that Christmas is a busy time and want to help residents and visitors to get into the heart of our towns to carry out all those festive tasks.

"As well as many places to purchase gifts and treats our three towns offer shoppers a diverse range of venues in which to meet up with friends to eat, drink and be merry

"By arranging to have parking for just £1 on these Saturdays we want to help draw the community together, spread Christmas cheer and help show our support for local traders during the busy Christmas period."

THIS property is a bit fruity – as it will offer its owners a rich harvest every autumn.

As well as pear and apple trees, Plum Tree House, as you would expect, has plenty of plum trees in its gardens.

Set just off the A264, in Copthorne Common, Copthorne, it is a property for all seasons.

On top of the promise of fresh fruit on your doorstep each autumn, its open fireplaces in the lounge make even the coldest winter something to look forward to.

In spring there is the promise of an array of plants flowering and in the summer, hours can be whiled away on the house's sun deck.

There is even a heated swimming pool, which can be enjoyed in any season.

The property boasts five bedrooms and a number of outbuildings, one of which has been used as a games room.

Matt Kelly, a partner at Connells estate agents in Copthorne, said: "This is a family property and would suit a large family. It is huge and rambling, in a positive way.

"It is very historic. It is well over 100 years old and has a lot of original features, with some later additions, the most recent of which went in 30 years ago."

Plum Tree House has Georgian-style double-glazed windows and French doors, and parquet flooring in the entrance hall.

The property, on the market for £875,000, has a lounge, dining room, study, family room, kitchen and dining room, pantry and coal cellar.

One of its five reception rooms could be used as a sixth bedroom.

Mr Kelly said: "It very much provides value for money, in terms of what you get for the price and where it is."

The home also has a car port, attached to an outbuilding, a workshop, and a room currently used as a gym, which could become an office, subject to planning permission.

Mr Kelly added: "It has a great deal of character which is quite rare for where it is.

"Normally older, characterful properties are seen on the outskirts of the village. This isn't. It is very close to the village."

For more information or to arrange a viewing call Connells on 01342 717727.

THE county council has been accused of forcing through the controversial decision to cut youth services after an attempt to "call it in" was blocked.

Peter Evans, West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for children, has approved plans to dramatically reduce its youth and development service.

This will see an extra £1.2 million of cuts made, on top of the £2 million worth already approved.

Some 50 full-time posts will be lost, affecting 119 staff members, and there will now be a focus on supporting only the most vulnerable children.

Labour county councillor for Southgate and Crawley Central, Michael Jones, "called in" the decision, asking for it to be debated at a full council meeting.

But the council's Conservative-dominated children and young people's services select committee refused to consider further discussion.

Cllr Jones said: "The refusal to allow councillors the right to challenge this further is in my view a shabby cover-up.

"If the Tories are that ashamed of the decision that they don't want to talk about it, then they shouldn't be doing it.

"The decision appears to have been pushed through purely for reasons of finance, rather than taking into account the needs of service users."

The call-in process is a sanction councillors can use to call for a review of a decision made by the council's ruling party.

The council can refuse to carry out such a review but Cllr Jones believes doing so opens the authority to accusations of being anti-democratic.

He adds that there is an argument against select committee chairmen being allowed to be from the same party as the council's controlling group.

The council's focus on helping only the children most in need means youth centres will no longer have an "open door" policy.

Cllr Jones added: "This decision goes against the commitment of access to services for all in the county that the council has purported to uphold for many years."

The job losses and cuts will take place between now and April.

Ciaran Barron, a youth service volunteer at Bewbush Youth Centre, wants the council to scrutinise the decision further.

The 16-year-old, of Henty Close in Bewbush, said: "This is a very bad move considering it is going to affect a lot of people.

"Young people in Crawley belong to their youth centre. It is somewhere they go for guidance and to feel safe.

"The council should have made more of an effort to speak to us volunteers and the youngsters who use the centres."

Bewbush and Ifield West Labour county councillor Chris Oxlade, a member of the select committee, believes the slashed youth service will have long-lasting negative impacts.

He said: "It will be the end of youth services in West Sussex as we know them.

"It is such a short-sighted measure, with potentially long-term damage. The Tory leadership at West Sussex know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

NORMALLY it is a bit embarrassing if you turn up wearing the same outfit as somebody else.

But that was positively encouraged at the weekend when hundreds of people took part in three fundraisers dressed as Father Christmas.

The Santa Fun Runs were all raising money for Crawley's St Catherine's Hospice.

More than 800 people put on red suits and white beards, while dogs were dressed as reindeers, during the events in East Grinstead, Horsham and Caterham.

The charity anticipates the family-friendly fundraiser, now in its fifth year, will generate in excess of £20,000 to help people with a terminal illness.

Jen Wickham, events fundraiser at the hospice in Malthouse Road, Southgate, said: "The Santa Run has become a really popular fundraiser since we started it in 2009.

"We have a lot of other challenging events throughout the year, but we see this as something for the whole family to take part in. This money will allow our patients to stay in their own home with their family this Christmas, which is really important for them.

"It will also help grieving children with counselling sessions, among other things."

HE REGULARLY stands up to speak in Parliament and answers tough questions from probing journalists but it was a group of Year 9 pupils who gave the town's MP his toughest test last week.

The 13 and 14-year-olds from Holy Trinity School grilled Henry Smith on November 15 on subjects including cyber bullying, MPs' expenses, a second runway at Gatwick and the loss of youth services.

The question and answer session at the Gossops Green school was organised by head of English Dawn Clubb, as part of a project to relate their studies to the real world.

Mr Smith admitted afterwards that the youngsters were among the "most challenging" groups to which he has had to answer.

Yasmin Wilson was among those who interrogated him during the one-hour interview.

The 13-year-old, from Parkfield Close, Gossops Green, asked: "Why do the Government and certain MPs keep spending money on themselves?"

Mr Smith replied that there "is a cost to our democracy" and that MPs should be allowed to claim legitimate expenses to help them do the job.

However, he said other expenses such as MPs claiming back for their gas bills were not appropriate.

Samiah Khawaja, who asked a question about what can be done about cyber bullying, was impressed with how Mr Smith answered their questions.

The 14-year-old, from Dovedale Crescent in Southgate, said: "I thought it was a very good session where we got to put forward our ideas for how we can improve things in the community.

"I thought he gave a good enough answer (that cyber bullying was tough to combat and could only be beaten if it is reported by the victim).

"I was glad to hear that Parliament do care about this and it is good to know that if your parents can't help you, there are other people who can."

Matthew Bowden, 13, from Padstow Walk, Bewbush, added: "I though he gave good enough answers but I didn't think he answered all the questions completely. But it was a really good session."

A SACKVILLE school student has landed a prestigious engineering scholarship

Simon Cook has been awarded a highly regarded Arkwright Engineering Scholarship – given to young people from across the country identified as having the potential to be the industry's future leaders in engineering and technical design.

Simon was selected following a rigorous process comprising a detailed application form, a two-hour aptitude exam and an interview at a top engineering university.

He will now receive £600 to support his technical courses and have access to a range of opportunities to learn more about engineering, such as mentoring and company visits.

Head teacher Julian Grant said: "It was a great honour to attend the Arkwright Awards ceremony on Friday, November 1, and celebrate Simon's achievement. This success is a result of much hard work, high ability, determination and ambition. I have no doubt that Simon has a bright future ahead of him".

Dr Martin Thomas, chief executive of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust, said Simon had "phenomenal" potential for a future career in the engineering profession.

PROTESTERS have been given a new plot of land to demonstrate on after the county council reclaimed the verges they had occupied for months.

Environmentalists had been camped alongside the B2036, London Road, in Balcombe since July to voice their opposition to energy company Caudrilla Resources.

The firm was thought to be considering using fracking at the site – a controversial mining method to yield energy from underground sources.

But after a High Court order last week gave West Sussex County Council the right to take back its roadside verges, the council has now provided a new plot of land off London Road for peaceful protest.

West Sussex County Council confirmed it had taken enforcement action on Tuesday to regain possession of its grass verges next to the B2036 and said in a statement: "As promised during the High Court hearing we have established a new designated protest area close to the entrance to the Cuadrilla site, and the siting of it was agreed with the protesters who have remained in the area.

"The protest area is bigger and on drier land and is also protected by safety barriers.

"This does clearly show that the county council recognises the right of people to demonstrate peacefully and lawfully.

"However, it is important that people realise that any form of camping inside this area is not permitted."