AN UNEXPLODED hand grenade has been found a few metres from a public footpath in Tilgate Park.

A Tilgate Nature Centre employee found the weapon shortly after midday last Thursday, close to the Walled Garden Café.

After the discovery of the grenade, described as "rusty", police were called and the area cordoned off.

A bomb disposal team from Aldershot, in Hampshire, arrived just after 2pm.

Having examined the grenade they took it away for disposal without detonating it.

The weapon had been found by Emile Ellis – who was in his first week in the job at the nature centre.

Emile discovered the device when he was planting bulbs for next spring near the café.

Simon Woodard, the manager of the nature centre, said: "One of the gardeners, Emile, found it on his first week. It was an exciting start to his time here.

"I was quite surprised and shocked at them finding a grenade, but we have come across them before."

Alan Dixon, the manager of Tilgate Park, said that in his 23 years of working at the park three grenades have been found.

"My reaction was 'Here we go again'," he said. "But it is not a problem, because we know what to do."

Tilgate Nature Centre staff roped off the area where the grenade was found and contacted police.

Mr Dixon said: "We have a procedure if anything like that is found by a member of staff. We have a certain sequence, which starts with calling police.

"The police come and they take over. They put an exclusion area around it so the public couldn't gain access. Then the bomb squad arrived."

Mr Dixon explained that Tilgate Park was used as a base for Canadian and Polish soldiers during World War Two – who camped there in preparation for D-Day. Two hand grenades were previously found in Tilgate Lake in 2010.

When employees first start working at the park they are made aware of the potential of finding explosives.

THE people in charge of Crawley's most popular nightspots want more competition to make the town an attractive evening destination – amid rumours the owners of Bar Med are looking to return.

Adam Foxley, from Moka, and Marc Simpson, from JJ Whispers, believe Crawley needs another venue, such as a Slug and Lettuce, Yates's or Pitcher and Piano, to stop the nighttime economy becoming "stale".

This follows rumours within the nightclub industry that the Stonegate Pub Company, which ran Bar Med before it closed last year, is considering opening a Slug and Lettuce bar at the new Morrisons and Travelodge development on the High Street.

Mr Foxley, general manager of Moka, believes another "big venue" is needed to draw people into the town and stop clubbers heading to Brighton or London for a night out.

He said: "Since we opened a year ago we have emptied out a few of the other bars in town.

"While that is good for us it is not good for Crawley as a late night location. If you don't like Moka or JJ Whispers then there currently is not much point you coming into the town centre.

"We need another big venue in the town to add variety to what is on offer.

"Crawley has to become a destination town. At the moment it is a through town, if you live here or very locally then you are happy to come for a night out but others will choose to go elsewhere.

"A pub like The Punchbowl attracts good people to Crawley but another feeder bar like a late-night Yates's would do great."

While Mr Simpson agrees Crawley is in need of a new nightspot he believes existing bars and pubs have "raised their game".

He admits he has even considered opening his own new bar in the town.

The director of JJ Whispers said: "I would welcome a new feeder bar because Crawley does struggle with its late-night entertainment becoming stale (for repeat visitors) quite quickly.

"People want more options and this would then lead to even more people coming out and attracting crowds from further afield.

"A Slug and Lettuce or Pitcher and Piano would work perfectly in drawing people until about 11 and then they have a choice of either JJ Whispers or Moka.

"A good brand name does bring out the most people."

Mr Simpson has been impressed by the recent efforts of the town's bars.

He said: "In the three years we have been open other bars have raised their game. The standard at Angelique and Octopvs has improved and Legends is better than when it was The Rat and Parrot. We have looked at opening a feeder bar ourselves in one of the vacant units at the Sussex House site."

At his club, Mr Foxley revealed that Moka's parent company is considering reopening the old Envy room.

He added: "We will be installing a taxi rank outside by the Crawley station car park to save customers heading back into the town centre."

Both Mr Simpson and Mr Foxley have heard rumours that a Slug and Lettuce could be coming to town, but a spokeswoman for Stonegate Pub Company, which runs 560 venues around the country, played down the speculation.

She said: "We are always on the look out for suitable sites in order to grow the Slug and Lettuce estate. However, at this time, we have no plans to bring Slug and Lettuce to Crawley."

A FLEDGLING airport car parking company has been accused of cutting down ancient woodland and operating illegally.

Building contractor Caldyne Ltd has applied for retrospective planning permission to use land off Wallage Lane, in Rowfant, for parking for Gatwick Airport passengers.

And aerial images appear to show a clearing in Compasses Wood with cars parked in it.

Discussing the site's proposed change of use at Worth Parish Council's planing meeting on Monday, irate parish councillor Mike Livesey said the development was one of the worst breaches of planning law he had seen.

He said: "They have removed ancient woodland without permission. Traffic movements of about 50 a day along Wallage Lane would be absolute carnage and that land south of Turners Hill Road, which runs from Worth, is all an area of outstanding natural beauty."

Council chairman David Blackman said it would be wrong to grant permission.

"At the time when the trees were being removed they had no permission and so the application is a retrospective one," he explained.

"Having read the report I personally think we should not be granting permission for change of use to this applicant."

A Mid Sussex District Council planning officer will adjudicate over the application next month, after which the council could shut down the illegal site if permission is refused.

While the trees were part of an ancient woodland, the district council confirmed they were not subject to tree preservation orders but that the Forestry Commission could have a case if so many trees had been removed that a licence should have been obtained.

One distraught neighbour to the car park, who asked not to be named, said she only realised the extent of the clearing when she looked at it on Google Earth.

"I am absolutely disgusted the car park is already operating without permission," she said.

"They have devastated the area.

"My son noticed something was happening when plastic went up around the area to screen it. Then I saw on Google Earth what had happened."

A Caldyne spokesman said the car park had been operating since April and that the company submitted an application after being instructed to do so by Mid Sussex District Council.

He said: "The parking does not cause any fuss apart from with the council.

"Trees had not been removed from the site and the site is not illegal. They are talking rubbish."

LIGHTS shone bright at an "emotional" service of remembrance at the K2 leisure centre on Sunday.

The annual Tree of Light ceremony, organised by St Catherine's Hospice, saw more than 900 people in attendance this year.

It gave families the chance to remember relatives they have lost, many of whom were cared for at the hospice in Malthouse Road, Southgate.

Visitors had the chance to place a light, representing their memories of a loved one, on a 20-foot tall Christmas tree.

Organiser Jen Wickham, from St Catherine's, said the event brought out different emotions for those present.

"The mood was a mixture of emotions, really," she explained. "It can be sombre for most people but generally it is a positive way to remember loved ones.

"Coming up to Christmas people find it difficult."

The ceremony saw a choir from St Bede's School, in Redhill, perform Christmas carols and other songs. And Olivia Beckwith sang the same song, You Are My Home, as she sang to her husband on their wedding day.

Olivia's husband recently passed away having been cared for by St Catherine's.

Jen said: "Olivia was brilliant. She spoke of her experiences and there were lots of comments about how brave she was."

Visitors were able to write a message in a book of remembrance, which was brought out on stage by Jan Thompson and Lynne Denyer, who are staff nurses for St Catherine's.

The hospice's spiritual care coordinator, Sue Clarke, led the service and read a prayer of dedication.

Jen added: "The Tree of Light is a fairly large service and we do get lots of people saying they get a great comfort from the event.

"They realise they are not the only ones going through it.

"The Tree of Light ceremony is positive for people and something they can attend with family and friends.

"When we have patients' family members telling their stories it helps others realise there are other people going through a similar situation."

Another smaller service organised by St Catherine's is taking place at Crawley United Reformed Church, on Worth Park Avenue in Pound Hill, on Sunday December 8 at 4pm. For more information on the Pound Hill service call Zoe Dolding on 01293 447374.

FUNDING for the memorial to Sir Archibald McIndoe has received a £1,000 cash boost.

Mid Sussex District Council signed off the donation on Monday to help pay for planning costs and an unveiling ceremony next year.

The cash was made available from "pubic art contributions" – money paid by a developer to the council following its development at Orchard Way, in East Grinstead.

Scheduled to be completed next spring, the 7ft, £170,000 monument will have a path leading to it and a circular platform with seating around it.

It is planned for outside Sackville College on land which is owned by the district council.

Renowned sculptor Martin Jennings, whose father was treated by Sir Archibald, has been commissioned to produce the statue, which it is hoped will be unveiled during the spring.

Two weeks ago, the town council submitted a planning application to the district council be allowed to use land outside Sackville College.

A MAN shot in the hand in a targeted attack in Three Bridges last Thursday night remains in a stable condition in hospital.

The victim could not initially be found following the shooting on the Pembroke Park estate.

But after police checks he was eventually traced to a hospital where he remains.

A double-barreled shotgun is believed to have been the weapon used.

The shot was fired outside Nokes Court, a block of flats in Commonwealth Drive, just after 9.30pm.

Police have not revealed which hospital the victim is in, to protect him from a potential follow-up attack. It is understood that the man was shot at his front door. His injury will need specialist surgery.

The occupants of a flat in Commonwealth Drive, a 38-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

But they have since been released and will not face any further action.

Residents on the estate have told of their shock at such an incident occurring in what is a "quiet area".

One of them, Katherine Blore, 24, said: "I heard a bang and thought it was a firework.

"I came down this morning (Friday) and saw this police cordon and officers guarding the scene. I'm quite gobsmacked. I didn't realise it was that bad.

"Someone was stabbed in this building about four years ago. It was drugs or drink related.

"I have three young children and this does make me concerned for their safety."

Carl Schons, 35, lives in the block of flats outside which the man was shot.

"It is a quiet place to live usually. There's a really good community spirit, a residents' association, community events and it's very family orientated.

"Generally it's a nice place to live. I can't remember there ever being trouble round here."

Louise Smith, 25, who also lives in Commonwealth Drive, said she had heard a car had sped away from the scene immediately after the shooting.

She said: "I have got two kids so it's worrying. Apparently one guy was shot by two guys. You don't expect it, but shootings do happen."

Another Commonwealth Drive resident, Marina Reynolds, 35, also heard the gunshot.

She said: "Normally it's a nice quiet life here. I come back from work at 12 o'clock at night so it's scary."

Police inquiries are continuing to trace other people who are believed to have been present when the man was shot.

The investigation is at an early stage and the full circumstances have not yet been established.

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who saw what happened or who has any other information.

In particular they are looking to trace an old-style silver or gold-coloured Suzuki Swift, or a similar vehicle, which drove away from the scene immediately after the shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Wardley-Wilkins said: "This is a serious but isolated incident.

"We are following active lines of inquiry and it is already clear that this was not a random attack.

"Local people are being reassured that there is no current risk to their safety and we are carrying out an intensive investigation."

Anyone who can help the inquiry is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A MAN has been kicked out of his home after two weekends of wild late-night parties which got so out of hand that on one occasion police had to be called.

Housing association officers and the police arrived at the home of the man – who has not been named – to give him his marching orders last Monday.

Aged in his late teens or early twenties, he had subjected neighbours in Mitchells Road, Three Bridges to a string of sleepless nights.

The previous Saturday (November 23) police were called to the worst of the parties, after complaints of underage drinking and antisocial behaviour.

On arrival officers found a large group of teenagers that had spilled out of the house and into the street. Some of the revellers had to be escorted to nearby Three Bridges station, while a 22-year-old man was charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting two police officers.

He is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court today (Wednesday).

Neighbours have spoken of their relief that the resident was swiftly removed from the property by housing association Home Group. Speaking last week, Gary Crowhurst, 46, of Priors Walk, which is off Mitchells Road, said: "Last weekend there was a disturbance and music at half two in the morning. It was blaring music. I know the police were there a couple of times. It's just antisocial. You don't do it."

Parties took place two Fridays and two Saturdays running.

Mr Crowhurst added: "The loud music didn't start until late; half 11 or 12.

"The first time it came on it sounded like he had a great big amplifier in there.

"Everyone must've heard it; it wasn't just us. There was screaming and shouting, police cars coming and kids all sitting around outside."

Upon learning of the eviction, Mr Crowhurst said: "Good. I don't mean that to sound funny, but there is an elderly lady next door [to the house where the parties were] and she must've been so frightened.

"It's not that I don't want people having a good time, but there's no need to make that sort of noise."

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the music carried on until 3am even on the night police had been called. He said: "There was a lot of noise. And there were four cars parked out the front of my house. It stopped me from sleeping."

Penny Diver, from Home Group, said: "Our service in Crawley provides much-needed supported accommodation for 16 to 24-year-olds. One client was recently moved from his property following reports of loud music and parties."

A spokesman for the housing association added that having been made aware of the parties, its staff removed the resident the next day.

LYING drivers who try to deceive Sussex Police are being targeted in a new campaign.

Detectives and safety camera teams are hunting drivers who are trying to dodge justice by lying about speeding.

Seven drivers in Sussex have already been convicted of perverting the course of justice while a string of others are being investigated.

Lies that have caught drivers out include claiming someone else was driving – including one woman who said she had left her car at Halfords and that staff there had committed two separate speeding offences, and a woman who had a second set of numberplates made up, claiming her car's identity had been "cloned".

The partnership works by camera enquiry officers from Sussex Safer Roads Partnership putting together files on drivers who they believe could be lying to avoid speeding fines and points on their licences.

Files are then passed to detectives who question the suspects and charge them if there is enough evidence that they are deliberately lying.

Inspector Chris Collins, from Sussex's central ticket and summons unit, said: "We believe these drivers are just the tip of the iceberg and that many more motorists have lied about speeding and got away with it."

STUDENTS have performed a fitting tribute to Benjamin Britten.

A prominent 20th century British classical pianist and conductor, Britten's best-known works include the opera Peter Grimes, the War Requiem, and the orchestral showpiece The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra. To mark the composer's 100th birthday, on Friday a 150 strong choir of Sussex school children performed his Friday Afternoons at Ardingly College as part of a global event featuring 100,000 young people – who all performed the same piece at different locations.

Composer Christopher Hussey said after the concert: "I was thrilled with this first performance – it surpassed my expectations. The children from the Ardingly College and West Sussex schools choirs gave an impressively strong rendition, and coped very well with some challenging choral writing, delivering a fine first performance of the songs."

The previous evening at the college, Thursday, Britten's godson Michael Berkeley introduced a concert of Britten's music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra Future First Musicians, VOCES8 vocal ensemble and the choirs of Ardingly College.

THE leader of the Labour party sparkled on a visit to Crawley – getting covered in glitter as he met pre-school pupils.

Ed Miliband dropped in to Caterpillars Pre-School, in Southgate, to speak to two apprentices who are learning their trade in messy play.

The leader of the opposition was unable to avoid a light dusting of glitter as he chatted to Connor Clark and Rachelle Sydes, while they were helping children play with a mixture of fake snow and glitter.

His visit to Crawley was billed as a trip to find out how apprenticeships are helping young people in the town.

It comes on the back of a decline in the number of 19-year-olds taking up apprenticeships in the south east, from 16,240 in the 2011/12 financial year to 14,980 in 2012/13.

As he navigated his way around a go-kart in the pre-school's garden, Mr Miliband explained that apprenticeships put young people in the driving seat.

He said: "I think apprenticeships can make a real difference to people in Crawley and what we have seen here is two young people doing apprenticeships at this children's centre – making a real difference to them and also making a difference to the mums and dads who want their kids to have somewhere to go so they can go out to work and so on.

"I think apprenticeships are the future."

Connor, 17, and Rachelle, 22, are studying for a level 2 diploma in childcare.

They are paid the minimum wage by the pre-school, but they were quick to point out that many apprentices get paid far less.

Connor, who lives in Hatfield Walk, Bewbush, said: "It's not right what some of the businesses pay, it's about £2.45 an hour.

"I think the minimum should be at least £5 an hour."

Rachelle, from Caburn Court in Southgate, agreed and cited low pay as one of the reasons people are put off apprenticeships.

She said: "People who are unemployed that want to work, they've got to have an incentive to go to work. They can get more on benefits and they need a reason to get up and go to work."

Speaking about the benefits of apprenticeships compared with classroom-based learning, Connor added: "The practical experience is much better."

Mr Miliband said that fair pay was something he was keen to ensure, however he added that it was reliant on employers seeing the benefits.

He said: "We want to make sure that apprenticeships are not just a re-badged version of something else that's being done where people are not being properly paid. We want proper pay for apprenticeships."

He added that if Labour got into power he would ensure companies that land lucrative government contracts, and those that bring in workers from outside the EU, would be required to offer apprenticeships.

After a tour of the pre-school in Ditchling Hill which has only been open since September with owner Cathy Clark, 43, from Lark Rise, Langley Green, Mr Miliband left a donation for the pre-school's forthcoming raffle – a Rubik's cube which he had signed.

MATT BETTY says the better team won on the day as East Grinstead lost out to league leaders Dorking on Saturday.

G-Force lost 25-13 on their first-ever visit to the Big Field, with the hosts showing some clinical finishing to throw East Grinstead's game plan out of the window.

And while Grinstead did improve in the second half, scoring two tries to reduce the deficit, G-Force full-back Betty said the visitors had no complaints.

He said: "We had good possession and field position, but our execution in the lineout let us down. We have to say that Dorking deserved their win because their structure and discipline was better.

"They started well and put us under pressure. There were maybe a few missed tackles and some 50/50 things that didn't go our way, but I think the best team won."

It always seemed like it would be a close contest at the Big Field as first met third, but any game plan East Grinstead had went straight out of the window as they fell behind within 80 seconds.

The pacy Ryan Jeffery was the try-scorer for the hosts, bursting through the Grinstead defence to score under the posts, with Andy Frost adding the conversion to make it 7-0.

Grinstead fought back and Jeffery had to show his defensive skills to deny James Keyworth a try at the other end.

But Dorking were on the scoresheet again after 12 minutes, when some neat passing and a good offload from Fraser McDonald freed Ryan Lucas to score in the corner.

Frost missed the conversion, but he made amends seven minutes later with a penalty to make it 15-0.

However, Grinstead felt hard done by as they had a superb try from Matt Betty disallowed due to an off-the-ball infringement spotted by the referee, which saw Ash Halsey yellow-carded and Dorking awarded the penalty.

Scott Meakin did get the visitors on the scoreboard with a penalty of his own six minutes later, but Dorking were still dominant.

And they added a third try just after the half-hour mark, with Robbie Fee finishing off a superb move that saw the Red & Whites spread the ball from left to right with pace.

Frost added the conversion, with Dorking going in 22-3 ahead at the break.

The second half was more of an attritional battle, with Grinstead tightening up in defence and taking the game to their opponents.

However, Dorking were first to score after the restart, with Frost slotting over a penalty to extend the lead to 25-3.

That was to be the hosts' last score of the match though as Grinstead fought back down the slope.

And they deservedly scored a try just before the hour mark, with Richard Tredgett going over after James Keyworth successfully charged down an attempted clearance kick.

Grinstead were unable to push on from that though as Dorking defended stoutly, with the visitors having to wait until the final play of the game to add to their tally.

And it was somewhat fortuitous as Jack Whitmarsh seized on a loose ball to go over in the corner, with both sides looking to play running rugby in the closing stages.

It may have only been a consolation try in the end as Grinstead remain third ahead of the visit of second-placed Old Elthamians to Saint Hill on Saturday.

And Betty said Grinstead must look to bounce back next week at home against Old Elthamians.

He said: "We have to be honest with ourselves.

"Collectively, we say what's wrong, but individually we need to take responsibility.

"We will look at it in training, but we have to pick ourselves up because we only have two training sessions before another big game."

IMBERWOOD'S Lee Roberts was the leading player in another busy week, starring for both the West Weald Combination and Men's teams on consecutive nights.

The Combination visited Southwater, hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Ian Wilkins partnered Zoe Harry while Roberts played with Beverley Cooper.

The Roberts/Cooper combination swept aside the opposition, taking their first rubber 21-12, 21-6 and following this with an even better 21-5, 21-9 in their second.

The Wilkins/Harry partnership started well in their first rubber, winning 21-12, 21-7, but lost their form in the second rubber, going down 21-17, 21-16.

In the level pairings, the Roberts/Wilkins pair proved too strong for their opponents, winning 21-6, 21-11, whereas the ladies had the game of the evening. In a very close match, Harry and Cooper showed excellent form, coming through 24-22, 21-19 to take the rubber and a 5-1 victory.

The next night saw the men's side host Chanctonbury, with Roberts partnering Lee Tandy and Wilkins playing with Simon Harry.

Roberts and his partner set about demolishing their opposition in both their rubbers with scores of 21-6, 21-9 and 21-8, 21-4.

Harry and Wilkins lost the first 25-23, 21-11 before taking their second to three sets but still going down 14-21, 21-13, 21-12, leaving the match level going into the split pairings.

Here the pairings saw Tandy/Harry come through with ease 21-4, 21-4, leaving Roberts/Wilkins to play in the decider.

They lost a close first set 21-19 but won the second set 26-24. They took the third 21-19 in a tense climax to give the side a 4-2 win.

JUDO: East Grinstead Keisen Judo Club's Lyle Slocombe achieved silver medal success at the recent South Coast U16 Open competition in Worthing.

Slocombe was the only member from the club to fight in the event, but the youngster did not disappoint.

Slocombe, who is 15-years-old, fought in the under 66kg category, having recently moved up from under 60kg. The competition attracts judo players from clubs all over Sussex and the club are incredibly proud of their young contender.

Slocombe fought his way through his pool of three with two ippon (top score) wins, including a beautifully timed throw, to progress to the semi-finals. He showed great composure against a much taller fighter and won a place in the final with another ippon score hold-down.

In the final fight for the gold medal, Slocombe was narrowly beaten, but Keisen coach Toine Hodgkiss said: "A silver medal is a terrific achievement for Lyle, and is great preparation for the British Championships in Sheffield in a month's time."

After the final, Slocombe said: "While I am disappointed to have narrowly lost in the final, I am pleased with my performance against physically taller and stronger opponents. The silver medal will increase my confidence going up to Sheffield in a few weeks."

If you are interested in the martial art of judo, Keisen Judo Club, based at the Wallis Centre in East Grinstead, are offering free trials. The club run sessions every Saturday morning.

MATT JONES says there is still room for improvement for East Grinstead, despite the Gladiators ending their outdoor hockey for 2013 with a 7-4 victory in a thrilling contest with Canterbury on Sunday.

The hosts won 7-4 in an end-to-end match, which featured some clinical finishing and superb skills from both sides, albeit aided by some poor defending.

And East Grinstead's first-team manager said the match was an exciting one for the neutral, with the result taking the aggregate score between the two sides this season to 16-5 to East Grinstead.

He said: "If you want to see goals and exciting hockey, then matches between East Grinstead and Canterbury seem to be the ones to watch.

"There was some fabulous stuff out there and some scintillating hockey, with fast breaks and some clinical finishing."

However, he said there were still aspects of their play that the Gladiators could improve on before the outdoor campaign resumes in February.

He said: "Our finishing wasn't quite on song, but we are not going to knock seven goals.

"We still want to polish that up a bit and we will continue to work hard, but we couldn't be happier really.

"It was a good performance to end our outdoor hockey for 2013 and we are still pushing hard towards the top of the table."

Liam Foster set the ball rolling for Canterbury in the fourth minute as his strike from a penalty corner went through the legs of East Grinstead goalkeeper Richard Potton.

But Grinstead weren't behind for long as Iain Lewers coolly finished off a penalty stroke after Mark Gleghorne had been taken out inside the D.

Foster restored Canterbury's lead with another fine low strike from a penalty corner on 18 minutes, but after that Grinstead seized control of the game.

First, Gleghorne showed that anything Foster could do, he could too as he crashed home a powerful low shot from a penalty corner on 22 minutes.

Mark Pearn then put Grinstead in front for the first time in the match with a superb shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the D, while Ross Stott drove home a rare goal to round off the scoring in an entertaining first half.

But there always looked like there would be more goals as the two sides came out for the second half, with Pearn finishing with aplomb to net his second goal of the match seven minutes after the restart.

However, just when it looked like the hosts might run away with it, back came Canterbury with two goals in five minutes.

First, Louis Duprez netted from a rebound after Potton had made two fine saves to deny the visitors, before Kwan Browne unleashed an unstoppable strike from a penalty corner to pull Canterbury back to within one goal.

But Niall Stott settled any nerves for the hosts with a great goal six minutes later, surging through the visitors' defence before finishing neatly into the bottom corner.

A second goal for Mark Gleghorne completed the scoring eight minutes from time, with Grinstead closing out the game for their eighth win of the season.

The result leaves East Grinstead second in the table going into 2014, two points behind leaders Beeston, who they face in their first game back in the new year.

EAST Grinstead Ladies are "where they deserve to be" in the National Conference East, according to manager Georgie Howell.

Grinstead moved up to second in the table after a 3-1 win at home to Ipswich on Saturday, which leaves them six points behind league leaders Holcombe.

It is a good position for Grinstead to be in heading into the winter break for indoor hockey, and Howell says it puts them on course for their pre-season aim of a top-four finish.

But she said Grinstead would love to win the league and a fifth successive promotion.

She said: "It is pretty good for us to be second in the league going into Christmas and we are where we deserve to be.

"We are a good team and we are playing good hockey.

"Of course we would love to win the league, but we know it is going to be difficult and it is out of our hands.

"We need favours from other teams, but we just have to keep it going ourselves.

"It is exciting for us to be second and that is an amazing achievement for us in our first season in the national leagues and considering we only have two or three players who have played at this level before.

"But we are still ambitious to push on and we have to keep working hard to keep improving."

Zoe Burrell netted twice for the home team on Saturday, with Pippa Rabey scoring the other goal as Grinstead completed the double over their Suffolk opponents.

And Howell said it was a fairly comfortable victory for Grinstead, adding that they were well worth the three points.

She said: "It was another good team performance and it was pretty comfortable.

"We gave the ball away for their goal, but I can't remember them having too many opportunities.

"We just played well and took our chances, and it was great to get another win to finish off the outdoor hockey for 2013."

TWO childhood sweethearts from Crowborough, who have spent their lives as active members of the community, will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday.

Ian and Sylvia Mein, of Blackness Road, married at All Saints Church on December 12, 1953, and are still living in the town they love 60 years later.

Mr Mein, 84, was evacuated to Crowborough, where his grandparents lived, from his home in Norwood, London, during the Second World War, at the age of 16.

His wife, 79, was born and grew up in Withyham, and the pair met at Withyham Youth Club as teenagers.

"I was a member at Crowborough Youth Club and we were invited to visit the Withyham club. We were introduced and got pally," said Mr Mein.

"I also played football and cricket for Withyham, so it was a good excuse to go and see her. We really were childhood sweethearts."

Mrs Mein added that her husband used to cycle between Crowborough and Withyham to visit her.

Mr Mein said the couple's wedding was not a lavish affair owing to austerity following the war.

"It was quite a simple wedding. We just had friends and family and a few guests, about 40 people in all. And All Saints was much smaller back then. It was more like a small parish church.

"Money was quite short in those days and people didn't go abroad for their honeymoon, so we went to London for a few days and saw some shows."

The couple are going for a celebratory lunch to mark the milestone anniversary.

Mrs Mein said: "The time has just flown by. It doesn't seem possible that it has been all those years, but it has. I think the trick to such a long happy marriage has been to give and take, but you should always try to give slightly more, have your own interests and keep busy."

The pair have been active members in the Crowborough community.

Mr Mein was elected to the town council in 1968 and was a member for 20 years, as well as serving on the district council.

Both were members of the Auxiliary Fire Service between 1955 and 1965 and took part in moving the fire station from the High Street to its current location in Beacon Road.

"It was a big change, because the brigade was used to coming out into the busy High Street," said Mr Mein.

Mrs Mein was a founding member of the High Weald Walkers' group 24 years ago and is still a member and keen walker.

A CROWBOROUGH resident has slammed council chiefs about the poor state of the pavements outside her home, which she claims has left her housebound.

Debbie Farache, 52, of Burdett Road, suffers from cerebellar ataxia, a nerve condition which affects her balance, meaning she often has to use a wheelchair to get around.

Mrs Farache uses her wheelchair to go to the shop at the end of her road, but said she struggles to push herself down the narrow pathway due to damaged, muddy verges and cracks and humps in the surface.

She has even become stuck and had to wait for a passer-by to help push her.

"Because of my condition my balance is pretty shot," said Mrs Farache.

"Even when I'm just standing I need something to support me. I used to use a walking frame to get to the shop, but with the state of the pavement I daren't any more for safety reasons, I could easily fall.

"It's really bad when the pavement gets wet – it gets very muddy because the verges are so bad. It's very slippery.

"Even my able-bodied friends have said the verges are dangerous for them to walk on and they walk in the road."

Mrs Farache said she wants to maintain her independence as much as she can, rather than rely on a carer.

She added: "I want to do as much as I can on my own. But the paths can't stay like this, and if we have another harsh winter it's going to get even worse.

"There are lots of older people living round here who must struggle with them too, and mums must have a hard time pushing buggies down them."

Mrs Farache reported her problem to Wealden district councillor for Jarvis Brook, Steve Isted, who passed the complaint on to the East Sussex County Council, which is in the charge of footways.

Mr Isted said: "We have been trying to get this sorted for 18 months, but it has been like banging your head against a wall.

"The district council has done all it can to help, but the pavements are the county council's responsibility and this poor lady needs something done so she can get in and out of her property."

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: "We are sorry to hear Mrs Farache is experiencing these problems.

"We will be sending a highways steward to inspect the pavement as soon as possible and if work is required this will be carried out in due course. We will keep Mrs Farache informed our progress."

LAST minute pleas have been made to save a dementia day care centre in Crowborough from closure.

East Sussex county councillors will vote on the future of Hookstead Day Centre, in Goldsmiths Avenue, on Tuesday, but the outlook is bleak for the facility.

Council officers recommended it was closed as part of £27.8 million cuts to adult social care. Hookstead is used on a weekly basis by 27 dementia sufferers with an average age of 83.

But their carers will be forced to find an alternative service if closure is approved.

The proposals say dementia day care services would be provided at other locations by existing or new voluntary organisations.

"I'm shocked," said Julie McGowan, of Black Hill, whose 84-year-old mother Stella Hamper uses the service.

"As far as I know there is no voluntary or community provision in the area, so I don't know where they are going to rustle this up from.

"And if independent providers in north Wealden do not come forward this may result in long travel times for clients.

"This should not be tolerated, but once Hookstead has closed what choice would clients and carers have? We were promised a service in north Wealden.

"It makes you think the consultation process is just a white-wash, because I don't think there is anyone [outside the council] who advocates the closure.

She added: "I think they will just rubber stamp it and send it out the other side. There won't be any discussion. The discussion has already been done, but they seem to have their own agenda."

Mayor of Crowborough Peter Cowie, whose charity of choice is the Sussex High Weald Dementia Social Group, said he was worried by the lack of information about what service would be provided if Hookstead closes.

He said: "What is concerning is that we do not know what the new provision will be, and I will be contacting the county council to find out if they have any firm plan.

"Hookstead has some great volunteers. What will happen to them if it closes? Volunteers like that are worth their weight in gold, but you risk losing them if you move the provision somewhere they are not willing to go.

"There is not enough detail to these proposals to know what is going to happen, which makes it difficult to complain, but we can certainly ask questions about what plans they do have."

The authority estimates it will save £170,000 a year by closing the centre, which is one of six under review along with others in Hailsham, Hastings Bexhill and Lewes.

A county council report said of Hookstead: "The local availability of alternative services combined with low occupancy and high unit cost means that maintaining this provision in the current format is not considered good value. Should it be maintained cuts to services elsewhere will have to be made to continue to support it."