Hailsham News, July 2025, Issue 47

JULY 2025 | ISSUE 47

YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR HAILSHAM, POLEGATE, HELLINGLY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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2 NEWS

JULY 2025

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham

WELCOME

Welcome to yet another jammedpacked

edition of Hailsham News

— this month, we’re leading with big

changes at the top.

Hailsham has a new Mayor and

Deputy Mayor, and in our main

feature (page 8), we meet the pair who

are stepping up to take on some of the

town’s most pressing challenges. Their

early ambitions suggest a shake-up in

how key issues are tackled and we’ll

be following their progress closely.

This is a good moment to give a

huge nod to the outgoing Mayor,

Councillor Paul Holbrook. Not only is

he a face that most residents know

and love, but he saw a great deal of

changes in the town during his six

years as Mayor.

We also bring you an exclusive

interview with Sussex Police and

Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne

(page 14), where we ask the questions

that matter about the worrying

increase in knife crime.

Elsewhere in this edition, we’re

celebrating lifesaving heroes (to

the right) whose quick actions

made a dramatic difference, and

we cover the launch of the new 28

route buses (page 4), which provide

a vital route to residents to both

Eastbourne and Brighton.

Finally, we’re really excited to

announce the launch of a brand

new hyperlocal newspaper for East

Sussex. From August, we will be

adding another title to our series of

free newspapers across East Sussex.

Crowborough is next on our list and

we cannot wait to give the town it’s

own dedicated publication.

Paul Gibson

Group Editor

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paul@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

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dean@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

CONTACT

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Wealden Council leads

talks with Water Minister

A COALITION of local councils from

across the South East, including

Wealden District Council, has met

with a government minister to raise

ongoing concerns about water

quality and infrastructure issues

linked to Southern Water.

The Southern Water Local

Authority Stakeholder Group, a

partnership spearheaded by Wealden

District Council, met recently with

Emma Hardy, the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary of State for

Water and Flooding.

The group, which works to hold

Southern Water to account, used the

meeting to highlight the urgent need

for investment and improvements

to ageing infrastructure, as well

as pressing for stronger measures

to protect the environment and

local communities.

It includes representatives from

more than 20 councils across the

south east spanning from Folkestone

& Hythe to the New Forest in the

aftermath of a catalogue of issues

including flooding, sewage seeping

into people’s homes, gardens and

roads, the ongoing problem of

discharges into rivers and waterways

and the inability to deal with

additional development.

Members shared their concerns

with the minister, who committed to

getting the group more information

on Southern Water’s investment

Man reunites with lifesaving

Ambulance crew

A HAILSHAM man who survived a

cardiac arrest after receiving nine

life-saving shocks has expressed

his heartfelt thanks to the South

East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb)

clinicians who came to his aid.

Now aged 50, Simon Ford recently

visited SECAmb’s Polegate Make

Ready Centre with his partner Liz,

where he was reunited with some

of the team who helped save his life

earlier this year.

On 25 January 2025, Simon was at

his home working in the garden when

he began to feel unwell with severe

chest pain. His partner, Liz, and their

daughter arrived home shortly after

and called 999 for a suspected heart

attack but Simon’s symptoms rapidly

declined, and he stopped breathing.

Liz alerted a neighbour, an off-duty

nurse, who started CPR ahead of

ambulance crews’ arrival.

Advanced Paramedic Practitioner

(APP), Matthew Templeman, arrived

first on scene followed by Paramedics,

Emily Dearman, Jonathan Upstone

and Olivia Harnett, Student

Paramedics, Hannah Lewis and

Jenny Edwards, Associate Ambulance

Practitioner/Technician (AAP), Robert

Henderson, and Operational Team

Leader (OTL), Claire Terry. The team

delivered seven life-saving shocks with

a defibrillator on scene and a further

two while transporting him to hospital.

Hannah said: “This was my first

cardiac arrest that I went to so to meet

Simon again and see him doing so

much better was really special.”

Olivia said: “Simon deteriorated

plans and also agreed to work with

the partnership and her officials

to continue the dialogue and work

towards solutions.

A Wealden District Council

spokesperson said, “We are extremely

grateful to the minister for taking time

out to speak to members of the crossparty

group about their concerns

with Southern Water and for the

support she gave.

“The minister acknowledged

that more action is needed from

water companies and thanked the

group for its work.”

Various meetings have taken place

since the group’s inception – some

of which have included special

speakers from Southern Water,

the Environment Agency and most

recently OFWAT.

again on the way to hospital, so we

had to stop and give him another two

shocks. I’m so relieved he is doing so

well, and it was lovely to meet him and

Liz in much better circumstances.”

Simon’s partner, Liz said: “My heart

dropped when I saw the ambulance

stop on the way to the hospital. I

thought this is it! When they started

moving again, I was so relieved. I

can’t thank everyone enough for

what they did for Simon. Thanks to

them, we get many more years as a

family together.”

Simon said: “Although I don’t

remember much of what happened,

I can’t express how thankful I am to

everyone that helped me that day. It’s

scary to think how different things

could have been and I am so grateful

I get more time with my family.

Thanks to our emergency service and

hospital staff, I’ll get to meet another

granddaughter who is on the way.”

With more than 30,000 out-ofhospital

cardiac arrests happening

every year in the UK, and fewer than

one-in-ten patients surviving, early

intervention is crucial and learning

CPR could save a life.

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without express permission of the editor.

New location trial for Hailsham Street Market

HAILSHAM Town Council has

announced that the popular

Hailsham Street Market will operate

on a trial basis on the first and third

Friday of each month (9am-1pm),

instead of its current schedule of the

first and third Saturdays.

The trial will run in July and August

and the market will also relocate to

a new venue — Blackman’s Yard,

located to the rear of the Town

Council offices in Market Street.

The decision to test a new day and

location comes as part of a broader

strategy to increase participation,

attract a wider range of traders,

and improve the long-term

sustainability of the market. The

trial will run for two months, with

regular assessments carried out to

gauge the impact of the changes

on trader engagement, footfall and

community satisfaction.

Currently, the street market is held

at Vicarage Field in the town centre,

a site not owned or managed by the

Town Council. As a result, there

have been limitations on the type

and scope of traders permitted to

operate, due to land use restrictions

and logistical constraints. By

relocating the market to Town

Council-owned land at Blackman’s

Yard, these barriers can be reduced,

allowing for a greater variety of

goods and services to be offered —

including some traders who may

not have previously been eligible

to participate.

The first market under the new trial

arrangement will take place on Friday

4th July 2025, followed by subsequent

markets on Friday 18th July, Friday

1st August and Friday 15th August.

Hailsham Town Council encourages

all residents to come along, support

local traders, and experience the

new market setting. Feedback

will be welcomed throughout

the trial period and will help

shape the future direction of the

Hailsham Street Market.

4 NEWS

JULY 2025


Preschool appeals for support

as it seeks new home

A much-loved Hailsham preschool

is appealing for help from the

community as it begins the search

for a new home.

Emmanuel Pre-school, based

in Hawks Town Crescent, has

supported generations of local

families, currently operates from

the Emmanuel Church Hall. The

owners of the building, Hailsham

Parish Church, has decided to

sell the building due to ongoing

unsustainable maintenance

costs. The church has allowed the

preschool to remain in the building

until July 2026.

Chair of the committee, Laura

Cobb, said: “We’re not treating this

as a negative. We’ve accepted that

we need to move on, and now we’re

reaching out to the town in the hope

someone may know of a space we’ve

not considered. We just want to keep

this much-needed provision going for

local families.”

The preschool has been a fixture in

the town for decades and is widely

praised for its inclusive, nurturing

environment. With a large number of

children on roll, concerns have been

raised that families may struggle

to find alternative places nearby if

the setting were to close. Staff jobs

are also at risk.

Laura added: “We’re a big family

here. We’ve had support from the

town council and even the mayor

has been in touch — now we’re

hoping word of mouth might help

uncover a new venue.”

A spokesperson for the Hailsham

Parochial Church Council expressed

regret at the situation, explaining:

“While the hall was no longer in

use by the church, the ongoing

cost of ownership had become

unsustainable. The preschool

was offered the chance to buy or

lease the building, but this was not

financially viable.”

In a gesture of support, the church

has extended the preschool’s notice

period, allowing it to continue

operating until summer 2026.

Anyone who may be able to help

is encouraged to get in touch

with the preschool committee,

by emailing: manager@

emmanuelpreschool.co.uk.

Car crashes into

historic market wall

FIRE crews were called last month

after an electric BMW collided with

a wall at Hailsham Market.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue said:

“We were called on 5 June at 11.04am

to reports of a road traffic collision

involving a car into a wall in Market

Street, Hailsham.

There were no persons trapped

and one fire engine with firefighters

from Hailsham was in attendance

for scene safety.

The police were also in attendance.

Crews left the scene at 11.55am

and the incident was handed over

to the police.”

The wall, built between 1868

and 1871, has been the victim of

numerous incidents over the years

and has been repaired after.

Pothole prevention

scheme gets underway

MORE than 40 miles of roads are

set to be given a new lease of life in

East Sussex in a scheme aimed at

preventing potholes.

East Sussex County Council

says this year’s summer works

programme, which began last month,

is a record and is more than double

previous years.

It follows an investment in the

county’s road patching last year to

ensure those most in need of repair

were ready for surface dressing.

The surface dressing process, which

sees roads coated with a thin layer

of bitumen and stone chippings,

protects the carriageway from

water and frost which can lead to

potholes forming.

After surface dressing, the road is

reopened to traffic which helps the

chippings to bed in. The road is then

swept after 24 hours and seven days,

before road markings are reapplied.

This year, an additional surface

seal will be applied to 25 sites in

residential and high traffic areas. This

will help the dressing bed in and will

help to prevent loose chippings.

Roads will be closed while the work

is carried out with signed diversion

routes in place. A temporary

speed limit on 20mph will be in

place following works for the

safety of motorists.

A total of 421,413 metres squared

of road has been included in the

2025/26 surface dressing programme,

compared to 246,583 in 2023/24 and

256,346 in 2022/23.

Countdown is on for this

year’s Hailsham Festival

of Arts and Culture

HAILSHAM is preparing to

welcome a rich and diverse

programme of artistic talent

this September, as it plays host

to the annual Hailsham Festival

of Arts and Culture – a muchanticipated

event that continues

to be a cornerstone of the local

cultural calendar.

Taking place from 6th to 21st

September 2025, the Festival will

once again shine a spotlight on the

region’s thriving creative community,

bringing together artists, performers

and audiences from across the South

East and beyond. With an eclectic mix

of music, theatre, dance, literature,

film, workshops, and vibrant

street performances, the Festival

promises something for every

taste and age group.

This year’s programme introduces

a number of exciting new acts and

attractions. Among the highlights is

Voices of Volya, a Ukrainian choir

performing to raise vital funds for

medical equipment supporting

frontline efforts in Ukraine.

Theatre enthusiasts can look

forward to live performances from

Hailsham Theatres and The Grove

(Eastbourne), including the comedic

gem Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect

Nonsense and the ever-popular

Agatha Christie-inspired Murder

Mystery Supper.

Cinema lovers will be well catered

for, with a curated selection of

screenings at the beloved Hailsham

Pavilion Cinema & Theatre, featuring

cult classics such as The Lost Boys

(1987) and the ever-enjoyable

Mamma Mia Singalong (2008). A

special addition for 2025 will be a

commemorative screening of Pride

& Prejudice (2005), marking the

250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s

birth, accompanied by an immersive

theatrical performance.

For families, the return of the

much-loved Saturday Nostalgia

Fair promises steam train rides,

live music, arts and crafts, vintagethemed

activities, and plenty of

entertainment for children. Creative

workshops will also take place

throughout the Festival’s duration

at Belle’s Pottery (Station Road)

and Gallery North (High Street).

Meanwhile, Vicarage Field Fun

Mornings will offer free community

fun on Saturday mornings during the

Festival period.

Aspiring artists, poets, and writers

are encouraged to participate

in a variety of competitions

and showcases. The Children’s

Art Competition and Creative

Writing Contests are set to return,

alongside the long-awaited

Hailsham Art Trail, which will see

local creators exhibit their works

in shops, cafés, and public venues

throughout the town.

A full schedule of events is

now available online at:

www.hailshamfestival.co.uk.

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6 NEWS

JULY 2025


Thousands flock to fun

day supporting Hailsham

Bonfire Society

THE town came alive with music,

dancing and community spirit

recently as thousands turned out

for a special fun day to support the

town’s Bonfire Society.

Held at Western Road Recreation

Ground on Saturday 29th June, the

event brought together families,

performers and local groups

for a lively day of fundraising

and celebration.

The community event, hailed a

huge success by organisers, offered

a jam-packed day of entertainment,

live performances and family fun all

in support of one of the town’s most

loved traditions.

Crowds were treated to a colourful

opening by the ever-popular

Pentacle Drummers, whose

rhythms set the tone for the day.

There were lively displays from

Holdance, featuring ballet, singing

and dance routines by performers

of all ages, and the Summerheath

School of Dance wowing

spectators in the arena.

The Hellingly Rugby Club Minis

were also on hand to demonstrate

their training drills encouraging

youngsters to get stuck in and give

the sport a go.

In the arena, East Sussex School

of Circus delivered a showstopping

finale, which followed a hotly

contested tug of war that had the

crowd cheering.

On the live stage, Rockin Robins

kept families entertained, while they

explored a wide range of attractions,

including magic shows, Punch and

Judy, a circus skills workshop and the

chance for children to climb aboard

a real fire engine, thanks to the

town’s fire service.

The event wasn’t just about

entertainment, it was also an

opportunity for local clubs,

charities and community groups

to raise funds and share their work

with the public.

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8 NEWS

JULY 2025


Meet your new Mayor and

Deputy Mayor for Hailsham

FOLLOWING a vote at a recent Town

Council meeting, a new Mayor and

Deputy Town Mayor have been

elected to represent the town.

As one of the youngest Mayors in

the UK, Chris Bryant (Conservative)

was voted by councillors to become

Chairman and Mayor, whilst

Colin Mitchell (Independent)

took the position as Deputy Chair

and Deputy Mayor.

It follows a six-year reign by

Councillor Paul Holbrook as

Mayor of Hailsham, who attended

thousands of events and oversaw a

plethora of changes.

Hailsham News sat with the new lineup

to find out more about what Chris

and Colin hope to achieve…

MAYOR, COUNCILLOR

CHRIS BRYANT.

Tell our readers a little

about yourself and your

connection to Hailsham?

Some of you may know me, I’m Chris,

I’m 27 and I have lived in and around

the town all my life. I was elected back

in 2019, and have been representing

the Magham Down Ward on

Hailsham Town Council. I’m a keen

member of Hailsham Bonfire and the

Chair of the organisation Committee

for Remembrance Sunday for the

last two years.

What inspired you to get involved in

local politics and public service?

The drive to fix things that just aren’t

working for people is what made me

want to stand. If you can truly make a

positive change in people’s lives, then

that makes it all worth it.

How did you feel when you found out

you’d been chosen as Mayor?

It was a pleasant surprise and a

massive honour. It means a lot to

be trusted by my fellow councillors

with the Mayorship.

What are your top priorities

for Hailsham during

your mayoral term?

My top priority is to have Hailsham

Town Council working better for

the people of Hailsham. This means

better services, great public events

and supporting our important

local businesses.

How do you plan to engage with

the community — including young

people, local businesses and

older residents?

My plan is to build on the work of the

previous Mayor by expanding the

surgeries out across the town and to

work with Hailsham forward and the

Chamber of Commerce to help out

Mayor Councillor, Chris Bryant

our local businesses.

I also plan to engage with the great

work the council is already doing

with the Railway Club to engage

with the older residents in our

community. When it comes to the

young people of Hailsham — they

are our future. Through Hailsham

Youth Service and the schools I hope

to get many opportunities to work

with and help them.

What do you see as Hailsham’s

biggest strengths as a town?

Hailsham’s biggest strength is its

residents, the amazing community

spirit and business enterprise. They

make Hailsham what it is, a town

to be proud of.

What challenges do you think the

town is currently facing, and how

can the council help address them?

I think it goes without saying that

Hailsham has seen massive housing

growth without the necessary

infrastructure to match, so one of the

biggest ways the council can help is by

driving that provision either directly

or by lobbying other bodies like

County Highways.

Another big challenge we are all

going to be facing is the merging

of Wealden and East Sussex.

Hailsham Town Council will need

to play a key role in fighting for

the interests of our town with the

changes to come.

The Town also has a challenge

in tackling the growing anti-social

behaviour and graffiti across the town.

This will need a creative and persistent

approach from the Council to alleviate.

Deputy Mayor Councillor, Colin Mitchell

At the end of your term, what would

you most like to have achieved?

I would like to end my term with the

people of Hailsham feeling like they

are getting the best value for their tax

money out of HTC.

With the cost of living being what it

is, it’s more important than ever that

people feel like we are spending their

money sensibly and to the benefit

of our Residents.

Is there a message you’d like to

share with residents as you take on

the role of Mayor?

With this massive honour comes

the job to fight for the people

of Hailsham. So if you have a

problem the Council can help

with, or a community event you

want our support with, please feel

free to reach out.

DEPUTY MAYOR, COUNCILLOR

COLIN MITCHELL

Tell our readers a little

about yourself and your

connection to Hailsham?

I am 75, retired and divorced,

with two grown-up children

and four grandchildren. I live

in North Hailsham, with my

staffie, Buster.

Originally from Brighton, I trained

as a QS in heavy Civil Engineering.

I worked on major projects such as

Arlington Reservoir, then worked

in the Middle East for several

years. I returned to the UK in 1981

where I delivered Social Housing

for national government and for

developers. For 13 Years, until 2022,

I ran my own company

What inspired you to get involved in

local politics and public service?

I had some experience as a co-opted

member of Ringmer Parish Council.

In Hailsham, I found a similar

strength of community among my

neighbours, who are among the best

I have found anywhere, so I stood as

an Independent for my ward in 2023,

and was duly elected.

How did you feel when you

found out you’d been chosen

as Deputy Mayor?

I felt elated and honoured, and

somewhat nervous. The role is

primarily one of support. Support

to the Mayor, to fellow councillors,

to our staff and to ensure all the

decisions made in Council are

enacted in a timely fashion, as well

as to support our community in their

endeavours and expectations.

What are your top priorities for

Hailsham during your term?

I share Chris’s priority, which is to

have the Town Council working

better for the people of Hailsham.

This means providing better services,

more efficiently and more effectively.

It means we need great events

regularly happening in the town,

not just for our own residents, but

to attract visitors and give people

reasons to come to the town rather

than go elsewhere.

These events need to be well

organised, well publicised and

inclusive for all with plenty of

advance notice. It means we need to

enable our small local businesses to

respond well to these events so they

can show themselves in the best light

and perform accordingly.

It also means we will need the full

engagement of our staff whose posts

and operations have recently been

themselves the subject of review and

recruitment to new senior posts.

How do you plan to engage with

the community — including young

people, local businesses and

older residents?

We have some unique opportunities

to engage with our communities. Our

youth service is second to none, and

we should be using every means to

communicate, listen, and publicise

through this medium.

Similarly, for our older residents,

examples are the Railway Club,

the Charles Hunt Centre and

the numerous societies, clubs

and activities which thrive often

unsung and unnoticed in our

midst. We are pressing them all

to advertise through us. We also

have two general members clubs in

Hailsham, again providing a unique

opportunity to engage.

Chris and I intend to be outgoing,

increasing contacts and reaching

out to our communities rather than

expecting them to come to council

offices — although members of the

public are always welcome at Council

Meetings and especially at the

Annual Town Meeting.

What do you see as Hailsham’s

biggest strengths as a town?

Clearly, its residents, both

longstanding and new, and their

willingness to move forward

together, the vital sparks of

community spirit, and business

enterprise, but most of all that

dogged Sussex mindset.

What challenges do you think the

town is currently facing, and how

can the council help address them?

Enormous housing growth, as great

historically as the changes in the

’60s which Hailsham managed to

integrate, but this time without

the requisite social and physical

infrastructure.

This, coupled with the massive

changes that merging Wealden

into East Sussex will bring, mean

that there will be a huge number of

unknown situations and scenarios to

face as a Council.

The present rise in anti-social

behaviour, vandalism, and graffiti is

another major challenge we have to

face and find a solution for.

At the end of your term, what would

you most like to have achieved?

I would like people to feel that we

have made a difference and a positive

one, no matter how small.

Is there a message you’d like to

share with residents as you take on

the role of Deputy Mayor?

Please talk to us. We may not have

an immediate answer, but defining a

problem is part way to its solution.

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10 NEWS

JULY 2025


New bus investment

on local routes

BRAND new buses complete with

free wi-fi, newspapers, social seating

and adaptations for the disabled

have been introduced to the popular

local bus routes.

Brighton and Hove Buses has

launched 24 new Regency buses on

the Regency Routes 28, 29 and 29A.

The 28 route has become a muchwelcomed

connection from Hailsham

to Brighton and Eastbourne over the

last few years.

A spokesperson for Brighton and

Hove Buses said: “They feature a bold

new design, and a host of upgrades

designed to enhance the passenger

experience. On board, passengers will

find comfy upgraded seating, USB-A

and USB-C charging at every seat,

and free Wi-Fi as standard. Upstairs,

they can enjoy a social seating area

and a dedicated table with integrated

wireless phone charging. Free

morning newspapers will also be

available on board.”

He added: “The vehicles would also

include key accessibility features such

as dementia-friendly flooring, audiovisual

next stop announcements, and

a hearing loop system.”

The new British-built buses

represent an investment of over

£7 million and form part of the

company’s wider £19 million

investment in new vehicles for East

Sussex since last year.

Armed Forces Day marked

A two-minute silence was held in

Hailsham to honour those who died

for their country and those who still

serve in the armed forces.

The short ceremony took place at

the memorial on Sunday, 29th June to

mark the occasion, led by Reverend

Peter Clark and Elizabeth Snowden

from the Hailsham branch of the

Royal British Legion.

A handful of councillors were in

attendance alongside the new Mayor

of Hailsham, Chris Bryant.

Armed Forces Day is a national

event held annually in the UK to

show support for the men and

women who make up the Armed

Forces community.

This includes currently serving

troops, service families, veterans,

and cadets. It’s a chance for the public

to come together to recognise and

celebrate the dedication, bravery, and

sacrifice of those who serve or have

served in the British Army, Royal

Navy, and Royal Air Force.

Your hyperlocal

newspaper is expanding

REGIONAL Media

Group, the publishers of

Eastbourne News, Bexhill

News and Hailsham

News has announced a

brand new publication

for another town in

the county.

Crowborough News will be its fourth

title and will launch in the town in

August 2025, with 10,000 free copies

available from a number of local

pick-up points.

The company has been

publishing free newspapers

throughout East Sussex

since 2021, and has on

average launched a new title

every 12 months.

Businesses that may

want to promote themselves in

the Crowborough area are being

urged to email the team at sales@

crowborough.news.

Distillers brew

up coffeepowered

tipple

A Hailsham-based

distillery is raising a

glass after creating the

world’s first alcoholic

beverage made

entirely from upcycled

coffee grounds.

Murray & Yeatman,

an experimental spirits

producer based in

Lower Dicker, has

unveiled Realizzato — a

coffee liqueur crafted from waste

coffee grounds using a pioneering

distillation method. Not only is

the drink a world first, it’s also one

of the most sustainable alcoholic

beverages ever made, according

to the company.

The team has spent more than

a decade researching how to turn

coffee waste into alcohol, even

drawing on distillation techniques

from over 400 years ago to

perfect the process.

With major UK coffee chains

reportedly sending more than 240

tonnes of coffee grounds to landfill

each day, contributing significantly

to carbon emissions, Murray &

Yeatman’s breakthrough offers

a creative and environmentallyfriendly

solution.

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12 NEWS

JULY 2025


Town Council workers

return to revamped offices

HAILSHAM Town Council

staff have returned to their

historic home in Market Street

following the completion of

a major refurbishment and

electrical overhaul.

The project saw the 15th-century

Grade II-listed Inglenook/Fleur

de Lys building undergo a full

electrical rewire, along with a series

of upgrades to bring the premises

up to modern standards — all while

preserving its character.

Operations & Facilities Manager

Tony Lee reflected on the past

year, describing it as “a busy but

rewarding period” overseeing the

essential works.

While the renovations were carried

out, the Council’s offices and public

reception desk were temporarily

relocated to the Station Youth

Centre in Western Road. That move

enabled contractors to safely and

efficiently complete the extensive

electrical works.

Now fully refurbished, the building

boasts a completely rewired

infrastructure across both floors of

the council offices and the adjoining

heritage centre. Improvements

include newly installed fire doors,

Tony Lee in the revamped office reception

a modernised reception area,

fresh interior decoration, and new

carpets throughout — all designed

to enhance safety and improve the

visitor experience.

Staff say they are delighted to be

back in the familiar surroundings

of their upgraded offices, ready to

continue serving the community

from the heart of the town.

What prompted the refurbishment

of the Town Council Offices?

The refurbishment was long overdue.

The building, being a Grade II

listed 15th-century property, had

not undergone major electrical or

structural upgrades in many years.

We identified the need for a complete

electrical rewire to bring the building

up to modern safety standards. Once

that decision was made, it made sense

to carry out a wider programme

of improvements at the same

time, and for me, it has been a real

labour of love.

What work was carried out during

the refurbishment?

Actually, quite a lot. The most essential

part was the full electrical rewire

throughout both floors of the building.

We also installed new fire doors and

fire protection to meet current safety

regulations. On top of the functional

upgrades, we redecorated the entire

interior, fitted new carpets, and

installed brand-new office furniture —

including our enhanced public

enquiries desk and reception area.

It’s a total refresh of the space — more

modern, more practical, and a lot

more welcoming.

How long were Council services

operating from the temporary

location, and how did that

arrangement work?

We were based at the Station Youth

Centre in Western Road from July 2024

until just recently. That temporary

setup allowed us to continue

delivering services to residents without

disruption. The Youth Centre team

were incredibly accommodating,

and we’re grateful for their support.

That said, it’s great to be back in

our own space now.

What improvements will the

public notice when visiting the

refurbished offices?

First and foremost, the space feels

brighter, more open and more

accessible. The public enquiries

desk and reception area are fully

refurbished and designed to be more

comfortable and efficient for face-toface

enquiries. The building is now

safer, with better lighting, improved

fire safety features and upgraded

accessibility, but we have retained the

charm of the building.

How do you think these changes

will benefit both the public

and Council staff?

For staff, it’s a much-improved

working environment — safer, more

comfortable, and better equipped for

day-to-day operations. For the public,

the experience is more welcoming and

professional. We’ve created a space

that reflects the Council’s commitment

to serving the community and

investing in our infrastructure.

What are the current opening hours

for the public to access Council

services at the refurbished offices?

The public enquiries desk and

reception in Market Street are now

open Monday to Friday, from 9am

to 4pm. We encourage residents to

drop in during those hours if they

have questions about the services

which the Town Council provides,

need support, or want to speak to

someone in person.

Finally, what message would you like

to share with the public now that the

work is complete?

Just a big thank you. We really

appreciate everyone’s patience

while the work was being carried

out. We know it was a long wait, but

we’re confident the improvements

were worth it. We’re proud of the

result, and we’re looking forward to

welcoming people back to a safer,

more functional and more attractive

Council office.

Calling all champions — could

you be Hailsham’s next hero?

FOLLOWING the successful

recognition of local achievers

last year, the search for the next

Hailsham Hero has been launched.

The initiative was launched last year

by Hailsham News and Hailsham FM

and saw a number of local Heroes

awarded for their efforts in the town.

The Hailsham Hero Award is

a perfect way to acknowledge

someone truly deserving person who

has made a real difference through

their generous spirit and tireless

work with the Hailsham area. It

could be a local teacher, charity

worker, volunteer, fundraiser,

group, campaigner or anyone

who has gone the extra mile to

help those in need.

Residents can now vote for the next

Hailsham Hero in various categories

and the winners will be announced at

a special event in October.

The Hailsham Hero Award

was previously run by the town’s

Mayor, and the winner was

presented at the annual meeting

at the Civic Hall. The awards had

to stop during COVID, but now it

has returned, supported by the

two media outlets.

THE CATEGORIES

OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON

AWARD (4-12 YEARS) — Recognise

an inspirational young person

with the Outstanding Young

Person Award. This prestigious

honour celebrates kids aged

4-12 who go above and beyond

to make a positive impact in

their community or within their

school, or after school, sports or

activity group.

OUTSTANDING TEENAGER

OF THE YEAR AWARD (13-18

YEARS) — An award to recognise a

local teenager who has gone above

and beyond to help, raise money,

volunteers or given something back

to their community.

FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR —

Honouring a local resident who

goes above and beyond with their

fundraising efforts to support local

charities or causes.

GROUP ORGANISATION AWARD

— This category celebrates a local

group or organisation that has made

a meaningful, positive impact in our

local community.

CHARITY OF THE YEAR — This

category is to recognise a charity or

local nonprofit organisation making a

real difference in Hailsham.

BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION

TO CHARITY AWARD — A new

award for 2025, this is designed to

give a massive thank you to a local

business which lends supports either

financially, or with equipment or

support to a Hailsham-based charity,

sports or community group.

MAYOR’S HERO OF THE YEAR

AWARD — This headline award will

recognise the true Hailsham Hero

for 2025 and is open to anyone who

has made a huge difference to an

individual, family, group, or who

has had an ongoing involvement

within local causes.

NOMINATING IS EASY

To put forward someone you feel

should be recognised in the awards,

all you need to do is visit the official

website at hailshamhero.co.uk

and tell us who they are, how we

contact them and why you think they

should be nominated.

VOTING — When the nomination

process closes on Thursday, 31st

July, the shortlisted nominees

will be announced and residents

in Hailsham will be able to

vote for their favourite via the

official website.

The votes will be totalled up

in early November, when the

winners will be announced at

the special awards evening on

Friday, 14th November.

Tickets to the evening awards

evening will be available soon via the

official website.

The event is looking for

local businesses to sponsor

the above categories, if you’re

interested, then please email

info@hailshamhero.co.uk.

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 13

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14 KNIFE CRIME SPECIAL

JULY 2025


KNIFE CRIME SPECIAL

EXCLUSIVE: “Lose the knife,

not a life” Sussex PCC warns

BY PAUL GIBSON

KNIFE crime remains a pressing

concern across the UK, but

in Sussex, Police and Crime

Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne

insists the situation is being tackled

head-on, with the county still one of

the safest places to live.

Speaking exclusively to Hailsham

News, I sat down with Katy at her

office in Lewes to talk about the

current challenges, the steps being

taken to protect young people and

the collaborative work that aims to

reduce harm in Sussex communities.

She emphasised from the outset:

“One weapon on our streets is one

too many. We will always act to keep

Sussex safe and while our knife crime

rate remains well below the national

average, we are not complacent.”

I put to Katy that knife crime is a

growing concern across many parts

of the UK, including Sussex and

wanted to know how Sussex stood up

to other counties.

She told me that in the year ending

December 2024, Sussex recorded

1,113 knife or sharp instrument

offences — an increase of less than

1% compared to the previous year.

Nationally, knife crime rose by

2.2%, putting Sussex well below the

national trend.

Sussex’s knife crime rate now stands

at 64.1 offences per 100,000 people,

which is significantly lower than the

England and Wales average of 89.7.

“Those numbers matter,” said

Katy. But it’s not just about statistics,

it’s about the real lives behind each

one. That’s why we invest in both

enforcement and education.”

On the back of these worrying

figures across the UK, I asked Katy

what actions Sussex Police are

currently taking to tackle knife crime

on the streets.

She replied: “Sussex Police supports

a number of operations designed

to combat knife crime, including

the national Operation Sceptre and

its local counterpart, Operation

Safety. These initiatives involve

proactive patrols, knife sweeps, test

purchasing operations and the use

of amnesty bins.

We work closely with Border Force

to intercept illegal knife imports and

act on that intelligence immediately.

We don’t just remove the knives, we

knock on doors and intervene before

things escalate.”

Twice a year, Knife Crime

Awareness Week sees a surge

in visible activity including

school visits, retailer checks and

increased patrols in public spaces,

according to the PCC.

EDUCATING THE NEXT

GENERATION

One of the key messages from the

Commissioner was the importance of

reaching young people early. Around

31% of knife-related crime in Sussex

in the past year involved a child as a

suspect, offender or victim.

She told me: “We’re dispelling the

myths that carrying a knife keeps you

safe, or that it makes you tougher. It’s

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne

just not true. The risks are huge.

Neighbourhood Youth Officers

work across the county delivering

school assemblies, running

engagement vans and installing knife

arches, all aimed at educating rather

than criminalising.”

She also praised grassroots

initiatives like the Hailsham Boxing

Club, which runs sessions that offer

positive role models and a safe space

for teenagers, and also highlighted

the Charlie’s Promise campaign,

which promotes awareness in schools

following the tragic death of teenager

Charlie Crosser in Horsham in 2023.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

OF REOFFENDING

Almost one in three knife offenders

nationally are repeat carriers, but

in Sussex, the reoffending rate for

weapons possession sits at 24.3%,

below the national average of 27.5%.

Part of this success is down to

innovative support programmes

for families. The PCC’s office has

funded a Non-Violent Resistance

(NVR) course launching this autumn

in Crawley and Worthing. Targeted

at parents of children aged 10–16

who display violent or destructive

behaviour, the course aims to

build more nurturing, structured

home environments.

Commenting on the course, Katy

added: “If we can strengthen families,

we reduce the risk of kids turning to

knives.”, said Katy. “Prevention is

always better than punishment.”

SUPPORTING VICTIMS

AND HOTSPOT POLICING

To further bolster frontline efforts,

Sussex has secured £1.4 million from

the Home Office’s Hotspot Response

Fund for 2025/26. This funding

supports patrols in 18 knife crime

hotspots, night safety marshals,

and targeted work with businesses

and communities.

“It means we can be in the right

place at the right time, deterring

violence and offering visible

reassurance,” Katy added.

From our conversation, it’s clear

there are many projects ongoing

in the hope of cracking down on

the trend. One thing is clear — it’s

all about education, we must

continually tell the next generation

about the facts highlighted in this

article and the risks associated with

carrying a knife.

Asked what she would say directly

to a young person tempted to carry

a knife, her response was clear

and unequivocal: “Lose the knife,

not a life. Carrying a blade doesn’t

protect you — it puts you in far more

danger. If you choose to carry, you’ll

find Sussex Police and our partners

working hard to stop you.”

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 KNIFE CRIME SPECIAL 15

Martin Crosser with Mayor-Chris-Bryant and Sam Buchanan

Charlie’s Promise delivers

powerful message to youngsters

A MAN whose son was tragically

stabbed and killed in an attack

in West Sussex visited the area

recently to give a number of

powerful and emotional talks about

the consequences of the crime.

17-year-old Charlie Cosser, from

Surrey, was stabbed multiple times in

the chest during a party in July 2023,

he died two days later.

Since his death, his Father,

Martin, created Charlie’s Promise

and has been campaigning against

knife crime and talking to young

people about his experience, the

consequences of carrying knives, and

the effect it has on families.

He visited Hailsham Boxing Club

and Hailsham Community College

last month to tell youngsters firsthand

how knife crime changes lives.

The event at the boxing club was

attended by Hailsham’s new Mayor,

Councillor Chris Bryant, who was on

his first official engagement.

Mayor Bryant said: “Martin’s talk

was deeply impactful and the topics

covered are so very important,

especially to our community in

Hailsham. I think the best way to

tackle the issue of knife crime is

through education and engagement,

both with the work Martin is doing

through Charlie’s Promise and

the work that the Boxing Club is

involved with.”

Sam Buchanan from the club said:

“Just before we heard about Martin

Crosser, we had launched a knife

crime programme, so when I first

heard his speech, I really wanted him

to invite him here so he could share

his story. To hear the effects of knife

crime from someone who has been

there has a huge amount of impact

and makes it much more real.”

Martin commented: “I’m

confident these young people now

know how to report a knife carrier

anonymously, understand the

immeasurable impact of knife crime

and feel like they really do know who

my little boy was.”

Martin emphasised that anyone

can report someone carrying a

knife completely anonymously

by reporting online at www.

crimestoppers-uk.org/giveinformation/forms/pre-form,

or calling 0800 555 111. He

promised that all reports are dealt

with in confidence.

16 REGULARS

JULY 2025


KNOW YOUR GARDEN

By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden

“Gold is a luxury. Trees are necessities. Man can live and thrive without gold, but we

cannot survive without trees.” — Paul Bamikole

We find ourselves now in High Summer,

with all the joys and challenges

that face us gardeners in these

challenging times.

At the time of writing this, we are

bracing ourselves for a heatwave, which

is all very well if we are on the beach or

relaxing in a hammock, but rather tricky

when you work outside. Luckily, here at

Bates Green Garden, we have a wealth

of beautiful, mature trees, and so there

is usually somewhere to retreat to after

all the watering has been completed.

The Woodland Garden is one of those

places here. Designed around a majestic

English oak, this area is a haven of

tranquillity, where nature and artistry

converge. Unlike manicured gardens, a

woodland garden offers a landscape

that mimics the rhythm and essence of

the wild, weaving together plants, trees,

textures, and ecosystems to create a

harmonious blend.

If you have a tree-filled area in your

garden, consider creating a woodland

garden or even some woodland borders.

Firstly, observe how the sunlight filters

through the area, identify spots with

dappled shade, and take note of soil

conditions. Woodland gardens thrive

in areas with moisture-retaining soil

and partial shade, but adjustments

can be made depending on your

specific location.

A successful woodland garden

begins with understanding the existing

ecosystem. Are there mature trees

providing a canopy? You don’t need

acres of woodland to create the feel

of a woodland garden. Walk the

space and observe the interplay of

light and shadow.

Woodland gardens thrive on layered

Photo credit: John Glover

planting. The top layer can include

tall trees, such as oaks, hornbeams,

or birches, which will provide a

natural canopy. Beneath this lives the

understory, fill it with smaller trees or

shrubs such as aronia, coppiced hazel

or witch hazel. The ground layer can be

home to shade-loving perennials, ferns,

pulmonaria, primula and comfrey, to

name but a few.

Meandering paths are essential to

the woodland garden experience;

they invite you to explore its depths.

OPEN EVERY WED & SAT UNTIL 22 OCT

For details, please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk

and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden

We use chipped bark for woodland

pathways, which blend seamlessly

with the surroundings. Introduce

small clearings or focal points for

seating or contemplation, perhaps

with a wooden bench or a collection of

moss-covered rocks.

Water features, such as small ponds,

streams, or birdbaths, add movement

and sound to any woodland garden. This

element, above all others, will attract

wildlife and create reflective moments

within the garden.

Woodland gardens are as much about

textures as they are about colours.

Bark, leaves, moss, and stone or rock

create a tapestry of sensory experiences.

Additionally, choose plants that offer

seasonal interest—from spring flowers

to autumn foliage and winter berries—to

ensure your garden remains captivating

throughout the year.

The essence of a naturalistic garden

lies in its biodiversity. Your garden

can be a sanctuary for insects, birds,

and small mammals, providing food,

shelter, and a suitable habitat. Include

elements like logs and tree stumps,

leave fallen leaves and pile up rocks or

stones to provide habitats for insects

and small animals. Birdboxes are also

welcome additions.

Woodland gardens benefit from

minimal intervention. Allow desirable

plants, such as the perennial honesty

(Lunaria rediviva), to self-seed and

naturalise over time. However, keep

an eye on unwanted plants and

remove them promptly. Ours include

Allium siculum, cleavers and bryony,

all of which would rampage about

if we let them.

We use homemade organic mulch to

retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Creating a naturalistic woodland

garden is not just about landscaping;

it’s about fostering a connection with

nature. It requires patience, observation,

and a willingness to work in harmony

with the rhythms of the environment.

Whether you’re starting small or

transforming a larger space, the journey

of planting a woodland garden is one

of discovery. Embrace each step, and

you’ll soon have a naturalistic retreat

that blends beauty, biodiversity, and

tranquillity in perfect harmony.

If you need further inspiration, then

come to Bates Green Garden on any

Wednesday or Saturday. Alternatively,

if you’d like to meet me in person, I’ll

be discussing Woodland Gardens at

the Charleston Festival of the Garden

on Friday, 18th July. I would love

to see you there!

Enjoy your garden in July.

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Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 REGULARS 17

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18 NEWS

JULY 2025


Hailsham Jewellers

celebrates 40

sparkling years

ONE of Hailsham’s longest-standing High

Street businesses is celebrating a huge

milestone this summer, as Hailsham Jewellers

marks its 40th anniversary.

Opened on 2nd July 1985, the family-run shop

has been at the heart of the town ever since,

proudly serving generations of customers with

everything from engagement rings to watch

repairs. The current owner, Malcolm Adams,

took over the privately owned business in the

early 1990s and has been there ever since.

Malcolm told Hailsham News: “It’s been quite

a journey. We’ve grown steadily over the years,

improved and extended the shop, and we’re

excited for our next chapter, with a brand-new

shop fit planned for later this summer.”

In its 40 years, the business has weathered

economic ups and downs, including recessions

and the Covid pandemic. Along the way, it’s also

witnessed plenty of change in the town and had

its fair share of memorable moments.

Malcolm remembered: “We once had a

customer accidentally drive straight into our

front door. He’d confused the accelerator

with the brake!

“Another unforgettable tale involved a festive

proposal. One gentleman hid an engagement

ring inside a box of After Eights. His girlfriend

ate them one by one, looking increasingly

unimpressed until she finally found the ring!”

When Hailsham Jewellers first opened, Frankie

by Sister Sledge topped the charts, a pint cost just

77p, and the UK has seen ten Prime Ministers.

As the business celebrates 40 years of sparkle

and stories, Malcolm and his team are looking

forward to many more to come.

Malcolm concluded: “We’re proud to still be

here on the High Street and incredibly grateful to

our loyal customers for making it possible.”

FALCONRY

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NEW HALF DAY WORKSHOP

Budding or experienced photographers

are being offered the opportunity to

take part in a new series of workshops

designed to develop skills and spend time

with some stunning birds of prey.

Set within the stunning grounds of

Herstmonceux Castle and Gardens, the

workshops, in association with East

Sussex Falconry, allows photographers to

learn, or practice their skills through a

series of exercises to secure some

breathtaking photographs with our

experienced Photographer and Falconer.

For only £85 per photographer, the

half-day experience will take place

on Monday, 18th August.

For more information, please call

07970 245934 or scan the QR code.

IDEAL

GIFT

VOUCHER

Young stars wanted for

exciting new short film

SHINING Knight Productions (SKP) has

joined forces with the Regional Media group,

the publishers of hyperlocal newspapers in

Hailsham, Eastbourne and Bexhill, to make a

short film in East Sussex.

SKP is a new not-for-profit company based

in Hailsham with the purpose of giving young

people the opportunity to take part in the

making of short films, both in front of and

behind the camera.

The Producers are currently looking for

ten young actors, and a small number of

crew members, to make their next film, a

25-minute short called ‘Comic’, which will

be filmed around Hailsham in the middle of

August. Nobody gets paid, but nobody gets

charged either!

Actors playing age needs to be 11 to 13.

Crew members should be between 13 and

16. The main action is set around a camp

in the woods and will involve chasing and

climbing, amongst other things! No previous

experience is required.

Executive Producer,

Gareth Jones, taught

drama locally for

many years and wrote,

directed and produced

films on behalf of East

Gareth Jones,

Executive Producer

Sussex Education

Authority. Now retired,

he decided that the

LAURIE’S POEM CORNER

LIKE the first line in my poem for this month ‘Time moves on and

passes by’, it fits exactly as weeks certainly seem to be moving

rapidly this year.

My poem, written in 2014 features in my second book of fifteen

published now, suggests we appreciate our time of the here and now,

whilst also recognising our great experiences past.

My beloved mum always had a saying (for most things!) of ‘Time

and tide wait for no man’ which seems to be credited to Chaucer

about 1395, but is certainly correct and is possibly confirmed by

another saying of “he who hesitates is lost”.

Yes, all a bit confusing but as of my poetic offering here, advises

that we make the most of each of our moments and time.

Time moves on and passes by

As I look back down the years,

To see good times and heartache

But a lot more fun than tears.

We can’t always control our lives

And why our world has cracked,

But your manner and character

Are judged by how you react!

So looking back with a sadness

At the times you regret or lost,

Will only waste and frustrate

Time you already want to accost.

ROUND TRIP

work was so worthwhile and of such benefit to

the young people he worked with, that he would

like to just carry on doing it, even though he is

no longer paid to.

Luckily, the team he worked with, headed

up by Paul Simmons, agreed, and so Shining

Knight Productions was established.

The film will be premiered at the Hailsham

Pavilion Cinema before Christmas and entered

in film festivals worldwide, so it will get a

lot of exposure.

If you are of the right age and are interested

in finding out more, you need to get a

responsible adult to make contact through

hello@shiningknightproductions.org

Shining Knight Productions Ltd is authorised

by East Sussex County Council to work with

young people. All adult team members who

work with the young people hold advanced

DBS certificates.

Thus best to count your blessings

And good things that you’ve got,

For even if you’re struggling by

To many others you’ll have a lot.

Time moves on and passes by

As I look back down the years,

To see good times and heartache

But a lot more fun than tears.

Of course trials and tribulations

Can easily make you go insane.

But when I’m due to pass away,

Please can I go round again?

To purchase Laurie’s books, visit www.lauriewilkinson.com

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 NEWS 19

A MATTER OF TASTE

We send members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an honest review.

These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the food and drink!

EASTBOURNE GEM STILL DISHING OUT

ITALIAN EXCELLENCE AFTER 25 YEARS

Lasagne Al Forno

BY GARY VAN DEN BUSSCHE

EASTBOURNE is a great place to eat

on a Sunday as there is free parking,

therefore, I decided to invite my son

James along to visit Pomodoro e

Mozzarella, which is now in its 25th

year, on Cornfield Terrace.

Upon entering, we were struck by a

busy buzz of people enjoying themselves

and a delicious smell of fine Italian food.

We both agreed we were lucky that we

had booked a table.

Carlos, who is now the perfect host full

of charm, greeting the customers to their

tables was a chef under the previous

owners. He and his brother Jaime, for the

past year, have owned the restaurant.

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Pollo alla Milanese

We looked at the main menu,

there were so many nice things to

choose, such as sardines, mussels,

calamari, baked aubergine, tomato

with mozzarella and they were

just the starters!

A quick glance at the mains and

many of our favourites were there like,

spaghetti with meatballs in a tomato

sauce, pan fried calves liver with butter

and sage, medallions of monk fish

cooked in white wine with cream and

pink peppercorns, pan fried sea bass

fillets with garlic, chilli and ginger just to

name just a few dishes.

They have a lot of delicious food on

their menus not just, pizza & pasta,

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Creme Caramel

but a lot more.

At the back of the restaurant, they are

making and baking the pizzas which

have been ordered, in open wood-fired

ovens, so we can all watch the chefs

cook right in front of us. The main

kitchen is behind the scenes.

The starters offered a Prawn Cocktail

set in a cucumber ring (we were thinking

they must use a lot of cucumbers).

Garlic mushrooms, minestrone soup or

bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, buffalo

mozzarella, garlic and basil.

Sounds tempting to have three

courses, but after talking to the table

next door to us, who come every week,

they said the mains are a good size, they

said only have a starter if you are really

hungry! So in the end, after good advice,

we both chose the set menu at £15.95

for two courses (three courses, £18.45).

I chose the Lasagne Al Forno which

came in a piping hot oven-proof dish

with its creamy cheese sauce, with

layers of pasta and a very meaty

Bolognese in the middle, with added

sprinkles of parmesan cheese.

James went for Pollo alla Milanese,

chicken in breadcrumbs, served with

spaghetti and a rich tomato sauce which

he asked for chilli to be added. He really

enjoyed it and reported it was very

delicious and cooked to perfection.

For dessert, I chose Creme Caramel,

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which had a lovely caramel sauce, James

chose Mixed Italian Ice cream with

a choice of many flavours including

pistachio, which you don’t often see,

we could have had profiteroles, fruit

salad or tiramisu

The bill came to £36.70, which also

included a bottle of water. Great value

for money with the portion sizes

generous and feeling like we’d had a

fantastic lunch.

The service was very attentive, in

fact they could not do enough for you.

The food came at the correct pace, and

considering how busy they were, that

was amazing in itself.

They also give you linen serviettes

and table cloths, which to me makes

all the difference. I often tuck the

serviette in my shirt like a bib, in case I

spill any sauce on a light colour top. On

our way out, Carlos calls out ‘excuse

me sir, can we have our servette back

please?’. We both laughed, I forgot I was

still wearing it!

They offer a Vegan and a gluten-free

menu, so next time my coeliac grandson

visits, he will be most impressed with

lots of Pizza and pasta dishes and other

choices to choose from.

So, a successful lunch which we both

enjoyed, and intend to revisit.

Pomodoro e Mozzarella

23-24 Cornfield Terrace,

Eastbourne BN21 4NS

Tel: 01323 733800

www.pomodoro-e-mozzarella.com

You could be eligible under

EC04 Flex if you live in a property

that requires energy efficiency

upgrades and you have a combined

gross income under £31k or:

A person in your household has a severe

or long-term health condition that

is adversely affected by living in a cold

home and is due to one of the

following: a cardiovascular condition,

a respiratory disease, limited mobility

or immunosuppression.

There are various other criteria that

Local Authorities can use to identify

low-income, vulnerable and fuel-poor

households.

Visit ofgem.gov.uk for more

information.

20 REGULARS

JULY 2025


HAILSHAM ACTIVE with Steve Wennington

A WAKE-UP CALL TO SOCIETY

I’M starting with

a comment within

the last month from

Ali Oliver MBE,

Chief Executive

of Youth Sport

Trust. It reads…

“Our children

are moving less, feeling unhappier, and

losing access to the transformative

power of PE, contributing to stagnant

physical activity levels. The fall in PE

hours is sadly an exacerbation of a

longer-term trend and should be a wakeup

call to society, from policymakers to

schools and parents.

“We know being active improves

children’s health, happiness and

readiness to learn, as well as playing

a vital role in supporting brain

development. Unless we take action

to reverse these damaging trends and

increase activity levels to improve

wellbeing, we risk failing a generation.”

Our view and experience very much

echo the sentiment above, and it

is not just the responsibility of the

government. The policymakers are

around us from County, District and local

town and Parish Councils who can make

a real positive difference.

In my experience, the smaller parish

councils get it, we are working with a

number who intimately know and care

about their local sport/keep fit people

and very much look to help them survive

and prosper. This very much needs to

move up to the bigger councillors/civil

service who very much look at sport

as part of the expenses column on

a spreadsheet.

The tragedy is, all we want is the

door positively opened to proven ideas

that allow ‘development of sport and

recreation’. It’s not actually about

funding (although it is always nice to

have it), it is about an open mind to a

positive future.

AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY

TO DEMONSTRATE

THE POINT

Anyone who has followed the

development of Hailsham Boxing Club

will know the amazing work Sam and

his team have achieved, with over 300

people using the gym, boxing club

and classroom, Sam’s team also help

students with maths and English as part

of the school help scheme.

Those who have witnessed the work

are left dumbfounded at the positive

effect it is having on our children, and

indeed many adults.

Even the Sussex Police and Crime

Commissioner is full of praise, and

yet, five years on, no financial help

to Sam and his team from our ‘local

policymakers’.

Grovelands Barn

Hailsham Boxing Club current location on George Street

A lot have said they would try, and

then said, come back with ‘sorry, it is

harder than I thought’, or, not come back

to Sam at all.

Sam is typical of many sports clubs

across the area, especially those who

have just started out. The odds are

stacked against them.

FACILITIES

Hailsham in particular is lacking

both a recreation ground and indoor

sporting space. This often means a

new start-up has to pay commercial

rates for a property, as in Sam’s case,

or pay big fees to use school facilities

(now with outsourced management

companies running them). Most other

clubs on recreation grounds are already

full to capacity.

It all looks quite grim, and

maybe the planners in this respect

have let us down?

Part of the madness stems from my

initial assessment of small parishes’

understanding need, and larger councils

being at arm’s length and missing

Sam from the Boxing Club collects an England Boxing

Award for contribution to the local community

opportunities because they have chosen,

often deliberately, to be ‘remote’ and

unapproachable.

Pointing this out makes us, particularly

Hailsham Active, very spiky to the

people in power, and yet all we are

trying to do is create a fair playing

field, usually at the same time saving

them money and also benefiting

society as a whole.

INNOVATION OVERCOMES

ADVERSITY

Having spent a lot of time with a

whole range of sports clubs, there

is a feature that stands out —

teamwork and collaboration to make

something happen.

Whether it is new or extra training to

achieve a goal in sport, or determination

to improve facilities, a whole range of

people will come together, usually at

their own cost of time and equipment to

improve things for our community.

Sam and his team are no different

and as good luck would have it, a

meeting a few years ago with the exbusiness

manager of Hailsham, Mickey

Caira, a very good and helpful man, he

mentioned the barn at Grovelands. It had

been handed to Hailsham Town Council

as a community asset in part of a will

from Grovelands Farm (if anyone knows

who it was, please let me know).

We talked about it for sport, and it was

just too small for badminton/basketball

etc, so it has remained unused. Part

of it is used by the Bonfire Society, a

great community team, and there is also

an allotment area for Environmental

Hailsham, which produces and maintains

the amazing hanging baskets in the

town. So, two parts of the area already

tick the community box. The main barn

is currently a storage area, not quite the

intended ‘community use’.

We recently arranged a meeting with

Sam and Bernie from the boxing club

at the Barn — the Town council, clearly

concerned at losing the ‘storage facility’,

fired a lot of problems towards Sam

and Bernie, not least the massive cost

of transforming the barn into a site fit

for the boxing club. It was certainly

something that would cost the Town

Council at least £100k to achieve and

probably much more.

Sam and Bernie are clearly problem

solvers, and within 10 minutes, they had

come up with a range of solutions, at

their own cost (if necessary), that would

transform the area. Much more than just

upgrading the barn.

Plans are already being drawn up to

solve the problems, at minimal cost

and maximum reward to the town

and indeed, we believe it will be a

massive benefit to the Town Council

and also fulfil the covenant of the land

and buildings.

This is a real opportunity for Wealden

District Council and Hailsham Town

Council to support the amazing friends

and associates of Hailsham Boxing Club

in this exciting new venture.

The initial vibes are actually very

promising, and meetings have been

set up very quickly with Wealden and

Hailsham Town Council.

We hope, for so many reasons, that

this shows what can be achieved with a

positive will and collaboration between

officials and the sporting community.

The local WDC and Town Councillor,

Paul Holbrook, is fully supportive, as

is the Town Councillor for the area,

Barry Carpenter.

If you can help or support this project

or need help with your own club, or

vision of a club, please let us know. This

is the Hailsham Active DNA, and we

make no apology for it.

I remember one of my first rugby

training sessions and the explanation for

getting caught in a maul, ‘Steve, get your

elbows working’.

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 COMMERCE UPDATE 21

HAILSHAM AND DISTRICT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATE

10 Years of Creativity,

Community & Craftsmanship!

FROM a bold van wrap to stunning

shop signs… from striking graphics

to sharp print and vehicle signage

— for a decade, Design Lab have

proudly served Eastbourne and

beyond, blending art & science to

make your businesses shine!

It all started back in 2015, and this

month they’re celebrating every

design challenge, every happy client,

and every local partnership. Whether

it’s window tinting and workwear, or

complete branding solutions, their

promise remains the same — swift,

expert, professional service that helps

you look your best

Here’s to the next decade of

creativity, quality, and making your

visions come to life!

JOIN US FOR HAILSHAM’S

BIG BUSINESS BREAKFAST!

Our next Hailsham Chamber of

Commerce Business Breakfast is

happening on Thursday 7th August

at the beautiful Wellshurst Golf

& Country Club — and you won’t

want to miss it!

7:30am start — come for

the connections, stay for

the conversation.

This month’s guest speakers:

John Bellamy from Print

Matters sharing expert insights on

all things print

Ali Thompson from The Dental

Barn talking everything teeth — from

smiles to oral health

Whether you’re a local business

owner, freelancer, or simply looking

to network with fellow professionals

in the area, this is a brilliant

opportunity to make new connections

and gain valuable knowledge.

Book your spot now and start your

day the right way — with great food,

great people, and great ideas.

or giving it a go for the first time,

it’s a great opportunity to connect

with fellow Chamber members in a

relaxed, active setting.

Afterwards, we’ll be heading

to Hops and Grounds for a wellearned

drink and bite to eat — all

welcome to join!

HAILSHAM CHAMBER

BIG SUMMER BBQ —

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us for a sizzling summer

celebration on Saturday 9th August at

the stunning Warrior’s Breath (BN27

3PR) from 4pm ’til late!

Expect: Delicious BBQ food &

drinks, live entertainment from

talented Chamber member & singer

Hanna Searle, Optional ice bath dip

— bring your swimwear and a towel if

you’re feeling brave!

Tickets: £25 — Chamber Members.

£27.50 — Non-Members. £5 — Kids.

Parking is limited, so car sharing is

highly recommended.

Come along for great food, good

vibes, and quality time with the local

business community.

Book your spot now via the

Chamber website — don’t miss out!

HAILSHAM CHAMBER

CELEBRATES LOCAL

BUSINESS COLLABORATION

Hailsham Chamber of Commerce

is proud to celebrate the recent

recognition of two of its members

— Studio W Media and Howden

Eastbourne — who are showcasing the

power of local business collaboration.

Studio W Media has been named

Business of the Month by Howden

Eastbourne, with a dedicated

window display in the heart of

Terminus Road. This initiative not

only highlights the outstanding

work of a fellow Chamber member

but also reinforces the supportive

spirit that exists within our

business community.

It’s always encouraging to see

members championing each

other’s success — a true example

of what makes Hailsham and the

surrounding area such a great place

to do business.

If you’re looking for reliable

insurance quotes, whether domestic

or commercial, we encourage you to

contact the friendly and professional

team at Howden Eastbourne

on 01323 379100.

Congratulations to both businesses

on this wonderful collaboration!

Becoming a member of the

Hailsham Chamber of Commerce

offers a range of benefits for local

businesses and professionals.

Members have the opportunity

to network with fellow chamber

members, grow their contacts,

Howden: Business of the Month

and develop mutually rewarding

friendships. The Chamber

provides a platform for businesses

to connect, collaborate, and

support each other within the local

community. By joining, members

can enhance their visibility, stay

informed about local business

initiatives, and contribute to the

economic development of Hailsham.

For more information on

membership and to see a list

of current members, visit

the Hailsham Chamber of

Commerce website.

www.hailshamchamber.co.uk

HAILSHAM CHAMBER

FITHUB EVENT —

PADDLEBOARDING

ADVENTURE!

Join us on Tuesday 22nd July at

the beautiful River Cuckmere for

an afternoon of fitness, fun, and

networking on the water!

Time: 4:30pm

Activity: Paddleboarding

Cost: £27 per person

Whether you’re a seasoned paddler

22 MOTORING

JULY 2025


Dealership bowled over at

Grand Opening by Cricket Legend

FORMER England cricket captain

Graham Gooch officially opened

Eastbourne’s brand-new MG

showroom recently, drawing

a crowd of car enthusiasts

and cricket fans.

The new dealership, Birchwood MG

is located on Lottbridge Drove and

marks the arrival of one of Britain’s

fastest-growing automotive brands

to the town, bringing a full range of

petrol, hybrid and all-electric MG

models to car buyers.

Gooch, who is widely regarded as

one of England’s finest-ever batsmen,

attended the launch today (16 June)

at the state-of-the-art showroom. He

posed for photos with fans and toured

the showroom alongside staff and MG

representatives.

He told Hailsham News: “It’s fantastic

to see MG thriving once again, I

actually own a vintage model myself.

The new cars look great — and it’s

brilliant to be part of the celebration

here in Eastbourne.”

The dealership showcases MG’s full

2025 line-up, from the stylish MG4

EV hatchback, which has quickly

become one of the UK’s best-selling

electric cars, to the family-sized ZS EV

and versatile MG5 EV estate. Petrol

and hybrid models are also in the

line-up, including the compact MG3,

HS Plug-in Hybrid and the brand

new ZS Hybrid+.

The MG Cyberster, a fully electric

sports two-seater, which boasts a

0-60mph of just 3.2 seconds, was also

on display at the opening (pictured).

Priced from £54,995, the Cyberster is

one of the most talked-about electric

vehicles on the market today.

The MG brand has seen a resurgence

in recent years in the motoring world.

Once synonymous with classic British

sports cars, MG is now owned by

Chinese automotive giant SAIC Motor.

While manufacturing has moved

overseas, MG maintains its design

and engineering base in the UK and

continues to grow its identity as an

affordable brand with British roots.

Matt Brown from Birchwood Group

said: “We’re proud to bring MG to

Eastbourne and to have a cricketing

legend like Graham Gooch launch

our new site. With a growing interest

in electric and hybrid vehicles, we’re

confident this showroom will be a big

hit with local drivers.

“Since opening the showroom in

October last year, we’ve probably sold

around a hundred examples, so that’s

a really good start for us and we really

look forward to reintroducing the

brand locally.”

Your local independent

property experts...

Residential Lettings Land New Homes

MEET YOUR

FRIENDLY

TEAM

HERSTMONCEUX PLACE - OIEO £210,000

Set within the prestigious Grade I listed Herstmonceux Place, this elegant

ground floor apartment boasts high ceilings, sash windows and a feature

fireplace. The spacious layout includes a stylish kitchen with breakfast

bar, a grand sitting room, generous bedroom, and a modern bathroom

with separate shower. Outsidebenefits from a garage with parking in front

and an additional private parking space. A rare opportunity to own a

home in this historic and exclusive setting.

RIGGERS WAY - OIEO £350,000

Set within the popular Burfield Valley development, this chain-free

three-bedroom home enjoys a peaceful position just minutes from

Hailsham town centre. Features include a dual-aspect kitchen-diner,

bright lounge, ground floor WC, main bedroom with ensuite. Outside

offers a private rear garden, garage, and parking, with visitor bays nearby.

It’s ideal for families, downsizers, or investors seeking convenience and

comfort in a well-connected yet quiet setting.

JOHN STEVENS

SAM BEALE

MILLAND ROAD - £385,000

Stevens and Carter are pleased to present this

beautifully maintained detached bungalow on

the popular Harmers Hay development. Offering

three double bedrooms, a bright lounge, conservatory,

modern kitchen, and bathroom.

The home also enjoys attractive gardens, garage,

and a convenient location close to schools,

shops, and transport links.

CROMER WAY - OIEO £285,000

Set in the sought-after Anglesey Avenue area,

this two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow offers

comfortable living with scope to modernise.

Features include a spacious lounge-diner, kitchen,

two double bedrooms, garage, driveway,

and generous gardens. Conveniently located

near bus routes, local amenities and the A22, it’s

a home with real potential.

GUIDE PRICE £800,000

STROMA GARDENS - £329,950


beautifully kept three-bedroom home in a popular,

well-connected location. Features include a

spacious lounge, refitted kitchen/diner, conservatory,

modern bathroom, and south-facing

garden. With driveway parking, carport, garage,

and close proximity to schools, shops, and bus

links, it’s an ideal family home.

FREE VALUATIONS FOR SELLING & RENTING

SAMUEL TOWNSEND

NICK RUSSELL

LUCY BROWN

THE CEDARS - £265,000

Situated in the popular Cedars development for

the over 55s, this spacious two-bedroom home

offers comfortable, low-maintenance living

with a private garden, two shower rooms, and a

conservatory. Residents benefit from an on-site

manager, communal upkeep, and a peaceful,

community-focused setting close to local amenities.

Early viewing recommended.

MORAY WALK - £310,000

Located in a desirable area close to shops,

schools, and bus routes, this three-bedroom

semi-detached home offers generous living

space and great potential. Features include a

lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, downstairs WC, ensuite

to main bedroom, family bathroom, sunny

rear garden, garage, and allocated parking.

Some modernisation is required.

ARRAN CLOSE - £399,950


well-appointed four-bedroom detached home

in a sought-after location close to schools,

shops, and transport links. Features include

a spacious lounge, open-plan kitchen/diner,

ground floor WC, modern bathroom, south-facing

garden, ample parking, and a detached

garage with power and light.

LAURA STEVENS

47 HIGH STREET, HAILSHAM, BN27 1AN

CALL 01323 840444 or visit stevensandcarter.co.uk

5 7 2 3 6 9 1 8 4

24 PUZZLES

JULY 2025


PUZZLES

WORDSEARCH

Under the Ground

Can you find all the listed words hidden in the grid below?

They may run either forwards or backwards, horizontally,

vertically or diagonally, but always in a straight line.

BOREHOLE

BUNKER

CABLES

CAVE

CELLAR

COAL

CORM

FOSSIL

GEMSTONE

HADES

RABBIT

RIVER

TUBER

TUNNEL

UNDERPASS

WARREN

WELL

WORM

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

The Answer to a Great Meal Out ? Food for Thought ?

Delicious dishes, friendly atmosphere ? No more clues needed.

Visit us at the top of the High Street, Hailsham. 01323 842400 Est 2011

B L M M B A H K B R T B Z

M L B O R E H O L E S K R

R E U Y A C K S B C E K H

O W N L B D B S Z E L B P

C P D I B K Y K V Q B T I

G I E S I K M R O W A U K

D A R S T U B E R S C C N

U W P O P T U F E J E J E

A B A F H M U D F L K R R

R H S R W V A B L L D E F

I D S B R H L A E A K T T

V N V Y X E R N E N O J R

E A C X D T N P U V J C I

R E G A N U B B Y T A D A

T E N O T S M E G T V C H

CODEWORD

Each letter of the alphabet has a different number. Substitute numbers

for letters to make words that will complete the puzzle. The letters at

the side and the check-box below the grid may help you keep track.

18 25 24 20 19 1 19 10 13 19 6 23 10 15

26 20 2 22 8 5 18 7

10 25 24 6 1 5 7 7 5 18 25 11 10 19

22 18 16 5 19 19 25 10 20

10 5 7 18 11 19 5 22 15 6 12 7

E A T

19 15 25 10 5 20 3 18

4 19 20 11 4 18 25 4 14 1 20 19 4 10

6 20 11 19 6 14 2

18 11 10 15 18 25 10 17 20 5 14 18 7 1

10 7 21 6 7 13 25 5

12 6 8 1 16 5 15 3 19 15 20 16

20 1 5 22 6 22 18 7 16

4 6 14 11 15 16 18 7 2 26 19 5 9 10

20 10 13 11 14 6 14 19

10 25 16 10 15 2 10 11 15 7 1 14 20 15

Check-box

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

A T E

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Across

1 Spherical object (4)

3 Manufactured (8)

9 Marine plant (7)

10 Punctuation mark (5)

11 Having the ability to

work with numbers (12)

14 And not (3)

16 Educate in a skill (5)

17 Calm central region

of a cyclone (3)

18 Stores that sell a large

variety of goods (12)

21 Cocktail fruit (5)

22 Removing the

rind from (7)

23 Estimating (8)

24 Calls for (4)

Down

1 Storey below ground (8)

2 Slightest (5)

4 Crimson (3)

5 Word-and-definition

books (12)

6 Note the similarities

or differences (7)

CROSSWORD

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

14 15 16 17

20

18 19

21 22

23 24

7 Expired (4)

8 All the same (12)

12 Consternation (5)

13 Brief communications (8)

15 Habitual method of

procedure (7)

19 Goes out (5)

20 Of great extent (4)

22 Metal cooking vessel (3)

SUDOKU CHALLENGE

Place a number (from 1 to 9 inclusive) into each square in

such a way that every digit appears once in each horizontal

row, each vertical column and each box of nine squares.

3 9 1 4

8 5 3 7

4 2

2 6 1 7 5

5 1

6 7 4 8 2

4 3

9 6 5 2

3 5 7 4

SOLUTIONS

13

3 2 5 7 8 4 6 9 1

9 8 6 5 1 2 4 7 3

7 4 1 9 3 6 2 5 8

6 1 7 4 5 8 9 3 2

4 5 9 2 7 3 8 1 6

2 3 8 6 9 1 7 4 5

8 6 3 1 4 7 5 2 9

1 9 4 8 2 5 3 6 7

5 7 2 3 6 9 1 8 4

3 5 7 4

SUDOKU

I N J U R Y R E P R O V E S

C U H B X A I T

E N J O Y A T T A I N D E R

B I M A R R N E U

E A T I D R A B S O F T

R S N3 9E 1 A U4

K I

G R U D G I N G L Y U R G E

8 5 3 7

O U D R O L H

I D E S I4 N E Q U2

A L I T Y

2 E T W6 O 1T 7 P5

N A

F O

5

X Y M A S K

1

R S U M

U Y A B O B I T M

6 7 4 8 2

G O L D S M I T H C R A Z E

U 4 E P 3 D L O L R

E9 N M 6E S5 H E2D S T Y L U S

© Puzzle Press Ltd (www.puzzlepress.co.uk)

CODEWORD

B A L L P R O D U C E D

A E N E I O E

S E A W E E D C O M M A

E S V T P D

M A T H E M A T I C A L

E R L O R M

N O R T R A I N E Y E

T O H R A S

S U P E R M A R K E T S

L T L I X A

O L I V E P E E L I N G

N N S A S T E

G U E S S I N G A S K S

CROSSWORD

B L M M B A H K B R T B Z

M L B O R E H O L E S K R

R E U Y A C K S B C E K H

O W N L B D B S Z E L B P

C P D I B K Y K V Q B T I

G I E S I K M R O W A U K

D A R S T U B E R S C C N

U W P O P T U F E J E J E

A B A F H M U D F L K R R

R H S R W V A B L L D E F

I D S B R H L A E A K T T

V N V Y X E R N E N O J R

E A C X D T N P U V J C I

R E G A N U B B Y T A D A

T E N O T S M E G T V C H

WORDSEARCH

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/hailsham JULY 2025 MOTORING 25

Stylish, smart and

seriously capable —

Kia EV3 hits the mark

REPORT AND REVIEW

BY PAUL GIBSON

THE electric car market is

growing at breakneck pace, but

the new Kia EV3 GT-Line carves a

unique space for itself by offering

big-car refinement, cuttingedge

tech and family-friendly

practicality in a smaller, more

affordable SUV package.

After spending time behind the

wheel of the 81.4kWh GT-Line

version in Shale Grey, I came away

thoroughly impressed by how Kia has

moved the game forward for compact

electric vehicles.

On the outside, the Shale Grey

paint (a premium option at £625)

sets off the EV3’s distinctive, boxy

shape beautifully, particularly

when paired with the gloss

black styling accents unique to

the GT-Line trim.

From the flush door handles to the

sharply designed LED headlights

and high-mounted brake lights, this

car has an assertive road presence

without appearing aggressive.

Throughout my test drive week, I

referred to it as ‘made in Legoland’

which (I think) is a nod to it’s unique

design features.

Sitting on 19-inch alloys and

measuring 4,310mm long, the EV3

feels more substantial than your

average B-segment crossover. Yet

despite its size, its 10.4m turning

circle makes it a doddle to park and

manoeuvre around town.

Inside, the GT-Line cabin feels

airy and well-considered. Two-tone

artificial leather upholstery and a grey

headlining add a clean, modern feel,

while touches like heated front seats,

a heated steering wheel, and a sliding

centre console with under-storage all

speak to Kia’s attention to detail.

The twin 12.3-inch screens (plus a

5.3-inch panel for climate controls)

are crisp and easy to use, and the

digital key system makes entry

and start-up seamless. It’s not just

tech for tech’s sake — everything

feels intuitive.

Space is generous, especially in

the rear where 950mm of legroom

and 955mm of headroom provide

comfort even for adults. The boot

offers 460 litres of space, plus a

25-litre ‘frunk’. Fold the 60:40 split

rear seats, and you’ve got a practical

hauler which made our newspaper

rounds a breeze.

Under the skin, the EV3 GT-Line

uses a hefty 81.4kWh battery. The

201bhp (170kW) setup provides

283Nm of torque, delivering a

0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds. It’s

quick enough to feel lively without

being too aggressive for everyday

family driving.

The steering feels light but accurate,

making city driving and country

B-roads equally enjoyable. Sport

mode sharpens throttle response,

while Eco extends the already

impressive range. MyDrive mode

allows you to mix and match settings

and Snow mode provides additional

confidence in adverse weather.

Official figures quote a combined

range of 367 miles and a city range

of up to 472 miles. In my own

driving, which included a mix of

town traffic, dual carriageways and

rural stretches, I comfortably saw

over 4.3mi/kWh aligning with the

car’s 153Wh/km efficiency rating.

With some careful driving in urban

environments, the 5.0mi/kWh city

claim seems entirely feasible.

The EV3 was one of the only EVs

I’ve driven that I wasn’t constantly

worried about the range left, as using

the one pedal driving system, you can

feel the car cleverly feeding charge

back into the batteries under braking.

The 127.5kW maximum DC

charging rate means a 10-80%

top-up can be done in as little as 31

minutes on a 350kW charger, though

many users will likely rely on more

common 50kW or home charging

solutions. A 7.15-hour overnight

charge using a 230v/16A supply is

ideal for domestic setups.

The tech in this car is remarkable

for the price point. As well as wireless

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you

get six USB-C ports, wireless phone

charging, Kia’s over-the-air updates,

and full compatibility with the latest

Kia Connect features.

On the safety front, it’s packed.

Highlights include Highway Driving

Assist 2.0, Forward Collision-

Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot

Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear-

Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance,

and a raft of stability and braking

systems. Regenerative braking

is fully customisable via paddles,

and the iPedal mode allows true

one-pedal driving.

The EV3’s adaptive cruise control,

lane follow assist, and 360-degree

parking sensors add confidence,

particularly in busy traffic or on long

motorway stretches. Simply put, it’s a

car that makes you feel looked after.

At £39,405 on the road (plus the £625

paint option), the Kia EV3 GT-Line

undercuts a number of rivals while

delivering on performance, tech

and practicality.

The standard 7-year/100,000-

mile warranty (plus an 8-year

battery warranty) are a really plus

point for the EV3.

This isn’t just a great EV, it’s

generally a great car. Whether you’re

a first-time EV buyer or trading down

from a larger SUV, the EV3 GT-Line

offers substance with style.

www.kia.com/uk/new-cars/ev3/

26 SPORT

JULY 2025


Players commit as stringers

gear up for new season

New tournament format at

Hailsham Tennis Club

BY STUART FAIRWAY

THE previous season may just be over,

but work has already begun for Hailsham

Town FC’s teams as they build ahead of

the new campaign.

The annual club awards evening saw Connor

Townsend awarded Manager’s Player of the

Season for the Men’s first team, with Will

Ridgway taking the Players Player award,

whilst Geri Burt was awarded Manager’s

Player for the Women with newly appointed

captain Lucia Law taking the Players Player

award and Georgia Townsend the Supporters

Player trophy.

The Under 23’s Manager’s Player of the Year

was Joe Ames, with Linton Lusted as Players

Player, whilst Ellis Cavie won the Manager’s

Player trophy for the U18s and Mason Leach

took the Players Player award.

Additional trophies were also awarded to

Women’s goal of the season winner Shantelle

Omar, Young Player Lexi Donald, a special

award for Leanne Hawkins and top scorer

awards for Ollie Albery (Mens U23) and

Geri Burt (Women).

Squad building has already commenced, with

key players for both the Mens and Women’

teams committing for 2025/26 – Club Captain

Harry Mills, Connor Townsend, Sammy

Townsend and Will Ridgway for the Men with

more to follow, whilst Lucia Law, Geri Burt,

Shantelle Omar, Lexi Donald, Charleigh Crotty,

Lauren Roberts, Georgia Townsend, Laura

Stew, Kirsten Bryant and Paige Yarwood will be

amongst those continuing for the Women, with

more set to be confirmed.

The Women’s side will have a new manager

after Todd Seavers departed after a superb

first season to take up a new role with another

club, but last season’s assistant manager

Tony Pollard, has stepped up to lead on an

interim basis.

Callum Standish enters his second season as

Men’s First Team manager, with Jack Findon

leading the Under 23s and Carl Goldsmith

bringing through a new crop of Under 18’s from

Hailsham United, assisted by Jamie Skates.

Both first teams will also face new opponents

over the coming season – Rudgwick have joined

the Southern Combination Division Two from

the West Sussex League, whilst a much changed

SCWGFL Championship will see the Stringers

Women face new opposition in the shape of TD

Shipley, Crawley Down Gatwick and Brightonbased

The View amongst others.

HAILSHAM Tennis Club held its annual

tournament over a hot weekend at

the end of June.

New tournament director, Chris Witt, had put

in place an ambitious new format to include a

“plate” competition for players who had been

eliminated in the early rounds.

On Saturday, it was the singles finals, and in

the ladies final, last year’s runner-up Hayley

Allender was taking on Narun Chea. But Narun

was too strong for Hayley, winning her first

singles title 6-2, 6-1.

In the men’s singles, last year’s champion

Adam, Beaney met Peter Hill, and it was Peter’s

turn to put his name on the honours board with

a 6-3, 6-3 win.

In the ladies’ plate competition, Mary Leggett

played Mary Srey, and in a close first set it was

Ms Srey who won before winning the second

6-3. The men’s plate had doubles partners

Rohan Huth and Matt Dean playing against each

other. Matt won the first set 6-3, but Rohan came

back to win the second in a tie-break 7-6 and

then went on to win the plate with a 10-7 win in

the championship tie-break.

On the Sunday, it was the doubles matches,

and in the ladies’ doubles, defending champions

Narun Chea and Georgia Lee defeated Barbara

Cordner and Mary Srey 6-4, 6-3. In the men’s

doubles, serial winners Johan Jooste and Neil

Downer won again, this time defeating Peter

Hill and Sean Chea. That was their eighth title.

Johan was in action again in the mixed doubles

final with partner Sam Noakes. The pair won

their fourth title together, but it wasn’t plain

sailing as they lost the first set on a tie-break to

Men’s doubles finalists: Neil Downer,

Peter Hill, Sean Chea and Johan Jooste

Singles winners: Mary Srey (Plate),

Narun Chea (Tournament), Peter Hill

(Tournament) and Rohan Huth (Plate)

Narun Chea and Jose Noya. But the champions

won the second set 6-4 before clinching the title

with a 10-7 championship tie-break.

In the plate competition, Andy Leckie and

Simon Wells won the men’s doubles against

Rohan and Matt 6-4, 6-2, while Sean Chea

and Mary Srey beat Chris Witt and Tammy

Roxburgh 6-1, 6-0.

The club’s committee arranged for a

barbecue after the singles on Saturday, with

entertainment from member Simon Wells

before he went to Glastonbury to perform.

You can follow events at Hailsham

Tennis Club on their Facebook page or on

Instagram, or you could come down to their

Open Day on Sunday 6th July to have a go at

tennis for yourself.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE - LICENSING ACT 2003

We, Maybugs LTD do hereby give notice that we have applied to the Licensing Authority at

Wealden District Council for the grant of a Premises Licence at 26 Vicarage Field Hailsham

East Sussex BN27 1BG and known as Maybugs.

The application is to:- Allow the sale of alcohol for off premises consumption.

Times: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 2pm.

Any person wishing to make representations to this application may do so by writing

to Licensing Officer, Wealden DC, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX or email

licensing@rother.gov.uk not later than 25th July 2025.

Representations received after this date cannot be considered. Details of the above

application may be viewed on the Licensing Register at the Council Offices It is an offence

knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with this application, the

maximum fine on summary conviction being unlimited.

PUBLISHED ON 1 JULY 2025

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Hailsham News, July 2025, Issue 47

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