Cuckfield Parish Councillor Vacancy

With regret we have to announce that one of our Councillors, Sean Ryan, has made the difficult decision to step down from his position on the Parish Council, effective from 1st January 2017.  

If you would like to consider a role on the Council please look out for the notices that will be displayed around the village in the New Year, as well as on our website www.cuckfield.gov.uk.  

If you would like further information about the role and responsibilities of becoming a Councillor please do contact Sam Heynes, Parish Clerk, on 01444 451610 or clerk@cuckfield.gov.uk

We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Cllr Ryan for his contribution to the Council during his time as a Councillor, and wish him all the best in the future.

The full parish council newsletter was printed on page 23 in the Dec/Jan issue of Cuckfield Life magazine.

The Contemporary Silver Gallery Winter Exhibition 2016

Over the last eight years The Contemporary Silver Gallery’s two week Summer Exhibition – showing and selling the latest pieces of contemporary silver and jewellery from the best silversmiths and designers/jewellers in the UK – has become a bit of a feature in a West Sussex village.

So now along comes a Winter Exhibition! “We started exhibiting contemporary silver at our Summer Exhibition in 2008 in Lindfield,” says John Higgins, the gallery’s owner, “and in each subsequent year the event has become more and more popular.

“Three years ago we were asked to include contemporary jewellery in our Summer Exhibition, which has proved extremely popular. Now our customers have asked us to put on a Winter Exhibition – which we have decided to run over four successive weekends in November and December.”

As usual John has commissioned some unique contemporary pieces in both silver and enamel and contemporary jewellery specifically for this Winter Exhibition. He also has assembled a fantastic group of work from the very best silversmiths and jewellers working in the UK, including new pieces from Rod Kelly, Phil Barnes, Jane Short, Ros Conway, Michael Lloyd, Kayo Saito, Hiroshi Suzuki, Lucy Martin and Daphne Krinos – and many other exciting young designers.

“We are very privileged to have so many top silversmiths and jewellery designers who want to exhibit their work through us, and we are fortunate to have an excellent following of customers and collectors who take real delight in these exceptional contemporary pieces.

The Contemporary Silver Gallery Winter Exhibition takes place across the follow weekends: 26th/27th November 2016, 3rd/4th December 2016, 9th/10th/11th December, 16th/17th/18th December 2016. 

To obtain your personal invitation to the event on the day of your choice call John Higgins today on 01444 483782 or see the website for more information at www.thecontemporarysilvergallery.co.uk

Rugby star opens Warden Park's new 3G sports pitch

By Claire Cooper

Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio officially opened Warden Park Academy’s new 3G sports facility last month.

The former England captain, and member of the 2003 World Cup winning team, cut the ribbon to officially open the all-weather pitch - named the Chisholm Stoneley Sports Pitch to recognise many years of service from Deputy Heads Pete Chisholm and Rob Stoneley.

He also enjoyed watching students try out the new facility with a ‘skills and mini games’ demonstration. 

It was the second visit to the school by the rugby star who in July cut the first turf for work to begin on the £500,000 project.

“I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone up,” said Dallaglio. “The contractors have done an amazing job in such a short time. It’s a wonderful facility which will make young people more enthusiastic about getting out and playing sport.”

Dallaglio spoke of his ‘amazing and colourful’ career with Wasps and with the England rugby squad and told the students ‘anything is possible’. “When I was at school I never made the first team, but if you work hard and enjoy your sport anything is possible,” he said. “Sport changes lives – it certainly changed mine. It gives kids something to aspire to and creates opportunities for them.”

Dallaglio was also impressed to hear that the pitch is available for community groups to hire and has already been booked by local sports clubs, including Cuckfield FC, Cuckfield Cosmos, AFC Haywards, Pink Flamingoes FC and Lindfield Juniors FC.

Pro Direct Soccer Academy will also be based at Warden Park, while Sussex County FA is planning to use the facility for coach development courses.

Dallaglio was invited to perform the opening ceremony by his friend and former Warden Park student Jon Ball, whose company Fairfax Properties supported the project with a £60,000 donation.

Read more on p.9 of Nov/Dec 2016 Cuckfield Life magazine