Professional Theatre Company Rain or Shine is set to delight family audiences once again this summer when they return to Cuckfield. This year the theatre company are performing ‘The Recruiting Officer’, a rakish Restoration comedy by Irish playwright George Farquhar. One of the most popular plays of its time, this is a delightful romp through 18th Century Shrewsbury. The story follows the mischief of crooked army recruiting officers, Captain Plume and Sergeant Kite, as they head to the county town of Shrewsbury to persuade men to take the Queen’s Shilling by any means, legal or otherwise! Plume has set his cap at the vivacious Sylvia, and their bumpy path to true love is mirrored by their closest friends, nervy, melancholy Worthy, and haughty, comically self-important, heiress, Melinda. Help and hindrance come in equal measure from Captain Brazen, the foppiest of fops. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the performance will take place at Cuckfield Recreation Ground on Friday 5th August at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door or in advance online via rainorshine.co.uk or by ringing Rainorshine’s hotline 0330 660 0541. Audiences are requested to bring along lowbacked seating or rugs, and a picnic to maximise their enjoyment of the al fresco performances.
HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Cuckfield - 3rd June 2022
Platinum Jubilee Street Party in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Image: Kirsty Warren, Ⓒ Cuckfield Life
Over 1,200 people sat down and enjoyed the special Friday Bank Holiday for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The High Street had been closed from first thing in the morning, and an army of volunteers set up with chairs, trestle tables and decorated them with red, white and blue tablecloths and ribbons on lampposts.
The event went off without a hitch and was a huge success. Many helpers were involved but the main organisation and planning was done by a team of eight – Den Jordan, Dean Harding, Mike Schlup, Belinda Campopiano, Andrew Leask, Steve Wilcock, Sam Heynes (Parish Clerk) and Lindy Elphick – who all organised this incredible day, which truly brought together all ages and stages to eat, drink, sing and dance on the special occasion.
Partying on the streets in Cuckfield. Images Ⓒ Cuckfield Life magazine 2022
We are excited to report that Cuckfield will be having a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The date is Friday 3rd June and the plan is to close Cuckfield High Street for the afternoon and host a street party for 1000 guests, including entertainment for young and old.
People can bring their own food and drink although there will be options to purchase drinks and food at the event. More information on ticket prices and event details will follow in due course. The event is being organised by a wide range of Cuckfield locals including Cuckfield Parish Council and the Independent State of Cuckfield.
For all the latest event news keep reading Cuckfield Life or check the ISOC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/independentstateofcuckfield
If you would like to get involved please email info@ cuckfieldstate.org
UPDATE: Tickets will cost £10 for adults and £5 for children (under 16). These will go on sale on 9th April 2022 from 9.30am to 11.30am at both the Cuckfield Local Market (Rose and Crown car park) and from the The Talbot courtyard. Tickets are on a first come first served basis and payment by cash would be preferred.
Demand for the last street party was huge so we recommend you buy your tickets as soon as they go on sale to avoid disappointment.
Holy Trinity Primary fundraise for Ukraine Appeal
Parents, pupils and staff from Holy Trinity CE (A) Primary in Cuckfield have united to raise money for humanitarian causes in Ukraine. Over fifteen hundred pounds has been collected through a variety of fundraising activities and a parent has personally delivered aid to the Ukraine border.
On Wednesday 27th April, staff and children donned blue and yellow – the colours of the Ukraine flag – in return for a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukrainian Appeal. Generous parents and carers donated over £800. Holy Trinity’s headteacher, Ann MacGregor, said of the fundraising: “As a school, all of our hearts have been touched by the suffering inflicted on the Ukrainian people, particularly the children. This cause felt particularly ‘close to home’ as the maternal grandparents of one of our pupils are still resident in Ukraine, although, thankfully, have remained unharmed up to now.”
Parent, Hannah Pring, took a ‘hands on’ approach as the news of the devastating impact of the conflict reached the UK. Her daughter, Annabelle, is in Year 5. At the end of March, Mrs Pring drove with five colleagues through Poland to the Ukrainian border to deliver humanitarian aid. The trip was completely unconnected to Mrs Pring’s work as an insurance broker, but the colleagues felt they ‘needed to do something’ and one had a friend who was already giving help at the border. Between them, the team worked out which items they thought would be most in need and what would really make a difference. Mrs Pring said: “We collected boxes and boxes of donations outside our house in Cuckfield and I am so grateful to everyone who brought donations to our doorstep. These donations were combined with donations from my work colleagues, and we filled two vans with nappies, baby milk, toiletries, sanitary towels, sleeping bags and other much needed items. It was a 2350 mile round trip and we spent nearly three days solidly driving there and back.“
Hannah’s children, Annabelle and River, accompanied their dad, Andy, to Balcombe station to see their mum off. Asked if she had any misgivings about the trip, Mrs Pring commented: “I did not feel worried about what would happen on the trip, I just felt motivated to keep going by focussing on the desperate need and knowing that I was playing my part, although I did miss my family very much!
“The day after we returned, we received a WhatsApp [message] to say that, already, the donations were being distributed and that people who, the night before had nothing to cover them as they slept in the refugee welcome centre, had been able to sleep a bit more comfortably and cosily. That made it all worth it.
“What struck me the most was that after entering France, we drive along one road, that motorway took us through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, and continued into Ukraine. At no point along this road were there any hard borders to cross. The Ukrainians are truly our neighbours.”
Mrs Pring has been inspired to continue her amazing humanitarian efforts. She said: “We have now heard that what is needed more than anything, by the contacts we have there, is decommissioned ambulances and medicines, so our next plan is to fundraise to purchase a few of these and drive them over to the border to be collected by aid workers operating inside the Ukrainian border.”