Mid Sussex District Council August newsletter

Playdays on tour for the summer

Playdays on Tour is coming to a town near you! Ten free events, organised by Mid Sussex District Council, will be held during the summer holidays for children under 10. There’s no need to book, just turn up and join in.

Starting on 29th July in Haywards Heath, and finishing on 27th August in Crawley Down, there will be two events each week, with a variety of different activities. Other venues will be East Grinstead, Hurstpierpoint, Ardingly, Hassocks, Handcross, Burgess Hill, Cuckfield and Bolney.

Visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/playdays for more information. We’ll see you there!


Updating your register details

Mid Sussex District Council has begun contacting residents to ask them to confirm their details on the 2025-26 electoral register. Every year, the Council must complete an annual electoral canvass to update the electoral register and ensure that all residents who are eligible to vote can do so. Households will have already been contacted via post to confirm or update the electoral registration information for their property. Letters will contain information on how to respond to the canvass. Being on the electoral register maintains your credit rating and ensures you can have your say at future elections. www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections- voting/annual-canvass/

To read the full newsletter, pick up your copy of August’s Cuckfield Life or click to enlarge the pictures.

Mid Sussex Choir celebrates 80 years

By Gemma Stedrak-Booth

The Mid Sussex Choir traces its origins to Staplefield in 1943. At the time, Joyce and Don Hayward were farming and missing the joy of singing in a musical group, as they had before the Second World War. By 1946, as Britain began to recover, the couple joined with other local music lovers to form a community choir, led by Hilary Preston. Eighty years on, the Mid Sussex Choir continues to thrive as a vibrant choral group and will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026.

Over eight decades, the choir has performed a rich tapestry of music - from classical masterpieces to modern favourites - delighting audiences across Mid Sussex. Much has been written about the health benefits that singing brings, which is an additional benefit to the simple joy of singing with others and having musical experiences together.

Looking ahead, the Mid Sussex Choir is preparing a spectacular Anniversary Concert: ‘The Last Night of the Proms’ on Saturday 25th April 2026 at All Saints Church, Lindfield. Expect a joyous evening packed with all the Proms favourites, from Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ to beloved singalongs that will lift the roof!

As part of its anniversary season, the choir is warmly inviting new singers of all voice parts - soprano, alto, tenor, and bass - to join for the 2025-2026 season, beginning on Wednesday 3rd September. Whether you’ve sung in choirs for years or are an enthusiastic amateur eager to try, you’ll find a friendly welcome and the chance to be part of something truly special.

To find out more, visit the Mid Sussex Choir’s website at www.midsussexchoir.org.uk, email contact@midsussexchoir.org.uk or come along to a rehearsal and experience it in person. We look forward to meeting you!

Bank holiday bloc party returns to Rose & Crown, Cuckfield

By James Clark

I think this must be our fourth consecutive Bloc Party held at the Rose and Crown. Every year, we welcome hundreds of people to our special event and each year we are overwhelmed by the response.
This year nothing has really changed. Our objective remains much the same as it’s always been; the aim of which is to bring people from the community together and for everyone to enjoy a fun day out.

As in previous years, there will be a bunch of food trucks serving high quality street food and a large selection of drinks will be available inside and in the outside bar, all from local breweries, vineyards and distilleries.
And please let’s not forget about the music and all the bands that will be performing throughout the day and well into the night.

We’ve also put a lot of effort and work into our beer garden of late, and it really is looking pretty good. So, by the time the party arrives, we should be equipped with a new ping pong table and a number of jovial garden games to keep people busy while they’re enjoying the summer weather and sharing a few drinks.

On a final note, as before, we’ll be donating a portion of our takings from the event to a designated charity. Date for diary: Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August. Gates open at midday. No tickets. No reservations.