The Bluebird Pub in Tilgate Park is set to reopen as an American-style family restaurant after Smith & Western signed a lease to take over the building.
Smith & Western’s Tilgate Park restaurant will be the company’s sixth in Sussex, Surrey and Kent and is expected to reopen in the winter.
The iconic, chalet-style building has been empty for more than 18 months.
Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: “I’m delighted that Smith and Western have signed up to bring a new restaurant to Tilgate Park.
“This, along with all the other improvements and new activities we’re looking to bring in, will make a visit to Tilgate Park better than ever before.”
Improvements and potential new activities at Crawley Borough Council’s flagship park include:
The Environment Agency work on the new dam at the northern end of Tilgate Lake should be completed this month. The lake is refilling naturally with rainwater and fencing around the lake will be removed soon
The council will encourage family-friendly fishing when the lake is full, while carp fishing will continue in the adjacent Silt Lake
The council is looking into providing a wider range of leisure activities on Tilgate Lake, for example boating, canoeing, windsurfing, etc.
The council will also be working with partner organisations to provide a range of exciting land-based leisure facilities in the park and its woodlands, such as aerial walkways in the trees and more activities for children
The fisherman’s car park, behind the new dam, is being improved with better surfacing and more parking spaces
The council is aiming to update the animal enclosures in Tilgate Nature Centre and improve the café and gift shop facilities. The animal collection will be reassessed to include more animals popular with children, while maintaining a strong conservation focus
The council could help with the creation of a Friends of Tilgate Park group, similar to those already established for Goffs Park and Worth Park.
The second Race for life in Tilgate Park on Wdnesday 22nd June was another successful event with hundreds of woman running, jogging and walking the 5k course. We took footage and picture for you. See if you can spot yourself
On Wednesday 25th May Tilgate Park turned pink for the annual Race for Life charity event in aid of Cancer Research.
Over 1,600 woman came to run, walk or jog the 5km course. Some came in support of friends or family who had entered. Some where in recovery themselves but most came to raise money in remembrance of a loved one who has been affected by cancer.
Not everyone was in pink mind. We bumped into a lovely lady called Fiona Hankinson (very soon to become Mrs King) who was dressed as a smurf! Others were in fancy dress and some even bought their dogs to help them around the course.
A big well done to LA Fitness who came to help the ladies warm up for the third year in a row.
His Worshipful Mayor Councillor Lee Burke and Mayoress Councillor Ali Burke attended. Mayor Lee told us he was overwhelmed by the amount of woman present and wished them all luck in their fund raising efforts.
We would like to thank everyone who took part and especially those who spoke to our step-in reporter Laura Senekal. Laura is one of the head organisers of Relay for Life which takes place in August at Gratton Park in Pound Hill. For further information on this event please visit here.
If you took part you will see yourself on the race footage.
The Hawth Crawley enjoyed another great year offering fantastic entertainment to over 160,000 people not only at the theatre but also across the area at Tilgate Park, Goffs Park, Worth Park Gardens, Crawley Library and even Crawley Amateur Boxing Club.
There were certainly laughs aplenty as over 4000 people enjoyed hilarious comedy in both the Theatre and the Studio throughout the year from the likes of Bradley Walsh, Jimmy Carr and Joe Pasquale. Another well known name who wowed sell-out audiences for a whole week was illusionist Derren Brown, with his mind bending show, Enigma.
Other sell out performances for 2010 included Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, A Tribute to Tommy Dorsey, Essence of Ireland, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Jane McDonald, Charlie and Lola and Peppa Pig and when The Proclaimers performed for a packed house in June The Hawth was even host to a marriage proposal during the concert.
Under 26s got to enjoy many of these shows and more for free as The Hawth successfully completed its second and final year of the Arts Council’s free ticket scheme, A Night Less Ordinary. In 2010 over 2000 young people were able to try out new theatrical experiences as part of the initiative and with the scheme running until February there is still a little time to take advantage and plans are already underway for the theatre to continue offering great offers and discounts to under 26s this year.
Further success with Arts Council England came last year when the Theatre secured a grant of £99,999 supported by the National Lottery to develop and promote Going Global, an audience development programme designed to offer audiences culturally diverse and international work in Crawley over the next two years. Audiences can already look forward to dance from Stepping Out East, clowning fun for all the family in Plastic Fantastic, The Shaolin Warriors and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
In May, The Hawth and the South Asian Arts Ambassadors put on Crawley’s first ever Asian Film Festival, with hundreds of people enjoying free screenings of three films at venues across Crawley. After the success in 2010 watch this space for news on the next film festival.
The year was brought to the perfect close by The Hawth’s FAB-U-LOUS pantomime, Snow White starring Craig Revel Horwood. Over 25,000 people were enchanted by the
‘fantast-maglorious show’(The Stage) leaving everyone very excited to see what next year brings when Peter Pan flies into action.
Lee Mead
Thank you to everyone who visited in 2010 and made the year such a great one, we hope you enjoyed it and here’s to bringing you lots more great live entertainment, exhibitions, talks, fairs and films this year! It looks like the next year is set to impress audiences once again, as Jimmy Carr and Milton Jones have already sold out and tickets are selling fast for Lee Mead, Flawless, Calendar Girls and Dom Joly – book now!
Latest grants from East Crawley County Local Committee
East Crawley County Local Committee (CLC) has given grants to 10 local organisations, ranging from a Guides club to a counselling organisation.
The grants are from the Community Initiative Fund – money it receives from West Sussex County Council to support local groups that enhance their communities.
The committee gave East Crawley 2nd Furnace Green St Andrew’s Guides £1,500 towards six tents to be used for camping trips.
It gave Harbour Counselling at St Paul’s Church, Northgate,
£334 towards new furniture to improve the environment for its clients.
Central Sussex Citizen Advice Bureau was given £1,000 towards the purchase of promotional information and training materials for the ‘Easy Banking’ project, and towards volunteer costs and equipment.
‘Ride Tilgate’ a group for cyclists, was given £1,239 for the provision of 28 signs on 14 mountain bike trails in Tilgate Park.
Crawley and Horley Hockey Development Scheme received £1,023 towards ‘Quicksticks’ hockey kits for each of the seven groups of primary schools that lead to the secondary schools in Crawley.
‘Mother2Mother’ Breastfeeding Peer Supporting group was awarded £996 towards materials for publicity costs.
East Crawley County Local Committee Chairman, Richard Burrett, said: “The Community Initiative Fund is a great way for the committee to show its support for local groups and organisations that make a difference in the community.”
Tilgate Park gets high praise from Green Flag judges
Tilgate Park received its ninth Green Flag Award in nine years in July – and now the judges have given it another seal of approval.
The judges who toured the beautiful park earlier this year have sent the council a feedback report, which highlights strengths and weaknesses.
The judges said: “Tilgate Park represents the very best of what can be achieved from a well managed and maintained public open space.”
Many aspects of the park were singled out for praise, including the new playground, the lack of dog fouling, a park free of litter, graffiti and vandalism, the re-use of leaves and manure on-site, the input from a wide range of community groups and the strong management of the park.
Tilgate Park, set in 400 acres, scooped its first Green Flag in 2002. Winners are judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained and involve the local community.
Tilgate Park boasts a nature centre, golf course, lakes, lawns and gardens, woodland walks and bridleways. The park is open all year round. Tilgate Nature Centre is open from 10am-6pm until October 30 and 10am-4pm afterwards.
The Walled Garden is open everyday from 10am-5pm (until 5.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays). The Walled Garden Café opens from 10am-4.30pm everyday (and until 5pm on weekends and bank holidays) until October 30 and from 10.30am-3pm (and until 3.30pm on weekends and bank holidays) afterwards.
The judges added: “Tilgate is an outstanding park which clearly – and easily – scored sufficient points to retain its Green Flag status. To achieve such an excellent standard is of great credit to all those who work there. Their commitment and feeling of ownership to the park is palpable to anyone who visits.
“The judges are acutely aware that such high levels are neither easy to achieve, or cheap to maintain, but Tilgate Park is remarkable in both these respects and worthy of the highest praise.
“Crawley is lucky to have such a jewel in its crown – but also has a responsibility preserve it.”
Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said: “The judges’ feedback is superb. We know that Tilgate Park is fantastic but it’s great to hear professionals giving it the seal of approval.
“We scored extremely highly but there are still improvements we can make and we’ll take these on board as part of the long-term improvements to the park.”
In July Tilgate Park, along with Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens, all achieved Green Flag status. Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens have both had Green Flags for three consecutive years.
The Green Flag Award is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, English Heritage and Natural England.
Three of Crawley’s attractive parks have again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag.
Beautiful Tilgate Park has received the award for the ninth consecutive year while Goffs Park, in Southgate, and the Memorial Gardens in the town centre have picked up their third Green Flags – the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.
Tilgate Park, set in 400 acres, scooped its first Green Flag in 2002.
Winners are judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained and involve the local community.
Tilgate Park boasts a nature centre, golf course, lakes, lawns and gardens, woodland walks and bridleways.
Goffs Park has a lake, 18-hole pitch and putt course, miniature steam railway, state-of-the-art play facilities and is home to Crawley Museum.
The Memorial Gardens are an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling town centre, with lunching office workers and sunbathers enjoying the lush lawns and vibrant plants.
Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services,
said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to have won these awards.
“It demonstrates the commitment of the council and its dedicated staff to keeping these great parks and open spaces so special. It is also just reward for a huge contribution from the Friends of Goffs Park.”
The Green Flag Award is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, English Heritage and Natural England.
This January the snow fell over Crawley leaving it looking like something from a post card at Christmas.
The people of Crawley woke to at least five inches of snow on Wednesday 6th January 2010. In true tradition most of Crawley made their way to Tilgate Park to sledge down the hills, on the slopes of the underpaths at Broadfield or wherever there was a slope covered in soft fluffy glistening snow.
The snow bought fun and snowball fights but it also bought dangers to those who are elderly or disabled. The community showed true spirit by checking in on their neighbours and making sure they were stocked up with essentials and were keeping warm. We kept in touch with Crawley via our Facebook page and were touched at the amount of people going out of their way to help others. Here are some of the comments: -
Andrea Daniels Roberts said “Did the neighbours path, husband took someone home, leaving her car stranded. But one thing, why are people ambling into the road??? When it is likely a car cannot stop! Please be careful”
Fiona Keelan said “we have been helping our neighbors get their cars out of the street bless em. I’m lucky I have no car only my legs ”
Tricia Harding said “my two young sons were out the back of our house earlier and they helped push a mans car off some ice and they are only 9 and 11 years old he was very grateful to them bless them and they managed it xx”
Helen Wenban said “I popped to my neighbour to see if he was ok and he asked me for some milk, if only they knew how hard that is to find in crawley, I searched for ages, got some in the end”.
Tricia Harding said “its like my mum would say “its the spirit of the blitz” people always come to the aid of others when the chips are down and times are hard xx”
Graham Harding said “a group of youngsters helped me push my car out of tilgate park last night when I got stuck. Who says youngsters in Crawley (and hoodys) are all bad. The girls were pretty too. I felt bad pelting them with snow from my wheels. THANKS YOU GUYS AND GALS ”
Anita Parker said “TWO MEN HELPED ME YESTERDAY GOT STUCK IN SOUTHGATE THANK YOU GUYS XX”
Helen Wenban said “I HAVE to go out and get some milk so I can have my cuppa, I will be calling in on my neighbours to see if they need anything, I did get stuck yesterday twice in the deep snow and got helped out”.
Jackie Finch said “my hubby cleared our path,neighbours paths and most of our street, well done baby xxx”
It soon became apparent local shops as well as the big supermarkets were running low on bread and milk. So we encouraged the community to let us know where they bought theirs from and how much was left so we could notify people therefore saving them a wasted journey.
It really was a teamwork situation and made us very proud to see so many people helping others and being informative. We believe this is not a one off and we should make provisions for next year. So we are going to set up a ‘Snow Hot Line’ for the elderly and disabled to call if they need anything, and are going to ask all the local shops and supermarkets to send us an email when they are out of stocks. This may go towards helping people and will hopefully stop panic buying. Anyone who would like to be on the ‘Helpers List’ please send us your details to editor@crawleyhappytimes.co.uk.
Crawley Happy Times would like to send their thanks to those who went out of their way to help others and would like to see if this community spirit can stay alive for the rest of the year!
In October, Crawley held another successful campaign for drawing. The Big Draw is now in it’s tenth year. Crawley has previously been awarded the title of Trailblazer by the Campaign for Drawing, organizers of the Big Draw in 2008.
Organisers of Big Draw event in Crawley selected two themes ‘The Power of Ten’ and ‘Look to the Future’ from the Campaign for Drawing options. All events were free with sketchbooks and stickers handed out at every event.
It all started and finished at Ginger Moo Gallery in the County Mall. Other events were held at Tilgate Park, Oriel High School, Crawley Library and Thomas Bennett Community College. Unfortunately, due to sickness, we were unable to attend all the events but took plenty of pictures for you.
Whilst visiting Oriel High School in Maidenbower, Crawley we spoke to Katie Lehec, Community Arts Co-ordinator for Oriel who told us “Oriel is in it’s fourth year of being an Arts Specialist School and we are very proud of our achievements. The children (and parents alike) used a magnifying glass to portray the image so they could copy it. We focused on texture, colour, shiny surfaces, fabric, tissue paper, paints and felt tips”.
Hazel Ellis from The Hawth Promotions and Community Arts Department said “we are really pleased with the turn out. Especially the after school attendance where local residence travelled from all regions of Crawley to attend.
Rhiannon Davies lives in Pound Hill with her two children aged six and nine who attend Turners Hill Primary School said “the children have had loads of fun, especially the nine year old who thoroughly enjoys drawing and doodling. It’s lovely to see the finished creations”.
Liz McLeish attended with her two children and told us “it’s a lovely opportunity for the children to freely be creative and make some wonderful artistic collages”.
An eleven year old young lady told us she is very interested in art and will be focusing on an arts degree. She thought the event was very exciting and hoped to do it again.
During the month of October some amazing creations had been formed out of plastic bags, recycled materials, chalk and various other methods, all created with intelligence and care for the environment as the theme. Back at Ginger Moo for the finale we had the pleasure of being shown round by Rachel Cowell. Rachel bought Ginger Moo to the County Mall a year ago now and has done a brilliant job of bringing local artists to our attention. All the exhibitors are fairly local people, some very young. If you have never popped in to see the art work, we would encourage you to do so.
We would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness. We are keeping our fingers crossed for another top accolade for Crawley for 2009. Our thanks also goes to Sam from CBC for holding the camera and doing such a great job! xx
