Hailsham Town News

GALLERY NORTH FESTIVAL ORIGINS will, in its 20th Year, continue to run a variety of community-centred and inspired art exhibitions and workshops including Flock Community Art Exhibition. Enjoy displays and interactive works from artists of all ages and backgrounds across Hailsham and Sussex and continues until 20 September and will also include the display of work from the Festival's Children's Art Competition. Acrylic Painting and Ceramics Workshops are artist-led workshops and a mainstay of the Gallery. There will be ceramics for youngsters and acrylic painting for adult beginners and intermediates on the 12 and 16 September. These have been part-funded by the Festival and prices are subsidised. Spaces are limited so booking is essential. Please email [email protected] to secure your place.

 THE 20TH HAILSHAM FESTIVAL continues this weekend with Friday: The Rocky Horror Show at Hailsham Pavilion with its open day to come and look around on Saturday morning. There is fun with pots and clay for children on Saturday morning at Gallery North and the presentation of awards following. The Mayors Concert is in the Afternoon at Hailsham Parish Church and in the evening the story of Derek Jarman is showing at the Pavilion Cinema. There is a Wealden Brass Family Concert on Sunday afternoon in the church. On Tuesday you can make a wind chime with fused glass at a workshop and the Creative Writing Awards are being presented in the afternoon at the Charles Hunt Centre. In the evening there is a talk at the Pavilion entitled Death by Chocolate. On Wednesday there is an acrylic workshop at the Pumpkin Patch in St Mary’s Walk and another in Gallery North. Belles Pottery invites you to decorate a food inspired character. In the evening you can listen to a talk at the Charles Hunt Centre about the tradition and history of pantomime. Thursday promises an interesting walk along the Cuckoo Trail from the Artist’s Bridge to discover and ID some wildlife and in the evening you can find out what happened when Hailsham Theatres and the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society took to the stage with a production of A Christmas Carol with opportunities to see it again on Friday and Saturday.

You will of course have a programme of all the events going on during Festival fortnight and you will be able to find out more online about each of them. Many have sold out but in some instances you can go on a list of cancellations if this applies to one of your favourites.

HAILSHAM PAVILION OPEN MORNING is on Saturday 12 September from 10am to 12 noon at the venue in George Street. Entry is free and the event with live music provided by local musicians throughout is organised by Hailsham Old Pavilion Society (HOPS). Tours of the projection room are possible with an exhibition of The Pavilion and HOPS, past and present.  Homemade cakes and refreshments available.

PRAYER AND PAINTING welcomes all families of any ability. Just come along on Saturday 12th September from 10am to 12.30pm to be creative on and have fun at Hailsham Gospel Mission, Station Road (corner of Garfield Road), Hailsham. There will be lots of sticking including diamond art and pictorial journaling and lots more. For more information email [email protected] or call 07918 861882.

FRIDAY MARKET AND BOOT FAIR runs every Friday and is attracting more sellers each week as the weather warms up and buyers can enter from 7am to 1pm at the Cattle Market site, Market Street, along with the Market Café serving traditional breakfasts and light lunches.

HAILSHAM HERITAGE CENTRE MUSEUM is open until end of October every Friday and Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm. It is in Blackman's Yard in Market Street behind the Town Council offices. Entry is free.

HAILSHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY kicked off the 2026/27 season in high style on Thursday 3 September, marking a vibrant beginning to the club’s annual calendar under new leadership.

The evening marked the official opening meeting led by our new Chairlady, Susan Trangmar. The Society celebrated several major accolades, including individual SCPF awards presented to Bob Bell and Cherry Larcombe, alongside a prestigious award presented to the Hailsham Photographic Society itself.

The incoming committee members were formally introduced, each outlining their responsibilities for the year ahead. A special mention goes to Chris Underhill, who takes on dual responsibilities this season, stepping into the Vice Chairperson role alongside his duties as Publicity Officer.

Richard Moon provided a comprehensive guide of UK photographic competitions. He detailed how HPS interacts with the PAGB, KCPA, and SCPF, explaining the selection process for external entries and navigating the unique intricacies of each regional and national federation.

Vice Chair Chris Underhill showcased a diverse portfolio from the past year spanning wildlife, street, family, long exposure, and aviation photography. In an engaging twist, Chris was joined by his 9-year-old son for an interactive voting game whereby members guessed whether shots were captured by Chris on modern gear or by his son using a 15-year-old camera. The audience was delighted to see how impressively the work of the younger photographer held up against modern kit.

Chairlady, Susan Trangmar, hosted a reflective session where members revisited previously judged images. Photographers shared the personal stories, motivations and context behind their shots, offering valuable insight beyond the score sheet.

Dave Brooker presented two distinct AV shows, the first a curated personal gallery of favourite images, followed by Hop Pickers Line and an historical visual account of the Hawkhurst branch railway line.

Susan wrapped up the night with a light-hearted, entertaining AV presentation featuring archival growing-up photographs of herself and her husband, HPS Treasurer Daniel Trangmar.

The Hailsham Photographic Society has a new Facebook page ‘Hailsham Photographic Society Announcements.’ Here, you can find out about up and coming events. More information about the Society can be found at www.hailshamphotographicsociety.co.uk.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY IN HAILSHAM

celebrates players of all ages and abilities, with members continuing to demonstrate that there is no age limit to achieving at the highest level.

A good example is Julie Abson, goalkeeper for the club’s women’s second team, who recently represented England Over 65s at the Masters World Cup in Belgium. Julie and her England teammates went all the way to the final, where they defeated Australia to be crowned World Champions.

Her achievement is a wonderful reflection of the talent, dedication and enthusiasm within Hailsham Hockey Club’s women’s section, and an inspiring example of how sport can continue to be enjoyed and pursued at every stage of life.

The club’s senior teams continue to compete in the England Hockey South East Leagues, while its women’s teams have established themselves as strong competitors within the regional league structure.

Training and matches take place at Hailsham Academy on Battle Road, where the club now benefits from a newly resurfaced, competition-quality sand-based artificial grass pitch, alongside upgraded LED floodlights and investment in equipment and other facilities.

The improved facilities provide an important resource not only for Hailsham Hockey Club but for the wider community, helping to ensure that local residents have access to quality facilities where they can participate in sport and physical

Hailsham Hockey Club welcomes new members throughout the year and offers opportunities for all abilities, from novice to experienced players. The club has both adult and junior sections and competitive teams across different age groups within the England Hockey leagues.

For those considering taking up hockey for the first time, the club encourages prospective players to attend a training session. The first session is free, and the club can provide equipment such as a stick and shin pads for those who need them.

Women’s training currently takes place on Wednesday evenings at Hailsham Academy, with the club welcoming players throughout the season. Junior training also takes place at the Academy, with the club welcoming children from Year 1 upwards.

The club also continues to look for people interested in becoming coaches and umpires, helping to strengthen the wider hockey community in Hailsham.

For further details, visit the Hailsham Hockey Club website or email [email protected]

ESSENTIAL TREE REMOVAL WORKS were recently carried out by Hailsham Town Council on Council-owned land following the identification of trees affected by ash dieback disease.

The work took place at several locations across the town, including Hailsham Country Park, Wentworth Wood and the buffer zones at Coopers Way.

The affected trees were identified during a survey by the Council’s tree surveyor, who recommended that they be removed at an early stage to help reduce the risk of dead or weakened trees becoming a safety hazard.

Ash dieback is a serious disease affecting ash trees, which can cause branches and trees to become structurally unsafe. The Council’s approach is to monitor affected trees and take appropriate action where removal is considered necessary.

HAILSHAM PUBLIC TOILETS REOPENED following repairs alongside the Changing Places facility following damage and vandalism. New lighting has been put in both and a new ceiling in the centre cubicle. These modern and free to use amenities are in the centre of town near Waitrose and include two modular public conveniences open to all users, a dedicated Changing Places facility for people with multiple or complex disabilities, an electronic hoist, a rise-and-fall changing table, shower facilities, accessible toilet and accessible wash basin. A RADAR key is required to access the Changing Places facility. The Vicarage Field public toilets are open from Monday to Saturday and 8am to 4pm and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Please report any damage or vandalism to the Town Council as soon as possible.

A NEW CARER SUPPORT CAFÉ starts on Thursday 24 September and then monthly thereafter from 2 to 3.30pm at Bowes House Care Home, Battle Road, Hailsham. This is in in conjunction with Care for the carers which is designed to offer carers some time out to meet other carers, enjoy some peer support and some delicious complimentary refreshments in our beautiful home.

Once a quarter there will be a speaker invited along to deliver a talk on subjects of interest and relevance for carers. Register your interest at [email protected].