Hailsham Town News

HAILSHAM CHORAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT is on Saturday 12 December at 4pm at Hailsham Parish Church. A seasonal programme, this concert will combine traditional Christmas favourites with more contemporary musical selections. The performance will be conducted by Barbara Edwards, accompanied by William Hancox. A retiring collection will be held during the event in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice. For further information about the concert and tickets, visit hailshamchoral.org/.

 HAILSHAM OLD PAVILION SOCIETY AGM is coming up shortly at The Pavilion, George Street, on Monday 16 November with doors opening at 6.30 for 7.15pm start. This will be followed by the film 9 to 5, starring Dolly Parton. Please note that from 16 November Station Road and North Street will be closed from 8pm to 6am for 5 nights. All welcome. If you would like a copy of last year’s Minutes, please contact the Pavilion.

 ST WILFRID’S CHRISTMAS FAIR Eastbourne is holding a Christmas Fair to raise vital funds for hospice care and Father Christmas will be joining in the fun. As our local hospice, many Hailsham people have benefitted from the work they do and so will want to attend to help raise funds following the success of last year which raised more than £13k. This year’s event is being held across two sessions, with a ticketed preview evening for those who prefer a quieter shopping experience. Doors will be open on Friday 27 November between 7pm and 9pm. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, cost £10 and include a drink and a mince pie. The main, non-ticketed, event is on Saturday 28 November from 11am to 4pm with a suggested donation of £3 per person on the door. The fair, at Broadwater Water Way, Eastbourne, BN22 9PZ, is sponsored by Recruitment South East.

They will have stalls including unique handmade gifts, jewellery, crafts, floristry, food, a raffle, tombolas and a choir will entertain both days to really get you in the festive spirit.

Children will enjoy glitter tattoos, pottery painting and for £8, the magical Father Christmas Experience too. Children can share their Christmas wishes, pose for a photo and receive a small gift to take home. Please book in advance at stwhospice.org/christmas-fair, contact [email protected] or call 01323 434224 for more information.

 THE HAILSHAM RAILWAY CLUB received a £400 donation from Hailsham Lions Club to help fund its forthcoming Christmas party, providing a festive boost for the weekly over 55s social group as it approaches its second anniversary.

The contribution will help make the December celebrations a special occasion for members. Hailsham Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, a worldwide voluntary service organisation supporting local communities through fundraising, charitable donations and practical assistance.

Over the last 2 years the group has grown and many friendships have developed and the Christmas party will bring everyone together and look forward to sharing activities in the year ahead.

The Club meets every Wednesday in the lower ground floor of what was the Free Church and is now call The Station, on the corner of South and Western Roads from 10am to 1pm. Refreshments are available for a donation.

 THE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE saw hundreds of residents, veterans, Armed Forces representatives, cadets, councillors and community organisations gathered in Hailsham last Sunday who paid tribute to those who have given their lives in military service and remember all those affected by conflict. The commemorations brought together the local community for a morning of reflection, jointly organised by Hailsham Town Council, the Hailsham Royal British Legion Hailsham and the Parish Church.

There was a service in the Parish Church followed by the service at the War Memorial and the parade, laying of wreaths and providing a visible expression of the town’s collective respect and gratitude.

 THE PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY BRIEFING comes to Hailsham Pavillion, George Street, on Saturday 14 November for two screening at 2.30pm which will be followed by community discussion facilitated by Neil Povey, Hailsham FM and at 7.30pm for the film screening only. Tickets are £5 plus booking fee from the Hailsham Pavilion in person, online or by phone on 01323 841414. The film is a national briefing on the risks facing Britain from climate change and nature loss with local residents and decision-makers invited to

watch the evidence and discuss what it could mean for East Sussex. This is a 50-minute film adapted from the landmark National Emergency Briefing, held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025 and attended by more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media.

Introduced by wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham CBE, the original briefing brought together leading experts to examine the implications of climate change and nature loss for food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security, as well as evidence-based actions that could reduce those risks.

Now that briefing has been turned into a public film and is being screened in communities across Britain. So far there have been 5,000 screenings.

 HAILSHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Members and visitors enjoyed a captivating evening at the latest Hailsham Photographic Society meeting, which featured a sensational Landscape Competition judged by the distinguished photographer Roger Reynolds FRPS, FBPPA, FBPE, APAGB. Reynolds brought over forty five years of professional experience and extensive knowledge, providing members with expert critique and humorous storytelling from his photographic travels.

The competition showcased an incredible variation of vistas, spanning rolling hills, expansive lakes, vast beaches, open roads, and cascading waterfalls. Captivating scenes arrived from England, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, portraying every season from golden autumn tones to bright summer light. The entries even included intriguing abstract landscapes.

Judge Roger Reynolds delivered an engaging, highly humorous evening filled with personal storytelling and technical critique. Reynolds shared valuable insights regarding depth, realistic tones, and lighting composition while reflecting on global photography trips to locations such as Yellowstone National Park. Regarding personal artistic preference, Reynolds stated, “If you like it, nothing else really matters”.

Competition was fierce across both print and Projected Digital Image categories, with dozens of outstanding submissions. In the Print category, Carole Lewis secured third place, John Evans took second place, and Liz Scott achieved top honours by winning first place alongside a Highly Commended award for her second entry. In the Projected Digital Image round, Phil Lancaster achieved second place, while celebrated double success by taking both first and third place. Anyone inspired by breathtaking photography is warmly encouraged to attend future society gatherings to develop skills and share passion in a friendly environment. Follow the “Hailsham Photographic Society announcements” Facebook page to find out more about their upcoming events or visit their website - www.hailshamphotographicsociety.co.uk.

 FRIDAY MARKET AND BOOT FAIR continues to run every Friday attracting more sellers each week as we go into winter. If you are looking to buy Christmas presents responsibly and are looking for pre-loved, good as new, recycled or just plain useful gifts, come along and see what the sellers have on their tables for you. The market and boot fair is getting busier by the week as people discover the only boot fair around that continues to trade through the winter months. There are plenty of stalls selling pre-loved and useful items as well as new and unused and trade market sellers. This boot fair runs all year round on hardstanding and only closes for Christmas week. The table fee is only £8 payable once you unpack. 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.