Features

A boost to community morale

At 8pm on Sunday 12th December2021, Boris Johnson addressed the nation.  …“I am afraid we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, Omicron. … Today we are launching the Omicron Emergency Boost, a national mission unlike anything we have done before in the vaccination programme…. Everyone eligible aged 18 and... Read more

10th January

Looking for the perfect gifts for a foodie? Cuculo has plenty to choose from.

You will find gifts for a foodie at Cuculo Cheese & Wine on the High St, Heathfield, East Sussex. The place to buy gifts for those hard to please people who love food and wine. The store is open every day from now until Christmas Eve. Call 01435 862596 for advice or to place an... Read more

19th December

Last minute Christmas gift shopping made easy and fun

Unless you are super organised, there are always a few last-minute gifts to buy in the run up to Christmas – the neighbour who has been brilliant this year, the dog walker and a friend who deserves a little treat. Here are ten interesting and memorable gift ideas ranging from £8.50 to £45.00. They are... Read more

16th December

All you need to know about ethical vitamins.

Our health is top of mind for many of us, and keeping healthy in the Winter months has taken on a whole new significance in light of the pandemic. Supplements and healthy eating are two ways to look after your welbeing. When it comes to vitamins they are not all created equal. This informative chart... Read more

25th November

Shop local to save the planet.

People, Planet and Mindful Shopping If lockdown taught us one thing it was how lucky we are in the Heathfield area to have so many wonderful independent shops and services. When you couldn’t get a delivery from your usual supermarket, it was the local traders and volunteer services who took to their vans, electric bikes... Read more

14th November

Furnace Brook: a Fishery with a mission

It’s autumn – a time of mists, mellow fruitfulness here at Furnace Brook near Cowbeech.  Glistening frosty dew settles on the grass and you inhale the crisp fresh morning air. As the golden sun rays emerge from between the trees and reflect upon the tranquil lake in front of you, you in turn take time... Read more

28th October

Need help with your will and estate planning? Keyte Legal can help.

Will writing and estate planning are sensitive areas of the law and require careful handling. A specialist company established in this area is Keyte Legal – located in Heathfield, it is a family run and female led business headed up by MD Eloise Keyte. The business is just over two years old and has gone... Read more

25th August

Finding a job that works for parents

Having children is fantastic but sometimes it does feel as though having a family and a career is nearly impossible. The challenge of finding a job that works with being a parent can often seem insurmountable. The great thing about a career in care is that there are hundreds of avenues to follow. And from... Read more

17th August

When do you need a financial adviser?

Financial advice is something we all need at one point or another, but are we really using the advice of financial experts to the full? With today’s complex family set ups, the huge rise in small businesses entrepreneurs and the longer life expectancy many of us enjoy, the role of a financial planner has become... Read more

19th July

Kay & Pascoe LLP celebrate 10 years of family law in Heathfield

Kay & Pascoe LLP are celebrating 10 years in business in Heathfield this year. The office opened for business in September 2011.  It was started by husband and wife team John and Sharon Kay who are partners in the business.   Back in April 2013 they were joined by Lee Pascoe following a merger with Chappell... Read more

29th June

A good friend, kind and trustworthy – New research reveals how Brits in the Southeast would like to be remembered

The last year has been a difficult one for all of us, with the changing world brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic encouraging many of us to reassess our own personal circumstances and change our outlook on life. New research released by CPJ Field – the UK’s oldest funeral directors and 10th generation family run business... Read more

24th June

Heathfield Youth Drama are back with a splash!

Heathfield Youth Drama Group making a splash After months of drama by Zoom Heathfield Youth Drama are now properly back in action. You can only begin to imagine how challenging socially distanced remote theatre was for the tutors and young actors. Desperate to get back out there performing. The club’s first production, since Covid struck, is Aladdin which will be on stage, outside at the... Read more

10th June

The fascinating history of stoolball and the locals who played

I remember well the stoolball games I played at school mainly because the bat was so wide, it gave me some hope of hitting the ball!  But did you know it began as a medieval courting game? Stoolball originated in the Kent, Sussex and Surrey area and began in the C15th.  It was played by... Read more

8th June

Farrago womenswear comes of age

Coming of age can be a celebration of maturity, a rite of passage, even a milestone. But in Farrago’s case it’s a time to look forward after having had to spend much of the past year unable to open its doors. Farrago is a well established womenswear shop, and it has occupied the same site... Read more

18th May

An update from Wealden Funeral Services – your local independent funeral directors

As we hopefully come out of this COVID pandemic and look to the future we thought it was time to update the people of Heathfield and surrounding villages with changes that are taking place locally with regard to funerals and with us as well. The good news is that, as a whole, the number of... Read more

13th May

Joy at new freedoms for local care homes – Oakdown House and Carricks Brook

Everyone, everywhere is talking about ‘the end of lockdown’, this too is the topic of conversation at two local residential homes for adults with learning disabilities. The prospect of freedom and ‘normality’ is exciting but staff and residents of both Oakdown House and Carricks Brook are moving forward with caution, keeping everyone safe is still... Read more

29th April

The Pet Food Shop celebrates 50 years in Heathfield

Tucked away off Station Road, in Station Approach, The Pet Food Shop in Heathfield is a treasure trove of everything to do with pets and a place where you can be sure to find the best quality food for your furry friends. The Pet Food Shop is celebrating 50 years of trading this month and... Read more

26th April

Are you one of the many women missing out on £1,000s of state pension?

Here Stephen Palmer of Cranwell Wealth Solutions, a local Uckfeld and Heathfield financial planning practice, explains who should check their state pension to find out if they are owed far more. Who should check? Back in October 2020 Martin Lewis highlighted an issue of under payments of state pension that will affect many women. The... Read more

21st April

Who is the special link between Cross-in-Hand, Waldron and Harrods?

Did you know that Cross-in-Hand and Waldron have a link with the luxury London department store Harrods? Charles Digby Harrod was born in Whitechapel in 1841.  His father Charles Henry Harrod was a grocer and tea dealer and had opened a Harrod’s shop in Stepney but later speculatively rented premises in the up and coming... Read more

15th April

Plan to push the boat out, put your feet up or maybe visit the local castle this Easter

As Spring finally arrives, Easter is a wonderful opportunity for family time, celebration, feasting, treats and getting together. It can be a good opportunity to take some time out and time off and treat yourself and your loved ones with a little picnic or a lazy afternoon tea. Or with Herstmonceux Castle opening to the public... Read more

25th March

Financial planning expert Steven Sanders talks about ISAs, reviewing personal goals, pensions, the stockmarket and more

Personal finances are high on the agenda for many people following the year-long pandemic. Heathfield News talks to local Financial planning practice, Cranwell Wealth Solutions, who have a high street branch in Heathfield about the issues many face and the advice they would give to alleviate people’s concerns. Steven Sanders has worked for Cranwell Wealth... Read more

18th March

Looking for a job. Have you considered working with vulnerable adults?

One of the ‘A’ Level students enjoying the garden with one of the residents. If you have been impacted during the pandemic by job loss then read on. Oakdown House have gained many new staff over the past year, quite a few have found themselves furloughed or without work, and have decided to give a... Read more

15th February

The sporting legend who went to Skippers Hill

Charles Burgess Fry was born in 1872 in Croydon and is my interesting life with a local link this week (Article by local historian and writer Nicola Walker) Charles – known as CB Fry – was a sporting legend.   Charles spent much of his childhood at Skippers Hill Manor in Five Ashes and is... Read more

9th February

Lockdown Valentine’s Day – lift someone up by spreading the love

As a candlelit dinner in your favourite posh restaurant is not going to happen this year, you might be wondering what to do to make this coming Valentine’s Day a touch more special than a ‘normal’ day. Here are a few ideas: If you’re looking for something to share with your significant other this Valentine’s,... Read more

4th February

Why we should all help reduce light pollution

Would you like to help maintain the beauty of the East Sussex countryside, by monitoring light pollution and the darkness of the night sky? Wealden retains some of the darkest skies in the South (one of the reasons why the Royal Greenwich observatory was in Herstmonceux from 1957 to 1979), and the Milky Way is... Read more

31st January

The bizarre connection between Hellingly and Alan Bennett’s ‘The Lady in the Van’

Margaret was born at The Dicker in 1911 to Hailsham Rural District Council Highways Surveyor George Bryant Fairchild and his wife Harriet (Burgess).  George was employed by the Hailsham Council for 28 years and was a member of the local Labour Party.   Harriet was very involved with the Hellingly and Hailsham communities, organising and winning... Read more

12th January

Make Veganuary dry and embark on a food and drink adventure at home

With travelling off the menu for a while and no opportunity to taste different foods abroad, the owner of an artisan food platform is encouraging people to embark on a food and drink adventure at home. Taking part in MeltedInside.com founder and Sussex resident Candy Bowles’ triple challenge during January will involve trying a whole... Read more

29th December

Festive Focus on Food and Drink

It has been a year of restrictions, and as a result, many of us are learning to enjoy catering at home, it has been a time of discovery, of trying new things, and most of all shopping from local suppliers. During lockdown local stores and businesses turned to delivery services and many of us were... Read more

11th December

Disney blockbuster Mary Poppins was written in Mayfield cottage

This week’s interesting life with a local link is author Pamela Lyndon Travers OBE who wrote the ‘Mary Poppins’ books at her home in Pound Cottage near Mayfield during the Winter of 1933/34. Born Helen Lyndon Goff in Queensland, Australia in 1899 to wealthy parents, Helen was the eldest of three daughters.  Her father died... Read more

2nd December

New tuition service for Primary School children

Lockdown has had a significant impact across all years of schooling, but no more so than at Primary School level, as young children find it much more difficult to concentrate and struggle with online teaching. According to the BBC news and Ofsted, children are roughly 3 months behind where they should be, with 44% of... Read more

26th November

Brave Dallington resident who worked undercover against the Gestapo

This week, I am glimpsing into the life of Arthur Breen – husband of french resistance fighter Michele Breen, who I wrote about before, having seen their interesting gravestone in Dallington churchyard. I say glimpsing because in World War Two, Arthur was a member of the SOE –  the Special Operations Executive – and information... Read more

12th November

Vines Cross turkey farm has the perfect solution for smaller gatherings

Vines Cross turkey farmers JR Sheffield are gearing up for a busy Christmas with their butchers reporting footfall across the year up 50 percent compared to last year. But press reports that turkeys are being starved or being put on a reduced diet so they fit a potentially smaller Christmas gathering are totally unfounded says... Read more

5th November

The diminutive heroine buried in Dallington

The epitaph on a fairly recent gravestone in Dallington Churchyard has always interested me and I knew it would make a great research project – the brief detail hinted at such an amazing life. Claude Michele Wattebled de Ducla was born outside Bordeaux in 1922. When France was occupied in 1940, Michele was being educated... Read more

4th November

Amazing woman who fought for women’s rights buried in Brightling

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the brave Arctic explorer Benjamin Leigh-Smith, whose wooden leaping board grave marker I came across in Brightling Churchyard. I also researched the life of Benjamin’s sister Barbara, who is buried next to her brother.  Barbara Bodichon was one of the founders of the UK suffrage movement which... Read more

22nd October

Incredible story of intrepid explorer buried in Brightling

On a recent trip to Brightling Church, I came across the ‘leaping board’ grave of Benjamin Leigh-Smith.  The line ‘Five times he sailed the Arctic Sea and for his Country’s good, braved countless hardships and perils’ caught my eye. And so it was interesting to discover that ‘He was one of the most intrepid explorers... Read more

7th October

Would you know where to start if you had to arrange a funeral?

At age 53 I am incredibly fortunate to have never had to arrange a funeral. So when I was invited to step through the doors of Wealden Funerals I took the opportunity to pose some of the questions that people might normally not want to ask. Once inside, a black and white photo on the... Read more

1st October

Tragedy of train crash in Mayfield

No one expected tragedy to strike when they boarded the 8.18am London train from Eastbourne on Wednesday 1st September 1897.   The train was made up of the engine (the ‘Bonchurch’) and was coupled to five passenger carriages and a milk van.  The train was unusually busy that day as discounted tickets to London were... Read more

22nd September

Secret scandal surrounding local fishmonger

The Horam war memorial lists ‘R Felgate’ among its WW1 fallen.  When war broke out, Roland Felgate enlisted in Eastbourne into the Royal Sussex Regiment and died around the 14th July 1916 aged 21.  His body was never recovered and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.  But Roland’s last name was not... Read more

9th September

Carricks Brook staff help residents enjoy sports day

The pandemic has been challenging for the staff and residents of Carricks Brook, a small, family run care home in Dallington for adults with autism and challenging behaviours. But, the staff have worked hard to successfully adapt daily life to ensure that the residents can still lead happy and fulfilling lives. This summer the residents... Read more

3rd September

Historian uncovers Old Heathfield Russian connection

This is the first in a series of articles kindly written by local historian, Hellingly resident and author of ‘Here Dead We Lie’ Nicola Walker Whenever I’ve been wandering around the graveyard at All Saints Church, Old Heathfield looking for war graves or sometimes family, I’ve often noticed this gravestone and wondered about the story... Read more

2nd September

DIY expert realises dream with Heathfield shop

Six months after taking ownership of his first shop, Chris Cook hasn’t looked back and the business is going from strength to strength. Chris struck up a relationship with the owner of Balcombes DIY in Hailsham Road, Heathfield, and then one day went home and told his partner that he would love to own the... Read more

27th August

Time to enjoy the Cuckoo Trail and a wine tour and tasting at Off the Line Vineyard

A perfect opportunity to enjoy award winning rosé wines produced in Off the Line Vineyard, Hellingly, East Sussex. During August you can visit this, state of the art vineyard, find out more about the wine with a tasting and enjoy a self-guided walk. Wine is available by the glass, and the cellar door shop offers sales... Read more

7th August

From rat race to Rushlake Green – a year in the life of a first-time village shop owner

For first-time shop owner Tony, his inaugural year in retail is one that he will never forget and a time that presented more challenges than he could have ever imagined. Tony purchased Rushlake Green Villages Stores last July in order to fulfil his dream of returning to the country and escaping the London rat race.... Read more

6th August

Time for 18-25 year olds to take back financial control urges Cranwell Wealth Solutions

Young people in the 18-25 year old age group have experienced testing times of late – with the lasting effect of the 2008 financial crash, unattainable housing, higher tuition fees and Brexit all playing their part. Now, with the enormous impact of Covid-19 on their further education and employment prospects, this generation face tough times... Read more

24th July

Stylist gets ready to hit the road*

A mobile stylist from Five Ashes is gearing up to re-connect with customers in their own homes for the first time in many months. She will be wearing full PPE and adhering to the new rules since the coronavirus outbreak to keep herself and customers safe. *Amy has been busy practising wearing her PPE by... Read more

2nd July

Off the Line Vineyard celebrates English Wine Week with a virtual tour and tasting 26 & 27 June 2020

Join Off the Line Vineyard to celebrate English Wine Week! This year English Wine Week runs from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 28 June and Off the Line Vineyard, in Horam are offering a special virtual tour and tasting experience so that you can enjoy the vineyard and taste their three rosés with your household... Read more

17th June

Is yours one of the 1.6 million unclaimed pension pots worth £19.4 billion?

Have you exhausted your list of lockdown chores yet? Research published in May 2020 from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) suggests that tracking down old pensions might be one task worth adding. Here Cranwell Wealth Solutions of Uckfield and Heathfield explains how many pensions are currently being left unclaimed. According to the ABI, there... Read more

5th June

Quick fixes and advice from Cuckoo Hair

Cuckoo Hair may be temporarily closed but they are busy supporting their clients through out this challenging time. For many, not being able to have their regular salon visit is tough. Leanne, co-owner of Cuckoo Hair is offering complimentary consultations over the phone to give advice on how best to handle hair and scalp maintenance,... Read more

18th May

Ideas for celebrating VE Day 75 at home

The May Bank Holiday was moved this year to encourage three days of celebrations to mark VE Day 75, over the weekend of 8th to 10th May. The Coronavirus lockdown has had a big impact on this, with most events cancelled. But, don’t dispair you can still join in from home, to mark this significant... Read more

6th May

Guy is king of the castle during lockdown

It’s the time of year when Herstmonceux Castle and Grounds are at their most colourful with displays of daffodils, tulips, magnolias and primroses. Normally there would be hundreds of visitors walking around the estate, people attending special events like Easter egg hunts and others enjoying the tearoom and tours of the castle. But as a... Read more

15th April