Cuckfield's mayoral election and procession 2021
Here ye, here ye!
Election night will be on 15th October at the Rose & Crown from 8pm, with the result announced at 10pm. Every penny counts, so come along and vote on the night, or before, with your spare pennies and pounds, safe in the knowledge that all the mayoral funds go directly to good causes.
On Saturday 16th October, we welcome the new mayor as they process around Cuckfield supported by fantastic floats and marching bands. The procession sets off from Warden Park at 2pm, heading up London Lane to Brainsmead and then back down to the High Street. Here, at The Talbot, the new mayor will be presented with the keys to the town by the Sheriff of Cuckfield.
The White Harte, Cuckfield - Behind the Counter
By Jacqueline Elmore
On the corner of South Street in Cuckfield an imposing three-pronged chimney stack sits above a timberframed, fish scale-tiled coaching inn. Below its pitched roof is an image of a white deer flanked by the numbers ‘1881’. Other lettering around the old sign includes ‘H’ and ‘W’ for the associated brewery (Hall and Woodhouse) and ‘Ye White Harte Inne’, its ancient and locally loved name.
The White Harte Inn is one of Cuckfield’s ‘familiar faces’ and the first public house that you will see when entering the village from the south. The inn has been the place to go for a pie and a pint of ale for (literally) hundreds of years. Behind its doors lives landlord and long-standing publican James (Jim) Ayling, who has lived at the inn for nearly 15 years.
“I’ve not always been in the pub trade. It’s an interesting story actually. My now partner, Jackie, used to work here in the kitchen. One day we decided that we’d give it a go and take over the reins. That’s really how we ended up here and much of the reason why we are still here now.”
Jim, who was born and raised in Hove, originally worked in hotels and restaurants in Brighton and had stints as an engineer before returning to hospitality, this time as a publican.
When Jim first arrived in the village he worked behind the bar at the King’s Head pub, situated just around the corner from the White Harte.
[Full story published in the January 2019 issue of Cuckfield Life magazine[