Cuckfield Dramatic Society presents The Ghost Train - OCT/NOV 2024

Cuckfield Dramatic Society presents The Ghost Train

When six passengers are stranded late at night at a soggy, decrepit railway station deep in the depths of Cornwall, stationmaster Saul tries his very best to dissuade them from staying by recounting the tale of the Ghost Train. Years before, six people died in that very station following a train crash on a night much like this one and ever since, the station has been haunted and anyone caught there overnight does not live to tell their tale.
As frightening as the story is, feeling they have no other option, our group decide to settle in for the night with terrifying consequences. Ghostly footsteps, ominous knocking and eerie lights passing by on the desolate platform outside. Is it truly a haunted train or could it be that not everything is quite what it seems?

Come and find out for yourself this spooky season and meet Richard and Elsie, belligerent and sarcastic to one another as their marriage comes to an end, in stark contrast to sweet Charles and Peggy who are still loved up in their honeymoon phase (literally). Then there’s Miss Bourne, the unintentionally hilarious spinster and her feathered companion Joey. Who could forget the ridiculous and wacky Teddie Deakin, the reason our company is stranded in the first place, and they’re none too happy with him for it!

Written by Arnold Ridley (of Dad’s Army fame) in 1923 after he himself was stranded at a railway station, the play was an enormous success with almost 700 consecutive performances, two revivals and more than one film adaptation.

There’s no better way to get in the mood this Halloween so come and see Cuckfield Dramatic Society’s production of Arnold Ridley’s The Ghost Train at The Queen’s Hall, from 30th October until 2nd November. Tickets, priced £10-£15, are available at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/cds

Cuckfield Museum Memorial Walk -2024

As part of a series of national commemorations this autumn to remember the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Cuckfield Museum has devised a Memorial Walk around the village. The homes of 38 of the men who died in WWI have been identified and their houses marked with poster boards bearing the photograph (where possible) and information about the soldier. The boards will be up from 29th October until 18th November.

The Memorial Walk map will be available as part of a Cuckfield Remembers Commemorative Programme available in the High Street at our sponsors: The White Harte, Cuckfield Bathrooms, Marcus Grimes, Cuckfield I Wear and The Rose and Crown who will also be displaying WWI photographs taken in the village. Programmes will also be available in the Parish Office, Holy Trinity Church and the Baptist Chapel. The Queens Hall will be displaying photos of The Queen’s Hall when it was a VAD Hospital in WWI.

The programme will give information about events over Armistice time including a concert, drama, film show, tea dance and beacon lighting.

An exhibition to accompany these events ‘Peace at Last 1918 – Joy and Sorrow’ will run until 15th December at Cuckfield Museum.

Cuckfield Village Show

Welcome to Cuckfield Life’s Cuckfield Village Show event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything about the show.

See also, Cuckfield Village Show Facebook
The Cuckfield Society

Next year’s information coming mid-2025!


Click to enlarge

Cuckfield Village Show 2024

There’s less than a month to go to this year’s annual Village Show and the organisers are hoping for a record number of entries, particularly in the fruit and vegetable classes.

TV gardener Monty Don says the heavy rainfall, coupled with bouts of warm weather, makes for ideal growing conditions. Local gardeners are hoping for more sunshine than showers and confirm that the next couple of weeks will be make or break time for prize- winning produce.

Meanwhile advertising boards promoting the show have been popping up all over village, courtesy of Marcus Grimes Estate Agents, this year’s main show sponsors along with Cuckfield Golf Centre who have once again covered the printing costs of the show guides. Marcus, pictured here with assistant Abbie Vickery, has been the local estate agent for the past 36 years and believes events like this are important in bringing the community together.

He says; “Rural communities across the UK are suffering as schools, banks, pubs, and GP surgeries close. New research reveals that more and more villages are at risk as rural life is eroded. Yet here in Cuckfield we are bucking the trend. That’s why I believe events like the Cuckoo Fayre and the Village Show are so important and deserve our support.“

Niki Smyth CEO and Events Manager at Cuckfield Golf Centre, and 180 Degrees Bar and Kitchen agrees. “We are proud to be part of such a wonderful thriving and friendly village. We are so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the convenience of excellent transport links to London, Brighton and Gatwick Airport. We will always help where we can and were pleased to not only print the show guide, but offer a prize for the silent auction.”

Join us Saturday 7th September at Cuckfield Baptist Church

Classes include:
Horticulture - Fruit Vegetables Flowers
Food and Drink - Baking Preserves/Drink
Floral Art
Crafts
Art
Photography
Juniors

Click the image above to enlarge the comprehensive category list.