Haywards Heath says ‘Thank you for the Music’ at the end of ‘The Best Town Day Ever!’

Published: 11 September 2023

Haywards Heath says ‘Thank you for the Music’ at the end of ‘The Best Town Day Ever!’

Victoria Park was bursting with energy and excitement on Saturday at Haywards Heath’s Town Day. The park was filled with local charities, businesses and food vendors. The performance schedule was jam-packed with local performers and the much-anticipated Tiny the Triceratops and ABBA Re-Bjorn. 

Tiny the Triceratops 

The audience were captivated by Tiny the Triceratops and the baby dinos, with children being asked to help tame Tiny! There was something for everyone to enjoy, including a Classic Vehicle Show provided by the Weald Classic Vehicle Club, Crazy Golf, Circus Skills, Face Painting and Balloon Modelling, as well as a huge number of stalls to visit.

Victoria Park really came to life when the evening performances began, with Cylvian Flynn, Holly Beaumont and Circus Brighton’s Fireshow captivated the crowds. ABBA Re-Bjorn closed the day with over an hour of much-loved hits. The atmosphere was electric as the audience danced and sung along. Children were even invited up on stage to take part in a song!

Attendees raved about this year’s Town Day, with it being described as ‘The Best Town Day Ever’, another said ‘Wow what a day, you certainly pulled put the stops. It was truly amazing to see the amount of stalls in Victoria Park. Thank you also for the water we all appreciated it. Thanks again for an amazing day’.

Town Mayor, Cllr Stephanie Inglesfield comments ‘It was a splendid day. There was something for everyone, and the vast majority of the activities were free, which was much appreciated by families: from the incredibly lifelike Triceratops to the Punch and Judy, from stepping into the cockpit of an old war plane to actually taking the commands of a virtual reality flight simulator - Duncan Pascoe, the Deputy Mayor and myself flew a plane over the Georgian mountains; Duncan landed his plane like a pro, I crashed mine! -, from enjoying an Irish Dancing demonstration to being dazzled by the Fireshow and its “do not try at home” tours de force.

The acts on stage and in the arena were simply fabulous! It was great have so many local groups perform included Turning Pointe, M&M Theatre School, Carey School of Irish Dance, Rock Choir, The Spring Chickens and the Haywards Heath Concert Band’.

The festival atmosphere in the evening was enjoyed by a huge a crowd. The temperature thankfully cooled down and families gathered around the stage for a memorable evening. Our fabulously talented Cylvian Flynn kicked it off with her usual energy and stage presence and delighted us all with songs like “The Best” by Tina Turner. What a performance! We were in for a treat, as more energy and talent was in store with the fabulous Holly Beaumont. Her rendition of “Valerie” was unforgettable! And of course, the grand finale, the much anticipated, Abba Re-Bjorn. They were everything I was hoping they would be and more! The voices, the dancing, the outfits, everything was pure Abba. More than an act, it was a party and the whole of the crowd in Victoria Park jumped right into that spirit! We were transported back to the eighties, to the fun, carefree, and festive world of Abba. I went home with a hoarse voice as I sang along the whole time!

The 48 charity stalls displayed the spirit of dynamism and generosity that defines our community. Duncan and I spent quality time at each stall, getting to know the volunteers themselves and learning about the work they do. The dedication, the pertinence, and the creativity of these charities always amaze me. They are the glue that hold our community together.

Town Day 2023 was memorable! It was a celebration of Haywards Heath and its community, for its residents, by its residents. It was a festival of fun, packed with fun for the whole family, local talents, and community spirit.

Thank you to all the people who contributed to make Town Day a success: the people from Haywards Heath and beyond who attended, Imogen Wilson the Town Council Events and Community Officer, Steve Trice the Town Clerk and Helen Hewett Assistant to the Clerk who did so much on the day and in the run up to the event, Thank you to the Grounds Staff who set up and then dismantled, to all the Town Councillors who came to help on the day, to the fairground people, to the charities and businesses who attended, all the acts on stage and in the arena, the emergency services who kept us safe especially on this hot day, thank you to you all, and also, in the words of Abba… Thank you for the music!’

Geoff Potton, Chief Executive of Sigma Homes, said: “We’re proud to have been able to sponsor this year’s Haywards Heath Town Day. It was wonderful to see the community come together and enjoy the array of activities and stalls whilst enjoying some September sunshine. The event demonstrates the close-knit community feel of the town, and we are pleased to be a part of this through our sponsorship and collection of new family homes at our Spring Bank development.”

Haywards Heath Town Council would like to thank the event sponsors Sigma Homes, CSL Behring, Batcheller Monkhouse and The Orchards Shopping Centre. Our thanks also goes to P&S Gallagher for sponsoring the Punch & Judy shows.

Batcheller Monkhouse