Defibrillator locations around Hassocks

Defibrillator locations Hassocks - click to enlarge

We’d like to encourage everyone living and working in the village to familiarise themselves with the sites of the life-saving defibrillator machines and learn how to use them.

An estimated 60,000 people each year in the UK have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and, sadly, less than 10% of those people will survive. Yet, if a bystander is able to start CPR, they could double a person’s chances of survival.

Hassocks has an impressive sixteen defib machines that we know about, including the newest unit recently installed at Adastra Hall. Five of these are available 24/7 as they are fixed to the outside of the address. The other units are only available when each location is open.

All of the machines are portable and contain full instructions. And when using it while on a call with 999, the operator will talk you through using it.

Here is a list of Hassocks defibrillators around the village. Click for the location on maps.

24 hour defibrillators:

Hassocks Railway Station
The Thatched Inn
Keymer & Hassocks Sports & Social Club
Adastra Hall
Oldland Windmill
Hassocks Infant School

Defibrillators available during the location’s opening hours:

Adastra Bowling Club
South Downs Nurseries
The Weald
Hassocks Dental Surgery
Age Concern Hassocks
Freedom Leisure Centre
Hassocks Football Club
Hassocks Health Centre
DMH Stallard
Windmills School

Defibrillators are very easy to use, and have been designed to be used by members of the public, without any previous training. However, you may wish to watch this helpful video, to give you an idea of how they work and what you typically have to do when using one: https://youtu.be/YbjcCjSNvUY

You can also find more units via The British Heart Foundation’s National Defibrillator Network (The Circuit) by looking up the website: www.defibfinder.uk - which shows all registered defibs that are available, with live details.

Information correct as of September 2024

Hassocks WI campaign

During November, Hassocks WI were busy campaigning to stop violence against women. “From 26th November to 10th December, we joined in with ten days of activism,” says Gerry Dandridge (pictured), President of Hassocks WI. “It was so successful,” says Gerry, “that I’ve already booked the Police Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, to come and speak to us next November.”

In 2019, the National WI launched a campaign called ‘No More Violence to Women and Girls’. In 2023, the Hassocks group crocheted for the cause and made an eye-catching banner of orange flowers to heighten awareness. “We had such a positive response,” says Gerry, “that we continued our campaign and, in November 2025, the banner was once again on display in Adastra Park and the group continue to collaborate with Safe in Sussex to spread this important message.

Gerry, who spoke on Mid-Sussex Radio about the campaign, says: “On average, it takes a woman seven years to leave an abusive partner, and Safe in Sussex provide valuable tools to help someone cope in the meantime. Find out more at www.safeinsussex.co.uk Anyone who is concerned could also chat online or browse the website at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk Or get support on the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: call 0808 2000 247. And, remember, Hassocks village has designated safe spaces at Freedom leisure and Boots.

Hassocks WI is thriving with 74 active members. In January, Hassocks WI will be busy creating breast cancer cushions for the specialist centre in Preston Park where a member’s daughter works. Gerry elaborates: “This is a very useful campaign for January and members can chat while stuffing cushions, regardless of the weather outside.”

“All WI groups are slightly different,” says Gerry. But you can find out more about what’s going on from our website.” Other activities undertaken in 2025 included a drumming workshop and linedancing. As well as regular events such as the monthly craft club, plans for 2026 include making knicker bunting to highlight ovarian cancer, organising a maker’s fair in the autumn, and talks from The Sussex Dolphin Project and colour consultant, Michaela Sargent.

Did you know...?
By County Councillor Erika Woodhurst-Trueman I attended a brilliant, but deeply worrying event hosted by Hassocks WI about stopping violence against women and girls. The event hosted speakers from SafeinSussex, Sussex Police and Hassocks Sports Centre. Here are some points raised. *TRIGGER WARNING*

• In 2025, one in eight women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking
• A woman dies every three days from domestic violence
• Last year, for the first time, that three-day figure was outstripped by the number of women committing suicide because they couldn’t see a way out
• Less than 1 in 100 cases results in a conviction
• 1 in 5 children will witness or experience domestic abuse
• Young women aged 16-24 are more likely than any other age group to be victims of sexual assault
• 16-19 is the most common age group for perpetrators of rape and serious sexual offences
• A 2021 Offsted survey found that 88% of girls experienced being sent sexual pictures or videos they did not want to see (Boys = 49%)
• Less than 20% of domestic abuse incidents are reported - women feel they won’t be believed, they can’t see a way out or a future, they know cases take years to come to court
• Jurors hearing these kinds of cases receive no training, yet expert panels are being trialled for some fraud cases

Fight for a better future
• Get informed – parental controls aren’t enough
• Talk to young people openly and honestly
• Challenge misogynistic behaviour
• Campaign for change – better funding and tax reduction for support services, changes to the justice system, improvements to the national curriculum, more effective police powers over abusers
• Get behind local support services like Safe in Sussex, Worth and Rise
• Look out for each other

If you are worried about someone:
• Reach out – ‘Are you ok?’
• Listen
• Believe
• Make it clear support is out there
• If they aren’t ready to open up, try again another time

Where to find help...
You can find help and more information in the links below and in person help at Hassocks Sports Centre. The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
www.safeinsussex.co.uk
www.riseuk.org.uk

Hassocks Parish Council news - January 2026

Parish locations for Hippo salt bags...

Clayton - Underhill Lane junction Brighton Road
Clayton - Underhill Lane junction Spring Lane
Clayton - Underhill Lane/The Pump House
Hassocks - Keymer Rd/Woodsland Rd
Hassocks - Keymer Rd/Wilmington Close
Hassocks - Keymer Road/Ockley Lane


What can you do to help in snow and ice?


Look out for elderly relatives or neighbours. There are some simple ways you can support vulnerable or elderly neighbours:
• Check to see if they need any practical help and that they are well.
• Make sure they have enough food supplies in case they cannot go out.
• Offer to clear their paths when you clear yours and spread salt. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt.

Clearing Snow and Ice
A community effort will help towards keeping Hassocks safer in snow and ice. Individuals can clear snow and ice from pavements, and we hope that local traders and residents will be prepared to clear outside their premises and key pedestrian walkways.

Clearing snow and ice from the pavement outside your home or public spaces can help prevent slips and falls.
You can help your community in heavy snowfall by:
• shovelling away the bulk
• sweeping away the rest
• salting to stop more ice building up

Top tips
• Do it early in the day – it’s easier to move fresh, loose snow.
• Use salt if possible - it will melt the ice or snow and stop it from refreezing overnight.
• All you need is household table salt. One tablespoon will cover a square metre, so you can use it sparingly.
• Don’t use water to clear away the snow. Even boiling water can re-freeze very quickly and leave an icy patch.

Winter Planning


In the event of heavy snow fall, Hassocks Parish Council has an arrangement in place whereby Burgess Hill Town Council will deliver hippo bags of salt to prearranged locations in Hassocks and Clayton. Only one delivery will be made during the winter. The hippo bags are supplied by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and will only be delivered if/when WSCC makes the decision to activate its Winter Management Plan.

Liability

Any individual using the grit/salt will be acting on their own initiative and this action will be entirely at their own risk. It is recommended that the following items are worn when spreading salt: a high visibility vest/jacket, warm gloves and hat, sturdy non-slip waterproof footwear and warm clothes. It is also recommended that if working alone you contact someone when starting and finishing and carry a fully charged mobile phone.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up a copy of January’s Hassocks Life (when available) or click the images to enlarge them.

Forthcoming copy dates

2026 copy dates for Hassocks Life magazine

February’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 20th January
Delivery between 31st January - 6th February

March’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 17th February
Delivery between 28th February - 6th March

April’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 17th March
Delivery between 28th March - 3rd April

May’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 21st April
Delivery between 2nd - 8th May

June’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 19th May
Delivery between 30th May - 5th June

July’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 16th June
Delivery between 27th June - 3rd July

August’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 21st July
Delivery between 1st - 7th August

September’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 18th August
Delivery between 29th August - 4th September

October’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 22nd September
Delivery between 3rd - 9th October

November’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 20th October
Delivery between 31st October - 6th November

December’s Hassocks Life
Copy date 17th November
Delivery between 28th November - 4th December

Light Up Hassocks

Welcome to Hassocks Life’s Light Up Hassocks information page. Here you will find our most recent information for all things Light Up Hassocks.

See also, Light Up Hassocks on Facebook

Light up Hassocks 2025 will be on 5th December

By The Light Up Hassocks Elves

Come and enjoy this wonderful community event on Friday 5th December 2025 between 4pm and 8pm. The evening will host a children’s parade, food court, late-night shopping, funfair, lots of live music, and local community groups. We can also announce that there will be an absolute sackload of Christmas magic!

To make sure all this festive fun happens safely we will have a road closure in effect 4pm-8pm.

Keymer Road will be closed from Woodsland Road to the entrance of the car park behind The Sussex Grocer. Keymer Road will then be closed from the western side of the mini roundabout by Station Approach East to Clerks Acre for the parade, from approximately 4.15pm to 5.15pm.

The road closure will affect buses and a diversion will be in place. Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and medical emergencies, but other traffic will be asked to wait or diverted. After a record-breaking number of requests to be allowed through the closure in 2023, we feel obligated to remind people to please not underestimate how dangerous and difficult it is to escort a car through crowds of people in a dark and noisy environment.

May we suggest that if your arrival home is during the road closure periods that you use the Dale Avenue car parks or the car park on the western side of Hassocks Station.

Please advise any likely visitors or carers well in advance so that they can plan their access and parking in plenty of time.

Christmas services around Hassocks

Churches of Hassocks Christmas services

Welcome to Hassocks Life’s churches of Hassocks Christmas services event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Christmas in our churches.

See also, United Reformed Church, Saint Francis of Assisi, St Edward's RC Church, St Cosmas & St Damian

Also, please note the following added venue dates:
Adastra Hall on Sunday 14th – Carols Together from 3-4.30pm, with refreshments
Saturday 20th – Carols in the Market Place. Join us to sing carols at 11am at the Hassocks village market. Mulled wine and mulled apple juice available at the CTH stand.

United Reformed Church

23 Keymer Rd, Hassocks
https://www.hassocks-urc-church.org.uk/

8th December, 4pm
Christingle service

22nd December, 3pm
Crib Service

24th Christmas Eve, 6pm
Church Carols by Candlelight

25th Christmas Day, 10am
Christmas service

St Francis of Assisi

Priory Road, Hassocks
https://www.claytonwithkeymer.org.uk/about-our-churches/st-francis-of-assisi/

24th Christmas Eve, 4pm
Crib service

25th Christmas Day, 9.45am
Communion

St Edward's RC Church

2 Lodge Ln, Keymer
https://www.stwilfridsbh.com/

24th Christmas Eve, 5pm
First Mass of Christmas

25th Christmas Day, 9.30am
Mass

St Cosmas & St Damian

119 Keymer Rd, Keymer
https://www.claytonwithkeymer.org.uk/

24th Christmas Eve, 6pm
9 Lessons and Carols

25th Christmas Day, 8am & 9.45am
BCP Holy Communion & Eucharist

St John the Baptist

Underhill Ln, Clayton
https://www.claytonwithkeymer.org.uk/about-our-churches/st-john-the-baptist/

25th Christmas Day, 11.15am
BCP Eucharist

Burgess Hill & District Pantry serves Hassocks and Keymer

Click to enlarge

Burgess Hill and District Pantry celebrated its relocation to Market Place shopping centre this month, marking a significant step in supporting local families and tackling food poverty across Mid Sussex.

Working alongside traditional food banks, the Pantry operates on a membership model that provides hope, dignity and choice. For a small weekly fee members can select groceries including fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and store cupboard staples. This approach stretches household budgets and offers as normal a shopping experience as possible to those in our community struggling to feed themselves and their families.

Since its opening in May 2021 the Pantry has supported over 800 households with a massive 18,823 shopping baskets of food leaving the Pantry. Now with a record 275 members and a growing waiting list, the Pantry supports many across MId Sussex including residents of Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Haywards Heath and Cuckfield . “We are seeing a surge in applications with the onset of Winter and are working hard to offer support to those in our community and fight food poverty,” said the Pantry Manager Claire Fuller.

Support from the community is vital to keep the doors of the Pantry open and food on the shelves. Donations of food or funds are always welcomed from individuals, community organisations and businesses. The Pantry Reverse Advent Campaign (pictured) offers an opportunity for families, colleagues, friends or businesses to support by collecting the items from the calendar and taking them to the Pantry this festive season.

For more information visit the Burgess Hill Pantry on Facebook or email hello@bhlocalpantry.org.

Hassocks Future Energy Landscape Workshop - 26th Nov 2025

An event by Community Energy Pathways

Calling all residents of Hassocks! Community Energy Pathways will be holding a Future Energy Landscapes (FEL) in Hassocks Adastra Hall as part of a new energy planning project, and we need your voice to make sure it reflects your vision for the community! 

The FEL programme, created by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, puts local communities in charge of shaping their energy future. Through hands-on workshops that use real data on local energy use and costs, people can explore what’s possible for their area — from making homes more efficient to building energy independence. By combining local knowledge with solid research, FEL helps communities imagine, design, and plan bold transitions away from fossil fuels, turning big ideas into practical action.

26th November | 6:30-8:30pm

Committee Room, Adastra Hall, Hassocks, BN6 8QH

We’ll be exploring energy priorities for the parish and what renewable generation could look like in the coming few years. Join us and spread the word!

This is a FREE event, refreshments will be included, it is recommended booking so we can plan the workshop accordingly.

New padel courts for The Weald Racquets Club, Hassocks

The Weald Racquets Club is also known as The Weald Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, but soon they will be opening new padel courts for members and the local community to enjoy. Deirdre Huston chatted with Manager Dan Zammit-Lewis and Club Chair Nick Reason to find out what’s changing at this long-established club.

Flanked by trees, the Weald Racquets Club is tucked away at the rear of South Bank. Some locals may not even realise it exists. However, it has long been a place of relaxation, coaching and competition for young and old who want to embrace racquet sports.
Nick Reason has been a member for 18 years, and he readily admits that the club has a special place in his life. He explains: “The club is a familiar, safe place for members, so no matter what you’ve got going on in your life, you can come here.”

The club is a ‘CASC’ or Community Amateur Sports Club so, whilst it is not a charity, it receives certain charitable benefits, such as no rates. It ploughs any profits back into the club and has an obligation to provide public access. The club is run by a committee of dedicated volunteers. Nick has previously acted as tennis chair and is now just finishing his second year as Chair. The committee makes strategic and tactical decisions. Nick recognises the dedication of other volunteers, such as the Padel Chair and the Squash Chair. He is also delighted that Dan has joined the team and says: “We are very lucky to have Dan as our manager.”

Dan Zammit-Lewis has played squash at an international level, representing Malta in competitions. ‘The name Zammit is like Smith in Malta,’ he says, speaking of his Maltese heritage. He explains: “My father was born in Libya, and then returned to Malta with his family before coming to live in Wimbledon.” Dan’s father was a keen squash player and a member of Wimbledon Racquets Club.

The Weald has also grown organically as a tennis club. Play can be very competitive, and Nick says: “The standard of play has improved.” Most people do one sport or the other, and Dan says: “The club offers different sports for different groups, but it also functions very well as a community.”

The club welcomes players of all levels and all ages, and, for both tennis and squash, there are hosted socials on a Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon, and organised social doubles on most weekday mornings. There is also a social Disability Tennis group that meets on Sundays.

There are now 660 members in all. Many members are from Hassocks, but people also come from Hurstpierpoint, Ditchling, Lewes, Brighton and Hove, giving the club an outward-looking feel. Four full-time tennis coaches are led by Bradley Bant. They offer a wide coaching programme, coach-led summer camps and outreach to local primary schools. The Weald’s fulltime squash coach, Ben Hutton, is also the South East & Sussex junior coach. Ben’s daughter, Jasmine, is currently ranked number 18 in the world.

To read the full article and learn more about the club and its members, pick up your copy of October’s Hassocks Life.

HHD u3a mural makes history at Adastra Hall, Hassocks

In August 2023, the Hurst, Hassocks & Ditchling u3a Local History Group was contacted by Chris Hobbs, Chair of the Hassocks Community Association, to request input for a mural in Adastra Hall depicting the historical development of the village of Hassocks. The mural was to be based on a map of the village, 3.45m wide and 2.4m deep, and situated in the entrance lobby of the hall.

This commission was taken up by the group, who were already able to access many aspects of Hassocks history. Indeed there was so much that could have been included that the problem became what to leave out. Due to the local history group already having various projects in hand, it was agreed that a separate smaller group of people would take on the management of the project in May 2024, led by Marilyn Goodwin and coordinated by Marie Fraser. Extensive material was submitted by Marilyn, Jonathan Taylor, David Beard and Richard Ware.

Since then, work by the team has been ongoing, sourcing and assembling photographs, writing and agreeing text, attending meetings re planning and design, and liaising with Chris Hobbs, and the graphic artist Chris de la Nougerede. The mural includes a time-line from Roman times to the present day, the construction of turnpike roads and the railway, population growth, changing building styles, the origins of Adastra Park and much more.

A final meeting took place on 3rd July 2025 when the design was ‘signed off’. The image was created by printing the design on vinyl sheets in reverse, ready for installation, which took place on Monday 1st September.

Marie Fraser saw the mural in place for the first time on 8th September, and says “I am overwhelmed with the size and the impact of this installation. And delighted - on behalf of the whole team, including Chris Hobbs. A magnificent addition to our great community hall, and a tribute to the Hurst, Hassocks & Ditchling u3a!”

Hassocks’ Remembrance Sunday

Welcome to Hassocks Life’s Remembrance information page. Here you will find our most recent information for all things Remembrance Sunday.

See also, Hassocks Parish Council
and St John the Baptist

Keymer War Memorial

9th November 2025– 1.30-2.45pm

We hope that many of you of all ages, will join the Parish Council and the Church of St Cosmos and Damian to mark Remembrance Sunday this year. Burgess Hill marching band has been commissioned to support a procession, with the Guides, Scouts, Brownies and Cubs, starting from Adastra Park and proceeding to the Church at Keymer where there will be a short ceremony led by Fr Alex. This will include the laying of wreaths by adults and of small crosses by children and young people. We have been liaising with the Guide Leader to build in some activities that will involve young members more closely with the essence of the event and will help raise their awareness of real people who lived in Hassocks and had their lives curtailed through war.

In order to make the route safe for the procession we have applied to close a section of Keymer road from Adastra Park to Beaconhurst. Residents and visitors will be unable to use their vehicles to traverse this section of Keymer Road and some adjoining roads for a short period of time from 1.00pm for around two hours. Residents and businesses likely to be affected will be leafleted when we have finalised the planning of this event.

We have a Traffic Management Consultancy assisting us with the road closure on the day. To keep the cost down they are providing just two operatives to manage traffic. If anybody would be willing to volunteer, we would really appreciate the extra help. You will be provided with a hi-vis vest and given instructions. If anyone is able to help, please can you email helen.valler@hassocks-pc.gov.uk. Please look out for updates on our Facebook page in September / October.

Hassocks Parish Council September 2025 newsletter

Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

The government has confirmed Sussex and Brighton can move forward in the process to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) and the first mayoral elections are due to take place in May 2026. The new MCCA is a regional level of government which will take on roles currently held by national government departments. Local councils will continue to exist and deliver the services they currently provide but the government is proposing to merge District, Borough and County Councils to create new ‘unitary authorities’ in Sussex, in May 2028. More information is available on the West Sussex County Council website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/campaigns/future-of-local-government-in-sussex

To read the full newsletter, pick up your copy of September’s Hassocks Life or click the images to enlarge them.

Hassocks Railway Group celebrates 200 years

By Catherine Cassidy, Hassocks Rail Group

Come and celebrate 200 years of the modern railway at Hassocks Station on Saturday 27th September 2025! This day is the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and Railway 200 is the nationwide celebration marking 200 years of the modern railway.

Hassocks grew up around the station which opened in 1841 and Hassocks wouldn’t be the village it is today without the station. There have been four stations at Hassocks since the f irst one opened in 1841. In 2000 the Hassocks Rail Group (part of the Hassocks Community Organisation) was formed to campaign for a new station and in July 2013 the new station building was opened and lifts installed in 2014.

Hassocks Rail Group is joining in the Railway 200 nationwide celebrations on Saturday 27th September 2025 by having a display in the Waiting Room at Hassocks Station of photos of Hassocks Station through the ages, people’s memories of travelling by train, keepsake cards with pictures of the old and new stations and a potted history of the different stations to hand out, train stickers, train pictures for children to colour in and a model train set. Come along and join in the celebrations and collect your keepsake card!

Hassocks Goes Gold

Welcome to Hassocks Life’s Hassocks Goes Gold event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Gold in Hassocks.

Every September, something rather special happens in the village: Hassocks Goes Gold. While many of you are aware that, in 2017, a much-loved Hassocks resident and Windmills pupil, Pearl Dixie Bartlett-Bundy died from bone cancer, aged ten, but newcomers to the village may wonder what this is all about. Back in our August 2019 Hassocks Life issue, Rachel and Jamie Bartlett-Bundy introduced their wish for Hassocks to go gold in memory of their daughter, Pearl Dixie to fundraise vital funds for research to stop similar tragedies affecting other families.

See also, Hassocks Goes Gold Facebook

The Tallest

Fun with Hassocks Goes Gold

By Rachel BartlettBundy

Sunflower Winners There are lots of beautiful sunflowers in gardens across the village and it’s been tough choosing the winners of our ‘Sunflower Competition’ this year!
‘The Tallest Sunflower’ measured 3.4metres high (and is still growing as we go to print!). It has been lovingly tended by Harrison and Eden Trim all summer and has grown into a real giant on Ockley Way. Congratulations you two! ‘The Prettiest Sunflower’ was much harder to judge, but, in the end, the ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflower grown on Parklands Road by Mila and Sidney Hunt was too gorgeous not to win! It’s truly beautiful. Super well done!
I think next year I’m going to add in a new category of largest diameter head as some of the sunflowers were past their best by the end of August but were super gigantic in scale! Winners will be given a named trophy and prizes from our sunflower sponsor Maple Leaf Gardens: call Matt on 07968 711930 if you need a friendly, local gardening and landscaping design company.

What’s on in September?

The Parklands Road Art Exhibition is on all month. Come and see the Golden Shoal! Goldfish poster competition entries from all ages will be displayed in the windows of the residents of Parklands Road.
Facebook Daily Auctions will take place with different new items and services offered each day through a 24-hour rolling auction. Bag a bargain and raise funds for Children’s Cancer at the same time. A new auction will start at 8pm every day. This is open to everyone and many of the prizes are suitable for posting in the UK and abroad. Donations of new prizes are still welcome: contact Rachel see below.
Also on all month are ‘The Giant Gold Bow Trail’, the ‘Find the Gold Bike’ Challenge and loo out for your favourite ‘Golden Shop Window Display’ because public voting for this competition will open at the end of the month.
On 26th September, our annual Golden Gala will take place: a fabulous, themed Quiz Night that includes Live Jazz, a pudding auction and a raffle at The Hassocks Pub. A table for a team of eight people is only £50.
On Saturday, 27th Sept from 9am to noon, come along to Hassocks Village Market to support our soft toy & alcohol tombolas. We have now sold out of tickets for the wine tasting event at Adastra Hall and we hope everyone enjoys a fabulous evening.

There are other ways to help if you are interested. Pick up a beautiful HassocksGoesGold poster featuring the Goldfish Art Competition winners for £1 at QD Stationery or from a volunteer seller and display it in your window to show your support. Donate a Prize or Voucher for the September Daily Facebook Auction or the Golden Gala Raffle, or a bottle for the Village Market Booze Tombola.
Be a door-to-door poster seller for your street – a fun way to meet the neighbours, I will provide a collection tin, posters and a carry bag.

Join in the fun! Keep up with the various gold events and bid on auction prizes! Follow HassocksGoesGold on Facebook or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hassocksgoesgold and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hassocksgoesgold
For more information on any of the above or if you’d like to donate a prize or help out, please contact Rachel on hgg@pearlpower.co.uk. Thank you and hope you have a glittering gold September!

Introducing Hassocks Goes Gold for 2025

By Rachel Bartlett-Bundy

This year, Hassocks Goes Gold returns for another fabulous month of gold fundraising. This year’s theme is goldfish! Be they ornate and elegant or fairground and fun, your pictures of these wonderful golden creatures will be brightening up the village and helping to raise money for the newly-named Children & Young People’s Cancer Association. The PearlPower fund stands at over £125K and has funded its third research project, this time into Ewing’s Sarcoma - the very type of childhood cancer that cut Pearl’s life so tragically short, aged just ten.

Sunflower Competition

The competition is on to to grow the tallest or prettiest Sunflower in the village. See if you can spot sunflowers growing around the village or nurture your own blooms. How tall will this year’s winner be?

Bank Holiday Fun

The Greyhound pub will be in full music mode over the whole August bank holiday weekend with the money raised split between Hassocks Goes Gold and St Peter & St James Hospice.

Poster Competition

Everyone is welcome to join in the annual drawing competition for the gold poster – open to all ages! Adults included too; don’t be shy, as there are never enough entries from adults. Draw your very own goldfish or colour in the pre-printed one on the entry form. It’s free to enter, and, in September, the winners from each age category will receive fabulous prizes and be featured on the Hassocks Goes Gold poster! Plus all entries will be included in the annual Parklands Road Art Gallery. Free entry forms are available to download on the Hassocks Goes Gold Facebook page, via Hassocks’ schools, or pick one up from QD Stationers. The deadline for entries is Friday 4th July.

Go Go Gold

In September, the sponsored trail of Giant Gold Bows will be back, along with the ever-popular daily FaceBook auctions. There will also be craft, Face-painting and tombola stalls at the village markets, culminating in the Golden Gala extravaganza on 26thSeptember and the popular Wine Tasting event on the 3rd October, organised by the wonderful Amanda Felix. September in Hassocks is all about gold. It’s about raising awareness, and the research funds desperately needed to find kinder and more effective treatments for the childhood cancers with such poor outcomes. It’s all about community fun and this year it’s all about goldfish!

Hassocks Parish Council August newsletter - 2025

Adastra Park – News

Adastra Park is the heart of our village - a space for sports, fun, skating and play, for all to enjoy. But lately, we’ve seen a rise in vandalism, waste left behind, and dogs out of control. This puts everyone’s enjoyment and safety at risk. We all have a role to play in protecting this special space.

Please use the bins, pick up after yourselves (and your dogs), and be mindful of other park users. There are four bins around the park, two in the north field and two in the south field, specifically for dog poo bags, and numerous other bins for general rubbish. You can also take dog poo bags home and put them in your household rubbish.

Respect the park and it will keep giving back - for families, friends and future generations to come.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up your copy of August Hassocks Life or click the images to enlarge them.

A summer of cycling in Hassocks

By Andy Hansen, Greener Hassocks and Ditchling

A ‘summer of cycling’ is being organised by Greener Hassocks and Ditchling. So far, we have organised a launch event with great speakers; a women’s ride; a 40-mile social ride and free bike checks. Most recently, we organised a wonderful Play Street event in which a residential road was closed for a couple of hours so that children could play out safely. We’d like to thank all those who took part and we hope you enjoyed yourselves.

There’s still time to sign up for upcoming events. You could book a free bike check, courtesy of Dr Bike, who will be at Proper Cycling and Coffee on Tuesday 1st July, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. If you have an old bike that needs a bit of TLC, or want to check that your children’s bikes, pop down to Proper and Dr Bike will give them the once over. Stay on for the briefing and Q&A session to find out more about the Kidical Mass bike route, and how you and your family can have a great time on the day.

Due to popular demand, Dr Bike will also be at the St Lawrence Show in Hurstpierpoint on 5th July. No need to book! Just turn up with your bike and Dr Bike will be happy to check them over for you.

Kidical Mass is a large, fun ride for parents and children on Saturday 12th July from 2-4pm. We will have stewards riding with you, making sure everyone stays safe. The good folk from Cycling Without Age will be riding their trishaws with us, making this a truly multigenerational event. The route is short, level, and we have checked it out several times. It should be a lot of fun, as well as a demonstration of the interest in cycling in Hassocks, and a lobby for better and safer cycling facilities.

Register for the Kidical Mass ride or book your session with Dr Bike via Greener Hassocks and Ditchling: www.greenerhassocksditchling.org.uk/onyourbike

Hassocks welcomes Hawthorn Vets

By Jonathan Underwood

Hello! I’m Jonathan, owner of Hawthorn Vets and over the past few years, I have been writing a quarterly editorial (very loosely based on a veterinary theme) for the sister-title Hurst Life. We are opening a practice in Hassocks on 8th July, so I am grateful to be offered some column inches in Hassocks Life as well!

If you would like to register, you can do so by visiting www.hawthornvets.co.uk/register and use the PROMO code ‘Hassocks’ – anyone who registers before 8th July will receive a 10% discount off their first consultation. Additionally, to celebrate our opening, for the first four weeks, every client who books and attends an appointment at Hassocks will be entered into our weekly prize draw. Each week, one lucky pet will win a year’s free subscription to our health plan, a prize worth over £250!

Our team look forward to seeing you in the new Hassocks veterinary clinic soon, we will be behind 44 Keymer Road from 8th July.

To read Jonathan’s full article, please pick up your copy of July’s Hassocks Life today.