Snobbery in Haywards Heath had been a hot topic in the letters page in previous editions. In this one MH of Haywards Heath opined: “The only apparent remedy is the leadership of a man (NOTE only a man would do!) who all in Haywards Heath can look up to and respect, and he, alas, is not yet in evidence.” While a writer calling himself An Autocratic Bohemian of Haywards Heath said: “One great difficulty is are they aware they are snobs?” A writer called Third Floor Back wrote: “What’s wrong with Haywards Heath. It is each is bent on reforming his neighbour instead of himself.”
People were hot under the collar about the temperance movement and H Bell, from Norbury, wrote: “The man who backs horses, gambles at cards, who smokes black cigars and drinks strong tea and who tells me he would vote tomorrow to prevent my having a glass of ale is a rascal.”
The editor chose four stories as leads, spread across the front page; court, infant welfare, football and entertainment.
George Selsby, of Staplefield, was fined 5 shillings for riding a cycle with no lights at High Street Handcross. PC Knight told the court that Selsby jumped off his bike when he realised he had been spotted.
The clothing and material club, to help young mothers, was said by the Lindfield Infant Welfare Centre to be very popular. Haywards Heath third team won the Mid Sussex League Division 3 Cup for the third season running, defeating Ardingly Seconds 2-0 in a replay. The League still exists but it is not reported in the Middy.
Mrs R Hunt presented her human waxworks as one of the entertainments at St Richards Parish Room in Haywards Heath They included the Mad Hatter and Dirty Boy and his mother.
Pedlar George Johnson told a court he deliberately smashed a window at the Rose and Crown, Cuckfield to get arrested so he could “get a night’s doss” in a prison cell. He had been at a workhouse and complained it was four-foot square room “the smell of which was enough to knock you down.” He received 14 days hard labour.
The poorly-paid caretaker at Junction Road School, Burgess Hill had to convince authorities his hours were justified. He said his hours included 12 on a Saturday and his rate of sixpence an hour was not a living wage.
The New Inn at Haywards Heath headed the Mid Sussex Quoits League, made up entirely of pubs, most of which survive to this day, except the Royal Oak at Wivelsfield, now a small housing site.
This article was recorded on 1 May 2025 for listeners of the Yews Talking News service for blind people and those with impaired vision in the Mid Sussex area. Anyone interested in receiving the recordings or assisting with the reading or recording of programmes may contact Malcolm Hulatt @ Malcolm@hulatt.net, Telephone 07770 543454 .