By Nick Caunter
Like many towns, Haywards Heath faces challenges. Covid left its mark on the high street, as has the internet. It’s the same across the country, and it can feel sometimes as though towns have lost a little of their identity and purpose in recent years.
But what if that identity was never lost? What if it was present all along in the memories and the stories of the people of Haywards Heath? And what if there were a platform for those stories to be told?
That is the aim of the Our Town Our Story project, the brainchild of local author Matt Newnham. “I think we’re all linked by place,” said Matt. “It might be the town where we were born, or the town we moved to. Perhaps we left and then returned. But however we ended up here, the town where we live forms a vital part of our shared identity.”
Nicholas Caunter lives in Burgess Hill but met Matt at Writers on the Heath, a local writers’ group that meets once a month at the library. Nick was immOur ediately impressed by Matt’s enthusiasm and was keen to offer his services as a writer and qualified proofreader and copyeditor.
Iain Maclean is the third member of the team. A Haywards Heath resident and author, Iain has written and published T.J’s War. What started as an attempt to discover the true identity of his father, who died when Iain was 10 years old, developed into a gripping tale of clandestine service, love, and survival during World War II.
During Iain’s lengthy research process, he met many individuals who promised fascinating insights into his father’s extraordinary life and times. But several passed away before Iain had the chance to talk to them in any depth.
“It was a harsh lesson, and a sad one,” recalled Iain. “All too often there isn’t quite as much time as we hope there is.” Matt agreed. “There are many, many stories in this town, and if they’re not captured soon, if they remain unwritten, there’s a strong chance that they’ll be lost for good.”
Ultimately, that’s what Our Town Our Story is all about. Getting some of those stories told. Between September 2026 and February 2027, Matt, Iain, and Nick, along with artists and illustrators Rachel Cowell and Amy Vincent, and several volunteers, will embark on an Arts Council and National Lottery funded pilot project. Working with schools, families, communities, and residents across Haywards Heath, they will gather stories, memories, ideas, and artwork that will become two published books, and form the basis of a lasting community archive.
Further articles in Haywards Heath Life will provide updates on the project’s progress over the next few months. “I’ve known David Tingley for years,” said Matt, “and he’s always been passionate about our town and its community. Partnering with Haywards Heath Life to keep people informed about this project was a no-brainer! We’ve already gained great support and encouragement from the mayor and town council, several schools, museums, and the library. Now, we’d really like the people of Haywards Heath to get on board and make it their project and not just ours.”
Every town has a story. Everyone has a voice. Residents who would like theirs to be heard, or who would like to get involved in any way, can look out for details of how to do so, coming soon in these pages.