By Rebecca Jabbar

Every town has its rhythm, and in Haywards Heath it’s an easy one to recognise. The calm of Muster Green, the bustle of The Broadway, the balance between community life and quiet space, together they give the town its sense of belonging.

To explore that spirit, Mayor Duncan Pascoe takes us on a metaphorical walk through the place he calls home. Along the way, he shares the moments, people and places that tell the story of a town proud of where it’s been and confident about where it’s going.

Duncan’s connection with Haywards Heath began long before his time in office. “My dad lived here, so I’d visit, and we’d go for dinner on The Broadway,” he recalls. “I didn’t really get to know the town properly until later, when I moved back myself. During Covid, my dad and I were renting in the same area, so we’d meet for walks or runs. It was really special being in the same town.”

That time made him realise how much he wanted to invest in the place, not just personally, but as part of the community. “This is where I’ve planted roots. It’s home now. I just felt that if you care about the place you live, you should put something back in.”

Most mornings start with a run or a walk with his dog, often stopping for a coffee, a habit, he admits with a grin, that his Swedish wife has encouraged. “She’s a big coffee drinker,” he says. “It’s become our little routine here.” It’s the kind of small rhythm that reflects the town’s character too: active, sociable and proud of its places to eat and drink.

That motivation led him to stand on the Town Council, and later to become Mayor. He still sounds slightly amused by how it started. “They told me, ‘We’ll put your name down as a candidate,’ and I thought, sure, why not? It was a real dip-your-toe moment. But then we had this huge turnover of councillors, which actually created a fresh start. None of us were tied to how things had always been done, so we could really think differently.”

Read the full article in the November 2025 issue of Haywards Heath Life