While it is the candidates who traditionally organise various fundraising activities for their campaign to purchase votes, several other events are organised by the Independent State itself each year.
Chief amongst these are October’s Election Night Count and the New Mayor’s Procession through the village the following afternoon.
Other ISOC organised events are the Easter Walking Race, the May Bank Holiday Cuckoo Fayre and the Pensioners’ Christmas Lunch.
Other events are sometimes held, such as in 2018, when ISOC organised a tea dance as part of the wider Cuckfield Remembers events in the village in the centenary year of the WW1 armistice and in 2022 a Street Party for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
All the money raised by the candidates’ votes goes to local good causes, so The Independent State of Cuckfield raises its own funds for its administration costs.
- Does your organisation take part in the Mayoral Procession? If not why not? Get in touch and you or your organisation could take part in the fun! As well as a cash prize for the three best dressed entries, all the participating organisations receive a donation from The Independent State.
Easter Monday Walking Race
- A walking race has been held around the roads of Cuckfield and surrounding areas since the 1920s…
- While there are a few keen people who try to complete it as quickly as possible, many participants regard it as a relaxed post-Easter amble …
- A number of routes have been used over the years, but today’s route has been established since the 60s, which is around the time that the walking race came under the auspices of the Independent State of Cuckfield
- Today the race is held each Easter Monday using a route that is approximately 5 miles long, starting from the Recreation Ground, down the High Street, up into Ansty, along Deaks Lane, back to Whitemans Green and down London Road back into the Rec.
There is a staggered start for residents of Cuckfield, based on previous completion times, and a cup is awarded to the first lady and first man to finish- Over the years other competitions have been introduced, within the same single race, including fastest resident lady, fastest resident man, fastest non-resident lady, fastest non-resident man, fastest veteran, fastest ladies team, fastest men’s team
- Three of the competitions are named after people who made significant contributions to the history of the walking race, these are: Frank Woods (fastest veteran), Phyl Bowring (fastest resident lady), Jim Swain (fastest resident man). Frank entered the race on numerous occasions and was still taking part in his 70s, Phyl also entered the race many times and continued to take part when in her 70s, while Jim won the fastest resident man competition several times and still holds the record for the fastest ever time
Cuckoo Fayre
- The Cuckoo Fayre started in the late 70s and takes place in the Recreation Ground on May Day Bank Holiday Monday
- The Independent State is the overall organiser of the Cuckoo Fayre, but only receives a pitch fee from each participating organisations. (This goes towards covering the costs including insurance and the hire of the Recreation Ground.)
- The Cuckoo Fayre is a collection of stalls run by various organisations and each keeps the money raised on its stall to contribute to their own funds and causes.
- In 2019 the Wheel of Wine will be run fir the first time by the Cuckfield Dramatic Society rather than the ISOC committee. This Wheel of Fortune offers a bottle of wine to the winner of each spin and has been always a popular annual attraction!
- The Fayre has featured different form
s of public entertainment over the years, including tug of war, five-a-side football, obstacle course competition, Irish dancing, twirling displays, live bands, children’s games, mini football, mini rugby, dog show, marching bands, and line dancing
Pensioner’s Christmas Lunch & Party
- Held each year in the Queen’s Hall in late November or early December
- Open to all the older residents living in the Parish of Cuckfield
- Transport to and from the Queen’s Hall can be arranged
- Due to hiring regulations, the number of diners is limited and so places are allocated as responses to invites are received – enquire now!
- Features entertainment and a sing-a-long
- Father Christmas is always likely to make an appearance!
