Haywards Heath's Yesterday and Tomorrow event - all you need to know

Starting on Monday, September 7, there will be exhibitions on the town’s history, a sound and light show at St Wilfrid’s Church, and lectures from local people including including author and university tutor, Colin Manton.

Other events include schools’ ‘sustainable’ project, as well as the annual Town Day on Saturday, September 12.

Councillor Ruth de Mierre, chairman of Haywards Heath Town Team, said: “To celebrate our past and, perhaps more importantly, our future, the town is planning a week of activities, led by our amazing students, leading up to the grand event on Sunday, September 13 with free activities taking place throughout our town.

“Our future looks exciting, not only thanks to our direct connections from Cambridge to Brighton to London and the world, provided by the railway that Cuckfield refused, and not only the remarkable vineyards that surround us, flourishing over the past decade making critically acclaimed wines that are enjoyed the world over but surely all facilitated thanks to our unparalleled community spirit.”

On Sunday, there will be the grand parade with marching bands, horses, army, air and police cadets and veterans, Girl Guides, Scouts and the Home Guard.

To commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the Battle of Britain, dignitaries will take the salute at the war memorial on Muster Green, before continuing to Victoria Park for a drumming performance.

The Broadway will play host to local vineyards and local artisans with presentations, workshops and tasters, and in The Orchards there will be a medieval cookery class.

For fans of war reenactments, a Civil War camp will be on Muster Green and in Victoria Park there will be Roman and Viking battles, Napoleonic war reenactments and a Home Guard demonstration, and there will also be a Victorian style funfair.

Some of the celebrations will be dedicated to sustainable futures, and senior schools in the area will be competing in an artificial intelligence vehicle race.