Last week, 7,000 people – including Tom Cruise – descended on the West Sussex town for an event that divides local opinion
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n the nearly 30 years that Diane Juchau has lived in East Grinstead, not many days live as long in the memory as the day she saw Tom Cruise on the high street. “I saw him a couple of years ago walking past Iceland,” she said.
It may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime anecdote but, this week, Cruise was back – and, when the purpose for his visit was revealed, the chance sighting of the Mission: Impossible star in a West Sussex town makes a lot more sense.
East Grinstead is home to the Church of Scientology – its Saint Hill Manor is the UK headquarters for the organisation. Last week, the church held its annual fundraising bash, the Patrons Ball, with Scientologists from the UK and beyond gathering under the same roof.
