March/April 2018 Golden Times

The Cyrill and Lillian Bishop is officially recognised as a Dunkirk Little Ship
The subject of a 2017 hit film and one of the most
memorable events of WW2, the evacuation of allied troops
at Dunkirk is a story that many local people have a personal
connection with. The Cyril and Lillian Bishop lifeboat sailed
from Hastings to rescue soldiers from Dunkirk, and local
resident Dee Day White was instrumental in bringing her
home. Earlier this year the boat was officially recognised as
being among Dunkirks "little ships."
Dee Day, (Named after being born on D-Day) said: “This old
lady of the sea has been given the recognition she deserves.
On May 30, 1940, the call went out
from the Admiralty asking all small
ships with a shallow draft, capable of
going in close ashore, to make their
way to Dover and Ramsgate. The
Hastings lifeboat, with a scratch crew of
Bill Terrell, George Moon, Jim Terrell,
Ted Terrell, Bill Hilder, Will Martin,
Bodger Barton, Jim White and Fred
Button, made its way to Folkestone then
Dover. The lifeboat was towed to the
Dunkirk beach by a tug called Foremost 87, then took part
in what was to be known as Operation Dynamo. Trapped on
the beach were 380,000 British troops along with French and
Belgian troops, surrounded by the German army. Dunkirk
Harbour had a long jetty, perfect for the big Navy boats to
come alongside, but also a perfect target for German aircraft
and they were soon put out of action. The tide at Dunkirk, like
Camber Sands, goes out over a mile. Men marched into the
sea, up to their chests and stood in a queue, walking in and
out with the tide, waiting to be saved by the little ships, which
ferried them to the Navy boats laying offshore. It was a shuttle
service being operated 24 hours a day. The Cyril and Lillian
Bishop could carry 25 - 30 soldiers at a time with her Royal
Navy crew supervising and went back and forth for four days
and nights under fire from enemy aircraft. When she returned
to Hastings from Dunkirk, she was overhauled and repaired,
then went back to her role as a lifeboat until 1950. 66 years
passed, and she was converted to a fishing boat, then a
cabin sailer and sunk in a harbour in Scotland. We know she
was hit twice with two bullet holes in
her forward top box, a large hole in
her bow. Sand in her mast headlight
would suggest a capsize. Luckily Simon
Evans bought her for his collection of
22 lifeboats and started to renovate her.
Following various phone calls, Skinners
Sheds purchased her for the people
of Hastings, and she came home to
a hero’s welcome. Her renovation
was continued by local tradesmen and
volunteers, helped by local businesses. Now, at last, we
have the right to call her a Dunkirk Little Ship, which gives
us exclusive rights to proudly raise and fly the flag, which
confirms her status, recognised by the Association of Dunkirk
Little Ships - a wartime hero of Operation Dynamo.”
You can visit the Cyril and Lillian Bishop at the junction of
Harold Road and Old London Road in Hastings.
BROADWAY’S SMASH HIT
MUSICAL COMEDY
STARRING
CORONATION STREET,
AND EMMERDALE’S
HAYLEY
TAMADDON
3 RD - 7 TH APRIL
01323 412000
EASTBOURNETHEATRES.CO.UK
WINNER! 6
TONY AWARDS
BEST
MUSICAL
INCLUDING
WIN TICKETS TO SEE BROADWAY’S MULTI AWARD
WINNING MUSICAL COMEDY STARRING HAYLEY
TAMADDON (Coronation Street, Emmerdale)
The winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Thoroughly
Modern Millie is based on the Academy Award-winning film
starring Julie Andrews, taking you back to the height of the Jazz
Age in New York City, when ‘moderns’ including a flapper named
Millie Dillmount were bobbing their hair, raising their hemlines and
rewriting the rules of love.
The show delivers a brilliant evening of madcap merriment and
stars TV Favourite HAYLEY TAMADDON as the adorable Millie. This
hilarious musical comedy features spectacular dance routines and
great songs, so beat the drum - here comes Thoroughly Modern
Millie – from 3 – 7 April at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
tickets priced from £25 to book call the box office 01323 412000
or online eastbournetheatres.co.uk
For a chance to WIN a pair of tickets for the opening night (3rd
April 7.45pm) just send the correct answer to the question below to
us at 78 Elphinstone Rd, Hastings, TN34 2BS or email us at win@
goldentimes.co.uk.
Entries must arrive by 23rd
March 2018 and must
include contact details, a
winner will be picked at
random good luck!
Which musical superstar
originally starred as Millie
in the 1967 film?
a. Liza Minnelli
b. Judy Garland
c. Julie Andrews
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