Bexhill News, November 2024, Issue 29

NOVEMBER 2024 | ISSUE 29

YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR BEXHILL, COODEN, SIDLEY, PEBSHAM AND SURROUNDING AREAS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: LOCAL NEWS • EVENTS • FEATURES • MOTORING • SPORT

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2 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill

WELCOME

A CONSULTATION is to be launched

over the parking fees throughout

Bexhill which I’m sure will generate

some interesting feedback for

the authorities.

Parking in Bexhill is generally awful

in my humble opinion. As a driver

living out of town, I visit most days for

meetings and to keep the stands full of

this newspaper, almost on a daily basis.

We’re not alone, of course. Speak to

anyone living in any town in the UK,

and parking will always be at the top of

the moan list as more and more people

decide to use their cars instead of

public transport.

Due to the slightly higher average

age in Bexhill (I’m being very careful

with my words here), there is a higher

number of blue badge holders, which is

totally understandable. In turn, there’s

a lot more blue badge parking available.

When I say ‘available’, I mean when

it’s not being used by a delivery truck

or non-blue badge holders. That’s

because, the loading bays are being

used by blue badge holders and other

drivers, hence having a knock-on effect.

No one will ever win as the queues

of cars in town going round and

round looking for a space, will never

change, no matter what happens to the

parking charges.

I parked on the seafront recently to

visit a local restaurant at just past 6pm.

I noticed that just the parking fees on

the seafront are in place until 8pm,

unlike the surrounding roads, and it

was going to cost me £3.25 for two

hours! Or, free on the next road along!

I support managed parking, but it

needs to be fair and consistent which I

don’t feel it is right now.

Paul Gibson

Group Editor

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without express permission of the editor.

Council to consult over

parking charge increase

RESIDENTS and businesses in

Bexhill will soon be able to let

their opinions known over plans to

increase on-street pay and display

parking tariffs and permit charges

throughout the town.

In a recent meeting at East Sussex

County Council, Councillor Claire

Dowling, lead member of transport

and environment, considered

the proposals which are aimed

at encouraging drivers to ‘use

sustainable forms of transport and/or

to use vehicles that emit lower levels

of pollutants’.

Charges for on-street parking

in Rother District have not been

significantly changed since the start

of the scheme in 2020. Charges were

increased by a 5% inflation increase

in 2024, according to the authority.

It is proposed that resident,

business and day permit charges

are based on the emissions the car

produces, therefore motorists with

vehicles with larger engines will

pay more to park them. A similar

scheme already operates in Hastings,

Eastbourne and Lewes. Disabled

permits will be exempt from the

emission-based charges.

The council insists any profit made

from parking charges is reinvested in

supporting the bus network and any

other public transport costs.

Bexhill South County Councillor,

Ian Hollidge said: “As a Council

responsible for on-street parking

management we should do our

utmost to make parking easy, with

fair pricing maximising kerb space

for drivers of all vehicles needing to

access places.

The competing needs of different

groups can make this a challenge

where acceptable compromises often

have to be made. This consultation

on increasing and changing the

pricing structure allows these

discussions to be put forward and

considered by our parking team. It’s

vital to understand that no decision

has yet been taken and this is only

a consultation.”

Councillor Hollidge believes the

proposals should have less emphasis

on lowering emissions. He told the

committee prior to the meeting:

“Which is more important Economy

or Environment? I’m concerned the

balance may be too biased on modal

shift/pollution and not on making it

simpler and affordable for drivers.

In my experience, you can’t make

people use sustainable transport

just by making life difficult for

drivers. The only way to encourage

travellers to use bus, train, walk,

wheel or cycle is to make those

choices easier.”

Town centre charges will increase

from 45p for one hour to 70p, and

from 90p for two hours to £1.35.

Whilst at the Marina area, the cost

will go from £1.85 to £2.70 for an

hour, and from £2.95 to £4.30 for

two hours. All day parking (6 hours

or more) on Seafront and Bexhill

North area will increase from £2.20 to

£3.20. Parking for one hour at Bexhill

station will go up from 45p to 70p,

under the proposals.

The consultation will be available

£8 million boost for much-needed

housing development in Battle

THE development of 130 muchneeded

affordable homes was

given a boost with confirmation of

a £8.45 million government grant.

The money from Homes England

will help Rother District Council

deliver the remaining infrastructure

project necessary for the 200-home

development at the Blackfriars site

in Battle, being led by Rother DC

Housing Company Ltd (RDCHC).

The funding takes the total grant

from Homes England to help deliver

a new road and establish utilities

on the site to just over £17 million

and means the first phase of the

project will be completed by the

end of the year.

The construction of 200 homes is

expected to start in early 2025 and

completion expected from 2026 to

2027. Once finished, the development

will offer affordable rented homes

and properties for shared ownership

as well as homes for private sale.

Cllr Ruairi McCourt, the district

council’s portfolio holder for housing

said: “I very much welcome the

latest funding from Homes England.

The site has been earmarked for

development for decades and the

council and RDCHC have had to

overcome numerous obstacles to

get to this point.

“The funding will help the district

council complete the infrastructure

on the Council’s consultation hub

website, which will be promoted to

stakeholders, residents and traders.

The feedback received through

the consultation process will be

presented alongside an Equalities

Impact Assessment, to inform the

Lead Member’s final decisions about

the proposals.

Charges in both Battle and Rye will

also increase if the plans go ahead.

It is expected that the consultation

will be available on the authority’s

website this month, but those who

cannot access the website can call

01323 466244 or email parking.

ESCC@eastsussex.gov.uk.

work which will enable construction

of these much-needed homes, which

will ease the housing shortage and

provide accommodation for families

wanting to remain in the area, to

finally start.”

All homes will be highly sustainable

and low carbon, maximising the use

of renewable energy technologies

and the development will include 46

affordable rented properties and 84

homes for shared ownership.

4 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


School Choirs excited

to Sing with Tenors

MORE than 300 schoolchildren

from across East Sussex took part

in a competition recently, which

will see the winners sing alongside

singing royalty later this month.

The Let’s Sing Choir competition was

open to all junior schools throughout

the county and was held at the White

Rock Theatre. The winner was Battle

and Langton Junior School, which

won £250 for the school together with

the chance for them to perform with

internationally renowned classical

No. 1 singers Tenors Un Limited.

Due to the standard being so high,

it was difficult to pick a winner,

according to the judges. Therefore,

the runners-up, St. Paul’s CE Academy

was also invited to perform on

stage with Tenors Un Limited at the

performance on 21st November.

All the children have been

rehearsing hard ahead of the show

at the White Rock Theatre in front of

hundreds of classical music fans.

The Let’s Sing Choir competition is a

charity event and proceeds will go to

local charities. There will be a glossy

souvenir programme on sale at the

event in which all proceeds will also

go to local charities.

Tenors Un Limited is currently

preparing for a USA tour where in

Welcome

investments to

Sackville Road

A NUMBER of new shops have

recently opened their doors in

Bexhill, bringing new life to a

town centre street.

The past few weeks have seen

significant investment in three

new businesses on Sackville Road,

bringing in new customers to the

road which already boasts a variety of

independent shops.

The Little Barkery officially

opened last weekend and stocks

craft homemade dog treats and

natural food products. There are

2019 they won The Broadway World

Best Touring Show Award. They

have had a number one single in the

UK with “Who is He” in aid of the

Salvation Army. They bring their own

special combination of popular opera,

also pet accessories, toys and

even pet costumes.

Food for Friends, an Italian

restaurant has also opened in a

renovated shop front. A menu

includes a variety of traditional

italian dishes all served in a

friendly atmosphere.

Oldschool Rewind, a shop

specialising in 80s and 90s fashion,

has recently opened too and is a great

place for retro clothing lovers to visit

with a wide range of popular brands

and pre-loved items.

musical theatre, iconic classical

and original songs to the world and

redefine the perception of a “tenor” in

the 21st century.

The competition was being

supported by the Bexhill Rotary.

Little Barkery Opening

Time to grab a 2025

Charity Calendar

LOCAL outlets are proudly stocking

the latest calendar in which

all proceeds go to supporting

local children.

Charity for Kids was founded in

2011 by a local man, Paul Harris. The

charity aims to provide specialist

equipment and support to local

children who have disabilities,

life-limiting or, in some cases,

terminal conditions.

Paul stepped away in 2021 but

the charity continued and came

through the challenges presented by

COVID, and today, is still run entirely

by a small, dedicated, group of

unpaid volunteers.

As part of their fundraising, the

charity has been producing a range

of Calendars that have proved to be

incredibly popular, with demand

increasing year on year. Committee

member, Jeff Penfold, a local

Community Photographer, who

Foodbank welcomes

new volunteer

BEXHILL Foodbank is only

possible due to the large amount

of volunteers who give up their

time to make it happen.

The organisation has recently

welcomed Mark Chetwynd to its

volunteer team and will work as a

bookkeeper, taking over from Lisa

Young. The Foodbank has thanked

Lisa for the work she has done

over many years.

Mark is a qualified accountant by

profession and brings a wealth of

knowledge to the team.

volunteers his services to several local

charities and voluntary organisations,

provides professional photos and puts

the high-quality calendars together.

The Charity is keen to reassure

people that all funds raised are used

directly to “Make a Difference”, with

no salaries involved or costs to meet.

Thanks to the support from a number

of local businesses, who cover the

costs of production, the Charity

is able to use all of the income to

purchase equipment.

For 2025, in addition to the very

popular Bexhill, Nature’s Best and

Sun, Sea & Skies calendars, they have

produced a Hastings Calendar that is

full of well-known local scenes and

events such as the Half Marathon

and Pirates Day.

The Calendars are now available

in a number of local outlets in

Bexhill, Hastings, Westfield, Battle

and Winchelsea.

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Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill NOVEMBER 2024 NEWS 5

Historic fire engine officially

handed back to town

A CEREMONY took place recently

(28th October) to mark the return

of a steam-powered fire appliance,

which started life in Bexhill

flighting fires in the town.

The Chief of East Sussex Fire and

Rescue Service, Dawn Whittaker,

hosted the ceremony at Bexhill

Museum which was to officially hand

back the vehicle where it will be

displayed from now on.

The Merryweather was withdrawn

from fire service in 1920 after it spent

13 years as a pump with the Bexhill

Borough Surveyor’s Office before it

was put in storage.

It was originally pulled by two

large horses which was recreated

with shire horses at the event,

where Dawn Whittaker said she

was delighted to hand it back to the

town. The engine has now been fully

restored by volunteers to almost

original condition.

She said: “I’d like to thank

everybody from the museum for

their meticulous support for this

project; their passion has simply

been overwhelming, and they’ve just

embraced it wholeheartedly. If you

Retired firefighter Bruce Hoad, Ken Bywater, Museum Creator Julian Porter

MA and Chief Dawn Whittaker, Fire Officer for East Sussex Fire and Rescue

are a donator, thank you so much for

contributing to this because it means

an awful lot to the service.”

Bexhill Town Council donated

£3,000 to kick off the project and all

the money to complete the restoration

has been raised by private donations.

Councillor Paul Plimm told Bexhill

News: ”I helped push the motion

through at Town Council in order

to get the funding to kick start the

process, but the credit must be given

to the fire service and to the museum

who worked together to bring this

project to fruition. It is an absolutely

wonderful sight to see the horses

here pulling the first fire engine for

Bexhill-on-Sea.”

The Merryweather was first offered

for display in 1920 when it was

retired from service but there was no

room for it then as the museum had

only one gallery.

It was found in the collection of

another museum by now-retired

Bexhill firefighter Keith Ring in 2019.

With the support of East Sussex Fire

and Rescue Service, plans were made

to bring her home.

Dawn concluded: “I’d like to thank

the Town Council for their generous

donation. We’ve also benefited from

the work of Bexhill College, some

of you might have seen some of the

videos they put together, do visit

our social media sites to see them.

I’m now delighted to hand back the

appliance to Bexhill Museum.”

The Merryweather steam pump

was built in 1895 and has a coal-fired

boiler which produced water pressure

and powered a pump to operate

its two hoses.

Visitors can now see the fire engine

at the Bexhill Museum during

normal opening hours.

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6 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


Dr Kieran Mullan and Christine Bayliss reveal the plaque

The plaque with the details of the mural and restoration

Plaque unveiled to

celebrate Bexhill street

mural completion

Chairman Steve Johnson

CROWDS gathered recently to see

the unveiling of a special plaque to

mark the end of a project to restore

artwork in Bexhill.

Volunteers from Bexhill Heritage

have spent the last few months

painstakingly restoring the concrete

mural which was previously

neglected and forgotten. Many

residents still do not know about

the artwork which is situated on the

Sainsbury’s building wall, opposite

Town Hall Square, but now, it is

finally being noticed due to its

vibrant new look.

The concrete murals were designed

by Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot,

who were a husband and wife

team and were famous for creating

large-scale murals around the

country in the 1970s.

At the ceremony, Chairman Steve

Johnson thanked all the volunteers

for their hard work and commitment

in restoring the artwork which was

originally unveiled on 8th June, 1976.

He also expressed his gratitude to

members and other people who all

donated towards the project which

was totally funded by the charity.

A plaque detailing the project and its

background was officially unveiled by

Chairman of Rother District Council,

Richard Thomas, MP for Bexhill and

Battle Dr Kieran Mullan, Councillor

Christine Bayliss and Councillor

Ruairi McCourt.

Councillor Richard Thomas told

Bexhill News: “This shows the

extraordinary effort of people coming

together and working in a partnership

and working as a community. We’ve

taken a significant and important

piece of artwork, that was actually

hidden, unrecognised, unnoticed and

ignored, and now it’s shining through

in all its glory.

I just can’t express how delighted

I am that such a wonderful result

has been achieved by members of

the community.”

Councillor Christine Bayliss

said: “Bexhill Heritage do great

work in the town and it’s lovely to

see this beautiful mural. It really

is exceptionally restored to its

original condition.

There’s been lots of hard work

going on, and don’t forget, there’s a

lot of work and negotiations that go

on before they start doing the actual

restoration behind the scenes. It is a

really good piece of work and Bexhill

Heritage should be commended

for funding it.”

MP for Bexhill and Battle, Dr.

Kieran Mullan had previously helped

the project by dedicating some

time to help clean and restore the

mural. He told the gathered crowd

at the ceremony: “As an MP for a

constituency, I get to meet a small

number of people, who you meet

again and again in lots of different

ways, who make Bexhill an amazing

place to be. We should never take

that for granted because actually,

most people don’t do that. We’re just

incredibly lucky to have all of you and

I’m sincerely grateful for everything

that you do for all of us.”

The restoration process: Having

sought advice from Orbis

Conservation based in London (who

Crowds turn up to see the plaque

worked on the other murals from

the same artist), it was advised to

avoid the harsh use of chemical

products and to use de-ionised water,

washing-up liquid and brushes for the

initial cleaning.

It was found the soap began drawing

out black oils from the concrete

caused by years of being exposed

to road traffic. To combat this, they

treated each relief with poultice,

an absorbent paste which when

left on for 48 hours draws out much

of the staining.

To match the original painting

scheme wherever possible, a white

undercoat was applied, followed

by a base yellow colour then gold

mica powder and exterior varnish

which were mixed to create a gilded

look. The only other colour used on

the murals is red.

To help stabilise and protect the

plaster behind each panel, three coats

of limewash paint were applied. This

is a traditional, eco-friendly coating

made from limestone and water.

A wax coating has been applied to

the blue mosaics to help protect them.

Local tiler Luke Davis helped to

replace the missing and broken tiles

at the bottom of the mural.

How the murals look now after the renovations

Volunteers bring the murals back to their orginal condition

8 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


Ex-Formula One journalist sets

up home in Bexhill following

global reporting career

Kevin Eason

Not many people can boast they have Formula One boss Bernie

Ecclestone on speed dial or predicted Lewis Hamilton would

be World Champion a decade before he did. Editor Paul Gibson

meets ex-Formula One Journalist Kevin Eason at the birthplace

of British motor racing in Bexhill to find out why he’s chosen to

live in the seaside town after spending almost three decades on

the F1 circuits…

WE couldn’t help but stand and

gaze at the amazing photographs

displayed at The Sackville on

Bexhill seafront that show what

is claimed to be the first official

motor race in Britain. Huge

crowds flocked to Bexhill on that

Bank Holiday weekend in 1902 to

stare, and we tried to conjure up

the roar of the primitive engines

that would have echoed from

the walls of the surrounding tall

Victorian buildings, thrilling

spectators more familiar with a

horse and cart.

But it was just as thrilling even

now for the former motor racing

correspondent of The Times, Kevin

Eason, who travelled the world with

legends such as Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir

Stirling Moss, Nigel Mansell, Lewis

Hamilton, Jenson Button, Michael

Schumacher and of course, the boss,

Bernie Ecclestone.

Kevin has settled in Bexhill with

his wife Jacqueline after spending

most of his career living out of a

suitcase reporting on the Formula

One championships for one of the

world’s most famous newspapers. In

A Race on Galley Hill in 1904. Photo: Bexhill Museum

a career lasting half a century, Kevin

has reported on everything from local

country fairs to general elections, the

miners’ strike and major disasters,

as well as three Olympic Games, the

2010 football World Cup, the Ryder

Cup, the Open and Wimbledon —

and, of course, Formula One.

Now 71 and semi-retired, Kevin

started his journalism career aged

seventeen on local newspapers

in Hartlepool, Kettering and

Birmingham before moving in 1986

to the newly-launched Today, which

boasted being the first full-colour

national newspaper. Three years

later, he was hired by the The Times

as a political and industrial writer,

but he was also introduced to the

world of motoring, taking on a weekly

column in The Times and travelling

the world — some times alongside a

young Jeremy Clarkson — to report

on the latest models hitting the road.

But the big change in his life came

in 1998 when he was hired by the

sports department to become motor

racing correspondent.

Looking back on how he got the

prestigious role at the newspaper,

Kevin said: “My editor came to me

with a stack of documents which

contained a scoop relating to the

Ferrari championship race, and I was

asked to pull it apart and the story was

eventually a splash on the front page.

“It was such hard work, I jokingly

told my boss he owed me a nice

break abroad somewhere as a

thank you. A week later, he told me

I was off to Melbourne to cover the

Australian Grand Prix as a full-time

sports correspondent. I had no

contacts, I didn’t know the drivers

and I wasn’t trusted yet, which was

extremely difficult.

“It took me a good year to become

known and when I was first

introduced to Bernie Ecclestone, I

gave him my name and he jokingly

replied, ‘So you’re the one who

writes all that s*** in the paper?’

I realised this job would be a

daunting challenge.”

There followed 25 years of travelling

to more than 300 grands prix from

Japan to Brazil, the USA to Russia, and

interviewing and living with some of

the most famous names in Formula

One. However, one of his first

interviews in motor racing turned

out to be one of the most memorable

even before he started full-time in

F1. Kevin went the Buckmore Park

circuit to interview up-and-coming

kart racers, the next generation of

drivers, who would follow the great

names of the past like Jim Clark,

Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell. One

small youngster caught his attention

because he was the only driver of

colour at the event, but he was a

bright and articulate nine-year-old

who declared he would be F1 world

champion one day. His name was

Lewis Hamilton and he was as good

as his word. By the time Kevin retired,

Lewis was a multiple champion and

one of the greatest names in the sport.

Now, Kevin has published a number

of popular books, the latest of which

comes out this month and is expected

to reach new audiences around the

world. Ironically, he had no idea

of Bexhill’s motoring past when he

came to live in the town. He said: “It

wasn’t until we drove past the sign

saying, ‘Bexhill — birthplace of Motor

Racing’ on the A259 that I discovered

the story of the 1902 race. I had no

idea. I’ve mentioned the town to key

people in the F1 industry, and they

didn’t know either.

“I found myself fascinated by

the stories and have spent time

researching the town’s history.

I really don’t understand why

we don’t have a large motoring

heritage venue here to celebrate

the town’s background. We have a

stunning coastline and we should

really be doing more in the town to

bring people in.”

Kevin’s new book, published by

HarperCollins, is called Speed: The

Times History of the Formula One World

Championships, and is the story of 74

years of Formula One. From Fangio

to Verstappen, and includes stories

of the triumph, horror, skulduggery

and humour of decades of the

fastest championship in the world.

Each chapter includes an original

report from The Times, capturing

the mood of the moment each year

with evocative photographs taken

from the archives.

The 320-page book is available from

all good bookshops and online at

most retailers priced at £30.

Eason gets down down to business with Bernie Ecclestone

Eason gets a hug from 2009 world champion Jenson Button.

Eason was the first journalist to write about the future star

Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, with his

wife, ex-Spice Girl Geri, share a story with Eason

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill NOVEMBER 2024 9

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10 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


Social help

and support

for those living

alone or caring

for loved ones

FRIENDLY support is being offered

to residents living alone and those

who may be informal carers and

live with the person they care for.

‘Just Friends’ was set up in 2018 and

aims to bring people together in a

social setting, where they can interact

with others in a similar situation.

Using a specially designed format,

membership in Eastbourne grew

quickly, extending to Bexhill and

Newhaven with a further branch

opening in Hastings in 2022.

All the branches are now thriving

and giving much welcomed social

interaction to its members. It

has proved so successful that the

organisation is now seeking a parttime

East Sussex Branches Manager,

as well as volunteers, to help at

each of its branches and across

the organisation.

Just Friends provides a full calendar

of events for each branch including

bi-weekly socials, walking groups,

lunches, get-togethers, events

and excursions.

Many of the members travel to

other branches too, attending events,

activities and socials in each area.

Members at a recent meeting in Eastbourne

During the winter months, when

the nights are drawing in, there are

regular indoor events such as tea

parties or hot lunches. In the brighter

summer months excursions are

programmed and subsidised by Just

Friends, which to date have included

the Blue Bell Railway, castles, gardens

and anywhere the members have

requested to visit.

Frederick Smith, Chair of Just

Friends said: “I know only too well

from first-hand experience what

the impact of caring alone and

living alone can have on people’s

physical and mental well-being, so

at Just Friends, we aim to reach out

to all those living alone and invite

them to join us”.

There is no membership fee to

join Just Friends. Members only

pay a nominal fee when they

attend bi-weekly socials in their

areas. Otherwise, they pay towards

subsidised events, lunches and

excursions, or for their own meals

and coffees when attending locally

arranged lunches or coffee mornings.

The Bexhill branch meets on 1st and

rd Friday of every month between

10.30am and 12.30pm at Bexhill Town

Square Social Club, 4-6 London Road,

Bexhill TN39 3JU.

READERS’ LETTERS

DOES OUR MP SUPPORT

CLIMATE ACTION?

DEAR EDITOR, Dr Mullan did not show

up at his constituency office or respond

to emails inviting him to discuss the

government action needed to tackle the

climate and biodiversity crises.

This was part of the Climate Coalition

National Day of Action last Saturday

(13th October) when 300 MPs met their

constituents all across the country!

Dr Mullan’s constituency office in Sea

Road shows little sign of occupation

which is a shame 100 days on

from the election.

Climate change is costing our

constituency money. England has had

the second worst harvest on record with

wheat down 21% and the grape harvest

down 30 to 75%! The wet summer has

caused mould, disease and fewer grapes.

Warmer seas mean more evaporation

which means more rain. It is as simple

as that. If you use the local grocers you

may have noticed that local nuts and

apples are in short supply because of

poor harvests. Vineyards are a growing

part of the Sussex economy so we need

dry summers. Tourism is also being hit

with more rain leading to more sewage

on our beaches and in our seas — and

fewer visitors.

Our wildlife and crops are also in a

bad way from the biodiversity crisis.

Britain’s Biodiversity Intactness Index is

one of the lowest in the world; the global

average is 79%, and Britain is at 53%. We

need plants and animals for us to live,

not just to look at.

That is why we need Dr Mullan to

show up and discuss what Britain must

do to support the people of Bexhill,

Battle and Britain in addressing the

Climate and Biodiversity crises. The

Biodiversity COP (COP16) starts on 21st

October 2024 and the Climate COP (29)

starts on 11th November 2024. Global

Britain needs to take the lead.

I know Dr Mullan’s priorities include

the economy, farming and the prosperity

and well-being of the people of Bexhill

and Battle so I renew my invitation to

Dr Mullan to meet to discuss action and

I hope he addresses the issue in his next

column for this paper.

Justin Walker, Bexhill-on-Sea

MP DR. KEIRAN MULLAN

REPLIES: “I agree that

climate change is a really

important issue for MPs,

which is why I have already

arranged to meet a local lobby group on

this issue at my constituency office as I

wasn’t able to meet them on 13 October.

However, like many people, I’m

becoming increasingly frustrated when

some climate change campaigners

who seem to think anyone who doesn’t

sign up to each and every one of their

demands or share their campaigning

enthusiasm should be labelled a “no

show”. Less than half of all MPs took part

in this event — MPs are always juggling

competing demands for their time locally.

My constituency office is open as

normal during the week but it does take

time to complete both the legal and

building works relating to commercial

property leases. In addition, I have

already dealt with hundreds of emails,

letters and phone calls from constituents

and held a number of surgeries at my

office on a wide variety of issues. I’ve

also been out to local vineyards, farms,

met with the Environment Agency and

Southern Water, so I’m well informed

about the issues they face because of

more frequent weather events and

climate change.

I’m always happy to meet with

constituents who contact me on

issues they are passionate about,

but it does need to be at a mutually

convenient time.”

PARKING PROVISIONS

DEAR EDITOR, I visited the Community

Diagnostic Centre in Beeching Road for

the first time today. What a wonderful

establishment, which should take some

pressure off our local hospitals.

I drove from Westfield, Hastings,

and was really pleased and

surprised to discover there was free,

adjacent parking!

To take this convenience away from

the Centre would be ludicrous. Surely

Rother Council can see how difficult

it would be for people to attend such

a place without on-site parking? Isn’t

there an empty piece of land on the

opposite side of the road?

Please re-think this idea of taking

away the parking for such an invaluable

commodity to local residents.

W Howard

ED: The decision on the future of the car

park (report on page five, Bexhill News,

October 2024) has been deferred until

this month. At the meeting last month,

councillors decided to defer the decision

an extra month as a consultation on the

matter was still open.

To write to the editor, visit: www.eastsussex.news/letters

ACCESS TO BANKING

DEAR EDITOR, Further to readers

letters and your responses, may I add

that our nearest branch is now Hastings

and to get a bus, using our bus pass, is

not possible as Stagecoach Buses refuse

to let us on the bus as my wife, who has

MS, needs to use a mobility scooter.

The scooter folds up to the size of a

small suitcase but is 2” too long when

open and in use.

The main Post Office in Bexhill is

inaccessible with stairs at one end

and an entrance at other end which is

designed to only take wheelchairs and

not mobility scooters.

If you have mobility problems you

feel trapped, not being able to access

services that you need.

Steve Richards

ROADWORK HELL

DEAR EDITOR, The sheer number of

road works involving the supposed

need for two-way lights is now a serious

problem for anyone needing to drive to

appointments, school run, shopping etc.

It is bad enough sitting in the congestion

and this is made worse when no work

is actually being done. The works on

Barnhorn Road being an example.

Also when the work is completed the

lights remain. Again sometimes for

days. With the subsequent effect on

local businesses.

Is it too much to ask that East

Sussex Highways and the companies

involved work together to reduce

delays to a minimum?

Colin Portch

HOPES OF MILD WINTER

DEAR EDITOR, The cut to winter fuel

payments for pensioners not on benefits

was highlighted in your October issue.

This is a cruel, unnecessary and spiteful

change by Labour.

It saves the Government hardly

anything in the scheme of things but

will be disastrous for millions of poorer

pensioners across the country and

thousands in Bexhill.

I write as someone who receives no

benefits. I am just outside the qualifying

requirement for Pension Credit and

other entitlements, but this does not

mean to say I won’t suffer this winter.

The choice between heating and eating

will become a stark reality. I am praying

that it’s a very mild winter.

The outrage over this decision will be

reflected right up until the next General

Election. So, restore the payments or

face a huge backlash at the polls. It could

help doom Starmer, Reeves and co. The

PM promised that the Government is

going to have to be unpopular. Well, he

has certainly achieved that. Unpopular

and loathed. Not a good way to retain

power. So, think again on this one

Prime Minister.

Ivor Jones

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Write to the

editor by

scanning

the QR code

here or visiting:

www.eastsussex.news/letters

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill NOVEMBER 2024 REGULARS 11

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

BUSINESS LOCAL NETWORK

FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Come and enjoy our relaxed and natural

atmosphere. At BLN, we pride ourselves on

providing a warm and relaxed vibe with no

awkward elevator pitches. Conversations flow

naturally, allowing business owners to speak

freely and engage in meaningful dialogue,

brainstorm and problem-solve.

Uckfield: Hurstwood View, TN22 3FH, Tuesdays:

12 Nov & 10 Dec. £10 — To book:

www.bit.ly/BLN-Uckfield

Hailsham: Abbots Wood Manor, BN27 3AL,

Tuesdays: 19 Nov & 17 Dec. £10 — To book:

www.bit.ly/BLN_Hailsham

Eastbourne: Mortain Place, BN22 0AB,

Wednesdays: 27 Nov. £10 — To book:

www.bit.ly/BLN-Eastbourne

Christmas Business Collective — AKA, our Xmas

Gathering at Mortain Place on Friday 20 Dec,

2pm-4pm. To book: ww.bit.ly/BLN-Xmas2024

BEXHILL

CRAFT FAIR. St. Barnabas Church Bexhill.

Saturday 9 November from 10am-2.30pm.

FREE entry. We have over 30+ local crafters

selling beautiful handmade items. Pop-up cafe

with homemade cakes & soup. Tea & coffee

available. We would love to see you there.

BEXHILL STAMP & POSTCARD CLUB. St

Augustine’s Church Hall, Cooden Drive, Bexhill,

TN39 3AZ. Wednesday 27 November, 7.30pm.

Join us for our AGM and then enjoy some

short presentations and displays, followed

by refreshments and our phenomenal world

renown raffle.

BEXHILL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP TALK.

Beulah Hall, Clifford Road, TN40 1QA. Wednesday

27 November, 7 pm. ‘A Window Beneath the

Waves’. An illustrated talk by 2 divers from

Sussex Underwater. Everyone welcome, entry £2

non-members. Email: bexhilleg@yahoo.co.uk

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR. St Stephens Church

Hall Bexhill. Saturday 2 November, 10am-2pm.

The Christmas Craft Fair is brought to you by The

Crafty Collective. Come and get some Christmas

gifts made by local handmade crafters.

Refreshments and homemade cakes available.

Free parking, free entry. Raising money for a

local community mental health facility.

EASTBOURNE

PEVENSEY BAY ART GROUP — COFFEE MORNING

& EXHIBITION. St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, Eastbourne

Road, Pevensey Bay, BN24 6EZ. Saturday 16th

November, 10am-1pm. Free entry. Paintings by

local artists for sale, refreshments and tombola.

Meet some of the artists, enjoy a cuppa and

discover more about our friendly art group.

HARMONIZE PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY

PRESENT A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA.

Eastbourne Borough Football Club, Priory Road,

Eastbourne. Friday 15 November, Doors open

6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm. £10 per ticket.

All proceeds go to Eastbourne and District

Veterans CIC (07483 291651). Music from a

range of genres. For more info: 07554 880964

PEVENSEY BAY LOCAL MARKET. St Wilfrid’s

Church Hall, Eastbourne Road, Pevensey Bay,

BN24 6ER. Thursdays, 1pm: 7 Nov, 5 Dec.

Saturdays, 1pm: 2 Nov, 7 Dec. Indoor market

selling locally made produce and crafts.

Refreshments available. Stall enquiries, Karen

King 07789 231763

FUN INCLUSIVE BASKETBALL SESSIONS

(WEEKLY). Defiant Sports Inclusion Hub,

Archery Recreation Ground, Willoughby Cres,

Eastbourne, BN22 8RA. Every Saturday,

11.30am-12.30pm. Children 6 — 18. Adults 18+

(Children under the age of 8 must have a parent/

carer stay.) Parents/carers do not need to book.

£4 per person, per session. For more details and

to book: https://eequ.org/experience/2550/dates

HAILSHAM

STEVE’S HMI POKER CLUB. Hailsham Memorial

Institute, Western Road, BN27 3DN. Now EVERY

Tuesday, 7.15pm-close. HMI Membership/day

rates apply; £2/day, full membership £38,

renewal £28. Join Steve’s WhatsApp Chat for

more details: https://bit.ly/HMI-Poker-Club

CUCKOO TRAIL HEALTH WALKS. The

Conservation Volunteers. Horam, Hellingly,

Hailsham, Polegate — All walks start at 10:30am.

Improve your health and wellbeing with gentle,

friendly outdoor walks along the Cuckoo Trail.

Walk locations rotate weekly: 2nd Tues: Horam

— old station platform (TN21 0HL); 3rd Tues:

Hellingly — Station Rd car park (BN27 4EU); 4th

Tues: Hailsham — South Rd car park (BN27 2AU);

5th Tues (if applicable): Polegate — in front of the

station. No booking required, all walks are FREE,

just show up for a friendly stroll. Contact Becky for

details: rebecca.lewis@tcv.org.uk / 07483 045706.

To submit your listing for publication

on this page, visit: www.eastsussex.

news/community-noticeboard or

scan this QR Code.

The publishers cannot be responsible for any errors or omissions in this noticeboard.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST EVENTS

These are the details of some of the available

events, but dates have not been set. The

more people who register, the more likely the

mentor will create new dates and you’ll be the

first to know!

HAILSHAM FIRE STATION FUN. Come along to

a working fire station for 4 hours of fun. Games,

crafts, healthy eating and a fire engine! Ages

5-16. For more details and register your interest:

https://eequ.org/experience/5237

WOODLAND ADVENTURE WEEK. Our HAF

Adventure will comprise of 4 days of outdoor

activities at Bushy Wood Activity centre near

Hailsham. Ages 7-16. For more details and

register your interest:


CARDIO TENNIS SESSION. Weekly cardio tennis

for all! Fast paced hitting and moving, get ready

to get a sweat on whilst having fun! Held at

Fishermen’s Green Tennis Courts, Royal Parade,

Eastbourne BN22 7LH, Costs £4 per person.

For more details and register your interest:


PQA YOUNG CREATIVES — EASTBOURNE! Make

Art. Make Theatre. Make Dance. Make Film.

PQA is a weekend performing arts Academy with

over 200 Academies nationwide, providing tuition

for children and young people from 4-18 years.

PQA Eastbourne is one of the largest providers

of performing arts training on the South Coast,

offering outstanding performing arts training

in an environment that is friendly, safe and

rewarding. Costs £15 per session. For more

details and register your interest:


Get there

with Flexibus

A bookable

ride share service

for the price of a

standard bus

Book via the Ride Pingo app

or by phone:

01273 078203

eastsussex.gov.uk/

ESCCFlexiBus

12 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


Calls to reduce vehicle

weight limit for Old Town

A RESIDENT in Bexhill’s Old

Town says historic buildings are

at risk of being destroyed unless

measures are taken to lower the

vehicle weight limit.

Sandra Bandirali, who lives in

the Old Town has started an online

petition in an attempt to force the

authorities to stop heavy HGVs

using the area. There is currently a

7.5-tonne weight limit in Old Town,

but there’s an exemption for vehicles

delivering in the area and buses.

She said: “These cultural

landmarks are under threat. Large

vehicles, breaching the established

maximum weight limit of 7.5 tonnes,

routinely use the High Street, the

buildings don’t have foundations,

so the structure of these buildings

is being threatened. The immediate

enforcement of the weight limit is key

to the buildings’ protection and it is of

great concern that this regulation is

currently not being enforced.

We need for ESCC council to act.

The Royal Institution of Chartered

Surveyors highlights that consistent

heavy traffic can cause detrimental

damage to nearby historical

structures (RICS, 2019). We need

our local council covering this road

in Bexhill to prioritise this issue and

take active measures to prevent the

misuse of the weight limit, including

the revision of local traffic laws

and road changes.

Preserving the buildings on the

High Street is something we have to

do now, or the incredible images we

see of a high street that has hardly

changed in hundreds of years won’t

be there anymore.

The road needs to be reviewed on

many levels, but let’s start with the

enforcement of a sign put up by the

council to make sure large vehicles

stop using this route. Please sign

the petition. Your voice matters.

Make it count.”

The online petition has been

supported by more than 300 residents

who want to see the weight limits

change. However, Councillor for

Bexhill South, Ian Hollidge said a

change is not as simple as it sounds.

He told Bexhill News: “The B2182

Bexhill’s Old Town High Street does

have a weight limit of 7.5-tonnes,

however, as in most roads where

this exists, there are exceptions

to allow for public transport,

necessary deliveries, diversions

and emergencies.

This also has been and still is a vital

bus route for 12, 53, 94 & 95 who need

access via Chantry Lane. To change

this road would mean traffic would

have to find a different route probably

causing damage to other roads which

may be even more unsuitable and

inconvenience to those residents.

01424 442277

info@tivoliautoservices.co.uk

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14 NEWS

NOVEMBER 2024


Residents line the

streets to witness

Ninfield Bonfire

celebrations

PHOTOS: JTP53 PHOTOGRAPHY

THE rain held off to ensure

residents could enjoy the

traditional Bonfire Procession

which took place recently.

The celebration started with a

torchlit procession through the

village, featuring members of the

society dressed in themed costumes,

often representing historical figures

or characters.

Participants from other regional

bonfire societies across Sussex

were invited to join the procession,

adding to the spectacle and

camaraderie between groups. In

attendance were Bonfire Societies

from Ninfield, Battle, Ewhurst &

Staplecross, Robertsbridge, Rye &

District, Northiam, Eastbourne and

Hastings Borough.

The atmosphere was heightened

with music from Ninfield Bonfire

Drummers, Section 5 Drummers and

Ryebellion Drummers.

Following the procession, the

bonfire was lit and the night

concluded with an incredible

firework display that lit up the skies

over the village. There were familyfriendly

activities, with food stalls,

music and entertainment for all

ages at the event.

Volunteers and society members

work year-round to plan and

fundraise for the event, ensuring its

success and maintaining the tradition

for future generations.

Ninfield Bonfire was formed in

2009 with a few people who thought it

would be a great idea to bring Ninfield

into the great Sussex tradition of

Sussex bonfire celebrations.

Ninfield used to host a bonfire

many years ago with the last

official one celebrating the

Queen’s Coronation.

The event is totally funded by

donations, which can be made

at www.ninfieldbonfire.co.uk

Returning

due to a fantastic

response in Eastbourne!

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16 REGULARS

NOVEMBER 2024


A MATTER OF TASTE

We send anonymous members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an honest review.

These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the food and drink!

THE BARLEY MOW: THE

MOW-ST DELICIOUS FOOD

Did you know that the Barley Mow,

in Selmeston, reopened under new

management earlier this year? After

being closed for what felt like ages, this

much-loved pub has undergone a serious

facelift, and we couldn’t wait to take a

peek inside and see what’s changed.

If you’re curious about what it

looks like now and whether it’s worth

a visit, allow me to spare you any

further suspense.

After several years since our last visit,

one of the most memorable quirks of the

place was the life-sized model of a portly

chef outside. Well, for better or worse,

that’s no longer there (if my memory

serves me, I believe it was stolen). What

awaited us this time was something far

more understated and charming.

Gone is the bright, white facade—now

a more modest, toned-down colour that

perfectly suits the pub’s rustic charm.

Even the garage across the road has

undergone a makeover, which, combined

with the pub’s fresh new look, made us

feel like we’d stumbled upon an entirely

different village.

The sweeping bend in the road hugs

the Barley Mow, and as you pull into the

generously sized car park, you can’t help

but notice the fantastic event space out

back. This is where summer happens,

and you can picture long, lazy evenings

here, with drinks in hand and laughter in

the air. This was my idea of heaven, and

I wanted to stay here – forever.

We approached the front entrance

and were greeted by the lively owner,

Matthew. It’s a fine art being a host who

can balance attentiveness with giving

diners the space they need to mull over

their choices, and Matthew had it nailed.

It wasn’t until later that I learned of

his Brighton restaurateur background,

which explains his flawless execution

of hospitality.

As for the menu—oh, where do I start?

It’s one of those rare instances where

everything sounds so delicious that

the process of elimination becomes

impossible. We started our journey

with the selection ‘For the Table.’ With

choices like selected breads, butters,

oils & hummus, Olives in marinade, and

Salted crisps (carrot, parsnip & beetroot),

we were spoilt for choice. After much

deliberation, we finally settled on the

Pork Chicharrones (£4.50), described as

a pork crackling but on a different level.

And let me tell you, it was love at first

crunch. These weren’t your ordinary

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crisp pork heaven!

Moving on to the ‘Smalls’ menu,

we could’ve skipped ahead to the

mains, but … there was the Wild Boar

Terrine (£10.50), packed with pigeon,

pheasant, pistachio, and local cider

chutney, it’s a dish I’d happily return

for. Alongside that, we ordered the King

Prawns, served with harissa, cucumber

ketchup, and mango mint yoghurt. At

£10.50, the prawns were succulent and

perfectly spiced.

By this point, we were already feeling

full, but the Classics menu was calling,

and we couldn’t resist. These dishes

may be labelled as classics, but each one

comes with a twist that puts the ‘extra’

in extraordinary. Take the Ploughman’s,

for example. Typically, you expect a

square of cheese, a slice of ham, and

maybe some pickle if you’re lucky. Here,

they go all out with local ham & cheese,

scotch egg, or local sausage—a far cry

from your average Ploughman’s.

We opted for the Bavette steak (£18),

served with Café de Paris butter, confit

garlic, and tomato. Now, if you’ve never

tried bavette, you’re in for a treat. This

flank cut is known for its deep, beefy

flavour and, when cooked mediumrare,

it’s melt-in-the-mouth tender. To

maximise its flavour, it’s sliced thinly

against the grain, and the result is

nothing short of excellence.

Meanwhile, the Bok Shop Super Saiyan

Burger (£16) was another standout.

The chicken thigh, breaded to crispy

perfection and topped with miso mayo,

pink pickled onions, and served in a

brioche bun, was an absolute flavour

bomb. If you love a good burger, this one

will not disappoint.

If you’re in the mood for something

even heartier, the Tomahawk Pork

Chop (£24) should be on your radar. We

caught sight of it as it was served to

another table, and it’s the kind of dish

that makes you stop in your tracks. The

chop is massive—so large that it barely

fits on the plate. Served with colcannon,

spring greens, confit apple, and local

cider jus, it’s a feast fit for royalty.

For those with smaller appetites,

there are more casual options like

toasted rarebit, bacon sandwiches, and

hot smoked salmon sandwiches. The

children’s menu is equally impressive,

offering mini versions of pub favourites

such as home-pressed burgers, fish and

chips, chicken tenders, and penne with

homemade Pomodoro.

For Dessert, although there was

absolutely no need for it, we had our

arms twisted to try the Lemon Tart

with thyme, meringue and raspberry

sorbet. It was so light and lemony, it

went down a treat.

In short, the Barley Mow is back, and

it’s better than ever. Whether you’re

stopping in for a quick bite or a full meal,

this is a pub that ticks all the boxes.

Matthew’s passion and attention to

detail shine through every aspect of the

experience, and we can’t wait to return..

Barley Mow, Lewes Road, Selmeston

01323 811033 • www.thebarleymow.uk

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KNOW YOUR GARDEN

By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden

BATES Green Garden, an RHS Partner Garden, is open every

Wednesday between the end of February and late October.

For details, please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk

and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden

‘Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons’ — Jim Bishop

Bates Green Garden is a Royal

Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner

Garden, which means that we have been

approved by this horticultural charity as

a Garden that provides inspiration and

interest throughout the year.

It also means that RHS members can

gain free access to the Garden on certain

days when we are open. There are 220

such gardens in the UK, and the RHS hold

regular Partner Garden days to enable us

to network and refresh our knowledge

and understanding.

I was fortunate to attend such a day

last month, and the focus was on creating

planet-friendly gardens. I have to say that

Carolyn McCutchan (the original designer

and creator of Bates Green Garden) was

certainly way ahead of her time in terms

of gardening sustainability and nature,

but it was good to get some new ideas

which we plan to implement over time. I

thought that this month I would share my

top five tips so that you too can feel you

are doing your bit for the planet.

1: Plant a fruit tree. No matter how tiny

your garden is, every plot needs at least

one tree to provide beauty, structure,

a habitat for wildlife and interest

throughout the year. Why not make

yours a fruit tree? That way, you will also

Home-grown flowers

enjoy a bountiful harvest and benefit from

all the goodness of home-grown produce.

There are fruit trees for all situations, and

I am going to recommend a smallish one

that would also be happy in a container.

Prunus domestica ‘Opal’ is a superb early

variety of plum. The red fruits have yellow

flesh and an excellent flavour. This variety

also has a long cropping period so you

won’t get a glut of all your plums in one

go! ‘Opal’ plums are good to eat fresh but

also cook well for jams and crumbles etc.

Your tree will stay compact even when

fully grown and can reach up to 2.5-4m

high, depending upon the rootstock that

you choose. I would always recommend

that you buy from a reputable local

nursery that will offer good advice for

plums growing in your specific area.

2: Create a dead hedge. This is an upright

structure of woody cuttings woven

horizontally between vertical stakes. The

stakes are usually the sturdier branches

cut from trees or shrubs. This tangled

maze provides a habitat full of life, hiding

places for Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Wrens

and Robins where they can also nest and

forage. We are planning to start a dead

hedge as a new feature in the Garden

here, we will put the stakes in and then

build it up month by month whenever

we prune and tidy. The area we have in

mind is by our bird feed camera and we

will start this project when we coppice the

hazels in January.

3: Buy local or grow your own cut

flowers. I am a big believer in bringing

plants inside for closer inspection and,

although I am no floral designer, I love

popping plants into vases to brighten my

house. So many of the flowers we buy

have been flown over from Holland-there

is no need for this when we have a wealth

of Flower Farmers in the UK. Visit the

website flowersfromthefarm.co.uk to find

yourself a local grower.

Alternatively, grow your own! Despite

the month, you can still sow seeds of

the gorgeous creamy white Ammi majus,

nodding purple heads of Cerinthe major

‘Purpurascens’, delicate leaves of dill,

all manner of colourful poppies which

provide excellent long-lasting seed heads

and Calendula, which come in all colours

and will decorate not only your house but

your salads too.

4: Pull up a slab. So many of the UK’s

front garden have now been paved to

provide car parking space. Garden soil

and plants play a really important role

in storing carbon, and so, the amazing

fact is that if 30 million gardeners pulled

up just one paving slab and planted

1m2 of perennial plants which could be

herbaceous, trees or shrubs, and allowed

them to develop naturally to maturity,

this would be equivalent to heating

between 86,000 to a million homes for

one whole year. Now read that again…..

Even if you share your front garden

with your car, there will be spaces

available to pop in some violas, creeping

thymes or bugles and the bees will also

thank you for this.

5: Finally, vow to leave areas of your

lawn uncut next year. A tightly clipped,

weed-free lawn is not wildlife-friendly

and probably contains only three types

of grass which will limit the variety of

creatures it supports. Agreed, you may

need to keep some areas closely mown

to allow children to play, but perhaps

initially consider setting your mower on a

higher height to allow a few low-growing

daisies and dandelions to flower. Longer

grass also provides extra protection from

the sun and will make your lawn more

resilient to drought.

Better still, reduce the mowing

frequency and only mow on a 3, 4 or 6

week cycle to allow lawn flowers such

as selfheal, buttercup and speedwell to

flower. You will also encourage clover,

adored by honeybees.

The best plan I think, is to stop mowing

altogether between March and the end

of August. So many grasses are food

plants for a wide range of invertebrates,

including the caterpillars of butterflies

and moths and so, by leaving the grasses

standing, you will allow the caterpillars

to lay their eggs and complete their life

cycle. We have so many butterflies in

our Wildflower Meadow, and they are a

real joy to behold.

I hope that you now feel inspired to help

the planet by adapting your gardening

habits. Enjoy all the colours, scents and

sounds that November has to offer.

2024 FESTIVE

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To call, or reserve a table: 01424 424984

530 BEXHILL ROAD, ST LEONARDS ON SEA, TN38 8AY

www.bullstleonards.co.uk

Facebook: @bullinnstleonards

Sunday Folk Session - 3rd November & 1st December from 5:30pm

Monday Charity Quiz - 11th from 8:00pm

(no quiz on 25th owing to holidays)

Rock ‘n Roll Bingo - Sunday 10th & Sunday 24th from 6:00pm

Other Events

Friday 22nd (T.B.C.) - Ritchie Lee’s party night (songs from the

decades) - from 8:00pm

- Friday 29th - Ritchie Campbell’s solo tribute to Ali Campbell,

UB40 and the reggae greats - from 8:45pm

Traditional freshly cooked ‘Pub Grub’ with many classic favourites,

HOMEMADE PIES are our speciality! We also serve Goddard’s traditional Pie, Mash

and Liquor. In addition, our traditional Sunday Roast is served every week. Enjoy

our secluded beer garden, we have a large car park at the rear and

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18 ADVERTORIAL

NOVEMBER 2024


BEXHILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM UPDATE

CHAMBER ECHOES

Let’s make it a

Smurftastic Christmas

THEY say Christmas gets earlier

every year. Well, it certainly does

this year in Bexhill.

November 26th is the date that

Bexhill Chamber of Commerce

officially launches Christmas with a

wonderful Smurftastic event at the De

La Warr Pavilion.

Here at the Chamber, we like to

kick Christmas off with a big free to

attend charity fundraising event in

partnership with our members and

Bexhill Lions. In previous years we

have had stunning laser light shows,

a fortieth-anniversary screening of

the classic Snowman animated films

from Raymond Briggs and last year we

brought cartoon Elf to life projected

on to the South façade of the De La

Warr Pavilion.

This year we will once again be

projecting a wonderful animated

family film; The Smurfs – A Christmas

Carol, in which everybody’s favourite

little blue characters interpret the

classic Charles Dickens tale in their

own inimitable style. There will also

be a wonderful traditional brass band

carol concert in the De La Warr foyer

and kids of all ages family Christmas

activities organised by the De La Warr

education team.

So, let’s get ready for Christmas,

wrap up warm and enjoy a

Christmas sausage and mulled

wine while supporting a fantastic

charitable cause.

We realise that you will probably

be reading this straight after the

trick or treaters have been sent off

to bed and at the peak of our bonfire

parade season.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t all be

looking forward to a great Christmas.

It’s a time when we can share in

bringing a boost to Bexhill by getting

out whenever we can to enjoy what

our town has to offer whether it is great

food in our restaurants, a catch-up

coffee with friends, mooching around

our amazing selection of independent

shops, an incredible show at the De La

Warr or just a gentle stroll along our

world-class promenade.

Times can be difficult in winter but

it doesn’t mean we can’t put a smile

on for Santa and bring some cheer to

our local traders.

Of course there is a very serious side

to Christmas too.

Many people can feel alone and

isolated at this time of year and

charities are put under heavy

pressure for services while many

local businesses depend on a yuletide

boost to survive.

That’s why Bexhill Chamber would

like to ask for two small Christmas

gifts from everyone who feels they

can help and support our community

this year. When you are considering

your Christmas spend on gifts please

consider spending £10 in a local

business, where the money stays

local and recirculates within the

local economy.

Please also consider gifting £10 to a

local charity of your choice. Financial

experts agree that consumers

targeting their spend specifically at

local businesses and charities can

increase the value of that spend by up

to 400% in local economic activity.

Your £20 gifts could be worth

over £100 to our community. Now

that’s a Smurftastic Christmas gift

everyone can enjoy.

ON YOUR BIKE with Ian Hollidge

Sensible cyclists locking up for a well-deserved brew at the Oceanside Café at Glyne Gap in Bexhill, along the National Cycle Network route

BIKE SECURITY — REDUCING

THE RISK OF THEFT

ANY cycle ride deserves rest and

recharging and enjoying the view

with a brew. All around the Country, a

place to safely park and lock up is what

cyclists look for.

These Sheffield Bike Stands are simple,

effective and attractive, installed as

part of the Sustrans Connect2 project

over five years in 2006 to develop

new cycle routes. East Sussex County

Council delivered it in conjunction

with both Rother District and Hastings

Borough Councils.

We all need to look after what we have

— it’s up to us, our choice. Our pride and

joy deserves to be locked securely and

registered. A bike is not just two wheels,

it’s our personal transport, access to

work, home, family, friends, shops,

leisure and pleasure.

Most people we meet are honest,

law abiding and would never dream of

thieving. However, if it’s easy to take

and move on, the temptation to steal

becomes a risk, especially when the

chance of being caught is negligible.

The advice is to buy the best lock you

can afford, then secure to something

fixed in a well-lit visible area, preferably

with CCTV coverage. I often take an

image of my bike locked up before I leave

to make reporting and identifying later

easier if stolen.

At many Rail Stations, there is the

additional option of obtaining a free Key

Smartcard from the ticket office to gain

secure entry to a covered bike store

whilst using the train service. Keeping

bikes dry in the UK is often difficult.

These facilities usually inside Network

Rail buildings have excellent stands,

CCTV, lockers, cycle tools to use and air

to pump up tyres.

Good advice is to also use BikeRegister,

the National Cycle Database which is a

helpful record of bikes. Just register your

bike, mark and protect it and then apply

a warning label.

As well as finding a secure stand,

always put the lock through the bike

frame, maybe use two different locks. If

easy to lift over saddle or post, even by

removing a quick-release wheel, it just

increases the temptation to “borrow”

somebody else’s transport.

Some cyclists remove a wheel or saddle

also. If registered the bike’s owner could

be easily traced which would help the

police and mean thieves could be put off

in the first place.

Police have a whole spectrum of

offences to stop, deter and respond

to, it makes their life easier to help

trace stolen bikes.

Merseyside Police carried out a year

long experiment in stopping cyclists

to check they were the registered

owners. It reduced bike theft by 43%.

Their officers assisted in bike register

and returned many bikes to their

registered owners.

They are advising other forces on

their success. Bike Register means you

are less likely to be a victim and you

are helping Police in stopping crime in

the first place.

During COVID, the Emergency Active

Travel fund helped provide extra cycle

stands throughout the Country and East

Sussex has a few strategically placed

around our Towns now used regularly.

Cycle parking has become easier,

but remember to always leave room

for pedestrians.

Next months will be about lighting

up and being seen dazzling yourself

but not others.

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill NOVEMBER 2024 ADVERTORIAL 19

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS

BY DOUG OLIVER, COUNCILLOR AND COUNCIL LEADER

Bexhill Booms and Busts: Award-Winning

Town Faces Financial Challenges

I always feel incredibly fortunate

to live in Bexhill — it’s a lovely town

full of history, iconic buildings and

beautiful open spaces.

And so, I was delighted that our

town gained national recognition

over the summer with two

excellent awards.

Residents may have seen the Green

Flag flying at Egerton Park after it was

awarded the accolade for the 12th

consecutive year in recognition of

the high environmental standards,

first-class maintenance and

range of facilities.

Bexhill beach was also recognised,

along with 136 others including

Camber, Winchelsea and Normans

Bay, with a Seaside Award. The

award is a sign of an attractive wellmanaged

coastal area.

People in the town are already well

aware of the amazing open spaces,

but these Keep Britain Tidy awards

help put the town on the map and

hopefully encourage people to

visit the area.

There are exciting times ahead for

the town with work to build the Sidley

Community Hub due to start shortly.

The new state-of-the-heart facility,

which will include changing facilities

for sports, a café, accessible toilets

and function rooms for hire, will be a

Artist impression of the Sidley Hub

real boost for the local area.

A great deal of work has gone into

the project with the Heart of Sidley,

the De La Warr Pavilion and the

council working closely together with

the community to make sure the new

Hub offers as much benefit to the

community as possible.

With work expected to be

completed by winter next year, we

wanted to make sure disruption to

local groups was kept to a minimum

and I was delighted that the district

council’s Cabinet were able to agree

a short-term lease for the football

pitch at Sidley Rec.

Bexhill Amateur Athletic Football

Club (AAC) will take on the

responsibility of the pitch when

the council stops maintaining

it in December and until Heart

of Sidley take over. This means

the club will not have to find

alternative grounds while the hub is

in construction.

The club plays a valuable role in

providing children, young people and

adults the opportunity to stay active,

and we were delighted to be able to

help ease disruption.

Whilst there are plenty of

opportunities for our town and district,

there are a number of challenges we

face in the coming months.

Work is well underway on planning

for Rother District Council’s 2025/26

budget and like all other authorities,

Rother has been significantly affected

by rising costs and demand and

reductions in Government funding

over the past decade.

We know that we face a funding gap

of up to £3 million next year which

means we will need to change the way

we deliver services. Waiting until next

April to address this is not an option

and officers and councillors have

been working tirelessly to identify

changes that will help ease the

financial pressure.

One of these changes affects how

people pay for parking in our car

parks. Due to a significant drop

in motorists using cash to pay for

parking, and the increasing costs of

dealing with this form of payment, we

have now stopped cash payments at

our parking machines.

The change will not affect the vast

majority of people who use credit or

debit cards or the RingGo app, but

it will mean those paying with cash

at the De La Warr Pavilion, Eversley

Road, Little Common and Manor

Barn & Gardens will have a short walk

of between 80 and 300 yards to the

nearest PayPoint.

The financial pressure caused by

rising costs is affecting everyone in

our town and the latest energy cap

has added more to household bills

at a time when people are already

struggling to make ends meet.

Whilst the council is limited in the

financial support it can offer, we try to

do as much as we can to help people

find the support they need.

We have joined councils across the

county to highlight Pension Credit

which can help with living costs for

residents who are over State Pension

age and on a low income.

Claiming pension credit won’t

just help top up people’s income, it

could also help them to access other

benefits, including support with

health and housing costs.

I’d encourage residents to check and

see if they are eligible for the extra

help by visiting www.gov.uk/pensioncredit

or calling 0800 99 1234.

Residents may also be eligible for

a reduction in their Council Tax and

we are encouraging people to check if

they can claim.

Residents can check if they are

eligible via the Citizen’s Advice

website at: www.citizensadvice.org.

uk/housing/council-tax/check-ifyou-can-pay-less-council-tax/

To find out more about Council

Tax Reduction in Rother District

visit: www.rother.gov.uk/

benefits-grants-and-funding/

council-tax-reduction/

Details of other support that may be

available to residents can be found on

our website — www.rother.gov.uk/

benefits-grants-and-funding/

Remember, remember first aid in November

ST John Ambulance issues

simple first aid advice for

Halloween, Diwali and Bonfire

Night celebrations

As communities prepare to

celebrate Halloween, Diwali and

Bonfire Night with a bang, St John

Ambulance shares some simple,

but lifesaving, first aid advice for

those adding a bit of sparkle to their

celebrations this year.

BURNS OR SCALDS

• Move the person

away from the heat

• Place the burn or scald under cool

or lukewarm running water for

20 minutes minimum

• If the burn is to a child, larger than

their hand, on the face, hands or

feet, or is a deep burn, call 999

• Remove jewellery and clothing

around the area, unless

stuck to the burn

• Cover the burn loosely, lengthways

with kitchen film wrap to help

prevent infection and keep it clean

• Don’t burst blisters

• Monitor and treat for

shock if necessary

• Tell them to seek medical advice.

This is essential for all severe

burns and also for minor burns

in children, or if on the face,

or if you are concerned about

someone’s condition.

DEBRIS IN THE EYE

• Tell them not to rub it, so

they don’t make it worse or

cause more damage

• Tilt the head so affected

side is nearest the ground.

Pour clean water over their eye

to wash out what’s in there and/or

to cool the burn

• If this doesn’t work, try to lift the

debris out with a damp corner

of a clean tissue

• If this doesn’t work either, don’t

touch anything that’s stuck in their

eye – cover it with a clean dressing

or non-fluffy material

• Then take or send them

straight to the Emergency

Department at hospital.

SMOKE INHALATION

• Move them away from the

smoke so they can breathe

in some fresh air

• Help them sit down in a

comfortable position and

loosen any tight clothing

around their neck to help them

breathe normally

• If they don’t recover quickly,

call 999 for an ambulance.

Keep them calm whilst

they are waiting.

For more information or first aid

advice, visit www.sja.org.uk.

20 REGULARS

NOVEMBER 2024


NEWS FROM YOUR CONSERVATIVE MP

DR KIERAN MULLAN

HAVING worked as a doctor

in A&E for the best part of ten

years, health remains amongst

my highest priorities. I know my

constituents want to see waiting

times down, investment in local

hospitals and to be able to get a GP

appointment when you need it.

Under the last government, our

local hospitals were set to receive

a transformational amount of

investment. Eastbourne District

General Hospital was due to be rebuilt

entirely, whilst Conquest Hospital

was meant to be fundamentally

reorganised to make it fit for

the 21st Century.

These new buildings are essential

to enable our local NHS to deliver the

best health outcomes for residents

and tackle the significant health

inequalities in coastal areas such as

ours; but the new government has

cast doubt on these plans.

After repeatedly pressing for one,

I was pleased the Health Secretary

recently organised a meeting with

all MPs affected by his decision to

review the planned investment.

Unfortunately, he was still unable

to give us answers or even a clear

timeline — but I used the opportunity

to champion our case.

Some residents may also be aware

that I have been working with

several GP surgeries across Bexhill

and Battle, trying to help with their

plans to relocate to larger, more

modern premises.

I was recently contacted by Little

Common and Oldtown Surgery, who

are in the process of formalising

plans to build Barnhorn Green

Medical Centre, a state-of-the-art

healthcare facility which will enable

the practice to employ more GPs and

expand the services

they offer to their patients.

The project is a joint venture

with Rother District Council which

has benefitted from £5 million of

investment under the Levelling Up

Partnership Fund. However, the

project has some challenges, and I

MANY OVER 55s ARE NOW

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want to do whatever I can to help.

In Parliament, I asked to meet with

the Minister to see what he can do

to help get these projects moving. I

was pleased that he agreed to meet,

and I look forward to discussing how

the government can support new GP

practices going forward.

Alongside my work on GP surgeries

and the New Hospital Programme, I

have supported a number of health

initiatives in Parliament recently.

Friday 18th October was Breast

Cancer Now’s ‘Wear it Pink’

fundraiser, which helps raise vital

funds for life-saving research and

support. While the event was fun and

light-hearted, it’s crucial to remember

that breast cancer affects real

lives — every ten minutes someone

receives a diagnosis.

In our area, 1798 people were

diagnosed in 2021. Early diagnosis

is key for improving survival rates,

but only 58.86% of people attended

their screening in our region. I urge

everyone eligible to take this vital step

— attend your screening when invited

as early diagnosis can save lives.

I also attended Prostate Cancer

UK’s event in Parliament to raise

awareness about what can be done to

improve early diagnosis and improve

survival rates. Prostate cancer is the

most common cancer amongst men,

with over 52000 diagnoses every year;

yet around half of these are early

diagnosis, which is far below the

NHS’s target of 75%.

One free and simple change we

can make to make diagnoses earlier

and more accurate is to lean on

our existing MRI technology to

change the settings of our scanners

to increase the quality and speed

of scans. Traditional methods

of diagnosing prostate cancer

can be intrusive and awkward,

resulting in overdiagnosis and

unnecessary biopsies.

I will be writing to our local NHS to

check if we have made these changes

and to press for them if we haven’t.

I’ve always been passionate about

physical fitness and the benefits of

keeping fit can make a great deal of

difference to our physical and mental

health later in life. This is why I’m

keen to support the Youth Sport

Trust’s ‘Girls Active’ Campaign.

Physical activity and sports are such

an important part of our everyday

lives, and it is critical that young

people are encouraged to get involved

from an early age.

The recommendation for activity

each day is 60 minutes. I know that

some parents can wonder where an

hour can be found in the day, but

being active during lunchtime, or

walks after school, can be a great way

to make sure young people are getting

the right amount of exercise each day.

I will be writing to the primary

schools in our constituency to make

sure they are aware Youth Sport

Trust’s array of different programmes

to keep young people active.

Health will always be an issue that

resonates with me personally, and

I remain committed to promoting

preventative health initiatives and

delivering improvements to local

health services so that residents

of Bexhill have access to the

care they need.”

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BEXHILL MUSEUM

KEEPING OUR HERITAGE ALIVE

Welcome to the first of a monthly column from

Bexhill Museum. It will feature what’s going on at

your museum, highlight the new items and take a

look at some of the fascinating, beautiful or simply

odd objects in the collection.

You will also get a glimpse behind the scenes as the

museum heads for the start of its renovation scheme

which begins next year.

A TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN

One volunteer’s labours over the past few years

have resulted in an amazing document now available

for visitors to see.

It contains details of all the Bexhill people serving in

the armed forces who were killed during the Second

World War. The project was started during the

Covid lockdowns by Dave Hatherell, the museum’s

expert on the war.

The compilation is intended to provide details of

all known people (231 men and 3 women) with a

Bexhill connection who lost their lives during the

period covered by the Commonwealth War Graves

Commission, 1939-1947.

It is not just a list of names and addresses but

contains information about the lives of those killed

where possible.

The bases of the compilation were the records

of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

plus details from the Bexhill Observer. This has

been supplemented by street directories, names on

the town’s war memorial and other details found

on the internet.

All arms of service are represented and the

Researcher Dave Hatherell presents

the file to Julian Porter, District Curator

campaigns and incidents are worldwide.

The Bexhill connections are varied. Some individuals

are Bexhill born and bred, some from families only

living in Bexhill during the mid-century. Individuals

from Hooe and Ninfield with no clear Bexhill

connection also figure. Some members of the same

family lost their lives including a set of twins.

There remain anomalies. A Bexhill connection

cannot be found for four individuals and the identities

of two soldiers are uncertain.

The file, called Bexhill’s World War Two Armed

Forces Deaths, has been added to Bexhill Museum’s

Access Centre which contains many books and folders

on the town’s history. It is available for the public to

use on payment of the normal museum admission fee.

KEEPERS OF THE FLAME

This photo from 1958 shows Mr John Barnes,

Mr E. Mott and Mr Frank Barnes with the Little

Final adjustments are made to

the Little Common guy in 1958

Common Bonfire Society’s guy in preparation for

Bonfire Night.

The Little Common Bonfire Society lasted from 1933

until 1977 but it was the more formal successor to the

“old” Little Common Bonfire Boys which had a much

longer history. Until about 1908, the bonfire took

place on the village green, which would now be the

roundabout, but for practical reasons it was later held

on Cooden Down.

There was also a Sidley and Bexhill Bonfire

Society, again developing out of an older group

of Bonfire Boys.

As well as the bonfires, fireworks and music

that might be expected there were other activities

of which fancy dress competitions seemed very

popular. As well as providing a rather chaotic form

of entertainment and community expression there

was also the important work of fundraising for

local good causes.

NAME GAME

The Saxons, having invaded in 477AD, settled in

the lowlands of Sussex and provided names for

many settlements.

When the Normans invaded in 1066, their manors

provided a few new ones but the Saxon names were

mostly kept and recorded in the Domesday Book by

the Normans, although probably not correctly.

A talk on the village names of Sussex will be given

on Wednesday 6 November as part of the museum’s

lecture series. The speaker will be Simon Mansfield

who has an alternative way of looking at their origin.

A talk on Sidney Little – the Concrete King of

Hastings will be given by Andre Palfrey-Martin on

Wednesday 20 November.

In the 1930s Hastings and St Leonards were

transformed from two slightly run-down Victorian

resorts into a modern paradise of concrete and

chrome. This was mainly due to one man, the Borough

Engineer, Sidney Little. Some of his achievements

that have stood the test of time include Bottle Alley,

Britain’s first underground car park, the Lido and

Marine Court (the liner on land).

Both talks are at St Augustine’s Church Hall in St

Augustine’s Close, Bexhill, and start at 2.30pm.

Admission is £5 (museum members £4). Just turn up

and pay on the door.

ABOUT BEXHILL MUSEUM

Bexhill Museum, in Egerton Road, is run almost

entirely by volunteers. Opening hours are Tuesdays

to Sundays, 11am to 4pm. It is closed on Mondays

except for Bank Holidays. Admission prices are:

adults £4, over 60s £3, children aged 5-16 £2, underfives

are free.

www.bexhillmuseum.org.uk

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ANSWERS

ACROSS

1 Graded (5)

4 The City of

Dreaming Spires (6)

7 Bark in a highpitched

tone (3)

9 Amazed (2,3)

10 Visceral (7)

11 Painful sore (4)

12 Seasons by

exposure to the air (8)

14 Move back and forth (6)

15 Perversely funny (6)

19 Administrative

divisions of a city (8)

21 Friends (4)

23 Sue bids recklessly

to get lower (7)

24 Draw conclusions (5)

25 Ask for a loan (3)

26 Is frugal (6)

27 Smooth and lustrous (5)

DOWN

1 Hopeful harbinger (7)

2 Vexing mischievously (7)

3 Tinted (4)

4 First move (6)

5 Band’s lead singer (8)

6 Maidens’ river (5)

8 Pills and other drugs (4)

13 Magic trick (8)

16 Frisky (7)

17 Reduce to

smithereens (7)

18 Some ropes at sea (6)

19 Enjoy the sun (4)

20 Prove false (5)

22 They may be

read or sealed (4)

22 ADVERTORIAL

NOVEMBER 2024


BEXHILL-ON-SEA TOWN

COUNCIL UPDATE

Bexhill Town Council boosts

grant budget to £42,000,

encourages community

project applications

BEXHILL-ON-SEA Town Council

encourages local organisations

to apply for grants and donations

wherever possible to be paid out

of its annual grants and donations

budget of £42,000 for communitybased

projects around the town.

This year, the town council not only

changed their approval windows to

better suit timings of organisations, it

also increased this budget to £42,000

from £30,000 per year.

Here is the total value of grants

given by the town council since its

establishment in 2021:

In the 2022-2023 municipal year,

the town council approved a total of

£27,000 worth of grants and donations.

These were:

• Light Up Bexhill: £5,100.00 — Jubilee

flags and bunting.

• W.AVE Arts: £1,750.00 — Sea Road

derelict building artwork.

• Bexhill Heritage: £6,860.00 —

Shelter, Band Stand, Flagpole.

• Heart of Sidley: £1,000.00 — Festive

Lights (Christmas Earmark).

• Light Up Bexhill: £1,000.00 — Festive

Lights (Christmas Earmark).

• 9th Bexhill Scouts: £1,000.00

— Sleepover at Natural

History Museum.

• All Saints PTFA: £1,000.00 —

Outdoor play equipment.

• Bexhill 100: £500.00 —

Jubilee car show.

• Bexhill Carnival: £500.00 —

2022 Carnival.

• Bexhill Community Events Group:

£500.00 — King Offa Event.

• Bexhill Festival of the Sea: £1,000.00

— Festival of the Sea Event.

• Bexhill Lions: £290.00 —

Green Fairy Trails.

• Community Supporters: £500.00 —

Grow and Cook Sessions.

• Footbridge Project: £500.00 —

Printing artworks.

• Friends of Combe Valley:

£1,000.00 — Improvements to

countryside park.

• Glenleigh Park PTFA: £1,000.00

— Buddy Bench.

• Just Friends: £500.00 —

Anniversary Lunch.

• Made In Bexhill: £500.00 — Float

repairs and tent.

• Pebsham Community

Centre: £500.00 — Exterior

improvement to centre.

• Three Events Bexhill:

£500.00 — Millifest.

• Light Up Bexhill: £1,000.00 —

Jubilee beacon.

• Friends of Little Common: £500.00

— Hanging baskets.

In the 2023-2024 municipal year,

the town council approved a total

of £29,203.49 worth of grants

and donations.

These were:

• St Stephens: £598.65.

• Sidley Friendship: £500.

• Chamber of Commerce: £750.

• RunningSpace: £1,000.

• Footbridge Project: £1,000.

• Bexhill Senior Citizen’s Club: £500.

• White Label Events: £2,200.

• Bexhill Museum: £3,000.

• Bexhill Carnival: £5,000.

• Sidley Community

Association: £1,000.

• The Little Commoners: £500.

• Little Common PTA: £169.08.

• Friends of Little Common: £1,000.

• Heart of Sidley: £1,000.

• Bexhill HUG: £500.

• Community Supporters: £1,000.

• Bexhill Maritime: £900.

• Bexhill in Bloom: £500.

• Poppy Appeal: £200.

• Sidley Baptist Church: £7885.76.

So far, in the 2024-2025 municipal

year, the town council has approved

a total of £19,160 worth of grants

and donations.

This means a grand total of

£75,363.49 has been distributed to

community-oriented projects.

Here is a recap of the grants given

by the Finance and Audit Committee

during the 2024-2025 municipal year.

• Heart of Sidley received £5,000.

• Bexhill Choral

Society received £350.

• Bexhill Youth and Community

Association received £3,000.

• Hastings Sinfonia Orchestra

received £1,000.

• Mindful Oak Sussex

CIC received £510.

• St Peter’s Community Centre

received £1,854.

• Margaret Hayles (with proceeds

going to Children’s Respite Trust)

received £500.

• Jesus Loves Bexhill received £500.

• The Pelham CIO received £446.

• Bexhill Senior Citizens

Club received £500.

• Community Supporters

received £5,500.

The current windows for grants

approval goes as follows:

• Grants of up to £1,000 may be

approved at each meeting of the

Finance and Audit Committee.

• Grants of up to £10,000 may be

approved in January, May and

September of each year.

• Grants over the £10,000 limit

may be approved by Full Council

at each meeting.

If you have a project you’d like us to

fund, email info@bexhilltowncouncil.

gov.uk or visit our website for

more information on how to

apply for a grant.

But awarding grants and donations

is not all that the town council is

achieving for the community.

Below is a list of its completed

achievements so far:

• Installing ‘Happy to Chat’ benches

around the town to help combat

loneliness and encourage residents

to reach out to one another.

• Installing five new noticeboards

to better engage with residents

and provide useful information

of council business, as well as

ongoing community initiatives

happening locally.

• Open a town council hub which is

accessible to the public five days a

week to meet their signposting and

information needs.

• Hold a variety of events such

as climate action events, the

Northeye public forum, Bexhill

Day, remembrance services and

the Civic Awards.

• Re-open the Devonshire Square

toilets (which are due to get a

complete refurbishment!).

• Fund the upgrade and maintenance

of all CCTV cameras in

Bexhill-on-Sea.

• Provide multiple training

opportunities for council

members to undertake to better

serve the community.

• Install Christmas Lights around

the town centre, as well as making

annual donations for Little

Common and Sidley’s lights. This

year, the town council will also be

holding a switch-on-event for all

residents to enjoy in hopes of raising

festive spirit.

• Fund additional grass and vergecutting

to support the town’s

accessibility and aesthetics.

• Design and distribute an accessible

map of Bexhill-on-Sea which

includes helpful information

such as toilet facilities, bus stops,

dropped kerbs, defibrillators

Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council

35 Western Road, Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 1DU

Open: Monday-Friday, 10am-2:30pm

Contact: town.clerk@bexhilltowncouncil.gov.uk

www.bexhilltowncouncil.gov.uk

and much more. (These are

completely free and available in the

town council hub).

• Fund the Bexhill Wild Domesday

Project – an ongoing initiative to

support wildlife and nature in

Bexhill-on-Sea.

• Install new ‘Welcome to’ signs

for major entryways into

Bexhill-on-Sea.

• Fund the installation of multiple

grit bins around the town when

requested by residents for their

safety during the colder months.

• Take over the cleaning and

maintenance of all bus shelters in

Bexhill-on-Sea, with new additional

shelters to be installed. Watch these

space as these will be getting a whole

new look in due course!

• Oversee the management of two

allotment sites in Bexhill-on-

Sea in hopes of making them a

lovely and accessible space for

plot-holders to use.

• Begin to set up a Neighbourhood

Plan Steering Group for residents

to directly get involved in to better

shape our town.

• Fund the building of an

accessible toilet in the Pebsham

Community Centre.

The town council is also working hard

to complete a variety of other projects

such as designing and building a fully

accessible play park in Pebsham,

recruiting Town Rangers to help

clear up and beautify the town, and

publishing a Civic History Booklet to

highlight the vibrant civic history of

the town that has shaped the fabric of

our modern town.

So, what does the future hold for

Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council?

The town council firmly believes

in being open and transparent with

its processes as it develops over

the coming years. It has booked a

visioning exercise for all members to

present their residents’ ideas on how

to improve the town and increase

coastal tourism, which has seen an

unfortunate decline in recent years.

This exercise will establish the order

in which projects will be completed

and establish long-term goals. To get

in touch with your local councillors

to share your comments and queries,

visit our website to find out who

represents your ward, as well as their

contact details.

YOUR BUSINESS

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24 MOTORING

NOVEMBER 2024


Time to prepare your vehicle

to tackle the winter roads

PREPARING your car for winter

is crucial as drivers should be

ready for heavy rain and icy

roads this winter.

Ensuring your vehicle is ready can

help you avoid breakdowns and

maintain safety on the road.

Here’s our guide on getting your

vehicle winter-ready…

Check your battery — Cold

temperatures can significantly affect

your car battery’s performance. If

your battery is more than three years

old, consider having it tested at a

garage as cold starts take a heavy toll

on old batteries, especially if you do

short journies.

If necessary, replace it with a new

one to avoid being stranded on a

frosty morning. If your battery is

generally in good condition, check for

loose battery connections and clean

any corrosion from the terminals, as

this can hinder performance.

Inspect Tyres —Your tyres are

your only contact with the road, so

ensuring they’re in good condition

is vital. Check the tread depth; the

legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm,

but 3mm is recommended for winter

driving. Consider switching to winter

tyres, which provide better grip in

cold and wet conditions. Also, ensure

your tyre pressure is correct; cold

weather can cause tyre pressure to

drop, which can affect handling and

fuel efficiency.

Windscreen and Wipers — Visibility

is crucial during winter months, so

inspect your windscreen for chips

and cracks, as these can worsen with

temperature changes. If you notice

any damage, get it repaired promptly.

Check your wiper blades; if they’re

worn or streaking, replace them. Fill

up your windscreen washer fluid

with a solution that has antifreeze

properties to prevent it from

freezing. Never pour boiling water

over your windscreen when it is

frozen as this can crack the glass and

could lead to a costly replacement.

Fluids Check — In winter,

maintaining the right fluid levels

is essential. Start with your engine

oil; switching to winter-grade oil

can improve engine performance

in colder temperatures. Check your

coolant level and ensure it has the

appropriate mix of antifreeze to

prevent freezing. Also, top up your

brake fluid, power steering fluid and

transmission fluid as necessary.

Lights and Indicators — As the days

get shorter, ensuring your lights are

working properly is critical. How

often do you see vehicles with only

one headlight working? Check all

exterior lights, including headlights,

brake lights and indicators. Replace

any burnt-out bulbs, and clean the

lenses to improve visibility. Consider

using higher-intensity, legal bulbs for

improved illumination during darker

winter days. Ask a friend to check

round the car as you check the brake

lights and high beam etc.

Emergency Kit — Prepare an

emergency kit for your car, which

can be invaluable in the event of

a breakdown or severe weather

conditions. Essential items include a

first aid kit, a torch, a blanket, water,

non-perishable snacks, a shovel, and

a pair of gloves. Additionally, pack

jump leads, a spare tyre, and basic

tools to help you deal with minor

issues. If you’re going on a long

journey, check weather conditions

for the day and dress appropriately.

Fuel Levels — Keeping your fuel

tank at least half full during winter

is a good habit. This helps prevent

condensation from forming in the

tank and provides peace of mind

should you get stuck in traffic or face

unexpected delays. Plus, it ensures

you have enough fuel to run the

heater if needed.

If you drive an electric vehicle,

remember your expected range

will be lower than normal in cold

conditions. Prepare accordingly.

Drive Carefully and Stay Informed

— Winter driving requires a different

mindset. Be aware of changing

weather conditions and plan your

journeys. If snow or ice is forecasted,

consider whether your journey is

necessary. When driving, reduce

speed, increase following distances

and be gentle with your steering and

braking to avoid skidding.

Consider Breakdown Cover — While

taking precautions can minimise

the risk of breakdowns, having

breakdown cover can provide added

peace of mind. In the event of a

mechanical failure or if you get stuck,

knowing help is just a phone call

away can alleviate stress.

Professional Inspection — Finally,

if you’re unsure about the condition

of your car or how to prepare it

for winter, consider taking it to a

professional for a comprehensive

inspection. Many garages offer

winter checks that cover all

critical areas of your vehicle,

ensuring it’s safe and ready for the

colder months ahead.

LAURIE’S POEM CORNER

November now, so getting colder with darker nights after the clocks

just changed to go back, and so as often with me, my poem will

reflect this, well in part anyway.

The poem was written in 2017, so in my 6th of 13 books, and

is a true little story that will indeed show that all things can be

“relative” to us all.

My central heating had been playing up a bit and I was somewhat

annoyed, but on going down to a local shop a man was sat outside

and asking for “any change”, and whilst there are many theories and

opinions about these people, my immediate thought was that he had

no central heating there to moan about!

I considered this, and thus my poem “Relative” was penned, and

here it is to maybe get us all looking at life in a more relative manner?

Our worries and problems in life

Can really bring us down,

But what for us seems massive

To others it won’t cause a frown,

For they have more titanic battles

Which need fighting every day.

Mostly to just get those basics

That easily come our way.

RELATIVE

For this day I felt quite annoyed

About my central heating playing up,

Then wondered if he even had a place

And refuge, to sit with his cup,

Of tea or coffee, that we all agree

Can revive and fortify us anew.

For if you are homeless and alone

Many hardships are facing you.

£39.95 per person 4 course

Like the man calling out as I pass

For the price of a cup of tea,

Making me wonder on looking round

Is he really different from me?

Maybe he’s dressed in similar clothes

And hugs his can of strong beer,

But surely we have similar worries

When life’s troubles come near.

But look how early he is drinking,

I hear the cold cynics mutter.

I know that, but if you have nothing,

Perhaps it’s some comfort in the gutter.

For maybe he was in our armed forces

Once proud, but can no longer try.

So I’m grateful of my relative fortune,

As but for the grace of god, go I.

To purchase Laurie’s books, visit www.lauriewilkinson.com

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/bexhill NOVEMBER 2024 SPORT 25

Old Bexhillians Walking Football Club

Bexhill Seniors

BY ROB CAREY

NEXT month marks the

tenth anniversary of walking

football in Bexhill.

On December 5, 2014, under the

watchful eye of Sue Reece, an officer

from AGE UK South East, a band of

over 50-year-olds in various states

of fitness assembled at Bexhill

Community Centre in Station Road.

Most had retired some 30-plus years

earlier and the only football attempted

since then had been a kickabout in

the garden or down the park with

children and grandchildren.

Walking football in East Sussex was

initially instigated by Charles Sheldon

of AGE UK East Sussex after watching

a television feature about the birth of

the game in the UK.

The project really took off in event

form in early 2015 with a mini

tournament at the home of the Sussex

FA at Lancing. That was followed

by playing in a tournament at the

Age UK South East Summer Fayre at

Eastbourne on the Western Lawns,

when the name OLD BEXHILLIANS

WALKING FOOTBALL CLUB

was first used.

All participants were from those

early days at Station Road. In 2016 the

club first held sessions at the Bexhill

Leisure Centre, on Bexhill Down and

in the Athletic Club building on Little

Atha Strollers Overs 60s

Little Common Wonderers

Bexhill’s walking footballers

celebrate ten years

Common Road (The Atha).

The present club chair Mick Davies

took over the running of the club in

this year, too.

It is easy to say, ‘The rest is history’

but it is so true and today the

club boasts four teams - The OLD

BEXHILLIANS (Over 50s), LITTLE

COMMON WONDERERS (Over 50s),

THE ATHA STROLLERS (Over 60s)

and the BEXHILL SENIORS (Over

68s and Over 70s).

With a playing membership ranging

in age from 50 to 80 years, the club

is also able to field squads for the

Walking Football Association National

Cup competitions for teams of Over

50, 60, 65 and 70 years.

Presentation evenings, charity

quizzes, golf and other social events

are the order of the day, and a

Facebook page contains all the latest

club activity. The club’s main charity

is Warming up the Homeless and

donations in the past have been made

to the 1066 Specials Football Club,

Bexhill Gateway Club and The Bexhill

Foodbank amongst others.

The club boasts some 80 playing

members. Three sessions a week are

organised. Two are indoors at the

Bexhill Leisure Centre on Tuesday

morning and Thursday evening and a

Saturday morning session outside on

the artificial surface at Bexhill College.

The new season of the Southern

Combination Football League East

Division has just begun and the club’s

Old Bexhillians side have started well

but the LC Wonderers have a little

catching up to do - but it is early days.

Details of the games coming up

against sides like Hastings United

WFC, Hastings Hornets, Eastbourne

Borough, Ringmer and Battle

Knights are known in advance and

posted on the club Facebook. If

members participate in any form,

they can go on the email list to keep

updated on what’s on.

The joint managers of the OBs are

Brian Cooke and Nick Gardner with

Howard Whitelaw taking care of the

administration side. Little Common

Wonderers and the Atha Strollers

are managed by a triumvirate - Brian

Kidney, Hassan Hassan and Mick

Southon. The Over 68s and 70s Bexhill

Seniors are looked after jointly by Rob

Say and Andrew Burton.

The club welcomes players aged

Over 50 for men and Over 40 for

women while membership can be

tailored to exactly what members

require. Members can play

competitive or social walking football.

The social side also welcomes family

and friends, so if it’s a quiz that is of

interest the opportunity is there. Clay

pigeon shooting, bicycle outings and

a visit to Harvey’s Brewery have been

undertaken in the past.

New events are always in the

pipeline and a Brighton greyhound

racing visit and a Christmas tea

and music get-together are on the

agenda. The club boasts their very

own in-house band playing all

the popular covers from the 60s

to present day and the musicians

are actual players or have a strong

connection with the club.

Any constructive suggestions from

members on any subject to do with

the club from a playing or social

point of view are welcomed by the

committee. You also do not have to be

a committee member to help in any

aspect of the club’s operation. It is a

friendly club with well-disciplined

policies and ideas.

Details on participating in the club

can be obtained from the Chair

Mick Davies on 07961008743 or

email: mickdavies48@gmail.com.

DEATH NOTICE

CHRISTINE HARVEY-HOLBROOK

16/02/1940 - 02/10/2024

It is with great sadness I am announcing the passing of my

grandmother, Christine Harvey-Holbrook,

at the age of 84.

Christine will be sadly missed but forever loved and

remembered by her family.

Christine’s funeral will be on the 12th November 2024

with a church service in sidley and then on to Hastings

crematorium after.

If you knew my Nan, and would like to attend, please feel

welcome to attend.

For further details regarding the funeral please contact

Christine’s granddaughter Jade on 07801 295675.

26 SPORT

NOVEMBER 2024


Davies a big hit in

championships

BY MIKE LEGG

AARON Davies’ superb run

in the prestigious England

Boxing National Development

Championships ended with defeat

to eventual winner Jayden Waide

in the semi-finals.

Boxing in the Senior Under-67kg

MATCH REPORT

AND PHOTOGRAPHS

BY PETER KNIGHT

HASTINGS and Bexhill chalked up

another convincing victory over

strong opposition as they record a

24-7 bonus-point win against Old

Dunstonians to kick off last month.

A strong breeze influenced the flow

of the London and SE Counties Three

Kent game (Oct 11).

H&B welcomed back Calvin Crosby

Clark for his first game of the season,

he played alongside Cramp in the

second row and they gave the scrum a

solid platform. Jacob McDonagh also

returned for his first game this season

and started on the bench alongside

Mike Clifford and Sam Surridge.

H&B began with the wind advantage

and the Dunstonian defence was soon

under pressure from some slick back

play. Tom Hirst opened the scoring

with a surging from 30 metres out

before converting his own try.

Hastings mounted attack after

attack but handling errors and

unnecessary penalties at vital times

meant they were unable to score

more points until Joe Whitehill James

crossed on the left wing to make the

half-time score 12-0.

It was then Dunstonians’ turn

to dominate and they came back

with a try and a great conversion.

division, the Bexhill ABC prospect

recorded unanimous decisions all

through the competition before

eventually losing to the Eastern

Counties champion from Harwich

ABC in his semi-final at Arena

Sports, Kettering.

Past winners of the Championships,

formerly known as the Novices,

include heavyweight Joe Joyce

and Tommy Fury.

Despite the disappointment of not

reaching the final, Davies can reflect

on a run to be proud of as he put the

club’s name on the map.

Club coach Terry Freeman told

the Bexhill News: “Aaron boxed

lovely against Waide, trying to use

his distance, but Jayden cut the ring

down well which helped make it a

great bout overall.

“We felt Aaron possibly lost a very

close first round, but he then came

out strong and fast to put pressure

back on Waide and clearly won the

second. It was all on the third round

and Waide came out strong again.

“It was a close and very good

bout but Waide seemed to have

got the unanimous decision for

Mixed fortunes for H&B

Harrison dominates the lineout

The Hastings pack, led by Vinnie

Harrrison and Frazer McManus,

withstood more pressure before

Hirst added his second try out on

the right wing.

Gradually the hosts took a grip as the

forwards dominated the set-pieces

and wing Lawrence Maynard made

a strong break from the scrum to set

up Clifford to score the bonus-point

try. Surridge slotted the conversion to

complete the scoring.

There were excellent performances

throughout the side; Hudson

wells played well at full-back, Joe

his forward style.

“Aaron, who is coached and

mentored by our trainer Graham

Towse, has come on so well in the

last year not only with his boxing

but mentally as well. He really is a

great lad who many of our young

boxers look up to.”

Davies’ route to the final saw him

defeat Jude Whitworh (Worthing) and

then Amer Sepami (Phoenix ABC) to

become Sussex champion.

In the Southern Counties finals,

Davies claimed unanimous decisions

over Harry Jones (Artful Dodgers

ABC) in his semi and then Dillan

Portch (Sheerness ABC) in the final.

Next up was the National

quarter-finals against the London/

UKAF champions, with Davies

convincingly beating Finchley ABC’s

Bobby Julienne to progress to the

finals weekend.

The Championships were open to

boxers with a minimum of five bouts

and maximum of 20.

Izzy Mitchell, 17, has entered the

Women’s Winter Box Cup this month.

Freeman added: “Aaron, his brother

Terry, and some of our other up

and coming prospects, are all due

to box on our next home show on

Saturday December 7 at Pebsham

Community Centre.

“Tickets are priced at £20 per adult

and £10 per child with all if any profits

going back in the club to help keep us

going for another year.”

Field put a good shift in the centre,

Harry Walker was inspirational in

leadership and flair but the man of

the match performance came from

No 8 McManus. The new coaching

partnership of Bruce Steadman and

Ben Petty are working well.

A 17-3 defeat at Sittingbourne

followed before H&B were edged

out 19-12 by Brockleians on their

return home (Oct 26).

Hastings scored two tries, the first

from Joe Field, which was converted

by Jackson Coulter, and the second

came from Isaac Wales.

Overfield has ton

it again with 100

Centurion Challenge

BY JACKIE KNIGHT

Zak Overfield

ZAK Overfield took on the Autumn

100 Centurion challenge — his

second ultramarathon of the year

over the distance.

This race should not be

underestimated. Overfield not only

faced up to 13 hours of running in

darkness with low temperatures,

but the terrain can also be full of

surprises, so his performance was a

true victory of spirit.

Beachy Head Lighthouse Swim

Bexhill Runners and Triathletes

members also joined the Beachy

Head Lighthouse Ocean experience

swim from Birling Gap to Holywell

Beach in Eastbourne. It proved a truly

unique adventure for Ali Marsham,

Dan Marsham, David Palmer,

Grant Docksey, Paul Zipperlen and

Suzie Casebourne and covered

approximately 6.6km.

1066 Tri-athlon

Many other triathletes registered

for the Bexhill 1066 triathlon

which offered sprint and standard

distance races. All athletes

undertook dedicated training for

the three disciplines, so it was most

disheartening to receive a pollution

forecast warning 12 hours before

which ruled out the swimming.

Congratulations go to Mark

Mitchell, who won the standard

distance duathlon in 02:04;26, while

Neil Smith, clocked 02:40:28 and Paul

Zipperlen 02:51:16.

Those who completed the sprint

duathlon included Tom North

(01:05:07), Dan Marsham (01:12:39),

Grant Docksey (01:17:49), Frances

Burnham (01:22:52), Isobel

Mitchell (01:23:30) and Antonio

Serrano (01:25:38).

Finally, Anne and Isaac Batchelor

Anne Batchelor and Isaac Batchelor,

Hever Castle Super Sprint

travelled to Hever Castle for the super

sprint. The swim was also replaced

there as athletes ran 4.5k, biked 20k

and ran 2.5k. Anne successfully

finished in 02:10:00 and managed an

outstanding second in her age group.

Other BRT runners have enjoyed

outstanding triumphs, including Ian

Paine who headed off to Snowdonia

to conquer the Rat Race UK Sea to

Summit. This was the third and final

ultra distance at the UK highest peaks

over the last six weeks.

There were impressive results

for David Rogers (12:02:35), Simon

Leonard (12:02:35) and Paula Chase

(12:02:36), who all entered the 5

Valleys Ultra 55km event in the

Lake District.

Geoff Tondeur took on the

undulating Isle of Wight Marathon

and finished in 04:09.23. Tim

Barrow visited the amazing Pisa

in Italy and recorded 01:58:34 for

his half marathon.

Ellie Docksey, Tonbridge Half

Ellie Docksey took on the Tonbridge

half marathon and smashed a

personal best of 02:16:45. Alan Holm

conquered the Hastings Seafront 10k

with a time of 01:47:07. Finally, there

were cheers for John Brooker after

he celebrated his 200th Parkrun. Next

month look out for the cross-country

season updates.

If you have ever thought about

running with a friendly group of likeminded

people, please go to the BRT

webpage for more information for

both adult and junior membership.

www.bexhillrunnerstriathletes.co.uk

Expert

dementia

care

Guided by the latest academic

evidence, our dementia specialists

support each resident to live every

day to the full.

If you’re considering a care home,

call 01323 917394 or visit

careuk.com/bowes-house

Trusted to care

Bowes House care home

Hailsham

28 SPORT

NOVEMBER 2024


Sport

Bexhill fought back against Peacehaven

Cox confident future’s

bright for Bexhill

BY MIKE LEGG

PHOTOS: JON SMALLDON

GRAHAM COX will call time on his

tenure as Bexhill United chairman

confident the club is in good shape

to keep on progressing.

Cox step downs at the end of this

SCFL premier campaign after more

than a decade in various committee

roles including match secretary,

treasurer, vice-chairman and, since

2019-20, chairman.

The Pirates are kicking into gear on

the pitch under boss Ryan Light and

have finished October unbeaten. And,

off the pitch, Cox believes the club is

also well set for the future.

In a message to committee, staff and

supporters, Cox spoke of his gratitude

and sadness at leaving the job but

said: “After what will have been an

incredible 13 years of service in various

roles, I believe the time has come

for me to step down and allow new

leadership to guide this wonderful club

into its next chapter.”

He added: “The dedication and

passion of our players, coaches, staff

and volunteers have been nothing

Graham Cox

short of inspiring.”

Bexhill News caught up with Cox at the

club’s Polegrove clubhouse for a look

back on his time and to ask, why now?

Cox revealed: “I’ve been with the club

quite a long time now and I am tired. I

believe I’ve pushed the club as far as I

can. I am worn out with it all and feel a

fresh helmsman might push the club

on to progress even further.

“I am quite happy to keep doing bits

and pieces if they want me to, but I want

step away from the huge responsibility

as it can be a weight on the shoulders.

“I think someone will step forward

although I know there is concern within

the club. I personally think the club is in

a good position. Certainly, from when I

started to where we are now, the club is

in a really good financial position.

“I’m not saying we’re rich but we are

not having to scrape by every week.

We have been able to transform the

football club by generating income

and attracting sponsorship. They are

all sorry to see me go but I just feel

someone will step forward.”

Cox, 60, cites the late former

chairman Bill Harrison as a great

mentor and hopes his own legacy will

be of improving what the club offers

to the community.

He said: “I’ve been chairman since

2019 and we’ve made some significant

improvements around the place

to make it an improved matchday

experience. They have been gratefully

received by our supporters.

“We have also made it more of a

venue for the community. People

come here to have their 18th, 21st, 40th

birthdays — one night we had an 18th

and 80th on the same night.

“We try to generate revenue for

the football club and sponsorship

is obviously also good as that is

money that otherwise would take a

long time to earn.”

One key sponsorship has been struck

with Bexhill College while Cox is proud

of the thriving youth set-up.

He added: “The key thing in 2019-20,

was what do I need to do? Financially

it was pretty good, and we’d got some

good grants in but let’s start from the

ground up. I looked at the youth section

and we weren’t really there with the

coaches and support.

“You needed two running a team

and sometimes there was only one,

others had two but only one had their

coaching badge and that was where

we needed to invest. So that was

my priority in year one, to make a

difference to the youth set-up.

“Now, whether they think I did or not,

we invested quite heavily in coaching

and getting people their qualifications

to give them the tools to do the job so

kids could come to a safe environment

and learn. That has been ongoing and

we have about 46 youth coaches now.”

United are in the top ten after a

difficult start and Cox believes last

month’s 2-2 draw with Saltdean was

a turning point.

A fine 1-0 home win followed over

Haywards Heath (Oct 2) with Aaron

Capon the matchwinner before Pirates

mullered Midhurst and Easebourne

5-0 on their patch with Capon (two),

Ash Latuske, Dan Rogers and Jaan

Stanley on target.

Cox said: “There’s a real

determination and you can see it in the

lads’ faces now.”

That was obvious as United hit back

from 2-0 down last weekend to draw 2-2

with visitors Peacehaven after goals by

subs Ed Radcliffe and Will Harley. Jack

Shonk has also rejoined the club.

Last season was one of struggle when

John Wright and Shane Lovell stepped

up after Light departed. They resigned

in May and Light returned after what

turned out to be a one-season break.

And Cox said: “If we can finish in

the top eight after where we were last

season, that would be fantastic.”

Bexhill November fixtures: Wick

(home, Nov 2); Loxwood (home, Nov

9); AFC Varndeanians (away, Nov

16); Crawley Down (home, Nov 23);

Petersfield (away, Nov 30).

Little Common looking up after first win

BY MIKE LEGG

PLAYER-BOSS Russell Eldridge

is aiming for a big month after

Little Common claimed their

first league win of the season at

the 14th attempt.

A 1-0 win over Newhaven,

courtesy of Logan Copley’s goal,

was the ideal response after the

previous week’s 5-0 thumping at

Varndeanians (Oct 19).

Common remain bottom but

Eldridge hopes the win can kickstart

a push up the table with fellow

strugglers Pagham and Shoreham

both to visit the Rec this month.

Eldridge said: “It was a big relief

to get our first win. It has obviously

taken us a lot longer than I would

have liked it to have done but credit

to the boys, especially after the week

before when we were really poor, we

needed something and we needed it

quickly. So, those three points came

at a really good time for us.

“We are under no illusions, though.

It is just one win but it is a start and it

is a platform for us.

“This is a really important month

for us, especially with some of the

fixtures we have got at home, and it is

important we take advantage of that.

“If we can start getting a

consecutive run of points, then the

picture looks a lot different.”

Charlie Playford is unlikely to play

before Christmas due to injury while

16-year-old keeper Ford Robertshaw

has done well after stepping in

for Matt Cruttwell, who should be

back in a month.

Liam Ward was on target in a

3-1 loss at Hassocks (Oct 1) before

a 3-0 home defeat to Petersfield.

Common gave a good account

of themselves in a 3-0 loss at

Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex

Senior Cup (Oct 8) while Eldridge

and Copley netted in a 3-2 defeat at

Loxwood (Oct 12).

Copley and Archie Warmington

scored as Common beat Uckfield 2-0

in the Peter Bentley Cup (Oct 15).

Little Common November

fixtures: Pagham (home, Nov 2);

Reigate Priory (home, Nov 12, PBC);

Shoreham (home, Nov 16); Roffey

(away, Nov 23); Midhurst & Ease

(home, Nov 30).

Bexhill News, November 2024, Issue 29

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