Eastbourne News, August 2024, Issue 03

AUGUST 2024 | ISSUE 03

YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR EASTBOURNE, WILLINGDON, MEADS AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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2 NEWS

AUGUST 2024

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/eastbourne

WELCOME

HELLO and welcome to the latest

issue of Eastbourne News.

As we enter the month of August,

summer is in full swing with a series of

events proving popular and thousands

flocking to the seafront to soak up

the sun.

The most popular event staged in

the town recently was Eastbourne

Pride as hundreds of brightly-coloured

revellers took part in a parade before

gathering at Princes Park.

Eastbourne News visited the park

and the atmosphere created by all

those who attended exemplified what

a joyous occasion it was.

There was also plenty of fun to be

had at Pirate Day where “scallywags”

dressed up in top-notch costumes.

Following the General Election,

Eastbourne now has a new MP in

the shape of Liberal Democrat Josh

Babarinde.

He has expressed his joy at being

given the opportunity to represent the

town he has lived in for most of his life

and has already made several pledges

about what he intends to do to benefit

Eastbourne.

Everyone is fully aware of the need

for more housing across the country

and that is also the case in Eastbourne.

Plans for the old Victorian pumping

station has been given the go-ahead

to turn the premises into housing, but

far more needs to be done due to the

overwhelming and rising demand.

We also published a touching story

about a man, born in Eastbourne but

now resides in Newcastle in Australia,

who is embarking on a huge challenge

to raise funds for charity in memory of

his best friend who died at a tragically

young age.

Until next time, please keep

sending me your stories at editor@

eastbourne.news.

Hsin-Yi Lo, Editor.

THE TEAM

PAUL GIBSON — GROUP EDITOR

paul@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

HSIN-YI LO – REGIONAL EDITOR

hsinyilo@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

KIM MAYO – REGIONAL EDITOR

kim@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

LYLE ACOTT – ADVERTISING SALES

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VIKTORIA COWLEY – FEATURES AND ACCOUNTS

viktoria@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

MIKE LEGG – SPORTS REPORTER

sports@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

DEAN COOK – PRODUCTION

dean@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

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without express permission of the editor.

Old pumping station

moving closer to being

transformed into muchneeded

affordable homes

PLANS have been approved to

progress the transformation of the

old pumping station site into 100

new council homes.

Cabinet councillors at Eastbourne

Borough Council gave the project the

green light on Wednesday, July 18.

The Grade II listed Victorian Pump

House is a familiar landmark for train

passengers using Eastbourne Railway

Station.

The site, which has failed to be

delivered by two previous housing

associations, is challenging and

complex and the council has been

attempting to find funding solutions

to support the scheme’s viability.

In May this year, Eastbourne

Borough Council’s bid for

£7.622million from Homes England

towards the scheme was successfully

confirmed, subject to conditions, and

is a significant step towards closing

the funding gap.

In addition, the next key objective

is confirmation of a Brownfield

Land Release Fund (BLRF) bid of

£2.2million made earlier in the year.

This is not expected to be

announced until later this year and

it is only when all the conditions are

met that the funding from Homes

England will be officially allocated.

The council said the approval by

cabinet councillors is a significant

milestone for the project as it enables

works and surveys to be undertaken

to prevent any delays in construction

if and when full funding is secured.

An updated business case for the site

was also agreed by councillors.

Councillor Peter Diplock, cabinet

member for housing, said: “This

work will get the site fully ready for

building to start once a decision is

made on our BLRF bid, which we are

very hopeful will succeed.

“Where there is a will, there is a way,

and our ambition to create muchneeded

affordable homes for local

people at this Eastbourne landmark is

moving closer to becoming reality.”

A Project Board for the Bedfordwell

Road site will reconvene to work

through next steps with council

officers in detail.

The pumping station was

constructed in 1881 and was designed

by Henry Currey, who was also

the architect for the Eastbourne

Waterworks Company Ltd, which

was established by the 7th Duke of

Artists’ impression. From Eastbourne Borough Council Facebook page

Devonshire in 1859.

The pumping station was officially

opened in 1883 by the then mayor of

Eastbourne, George A. Wallis, who

also served as the engineer.

The opening was attended by the

future King Edward VII and Queen

Alexandra, and in honour of their

attendance the two rotary pumping

engines were named after them. The

larger engine was named ‘The Prince’

and the smaller one ‘The Princess’.

The beam engines had the capacity

to pump five million gallons of water

every 24 hours from an oval well,

which was about 40 feet deep.

However, the pumping station did

not last long and ceased operating

in 1895 because the well was

contaminated.

The site was sold in 1923 to be used

as a council depot and the inside

Main building of the pumping station. From Eastbourne Borough Council Facebook page

was renovated to accommodate

workshop machinery.

In subsequent years, the pumping

station has undergone several

changes; council offices were built

near the site, a beam engine was

transported to Friston Pumping

Station and its boiler chimney stack

was removed. The buildings that

were erected on the site after 1923

were demolished in 2012.

6 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Take a walk on the wild

side to learn all about the

heroes of the South Downs

Brighton and Hove City Council Ranger Paul Gorringe, one of heroes of new trail SDNPA

A BRAND-NEW film trail has been

launched this summer telling

fascinating stories of local heroes

and their connection to the South

Downs National Park.

Ten “viewing posts” have been

installed along the 100-mile South

Downs Way from Winchester to

Eastbourne, each linked to a thoughtprovoking

film that celebrates a

person who makes a difference in the

South Downs.

It comes as National Parks in the UK

celebrate its 75th birthday this year.

The trail, called “Your National

Park”, includes the stories of a

forester, a ranger, a teacher, an artist,

a butterfly conservationist, and many

more.

The trail takes in popular beauty

spots in the National Park, such as

Old Winchester Hill, Queen Elizabeth

Country Park, Truleigh Hill and Seven

Sisters.

The new trail, which has its own

map, was officially launched on

Saturday, July 27 at One Garden

Brighton in Stanmer Park.

As well as previewing the films,

visitors can take part in fun activities

and learn about the ecosystem of the

South Downs.

This includes a bioblitz to discover

bugs and critters from the South

Downs, a guided woodland walk,

pond-dipping, arts and crafts,

orchard tours and take part in a

nature-based wellbeing session.

Davinder Dhillon, OBE, who

stars in one of the films, will also be

delivering a talk about the journey

of the Hindu and Sikh soldiers from

the First World War, for whom the

Chattri Memorial, near Brighton, was

built.

Andy Gattiker, who leads access

in the National Park, said: “Humans

have been walking the South

Downs Way for over 5,000 years,

so people have had a personal

connection with this amazing

landscape for millennia.

“This new trail adds a new fun

element to walking, cycling, horseriding

or running the South Downs

Way, which of course many people

take on in sections, while others take

on the entire 100 miles in one go.

“To watch the different films,

walkers simply scan the QR code

on the post that then links to the

film on their mobile or tablet.

“The question at the heart of these

lovely films is ‘What makes the South

Downs National Park yours?’ People

often have different reasons why

they enjoy the South Downs and

want to care for it and it’s great to

be able to celebrate that diversity.

“We hope the stories of all these

local champions inspire people to

discover more about the National

Park’s amazing landscape,

biodiversity and history and

hopefully do their bit to help protect

it for future generations to enjoy.”

Mr Dhillon added: “Being close

to nature shows us that we’re

all connected in one way or

another. We want everyone to see

that the South Downs National

Park is for them. Whatever our

background, race or religion, this

is our space, our sanctuary.”

Mandy Molyneux, director

of Havant-based arts charity

Artscape, which runs crafts

workshops in the National Park,

said: “When I started visiting

spots like Butser Hill, I felt I came

alive in these places. They were

a source of calm and stillness.

“It struck me as so important to

help take people who’re feeling

isolated away from their four

walls and out into nature.”

Paul Gorringe, Brighton and

Hove City Parks Ranger, said:

“It’s here I learned how to get

people volunteering and feeling

a sense of ownership.

“How can you not love a place like

the South Downs, especially one so

connected to the city and the sea?”

For more information about the films

visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/yournational-park/

Neil Hulme, one of local heroes, with his beloved Dukes of Burgundy SDNPA

4 Neil Hulme, one of local heroes, with his beloved Dukes of Burgundy SDNPA EN 0824.eps

Your National Park Map Trail

Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/eastbourne AUGUST 2024 NEWS 7

New Eastbourne MP vows

to fight tooth and nail to

secure town’s success

ONCE named “Eastbourne’s cutest

baby” Josh Babarinde finally

achieved his long-cherished dream

of becoming the town’s MP when

the Liberal-Democrat was elected

on July 4.

Mr Babarinde won in a landslide in

this year’s General Election, securing

23,742 votes and ousting the former

MP of Eastbourne Caroline Ansell, of

the Conservative Party, who claimed

11,538 votes.

Mr Babarinde was born and brought

up in the town and was educated

locally, having attended St Thomas A

Beckett, Stafford, Cavendish and East

Sussex College.

He also said his first job was serving

pizzas as a waiter in Eastbourne. He

then went on, aged 18, to win a place

at the London School of Economics

which delighted his parents as they

had not attended university.

Following university, Mr Babarinde

then moved to the Eastend of London

where he supported young people

who had been involved in crime and

gang activity and inspired them to

move into employment.

Following that, he then launched

and ran a business for seven years

training and employing former

offenders so they could thrive in the

technology sector roles.

The business won several awards.

Another hugely-proud moment for

him was when he received an OBE in

the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours

List for his services to criminal justice,

social enterprise and the economy.

The OBE was presented to him by

Princess Anne at Windsor Castle.

During the COVID pandemic, Mr

Babarinde also trained as a local

COVID vaccinator and vaccinated

hundreds of Eastbournians at the

Harbour NHS Vaccination Centre.

Prior to being elected as the MP,

he also served as a councillor for

Hampden Park.

Mr Babarinde has already

outlined several priorities he wants

to address. He said: “I’m fighting

for Southern Water to tackle raw

sewage dumping in our sea. Water

bosses should be prosecuted if

that’s what it takes. They shouldn’t

be allowed to get away with it.”

He added on his website: “I’ve

spent most of my working life getting

young ex-offenders out of crime and

into work. The challenge of tackling

systemic issues in our society is

what led me to stand for the Liberal

Democrats in Eastbourne.

“I want to represent a town where

everyone feels safe. Eastbourne has

so much to offer but now we need

fresh vision, fresh energy and fresh

action. That is what I will bring as the

Lib-Dem MP for Eastbourne. I love

our town and I will fight tooth and nail

for it.”

Council

under huge

pressure

THE leader of Eastbourne Borough

Council has warned that despite

cutting over £3 million from the

2024/2025 budget, the need for

‘further significant savings are

inevitable’.

Eastbourne has seen very significant

increases in costs, particularly in

the number of people presenting as

homeless and requiring temporary

accommodation.

Councillor Stephen Holt, leader of

Eastbourne Borough Council, said:

“Homelessness is a social and financial

crisis that I hope the new government

will urgently address.

“It saddens me greatly that we now

cannot avoid reductions in services due

to these unprecedented pressures.”

At a meeting of Cabinet recently,

councillors heard that good progress

had been made in response to a

review of the budget by the Chartered

Institute of Finance and Public

Accounting (CIPFA), but that more

efficiencies, savings and assets sales

were required.

Councillor Holt added: “County,

borough and district councils up and

down the UK are going through the

same process as we are.”

A D V E R T I S E R P R O M O T I O N

FRESH NEW LOOK

REVEALED FOR

LOCAL LEGAL FIRM

BARWELLS, a distinguished legal institution with

a legacy spanning 128 years, is proud to announce

the launch of its new brand.

This new brand is so much more than simply

a new look and represents our commitment to

evolving with the times while maintaining the core

values and excellence that have defined our firm for

over a century.

Our new brand identity includes a refreshed logo,

updated website, and a contemporary colour palette

designed to better reflect our innovative approach

to legal practice whilst maintaining the tradition

values we hold so dear. This transformation

underscores our dedication to providing exceptional

legal services in a dynamic and increasingly digital

world.

Lauren Chambers, Practice Director at Barwells

said: “As we celebrate our 128th anniversary, we

are excited to introduce a brand that mirrors our

forward-thinking ethos. Our new identity honours

our rich history while positioning us for future

growth and success. We remain steadfast in our

mission to deliver unparalleled legal expertise and

personalised client service.”

The rebranding aligns with Barwells’ strategic

vision to embrace technology and innovation,

ensuring that we continue to lead in a rapidly

changing legal landscape. Clients can expect

the same high standards of professionalism and

integrity that have been the hallmark of our

practice since its inception.

Founded in 1896 Barwells has been a cornerstone

of the legal community for 128 years. Our team of

experienced Solicitors are dedicated to providing

comprehensive legal solutions across various

practice areas. We pride ourselves on our longstanding

tradition of excellence and our ability to

adapt to the ever-evolving legal environment.

For more information about our new brand and

ongoing initiatives, please visit our updated

website at www.barwells.com

8 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Incidents of animal cruelty in

Eastbourne and rest of Sussex

increase at an alarming rate

THE RSPCA is desperately

appealing to people in Eastbourne

and across Sussex to help combat

animal cruelty as the charity has

received 1,030 cruelty reports so

far this year in Sussex alone.

Alarmingly, the busiest period is

yet to come. The new figures were

released last month by the RSPCA,

and it shows there have already been

44,879 reports of cruelty towards

animals so far this year across

England and Wales up to the end of

June.

This is more than two percent higher

than the 43,983 calls received during

the same time-frame last year. In East

Sussex, there were 557 cases and in

West Sussex, there were 473 cases.

The charity stresses that “the worst

could be yet to come”. Last year the

RSPCA received a report of animal

cruelty every five minutes during

its busiest summer months and its

officers are now braced for another

busy period.

Last summer, reports of intentional

harm towards animals rose by 11 per

cent compared with the previous year,

while animal beating reports also rose

sharply by 17 per cent.

Eastbourne News published a

story in June this year about an

Eastbourne man and woman who

were disqualified from owning pets

and given suspended jail terms after

leaving their elderly dog, Bentley, to

suffer agonisingly home alone while

they went on holiday.

The pet boxer was found in an

emaciated state by a RSPCA inspector,

after concerned neighbours contacted

the charity.

The inspector contacted a vets’

practice but tragically, despite

surgeons’ best efforts, Bentley could

not be saved.

The man and woman were

sentenced on April 22 at Lewes Crown

Court.

A full post mortem was carried

out and found that Bentley was in

“extremely poor body condition”,

while his “stomach contained a

large amount of rubbish, including

numerous food wrappers and a felt

pen, which may have been present

for some time and was indicative of

scavenging due to hunger”.

The veterinary pathologist said:

“most likely cause of the emaciation

was inadequate access to food, leading

to starvation”.

For two centuries, the RSPCA has

been rescuing animals from abuse

and serving as a “voice for animals”.

Buster today

Buster when he arrived in the

care of RSPCA in Brighton

The charity has changed more than

400 laws for animals and in 1835, the

charity achieved its first landmark

success when they campaigned to

pass the Cruelty to Animals Act in

Parliament, banning the “running,

baiting or fighting any bull, bear,

badger, dog or other animal.”

To mark the RSPCA’s 200th birthday,

it has launched its “No Animal

Deserves Cruelty” summer appeal

to respond to this seasonal peak in

cruelty.

Karen Colman, leader of the RSPCA

welfare oversight team, said: “Sadly,

animal cruelty reports are on the rise

this year, and in the Sussex counties

alone, we’ve seen 1,030 animal cruelty

reports already this year.

“Reports of international harm

towards animals and beatings also

rose sharply across the country last

summer so we’re preparing for a

difficult period ahead.

“But rescuing animals from cruelty,

investigating harm caused to them,

and acting to prevent animal abuse, is

a job no other charity does.

“We’ll always be here to pick up the

pieces and show those animals the

kindness and care they deserve.”

The RSPCA hopes support from

people across Sussex will help make

the difference for animals this year.

Karen added: “Summer is a really

challenging time for us, and we’re

braced for another busy season on the

frontline, but we cannot do this alone.

“That’s why our ‘No Animal Deserves

Cruelty’ summer appeal seeks to

tackle the rising levels of cruelty

by raising vital funds to help those

animals in desperate need because

every animal deserves kindness.”

BUSTER’S STORY

A cruelty incident the RSPCA dealt

with in the area included that of

ten-year-old male Staffie Buster, who

was skin and bone when he arrived

in the care of RSPCA Brighton and

he weighed 50 per cent less than his

normal body weight.

Vets ran blood tests which

confirmed Buster was malnourished,

but after just a few weeks in the care

of the team, he gained weight and is

now a healthy, happy boy looking for

a new home.

Buster now enjoys his walks and his

training is coming along well.

RSPCA Brighton manager Jenny

Eden said: “Poor Buster was in a sorry

state when he came to us; he had not

been fed properly and his condition

had suffered hugely because of this.

“It took a lot of vet care and ongoing

treatment to get Buster back to full

health, but thankfully he’s now

thriving. Buster is looking for an adult

only, experienced home and will

need his own garden.”

Buster is also looking for a forever

home. If you would like to meet

Buster, head to: https://rspcabrighton.org.uk/project/buster/

To support the RSPCA’s No

Animal Deserves Cruelty summer

appeal, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/

summercruelty

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10 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Yo ho ho and a bottle

of rum as Pirate Day

proves to be a huge hit

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

BY DEW DROP INN

SEADOGS and scallywags enjoyed

a night of sea shanties at one of the

most exciting events of the year in

Eastbourne.

The Dew Drop Inn in South Street

hosted Pirate Day on July 20, and

shipmates came dressed up in their

best pirate gear.

They were hooked on Irish and

Celtic music and enjoyed lots of grub

and grog.

It was evident everyone made the

effort to come best dressed as the

prize on the line was a bottle of Dead

Man’s Fingers spiced rum.

This pair won the best dressed prize


Education bursary set up to

help young people

reach for the sky

AN initiative aims to double the

number of bursaries offered

with 100 per cent of all fees paid,

bringing the figure up to the

equivalent of 40 fully-funded

offers.

An appeal was launched at

Eastbourne College’s end of term

Speech Days where pupils, parents

and former students watched the

premier of the Caffè Sospeso film.

The film, commissioned by

Eastbourne College and St Andrew’s

Prep, focuses on the power of

crowdfunding and the positive

impact that small, regular gifts can

make.

The ambitious fundraising appeal,

Blue Sky Bursaries, was initiated by

Eastbourne Society.

It aims to create a fund that will

allow the charity to help young people

from all backgrounds receive quality

education at Eastbourne College and

St Andrew’s Prep.

All bursary recipients are meanstested

so funding goes to those who

need it most.

Attendees also enjoyed rides in a

Blue Sky Bursaries hot air balloon

which launched from the college’s

field.

The balloon was chosen to feature

at the launch as a symbol of how

bursaries allow young people to

aim high and reach new heights,

removing limits on aspiration.

Headmaster Tom Lawson said: “We

believe in supporting and nurturing

talented young people from all

backgrounds to fulfil their potential.

“This belief and the spirit of

philanthropy is built into our school’s

history and traditions, Eastbourne

College was founded 157 years

ago thanks to the town’s doctor

and generous support from local

residents.

“We are launching our Blue Sky

Bursaries Appeal to increase the

number of bursaries we provide,

to offer more young people a

transformative education to help

them achieve their ambitions.”

Old Eastbournian Philip Broadley,

who was a governor at Eastbourne

College for the past 24 years,

including acting as chairman of

governors since 2017, has now retired

but delivered a speech to attendees.

He said: “I was lucky to attend

Eastbourne College and have always

been so grateful for the inspirational

teaching, the personal growth and

the opportunities I gained from my

time at the school. It was my ticket of

a lifetime.

“This is why I’m committed to giving

back and supporting more young

people to have the chance to enjoy an

education like I did, through the Blue

Sky Bursaries Appeal.”

Emma Garrett, development

director of the Eastbournian Society

community, said: “We’re proud to

offer a range of bursaries to young

people who become known to us in

a variety of ways, including through

our work in the local community

and through the Coastal Schools

Partnership. We want to offer more

opportunities to children who wish to

study in Eastbourne.

“Bursaries can really change lives,

by providing access to a quality

education and all the other benefits

that being at St Andrew’s Prep and

Eastbourne College brings.

“Our donors benefit too, with many

saying they are happy to give back

and they love seeing the progress our

extraordinary young people make

during their time at our schools.”

The college said there are different

ways to make a donation to the Blue

Sky Bursaries Appeal, including

regular donation, donating from a

business, one-off gifts or by pledging

a financial legacy in a will.

For more information on the Blue

Sky Bursaries Appeal and to donate,

visit: www.blueskybursaries.

eastbourniansociety.org/

eastsussex.gov.uk/FreeTravel

*Travel restrictions may apply.

12 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


A great performance by Fit. by Maria

Photo: BourneOutLGBT

It was a real day of

Pride as hundreds

gathered to celebrate

great occasion

IT was glitter galore as hundreds

descended on Princes Park on

Saturday, July 20 in celebration of

Eastbourne Pride.

The event, organised by

BourneOutLGBT, proved to be hugely

popular once again, with people

gathering to make the most of a

pleasant day.

The parade started at 12pm from

Eastbourne Pier, where attendants

marched with pride.

Many of those attending put on

brilliant face paint and were dressed

in a variety of beautiful and brightly

coloured costumes to mark the

occasion, and there were Pride flags

in abundance.

More than 30 stalls, including 15

local charities, supported the event.

Attendants enjoyed incredible

performances from groups including

Abba Fever, Fit. By Maria, Almost

Pink, Elberace, Helen Jackson Ward,

who did an Adele tribute, and Danny

Beard, who won UK Drag Race

Season 4.

Even though the venue was a fair

distance from the town centre,

that did not stop people who were

determined to celebrate inclusivity

and support the LGBTQ+ community.

Eastbourne News spoke to several of

those attending who were happy to be

photographed and spoke of what an

enjoyable experience it had been.

East Sussex County Council showing their support of Pride. Photo: ESCC

Pride flags at Eastbourne Pier

Fire service supporting Eastbourne Pride.

Photo: East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page



Volunteers and the Pevensey Fire Station crew at Eastbourne

Pride. Photo: East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Facebook group





Danny Beard was winner of UK Drag Race Season 4, and Fonda Cox.

Photo: Eastbourne Pride Facebook page

14 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Chris and Jane from Aberdale Road received a Highly Commended award

This Tesco delivery man was having a nice chill out at Aberdale Road, Polegate

Stone the crows!

Competition entries

were once again

absolutely outstanding

Debbie from Polegate received a Highly Commended award for her scarecrow

PHOTOS: POLEGATE

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

FACEBOOK PAGE

RESIDENTS had plenty to crow

about as they put on a magnificent

display of characters in the annual

South Downs Scarecrow Festival

but, sadly, it will be the last time the

popular event will be taking place.

This, according to organisers

Polegate Community Foundation, is

down to a number of reasons.

The organisers said in a statement:

“Back in 2018 when we brought

Polegate its first ever Scarecrow

Festival.

“We didn’t plan for it to become an

annual event but it was celebrated by

many local residents so we decided to

carry it on year after year.

“However, the sad time has come

as we will not be returning the

Scarecrow Festival in 2025.

“This is due to many reasons but

ultimately due to the lack of event

participation by residents in the area

we cover.

“This is not the end of the Polegate

Community Foundation and we will

continue with our other existing

projects and may think of something

new later down the line.”

Even though it is the final year, the

competition saw everyone involved

enter into the spirit of the fun

occasion and the quality of entries

was once again outstanding.

Scarecrows were displayed in

Polegate, Willingdon, Hampden Park

and Ratton last month.

The winning entry for Best in Show

and Best Display went to Polegate

Sundown WI’s superb recreation

of beloved characters from cult

Sixties children’s show The Magic

Roundabout including Dougal the

Skye Terrier, Ermintrude the cow,

hippy rabbit Dylan, Brian the snail,

Florence, Mr Rusty and Zebedee the

talking jack-in-the-box.

There were several other

imaginative recreations including

the winner of the People’s Choice

and Best Scarecrow, Polegate British

Legion who created a soldier in a

tank, the Minions, Harry Potter, a

brightly-coloured sunflower and a

Tesco delivery man who appeared to

have consumed some of the order.

Find out more about Polegate

Community Foundation on Facebook

via @polegatecf or visit their website

at polegatecommunityfoundation.

org.uk

The People’s Choice and Best Scarecrow from a Polegate

Business went to Polegate Royal British Legion in Victoria Road

Best in Show and Best Display of Scarecrows went to Polegate Sundowners WI in Levett Road


Harry Potter was seen at Decoy Drive, Hampden Park

Getting into the Olympic spirit at St John’s Road, Polegate

Great job by students at Saxon Mount Community

School which was found at The Triangle, Willingdon

Students from Polegate School did a wonderful job with

their creation which was placed at Oakleaf Drive, Polegate

Bay Tree Lane, Polegate

This brightly-coloured sunflower was

found at Glynleigh Drive, Polegate

The firefighter was found at Porters Way, Polegate

The garden gnome decided to have a break at Southfield Polegate

16 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Two Hastings marshals waiting in the sunshine for runners to arrive

No pier pressure as

walkers rally to highlight

women’s support group

PHOTOS: WAYFINDERWOMAN

FACEBOOK PAGE

THE popular annual charity walk,

Pier2Peer, proved to be another

enormous success as enthusiastic

participants came to support

an award-winning Eastbourne

charity.

The weather could not have been

more perfect for individuals, families,

couples, company teams and even

pooches who all enjoyed a scenic

walk, run or cycle from Eastbourne

Pier to Sovereign Harbour.

For those who were up for a

challenge, runners completed a

half-marathon along the beautiful and

serene East Sussex coastline.

The event, which took place

on July 27, was organised by

WayfinderWoman which supports

women to discover better lives by

building confidence and improving

employability skills.

Each participant received a specially

designed medal and organisers

thanked them for taking their time to

support WayfinderWoman.

The charity is looking for volunteers;

for more information, email:

volunteering@wayfinderwoman.com

You can also find out more by

visiting: www.wayfinderwoman.com


Talented schoolgirl’s absolutely

stunning spider’s web artwork

catches judges’ eyes in competition

AN Eastbourne schoolgirl’s

imaginative portrayal of a spider

creating its own web has caught the

attention of judges in a prestigious

national art competition.

Sofiia Smorgun’s winning artwork

was inspired by her seeing a spider’s

web glistening in the sunshine after

a rain shower. She then illustrated

it with sparkly paint dots over the

spider’s web.

Sofiia, a pupil at Bede’s school in

Eastbourne, was aged ten when she

submitted the entry in the national

competition organised by the Rotary

in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI).

Fellow pupil Livvy Giffard was

runner-up in the junior category,

which was for children aged up to ten

years.

This was the first part of three

phases leading up to a national

competition run by RIBI. The theme

of the competition was “Rebuilding”

and judges looked for “inspiration,

ingenuity and creativity”.

The competition’s first phase was

Alan Langley, rotary club president, pictured with Bede’s Head,

Leigh-Ann Morris, and prize-winning pupils Sofiia (left) and Livvy

organised by the Rotary Club of

Eastbourne and sponsored by the

Eastbourne Arts Society, which also

judged the entries.

Sofiia’s stunning winning entry

was submitted into the second phase

of the competition, encompassing

Rotary Clubs from across the southeast

Rotary 1120 District.

Sofiia’s artwork was once again the

judges’ favourite against entries from

across Kent and East Sussex, South-

East London and even Gibraltar.

Alan Langley, president of the

Rotary Club of Eastbourne, said: “To

be declared a winner in this phase

of the competition already reflects a

high standard.

“Although her entry was, sadly, not

the national winner, Sofiia’s muchacclaimed

art was the first ever from

Eastbourne to have achieved this level

of acclaim.

“Huge congratulations to both

Livvy and Sofiia for participating

in the competition, and to Bede’s

Prep School’s Head of Art, Rachel

Armitage, for encouraging the

potential and creativity of these young

artists.”

The Rotary Club will organise

another competition next year, under

the topic “Wonderful Water”, with

an entry closing date of mid-January

2025.

Council

action over

HMOs

COUNCILLORS approved steps

recently to tackle issues associated

with the concentration of Houses

in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in

parts of Eastbourne.

The move follows a study,

commissioned by Eastbourne Borough

Council, to provide an objective and

informed look at Houses in Multiple

Occupation (HMOs) and how they

should operate in the future.

Councillor Peter Diplock, cabinet

member for housing, said: “HMOs

provide an important part of the

housing offer in Eastbourne, especially

for people such as young professionals,

students and those on low incomes.

“However, standards have fallen

below expected levels in some areas,

with properties not being properly

maintained and there has been an

increase in anti-social behaviour in a

number of locations.”

Interventions agreed by councillors

include mitigating wider parking

issues, a more extensive criteria for

applications for new HMOs, remove

permitted development rights from

small HMOs, enhanced standards for

licensed HMOs and a more streamlined

system to monitor complaints.

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Man running 1,000

kilometres in memory

of best friend who died

from blood cancer

Luke was described as a kind and caring friend

Lleyton taking part in a running competition

Lleyton said we should make the most out of our time on Earth

A MAN is undertaking a gruelling

20-day challenge in memory of his

best friend who tragically lost his

battle with blood cancer.

Lleyton Edwards said he had known

Luke since they were little. They went

to nursery, primary and junior school

together. The two were virtually

inseparable right until Lleyton moved

to Australia when he was 12.

The 21-year-old, who was born in

Eastbourne, described his friend as

kind and caring.

Lleyton said: “Luke was someone

in my life who you never had a bad

thing to say about as he was always a

positive and kind-hearted person.

“As a friend, he always kept me

accountable for things as he was

never shy of telling you the truth

whether you liked it or not.”

Luke was diagnosed with leukaemia

and on August 3, 2023, he passed

away from Graft versus Host Disease

(GvHD) which resulted from his bone

marrow transplantation.

Lleyton said: “When hearing about

his diagnosis you would have thought

he just had a common cold because

he never complained to anyone.

“He was always smiling and trying

to make the most of his life. This

inspired me every day to make sure

I live life the way I want to live it so I

can look back one day with no regrets

as you never know what curve balls

life is going to throw your way.”

Lleyton, who is a landscaping

apprentice and currently living in

New South Wales (NSW), said the loss

of his best friend inspired him to find

a purpose and desire to dedicate his

time and energy towards bettering

himself.

He added: “Life is too short, so I

want to able to get to the point that

when I am on my way out the door,

whether that be soon or a long time

away, I can say convincingly that I

gave the game of life a serious crack.

“I want to push myself to the limits

and see what it is that my mind and

body is truly capable of. I want to do it

not just for myself, but for the people

who can’t do it, people that would kill

to be in the situation I am in.

“I want to have great and healthy

relationships, a full-time job and a

healthy mind and body. And when

things get hard and I feel like I can’t

do it anymore and I ask myself why, I

just think of ‘those who can’t’.”

On August 3, in honour of Luke’s

memory, Lleyton will run a total of

1,000 kilometres around Newcastle,

which the second largest city in NSW.

This will be over the course of 20 days,

averaging 50 kilometres a day, while

trying to raise as much money as

possible for those in need.

Lleyton said although Luke had

inspired this journey, his other goal is

to raise awareness and remind people

not to take life for granted, and to

make the most of their time on Earth.

The funds will go towards the

Leukaemia Foundation, which is

a national charity in Australia that

helps people who are diagnosed with

blood cancer to improve their lives.

According to the foundation, more

than 6,000 Australians die from blood

cancer ever year and the disease does

not discriminate.

It can develop in anyone, at any age,

and at any stage of life, from children

to adolescents and young adults to

working adults with families and

older Australians.

Unlike many other cancers, there

are no screening programmes

available for blood cancer, and there

Luke (left) and Lleyton

is no way to prevent blood cancer

through lifestyle change.

In the UK, there are about 250,000

people living with blood cancer and

it is the fifth most common cancer

in the country. According to Blood

Cancer UK more than 41,000 people

are diagnosed each year and about

16,000 people die from the disease.

Lleyton added: “Be appreciative of

the little things. Luke couldn’t breathe

oxygen without having tubes up his

nose 24/7, so think about how lucky

we are. Luke couldn’t get up and walk

five metres without needing to stop

and catch his breath back.

“It is a privilege to be able to do little

things like getting up and walk to the

fridge to get something to eat. I feel

some people take things like this for

granted every day.

“Everyone is capable of reaching

such levels of greatness, but

sometimes become too comfortable

where they are.

“We only get one chance in life so

why not live in a way that you can look

back with pride as people like Luke

don’t have that chance anymore and

it would disrespectful to them for us

to just waste our lives away.

“The money I raise will help provide

care for those in need right now,

and it will help support the brightest

researchers to continue uncovering

faster diagnosis and better treatments

to save lives.”

To support Lleyton’s campaign, visit:

https://fundraise.leukaemia.org.au/

fundraisers/Lleytons1000Over20

20 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Council leaders, stakeholders and Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde launch the Eastbourne seafront 2050 strategy

Chance to have your say on

the vision for Eastbourne

over the next 25 years

EASTBOURNE Borough Council

has launched a survey into the

town’s seafront, asking residents,

visitors and businesses to share

what they think is most important

for the future of the famous Sussex

coastline.

The council is asking residents,

visitors and businesses about their

vision for the seafront and the town

in 2050.

Already, Eastbourne hosts many

exciting and popular events including

Eastbourne International tennis

tournament, Eastbourne Pride, Little

Chelsea, Eastbourne International

Airshow, beer festivals, Beachy

Head Marathon and many more. Its

shopping centre, The Beacon, draws

thousands of visitors with its vast

array of retail shops and eateries.

The survey is a part of the council’s

wider plans to revitalise the town and

making it a top destination of choice

Eastbourne Pier. Photo: ChiralJon via Flickr

on the south coast for tourists.

The council is looking for ideas

on how to improve the town’s

entertainment, food and drink,

accessibility, sustainability, personal

safety, heritage, culture and water

quality.

The leader of Eastbourne Borough

Council, Councillor Stephen Holt,

said he is determined to give local

people a say on what the priorities

should be between Holywell and

Sovereign Harbour.

Councillor Holt added: “We need

people in Eastbourne to help us build

a vision for our seafront, a vision that

will help define the seafront for the

next 25 years.

“Whether it’s preserving the natural

beauty of the area and holding

Southern Water to account for water

quality, or improving entertainment,

hospitality options or places for our

young people, we want to know what

our residents, businesses and partner

organisations think.

“The economic and social

significance of the seafront makes

it vital that we have a clear strategy

for the future. It will provide a

framework to inform any decisionmaking

in relation to the seafront.”

Eastbourne Borough Council has

also been working closely with the

Environment Agency on a coastal

management scheme to protect

property and businesses from

flooding.

Councillor Jenny Williams, cabinet

member for culture, heritage and

seafront, will lead the seafront

strategy project.

She said: “I am thrilled to be

launching the seafront 2050 strategy

and I am particularly excited to gather

the views of our young people.

“We will be attending lots of summer

events during August to hear people’s

views and then holding a series of

workshops with stakeholders during

the early autumn.

“People can visit the council website

and leave us their thoughts or pick up

a postcard from our seafront office.”

If you would like

to take part in

the survey, visit:

https://www.

smartsurvey.co.uk/s/

SeafrontStrategy2050/

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Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/eastbourne AUGUST 2024 REGULARS 21

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

“Don’t forget to drink water and get sunlight. You are basically a house plant with more complicated emotions’ — Unknown

IN late summer, I am always soothed by

the sight and sound of water in a garden.

Foliage can look weary by this time, but

water freshens all the senses no end.

There are now so many exciting and

sustainable ways you can introduce water

as a feature in your garden. (I do wonder

if Charlie Dimmock, when she featured

in that iconic show, Ground Force, is

responsible for the term ‘water feature’.)

Water has always featured in gardens

from long ago and was seen as a sacred

and precious element in an outdoor space

both for functional and aesthetic reasons.

In hot climates, such as Egypt, water

cooled the air and provided vital irrigation

in their ancient gardens.

I was fortunate to visit the Majorelle

Garden in Marrakesh a few years ago

and was struck by its use of water, which

is very reminiscent of Islamic Gardens.

There is a system of rills and large tanks

that is so effective and cooling. These

also provide visual movement, which

contrasts effectively with the planting

scheme. Rills are considered to be an

abstract form of a natural stream and are

still a source of inspiration to us today.

The first importance to consider is

safety. If children or pets are using the

space, then your feature must be adapted

Wildlife pond at Bates Green Garden

to protect them, be it a raised container

rather than one at ground level, a water

sculpture with just a fine film of water or a

metal grid placed just beneath the water’s

surface.

Secondly, how much maintenance are

you prepared to put into your feature?

There is nothing worse than murky,

stagnant water or a pond clogged up with

blanket weed and so this possibility must

be addressed. Submerged oxygenators

help to keep pond water sparkling, but

smaller features will need to be hosed

down and the water replaced regularly,

especially if they are visited by birds. Do

remember that the smaller the container,

the more rapidly it heats up in the

sunshine and the more difficult it is to

create a balanced ecosystem.

Sustainability is of prime importance.

Do consider the source of your water and

try to recycle if you can. Any type of pool

can be fed and topped up with harvested

rainwater.

Now, to the type of feature. You do not

need a huge amount of space; there are

now tiny bowls fitted with solar-powered

fountains that will fit on a doorstep. The

birds and bees will appreciate this. At

home, we have a plain stone bowl outside

our window, which we top up daily. It is

quite incredible to see how many birds

use it.

Small bubble fountains erupting over

pebbles are charming and, again, can be

solar-powered. Simplicity is the key, in my

opinion.

Water tanks and bowls can be placed on

a terrace or within a planting scheme for a

dynamic effect. They work well in a gravel

garden and allow easy maintenance

access.

Consider the surface of the water, too.

Still waters will allow the shape and

textures of nearby trees or a big sky

to be reflected down into your garden.

Still water is also a beautiful surface on

which to see raindrops fall, an important

consideration in Britain!

The addition of a rippling or bubbling

fountain can add much-needed movement

to a small space. Do check first that the

sound doesn’t send you all rushing for the

loo every ten minutes.

Choose a style that will complement

the rest of your garden. Here at Bates

Green Garden, we are in a rural setting

with a naturalistic style. We garden for

Nature and wildlife, so our Wildlife Pond

is perfect. We have oxygenating plants

that are wholly or partly underwater.

They have submerged leaves and

perform several important roles in

the pond. During the day, they absorb

carbon dioxide from the water and give

off oxygen. This process conditions and

cleans the pond water without the need

for chemicals or intervention.

There is a huge Caltha palustris (marsh

marigold) at one end of the pond. I was

given this when I worked at the Chelsea

Physic Garden, and what a delightful,

cheering plant it is. It gets going really

early in the season with huge, gorgeous

yellow buttercup-like flowers. The

sprawling, enthusiastic foliage provides

an excellent shelter for all manner of

creatures and moorhens particularly like

to nest here. Another useful and beautiful

habitat plant is Potentilla palustris (spot

the theme, palustris means ‘inhabiting

bogs and marshes), which is an attractive

native marginal with lobed leaves and

deep red star-shaped flowers.

Rills, troughs, tanks, basins and ponds.

The choice is yours.

Visit the library while you’re on the go

Access audiobooks and digital publications

eastsussex.gov.uk/DiscoverLibraries

22 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Pedal power is the order of the day as cyclists

enjoy the beauty and attractions of Sussex coast

Cyclists at the summer cycle ride. Riders met at Eastbourne. Photo: Chris Leach

CYCLISTS of all ages turned up

for a summer ride along the East

Sussex Coastal Culture Trail to

promote healthy lifestyles and ecotourism.

The sunny weather was perfect for

cyclists to enjoy the scenic ride on

Saturday, July 20.

The event was organised by Bespoke

Cycle Group, Eastbourne Eco Action

Network, Bexhill Wheelers and

Sussex Greenways.

Local politicians, tourism specialists

and experts in planning also took part

in the ride as they enjoyed the beauty

of the East Sussex coast.

Riders started from Towner Art

Gallery, travelling along the 18-

mile ride on flat terrain where they

explored the coastal culture trail,

which is a lovely area of Sussex.

Organisers hoped to create a safe,

family-friendly route similar to the

Tarka Trail in Devon, which has

proved to be enormously popular.

Robert McGowan from Bespoke

Cycle Group said: “The ride was an

excellent opportunity to show our

elected representatives and leaders

what the route is like at present, and

how it could be upgraded”.

Mr McGowan also wrote a proposal

for the Coastal Culture Trail as a

potential eco-tourism project earlier

this year.

He strongly believes there is no

substitute for experiencing what it is

really like to cycle along the Sussex

coast on a summer’s day.

Organisers also aimed to promote

what is on offer from the region,

including local businesses, sampling

food and wine, the county’s

unique landscape and to take

sustainable transport while enjoying

contemporary art.

Hastings Contemporary director Liz

Gilmore said “The South East coast

has an incredible network of cultural

assets, which catalysed the idea of the

Coastal Culture Trail nine years ago.

“Reinvigorating the trail by

developing the cycle paths would

be a wonderful way of opening up

access to these cultural jewels, while

promoting healthy lifestyles and

sustainable tourism.”

The group arrived at Bexhill where

they enjoyed a good rest at food stalls

at the 1970s event outside the De La

Warr Pavilion.

The cyclists continued to St

Leonards and Hastings and then

finished their ride at Hastings

Contemporary.

ON YOUR BIKE with Ian Hollidge

LOOKING AT LIFE OVER

THE HANDLEBARS

East Sussex Coastal Culture Train Ride in Bexhill. Photo: Ian Sier

East Sussex Coastal Culture Trail Ride up Galley Hill, Bexhill. Photo: Ian Sier

Big Bike Revival. Image: Ian Hollidge

WHY take the easy way when life is

better under pressure? Cyclists know

when they have the right amount of

inflation, get it right and less effort is

needed to advance and life feels good.

Correct tyre pressure depends on type,

function, width, weight of rider and

load. Should it be 20 or 100 psi? Get it

wrong and pedalling becomes a wobbly

struggle. Pumping air into a tube is a

simple skill.

Life throws us many ups and downs

and learning how to manage them early

is good.

Punctures are a regrettable but

manageable risk and learning how to

repair them when young is best.

Fixing a bike or anything mechanical is

fun, giving you an understanding of how

things work. Your chain, brakes, gears,

handlebars, nuts, bolts, screws, Allen

keys all need different tools in order to

maintain them to the required level.

Learning what to use and how, keeping

everything in top condition is a life

skill which has allowed us humans to

progress since the Stone Age.

Look after your horse, carriage, plane

or ship and they will look after you.

Machines and technology can make

everything easier but often takes away

our understanding of simple skills. Have

we lost certain skills in our progress to

make life easier?

Cycling can be challenging because

you have to know how to ride, to fix your

bike and look out for yourself and others.

Alternative forms of everyday travel do

not require that level of skill or personal

responsibility which is often given over

to machines and technology.

Next time you see a person riding a bike

when you are driving, please consider

they do not have power steering, servoassisted

brakes, laser sensors, cameras,

sat nav, indicators, automatic gears, seat

belts, airbags or turbo power to make

their lives easier.

Cyclists are just humans using their

own power and skills to move forward,

having fun while keeping fit.

If you want to learn how to check the

basic mechanics on your bike, please join

us at Bexhill Day, which is taking place

on August 17 on East Parade for free

advice, which will be available. Oh, and

bring your bike along with you please.


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!

DUBU MERGES SUSHI, BURGERS &

TACOS FOR A DELICIOUS ADVENTURE

THIS month, we had the pleasure

of visiting the newest culinary gem

in Bexhill-on-Sea, DuBu. Located in

Western Road, DuBu brings a unique

fusion of homemade sushi, burgers,

and tacos to the local food scene.

Helmed by the talented chefs Iranian

Hamid Fayazipour and Ukranian Elmira

Bukhonka, the restaurant promises a

fresh and vibrant dining experience.

Hamid and Elmira bring a wealth

of experience to create DuBu. Hamid

honed his culinary skills at Jamie Oliver’s

Jamie’s Italian in London for over

five years, while Elmira’s expertise in

sushi spans more than a decade. Their

combined experience shines through in

the diverse menu and the meticulous

care taken in preparing each dish.

At DuBu freshness and quality are

paramount. Every dish is made using

top-quality, fresh ingredients.

Stepping in, we were greeted by a

modern and inviting ambience and a

firm handshake from Hamid. Although

the seating capacity is not extensive,

the restaurant offers a cosy atmosphere

with seating by the window, providing

a glimpse of the bustling Western Road.

The decor is contemporary, vibrant and

inviting.

The menu is vast, offering something

for everyone. From expertly crafted

sushi to tasty tacos and mouthwatering

burgers, the selection is akin

to the best street food from around the

globe brought together in one place.

Our culinary adventure began with

Veg Futomaki from the sushi menu,

a delightful roll featuring cucumber,

avocado, lettuce, red pepper, crispy

onion, rice, sesame seeds and unagi

sauce wrapped in nori.

Next, we sampled the Mix & Match

Tacos, including Fried Squid, Duck

Carnitas, and Pulled Pork. Each taco

was full of flavour, showcasing the

restaurant’s dedication to quality

ingredients and expert preparation. The

boys shared the Flaming Devil Burger

and Dirty Fries, which were equally

impressive with the freshly homemade

burger standing out as a highlight.

All this was washed down with some

Smoothies and ‘Coolers’ which were very

fresh and tasty.

DuBu’s commitment to handmade food

items using the freshest ingredients is

evident in every bite. The attention to

detail is remarkable, from ingredient

selection to preparation through to

presentation. This dedication is not

just an empty statement; it’s a promise

fulfilled with every dish served.

During our visit, we noticed a constant

stream of customers picking up online

orders or receiving deliveries from wellknown

delivery companies. This steady

flow of patrons is a testament to their

growing popularity and its impact on the

local food scene.

Beyond the savoury offerings, DuBu

also caters to those with a sweet

tooth. Their bubble waffles are a

crowd favourite, offering a delightful

combination of crispy texture and sweet

toppings.

DuBu is more than just a restaurant;

it’s a destination for food lovers

seeking a unique and enjoyable dining

experience. The welcoming atmosphere

and exceptional food make it clear why

DuBu is quickly becoming the go-to spot

in Bexhill.

Whether you’re in the mood for a

hearty meal or a sweet treat, DuBu

has something to offer. With their

innovative menu and commitment to

quality, Hamid and Elmira have created

a dining experience that truly stands

out. DuBu is a testament to what can be

achieved with passion, expertise, and a

dedication to fresh, quality ingredients.

I had to ask where the name

originated, and the story is really heartwarming.

Their pet names for each

other are DuDu and BuBu and they put

them together to form DuBu.

The restaurant is open from

Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to

9:30pm, and is closed on Mondays and

Tuesdays. If you find yourself in Bexhill,

DuBu is a must-visit for those looking

to enjoy a unique combination of sushi,

burgers, and tacos.

Find DuBu at 33 Western Road, TN40

1DU, Telephone: 01424 552 591, online

www.DuBu33.co.uk

OPINION with Kim Mayo

PEOPLE WHO STAND FOR ELECTION DESERVE

OUR RESPECT RATHER THAN VILIFICATION

DONALD Trump wasn’t kidding when

he said that God “was on his side” after

a would-be assassin’s bullet ripped into

his right ear during a campaign rally.

Had that shot been mere millimetres to

the right, the Republican nominee for the

presidency of the United States would

have been as dead as a dodo.

That terrifying incident epitomised the

danger of modern-day politics, not just in

the US, but Great Britain as well.

America has history when it comes to

attempting to and actually succeeding

in assassinating presidents and leading

candidates, from Abraham Lincoln to

JFK. In 1835, Andrew Jackson became

the first president to experience an

assassination attempt.

President Kennedy’s brother, Bobby,

was also killed while campaigning for the

Democratic nomination in 1968 while

Republican president Ronald Reagen

survived an attempt on his life before

quipping to his wife that… “sorry Honey,

I forgot to duck”.

Everyone is fully aware that Donald

Trump is a divisive figure, but Western

politics is becoming ever more febrile

amongst the electorate on both sides of

the Atlantic.

Politicians both in the USA and the UK

are becoming ever more remote from

those who are responsible for putting

them in power; namely the voters, and

who can blame them?

It must never be forgotten that in

recent years, two politicians, namely

Labour’s Jo Cox and Conservative Sir

David Amess, lost their lives while

representing their constituents.

Despite living in Yorkshire for a number

of years I never had the opportunity to

meet Ms Cox who, by all accounts, was

an excellent constituency MP.

In contrast, while living in Essex, I

interviewed Sir David as he became on

three occasions and he epitomised the

core values you would expect from an

elected representative.

He was a courteous and kind family

man who loved Southend in Essex and

did his level best to promote its virtues.

That was his political mission in life and

many, regardless of political affiliation,

admired his dedication and love for the

constituency he represented.

For both he and Ms Cox to die in such

tragic and violent circumstances was

and is an affront to anyone who believes

in the principles of democracy.

I was reminded of the dangers of

politicians meeting the public when

Nigel Farage, another divisive figure

much like Trump, had a milkshake

thrown in his face while out on the

campaign trail after announcing he

would be standing as a candidate for

Reform in the Essex constituency of

Clacton.

The drink was hurled by a so-called

“influencer” as a bit of a jape which it

most certainly was not. It could quite

easily have been corrosive substance

rather than a drink.

Mr Farage is a bit like Marmite, you

either love him or hate him but as it

ultimately transpired, he was elected

with a whopping majority and that is

Western politics whether you like it or

not.

I am old enough to remember the days

when the likes of John Major would

stand on a soapbox to get his message

across to the electorate, and I admired

him for that, but those days are long

gone.

Our politicians are becoming ever

more remote, and who can blame them?

These days, television studios provide

the battlegrounds, not going “out on the

stump” as used to be the case.

It is high time to stop the hate and

vitriol and realise that our politicians,

love or loathe them, are out there doing

a public service, and we, the public,

are ultimately responsible for choosing

them.

Sometimes, they will inspire us, and

sometimes, they will frustrate us, but

that is the name of the game. If you want

change, then stand for election. I, for

one, admire those who put themselves

forward. It is as simple as that.

24 REGULARS

AUGUST 2024


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ANSWERS

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7 The BBC (6)

8 They’re sniffed at (6)

9 Extinguishes (4,3)

10 Chinese dynasty at the time of

Jesus Christ (3)

11 Mountain-climbing aid (5)

12 Besmirch (7)

15 Body make-up? (7)

16 Baby transport? (5)

18 Sum charged (3)

19 Settings (7)

20 Wet cement mixture (6)

21 Arranged like matryoshka (6)

DOWN

1 Horse sense (8)

2 Most sophisticated, technologically

(5-2-3-3)

3 Andrea Bocelli, for example (5)

4 Butler’s underling (7)

5 A zero-risk position (7,2,4)

6 St. Paul’s’ architect (4)

13 Underscores (8)

14 Engages (7)

17 Perfume (5)

18 Abrading tool (4)

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Latest local news, visit: eastsussex.news/eastbourne AUGUST 2024 REGULARS 25

THE UPS, DOWNS AND A SPITFIRE ENCOUNTER

DURING CONTINUED PILOT LICENCE TRAINING

A take off at Deanland

BY GROUP EDITOR,

PAUL GIBSON

AS a student pilot, you go through

almost every emotion on regular

occasions.

I’m literally only 10% of the way through

the syllabus and during each training

session, I experience nervousness,

excitement, apprehension, satisfaction

and sometimes, disappointment.

Readers who read last month’s edition

may have seen I have begun training at

Deanland Airfield, just west of Hailsham,

for my National Private Pilot’s Licence

(NPPL-M) and I’ve just completed my

fourth hour in the air.

Although the training is extremely

exhausting, it’s hugely rewarding

when I complete each exercise with my

instructor, Luke Christophides, who I’ve

been working very closely with during

my progress towards going solo at some

point in the future.

In my last two training flights in July,

I’ve been thrown in the deep end, which

is fine with me as I like a challenge, and I

knew it wasn’t going to be an easy ride.

It’s probably a good thing that Luke

doesn’t really give me warning of what

he may ask me to do on each flight

although the syllabus is very clear about

what I need to be doing, there are areas

like radio calls, taxiing, checklists and of

course the take-off which you can do at

any time under the watchful eye of the

instructor.

When climbing aboard the Ikarus C42

in early July, we prepared the aircraft for

the flight and I was suddenly told it was

my turn to taxi to the runway and make

my first radio call. I seriously thought this

would come later on in the training, but

Viv Samuel and Luke Christophides with the Ikarus C42

why wait?

In this lesson, I had to complete

‘Straight and Level Flight’, which sounds

easy, but in a microlight, there are a lot of

different forces to take into consideration

to ensure you end up where you intended

to fly. I successfully completed this level,

even though the weather conditions

were a bit against us in some places.

Learning from this, I was more than

ready (I think) for Luke to continue to

throw new challenges my way in my next

lesson. I knew we’d be looking at ‘Basic

climbing and descending’, but would he

instruct me to take off? No, surely not, I

was only in my fourth hour of flying.

So, after the normal aircraft checks,

refuelling, start-up procedure, power

checks and taxi, the moment came, that

I was dreading. The words “You’re taking

off!” came over the intercom from Luke —

The pilots view from the Ikarus C42

this was it!

It’s important to realise that an

instructor would never ask you to do

something they didn’t think you could

safely do. Of course, Luke was able to

take over the controls if something

wasn’t right immediately. Before we

knew it, I was pushing the Ikarus to full

power and we were soon in the air the

C42 certainly doesn’t hang about and

only takes seconds to get airborne.

Going back to the emotions

experienced during training, there’s so

much information to be learned when

studying for a license, and sometimes,

it’s easy to feel disappointed with

myself when I don’t get it right in the air

straight away. But, that’s the key to a

great instructor. Everything is explained

and demonstrated so well, that the

disappointment doesn’t last long and I

finally crack the brief.

This particular lesson in late July will

always stand out for me in one particular

way. I spotted ‘traffic’ ahead (another

aircraft), which was in fact a Spitfire,

about 3,000ft above Eastbourne. We

kept an eye on it to make sure we were

well clear of it and was then treated

to a stunning aerobatic show from the

Spitfire! What a highlight to happen so

soon into my training.

Next up for me is performance climbing

& descending and turning in flight.

Flying from Deanland can also be

a great gift or even if you want to

experience flight for yourself. My

good friend Viv, who runs the Royal

Indian restaurant in Hailsham, treated

himself to a flight over the south downs

and coastline recently. It was a great

opportunity to show him the airfield

and what happens there, and he fulfilled

his dream of flying over the Sussex

countryside.

It can also be a good team-building

opportunity for businesses as Deanland

has a very relaxed and informal feel and

flying is an enormous buzz for most

people.

To book, call Shellie at Flight Sport

Aviation at Deanland on 07519 527597.

Quote ‘Newspaper Ad’ to get £10 off

your first flight.

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26 NEWS

AUGUST 2024


Fernando Alonso with visitors

Max Verstappen at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed

MG celebrate their centenary

World Famous Sussex motoring event

celebrates extraordinary weekend

Young visitor at the 2024 Festival of Speed

PHOTOS: PA MEDIA

THE Festival of Speed, presented

by Mastercard, celebrated another

incredible weekend, bringing together

legendary drivers, riders and showcasing

an outstanding collection of cars and

motorcycles, with premieres and debuts

around every corner.

Renowned as the place to see some of the most

legendary drivers and riders in motorsport, the

2024 Festival of Speed served as no exception,

welcoming both current and former Formula 1

teams, drivers and cars.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary and marking

Goodwood’s biggest celebration of a Formula

1 team to date, Oracle Red Bull Racing brought

together an incredible lineup of drivers from

across the team’s history.

Making his Festival of Speed debut at the

event this year, the Festival of Speed welcomed

current and three-time Formula 1 World

Champion Max Verstappen who took to the Hill

on Sunday in the RB16B in which he claimed his

ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF

CARS AND COMMERCIALS

REPAIRS AND SERVICING AT

COMPETITIVE PRICES

Tyre Services

Air conditioning and

servicing

Car Maintenance

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Gearbox service

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Engine Services

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Exhaust System

Courtesy car available

on request

WE NOW STOCK A RANGE

OF TYRES FOR A WHILE

YOU WAIT SERVICE

FINMERE ROAD

EASTBOURNE

BN22 8QL

Located behind Big Tesco

first world title in 2021.

Joined by teammate Sergio Pérez and Team

Principal and CEO Christian Horner, as well

as former Red Bull drivers David Coulthard,

Christian Klien, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark

Webber, the hugely successful Formula 1 team

took to the Goodwood balcony on Sunday giving

fans the opportunity to salute the seven drivers

who between them, hold a phenomenal 97

Formula 1 race wins.

Joining the event on two wheels, Michael

Dunlop — the most successful rider in the history

of the Isle of Man TT with 29 victories — rode his

2024 IOM TT Superstock bike alongside 23-time

winner and lap record-holder John McGuinness

and 14-time winner and Mountain Course lap

record-holder Peter Hickman. Dunlop also

celebrated his recent triumph at the Isle of Man

TT with a moment on the balcony of Goodwood

House on Saturday.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion

Richard Petty attended across the weekend,

as the Petty family celebrated 75 years of their

involvement with motorsport. Returning to the

Festival of Speed, Petty was joined by his famous

1970 Plymouth Superbird, driven by son Kyle,

as Goodwood celebrated “The King” and his

extraordinary career.

MG celebrated its centenary at the Festival

of Speed this year, headlining the event with

the monumental Central Feature on the

lawn outside Goodwood House and a daily

extravaganza. Gerry Judah’s highly-anticipated

sculpture featured the Cyberster EV roadster

and MGB. The two cars from MG’s past and

present, perfectly illustrated this year’s

‘Horseless to Hybrid’ theme which recognised

the advances in technology and propulsion that

have shaped the automotive industry over the

last 130 years.

Visitors were some of the first to witness global

marques and manufacturers unveiling their

latest projects at the Festival of Speed, including

debuts of the new Porsche 911, BMW M5, BMW

XM Label Red, BYD SEAL U DM-I, Defender

OCTA, All-Electric Ford Capri, Honda Civic Type

R, Jaecoo J7, Maserati M20, Pagani Epitome,

Pagani Imola Roadster, RB17 and the Yangwang

U8, among many others.

Located at the heart of the event and exhibiting

some of the very latest technology, Future Lab

presented by Randox showcased ‘Technology

for a Better World’, with exhibitors grouped into

Paddocks at the 2024 Festival of Speed

The RB17 Hypercar is unveiled

four sub-themes: ‘Protecting the Planet’, ‘Robots

to the Rescue’, ‘Future of Flight’ and ‘Our World

in Pixels’.

The interactive hub welcomed entrepreneurs

and innovators, including Dronamics, Drone

City, Performit Live, sees.ai, and Shadow Robot

who have collaborated with Google DeepMind

on their latest robotic hand.

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC)

returned to the Festival of Speed, following

their debut in 2023, and took to the Hill across

the weekend with the AV-24, the world’s first

fully-autonomous racecar piloted by software

from the PoliMOVE-MSU team. On Thursday,

Durham University’s Solar Car set the first time

for a solar car on the Goodwood Hill.

Over at Electric Avenue — the home of electric

mobility at the Festival of Speed — the exhibition

focused on four zones displaying urban cars,

SUV and family cars, performance sports cars

and future cars, featuring the likes of the BMW

i5 Touring, Honda e:Ny1, Hyundai IONIQ 5 N,

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore and the Polestar 4.

A collection of spectacular and unique vehicles

went under the hammer at the Bonhams|Cars

Auction on Friday afternoon. Highlights

included the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 36/220

S-Type Four-Seated Sports Tourer which sold

for £2,871,000, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300

SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupé which sold for £1,135,000

and the 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

which sold for £1,045,400. The sale achieved

a total of £11,035,691 — the highest total for a

Bonhams|Cars’ UK sale to date in 2024.

This year’s Festival of Speed supported

Two Wheels for Life, a charity dedicated to

transforming healthcare across Africa using

the power of motorcycles. Two Wheels for Life

were on site across the weekend with volunteers

sharing details of the incredible work they do,

and some of the vehicles used for the delivery of

healthcare on display.

LOAD THEM UP...

90% of brain growth happens before

the age of five. What you do together

can make a huge difference.

Search Start for Life for tips and advice.

28 SPORT

AUGUST 2024


Sport

Eastbourne Borough

Indoor Bowls Club

launches major

recruitment drive

Former England

international

Gareth Barry signs

for Sussex

club

EASTBOURNE Borough Bowls

Club is seeking more recruits as

it bids to attract a more diverse

membership.

Derek Baxter, the membership

secretary of the club, explained the

reasoning behind the recruitment

drive.

He said: “We strive to create an

environment that brings the power of

diversity to life.

“Inclusion is optional, diversity isn’t.

We need to bring the world closer

together, diversity is a must-have.

“We like to think of ourselves as a

progressive bowls club and we know

the greatest ideas come from a variety

of lived experiences, which is why

we are committed to a bowls club

membership that is diverse, equitable,

and accessible as possible.

“Our team-mates should feel seen,

heard, and included where they can

have gentle exercise, bowl, draw,

drive and deliver and belong so they

can become their very best selves.”

Eastbourne Borough Indoor Bowls

Club say they are an equal opportunity

organisation, and strongly believe

they are best equipped to help

members, visitors and the local

Eastbourne communities.

Mr Baxter added: “Communities

live better when we really know

them. That means understanding,

respecting and valuing diversity,

unique styles, experiences, identities,

ideas, and opinions while being

inclusive of all people.

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

(DEI) is more than a box to check or a

target to hit for us.

“That’s why we’ve set a goal to make

Eastbourne Borough Indoor Bowls

Club the most diverse, equitable, and

inclusive bowls club locally.

“We would like to discuss ways to

provide the accommodations that you

may be entitled to, so come and try us

out in September for free.

“We are looking for a more diverse

and inclusive membership, so we

need help from people who are living

with disability and are thinking of

having a gentle form of exercise.

“We welcome people who are

considering taking up a new skill. You

will have tuition from our qualified

coaches.

“We also welcome people who

just want to have fun, and meet new

friends through our growing social

offerings, so come down and help us

on this journey.”

If you feel you would like to try their

free sessions in September, contact

the head of coaching Dave Hawkins

on dhawk4060@gmail.com or contact

them on 01232 766 265, and select

option 7.

For more information about

Eastbourne Borough Bowls Club visit

www.eastbourneboroughibc.co.uk.

Gareth Barry joins Hurstpierpoint as a Bluedog. Photo: Hurstpierpoint Football Club Facebook

SUSSEX football fans are in for

a real treat as former England

international Gareth Barry

confirmed he is coming out of

retirement at the age of 43.

Barry, who holds the record for the

most Premier League appearances,

has signed for 11th tier Sussex side

Hurstpierpoint.

He enjoyed a stellar top flight career

having represented Aston Villa,

Manchester City, Everton and West

Brom before retiring.

He will be turning out for

Hurstpierpoint in the second tier of the

Mid Sussex Football League. He called

time on his career in 2020 having made

his senior debut for Villa in 1998.

Hurstpierpoint confirmed Barry’s

arrival on social media having earned

53 caps for the Three Lions, this will be

the first time Barry has played below

Championship level.

When confirming that Barry

joined the team, Hurstpierpoint

Football Club posted on its Facebook:

“We are beyond delighted to

announce that former-England

international and all-time Premier

League record appearance holder,

Gareth Barry, has signed for

Hurstpierpoint Football Club.

“Gareth has a long-standing

association with the village through his

good friend, and our Coach, Michael

Standing, so it seemed an obvious

move to get him involved with the

football club.

“His quality in training has been

unreal, so we’re all very excited to see

him pull on the shirt and grace the

Fairfield turf later on this season.”

Hurstpierpoint chairman and first

team manager Dudley Christensen

spelled out his delight at securing

Barry’s services and said: “He came

along to training and loved us. I don’t

think he’s going to be around to be play

every week but he is a great signing

and he’s certainly going to raise our

profile.

“I will let him do what he wants to do.

He can play where he likes but I expect

he will sit in front of the defence and

be a shield.”

Hurstpierpoint will hope Barry will

help them improve on last season

when they finished sixth in the table.

Eastbourne News, August 2024, Issue 03

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