Much loved Bexhill councillor Stuart Earl gets memorial bench in wood where he played as a child

Much loved Bexhillian Stuart Earl has been honoured with a memorial bench in the woodland he played in as a child,
Stuart Earl Memorial 1 SUS-190220-100148001Stuart Earl Memorial 1 SUS-190220-100148001
Stuart Earl Memorial 1 SUS-190220-100148001

Former Bexhill Observer editor John Dowling said: “The first bird song was heralding the coming spring as a rustic seat was unveiled in a sylvan setting to the memory of a man who campaigned for all things good in Bexhill.

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“At a small informal gathering in St Mary’s Wood on Tuesday Cllr Deirdre Earl-Williams was shown the memorial friends have created to her late husband, former Rother and East Sussex county councillor Stuart Earl.

Stuart Earl Memorial 3 SUS-190220-100353001Stuart Earl Memorial 3 SUS-190220-100353001
Stuart Earl Memorial 3 SUS-190220-100353001

“The engraving on the wooden seat invites lovers of the woodland to “come sit and rest a while” and enjoy former Rother council land which is now owned and cared for by a community company.

“Beside the seat a pedestal-mounted plaque reads: ‘Earl’s Wood. This wood is dedicated to the memory of Stuart Earl, much-respected Councillor, friend of Bexhill and Chairman of the committee of St Mary’s Wood, who passed away on the 18th of October 2018 aged 72 years. As a young lad, Stuart played in the wood, revelling in the freedom and peace that is still here today for everyone to enjoy. He will be remembered for as long as these ancient trees continue to form part of the green space that is so essential for our wellbeing.’”

In the wood at the junction of Turkey Road and St Mary’s Lane, Chris Ashford, director of St Marys Wood (EARA) Ltd told guests: “Today is an appreciation of how Stuart was dedicated to the wellbeing of his beloved Bexhill.

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“When the wood was put up for sale by Rother District Council it was brought to the attention of Ellerslie Lane Residents’ Association and they wondered how it could be saved for the benefit of Bexhill people.”

Stuart Earl Memorial 2 SUS-190220-100256001Stuart Earl Memorial 2 SUS-190220-100256001
Stuart Earl Memorial 2 SUS-190220-100256001

With the help of the Bexhill Observer highlighting EARA’s desire keep the wood, there was an encouraging response and pledges of support arrived.

Stuart Earl immediately gave his full support to the cause of saving the wood, setting up a meeting between EARA chairman Chris Wallace and Rother Executive Director of Resources Malcolm Johnson and himself. As a result, a limited company, St Mary’s Wood (EARA) Ltd., was set up to purchase the wood through Community Asset Transfer.

With the valuable help of volunteers, the wood had been tidied. Bird, bat and owl boxes had been set up and were already well used. Safety work had been undertaken by tree surgeons Paul and Nicky Ingamells.

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The director thanked David Boydon who had sourced the new seat and Cyril Burnett who had found a company to engrave it and the volunteer team who had put it in place together with the plaque.

Thanking all those involved in the project, Deirdre Earl-Williams said her late husband would have been both proud and delighted at the kind gesture and the success of the project.

Visit the website www.stmaryswood.co.uk if interested in being involved with the woods as a “Friends of St Marys Wood”

See also: {https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/crime/homeless-man-jailed-for-assaulting-woman-after-stealing-two-bottles-of-beer-1-8730926