Do You Remember When?

A look back through the archives of the Bexhill Observer.

1908

MEMBERS of the Hastings, Bexhill and District Licensed Victuallers' Association are indicating that they are fully cognisant of the events which are foreboding interference with their business and the 'Trade' in general. A well-attended meeting of the Association was held a few days ago in Hastings, and was presided over by Mr C. S. James, C.C., of Bexhill, who proved himself an able and genial chairman. Having discussed the question of the Children's Bill, the members decided to forward to the Home Secretary and Mr. G.L. Courthope, M.P., copies of a resolution to the effect that as the clause disallowing children under 14 years of age being on licensed premises was not discussed in the House of Commons, and the public had no opportunity of considering the difficulties which would be produced by including such a clause, they were unanimous in asking that the clause should be rejected by the House of Commons.

1958

A PROPOSAL to use the former Merchant Navy School in Collington-avenue as administrative offices for the Hastings and Thanet Building Society received the unanimous support of the Town Council on Wednesday. The meeting was specially convened to consider the society's proposal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

BEXHILL Friends of the Elderly held the first general meeting at the De La Warr Pavilion on Monday, when the Mayor (Councillor John Baker), who is chairman of the association, presided over a small gathering. The first executive committee was elected to take over from the interim committee which has been running the association since it formation and the future programme for aiding elderly people was outlined.

1968

SEAFIELD School, Collington Lane West, will definitely open on January 10 for the new term following an 'all-safe' notice from the Metropolitan Police Forensic Laboratory and a Woolwich Arsenal representative. The school had been running on a day-boy basis since a fire was discovered in a ground-floor classroom, having been caused by chemicals taken from the school science laboratory.

THE Hastings gasworks site at Glyne Gap may be closing next May, men at the works (which is within the borough of Bexhill and which employs a number of local men) have been told. Bexhill gasworks in Ashdown Road ceased production in May, 1967.

1978

BEXHILL motorists were given an ultimatum this week '“ use a little common sense or face more drastic measures. So many Christmas shoppers are flocking into Sainsbury's store that the tailback from the car park entrance frequently jams Station Road. Following complaints, Sainsbury's representatives have met police officers and county council representatives.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

DECLINING sales of Rother's instant lottery have led to the dismissal of the competition's manager. Now both Rother and Wealden lotteries, which are organised by the same firm, are being run by one manager.

1988

STUDENTS from Bexhill College may be among volunteers who help conserve one of the town's remaining wildife habitats by creating a "community woodland." An open meeting was called by Sussex Wildlife Trust with the support of Rother council because of the interest shown by local sympathisers during two recent storm damage clearance work sessions at the wood. The result was the laying of foundations towards the establishment of a Friends of Gillham Wood.

"THE most elegant pleasure pavilion on the south coast" - that was the architectural student Sophie Hicks' tribute to the De La Warr Pavilion. But the former fashion editor's ten-minute television slot also included criticism of the way Mendelsohn and Chermayeff's award-winning design has been treated by posterity.

1998

POLICE have carried out a three-day anti-burglary crack-down. Operation Postilion was mounted in response to a spate of break-ins in the town. Uniformed officers linked up with CID for the operation. Sergeant Bob Carron said police searched an area following the report of a break-in in London Road last Wednesday. One man was arrested. Meanwhile, Operation Manger, aimed at combating pre-Christmas shoplifting in the town, began on Monday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

START dates have been announced for two long-awaited Sussex bypasses. But Bexhill and Hastings will still have to wait till next Spring before further studies begin on the need for the much-delayed A259 trunk road bypass scheme behind the two towns. Controversially, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced last July that the scheme for bypasses for Bexhill and Hastings would be the "subject of further studies".

Related topics: