Goodbye to the old Bexhill High

We've probably all fantasised in the past about school being razed to the ground.

To see it happen though at Bexhill High is monumental for tens of thousands of past pupils, young and old, who spent the best years of their lives in classrooms and corridors which are no longer there.

Observer photographer Steve Hunnisett this week captured the last days of the old building but meanwhile principal Mike Conn is looking ahead to the future.

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He said: “There are mixed emotions because it is a building that’s historical for the town.

“For all ages of people in town who went to school there seeing that building disappear is having part of their memories being demolished.

“There is a degree of grieving when you see an old friend disappear.”

He said treasures from the past have been kept for the new school building, such as the head boy and head girl honours board.

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“We have kept as much as we can. The headstone from the centre of the building will go into the garden here.

“But Bexhill High School is still alive.

“The old building was past its time.

“It is very sad, but at the same time joyful because we were a school that had the money to build a new facility.

“So we can say goodbye to this old friend, but we can keep the spirit of Bexhill High very much alive.”