Inside this week's Bexhill Observer (March 17)

We lead on loving tributes to Mike Dean, a former police officer and team leader of the Community First Responders who passed away after a long battle with cancer. John Dowling, president of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital, said: “He was responsible for saving many lives through his work for First Responders. This involved turning out at a moment’s notice with a defibrillator– day or night – knowing how vital the first few precious minutes were to a heart attack victim.”

A young boy who found what could be an 11,000-year-old mammoth tusk on a Bexhill beach has been told by the council that he can keep his historical find, and a family from Bexhill celebrated triple success at this year’s Crufts show.

Also in this week’s edition, a hit-and-run driver from Bexhill who killed a cyclist in St Leonards on New Year’s Day in 2015 has had his driving ban moved by top judges at the Court of Appeal in London, and the parents of a schoolboy who died after a road collision last year have organised an illuminated walk in his memory.

Rother councillors are being asked to prepare an overview of parking problems in their area, as part of discussions on whether to decriminalise parking in the district, and a clear majority of those residents who have responded to the consultation on how Bexhill is governed have said they want change.

In health news this week, local hospitals held numerous events last week to mark Swallowing Awareness Day, and the new provider of Sussex’s patient transport service has warned not to expect an ‘overnight turnaround’ when it takes over next month.

The paper includes a two-page Behind the Headlines report on the future of High Speed Rail after the option was included in consultations on both the new rail franchise for the South East, and the future route study.

Nine pages of sport leads on Little Common Football Club making an approach for a Bexhill United striker ahead of a potentially pivotal week in its season, and there is a preview for this weekend’s Hastings Half Marathon inside.

A two-page spread inside this week’s edition celebrates the life of the ’sweetheart of the forces’ Dame Vera Lynn as she celebrates her 100th birthday next week.

On top of that, there is the usual letters pages, court listings, puzzles and essential information.

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