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Bexhill-On-Sea

Bexhill-On-Sea photos

Displaying the first of 116 old photos of Bexhill-On-Sea.   View all Bexhill-On-Sea photos

116
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Bexhill-On-Sea maps

Historic maps of Bexhill-On-Sea and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Bexhill-On-Sea maps

Bexhill-On-Sea area books

Displaying 1 of 24 books about Bexhill-On-Sea and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Bexhill-On-Sea

Bexhill-On-Sea memories
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Displaying a selection of personal memories of Bexhill-On-Sea.
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NATIONAL SERVICE

National Service

As a 71-year old now living in Macau (China) I still retain the warmest memories of Bexhill in the 1950s. At that time I was a National Serviceman stationed at RAF Wartling (Upper Barnhorn) and courting a local Bexhill girl who lived in Downlands Avenue.

My most vivid memories relate to our regular attendance at many performances by the Penguin Players at both the De La Warr Pavilion and the little theatre in Egerton Park. Many residents will remember that Richard (Dicky) Burnett and his wife Peggy Paige managed the company and acted in these weekly productions. The company also included many other actors and actresses, some of whom went on later to become familiar faces in TV dramas. I recall the players in the 1950s (1956-58) included James Irwin, Honora Burke, Adele Strong, Pilton Wilson, Anthony Cornish, Ron Pember, Edgar Metcalf, Clyde Pollit, Richard Simpson. The very first play we attended was "Captain Carvello", followed later by "The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse", "Separate Tables", "Uncertain... Read more

East Sussex memories

Summer Holidays

Wheatsheaf Inn c1960
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My grandparents lived in Little Common for as long as I can remember. My family spent many summer holidays at Grandma & Grandad's. In the early sixties we would take the train from Letchworth to King's Cross, a taxi to Victoria Station, then a train to Cooden Beach and a taxi to Grandma's. We would often walk to Cooden Beach to swim or sometimes catch the 259 bus to Bexhill. In the mid to late sixties, when we had a car, we would drive the 112 miles for our summer holidays. There was a toy shop on the large roundabout in the centre of Little Common, it was called Tommy Tuckers. Although under age I did manage a pint of cider at the Wheatsheef Hotel once. Grandad passed on in 1967, Grandma moved up to Letchworth, and we migrated to Australia in 1969.

Sunny Days in Crowhurst

I was having a trip down memory lane the other day and thinking of those summer days making camps up in 'the bunny fields' and fishing down at the marshes, in 1963-65. It seemed most of the village boys went, with the older lads taking charge e.g Malcom Bishop, Philip 'Shorty' Goodhand, Pete Saunders, the younger lads included myself, Johnny Saunders, David 'Snowy' Goodsell, Denis Anley plus a good few others. I am sorry if I have not mentioned anybody, if anybody remembers me you can contact me via e-mail: goatbasher@ymail.com

Long Walks

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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When I was a little girl in the early 60's I often used to take long walks along here, and I used to visit the farm to watch Peter Jenner milking the cows. I also had a crush on Peter but I was only 6 and he was 14.  I wonder what happened to Peter.  My late mother went to the school in the picture and was born in Hermon Cottage in Catsfield and that is where my auntie Violet lived for most of her life until it was turned into a doctor's surgery then my auntie moved across the road into one of the cottages.  I have wonderful memories of holidays here as I lived in London.  Catsfield will always be close to my heart.  My mother's maiden name was Saxby and there have always been Saxbys in Catsfield for centuries.   When my mother died my sister and I had her ashes interred in the old church yard in Catsfield up on the hill together with my father's.
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Mummy's School

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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My mother Doris Saxby attended this school.

My Place of Birth

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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I was born in the cottage behind the school (Woodlands Cottage).  I attended the school in 1958 untill going to secondary school at Battle in 1964.

Cousins

I have an original of this photo as a postcard and I am sure that the two boys seen at the end of the lane on their bikes are my cousins, who lived in a big guest house along that lane, I have many happy memories of those years, including my own christening

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