Do You Remember When?

1909

THE emphatic consensus of opinion prevailing amongst the principal tradesmen and residents is that it is of paramount importance that some decisive and vigorous action be taken, at the earliest possible moment, to make the town more attractive to visitors, and particularly so during the summer months.

As a seaside resort, increasing in dimensions and popularity year by year, the disjointed appearance of a portion of the Front has long appalled upon the tastes and ambitions of those who consider this is part of what might not be inaptly termed the "Progressive Party."

Although various schemes have been mooted, and discussed in certain circulars, to cater in a better, more up-to-date manner for the pleasure of visitors, nothing has assumed a definite character until quite recently. - Early reference to the proposal to build the Colonnade.

1959

TELEVISION in schools is most valuable to the less able children. The 'A' stream child can obtain knowledge and information from books; newspapers and magazines, but it is the poor reader and slow thinker who needs the help that television can give.

This comment forms part of a report by the headmasters of four schools where television has been installed in the past year presented to the East Sussex County Education Committee.

1969

HOW many townspeople realise that the town forum, introduced last July on an experimental two-meetings basis, has apparently been dropped? It was intended to stage the two forums at six-monthly intervals. It is understood that no plans are being made to hold a further forum so one must assume that the first meeting was the last, at least for some time.

THE failure rate in the 1968 General Certificate of Education 'O' level in East Sussex dropped from 38.6 per cent in 1967 to 36.3 per cent in modern schools and from 2.8 to 21.5 per cent in grammar schools.

1979

MANY drivers had to wait for petrol this week. Most garages rationed customers to 2 to 3 worth. Travelling difficulties were aggravated on Wednesday when a one-day strike by the train-drivers' union ASLEF meant some delays and cancellations on the London line.

The shortage of fuel oil gave some Bexhill schoolchildren an extra holiday. High School pupils returned after the Christmas break on Tuesday, the same day as the strike by tanker drivers ended.

TWO principal objectors to the biggest merger in British building society history (Anglia, Hastings and Thanet) have been nominated to the board of the newly-merged society. They are Mr Leslie Smith, of Bexhill, and London-based civil servant Mr Paul Twyman.

1989

PRISON officers equipped with riot gear were sent to Northeye Prison on Monday night to quell a riot as hooded inmates armed with staves burned the dental surgery. Damage is put at at least 12,000. A fireman with a floodlight on top of the 85ft. Arm of the Simon Snorkel hydraulic platform lit up the scene as two crews from Bexhill fire station fought the blaze.

SAINSBURY executives who flew into Bexhil by helicopter for a top-level meeting are now working on a plan which could ease town centre parking. A joint-venture multi-storey car park with Rother working with the supermarket chain is now a possibility.

1999

PROTESTERS are planning to have public meetings at Pebsham to galvanise opposition to Southern Water's 30m new sewage plant plan. The meetings have been called by newly-formed Pebsham Residents' Action Group (PRAG). East Bexhill representative Cllr Jean Hopkinson and St Michael's Rother ward member Cllr Charles Clark this week backed the meetings, to be held at Pebsham Community Centre.

THE hi-tech pedestrian crossing lights at Glyne Gap roundabout broke down this week, trapping angry and frustrated drivers in massive rush-hour traffic jams. The toucan crossing lights, which are activated for pedestrians and cycles, were switching to red about every 30 seconds on Monday when nobody was crossing the road. Average journey time for drivers, caught in two to three-mile tailbacks on both sides, was 45 minutes.