Do you remember when?

1908

THE weather during the Easter Holidays has been of a most fickle nature. On Saturday the sun shone in full glory. On Sunday the meteorological conditions were anything but kind to the holiday folk. The early morning was bright and fine, but by noon the sky became overcast, and a heavy snow storm drove the crowds of pleasure-seekers in various parts of the town to seek the nearest shelters. The rest of the day furnished a series of strikingly contrasting periods of gentle warmth and wintry cold and gloom.

IN spite of the inclement weather, the Rifles' Drill Hall was filled on Thursday evening, when an entertainment was given in aid of S. Stephen's Church Organ and Choir Fund. The evening was arranged by Miss Suzie Walker, assisted by the Misses Blair and Miss Burrows, and these ladies are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts.

1958

WITH a blast on its whistle, the "Loco Spotters' Special" roared through Bexhill Central Station at 6.13 on Wednesday evening. Crowded with train enthusiasts, young and old, it was returning to London from a visit to the railway works at Ashford. At the rear of the eight-coach special was an observation car that had been running for many years with the "Devon Belle," and was travelling on this line for the first time.

A PARTY of 14 Girl Guides from the 14th Bexhill Company and Cadets from the Beehive School on their way to Switzerland for a 10-day holiday were stranded in Paris overnight by the rail strike there. Unable to find accommodation for the night, they were allowed to sleep in a first-class waiting room at the Gare de l'Est.

1968

A SPECIAL sub-committee has been formed by the Hastings Group of Hospitals to look into the possibility of curbing expenditure. Closing specific units and perhaps a convalescent home will be given specific consideration. The Hastings Group Hospital Management Committee expected to spend 2,032,230 in 1968-1969, but has been informed by the Regional Board that only 1,917,180 will be available.

1978

THE latest coast protection scheme at South Cliff could set the public purse back by 3m if it gains Environment Department approval. The plan had remained under tight wraps until Tuesday's council meeting when by two votes councillors anxious for the public to know what was being done defeated moves to go into secret session.

"IS there a jailer in the house?" asked a confused conductor when four of his instrumentalists failed to appear on stage at the De La Warr Pavilion. "Hands up the person who stole the key to their dressing room!" But the missing musicians from the Band of HM Royal Marines were soon restored to the ranks for Easter Monday's concert.

1988

A NEW purpose-built Category B prison capable of holding men with convictions such as rape and murder, could be built at Northeye, say prison officers. They also believe Home Secretary Mr Douglas Hurd '“ due to visit Northeye in three weeks '“ had plans to house up to 150 extra Category C prisoners in the existing establishment by putting portable huts on the foundations of workshops burned down in the April 1986 riot.

1998

SIDLEY'S youth crime problem is the work of a hard-core minority of trouble-makers says the district's Community Beat Officer, PC Nick O'Shaughnessy. His work often involves escorting home children as young as nine after ten at night. But he says the ultimate responsibility for their action rests squarely on the shoulders of their parents.

LOCAL divers are taking over the quest to recover the wreckage of an aircraft flown by Douglas Bader's former wingman. The search for New Zealander Jeff West's Spitfire "Silver Grey" which crashed into the Channel off South Cliff in September 1941 was taken up last autumn by a group of divers, aviation enthusiasts and marine archaeologists last autumn. But despite some of the latest technology, the group had no success in locating the plane. Now a local team hopes to take up the search again over the Easter Bank Holiday.