Do you remember when?

A look back through the archives of the Bexhill Observer

1908

STIRRING indeed were the experiences of Chief Officer H.R. Elliott, of 41 Park Road, Bexhill, on Saturday last, when he was shipwrecked at the North East coast of Ireland. He joined the "Housaton," a steamer of 4,000 tons, belonging to the Anglo-American Oil Company, on Thursday, January 2, and on the following Saturday she put out, with a crew of thirty four men, from Barrow-in-Furness (where she had discharged her cargo of benzine) for New York in water ballast. About four p.m., when off the North East Coast of Ireland, the steamer struck an out-lying rock, about one and a half miles from rocks known as "The Maidens." The Second Officer was in charge of the ship at the time, and as soon as possible the crew, who were in their bunks, were roused and got together. The ship was ripped open along her bottom from the bridge to the engine room aft, on her port side. All the lifeboats were immediately got over board.

1958

BEXHILL Public Health Department are co-operating with the East Sussex County Health Department in a big new drive as part of a nation-wide campaign to secure the vaccination against polio of all children up to the age of 15. The Borough Medical Officer (Dr. R.J. Toleman) told the "Observer": "Out of about 5,000 children, over 1,000 have already been vaccinated under earlier schemes."

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DENYING that the Territorial Army was today an outmoded Force, Major M.G. Clarke, the Battery Commander, told the 110 members and guests at the annual dinner of "P" Battery, 258 (Sussex Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery: "Should the occasion arise, and heaven forbid that it should, we have a key role to play in the defence of this country."

1968

LITTLE reaction locally has followed the ending by Banbury Council of its car parking contribution scheme which has been described as in the House of Commons as 'extortion.' Bexhill's Town Council operates a 'payments in lieu' idea, whereby developers who do not provide their own car parking contribute to a general fund, similar to that previously operated at Banbury.

TO all party organisers. The zippiest venue in the District is the De La Warr Pavilion with choice of Private Rooms '“ a selection of menus from 10/6 (52.5p) to 35/- (1.75) per head. 'Package' arrangements can include Dance Bands, Cabaret artistes etc. - De La Warr Pavilion advertisement.

1978

ONE Government office has run into trouble with another '“ all over a roof colour. The new additional officers' housing at Northeye Prison should have had dark brown roofing tiles and a different colour hanging tile. But instead, the roofs were tiled in what Rother assistant planning officer Mr David Beales described as a "motley orange." Rother is not empowered to dictate to the Government, but a letter was sent to the Home Office architects pointing out the error.

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IT was almost too good to be true when lively Liver Birds actress Nerys Hughes walked into the sitting room at Colwall Court. The holiday children at the Stars Organisation for Spastics home had seen Nerys only a few days before at Eastbourne in the pantomime Mother Goose.

1988

FURIOUS fishermen fear a newly-appointed licence to dredge up to five million tonnes of shingle could threaten their livelihood. The shingle lies eight miles off Bexhill and Hastings beaches '“ the same area where valuable Dover sole are fished. The Crown Estate Commissioners have now given a dredging consortium permission to take sand and shingle for commercial purposes.

HISTORY has been made at the De La Warr Pavilion where for the first time the entertainments programme has made four-figure profits.

1998

A BEXHILL firm is playing a key role in reducing the world's nuclear weapons stockpile. But ironically the firm's success could lead to it having to move from Bexhill. The Cargo Aids division of Brett Drive-based Drallim Industries has been awarded a 1.1m contract by Hunting BRAE Ltd., which manages the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire.

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BATTERED Bexhill withstood some of the highest winds encountered since the 1989 mini-hurricane during a wild weekend. The town may have escaped serious damage because wind and tide were more westerly than usual, driving along the coast rather than attacking it head-on. The Environment Agency put the whole of the Sussex coastline on Red coastal flooding alert on Sunday morning ahead of forecasts of high tides combined with Storm Force 11 winds.