90th anniversary for town bakery

DID Henry and Eleanor Earl know what they were starting on April 2, 1921?

They set up a bakery in the front room of their rented home in Sidley and opened for business.

It’s still going strong - Earl’s Bakery moved on to become one of Bexhill’s most enduring and best-loved institutions. Led by grandson Stuart Earl, the business is now celebrating its 90th anniversary.

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Stuart himself was born in Turkey Road and grew up knowing he would take on the family business and never wanting any other life for himself.

He is rightly proud of the achievements of his grandparents. Henry trained as a baker but lost his job when he came back from fighting in the First World War - and he already had three young children.

Stuart said: “My grandfather I think would have been prepared to accept the situation, satisfied to have come home alive and well, but not my very determined and ambitious grandmother.

“She decided that they would start their own business, so they searched for premises and eventually in January 1921 they secured a premises in Sackville Mews.

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“On April 2, 1921 after moving home as well, they started their new venture. They converted the front room of their new rented home, number one Camperdown Street into their first shop selling all kinds of provisions as well as bread and cakes.

“The children all had to help, going to look for new customers, all to make the business grow, the only problem with extra business was there was only one baker, my Grand-dad. This meant for him more hard work and less time with the family.

“When my father left school the business was not big enough to support another wage so he went to work part time at the Marina Garage driving a bus, also as a conductor. Eventually he joined the business full time, my uncle trained and qualified as a grocer, and my aunty became a book-keeper at Longley’s.

“In 1930 they managed to purchase a piece of land in Turkey Road, so in 1931 just 10 years after they started they had their first purpose-built home bakery and shop. The business carried on growing with door-to-door delivery being the key to their success; my uncle came home to work with my grandmother in the grocery business and my grandfather and father continued with the bakery.

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“Through the Second World War they survived even though some of their customers had been evacuated. The growth of the private schools in Bexhill and the hotels all helped to make the business flourish.

“Sadly in 1946 my grandfather died, however because of forward planning I was born at the same time - although not immediately ready for work, before long I was standing on a jam tin in the bakery learning to mould dough with my dad. With my Grandmother in poor health, my uncle and my father split the business in two, my uncle selling the grocery business in the mid sixties

“My father resisted many offers from large flour millers and bakers to sell the business to either Mothers Pride or Sunblest. He was proud of his heritage and wanted to pass it on in the family which by now included my sister and myself. Both my sister and I had to work, helping with bread slicing and packing before and after school. Sadly my sister died very young at the age of 25, so along with my father, I carried on working hard and with plenty of ambition. In 1979 my father passed away leaving me to carry on the traditions.

“All families have their ups and downs, 1979 was a bad year, not only the passing of my father but we had an oven literally blow up. However, with enthusiasm a lot of support from family and staff, we survived.

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“Though the wholesale delivery remained, sadly it was no longer viable to carry on with the door-to-door deliveries, so the expansion came from opening shops in Eastbourne, Battle and Hastings, and we moved the bakery into Sidley High Street.

“Because of no obvious successor I decided to sell the business in 2001 when it was a thriving and successful business to my nephew by marriage and to the foreman. Sadly after just a few years this had not worked out as planned, so I returned to try to pick up the pieces, which brings us to where we are now.

“I had said at the 75th anniversary I am celebrating this now, because I will not be around for the centenary, but now I am not so sure.

“Neither my family nor I have made this history; it has been made by youour loyal customers, those who through generations have supported us day in day out for 90 years.

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“On behalf of us all within our family business I thank you most sincerely for your loyalty and support. Even against all the odds and the greedy supermarkets, we are still here doing our best.

“I owe so much to the family, staff, loyal customers and friends, without whom the story could not be told.

“Finally I pay tribute to those who’s courage determination and hard work started it all, Henry and Eleanor Earl.”

LEFT: Stuart Earl with two members of staff

ABOVE: Stuart at work in his earlier days as a baker

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