Bexhill Hospital Garden Party

The Mayor together with his father and mayoral consort Ron Lendon was arriving at the annual Hospital Garden Party, organised by the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital.

The cadets were preparing for a drill display on the hospital lawn which was one of the highlights of bright and breezy afternoon which threatened rain at times but which for the most part remained bright.

The garden party had got off to a flying start thanks to the generosity of the Bexhill-based United Arab Emirates Technical Training Establishment.

Project manager Colonel Hareb al Dhaheri had responded to a letter from raffle organiser Pearl Easton with 300 worth of Marks and Spencers vouchers, to be given as 50 prizes. Pearl said: "This is brilliant! I didn't really expect an answer."

Garden party organiser Douglas Mayne's courage in going ahead with the event despite a pessimistic weather forecast was amply repaid.

Supporters rallied to the league's cause, beating last year's "gate" and enabling several stalls to sell all they had.

The band of Little Common branch of the Royal British Legion provided a atmospheric music throughout the afternoon, supplemented by marching displays by Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band.

Welcoming the Town Mayor, who was also accompanied by Deputy Town Mayor Patrick Douart, newly-elected league chairman Stuart Earl thanked Douglas Mayne, the league's officers and committee and stallholders who were drawn from many town organisations for their hard work and the public for its continuing support for the league's work.

The hospital lawn was thronged with people as the chairman encouraged the public to "spend, spend, spend."

The Town Mayor revealed a personal affinity with Bexhill Hospital.

As a young schoolboy he had attended the accident unit there. "I fell and bumped my head. I have probably never been the same since'¦.!"

The experience, he said, had made him appreciative of the people who gave their time to work for the hospital and the supporters who made the league's work for the hospital possible.

Before leaving to lead an historical seafront walk in support of Sussex Day, the mayor and his father toured the garden party, meeting stallholders and supporters.

Bexhill Hospital was built in the Thirties by voluntary effort. The mayor's father can remember as a boy selling threepenny bricks for the building fund and attending a charity ox-roast on the then-vacant site.

Members of the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club again provided a display of historic and classic cars for the event. Peter Brown's 1953 Aston Martin 2/4 was completed with special bodywork to the orders of newspaper tycoon Lord Harmsworth.

When Peter viewed it in a barn it was such a basket-case that his wife Jean couldn't believe he was buying it.

Four years and a complete mechanical and bodywork re-build later, Jean put the finishing touches to Peter's work by stitching the leatherwork and internal trim.

The Janice Blake Dance Studio put the finishing touch to displays which also included the Cuddle Bunnies, the Coastguard, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A successful day saw 35 entries for the baby show. The Studio at Bexhill Photographic were offering free portrait sessions for the winners and photographer Sue Jackson's pictures of children lined the walls of the crowded health centre.

With fellow judges Janet Dennis, and Liz Gladman, Sue had a tough job choosing the winners for her husband Chris to announce.

The 0-6 month class was won by Lucy Flanagan with Ellie Delaney second and Maia Dermondy-Lawrence third.

The 6-12 month class was won by Byron Cramp with Felix Merritt second and Jake Mason third.

The 12-24 month class was won by Oscar Pontecorvo

With Imogen Clepsby second and Scarlett Copley third.