Derek remembered at Lights ceremony

At simultaneous services at St Peter's Church and at Hastings, Battle and Rye members of the public gathered to remember in prayer loved ones who had died.

They then moved on to switch-on ceremonies in which Christmas trees laden with messages in memory of lost family and friends help the work of St Michael's Hospice via the donations of those placing the beacons.

In Bexhill's case the tree is always positioned at the front of Bexhill Hospital.

There, as daylight faded on wet and windy Sunday, Cllr Eric Armstrong invited the assembly to remember not only their own loved ones but Derek Norcross who was tragically killed in an accident last month and who had given unstintingly of himself in his service to the hospice.

The Mayor had been accompanied throughout the proceedings by his wife and Mayoress Jeanette.

The service of remembrance and thanksgiving at St Peter's had been conducted by the Rector, the Rev Canon Dr Edward Bryant. The address was given by hospice chaplain the Rev Helen Patten.