Eddie Izzard to become patron of museum

COMEDIAN Eddie Izzard will be playing a pivotal role in the future of Bexhill Museum.

The internationally-renowned comedian who spent his boyhood in Bexhill and who has lent generous support to local causes, principally in Sidley, has accepted an invitation to become the museum's patron.

The news comes at a key time for the museum. Rother cabinet has just agreed to plug a 297,208 funding gap after tenders for the extension scheme came in over budget.

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Eddie will open the new museum when redevelopment is complete.

This week, museum curator Julian Porter announced: "The Society of Bexhill Museums is delighted that Eddie Izzard has become the museum's patron.

"When the society was formed in 2003 the board realised that they needed a patron who was well known and respected and who was interested in Bexhill's heritage and concerned for its future development.

"In this regard we exceeded our expectations when Eddie Izzard generously agreed to accept this position.

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"Eddie is the most famous Bexhillian and internationally well known his acting and stand-up comedy.

"The museum is proud to have the endorsement of a celebrity who shares our enthusiasm for Bexhill's history and wishes to involve the town's younger generation.

"With our bold plans for the expansion of Bexhill Museum we wanted a patron who would embody what Bexhill could achieve and inspire young people to discover the town's fascinating history and be part of its future.

"The redevelopment of Bexhill Museum will provide an exciting new facility for the town that for he first time will do justice to the area's heritage.

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"There will be a new costume and fashion gallery exploring 200 years of design and including recent work by local students.

"To reflect Bexhill's status as the birthplace of British motor sport there will be a motor racing and technology gallery.

"This will feature the replica of Leon Serpollet's 1902 steam car Easter Egg that was built with the assistance of Bexhill High School and the 1993 Volta which was built by students from St Richard's Catholic College and is still the fastest electrically-powered care of its weight class in the world.

"And to complete the trio an example of Bexhill's own racing car, the Elva. The society is currently preparing the restoration of a Mk III 1958 Elva sports racer.

"Eddie Izzard will open the museum when the redevelopment is complete."