Hunt for Carey family

If so, Tina Thirkell is hoping to hear from you.

These are both long established names in the Bexhill, Hooe, and St Leonards area, and Tina is asking for family members to get in touch.

Part of the Carey family herself, Tina is soon to be visited by a distant relative from New Zealand - Ian Carey and his wife Ngaire who live in Port Chalmers.

Tina, of Meads Avenue, said: "They are the descendents of the Careys who left from Hooe to go to New Zealand in 1838, David and Hannah. David was born in The Tallies in Hooe.

"They sailed on the Coromandel and arrived in Sydney in November 1938, and then in 1940 they went on the Magnet with 10 other families to go to New Zealand. My husband Phil and I went out to look at it in 2006 to see where they landed which is called Carey's Bay."

During her stay she visited the Port Chalmers museum which had an exhibition of early settlers and their lives, which featured her past relatives. It was here that she talked about the Careys and was put in touch with Ian.

Her visitors will arrive on June 28 and Tina is hoping relatives will get in contact before then.

"Ian has said he would like to get in touch with the Hutchinson side too, which Hannah was from, and the Hutchinsons came from St Leonards. They are coming over here and don't know any of the Carey family so they would like anyone related to them or the Hutchinsons to make contact - they can ring me on 01424 845886.

"They are looking forward to Bexhill - Ian says it's like coming home. Since he was a young man he said he would like to see where his family came from."