Hurst Green Village Voice

She was married in 1936, to Reg, who hailed from Wales, and was widowed in 1966. She worked for many years for Lord and Lady Longford at Bernhurst with her friend Gwen Brown and the two ladies lived near each other for most of their lives.

She also worked for a time at Covell and Ford and will have served many in the village with petrol.

Ellen was a keen gardener and a member of the horticultural society, which at one time flourished in the village. She was also a regular attainder at the Historical Society meetings.

She will be remembered with affection by those who knew her.

The service was conducted by the Revd. Banner after which she was interred with her late husband in Hurst Green churchyard. n The timing of the opening of the new school and the demolition, in due course of the old school, where Ellen attended longer ago than anyone else, close a chapter in the story of Hurst Green.

Happily, the Historical Society still flourishes, keeping “old” members, ie the unchanging young who are members of long standing, and adding new.

At its latest meeting the treat was of the Magic Lantern variety when Delia and Peter Gillies took members on a trip to the south coast and the Downs.

We could start from London and travel by “Undone, Smash’em and Turn Them Over” railway as known to the vulgar or London. Chatham and Dover line as known to the elect and correct.

We might get to Brighton by charabang and find a charra jam on the front as we patronise the shooting gallery, bathing machines (shielded from public gaze by screens the horses took you into the water), be photographed on a tin image, go to the theatre, cinema, (opened in 1896) circus parades through the town or other animals on show, horse racing (still there) sail on paddle steamer or even dare to buy a ticket for the Pioneer, known as Daddy Long Legs as it was a structure which “walked” along the beach or in the sea on mechanical legs.

Was the man in charge of this contraption the Captain or the train driver? Discuss! Unfortunately it only lasted a few weeks as it was destroyed in a freak storm in 1896.

A more orthodox electric train travelled from the Brighton aquarium to the Black Rock until developers wanted the land.

If you decided to take the girl you were walking out with to the cinema, the film you might see would probably have been shot in Hove which was then “the Hollywood of the World”.

On a lovely day you might ride in the carriers’ cart to Devil’s Dyke (in 1893 over 30,000 people flocked there where facilities of all kinds had been set up).

For the more sober minded you could visit the cemetery where is buried 108 year old Phoebe Hessel who served as a soldier in 1745.

Another trip on offer was to Dover where the motto car might be loaded from the boat train to the boat for France.

France, that is the country that made England build, only as recently as 1805-8 the Martello towers which line that coastal area, at a cost of £3000 each, for Napoleon had to be kept at bay. Now these had become, in less than a century buildings to attract the Victorian tourist.

The Canterbury Whitstable line , opened in 1830 , might entice travellers to visit Broadstairs or Margate where the donkeys and the hurdy gurdies are to be found. There they all were in Mr. Gillies’ magic lantern show.

Not only were all these sea side delights to be enjoyed but inland we travelled, to see the net work of canals which linked up to London and the main waterways of the land. (What a good idea!)

There was sheep shearing, sheep in rivers, delightful sheep fares in rolling countryside, oxen ploughing, windmills and lots of horses and men in hats looking serious, or in strapped trouser legs, strong and open faced.

One slide showed a large erect house with signs of repair work starting.

This was the first National Trust property, in Sussex, and it cost £5.

A glorious picture of Brighton pavilion belied what was inside at that time.

Amid the grandeur of the interior of this Georgian icon, were hospital beds and nurses, clean and light, tending Ghurka and Indian soldiers wounded in the first world war. These loyal Imperial allies would have been given devoted treatment by a grateful nation which at that period would have forsaken the pleasures of the seaside for more demanding and vital tasks.

After the war crowds came out of the Magic Lantern Box again and visited piers. Lots of piers- porticoes, chain, shopping sites, grand and modest- rolled out of the lens onto the screen and we saw the parasols and bowlers packing onto them. Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford, Margate and of course our own dear Hastings.

With this came a rush of sadness from the audience, but Mr. Gillies ended on a cheery note as the final slide was written in brightly colours Victorian flourishing, “Like the butterflies time to say Good bye I must fly.”

We hope Mr and Mrs. Gillies will fly back again with the Magic Lantern and all that it contains.

The next opportunity to enjoy the company, h the information and the raffle with light refreshments which the Society offers will be on November 10 when Roger Smith tells us about Stoneacre -a Yeoman’s house of the 15 century.

The Service in Holy Trinity Church will be as usual 9.30 Communion. All welcome, children most welcome. Coffee and fellowship afterwards.

The Halloween evening for Comedy Capers screeches off on 30 October. Full details in the Parish mag.

The next Meet of the Tongue at Mistletoe Barn is November 5 Ring for directions if you have not been there before 01580 860 528.

The reference in last week’s column to the munitions factory has prompted a response. It is clearly remembered and one gentleman remembers his wife working there.

Was the enemy aware of this factory? If so Hurst Green would have been a target for bombing, Bombs did fall around the area . Were these failed attacks on the factory or simply random bombing of civilians?

Please patronise Etchingham Stores regular small purchases will help us all keep the shop going.

A phone call to the shop 01580 819 044 would meet with acceptance for those who can’t manage the “Ravine” and a willing Etchingham Angel will fly upward.

Deliveries are available, that’s official! So relax and use the facility to support your own local store.

Weekly Regulars:- (Please see Parish Magazine for all other activities).

Carousel Angels meet the last Monday in the month for lunch and social afternoon Ring Marianne. 860 711 Chiropody Clinic Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, Jeremy Harris 01797 230

251 mobile 07999917948 who is highly recommended.

Aerobics Class Tuesday 8-9

Martial Arts Wednesday (Junior)6-7 (Seniors)7-8 Jumping Beans Tuesday 1.30-2.30 Age Concern (Burghwood House) Thursday 11-3 Transport available.

Trefoil Guild 01580 819 330

Maestro Babies(early music learning) 01580 880 135 Mobile Library Friday outside village Hall 2.25 -3.15 Peasmarsh Jempson’s bus pick sup at The George on Tuesday 1.25.

There is a scheme for elderly or disabled people in council housing to get help in the house or garden. Ring for conditions and details 0845 873 1321.

All items for this column to 01580 860 340 or [email protected]

Flora Jenner

Max Gate,
Burgh Hill