Old chest found in Peartree Lane

The wooden trunk belonged to George Bovey and appears to be originally from his schooldays at Malvern College.

Inside is a collection of old cigarette cards, cinefilm of airshows and car rallies from the late 1930's, maps, drawings, and old family home movies.

There is a menu from the 1938 annual Christmas dinner held by 58th Harrow AA Battalion, and even a folded section of the Times from Friday June 4 1946 showing Victory Day celebrations. There is a tin filled with ancient pencils, rulers and compass, as well as a guide to freshwater fish, and instruction on how to start playing the mandolin.

The box has no obvious value to anyone other than family or friends of George Bovey, and if no-one comes forward it will be given to Bexhill Museum for its historical interest.

Robert Schifreen, who lives in Cooden Drive, said: "It would be a shame for these to be dumped or go to waste. It doesn't mean an awful lot to us, but there is somebody out there it does mean a lot to...if so, we would like to reunite it with them."

If you are a relation of George Bovey, or knew the family, please contact the Bexhill Observer at 18 Sackville Road.