Your letters - June 11

Monitoring managers?

AS all perceptive parents and teachers know a school's success does depend on the strength and energies of its senior management. These managers often have light teaching timetables so they can be very visible at key times during the day eg lunchbreaks and beginning and end of school when they can closely monitor the behaviour of students.

They should also be offering support to teaching staff by removing and dealing with disruptive pupils. Monitoring of lessons by senior managers often achieves little as it leads pupils to believe that the teacher rather than the pupils are the problem and can undermine their status. Good schools are ones where expectations of pupils is clearly underlined by senior management and they in particular ensure it is followed to the letter, putting in place clear sanctions for those who fail to comply.

Some pupils will always kick against restrictions, but most welcome clear guidelines and ultimately discipline will be strong and pupils happy; there should be a feeling generated that students and staff are working together for the good of the students which should lead to improved examination results.

Principal Mike Conn says he took his eye off the ball, clearly for a while to produce a need for urgent action, but what were his other senior managers doing? They are there to manage the pupils and help to reduce the stess levels of the staff!

High staff turnover, staff sickness because of stress, problems with recruitment are clear indications that staff are not getting the required backup from senior management, and this also leads to inconsistency in teaching. Let us put the blame where many must see it lies with the senior management.

Who is monitoring the senior managers?

Carole Woodland

Cooden Drive

Bexhill-on-Sea

Not good enough

I HAVE long resisted expressing my strong views about Bexhill High School because my own children do not attend the school. However, I have had the privilege of teaching many children who do attend or soon will attend the High School. Also, like many people in this town, I care greatly about the welfare of all of its children.

I beg the parents and the governors of the school not to be once again bamboozled by Mike Conn. The issue of the new building causing the head teacher to 'take his eye off the ball' is a complete smokescreen.

You only have to look at the league tables to see that as far back as 2006 the High School was producing very poor results when compared with both East Sussex and National exam results.

The high turnover of staff is another strong indicator of the poor management of the school. A shiny new building is not going to solve the underlying issues which make the High School inadequate.

All of Bexhill's children deserve high expectations, a stimulating and challenging curriculum and good quality teaching within a calm orderly environment. Third rate is not good enough!

Lisa Pestell

Lansdowne Way

Bexhill

Clean sweep is needed

I WROTE last year after the result of the very flawed disgraceful consultation over the new timetable saying how poor Bexhill High was and now it is confirmed.

I must thank Mr Conn for giving me the impetus to transfer my son from that school - my son is at William Parker which is an excellent school in comparison, and my son is now very happy, because all he wanted was to be able to learn.

After our own experiences of poor discipline, lack of homework etc. I stated that the new building was being viewed as a simple fix, and Mr Conn very clearly has been taken in far too deeply.

Firstly why must he call himself chief executive, executive principal etc? Mr Conn, place both feet back into reality, headteacher is a start.

His timetable for the new school is a major problem and unless he can win back the majority support of parents he will struggle to achieve any improvements. Mr Conn's assertion that homework is not necessary: well my daughter is finding working until 4am on her homework at university very necessary, and any child that leaves under the new system has been failed straight away. Battling with parents telling them what they can do with their child under the law is another major failure. This is nothing new. Five years ago our daughter was finding in her GCSEs, a lack of textbooks, and ultimately a lack of a teacher. My son was last year thrown out of his class and forgotten about after telling rowdy pupils to be quiet

I took great offence at Mr Conn's manner, and the governors, in the consultation exercise over the new timetable, and it left a very bad impression with me personally.

It was clear how much he was immersed in his own project, and valid objections were simply dismissed. His consultations were held during the day - not much good for those of us at work.

I think a clean sweep is needed now, and to drop the spin and glorified executive job titles. There are also some very good and dedicated teachers in Bexhill High and I am sure they feel very undervalued right now.

Timothy Davies

Bexhill Road

St Leonards-on-Sea

Undemanding, surely

As with the much delayed designs for the western seafront shelters, the plans for a new kiosk near the wishing well (now sadly demolished) have now been returned to the architects to be remodeled. Heaven knows how much this is costing. How many flaws can there be in these simple buildings that the designs have to be shunted back and forth between the council and the designers? And how come such supposedly talented and famous architects couldn't come up with buildings that fulfilled the council's brief in the first place? A simpleton could have understood the instructions - 'shelter people, face four ways, keep occupants dry, and be modern with an Edwardian twist?' Pretty undemanding, surely? Let's hope they get it right this time. Consequently, the application for planning permission has been temporarily withdrawn.

Additionally, I must correct the misapprehension of the writer of anotherwise excellent and erudite letter last week. This newspaper serves Bexhill very well. Without it most people would know nothing about what is going on locally. It gives a truly balanced view of the campaigns concerning the seafront. All the council's views and reports are printed and protesters' views are honestly aired too. Altogether the staff work extremely hard to serve and inform this town. We are lucky to still have a paper. And I thank them.

Jackie Bialeska

Vox Pop

DLWP was the hub

I have returned from holiday to read a letter from Georgina Roberts in the May 21 edition about the De La Warr Pavilion and feel compelled to write and support her comments.

I was born and brought up in Little Common, so spent my teenage and early 20s here in Bexhill. The DLWP was the hub of entertainment. I remember in the 1960s there was the Annual Police Ball with Joe Loss and an annual badminton tournament. In those days, the Bexhill Choral Society could afford to perform twice a year there and in the summer season there were nightly shows of Starlight Rendezvous or something similar. In the winter months, there were plays or concerts to entertain local folks. I even went to a concert by Cliff Richard and another one by Marty Wilde. Every Saturday night there was a Bistro Dance in the Queen Elizabeth room; I know this because I attended all of them! Friday Night Is Music Night was also broadcast from DLWP for a number of years. I married and moved away but 35 years later I have returned to find the DLWP such a disappointment. I didn't expect to find the same activities going on but in fact there is hardly anything that I or many of my friends want to attend. One thing I would like to have seen was the Della Luna production of a Gilbert and Sullivan show about six weeks ago. However, despite receiving weekly emails from the DLWP, and periodic forthcoming programmes magazines, I only learned of this production through a U3A meeting the day before the performance. I drove straight to the DLWP and expressed my great disappointment that despite their regular communication with me, I was not aware of this production, which I could not then attend because I had recently made another commitment for that evening. The girl on duty explained to me that it was an outside show and therefore they were expected to do their own publicity!

The sooner someone persuades the DLWP to do locally-friendly activities, the better.

A Anderson

Barnhorn Road

Bexhill

What a cheek!

I AM writing in response to the De la Warr Pavilion's request to Bexhill residents to support its application for the National Lottery Best Arts Project Award (News, page five, Bexhill Observer, 4 June 2010). What a cheek.

Ever since receiving the lottery grant, the Pavilion management has snubbed the local community, aiming instead to appeal to the London glitterati. The DLWP doesn't promote its events locally, and refuses to advertise locally produced programmes. As an example, BLODS shows are not advertised in the DLWP brochure of events or anywhere in the building. The Pavilion is shut nearly every evening, when it could be opening its bar and facilities to local people. The DLWP management ignores the cultural interests of the Bexhill community, preferring instead to provide high brow exhibitions and events of limited local appeal. Of course, I want to live in a town which can boast a national treasure, but, like many local residents, I have become resentful and disillusioned with being treated so contemptuously by the DLWP management. I will therefore not be supporting the Pavilion in its pursuit of national recognition.

K Hazell

Clevedon Road

Bexhill

Badly underused

I READ in total amazement in last week's edition that the De La Warr Pavilion is under the illusion that it deserves to be named the top lottery arts project. Heaven help us from the others. The once fantastic DLWP under the present incumbents has been reduced to a shadow of its former glory. The latest crime against this once proud building is to stage an exhibition of the noted artist Anthony Gormley. Love him or hate him his work deserves respect. What do we get - numerous statues thrown around the roof of the pavilion which they have the nerve to charge us for. Statues are not meant to be viewed lying down unless it is a reclining piece they are meant to be viewed standing or sitting up.

Whoever came up with this insulting exhibit need a lesson in art and how to present it.

As I have said before it is so sad to see this building so badly underused - hardly any decent shows, an overpriced bar and restaurant for the food it serves - basically it has become an empty building. j camden-field

Marina Court

Bexhill

Windsurfing: common sense

Type 'windsurfing Bexhill' into Google you are welcomed by 'The award winning Bexhill Rowing Club can often be seen on the sea. Windsurfing and wind kiting are also very popular - bring your own equipment'.

Sadly the following results show 'windsurfing banned' and 'no windsurfing' - not a great advertisement for our town.

So I find it amazing there are still plans to change bylaws which would discriminate against windsurfers opposed to another sail craft. It has also been brought to my attention that windsurfing was deemed dangerous because of 'significant speed generated over the water'. I have to strongly disagree. In normal swimming conditions the fastest boats on the water are sailing dinghies and the weight of these vessels and lack of vision mean they are also significantly dangerous to swimmers. Rowers also have their own risks (not looking where they are going for start). All water users use their own common sense and there are no recorded incidents on our beaches. To say one of these sports is more dangerous than the other is unfounded, there are to many variables to justify banning one over another.

I think a swimming zone is a good idea. I swim myself and understand concerns some swimmers may have, I don't want sailing dinghies and rowing boats (which are normally the only craft out when its swimming weather) running me over. So this should be a zone that is free of all sailing craft. Signs should read 'no sail craft' and 'no motor craft'.

The Sailing Club races currently usually race over the proposed restricted area and it hasn't been considered that some members also take part on windsurfing race boards (a long windsurfer). So a swimming zone would affect the races at the sailing club as they would have to run the race more towards the east and not in front of the sailing club as currently happens in certain conditions.

RDC has tried to explain that a no windsurfing zone is needed to keep the quality beach award flag. This is completely unfounded - the Quality Beach Awards have confirmed to me personally that the flags are given for cleanliness and amenities. There are no stipulations on banning windsurfing. Moreover I worked for RDC under John Cruikshank in the the Beach Inspector's Office in my student days and John allowed us to windsurf in front of the office in our lunch breaks or after work (as did the previous officer Patrick Meyer) and to store our windsurfing equipment in the Coastal Office.

I conclude it is unrealistic to justify any new bylaws on the sea that discriminates from one sail/small craft to another, it serves only to alienate a good sporting community.

There are many different types of dinghy sail craft as there many different classes of windsurfing, some slower some faster.

A swimming zone free of all sailing craft in front of the De La Warr is needed and any signs put up should read 'no sail craft' and 'no motor craft'.

Marcus Whitney

Brockley Road

Bexhill

Worst maritime disaster

RECENTLY we have quite rightly celebrated the 70th anniversary of the miracle of Dunkirk. However, as my late father said to me when I was very young, "thousands of troops were still left behind in France who did not get rescued then".

He was one of the thousands of troops who had to wait for a later rescue attempted from St Nazaire.

One of the ships sent was the liner Lancastria which boarded an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 troops, but on June 17 1940 whilst still at mooring it was bombed by the Germans and received a direct hit. Within 20 minutes the ship rolled over and sank. Those below deck and even some who could not swim and had managed to clamber on its upturned hull perished with the ship.

Those in the water, which was heavily contaminated by heavy fuel oil, were machine-gunned by German aircraft. Due to the excessive numbers taken onboard there were not enough lifejackets or lifeboats and many died who could not swim. Although exact figures cannot be given, estimates are that around 4,000 people died. This is greater than the number that died on the Titanic and Lusitania combined and is the worst British maritime disaster to date. Yet this tragic story is almost unknown other than to those who experienced it. At the time Churchill gave orders to hush it up and prohibited any news to get out. Even today no offiicial recognition exists in England.

As this is therefore the 70th anniversary of this most tragic story it is about time the some publicity was given to remember those that perished and those that survived. Even after my father died, his sister knew nothing of this episode in his life, and probably countless other families of those that died have never known the truth of their death.

Eric Gaiger

Chantry Avenue

Bexhill

Thanks from Christian Aid

THROUGH your paper, I would like to extend a huge "thank you" to the residents of Newlands Avenue, who once again responded so generously to my door-to-door collection for Christian Aid week. We raised just over 90, making us yet again one of the top (if not the top) collection roads in Bexhill.

It is a staggering and horrific fact that 1.4 billion people across the word live in extreme poverty; having no access to simple sanitation facilities or safe drinking water. Your donations mean so much to these people - thank you again.

David Carter

Newlands Avenue

Bexhill

Nature's fury in verse

Nature's Fury

Sunrise, sunset

Dusk and dawn

Climate change

Beware, we're warned

Earthquake, mud slides

Floods, tornadoes

Forest fires

Angry volcanoes

Beware they say

The Lord smiles

And says, just pray!

By Valda Warren

Church Street

Bexhill

Published by Forward Press

I have no sympathy

I read, with interest, the article in last week's Observer about the mayhem caused by parents trying to get their cars in to and out of Little Common School and being prevented from doing so by a lorry which was probably making a delivery in Shepherds Close. I have to say I have no sympathy at all for them and hope that this experience will make them realise that this is what a lot of local residents have to put up with day after day when they are obstructed by these selfish parents. They seem to think it is their right to park wherever they like, including across people's driveways, on the grass verges and in the private community centre car park, despite notices stating that the car park is for those who are actually using the hall. It is not for the benefit of those parents who can't or won't let their children walk a short distance to the school.

As Mr Dillistone said, there is a big sign at the entrance to Shepherds Close telling parents that only those people having a permit should continue up to the school and if some parents choose to ignore it (maybe they haven't seen it) it makes me wonder if they should be driving anyway if their vision is that bad.

If anyone is brave enough to confront those who do refuse to do as they have been asked, then they will probably be met with a mouthful of abuse and foul language. I know, it's happened to me on more than one occasion and is very intimidating.

I suppose one day, with all the cars that use Shepherds Close, there will be an accident involving a child and perhaps then something will be done to persuade these people to think about the safety aspect if nothing else. This has been allowed to continue for far too long and it's time something was done to stop all these parents using this road and others within a stone's throw from the school, as a drop down and pick up point.

Perhaps double yellow lines up both sides of the Close, Churchill Avenue, and Birkdale might help solve the problem, but no doubt they too would be ignored.

name and address supplied.

Appeal for D-Day information

REGARDING the article by Camilla Lake on May 21:

I was sent the cutting of the above event by a very good friend of mine living in Bexhill.

It was a very interesting and personal account regarding D.Day. I was 18 years old in 1943 when I joined the 4th Battalion the Dorset Regiment 43rd Wessex Division (billets in Dorset Road!).

I transferred from the 4th Batt to join the 1st Batt Dorsets who were among the first to land on Gold Beach (Jig Sector) on that fateful morning Tuesday June 1944. And but for the grace of God go I, as sadly and tragically for the 4th Batt they went into hell on July 10 1944 in their attempt to retake Hill 112.

Are there any of the 4th who would remember the CO of that battalion, Lt Bob Bowie, RSM Drew, CSMWebber and Cpl Chris Portway?

Also could someone send me details of dates of any meetings in the future at Bexhill and at Eastbourne of the Dorsets? As I would tie in a holiday so as to meet up at one of them, or both.

Thank you for any help or details supplied,

Frederick Bates, now age 85

12 Bird Close,

Banbury,

Oxfordshire OX16 ODF.

The classified section

I WOULD welcome Observer readers help in my attempts to get the Observer Newspaper to resort to the format that we have enjoyed for years in the classified section.

I refer to the section on weddings, birthdays, deaths etc and I have found the practice of lumping the Bexhill and Hastings notices under one group annoying.

I believe that the notices posted at the Bexhill office should be shown as BEXHILL and the Hastings office ones as HASTINGS. The two Towns are still two units and so should be treated as such.

I believe that the notices can be shown in the paper as under BEXHILL or HASTINGS depending on where the notice was placed.

This not only makes the paper user friendly but will in my opinion still keep a measure of local identity as I find that there is so much going on in today's world resulting in a loss of identity and I do not believe that it is in our interests to lose this.

Would readers who echo my sentiment please make it known to the paper that we would like the old and trusted format reinstated.

Robert Carey

Eastwood Road

Bexhill