End of an era as Dee Day White retires from running popular Old Town yard

But he has given assurances that the yard is in safe hands and will continue to operate in the same way going forward.

Dee Day, who ran the yard with his wife Beverley plans to take a well deserved rest.

Reflecting on his time of trading in the Old Town, he said: “With a pregnant wife, 61 years ago, I opened my first shop Anvil Antiques at 38 High Street. This was the start of my buying and selling career.

After approximately 20 years I bought a property in Courthouse Street and opened up a tea room and antique shop. It was very successful but also demanding.

"A very good friend of mine Ian Porter has just bought the undertakers in the High Street, which incorporated a huge yard and out buildings at the rear.

"With Ian’s help and guidance I opened this up as an arcade market which seemed to be very popular with the public and just got bigger and better over the years.

“However, time waits for no man so after trading for 34 years in Courthouse Mews Yard with my wife Beverley we have decided to retire and have a new approach to our twilight years.

"It will be nice to spend more time with each other. So after 34 years we would like to say thank you to everyone who made our dream work to create a wonderful find in Hastings Old Town for visitors as well as locals. Not many people who visit Hastings Old Town do not end up visiting the yard.

"The story does not end here. The mews will be run on the same system as before with Kelly at the tiller instead of myself and Bev.

"Thankyou so much. It is the end of an era for us.”