Hastings Old Town stalwart dies

Carol Boorman at 13 Croft Road, where she was born SUS-200824-090339001

Carol Boorman (née Breach) was born in Croft Road in July 1936, and one of her earliest memories was ‘living and going to school in a cave’ :- she spent some of the war years sheltering in St Clement’s Caves under the West Hill.

She met her late husband Lew on Hastings Pier in the 1950s, and they married in 1956. Lew and Carol celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in March 2016, just a few months before Lew died, in December 2016.

Carol and Lew’s Saturday night parties in the 1960s were legendary, going on to the (not so early) hours, and are still, just, remembered by some.

She moved from Croft Road into The Croft in the wartime years, where she lived for over 70 years, until 2017 when poor health forced her to move into The Laurels nursing home in Old London Road.

Carol was proud of the fact that she was an Old Towner. Her uncle, George Moon, was cox of the Hastings lifeboat the Cyril & Lilian Bishop and took it to Dover for the Dunkirk evacuation.

Carol worked in administration in local hospitals for many years, starting at the old RESH (Royal East Sussex Hospital), in Hastings, then the Conquest, and more recently at Bexhill Hospital.

Although in her earlier life the Old Town was a very deprived area, she watched with interest as its fortunes changed, and supported initiatives to improve the town such as the Jerwood Gallery. She was also a great supporter of local events, from the carnival – she served as minute secretary on the Hastings Old Town Carnival Association for a number of years – to more recent additions such as bonfire, Jack in the Green, and the various fish festivals.

Carol was also a founder member of The Croft Residents’ Association, and was its secretary for many years; she was fond of making her opinions known on a variety of local subjects.

Lew and Carol also owned ‘Friday’, a black cat known as the ‘Old Town cat’ who used to roam widely around The Croft, Croft Road and High Street, terrorising any other cat (or dog) who dared tread on his turf.

Carol was never happier than enjoying the Old Town, dog walking – she had four Labradors over the years, and could often be seen walking them up Torfield, or over ‘the glen’ – and her family, whom she loved watching grow up. Carol is survived by three children, Kevin, Christopher (‘Tiffer’) and Kim, and nine grandchildren.

Carol’s funeral will take place on Friday September 11, and because of Covid restrictions only close family are able to attend. But her cortege will pass through the Old Town, leaving the top of Croft Road c1445, pausing as it passes The Croft, where she lived most of her life; 13 Croft Road, where she was born; and The Laurels nursing home in Old London Road where she spent her final years.

Pictured is Carol in 2010 outside the house she was born, 13 Croft Road.