Photograph coincidence

For more than two years Jason has nurtured the ambition of striking out on his own in business.

Jason has worked in the motor industry ever since leaving school. He trained as a motor mechanic at the former ECAT at Eastbourne.

For the past 14 years he had been with SETyres, latterly as branch manager.

When he learned that industrial premises at Brett Drive were becoming available with 3,000 sq ft of floorspace he decided to take the plunge, believing the former Chandlers printing works there to be ideally placed for what he had in mind.

Legal and planning issues delayed his plans from the Spring.

But finally, at the beginning of last week with change-of-use granted and advertising consent for his Angels sign with its motor tyre 'halo' over the initial letter to go over the door, he opened for business.

Taking over vacant premises, equipping them with 'four-poster' car and van hoists and the high-tech tools of the trade is a daunting enough challenge in itself.

But because of the delays, it means the father-of-two has opened Angels just as the Credit Crunch has lurched into full-blown recession.

No sector of the economy has been hit harder than the garage trade but Jason hopes that by competitive pricing, his MOT and service and tyre centre can be viable.

Just as all his hopes were coming to fruition, coincidence struck.

"My uncle, Max Hunnisett, was working in a property in London Road. Under the floorboards he found an old photograph.

"It's a group shot of a lot of RAF officers, taken during the war.

"My uncle is sure that the officer pictured at the left of the front row is the late Ray Chandler '“ of Chandler's printers."

There is an even greater coincidence. "My uncle and my mother were brought up in that flat..."