Record number of stalls at BexhillAnglo-French street market event

Devonshire Road was lined with a record number of colourful stalls, offering a wide variety of goods.

The French stallholders provided their usual tempting array of bread, pastries, crepes, cheeses, soaps and other treats; and the local traders gave shoppers the opportunity to sample their individually crafted gifts, ranging from wonderful hand made jewellery, pottery, jams, chutneys, soft furnishings and beautiful home grown plants and flowers.

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club, who marshalled and organised the event, were displaying a selection of their members; classic cars at either end of the market.

Behind the scenes, Elva Car Recovery were on standby to remove any vehicles which may have been parked illegally and the Bexhill 100 team were in attendance from 5 am each day to ensure the street was clear for the market traders.

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club would like to pass on their appreciation to Keir staff, who cleaned and swept the street before and after the market on both days.

Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and Bexhill 100 look forward to the next market, which is scheduled for September 17 and 18.

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club took over the running of the market for the benefit and enjoyment of the town, and all profits will go to locally based community projects or charities.

To date, the Club has raised some £41,500 for charity from the proceeds of their annual car shows and the French Market.

The Bexhill 100 Motoring Club was formed in 1999 and is a member of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs.

In May 1902, the first races in Great Britain took place on the seafront in Bexhill on Sea. The races had been the brain child of the Eighth Earl De La Warr, and with the assistance of the Automobile Club, later known as the RAC.

The races took place at speed, back and forth from the top of Galley Hill to the Sackville Hotel. Over 200 vehicles from all over the continent took part and brought thousands of people to Bexhill to watch vehicles reaching speeds, the like of which they had never seen before on British soil.

The huge success of the meeting encouraged Earl De La Warr to make Bexhill the motoring centre of British racing drivers of the day. The last competition was held in 1925 after which the Royal Automobile Club withdrew permits on public highways.

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