WELCOME
HAPPY New Year to you all, welcome to a brand new year for your local community newspaper.
I hope you all managed to take some time off over the new year period to spend with friends or family, or simply for a rest. We managed to get a few days off, which was a nice reset, ready for a brand new year of bringing you the latest news and information.
The festive period was a good chance for me to ponder over all the happenings of last year and looking back at everything we have done with the newspapers — I felt extremely thankful for all the support everyone gives us each and every month.
We call our series of publications ‘community newspapers’ for a good reason. When you look through the stories we publish, many of them are generated by the source of the story contacting us directly, which makes me feel grateful that we have become a trusted outlet for news and information.
We mentioned a few months ago, that a recent survey suggested that local newspapers are the most trusted source of local news, so I always like to make sure each edition is full of news that matters to the area you live in.
Our office receives many phone calls every single day with news stories and information from you — the reader, which is what makes this publication so successful.
So, I’d like to encourage you to keep doing this by contacting us using the details below as this is how we will continue to stand out throughout 2025 as your favourite local newspaper.
Paul Gibson Group Editor
THE TEAM
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‘One in a Million’ nurs recognised in global medical awards
Awards, organised by leading integrated healthcare provider Aster DM Healthcare, received more than 78,000 applications from nurses in over two hundred countries — the Grand Jury selected Sylvia as one of the ten most inspiring entries.
impactful contributions to nursing education including extensive training programs emphasising wound care best practices by organising a Tissue Viability Service. It started in 1993 when she cared for a man who had severe burns to his legs and feet and Sylvia spent weeks looking after his wounds and gained vital experience, to then being promoted to a wound specialist.
revolutionised wound care practices globally, attracting medical professionals worldwide.
Syliva told Eastbourne News: “I just can’t believe it happened really. It was so much fun in India when I collected the award. It’s very surreal, but it’s a lovely feeling that I got that far and my 30 years in wound care has been recognised in this way.”
The Aster Guardians Global Nursing
Dr. Asad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said: “Nurses are the silent heroes of our healthcare system, demonstrating unparalleled passion and commitment to their patients. The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is our humble effort to recognise, honour and empower these dedicated souls who tirelessly serve and uplift the noble cause of the healthcare industry. We are elated and profoundly touched by the enthusiastic engagement of nurses from across the globe in this initiative.”
plans to continue expanding more across the country. She moved to Hailsham from Newhaven eleven years ago and says she loves the town. Syliva concluded: “I’ve made so many friends here, people are so kind, I absolutely love living in Hailsham, I’m extraordinarily happy here. If you love what you do, then you’ll never work another day for the rest of your life.”
Apprenticeships successes recognised at graduation ceremony Eastbourne Mayor’s New Year message
in Eastbourne, supported by their employers, apprenticeship training providers and family members.
local businesses and educators to the programme
Councillor Bob Standley, lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disability at East Sussex County
As we welcome 2025, I reflect on the tough times that many residents have faced during the past year. Sadly, the cost of living crisis remains an everyday challenge for many families and individuals. At times like these I’m greatly heartened by our community’s resilience, compassion, and willingness of people to help others.
apprenticeship programme. “I offer my congratulations to all the graduating apprentices as well as my thanks to the businesses and training providers who work so hard to make the East Sussex apprenticeship programme such a success.”
As we step into the New Year, let’s carry this resilience with us. Let’s embrace hope and optimism for a brighter future. Our shared sense of community is incredibly strong in Eastbourne, something I will always be most proud of.
Wishing everyone a healthy, peaceful and prosperous year ahead. May 2025 be filled with opportunities and happiness for every resident in our wonderful town.
Sylvia Hampton (third from left) with her award
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Coastguard called to rescue people on small boat off coast
EMERGENCY services were called to rescue a number of people on a small boat in the Channel recently.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson told Eastbourne News: “HM Coastguard sent a UK Border Force vessel and an RNLI lifeboat in response to small boat activity reported in the Channel on
29 December. People were safely recovered to Eastbourne.”
The photo shows the Eastbourne RNLI all-weather lifeboat with at least twenty people on board wearing life jackets and hi-viz coats at Sovereign Harbour.
There is no other information at this time.
Stadium apologises after traffic chaos at racing event
A Stadium resulted in gridlocked traffic and delays.
The closure of the overflow parking due to waterlogging, resulted in many visitors parking on Arlington Road West, near Hailsham, causing traffic chaos across the area.
Photos show many visitors taking to foot to get to the stadium for its National Bangers Christmas event.
The organisers posted this statement on social media:
“Spedeworth Motorsports would like to apologise to the local residents for the car parking issues around Arlington Stadium at yesterday’s event; we are aware of the situation and it will be addressed in the future as more top events come to the venue in 2025.
With an unprecedented crowd at the Christmas event, and the fields which are usually used for overflow
Airbourne Crowned UK’s Best Free Airshow for Fifth Year
EASTBOURNE International
Airshow is officially the UK’s Best Free Airshow for a fifth time, picking up the most votes in this year’s Airscene Awards.
The free four-day airshow picked up the top spot ahead of Bournemouth and Blackpool after followers of Airscene — one of the UK’s leading airshow websites — voted for their favourite.
Airbourne joins the winner of the best ticketed airshow — the Royal International Air Tattoo — with both shows crowned the best in their respective categories in 2024.
Votes were also cast for the Best Display Team and Best Solo Display with the Red Arrows and Typhoon coming out on top, followed closely by another Eastbourne favourite — Rich Goodwin’s Pitts bi-plane.
In 2024 Airbourne celebrated 30 years of flying and fans were treated to a diamond anniversary display from the Red Arrows just before the team embarked on their overseas tour.
To reiterate, we apologise to the local residents for the car parking issues and this will be readdressed for the 2025 season as Stock Car, Hot Rod and Banger racing continues at the venue.”
Man charged following town bank burglary
following a burglary at an
Marc Tatnell, 44, of no fixed address has been charged with burglary following the incident which took place at a bank in Terminus Road, Eastbourne around 1am on 11 December.
equipment was damaged. Tatnell has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at a court to be fixed on 10 January to answer the charges.
Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 42 of 11/12.
MP launches campaign to create domestic abuse bill
JOSH Babarinde, MP for Eastbourne, is calling on the government to recognise victims of domestic abuse in the law.
some domestic abusers are convicted of offences that do not specify the nature of their crimes.
Other highlights included the RAF Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster, Tutor, Jet Provost, The Starlings, Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers, Rich Goodwin Pitts Special, Belgian Bronco, Mustang, Spitfire and a debut from the Swedish Draken — the first Western European built aircraft to break
Councillor Margaret Bannister, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure, Accessibility & Community Safety, said, “Thank you to the fans for once again supporting the show and voting Airbourne into first place. To receive the top spot again, alongside the likes of the Royal International Air Tattoo, really is incredible.
“Plans are already underway for 2025 and we look forward to bringing you some awesome displays. As always, we need your help to keep the
show running — whether its booking premium seating to guarantee the best viewing spot or advertising your business at the UK’s official best free airshow — all of the money raised supports the show and helps to fund the flying displays.”
Airbourne returns from 14 — 17 August 2025 with premium seating and airshow car parking already on sale. With all proceeds supporting the show, and some seating and parking areas selling out last year, airshow visitors are advised to book early to avoid missing out.
He stood in the Chamber in the House of Commons last month to state that there are no specific offences that recognise domestic abuse. This ‘legislative quirk’ means that some abusers are eligible for early release under the Government’s SDS40 early release scheme — letting down survivors of domestic abuse, according to the MP.
Josh said: “On Good Morning Britain today, I launched my campaign to create a specific set of domestic abuse offences.
Let’s close the loophole that means
Having officially proposed the new law in the House of Commons and piled on the pressure via the media this morning, I stood in the Chamber to urge the Justice Secretary to back this much-needed change in the law.”
He says it is an issue that’s close to his heart and he knows how important justice is to survivors of domestic abuse.
He has already received backing from Women’s Aid, which is a National domestic abuse charity working to end violence against women and children.
Supporters of the campaign can visit www.domesticabusebill.co.uk.
New operator appointed to manage Eastbourne theatres
EASTBOURNE Borough Council has entered a partnership with one of the UK’s top theatre and entertainment operators to run the town’s popular theatres.
Trafalgar Theatres — the venues division of leading global live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment will operate the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and The Winter Garden and conferencing and exhibition facilities.
The theatres join a portfolio of other Trafalgar UK and international venues including Trafalgar Theatre in the West End and Olympia Theatre in London, the Theatre Royal Sydney in Australia, The Chiswick Cinema, and many UK regional theatres in its portfolio including Southend Cliffs Pavilion, New Theatre Cardiff, Fareham Live, G Live Guildford, Wycombe Swan, and the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow.
Through a Creative Learning programme, Trafalgar Entertainment provides unique learning experiences for the communities it serves.
Each year, Trafalgar’s work across its regional theatres has touched the lives of over 50,000 people through
youth theatre activities, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and groups for adults in later life.
The company also collaborates with local schools, colleges and universities, and fosters strong partnerships with local community theatre organisations and amateur groups, ensuring that theatre remains accessible to all.
Founded by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire in 2017, Trafalgar has close partnerships with leading theatre companies such as Lincoln Center Theatre New York and the Barbican Centre (including a soon to be announced 2025 season).
Prior to Trafalgar Entertainment, Sir Howard and Dame Rosemary led the growth of the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) from its inception to becoming the largest global live theatre company.
Sir Howard was knighted for services to theatre in 2013, while Dame Rosemary was made a Dame in 2018 for services to theatre and philanthropy.
Sir Howard Panter, Joint CEO and Creative Director at Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Eastbourne
Borough Council.
Together, the Devonshire Quarter Venues form an entertainment epicentre on the East Sussex coast. We are immensely proud of our work in regional venues, including recently bringing our world-class productions of The King and I and The Rocky Horror Show to Eastbourne, and passionately believe that local audiences outside London deserve the very best.
Through Trafalgar’s unique model Eastbourne audiences are assured that the best shows and events will be brought to Eastbourne alongside major new productions premiering here. Under our operation, local businesses across the wider area will continue to reap the economic benefits that a thriving theatre complex brings.
Our team is looking forward to working with new colleagues in Eastbourne to develop and enhance the operation. During challenging financial times for councils up and down the country — we congratulate Eastbourne Borough Council for their foresight in selecting Trafalgar as its partner to protect these wonderful venues for the future.”
Refurbished children’s home reopens following storm damage
following storm damage last year.
The Bungalow, which accommodates up to seven children and young people aged between 7 and 19 with complex needs and disabilities, suffered extensive damage when Storm Ciaran hit last October.
High winds got under the roof and rainwater penetrated the building causing severe damage to the bedrooms and electrics.
Over the last year large parts of the home have been repaired and planned refurbishments carried out to ensure the building is safe and meets the needs of the residents.
During the repair work, staff ensured that the lives of the
housed temporarily in Bexhill, staff worked hard to make sure the children were disrupted as little as possible, including coordinating and managing the school transport so the children could continue their schooling in Eastbourne.
At a special event children, staff and parents celebrated the refurbished home and the new facilities, which include a sensory room, a fitted kitchen, newly refurbished bedrooms and bathrooms, and a range of outdoor games and activities as well as an enclosed fire pit.
The Bungalow has been a residential children’s home for 20 years and is run by East Sussex County Council.
Hundred-mile challenge exceeds fundraising targets
A WOMAN from Eastbourne who set out to raise a thousand pounds for St. Wilfrid’s Hospice smashed all her targets after raising almost three times the amount for the cause.
Claire Johnson received a breast cancer diagnosis two years ago - her response was to set up the Breast Friends Forever website with her copartner and website designer Emily Hurd. It’s aimed to be a supportive space for everyone affected by breast cancer to come together.
With ten of Claire’s friends, they completed the 100 for £100 Challenge, which eventually raised £3,600 for St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Claire said: “The idea for the
Sab Richardson after her recent experiences with the illness.
We all walked 100 miles during October, three and a half miles per day in all weathers, to raise £100 each, “but we have far surpassed that amount, which is wonderful” It was lovely for us all going back into nature. We walked mainly around the Eastbourne area. It was wonderful for us all to meet at The Perch Cafe in Princes Park in November and donate such a large amount to St Wilfrids Hospice Directors, who attended the event” Since its launch, Breast Friends Forever has donated more than £9,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now and St.
Town Voted Dog Friendly for Second Year Running
EASTBOURNE has been voted one of the UK’s most dog friendly destinations for a second year running.
She added: ”The charity is very important to Emily and myself, and we want to help as many people as possible. I am now also trained in Level 2 Cancer Care so the website can also be seen as a place where I can offer support. Claire says that more men than women die of breast cancer pro rata, hence her urging people to connect with Breast Friends Forever to get the support they need where there is help for Men as well.
Breast Friends Forever also hopes to continue raising money this year for the three charities they support and the worthwhile improvements in Cancer care, that they strive to achieve. For more information, visit:
The National Dog Friendly Awards, organised by Dog Friendly magazine, recognises the venues, towns and cities that offer outstanding levels of service and the best welcome for dogs and their owners.
Held at the Kennel Club’s Headquarters in London, Eastbourne was this year presented with a silver award for the UK’s most dog friendly town or city, after winning bronze in 2023.
The award was collected by Karey Whitmore - author of Eastbourne’s Dog Friendly Guide – who attended the awards with her dog Scamp, on behalf of VisitEastbourne.
Collecting the award from actress and presenter Debbie Arnold, Karey said “This is such great news for
place in the UK but it really is one of the most dog friendly towns too.
“With so many dog friendly places to stay, places to eat, shop and nearby dog friendly venues to explore, there would never be a need to leave doggie behind. Plus, with four miles of glorious promenade and the South Downs on our doorstep, going for walkies is always a joy!”
Eastbourne celebrated its first ever Dog Friendly Award last year, following a series of partnership work between VisitEastbourne, Karey Whitmore, the Friends of Eastbourne Seafront, and the Chatsworth Hotel, which resulted in a new Dog Friendly Guide, venue recognition scheme and dog friendly events.
Eastbourne’s Dog Friendly Guide 2025 is available to pick up now from Eastbourne Visitor Centre, the Seafront Office and selected venues, or download online at www.
Cheque presentation to St Wilfrid’s Hospice The team who took part in the walk
Scamp with Eastbourne’s award
Eastbourne dog-friendly accommodation. Photo: James Ratchford
Astro images from Sussex are out of this world
JOHN Fox has had his eye to a camera for the past six decades and has become famous across East Sussex for his incredible astrophotography skills.
Editor Paul Gibson sat with John within the grounds of the historic Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre, where he spends a lot of his time, to find out about his passion for photography and the solar system.
When John was just seven years old in the early 1950s, his father built a four-inch telescope reflector from a kit, and as soon as John observed the moon and planets through the telescope, he knew there was no going back, and a long and interesting and career in photography and astronomy began.
After leaving school, John worked as a salesman in a Brighton camera shop. Later, he and his brother Ian owned and ran a camera shop in Hove for 14 years, and over the years, he was recognised for his photography skills and was approached to become a news photographer for the then Evening Argus
This career path led to him being headhunted by the Manchester
Evening News, where he became a key part of the team covering major stories across the city and the North West until he retired after taking redundancy in 1996.
During his 32-year career as a press photographer, John continued to develop his love of astrophotography and was always called upon to capture key stories, such as solar eclipses and comets that made huge headlines.
Throughout his career, John boasts he has photographed a total of 1,400 weddings — but admits to acting ‘dumb’ nowadays when being invited to ceremonies — going back to photographing the bride and groom is something far from his agenda these days. He was also named Photographer of the Year in 1983 after his award-winning images were published in the region’s press.
He is now often found standing in the dark looking upwards with his digital photography equipment to capture galaxies, planets and key solar moments to produce some breathtaking images for all to see.
As Chairman of the Wealden Astronomers, a group of almost 50 like-minded individuals, John
has been known to stand in deep snow for five hours to capture a night sky in temperatures as low as -6ºC, making him, quite literally, outstanding in his field.
John fondly remembers the days of film photography and says it has never been easier to get stunning images of space. He cites a memory in the late ’80s when most of us had never heard of the term ‘digital photography’.
John told me: “The Evening News (MEN) embraced technology from the earliest possible moments. Even in 1996, the company purchased the first Kodak/Nikon professional digital cameras with a tiny 1.5 MB memory and had mobile phones and modems mounted in a portable suitcase which transmitted images to the office — the company really was ten years ahead of anyone else.
the ‘old days’.”
By 1996, almost all photographers for the company were made redundant, and just one staff photographer would go out to take all the images for the newspaper and send all the images back to the office from a briefcase in true James Bond style. There was no need for him to
Nowadays, John is happily retired in Polegate, where he Chairs Wealden Astronomers, which for two years had been based at Herstmonceux castle until the castle’s temporary closure for emergency restoration work in November 2023, and is extremely active in developing the group. He is also dedicated to passing on his skills in bespoke one-day Astrophotography courses, which are run from the Observatory Science Centre twice a year.
John said: “It’s paramount that we encourage new blood, not only into the astronomy group but also teach camera owners to point them to the skies to capture what is happening. The courses are designed to help
professional photographers get the best from their equipment.
There is so much happening up there, and with the developments in technology, almost everyone can get some stunning photographs like mine. All it takes is some patience and a love of space.”
Visit the-observatory.org/events to learn about stargazing evenings and John’s astrophotography courses. John is also a STEM ambassador volunteer at both the castle and the Observatory Science Centre and attends most of the OSC public stargazing evenings with his telescope equipment.
You can see more of Wealden astronomers work on their website www.wealdenastronomers.org
Andromeda M31
Comet Neowise photographed by John through the slot of one of the Observatories at Herstmonceux
John Fox at Herstmonceux Science Centre
John being interviewed for BBC’s Sky at Night. Photo Raquel Taylor
Herstmonceux Castle captured at night
Comet Neowise captured by John from Herstmonceux in 2020
Spectacular timelapse photography from the Science Centre
Eastbourne’s Toploader announces 25th anniversary tour
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
TOPLOADER shot to fame in the late 90s with their Dancing in the Moonlight cover and over the past two and a half decades, they have performed all over the world boasting gigs with the likes of Coldplay, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi.
The band recently announced it is hitting the road this year on a twelvedate tour around the UK.
Frontman, Joe Washbourn took some time from planning the group’s 25th Anniversary tour and spoke to editor, Paul Gibson about the plans and the band’s love of Eastbourne.
You’ve announced twelve dates for a comeback tour in April and May this year to celebrate 25 years of making music, how are the plans going?
It’s been a little while since we’ve done a tour as such — it’s been a good few years. We’re always busy out and about during the summer doing lots of festivals and things like that, but I think the opportunity of going out and celebrating, unbelievably 25 years since our first album, is just mental. It was a real opportunity to go out and tour again and play some of the songs from the album that maybe we haven’t played for many years, I’m really excited about the idea of being able to go out and share it again with people that loved it the first time around and people that maybe didn’t know it.
You still have a huge fan base in Eastbourne — do you find those fans still follow you on tour, or are you finding new fans along the way?
Absolutely, the joy of music streaming now means everything’s so accessible. So, we really find it’s very much across the board.
In Eastbourne, where we all started, a lot of that first album was written in our bedsits and the student flats in the town. We sort of managed to go out and be a proper band so grew our fanbase from proper face-to-face gigs.
But, the success of something like Dancing in the Moonlight, means the album is now being listened to by lots of different people. I mean, that song, in particular, has gone through the generations.
I know from even my daughter’s generation, that they all know that song, which is a great little advert for everything else that we’ve done since.
How did that song come about? Obviously, it’s a cover of the 1972 hit by Kelly’s Band Boffalongo, but what made you decide to pick up on that?
It’s funny, back in the day, I used to have this big elaborate story of how it was my Mum’s favourite song. She’s a Motown fan and she always used to do the Hoovering to it, but basically, it came down to when were working with an America producer. There was a lot of pop in the charts and as we’d gone past the Brit Pop thing, it
was quite difficult for an Indie band to break into. So, we had this idea for this song, which was a big hit in the ’70s in the States, and it was a real sliding door moment, but we nearly didn’t do it. We just did a version of it one day in the studio and the vocal really suited my voice and it just turned out, as it turned out. It’s one of those songs that spreads a lot of joy to a lot of people and we’re really proud of it.
Twenty-five years on — do you ever get bored of singing Dancing in the Moonlight?
There was a little period in the middle, when we took a breather in the mid2000s, but like all bands after a certain while, you start to appreciate the big songs you’ve got, but these days, it pretty much sings itself really. So, we never get bored of singing it, we just always look for new ways to perform it live and do it justice on stage and get people involved.
That’s what a lot of the sets are about these days, getting everyone involved and making sure everyone feels immersed in what you’re doing and goes home having had a great time.
As we both lived in Eastbourne in the same era, I’m going to remind you of some of the hottest places we went to and I want to hear your memories of them.
TJ’s — Yeah, 100 per cent. I remember all the bouncers there André and Danny Berry and all those guys. I remember a little bit later on
You’re touring in April and May, how did you select the venues because they’re quite small compared to the traditional stadiums?
It’s very much trying to cover as most of the UK as we can and sort of reconnect with people that love that album and want to come and hear some of the maybe deeper cuts that we don’t play at festival sets and things like that.
In February, we’re supporting James Blunt on his Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour, so we’re going to some of these bigger places then. But, it would have been nice to come down south, but maybe later in the year, we can work out something for Eastbourne.
I was going to ask you why Eastbourne isn’t on your tour list — but you have played here quite recently right?
Yeah, over the years, we’ve played a number of gigs in the town, we did the Bandstand a few years ago, but, it’s just one of those things, when a tour gets put together by a promoter, you kind of just go with it.
We did a lovely Festival out near Arlington Reservoir last year which was absolutely lovely. It was just really nice to be back in East Sussex, and you know, get friends and family to come along. It’s a buzzing scene down there which is good.
down the line, when we got a record, we used to be able to skip the queue, which was when we really knew we had arrived!
Atlantis? — Yeah, We played in there with I think was Cast, but I wasn’t much of a punter there as I wasn’t really a ‘boogier’, but we did played there. Atlantis was a big part of the scene of growing up in Eastbourne, so, I remember it well.
Counting House? — I frequented there quite a lot. The back garden in the summer in those days was amazing. plastic chairs came out, so I was there quite a lot at that point — we all were. We had a flat up in Bedford Grove, where I lived with Dan Hipgrave, the guitar player, where we wrote some of the songs for the album. So, the Counting House was just down the road; that was our local really.
Do you get back to Eastbourne much these days?
I still have a lot of friends and family there, so I get down as much as I can and see the town — it’s lovely to come back.
It’s interesting to see how the town has changed. Obviously, in the late 90s, it was kind of a different town altogether really, it has got an awful lot bigger now.
I still love being near the sea, and that’s where the dream of being in a band came about — looking out to see and thinking what is out there for us and that’s something about living by the sea that does that.
You mentioned James Blunt earlier, but you’ve also played with some huge names over the years. What’s been the highlight of your 25-year career?
It’s really difficult to say as we all still love playing live, but over the years, we’ve done the old Wembley Stadium with Bon Jovi, been out on big tours with Robbie. In the early days, we got to go on tour with Paul Weller which was incredible.
We feel very comfortable doing what we’re doing now, so, I think the highlight is that we’re still able to do it really. I think that’s something we’re very appreciative of and will continue to be.
So, what does the future hold?
Another 25 years?
If you had said to me when we started in 1997 that we would still be gigging 25 years later — I would have laughed at you and thought I’d be an ‘old man’ by then!
But, all the time we love doing it, I don’t see anything changing. I think this year, we’re going to be getting in the studio and recording a new album, so that’s exciting.
For me, it’s always about moving forward and doing new stuff. Obviously, people come to hear some of the music they know and love, but as a band, producing new material is a big part of it. I think all the time we’re writing and love playing live, I can’t see any reason to end it.
For information on the band’s forthcoming tour and tickets, visit www.toploaderofficial.com.
damage to vehicles is around £500 on average, with more severe repairs costing considerably more.
According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers.
Each local authority can use its share of the £1.6bn for 2025/6 to identify which of their roads are in most need of repair and to deliver immediate fixes for communities and raise living standards across every area of the country.
funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again — with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”
Eastbourne is just one of a large number of towns across the county which has its problems. The town’s MP, Josh Babarinde is amongst the many motorists who have had their cars damaged by potholes.
THE Government has announced a countrywide £297m boost to fill potholes and repair roads, with East Sussex receiving £21m over the 2025/26 period.
It comes as part of a record £1.6bn Government investment across
England — an increase of nearly 50% on local road maintenance funding from last year — it is enough to fix the equivalent of over seven million potholes, according to officials.
Local authorities in the South East will each receive a share of
the funding, as the Government looks to rebuild Britain as part of its ‘Plan for Change’.
This comes as figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and the cost of pothole
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.
Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking people and improve living standards.
That’s why we’re giving councils
He told Eastbourne News: “After years of under-investment by the Conservative-led County Council, our roads are in an absolute state. I’ve lost two of my own tyres from driving on Eastbourne’s roads, so, I will be fighting to ensure Eastbourne to gets a fair share of this funding.”
Road users in the South East are also being encouraged to report potholes in their area to their local council through a dedicated Gov.uk page.
A Wetland Renaissance: Bringing Pevensey Levels Back to Life
BY JAMIE PARSONS: HEAD OF NATURE RESERVES SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST
SUSSEX Wildlife Trust and National Highways have joined forces to launch an exciting and ambitious Network for Nature project to bring Pevensey Levels back to life as one of the great biodiverse wetlands of the UK, benefiting people, nature and wildlife.
You pass through the Pevensey Levels driving from Eastbourne to Bexhill on the A259. It stretches over 3,500 hectares (13.5 sq. miles) between Eastbourne, Hailsham and Bexhill. It has many designations, such as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), SAC (Special Area for Conservation) and RAMSAR (an International Designation for Important Wetlands). Yet, many people are unaware of its international importance.
animals being turned out in spring for finishing (fattening up) on the lush wet grassland before market.
Redshank breeding. Today, these flocks have all but disappeared from the Levels.
It is a landscape dominated by big skies, acres of lush wet grassland, intersected by many miles of ditches filled with nationally rare aquatic species. However, there used to be another element Pevensey was famous for, which has all but disappeared, and that is huge flocks of wetland birds. Through history, the levels have transitioned from salt marsh through to freshwater marsh, then grazing marsh and today it’s an important grazing area for
In 1996, Sussex Wildlife Trust purchased 150 hectares of land on the Levels which was subsequently designated a National Nature Reserve along with a parcel of land owned by Natural England. The reserve supports rare species such as the Fen Raft Spider, at least 25 rare aquatic molluscs, 16 species of Odonata such as Hairy Dragonfly, along with a huge number of rare aquatic invertebrates and plants. However, when we purchased the site in the late 1990s, there were large flocks of waterfowl and waders overwintering on the reserve, along
So what has caused this decline? Essentially it comes down to water. Availability of water at the right time of year is critical for a healthy, balanced system. This balance has been altered due to extensive water management infrastructure installed on the Levels in the 1970s. Water is pumped off the Levels in winter and held back in the summer, resulting in water levels being held at a constant all year round. Good news for farming.
But when you bring in challenges of increased water extraction and climate change, suddenly this system
starts to fail. With less water flowing through the system and hotter summers causing more evaporation, the system is working to a deficit with less and less water being held within the wetland, causing it to dry out.
With £600,000 funding from the Network for Nature project, we have begun our restoration project by carrying out earth works on our reserve. These have been taking place over recent months. The aim is to create a mosaic of habitats by blocking and meandering ditches, digging scrapes and creating deeper ponds as well as undulations. Together, these measures will help ‘re-wet’ the Levels, allowing wetland species to re-colonise lost territories. We are also working in partnership
with farmers, neighbours and partners, in order to raise water levels and create new habitat where we can to restore wetlands more widely on the Pevensey Levels. The aim is to create an archipelago of wetland habitat right across the Levels providing stepping stones for species to move through the landscape. As you might expect, initially the transformation is creating a lot of mud! We hope the earthworks will be finished around December 2024, after which the restoration of the habitat will slowly begin. We will keep you up to date as to progress along the way. Follow our blogs and social media updates and join us on this exciting journey to bring Pevensey Levels back to life.
Photo: Glenn Norris
Photo: Neil Fletcher
Photo: Graeme Lyons
Drought at Pevensey Levels. Photo: Sam Roberts
What’s it like to be a volunteer bus driver?
KEN Brooks wanted something to keep him busy in retirement — driving with Cuckmere Community Buses was just the ticket.
How did you become a volunteer bus driver?
I was due to retire from working in London in March 2016 and was looking for something to do. My
wife saw an advert on the back of a Cuckmere bus and thought I might enjoy it. I rang the number, was impressed with the aims and principles of the charity and signed up. She was right (as she always is!) I enjoy the driving, being part of a very friendly and worthy organisation and providing a service to the country villages.
What was the training like?
Although the buses are quite a bit bigger than a car, they are surprisingly easy to drive. Training was really well organised. I did several drives with an instructor on two different buses and then a simple driving theory test. You don’t need a special licence to drive our buses either.
How often do you drive and how many routes do you know?
I drive five or six times a month. I try and fit round my wife’s diary so it doesn’t interfere with home life too much. I know four routes, but mainly drive two — both country village routes where the driving conditions can be interesting! You never know quite what’s coming round the next bend, but it’s great fun.
What’s your favourite drive and why? I honestly couldn’t choose between routes 42 and 43. They both connect
rural villages with Hailsham or Eastbourne and Polegate. I love driving the country lanes and visiting the pretty villages. Every drive has something different to notice. You might see horse riders out and about, farmers busy in the fields and senior cycling clubs out for their weekly rides. I love seeing the seasons change too — new spring flowers in the hedgerows or the changing colours of leaves in the Autumn. It’s a joy!
What’s the best thing about driving for Cuckmere Buses?
The best part is the passengers! It is more of a social gathering than a journey to the shops. In the outlying villages there is no commercial bus service. We provide an essential service to people who can’t drive and have no other means of transport apart from expensive taxis. I haven’t yet met an unhappy passenger. I recently drove one regular passenger who was passengers were very grateful for that little service to a fellow passenger. To find out more call 07711 243419 or email nick@cuckmerebuses.org.uk
Keith Moore and Ken Brooks, volunteer drivers
Ken Brooks is a volunteer driver for Cuckmere Community Buses
Businesses and entrepreneurs gather to celebrate successes
THE annual Eastbourne Business Awards took place recently which saw a range of businesses and individuals recognised for their efforts in the business world.
The event, sponsored by Brufords, was a celebration of the best Eastbourne has to offer across a range of categories. Accolades on the night
outstanding sustainable business and the award for digital excellence.
Sandwiched between a glamorous drinks reception, generously sponsored by Handelsbanken, and a cheeky dance, courtesy of the band Large, the awards ceremony was hosted this year by Chamber CEO Christina Ewbank and
raises money for important local causes. The recipients this year were St Wilfrid’s Hospice, The Leaf Hall Community Centre and Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare.
The three charities will share the proceeds from the evening’s raffle and auction. Work is already underway
Compere Helen Lederer and Chamber CEO Christina Ewbank
Health & Wellbeing Award — RMJ Wellbeing
Creative Excellence Award — Bodiblossom
Community Business Award — Pathfinders Youth
SME Business Award (10-49 Employees) — Corin Dudley Electrical Services
SME Business Award (1-9 Employees) — Design Lab
Overall Business of the Year 2024
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding Family Business Award — DB Domestics Lifetime Achievement Award
Jonathan Webley, Grand Hotel
SME Large Business Award — (50+ Employees) Owen Contractors & Scaffolding
Employer
Campaign to support mental wellbeing launched
THE ‘How Are You Really Feeling?’ campaign, has been running over the festive and New Year period to raise awareness of the range of services and resources available in Sussex to support people with their mental wellbeing.
It also aims to make mental health a positive part of everyday conversation by encouraging everyone to regularly check-in with themselves and those around them.
An estimated 220,000 people in Sussex (around 13% of the population) are believed to have a common mental health disorder. However, the true number is likely to be significantly higher, as this estimate only accounts for those who have been recorded as accessing services, according to statistics.
Coproduced by a diverse range of organisations including the NHS, local authorities, primary care providers, charities, voluntary groups, and people with lived experience, the ‘How Are You Really Feeling?’ campaign is the first-time organisations and champions of
mental health across Sussex have come together in this way to promote mental wellbeing.
The campaign also highlights the recently developed mental health signposting resources for adults over the age of 18, cocreated by individuals with lived experience, service providers, and partner organisations across Sussex.
It includes information on vital crisis support as well as resources for people to take proactive steps in managing their mental health.
Oliver Dale, Chief Medical Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Christmas and the New Year can be a difficult time for many, challenging us mentally and emotionally. It’s not always easy to see, as people often hide their struggles, or say they’re fine when they’re not. Checking in with someone - or reaching out yourself to others who might need your support — can make all the difference.
People across Sussex are encouraged to visit how-are-youreally-feeling-sussex.nhs.uk
Drivers to receive sat nav alerts to warn of emergency vehicles
AMBULANCES across Sussex will be sending alerts via Sat Nav Apps to drivers to make them aware of their presence with an aim of improving response times.
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has become the first ambulance service in Europe to fit digital alerting to its emergency vehicles.
SECAmb is testing the system, Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert, which enables real-time alerting between emergency and other vehicles, with the aim of improving road safety. Alerts are delivered to drivers today through leading navigation apps including Waze and Apple Maps. Soon, alerts will also become available through new compatible vehicles as they come to the market. Drivers can receive the alerts, potentially in advance of seeing or hearing a vehicle’s blue lights and sirens.
SECAmb will turn on the alerts on its vehicles next week (Monday, 9 December), allowing the notifications to begin being received when its vehicles are responding on blue lights.
As well as improving road safety, the system is also expected to reduce the cost and time associated with repairing damaged vehicles. It is also hoped the alerts will enable ambulances to progress more smoothly through traffic, potentially reducing operational response times and the Trust’s carbon footprint. The system is being implemented through SECAmb’s existing relationship with ACETECH which provides the Trust with a cloud-
SECAmb Fleet
Manager, Rob
said: “We are pleased to be trialling this technology in our response vehicles. The alerts, in addition to traditional lights and sirens, will mean motorists able to use the system will be aware of our presence sooner. This extra time not only creates a safer experience for motorists but also our operational crews and patients across the south east.”
based fleet telematics solution.
Services
Martin
A MATTER OF TASTE
ALL ABOUT YEW: A PUB TO REMEMBER
THE Yew Tree in Arlington is a pub we’ve visited numerous times over the years. It’s a family favourite, often the destination for Sunday drives or impromptu lunches with friends. During summer, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. With a sprawling garden, a children’s playground, and a dogfriendly atmosphere, it’s a quintessential countryside retreat. But this time, our visit couldn’t have been more different. It was a cold, dark evening in late November when we returned to the Yew Tree. The contrast to its summer charm was striking but equally delightful. As we approached, the glow of Christmas lights illuminated the wintery darkness. The pub seemed to stand out even more against the shrouded countryside, beckoning us in with its warmth. Upon entering, we were met with the unmistakable smell of an open fire—a comforting scent that instantly made us feel at home.
The pub was quiet, with just a handful of diners enjoying the calm before the festive season rush. We were shown to a table next to the crackling fire, a prime spot on such a chilly evening. It was the perfect setting: cosy, welcoming, and full of rustic charm. The Yew Tree has always maintained its traditional pub feel while offering modern twists to its food and drink menus, and this visit was no exception.
The starters alone were enticing, with options like Leek & Potato Soup (£8), Prawn & Avocado Salad (£8), and Devilled Whitebait (£7.50). Ultimately, we went for the Crispy Bang Bang Cauliflower (£7.50) and the Baked Camembert (£9).
To start, we ordered a bowl of mixed marinated olives (£4) to nibble on while we browsed the extensive menu.
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enjoyable. The camembert was another hit. Served with garlic and rosemary, the addition of a fig and honey chutney added a delightful sweetness. While the crostini served alongside were crisp and tasty, we found ourselves wishing for a few extra slices to mop up the generous portion of cheese.
For mains, we opted for the Homemade Chilli Con Carne (£14) and the Pan-Fried Seabass (£18.50). The chilli, served with basmati rice, sour cream, and spring onions, was hearty and warming. The gluten-free twist gave it a slightly different texture from traditional beef chilli, but the flavours were rich and satisfying. The seabass was beautifully cooked, with its flaky texture complemented by plump king prawns and a garlic chilli butter that added a wonderful kick. The steamed potatoes and broccoli provided a perfectly balanced accompaniment.
The menu offers something for everyone, with other mains including Breaded Scampi (£14.50), Hunter’s Chicken (£14.50), and Pork Tenderloin (£17.50). For steak lovers, there’s an 8oz Sirloin Steak (£23). If you’re in the mood for burgers, the pub’s separate gourmet burger menu is worth exploring. With clever names like “Yew Know Yew Want To” and “Hallou-Me, Hallou-You,” they’re as creative as they are delicious.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available too, ensuring no one is left out. Families are well catered for, with a dedicated children’s menu that’s both affordable and varied. For £6.95, kids can enjoy options like a Chicken Burger with Chips, Tomato Pasta, or Fish Fingers, Chips & Peas—all rounded off with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Speaking of desserts, the selection was as tempting as the rest of the menu. We opted for the Sticky Toffee Pudding (£7), served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. The rich toffee sauce was the perfect indulgence on a cold evening. Other choices included a warming Apple, Plum & Cinnamon Crumble (£7) and a decadent Salted Caramel & Chocolate Brownie (£7). By the end of the meal, we were full, warm, and utterly content. There’s something special about dining in a countryside pub, especially on a dark winter’s night. The Yew Tree manages to capture the magic of both seasons—its lively summer garden and its cosy winter fireside offer two completely different, yet equally enjoyable, experiences. It’s a pub that combines great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and charm. Visitors can get 20% off food bills when you pre-book during January, MondayFriday for tables up to six people. The Yew Tree Inn, Arlington, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6RX www.yewtree-inn.co.uk 01323 870590
Pan-fried Seabass
Gluten-free Chilli-con-Carne
Cauliflour Bang Bang
Camembert starter
EASTBOURNE BID (BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) with Luke Johnson, Operations Manager
EASTBOURNE TOWN CENTRE: LOOKING AHEAD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE
WELCOME to the inaugural monthly column dedicated to all things Eastbourne Town Centre.
We’d like to start by expressing our thanks to Paul Gibson and Eastbourne News for giving us the opportunity to keep you informed about all the exciting events and developments
My name is Luke Johnson, and I’m the Operations Manager for Your Eastbourne BID (Business Improvement District). As this is the first column, it’s worth taking a moment to explain a little about what a BID is and how it helps to shape our town.
There are around 300 BIDs across the country, and Your Eastbourne BID was established following a vote of local businesses who wanted to improve the experience of shopping, working and visiting Eastbourne. We are predominantly funded by the businesses
separate from them and do not provide the statutory services they offer, such as waste collection or street cleaning. Instead, our focus is on enhancing the vibrancy and attractiveness of the town centre.
We’ve been up and running for over five and a half years now, and we’ve already made a significant impact. Perhaps you’ve seen some of our initiatives around town, such as:
• The Jubilee street party that brought the community together for a day of celebration
• The evening lighting we installed in Little Chelsea, Langney Road, Station Street and, of course, the annual Christmas lights display
• The return of the ice rink in 2020 and 2021, (and which we’ve sponsored for
maintained, brightening up our streets
• The Elmer Art Trail we brought to Eastbourne last year, as well as the big screen for the tennis finals at Devonshire Park
• Our ambassadorial team, who patrol the town, offering a friendly face to visitors while also helping with stock recovery In December, we spent over £50,000 on Christmas lights, adding to the festive atmosphere of the town centre. We also hosted a switch-on event with stars from the Eastbourne Devonshire Park Panto, and collaborated with traders in Little Chelsea to put on a Festive Fun and Fireworks night. Thankfully, we managed to avoid the rain and still created a magical experience for everyone. Looking ahead to 2025, we have
FROM YOUR LOCAL DEMOCRAT
SIX MONTHS ON FROM HISTORIC ELECTION WIN
HAPPY New Year! 2024 was an enormous year for our town. It saw Airbourne named as the best free Airshow in the UK at the Airscene Awards for the fifth time. It saw big new shops invest in town, like Smyths Toys in the Harbour and many small businesses too, like Pebbles at the Enterprise Centre and Flour Flow in Hampden Park. We also saw record
projects: the pedestrianisation of Victoria Place and the re-paving of Bankers Corner to Halifax.
We understand how frustrating construction work can be, especially when it affects local businesses. That’s why we’re already working with East Sussex County Council to bring together traders and discuss how we can mitigate the impact of the construction phase.
The pedestrianisation of Victoria Place, in particular, is something we’re very excited about. We’ve worked with traders in the area for several years to demonstrate how pedestrianisation can positively affect footfall, and the pop-up park we introduced each summer has been a huge success. This area is a gateway to both the seafront and the South Downs and we believe it
JOSH BABARINDE
numbers of Eastbourne students get top grades, national awards for Eastbourne voluntary groups Mankind and Sanctuary and so much more.
Refusing to be downtrodden by Covid, a recession, or the cost of living crisis, Eastbourne has come out fighting — as we do best!
2024 also saw a historic General Election result locally and nationally, where I had the honour of being elected to represent our town as our MP. As an Eastbourne lad, born and bred, it means so much to represent our town.
I’ve got to work from day one, starting with securing the re-opening of the DGH’s Midwifery Unit, following months of campaigning with it being closed for births for nearly a year. A huge thank you to all those NHS staff who pull out all the stops to power that unit for local families.
Another win for our local NHS in 2024 was that the Health Secretary has responded to our campaign for more DGH funding by confirming that our hospital will receive landmark investment to upgrade its facilities. Having spent two weeks very poorly in the DGH in 2024, I know just how amazing the staff are — and just how impactful it would be to their work and welfare if I get this investment over the line pronto.
We’ll hear soon on the final amount and timescales — and, as a campaign priority of mine for 2025, I’m pushing for this ASAP so that we can get cracking.
Beyond this, I’m also pleased in my first
should be a space that celebrates both Eastbourne’s natural beauty and its vibrant town centre. While the works are scheduled to take around nine months, we are confident that the result will be a significant and much-needed improvement for the town.
In addition to these major projects, next year we’ll be relaunching our “Love Local, Shop Local” campaign. Despite what you may hear in the media about the decline of the high street, the reality is that Eastbourne town centre is thriving. Our occupancy rate is currently around 94%, which is above the national average. But to keep it that way, we all need to do our part and continue to support our local businesses. Throughout January and February, we’ll be reminding customers of the importance of shopping locally and using the high street. It’s not just about supporting independent shops; it’s about creating a vibrant community where people can shop, eat, work, and socialise. As we head into 2025, there’s much to look forward to in Eastbourne. We have big plans to continue supporting our traders, enhancing the town centre, and delivering events and initiatives that bring the community together. We’re excited for what’s to come and we hope you’ll continue to support us as we work towards a brighter future for Eastbourne Town Centre.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months and thank you for your continued support!
six months to have successfully secured the future of the £20million Towns Fund for Eastbourne! The Labour Government put this under threat in July.
Just as I promised before the election, I challenged ministers on the floor of the House of Commons for this money, met with four different ministers 1-2-1 to push for this cash, wrote letters to ministers to make the case and they have confirmed to me that our lobbying was successful — the funds are Eastbourne’s!
Before the election, our last MP said of my commitment to fight to save this fund: “there isn’t a scenario where a Lib Dem MP would have that influence and that voice”.
Pulling out all the stops on this since becoming our MP, I’m glad to have proved that wrong. I’m especially proud of all those who joined me in making the case for our town.
The Eastbourne Town Board (separate from Eastbourne Borough Council) that local residents applied to join in 2024 will be doing a public consultation in this year to ultimately decide how this cash is spent.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that a top priority for me in 2025 will be urging the Board to spend a good chunk of this cash on facilities for children and families to enjoy — whether that’s at the Sovereign Centre (where I learnt to swim as a kid!) and/or elsewhere in our town.
I’m also pushing the Government to make the first initial payment of this
cash earlier than the initial 2026 date it has proposed.
Another key priority of mine in 2025 is supporting survivors of domestic abuse — an issue particularly close to mine and my family’s hearts.
I’ve been very concerned that many domestic abusers qualify for the Government’s early prison release scheme, despite the Government giving assurances to the contrary.
The problem is that, because there are currently no specific offences of domestic abuse in the law, abusers are able to hide behind convictions such as assault, which masks much of their abuse and qualifies them for the early release scheme. You can only exclude someone from early release based on the offence they’ve committed.
I’ve therefore put forward a new law to close this loophole, which would create a new set of domestic abuse offences in the law for the first time. By recognising this in law, we could exclude perpetrators of these new offences from early release schemes.
I launched my Bill live on Good Morning Britain, with Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley backing the idea, as well as Women’s Aid and Refuge. I’ll be lobbying the Government to help me make this law to support victims in Eastbourne and across the country.
I’m as energised as ever to keep fighting for our town in 2025 — it’s a real honour.
If I can help you with anything, email me, josh.babarinde.mp@parliament.uk
Luke Johnson
CROSSWORD WORDSEARCH – THE WEATHER
ANSWERS
ON YOUR BIKE with Ian Hollidge
2025: EXPLORE, CONNECT, AND
bike. This year we will be able to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s day and other special occasions where the pleasure of giving allows an opportunity
Endless trips of quiet solitude to clear the mind or with a group for exercise and social interaction, the fun has just begun. Extras to consider could be: colourful
clothes, goggles, sunglasses, hats, helmets, bells, lights, pannier bags, racks, puncture repair & tool kits etc.
The bicycle is all you need to free yourself away from stress. You and your personal transport deserve to be a part of your identity.
Years ago, there were many cycle shops in each town, their decline is a story for another occasion, now one either uses the local mega-store Halfords, similar alternatives are available or an online website delivered conveniently to your front door.
If you are considering a conversion kit to an E-Bike it must be done through a reputable manufacturer using the correct charger, those bought cheaply online have been proven to be the main cause of e-bike fires.
Finding the right track or route may be new to you, should you use a paper map or one of the many smart satellite navigation devices?
Digital mapping is now at a different level, Strava, Garmin, Google and many other brands offer digital live bike maps to your phone or other device with added extras. One is the possibility to share your routes, distance, speeds, times, height climbed all recorded and seen with your cycling friends, family or anyone you wish.
The possibility of your loved ones knowing where you are at any given time is very handy and for some a necessity. Many routes cyclists choose are along
paths less trodden, hidden from car drivers. Making these unknown tracks traceable by recording creates a cycling community with a shared interest in exploring where finding the shortest or a different route is part of the fun.
The start of 2025 ends a quarter of this 21st century after cautions of a 1999 millennium bug or Y2K could shut down all computers.
Risking collapse of world infrastructure highlighting our reliance on technology, fortunately clever people stepped up and the impending catastrophe was avoided. It is always best to be prepared with a plan B. Joining one of the many cycle clubs or national groups is recommended with Cycling UK being a leader in providing £10 million third-party liability insurance. This will cover you if you damage another person or their property, for example if you were to accidentally cause injury to a fellow rider or hit a car. Your chance to bling the bike at Bexhill After Dark will be on Saturday 25th January. Details will be announced shortly about the parade around Bexhill. Looking forward to seeing everyone on your bicycle, buggy, stroller or mobility scooter all lit up.
This month, I’ve included a photo of a photo from our July Coastal Culture Trail ride from Eastbourne to Hastings, which is fully kitted out with colourful additions and everything required for exploring our Sussex Coastline.
Happy Wheeling.
Coastal Culture Trail ride from Eastbourne to Hastings last July.
KNOW YOUR GARDEN
By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden
“If the birds begin to sing in January, Frosts are on the way.”
THE New Year is traditionally a time both to glance back and to look ahead, and that has always been true when it comes to the weather, a complete obsession of mine.
Winter can be the harshest season, particularly for outdoor workers. I am always checking the weather apps on my phone, looking for clues as to the likelihood of rain and frost but the natural world — clouds, birds, animals, and plants — all provide their own clues to predict what the winter will bring. We perhaps could do with becoming more sensitive to these signs once more rather than solely relying on technology.
The study of weather proverbs is known as paremiology. Some are fanciful fun with no basis in scientific fact, while others have been found to have a kernel of truth at their core. No matter what, these folkloric tales predicting winter weather are interesting to observe.
January boasts a wealth of sayings, proverbs and rhymes, which were coined
the opposite. Thus, a good number of proverbs suggest that warm or fine weather at the beginning of the year is bad news, especially for the coming harvest.
For example: “If grain grows in January, it will be a year of great need”, “January flowers do not swell the granary”, or the deeply pessimistic “January warm, the Lord have mercy!”
A lack of snow in January is also bad news: as it is then likely that there will be a freeze-up in March or April.
But the most intriguing belief is that “a green January makes a full churchyard”. This is based on the perfectly reasonable notion that cold weather kills germs, while mild winters allow them to spread.
In the days before antibiotics, even a common cold could turn into a more serious, even fatal infection.
So, we should perhaps hope for typical winter weather. In the words of one wise but anonymous French forecaster: “A cold January, a feverish February, a
of vintners and vinegar makers:
‘Remember on St Vincent’s Day, if the sun his beams display, ’tis a token bright and clear of prosperous weather all the year.’
We are now closed until Wednesday 26th February 2025 when we will then be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 22nd October. For details, please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden
So, let us look out for the sun on the 22nd. We gardeners could do with some prosperous weather in 2025 after the disastrously wet and cold spring we had last year.
On St Paul the Apostle’s Day (January 25), we look again for a forecast for the rest of the year-
If St Paul’s Day be fair and clear it does betide a happy year,
But if it chance to snow or rain then will be dear all kinds of grain, If clouds or mists do dark the sky, great store of birds and beasts shall die, And if the winds do fly aloft, then war shall vex the kingdom oft.
This one seems very specific, we hope very much to avoid great stores of birds and beasts dying! And as for a war.
Acorns that fall heavily mean a cold
hazel leaves have yet to fall. Should I be getting my sledge ready?
“When leaves fall early, Fall and winter will be mild; When leaves fall late, Winter will be severe.”
Temperature — There seems to be an awful lot of folklore about August temperatures interestingly.
“If a cold August follows a hot July, it foretells a winter hard and dry.”
“For every fog in August, There will be a
as las cabañuelas, a method of weather forecasting that originated in Spain and is still found throughout the Hispanic world. The idea is that the weather on each of the first 12 days of January represents the weather for the 12 months of the year — with the first day representing January, the second day February and so on. I like this idea; it is simple and straightforward and makes me more determined than ever to record the weather every day. Even if it is
There you have it, my resolution for 2025 is to keep a weather diary. I’ll let you know how I get on. Until next month,
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LIVING WITH CANCER with Nadine Searle
HOW MY LIFE CHANGED: A JOURNEY WITH CANCER AND FINDING CALM
TWO years ago, in December 2022, my life changed forever. 8 December, I went for what I thought was just a routine mammogram—something I’d done before. I wasn’t worried at all; it wasn’t my first, and I didn’t expect it to be my last. But that appointment marked the start of a journey I never anticipated.
For those unfamiliar with my story, my name is Nadine Searle. I’ve always been passionate about helping others find calm and balance in their lives, even in the face of challenges. But when I was diagnosed with cancer, everything I knew about staying calm was put to the ultimate test.
Now, two years later, I’m sharing my story to offer hope, support, and practical tools to others who may find themselves on a similar path.
As I entered 2024, I reflected on how much had changed since last January. January 2023 — Facing Fear and Uncertainty: My cancer diagnosis in late 2022 changed my life in ways I never imagined, but I was still not really sure what this would mean for me.
Back then, my emotions were a whirlwind. On one hand, I carried on as if nothing had changed—running my business, facilitating workshops on goal-setting, and encouraging others to adopt a positive mindset. Yet inside, I was riddled with fear and uncertainty, filled with “what ifs” and a sense of powerlessness over my future.
The irony wasn’t lost on me — I was helping others tap into the power of
their minds to create their desired futures, while I couldn’t escape the terror that my own days might be numbered. Let’s be honest—anyone who hears the word “cancer” immediately wonders, “Am I going to die?”
That fear consumed me, accompanied by sadness, shame, and a desperate need to shield those I loved. I told no one except my partner, who accompanied me to appointments, and one close friend who intuitively knew something was wrong. The thought of burdening others with my uncertainty felt unbearable.
Wrestling with Unexpected Emotions:
A surprising emotion I wrestled with was shame—a strange reaction, but one I’ve since discovered is not uncommon among cancer patients. Through meditation and gentle self-inquiry, I traced this feeling back to old childhood patterns and worked to release it. Despite the darkness, small moments of joy with friends and family became treasures. A cinema outing with my niece and a weekend with my nephew felt more precious than they could have imagined, as I feared they might be my last.
On January 18, I returned to the Brighton Centre with my friend. It was a freezing day, and as we arrived, I envied her carefree excitement about showing off her new Christmas coat. All I could think about was whether I’d see another Christmas.
Finding Calm Amid Chaos: During that appointment, the consultant explained the specific type of cancer I had—words that felt foreign and heavy. The tests continued, including full-body scans, and the fear of cancer spreading loomed large. This period of waiting and uncertainty was the darkest and most terrifying of all.
Sharing my story, both privately and later through social media, lifted some of the weight and allowed me to process my emotions. The outpouring of love and support I received was incredible and reminded me of the power of connection. Words of Advice: To anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, my advice is this: don’t carry it alone. Trust your intuition about when and who to share your journey with, but know that opening up can be a profound relief. You are stronger than you think, and so are the people you’re trying to protect.
Even in the depths of despair, there can be moments of joy and empowerment. Finding ways to reclaim even a small sense of control can be transformative—and this is what I aim to share with others.
If you’d like to learn more about how I can support you, please visit my website or YouTube channel, where I share more about my journey and the Calmer Self tools that have helped me. And if you need a listening ear, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or simply need a listening ear.
Thankfully, I had my trusted Calmer Self Method to help me find peace amidst the chaos. Through relaxation techniques, I managed to sleep and even face tests with a sense of calm that surprised the medical staff. I am endlessly grateful for these tools, which gave me moments of control and strength during such a vulnerable time.
Sharing My Story: Looking back, I wish I hadn’t kept my diagnosis a secret for so long. Carrying it alone was a heavy burden, but I now understand why I did—and why others might feel the same.
Here are details to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@ CalmerSelfCoach
Website: www.calmerself.co.uk/yourcancer-coach
Text: 07856 169186
Email: nadine@calmerself.co.uk
Nadine Searle
VAL PRINSEPS
ROAD - £440,000
bungalow offers a lounge with a wood burner, bright living/dining room, modern kitchen, two double bedrooms, and a converted garage with a studio and shower. Features include a secluded southerly garden, ample parking, and no ongoing chain.
SELMESTON ROAD - £325,000
Conveniently located near Framfield Way shops, Eastbourne Hospital, and transport links. With gas central heating and UPVC double glazing, this is an exceptional home not to be missed. Contact us today to arrange a viewing!
PADDOCK GARDENS - £349,950
A spacious 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in a lovely Wannock location, offering stunning South Downs views. Features include an open-plan living room with a modern kitchen, sunroom, two double bedrooms, a shower room, and a superb bathroom with a tastefully fitted suite. Outside, enjoy a 50’ rear garden, garage, and driveway.
Conveniently located near bus services, Polegate High Street, and countryside walks in the South Downs National Park. Offered with no ongoing chain
ALBION ROAD - £299,950
A spacious 3-bedroom mid-terraced house, ideal for firsttime buyers, conveniently located near the town centre and railway station. Features include a through lounge/dining room with an open fireplace, modern kitchen, good-sized bedrooms, bathroom/WC, and an attic area with a Velux window, offering versatile potential. The property benefits from gas central heating, double glazing, and a south-facing rear courtyard. Close to The Beacon, seafront, and local shops. A fantastic opportunity not to be missed!
SNOWDON CLOSE - OIEO £200,000
Situated
front garden and allocated parking.
Conveniently located near Langney Shopping Centre, transport links, and Eastbourne Borough Football Club. Viewing is highly recommended for this fantastic opportunity!
CHESTNUT DRIVE - £350,000
A charming 3-bedroom semi-detached house conveniently situated near Polegate High Street and railway station. The property features a spacious reception room opening to a conservatory, modern kitchen with integrated appliances, and a versatile third bedroom on the ground floor.
Upstairs are two double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and a bathroom/WC. Benefits include gas central heating, double glazing, a driveway, and a south-westerly rear garden. Close to schools, shops, and The Cuckoo Trail.
TRAVEL with David Powell
TYDDYN LLAN – ON THE EDGE OF SNOWDONIA
NORTH Wales is an excellent destination for a holiday or a short, relaxing break. Stunning scenery and plenty of things to see and do.
I recently stayed at Tyddyn Llan, which is in the small village of Llandrillo. Not far from the main A5 route into North Wales but far enough to experience a real rural location and an excellent restaurant with rooms! Tyddyn Llan is one of Wales’s most renowned restaurants set on the edge of Snowdonia National Park in the beautiful Vale of Edeyrnion.
A RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS
This really is a great way to experience excellent food in elegant surroundings. There are 12 bedrooms and a groundfloor garden suite. I had room 2, a large en-suite first-floor room with a view over the main entrance. There are 3 acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens which you can walk around and super views of the Berwyn Mountains in the distance. There’s an ornamental pond in the grounds, a croquet lawn and a delightful terrace with tables and chairs adjoining the restaurant.
INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED GUEST ROOMS
All guest rooms have been individually designed with all the extras needed for a memorable stay. Rooms have TV, DVD
Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy dressing gowns, slippers and bath/shower toiletries. Dogs can be taken by prior arrangement.
GREAT FOOD, WARM HOSPITALITY, AND A NEW OWNER
Renowned chef Gareth Stevenson has been running the hotel and restaurant on behalf of the new owner since July.
Gareth brings to the restaurant his desire to support local producers and source quality ingredients, and growing food in the kitchen garden. At Palé Hall, a North Wales restaurant where he was Head Chef for seven years, his initiatives led to a Michelin Green Star, and three AA rosettes. This ethos now dictates the new cooking style at Tyddyn Llan, and sustainability is the focus in creating an exceptional and truly Welsh dining experience.
Chef Joshua Morris is second-incommand, and Robin Evans completes the senior kitchen team as specialist
Gareth’s partner, joins restaurant manager Torin, as front-of-house manager. These four are well used to working together and they bring expertise and experience from working at some of the UK’s very finest starred establishments. It’s a new vibrant crew for Tyddyn Llan together with a completely refurbished restaurant which looks fantastic!
DISABLED ACCESS
Disabled access is well catered for and help with luggage is always on hand. Whilst the upper floors may be unsuitable for guests with limited mobility (there’s no lift) one ground floor room has been recognised by Visit Wales as suitable for disabled guests.
There’s disabled access advice on the website and if you have any questions in this respect then you can always give reception a call for friendly advice.
AMENITIES
Tyddyn Llan has three delightful and relaxing sitting rooms. I found it rather special sitting on a comfortable sofa, drink in hand, choosing from the dinner menu and wine list whilst being offered a selection of Canapés as a pre-dinner treat and then being shown to your dining table. The stunning dining room which is airy, elegant and a pleasure to eat in, is just across the hallway via the well-stocked bar.
Each night Gareth offers a six or ten course dinner taster menu starting with canapés with coffee and petits fours included in the dinner pricing. Breakfast is a five-course tasting menu. A good variety of wines are served by the glass and carafe, and there’s also a selection of half bottles. Food and wine matching is always fun and with the tasting menu Tyddyn Llan offer wines for each course, for a supplement.
You can see the wonderful dinner menus detailed on Tyddyn Llan’s website but here’s a little taster … Canapés, oat groat sourdough, citrus cured trout, hand dived Scottish scallops, charred sweetcorn soup, raviolo of rose veal
sweetbread and shin, brown butter poached cod plus a choice of Welsh lamb or Welsh black beef fillet, and a selection of delicious desserts.
THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA
Tyddyn Llan is ideally placed to explore the local area. Close at hand there’s some excellent walks where you can experience the peace and quiet of the unspoilt landscape.
Llangollen is a popular tourist town, about 18 miles away, with its steam railway, Horseshoe Pass and the famous Pontcysylite aqueduct. Built by Thomas Telford 200 years ago, you can cross it by narrow boat or take a horse-drawn boat ride along the canal.
Bala Lake is also fairly close by and the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Steam Railway runs for several miles alongside the lake. You may also consider visiting the Berwyn Mountains, which is about a 20mile drive away, where you can find the highest waterfall in Wales.
CONCLUSION
If you are looking for a relaxing, luxury breakaway that’s different, then Tyddyn Llan ticks the right boxes. Beautiful surroundings, a home-from-home feeling and sensational meals! Tyddyn Llan: 01490 440 264 www.tyddynllan.co.uk
Make 2025 the year you quit smoking.
Almost 500 residents commit to Christmas Day Parkrun
IT was a record event for the Eastbourne Parkrun team who hosted 450 attendees for its annual Christmas Day event. Representatives of 43 different running clubs took part at the event which took place at Shinewater Park, with 37 new personal bests recorded and almost 50 first-time runners.
It was a record attendance for the event - the first event in 2012 only
had 40 attendees. Since Eastbourne Parkrun started in January 2012, 16,962 participants have completed 143,451 Parkruns, covering a total distance of 717,255 km, including 19,982 new Personal Bests. A total of 1,198 individuals have volunteered 14,415 times, according to the group.
The group meets each week and welcomes residents from all abilities. Email eastbourne@parkrun.com, or look up Eastbourne Parkrun on Facebook for the latest information.
PHOTOS: ANDREW HAZELDEN
Missed chances and great stops deny Sports festive cheer Sport
IT was a case of déjà vu for Eastbourne Borough as they were made to settle for a point at The ReachTV Stadium.
Borough were on top throughout, and had the best of the chances against Salisbury but some fine stops from Dan Lincoln denied the hosts a
deserved breakthrough.
However, the point preserves the Sports’ unbeaten home league record, but leaves them outside the top seven on goal difference as we reach the halfway mark of the National League South season.
Adam Murray named an unchanged
Callum Watts, before the Sports had efforts themselves with Brayden Johnson and then Alfie Pavey going close — the latter not getting enough on his shot to really test Lincoln after a great ball in from Michael Klass.
The visitors then had what would prove to be their best chance of the contest on 16 minutes. Noah Coppin got down the left hand side and his cross picked out Ronan Silva, but he headed wide when well placed at the far post.
As the half wore on, Borough’s pressure increased. Camron Gbadebo — making his home debut — lifted the ball forwards and picked out Pavey, who brought it down well but Lincoln was on hand to claw away his goal-bound effort.
forwards after the break, and only a spectacular save from Lincoln denied Pavey from breaking the deadlock with a swerving effort 30 yards out.
Pavey was proving to be a thorn in the Salisbury defence, seeing his looping header go just over onto the roof of the net after good work from Courtney Clarke, before Borough went even closer on the hour mark.
Johnson threaded the ball through to Klass on the edge of the area, and he skipped past the challenge of two defenders before looking set to fire past Lincoln, who could only stand and watch as the ball cannoned back off the post.
starting eleven to that which saw off Weston-super-Mare on the weekend, with Jack Clarke once again on the bench following his return from injury and Yahaya Bamba also amongst the substitutes after serving a suspension.
It was Salisbury who had the first
The Whites’ goalkeeper was then off his line well to save at the feet of George Alexander from a tight angle, before space opened up for Klass to get a shot away after Pavey nodded a ball into his path, but the midfielder couldn’t connect.
Pierce Bird’s cross then picked out Pavey, and he headed it across to the feet of Alexander, but he couldn’t get a clean shot away as the half neared its end. The duo linked up again in stoppage time, but the latter had his shot from close range blocked
Bamba replaced Johnson with 25 minutes to go and almost had an instant impact. His deflected shot looped into the path of Alexander, but he couldn’t turn the ball on target before the winger showed great feet to break into the area, but had his low drive turned around the post by the diving Lincoln.
Jack Clarke came on for his first minutes of the season with twelve minutes to go as the Sports kept pushing forwards, but the Salisbury defence sat back and frustrated the home crowd who had to settle for one point where on another day Borough could’ve had all three.
Eastbourne faces Hellingly in thrilling battle
BY COACH MATT PYSDEN
EASTBOURNE 1st XV made the short journey to Hellingly in what would prove to be a battle of two styles.
After a fantastic win against Lewes recenly, Eastbourne had to make 10 changes to the squad due to injuries and the only part of the team not affected was the everreliable second row.
The Eastbourne coaching team felt this was the week to release all of the young guns together for the first time and give them a real litmus test away from home against a powerful and direct Hellingly side.
Eastbourne stuck to their fast-paced slick handling structure that they have slowly been building on all season. This proved to catch Hellingly cold from the outset and force them to give away multiple penalties.
Eastbourne failed to get over the line, after turning down three penalty kicks to go for the corner in the hope of scoring a try. However, Hellingly proved strong in defence and had some effective turnovers.
Finally, Eastbourne made the pressure and Possession tell with a
score on debut for their new 18-yearold scrum Half Harry “To easy” Gibson, from Waga Waga in Australia! The versatile and reliable 18-year-old fly half, Spike Gleave playing out of position and taking responsibility for the kicking duties, kicked the conversion.
Hellingly had a short spell of dominance and scored a well-worked try in the corner after some powerful and telling runs.
The continued fast pace and fitness now causing the home side real problems, Eastbourne’s 19-year centre Ben Perrott, who is the glue in Eastbourne’s midfield, crossed for Eastbourne’s second with Spike Gleave converting for the extras.
In the final minute of the first half and Eastbourne under pressure in their own 22, Spike Gleave opting to attack and ignore touch to end the half, attacked very sharply down the left-
hand side to release “French” Jeremy on another powerful run, then some slick handling between Jeremy and Ollie Horley saw Spike score from a superb long range attack and kick the extras to end a superb half of rugby. 5-21 to Eastbourne.
A rejuvenated Hellingly started strong in the second half and managed to gain the advantage in the scrum on a few occasions. Which led to them playing their direct ‘one out’ hard lines rugby very well. Eastbourne, a little complaisant had to soak up an awful lot of attack.
Eastbourne managed to get an attack that eventually led to a penalty. Hellingly responded, once again with direct runs and good possession to score a try.
Eastbourne now finding their gears again and their superior fitness really telling. This put the home side under pressure for Eastbourne to force
another penalty and Spike capping off a great kicking display to make the score a comfortable 27-12. With the last 10 minutes a bit stop start. It ended with a last solid run of possession from Hellingly, to take the final score and end the game 19-27 to Eastbourne. This was a very important win for Eastbourne, as they showed real strength in depth of there squad, against a very tough opponent. This was optimised by 18-yearold Dylan Viles in the centre who repelled everything that came down his channel -pictured here-. Eastbourne started the game with 7 18/19 year olds on the pitch and the future looks bright. With the nomads (2nd team) winning once again and fantastic numbers at training every week. Eastbourne are set for an exciting run-in for the end of the season for both sides. Hopefully a few seasons ahead as well.
Photo credit: Andy Pelling
Photos: Lydia Redman Photography