Review of the Year - January to June 2016

In the first of a two-part feature, the Bexhill Observer looks back at what made the headlines this year.

JANUARY

• The newly-refurbished Marina was deemed ‘dangerous’ and as ‘putting the public at risk’ by Bexhill Alliance. The pavements, the camber in the road and the materials used to revamp the seafront were criticised.

• Residents in Pebsham Lane experienced a year of disturbances and parking issues due to the major house-building project. Workmen parked inconveniently, lorries got stuck and views were ruined.

Break-in at the New Inn in Sidley.
Publican Stephen Lucas (Right) and director Dom Izzard. SUS-160127-144459001 — Break-in at the New Inn in Sidley. Publican Stephen Lucas (Right) and director Dom Izzard. SUS-160127-144459001

• A couple had their front door stolen by workmen in a row over payment. Mandy Jenner and Andy Brown, of Cambridge Road, had CCTV footage of the contractors taking the door after refusing to pay for the ‘sub-standard’ work. Fortunately, another firm offered to replace it.

• Several charity collection buckets were stolen along with £1,500 worth of spirits from a Sidley pub. The New Inn’s landlord, Stephen Lucas, could not believe the ‘scumbags’ would do such a thing.

FEBRUARY

• A woman was found at the bottom of Galley Hill by a dog walker. Sheila Davis, of Ashington, West Sussex, had ‘bottled up’ her depression before taking her own life, an inquest later heard in June.

• Storm Imogen - the first of this year’s storms - blew tiles off several buildings on the seafront, with police closing the road due to safety fears.

• A controversial new road to connect the A269 to the link road was approved despite widespread opposition. The North Bexhill Access Road was twice delayed from being discussed by the planning committee before it was finally given the green light. Dozens of residents opposed the scheme as well as campaigners.

• The next steps in bringing high-speed rail to 1066 country were discussed by a working group at Westminster set up to do everything it can to make it happen. HS1 was heralded as a ‘gamechanger’ for the area that would supercharge its economy bringing new jobs and opportunities. The working group was chaired by Hastings and Rye MP Amber Rudd and representatives from across the area.

MARCH

Eddie Izzard ran 27 marathons in 27 days for Sport Relief. Photo courtesy of Sport Relief. SUS-161228-095724001

• A much-loved shopkeeper was murdered by her business partner and ex-boyfriend. Carrie Izzard, who ran Battle Tackle in Ninfield Road, was stabbed 29 times by Gerald ‘Gerry’ Palmer at her Herstmonceux home. Palmer was jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years after changing his plea to guilty in September.

• A popular café was devastated after a fire in the middle of the night. Most of Caffe Martini’s interior was destroyed by the electrical fire, leaving owners Danielle and Nino Martinaj heartbroken. The community rallied around the Terminus Road café owners and helped to refurbish it before it re-opened in October.

• Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard completed his challenge to run 27 marathons in 27 days in South Africa for Sport Relief. The 54-year-old, from Bexhill, did the challenge is honour of Nelson Mandela as it reflected the 27 years the civil rights campaigner spent in prison. Eddie’s feat of superhuman endurance raised more than £1.35m for the BBC charity.

APRIL

• A paedophile was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after admitting a string of sexual offences against children as young as three and secretly filming young foreign students as they showered. Alan Haldane, previously of Amherst Road, admitted 16 offences, including sexually assaulting three girls, in an ‘appalling catalogue of abuse’.

• Tributes were paid to former mayor Frances Winterborn, who died after a stroke aged 73. Mrs Winterborn was mayor of Bexhill between 2013-14 and a Rother councillor for eight years. Her son Doug Winterborn said: “My mum was always a battler, never keeping still always pushing forward ready to champion any cause she strongly believed in.”

• One of the proudest moments of the year for many was when St Richard’s Catholic College students spoke directly to astronaut Tim Peake over the radio. The pupils asked Tim all manner of questions in the small window when the International Space Station passed over the school. The 14 St Richard’s Amateur Radio club members’ queries ranged from what experiments he was doing in space to whether or not he had ever overslept – he had once apparently.