April 30, 2009
Old and new
Last week in Eastbourne we had the Royal British Legion’s Women’s celebrations, and Princess Anne came to town. When I went to pick the children up from school I passed a brass band, in bear skin hats and red jackets, marching down the seafront in true Eastbourne style. Our bandstand is beautiful and if we sit in our garden on a Wednesday night from May to September we can hear the National Anthem being blasted about by a local operatic lady, followed by a weekly firework display.
On the evening of the Royal visit, Eastbourne seafront turned from traditional English, to LA! We had 50 people running in our Running Inn group, the local roller blade group were out in force, with boom box and flashing lights. It was a hive of activity, and full of life – young life.
This weekend sees the start of regular Friday night music on the bandstand – this week it’s the Bee Gees, next week Abba (alright, not the real thing – but next best!)… We’ve got Jimmy Carr at the theatre one week, Agatha Christie the next. It’s unique here. Traditional seaside, mixed in with a fresh, healthy, vibrant hub of activity…
<ps – my 12 year old son tells me there’s a ‘We’re not old in Eastbourne’ group – I must link to it!>