Bexhill was very empty when I was there – I was the only one there Spike Milligan was born at Ahmednagar in India where his father was serving as a gunner in the army, as had his grandfather and great-grandfather. The family came to England in 1934 and prior to the start of World War […]
Spike Milligan 1919 – 2002 Read More »
Kate Marsden was born in Edmonton, North London, on 13th May 1859; she was the 8th and youngest child of a London solicitor, Joseph Daniel Marsden, born in London in 1814, and his wife, Sophia Matilda, née Wellsted, born 1822 in Marylebone, Middlesex. Kate was one of only three who survived death from tuberculosis. Alter
Kate Marsden F.R.G.S. 1859 – 1932 Read More »
Desmond Llewelyn. ‘Q’. 1914 -1999. Although he is most famous for his 17 appearances in the Bond films starting with From Russia with Love in 1963 and ending with The World is not Enough in 1999, his other films include A Night to Remember, Cleopatra and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His career after RADA started
Desmond Llewelyn ‘Q’ 1914 – 1999 Read More »
Samuel Ockenden (2nd) was born in the Gunn Inn which lay on the west side of Bexhill Down. His father, Samuel (1st), who married Jane Mitten, ran the inn which must have seen much activity at the time when the King’s German Legion was stationed in Bexhill. Their artillery was based on the Down. He
Samuel Ockenden 1807 – 1895 Read More »
Erich Mendelsohn was born on the 21 March, 1887 in Allenstein, East Prussia (now in Poland). He studied architecture in Berlin and Munich and in 1915 married Louiser Maas. He opened a studio in Berlin after the First World War. In 1921 he lost the sight of one eye, the result of a tumour. In
Erich Mendelsohn 1887 – 1953 Read More »
Diplomat and Owner of Wrestwood Estate. Born on 10 October 1837, Sir Edward was a direct descendant of a close companion of William the Conqueror. It was therefore a noteworthy coincidence that he chose to domicile himself in Bexhill later in life. He married Lady Ermyntrude Sackville Russell, daughter of the 9th Duke of Bedford.
Sir Edward Malet 1837 – 1908 Read More »
Lt. Col. Henry Lane. 1827 – 1896. ‘father of local government’ in Bexhill. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel at the age of 38 years on the death of his father, killed in a road accident at Ninfield in 1865. He took up residence at the family home at Broadoak Manor (which exists
Lt. Col. Henry Lane 1827 – 1896 Read More »
Marie Adelaide Brassey (Freeman-Thomas). 1875 – 1960. 1st Marchioness of Willingdon. Marie Adelaide, youngest daughter of Thomas Brassey (cr. 1886 1st Baron, later Earl) and Annie Brassey, was born in 1875. The family’s adventures on their steam-yacht Sunbeam were recorded by Lady Brassey in a number of books. Marie as the youngest child was usually
Marie Brassey 1875 – 1960 Read More »
Frank Nichols was born in Bexhill in 1920. In the late 1940s he opened a small garage in Pevensey with his savings and army gratuity. Subsequently he moved the business into Bexhill at the London Road Garage where the first Elva -“Elle va” French for she goes – car appeared in 1955. Some 20 to
Frank Nichols 1920 – 1997 Read More »
Born May Pettie on 2 September 1878 in Syracuse, New York State, she embarked on a stage career, adopting the ‘stage’ name of Edna May. She was a classical beauty and the most famous American ‘musical’ artiste of her day. She conquered London in 1898 with a record run of 697 appearances as Violet Gray
Edna May (May Pettie) 1878 – 1948 Read More »