Bexhill on speed

The first automobile race on British soil happened in 1902 in Bexhill-on-Sea on De La Warr Parade. Thousands lined the streets to watch the distinguished names of the day race to speeds of 50 miles an hour at a time when the speed limit was 12 mph!

The huge success of the event encouraged Earl de La Warr to make Bexhill the motor racing capital of the country and to make plans to build a racing circuit which stretched beyond Eastbourne though this never came to fruition. 

Through this story I've uncovered more speedy engineering heroes even closer to Beach Haven, Camber. They certainly deserve their own post.

A trip to Bexhill Museum is a must in the meantime.

http://www.bexhillmuseum.co.uk

Bombs over Kent

Armed with the Time Out guide to Kent & Sussex, we decided to be a bit more adventurous than usual and headed off to Dover Castle. However we got sidetracked, and on a gorgeous sunny day we stopped off at the Battle of Britain memorial and spared a thought for all those incredibly young pilots who lost their lives during the summer of 1940 out at sea and over the Kent countryside right where we stood.

This put us in the mood for the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, http://www.kbobm.org, in Hawkinge. No photos are allowed at the musuem which is a shame but I can tell you that it is stuffed to the gills with memorabilia, broken bits of engine and such overwhelming stories of bravery it made us very choked up. The museum has gathered together display boxes for each airman (donated by family and friends) with photos and any remnants from their crash in the Kent countryside. It sounds morbid but is actually very moving as you start to feel as though you know a tiny bit more about these couragous men and they surely desrve to have their stories told. The whole museum is put together by enthusiasts and volunteers and displayed in aircraft hangers actually used in the Battle. Emotional stuff.