The decade that
ended in war
1930
AMY Johnson, aviatrix, landed at Frowds
Field (Kings Drive).
LLOYDS Bank bought the Royal Hotel for
�30,000 - an incredible sum then. The brew-
ers were able to build the Prince Albert in Old
Town and the Horse and Groom at Polegate
and with some left.
GUARDIANS of the Poor were abolished and
St Mary's Hospital was formed from an old
workhouse.
AVENUE House became a Health Centre.
1930s
EASTBOURNE'S fishing industry started to
decline. A number of businesses went bank-
rupt in the depression including a milliners, a
jewellers, and a pleasure boat company.
MRS Helen Hornby Lewis a quiet millionaire
of South Cliff gave Helen Garden to the town
in her will.
1931
THE first professional Chief Fire Officer was
appointed.
THE Prince of Wales flew in to open a depart-
ment of Princess Alice Hospital and Princes
Park.
THE Graf Zeppelin flew over town.
THE Rotary conference first came to the
town.
EASTBOURNE Round Table was founded.
THE BMA conference was held in
Eastbourne.
1932
THE Salvation Army opened the Central
Avenue citadel.
LORD Charles Cavendish married Adele
Astaire, the film dancer's sister hence Astaire
Avenue.
THE town bowling greens and tennis courts
opened on a Sunday.
1933
THERE was a council scandal when Ald
Chatfield and a council official were found
guilty of essentially taking bribes from
Pirelli, an electrical company.
1934
EASTBOURNE Rugby club was now playing
in Kings Drive.
1935
KING George V and Queen Mary visited
Eastbourne and called in at No 2 Holywell
Chalet and Belle Tout.
THE Silver Jubilee celebrations.
THE new Bandstand opened in August at a
cost of �29,000.
THE first electric train came to Eastbourne.
IT WAS the last of Murray King and his pan-
tomimes, in the town since 1894.
1936
CALEB Diplock jnr died at 95, unmarried,
without issue, and leaving �527,936. He had
minimal connection with the brewery and
built himself a mansion at Polegate. Probably
the main event `in his life' was his will - he
believed he had no dependants but his solici-
tor drew up a defective will leaving his money
to hospitals. The will was challenged in the
High Court, the charities had to return the
money and 48 distant relatives benefited.
THE Duke and Duchess of York and the `lit-
tle princesses' visited Eastbourne.
1937
THERE were celebrations of the Coronation.
ONE-SIDE street car parking was instituted.
1938
THE council sent a congratulatory telegram
to Mt Chamberlain on his Peace in our Time
meeting with Herr Hitler, but gas masks
were issued and air raid training went on.
THE Grove Road Police Station opened.
BATH chairs were plied for hire and the
buses made a profit.
HW Fovargue, the town clerk, retired after 48
years.
1939
THE Girls' High School opened in Eldon
Road.
THE local WVS opened.
EASTBOURNE was declared a safe area.
IN September 20,000 evacuees arrived in
Eastbourne including 600 pregnant
Londoners (called the Barrage Balloons by
the locals).
A WILLINGDON resident was fined for
showing a light.
More Royal visits
- and Mr Diplock
leaves a fortune
The Grove Road Police Station which opened in 1938.
46 Gazette, Wednesday, September 23, 2009 e-mail: eastbourne.herald@trbeckett.co.uk
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