Early March proved to be a sad time for the Association. First, former EGS teacher Walter Tillyard (Tilly to many) died peacefully in the Eastbourne District General Hospital after a short, Covid-related illness. Walter, whose 100th birthday last April was marked by EOGA, had decided to donate his body to medical science, so there will be no funeral. Second, Fred Reeve – the Association’s Archivist and former Hon Secretary / Administrator – died, also at the DGH, on 10th March having been taken ill while travelling to Eastbourne by train. Fred had celebrated his 80th birthday last October. Condolence cards have been sent on behalf of EOGA Executive and Members to the respective members.

Coincidentally, Walter’s death occurred on the same day that David Lockyer’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Old Town; an obituary for David has now been posted elsewhere on the website, as has an obituary for Frank Scutt OBE who died last October.

David Lockyer sadly died on 30th January following a period of ill-health. His funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church in Old Town, Eastbourne, at 1pm on Tuesday 7th March. The service will be taken by Rev’d Tony Windross, who was in David’s year-group at the Grammar School.

An obituary of David will be posted on the website in due course. A condolence card from the Executive and Members of EOGA has been sent to David’s widow Stella and surviving son Adam.

There are two new pieces under School Activities in the Memories section of the website which may be of interest – recollections of the CCF in the 1950s and a piece on Old Grammarians football in the early 1960s. Meanwhile, the item About COEGS has been revised and updated.

Members who live in or close to Eastbourne or who will be visiting the town in 2023 may be interested in a special exhibition which has recently opened in the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, 2 Carlisle Road (opposite the Winter Garden and Favo’Loso’s ice cream parlour). Also titled “Are you being served?” the exhibition traces the histories and features of the four department stores which were once located along Terminus Road – Bobby & Co (later Debenhams), Barkers (later Army & Navy), Plummer Roddis and Dale & Kerley.

The Heritage Centre is open on Saturdays from 10am till 4pm and additionally from 2pm till 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until December. The building which houses the Centre was originally constructed in 1880 for the Manager of Devonshire Park & Baths. It was the house in which EOGA Vice President Brian York and his younger sister grew up while their father was Eastbourne’s Deputy Entertainments Manager.