OUT IN THE FIELD: Funeral live streaming at Eastbourne Crem repaired, fond farewell to colleagues and community pulls together

Hats off to all those who have remarkably stepped up to the plate and in a real community effort provided free lunches for schoolchildren who need them during the half term break. It follows of course the highly publicised campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford as the government refused to extend the free school meals scheme during half term, the Christmas holidays and until next Easter. Step forward the Art House in Grove Road, the Red Lion at Willingdon, Eastbourne United FC, Langney Community Centre Cafe and a band of wonderful volunteers at St Elisabeth’s Church in Old Town. Mandy Mulford is behind the Old Town initiative and appealed for all manner of foodstuffs. She was overwhelmed by the response and said the take-up had been very high during the week, with more than 500 lunches being given out as well as basic larder staples – including bread from Poppy Seed Bakery’s Lee Smith – to those who need a helping hand and are struggling. It’s so heartwarming that the community has pulled together. Volunteer Harry Farmer who, along with other Old Town residents, has been making sarnies and packing bags this week, and hit the nail on the head. He said, “This is community in it’s purest definition. When we the people all come together when those in power who can make the biggest difference just decide not to. Times have been so tough for many and will only get tougher in the coming weeks possibly months ahead.” We would all do well to remember that in the future.

As the old saying goes, sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword. Even when it comes to the likes of Eastbourne’s Tommy Tomlin, who fought so bravely for his Queen and country during his time as a Royal Marine in some of the world’s toughest conflicts and passed away earlier this month. A friend of Tommy’s contacted the Herald last week saying how disappointed he was that he would not be able to watch the live streaming of his buddy’s funeral service from Eastbourne Crematorium next Friday (November 6) as the equipment there had been broken for the last two months – and sadly it was unlikely to be fixed in time. A few frantic phone calls ensued and with some help from a handful of fabulous council officials, as I write, the equipment is being fixed and should be up and running again very soon. Not only will Tommy’s funeral now be live streamed to his friends and former colleagues across the world but also the last farewells of others who have passed away whose loved ones – because of this dratted coronavirus – are unable to be there among the restricted number to pay their final respects.

Finally this week, three of our much loved and respected friends and colleagues at the Eastbourne Herald are moving onto pastures new. Our editorial secretary and Mrs Fix-it Inge Keats is leaving us along with news reporter Ginny Sanderson, who has landed a great job with the digital engagement unit on The Scotsman, and fellow journalist Juliet Mead who is joining the central features team within jpimedia, the publishers of the Eastbourne Herald. We will miss them terribly as they leave our close-knit work family but wish them lots of love and luck for the future.