The Milestones of Eastbourne Deaf Club
Eastbourne Deaf Club - first outing to Vauxhall Motor Factory at Luton in 1965
Eastbourne Herald
Saturday November 17, 1979
Terry Riley cuts the cake in celebration of opening the new Deaf Club
Eastbourne Herald, November 1979
Eastbourne Herald
March 1990
Stephen Lloyd visits the Deaf Club, November 2008
Eastbourne Herald, November 2008
The Deaf Club in Hampden Park
John Morris
Location of the Deaf Club
Newspaper Cuttings
By Gavin & John Lilley
The early Eastbourne Deaf club gatherings were held in a hired room at a Bolton Road premesis, in the town centre. The building was bombed during the Second World War. Soon after the war, the club members attended Hastings Deaf Club on a temporary basis.
Sometime later Eastbourne Deaf club was then reformed at a rented hall in Wartling Road, off Seaside Road. It was held fortnightly, on Mondays. This closed down later due to a lack of members.
In 1979 the club reopened again at the YMCA in Ocklynge Road, for a few years before having to be relocated to a temporary hall at Milton Road, Old Town. This was provide free of charge by Ann Darby (Social worker for the Deaf). Local newspaper journalists reported on this event and took photographs. BDA Executive Councillor, Terry Riley, was invited to open the Club at its launch.
In March 1990, this hall closed down due to refurbishment and the members were again without a centre. Fortunately, Mr Douglas Caffyn – a well known local garage / car dealer – had some ties with the Deaf members. He had learnt some BSL and helped the members find a new venue, at the present hall at St. Mary’s church.
The Club at St Mary's Church, Decoy Drive, Hampden Park is still going strong with social meetings on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.
In November 2008, the Club members managed to raise £100 to save the local District General Hospital, which was under threat of closure. The cheque was presented to Stephen Lloyd, from the Liberal Democrat Party (now MP of Eastbourne - June 2010), who gave thanks to the members for their donation.
As part of Stephen Lloyd's continuing relationship with the Club, he managed to secure the funding to cover its rent for the next few years.
The newspaper articles here are records of these events.