Latest news with #Bexhill
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
New Bexhill hospital appeals for Sussex artists' ideas
Artists in East and West Sussex are being encouraged to come forward to design and produce a bespoke art piece for a new Valley Hospital is opening in Bexhill at the start of 2026 to provide adult mental health services and a permanent art piece has been planned for the reception space of the 54-bed shortlisted from the first stage will be given £2,500 to present a proposal, and up to £60,000 will be given to the selected Wells, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's (SPFT) arts project manager, said: "We want this artwork to help create a sense of welcome and improved wellbeing for patients, staff and visitors to the hospital." Artists can express their interest via SPFT's website until midday on 22 successful project, which should have the theme of "the natural world", will be selected by the beginning of September.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Augusta Victoria College: Bexhill's forgotten Nazi girls school
Incredible stories of Great Britain's triumphs in World War Two have been heard as part of the recent 80th anniversary of VE Day. But some little-known truths also simmer not far from the surface - and lie within the walls of an unassuming block of flats in East Sussex. Now called Lindsay Hall, the Bexhill building was once the Augusta Victoria College, where daughters of high-ranking Nazi officials and German noble families were trained to marry into the higher echelons of British society. Julian Porter, curator of Bexhill Museum, said the college aimed to infiltrate British society under the guise of "international friendship". The pupils were aged 16 to 21, and Mr Porter, said the college did not just teach English. "The school aimed to make them eligible for marriage. They were taught etiquette and about English society," Mr Porter explained."Hitler wanted to have Nazi-aligned women marrying into British aristocracy and influencing the political class."And to make what Germany was doing seem more palatable because Hitler wanted an alliance with Britain." The school was named after Germany's last Empress - it had a diplomatic mission to forge an alliance between Nazi Germany and Great students included Bettina von Ribbentrop, the daughter of Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Third included Isa von Bergen, the daughter of Carl-Ludvig Diego von Bergen who was envoy to the Vatican and Princess Herzeleide of Prussia, the granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the grandson of Queen college was founded by Frau Helena Rocholl, who began accepting German pupils in 1932 before moving into Lindsay Hall in 1935. 'Insidious purpose' Mr Porter said Hitler's vision was to have Britain run the British Empire for 1936, Hitler contravened the Treaty of Versailles by remilitarising the Porter said despite Nazi Germany's aggressive stances, there were no suggestions the people of Bexhill showed animosity to the Augusta Victoria said: "People thought as long as the school and the pupils were there, it meant Germany wasn't going to attack us." 'Bexhill an ideal location' Mr Porter said: "Bexhill was renowned for its education industry at the time, and they were mostly private schools for the elite."This meant students could have greater opportunities to forge connections with British high society. "Bexhill has historic links with Germany. During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain allied with Germany and the Bexhill Down barracks stationed German troops from 1804 to 1814. So this made Bexhill an ideal location," he story of Augusta Victoria College inspired a film, Six Minutes to Midnight (2020).Actor and comedian Suzy Eddie Izzard worked with Bexhill Museum to research the school to write a script for the film. Ms Izzard, 63, who grew up in Bexhill, saw the school badge displayed at the museum and she was keen to learn about its Porter said contemporary knowledge of the school was largely based on the account of Mollie Hickie (née Willings), who was the school's au pair from 1935 to 1939. Ms Izzard interviewed Mrs Hickie, who was British, in 2013 and said she "played down" her Nazi sympathies."Mrs Hickie fell in love with one of the students' brothers and she was in Germany when the war started," Ms Izzard Hickie accompanied the students in 1937 when they visited the German Embassy during King George VI's Hickie admitted in the interview she performed the Nazi salute."I think she must have enjoyed it as she got swept up in the atmosphere at the time," Ms Izzard Porter said Mrs Hickie stayed in contact with the girls after they left the school to return home following the outbreak of World War the conflict, the Luftwaffe carried out 51 air raids and 12 V1 strikes in Bexhill, according to the museum. Despite the town's dark history, Mr Porter said it was still important to share the story."We tend to think prior to the Second World War, everyone sang from the same song sheet - that everyone opposed Hitler and fascism."It was much more complicated than that, there were Nazi sympathisers throughout the country."At the time, the Great Depression affected every corner of British society."People saw what Hitler was doing before the war. They got the impression he sorted out Germany's economy," Mr Porter said."Further, the First World War had just ended and people didn't want to have another major conflict."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
'Telling my children we can go home felt amazing'
A woman who won a battle to move into the house in which her mother was stabbed to death said it felt "amazing" telling her family the Lambourne has been describing how the support of her community forced a U-turn from a housing Housing, which owns the property, initially said Ms Lambourne, who had previously lived at the property, had no legal right to the tenancy as she was not considered to be "in housing need"."To be able to tell my children we could go home felt amazing," Ms Lambourne said. She said the decision felt like "a weight off my shoulders", adding: "I was expecting bad news to be completely honest."I didn't think it would go the way it did."She said she burst into tears when she heard the news. She said: "I've pushed and pushed for this, but with the support of the community fighting my corner it has made the difference." Rita Lambourne was killed in her home in Bexhill, East Sussex, in Lambourne had previously said she and her three children had left her mother's home because it was overcrowded, but the pair had agreed to swap her Southern Housing flat with her mother's property in a mutual exchange. Rother District Council and Southern Housing released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming they would now be allowing her to move said they took the decision given "the tragic and exceptional circumstances in this case".Ms Lambourne said: "Losing mum was the worst thing that could have happened. "This place was our last connection to her."A man is due to stand trial in August charged with Ms Lambourne's murder.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Bexhill woman wins fight for tenancy of home where mum was killed
The daughter of a woman who was stabbed to death has won a battle to be allowed to live in the family Lambourne was killed in her home owned by Southern Housing in Bexhill, East Sussex, earlier this District Council and Southern Housing initially said her daughter, Lucie Lambourne, who had previously also lived at the property, had no legal right to claim the tenancy of her mother's home as she was not considered to be "in housing need".But after a campaign backed by friends, neighbours and councillors, the council and Southern Housing had agreed to let Ms Lambourne succeed her mother's tenancy and move into the home. 'Finally going home' "Southern Housing called me this morning to tell me - I was overwhelmed, I was crying," said Ms Lambourne."It means the world to us as a family, it's everything we've been fighting for and it's the last thing we have of my mum's."We are finally going home."Ms Lambourne previously said she and her three children had left her mother's home because it was overcrowded, but the pair had agreed to swap her Southern Housing flat with her mother's property in a mutual following her death, Southern Housing said there was nothing on record to suggest they had been considering a swap. The council and Southern Housing released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming they would now be allowing Ms Lambourne to move in."We sympathise with Lucie Lambourne and have been working hard to find a resolution to this difficult situation," they said."After taking into account the tragic and exceptional circumstances in this case, Rother District Council and Southern Housing agree it is appropriate that the home is allocated to Lucie," they said. "If Lucie accepts, her current property will be returned to Southern Housing and made available to another family on Rother District Council's housing waiting list, based on housing need, as soon as is practical." A man is due to stand trial in August charged with Ms Lambourne's murder.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Man denies axe murder of Bexhill woman in her home
A man has denied murdering a woman known to him in her Sussex home with an Excell, 48, pleaded not guilty to killing Rita Lambourne, 58, at her home in Bayencourt South in Bexhill late on 12 Lambourne, described by family as a "much loved member of the community", died as a result of multiple chest injuries, an inquest into her death Excell, who also pleaded not guilty to possessing an axe, will appear at trial in August following a hearing at Hove Crown Court today. In a statement, her family said: "Rita was a much loved member of the community and was adored by her family and friends."Rita's family would be extremely grateful for any information that can be offered, and would like to request privacy at this difficult time."A 39-year-old woman from Bexhill arrested on suspicion of murder and a 32-year-old man from Bexhill arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been released with no further Police previously said all were known to each with information is urged to contact the force.
