This is the bandstand, built in 1935. In the foreground are signs trying to prevent people from using the surrounding promenade as a velodrome, probably the same people who are being discouraged from jumping off the pier. Naturally the signs have been defaced – what they really need is a sign telling people (the same people again?*) not to deface the signs. The sign at the bottom, by the way, tells people that drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited in this area. These old people are certainly a problem on the south coast.
It rained on one evening while we were in Eastbourne – that was the evening when the band was playing.
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside,
I do like to be beside the sea,
I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom,
Where the brassbands play
Tiddley-om-pom-pom!
So just let me be beside the seaside,
I'll be beside myself with glee;
And there's lots of girls beside,
I should like to be beside,
Beside the seaside, beside the sea. etc.
We decided to give it a miss.
*Or do they specialise? Are they organised?
3 comments:
I lived in Eastbourne for 4 years (long story) and though I can sympathise with people's description of it as being little more than God's Waiting Room, I also loved a lot of it, including this bandstand. There is a plaque near it in honour of one of their violinists who died when the Titanic went down. Makes me tear up every time I read it.
Thanks for your comment, Alex.
Reading back over these posts I can see that I have been a bit sarcastic about Eastbourne. My intention was to be sarcastic about my photography skills. There must have been some sort of leakage.
I apologise for that. I did rather like the town, but found it's state of repair a bit depressing. The tournament takes place before high season, so perhaps the absence of the throng emphasised the uncared-for look.
I mean no offense to residents, ex-residents or Titanic violinists.
No, no - it's always like that, but that's part of its charm!
I have to say that 4 years in Eastbourne was excellent preparation for living in New Zealand for 5 years.
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