About the Eastbourne Civilian War Memorial Trust
We seek to establish a Peace Garden situated at the Wish Tower, Eastbourne in memory of the people killed and injured in the bombing raids on the town during the war of 1939-45 and in memory of the fortitude of residents during those years. The former Wish Tower Sun Lounge and Café was established in 1961 as a memorial to those who lost their lives, but due to structural problems this was demolished by Eastbourne Borough Council in 2012. The Town has been without a visible memorial to the bombing victims ever since.
The Council has now given planning permission for a Peace Garden to be built around the Wish Tower.
Latest News
1st July 2018
Unveiling of the Memorial and ceremony at 12pm.
23rd of May 2018
63 tons of crushed rock hs been compacted to provide the pathways, the turf has been laid for the lawns and planting is about to commence.
The formal opening of the Peace Garden will be at noon on Sunday 1st July when the Eastbourne Silver Band will play and a relative of one of those killed in a bombing raid will unveil the plaque with the names of the 180 residents killed in the bombing raids.
14th March 2018
A nine ton piece of glacial granite has been lifted into place in the Wish Tower moat. A steel plaque bearing the names of the 180 civilians who lost their lives in bombing will soon be mounted on a specially prepared surface.
The rock was sourced by Rob Coleman of specialists Brighton Rock from a quarry in the West Country.
Construction of new retaining walls in the surrounding Peace Garden is well under way, and new paths and lawned areas will follow.
The Trust still needs to raise thousands of pounds to complete the project, including total restocking of plants.
Illustrated talk
A fully illustrated talk on the Memorial and Peace Park has been compiled by Peter Pyemmont, one of the trustees. His talk traces the threats to this section of the coast throughout history culminating in the German bombing raids of World War 2. He gives an explanation of the founding of the Memorial and Peace Park and will donate all proceeds to the charity. For further details phone 01323 738777.
The Professional Team of Supporters
Creating a memorial on such an historic and significant site has required professional skills and patience from architects Wendy and Tara Thomas, Bradford & Thomas LLP and Ecotects. Both Wendy and her daughter Tara spent their early years in Eastbourne and have given their services.
Chris Butler has carried out excavations on the site and has given his services as a tribute to two of his relatives killed in a bombing raid when their house at 33, Green Street received a direct hit.
Thanks to Garden Designer, Andrew Norwood. Andrew wanted to design a garden everyone could relate to and would be in sympathy with the historic situation. His vision was for a traditional garden rather than a commercial planting scheme, creating sitting spaces whilst making use of the walls which are of a suitable height. The choice of materials for the peace garden include Downland flints and Sussex bricks, materials used all over Eastbourne.
Thanks also to Graphic Designer Nicholas Howells, Accountant George Message and to Julian and Emily Perrott of BarkWeb Ltd who have created and maintained the website.
(Pictured: Architects, Wendy and Tara Thomas and Garden Designer, Andrew Norwood)
Special Thanks
In advance of the public appeal for funding, the trustees of the John Jackson Charitable Trust have pledged a most generous donation of £20,000. Our grateful thanks to the trustees, all local residents, Margaret Downey, Crispin Freeman and Andrew Leaper.
Also, special thanks to Chris Connelley, Specialist Adviser for Conservation, and Gareth Williams, Open Spaces Manager, from Eastbourne Borough Council who have been fantastic in assisting in this project.
Latest News
We have now raised £55,000 which is sufficient for all the landscaping work and the monument. We will shortly be launching an appeal for £20,000 for the planting and maintenance of of the large garden areas. If you would like to donate please visit our Just Giving portal.
Recent Donations
With special thanks, we have kindly received the following donations;
Robin Boyle has most generously donated £10,000.
Caffyns have given in memory of the seven people killed on 6th June 1943 when the company's large garage at the junction of Seaside and Seaside Road was totally destroyed.
Mayo Wynne Baxter have made a gift in memory of the work of Charles Mayo who gave practical help and advice to many people who had lost their homes.
Roger and Philip Busby have made a donation to remember their father who was out whenever the bombs fell.
We would like to thank the Trustees who have up to now, covered all costs and expenses.
Roll of Honour
Anker, Mrs Edith M
Arnold, Mrs Lily
Ashdown, Mrs Cecily Amy
Bailey, J W
Bagshawe, Miss Amy
Baker, Grayson Wynne
Baker, Mrs Mary Ann
Bates, Francis
Benjamin, Claude R
Blake, Cecil W
Bonfiglioli, Christopher
Bonfiglioli, Mrs Dorothy
Boniface, Mrs Ethel May
Boniface, Mortimer
Boniface, William
Bonner, Miss Anna
Bontoft, John Harrison
Boucher, Miss S
Bowen, Mrs Marjorie F
Bradford, Sydney
Britain, Henry Edward
Brook, Miss Mary
Burgess, Charles
Burtenshaw, Louise R
Chambers, Mrs Beatrice
Chapman, Mrs E
Chapman, Wilfrid John
Chatfield, Mrs Ruth
Chennell, Eric
Cherryman, Mrs Eleanor
Child, Miss Annie
Chitty, Pearl May
Cockburn, Mrs Jessie M
Collier, Alfred
Colvin, Mrs Annie
Cooper, Mrs A M
Cree, Mrs Ruth
Crisp, Mrs Mary A
Cromwell, William A
Crowhurst, Mrs Frances
Crowhurst, Miss Luisa E
Currie, Miss Augustan
Dann, Mrs Lucy
Davies, Mrs Kathleen
De la Roche, Cornelius
Dobell, Mrs Alice K
Dorman, George 0
Dry, Mrs Charlotte E
Duke, Frederick Roy
Edmonds, W J
Edwards, Frank Bertram
Ellett, Anthony
Elson, Mrs Ethel
Fly, Brian
Freeman, William
Gearing, Mrs Rose F
Giles, Mrs Olive G
Giles, Stanley Arthur
Gillies, David
Glen, William H
Goacher, Walter H Gosden, F
Gower, Douglas
Graham, Mrs M A
Grant, F M
Grant Mrs Mary P
Griffin, John E
Gurr, Mrs Daisy Ruth
Gurr, Thomas H
Guy, Mrs A
Hall, Lucy
Hardwick, Miss Doris K
Harland, Peggy
Harries, Mrs J E
Hart, Mrs Ethel L
Henman, Samuel
Hillidge, Benjamin
Hipgrave, Miss I
Hollebon, Miss Alice
Hollebon, Miss Annie
Hollebon, Miss Henrietta
Horton, Peter
Hudson, Mrs Laura 0
Hughes, Mrs Matilda
Hunter, John Edward
Hurd, Frank
Hutchinson, Joseph
Hutchinson, Sydney A
Hylands, Mrs Lily N
Jackson, Lily
Jensen, Hans
Jones, Miss Ann L
Keay, Ethelbert Norman
Kelly, A J
Langford, Charles J
Lawrence, Miss Rose
Lawry, Miss Carol W
Leitch, A
Longworth, H L
Mackay, Donald G
McKinley, Mrs Edith
Marchant, Mrs Harriet
Marley, Samuel
Mason, Ernest E
Matthews, Mrs Winifred
Mewett, Frederick George
Moore, Frank
Newman, Albert Edward
Nicholls, Mrs Eva F
Nicholls, Michael
Norman, Miss Florence
Oliver, Miss A K
Owens, Dennis John
Packham, Mrs Emily E
Payne, J
Payton, Mrs E
Payton, William J
Penfold, Mary Adeline
Perry, Miss Margaret
Perry, Miss Mary
Pidcock, Arthur
Pinnington, Harry
Pinnington, Mrs E
Pringle, Miss Anne E
Pringle, Miss Christine J
Pringle, Miss Emily G
Prior, Mrs Grace E
Prodger, Miss F L
Randall, Mrs Emily Julia
Rayner, Mrs Daisy M
Rayner, Joseph
Rich, Charles
Richardson, Mrs Mary
Ripley, David Ronald
Ripley, Mrs Mabel
Ripley, Moses
Ripley, William
Sargent, George 0
Sayers, Rose
Scott, Mrs Edith
Selway, Mrs Florrie Myra
Shadbolt, Harry
Sherwood, Mrs Beatrice
Sherwood, Joan
Sherwood, Keith Arthur
Simmonds, Mrs Emily L
Smith, Mrs Ellen
Smith J P
Southgate, D R Y
Standen, Frederick
Steed, J
Stevens, John
Sevens, Thomas E
Strong, Mrs Lottie M
Taylor, Mrs Mary Moira
Taylerson, Miss Emily
Thorne, G
Thorne, Mrs L G
Tidey, Mrs Sarah
Turner, Jean
Turner, William Thomas
Tydeman, Miss Ellen J Van
Mulbregt, Jacobus Van
Mulbregt, Mrs F W
Vigor, Jane Emily
Vinsen, Theobald
Walker, Betty
Walker, Mrs W E
Walters, Mrs Mary Ann
White, Mrs Eliza
Wilkins, Mrs E L
Wilkinson, Mrs Myrtle
Williams, Miss Kate L
Wilson, Miss Evelyn M
Wise, Mrs Henrietta
Woolliams, Robert
Wren, Mrs Fann
Between the Summer of 1940 and Spring 1944 in Eastbourne there were...
98 bombing raids
671 high explosives were dropped
3,625 incendiaries.Of the civilian casualties, numbering over 1,100, 180 people died, 443 were seriously injured and 489 slightly hurt. 475 houses were destroyed and 1,000 seriously damaged.
Many town centre businesses were damaged or destroyed, and a number of seafront hotels were also hit.