All this self interest, it's just not cricket!

It must be remembered that the vast majority of them had no interest in local politics and many probably only visited Seaford immediately prior to an election, long enough to wine, dine and bribe the few people in the town who were eligible to vote.

Some seemed to bury themselves into the machinations of parliament, increasing their political careers by purchasing sinecures (posts which gave an income without work '“ sounds good to me!) One such person was Henry Pelham, Seaford MP from 1690 to 1698. He was the uncle of the Henry Pelham who was later Prime Minister. He purchased the job of 'Clerk of the Pells' which was an Exchequer post. Pells were rolls of parchment which needed to be filed. Despite holding a job as a 'filing clerk' Pelham lived in a huge house in Leicester Square, London.

William Lowndes was born in 1652. He was just 27 years when he gained a post in the Treasury and the following year in 1695 he became MP for Seaford and was promoted to First Secretary of the Treasury. He is credited with the first use of the phrase 'Ways and Means' which he described as the method by which Government collected revenue '“ a term still used today.

Sir William Ashburnham married into local politics on his betrothal to Margaret Pelham, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Pelham. Ashburnham was our MP for two years between 1715 and 1717 and purchased the jobs of 'Commissioner of the Alienation Office' and 'Chamberlain to the Exchequer', both lucrative sinecures.

However, some of our MPs one cannot help taking a shine to, such as William Hay the 5ft tall poet who was our MP for more than 20 years. He seemed to be a jolly chap as did Sir William Gage who represented Seaford between 1722 and 1744. Sir William was born at Firle in 1695 and was a good friend of Charles Lennox, the Duke of Richmond. Both were high-ranking freemasons and both were early patrons of cricket. On July 16, 1725 Gage wrote to Richmond complaining that his team had been 'shamefully beaten' the previous day but looked forward to July 20 when he was due to play against the Duke's XI. He ends the letter by wishing the Duke success in everything '“ except his cricket team!

Sir William not only sponsored cricket but played as well and he was a member of the team which beat Mr Edward Stead's XI at Penshurst Park on August 28, 1729 by an innings. This was the first record of a cricket match being won by an innings. One of the team on this occasion was Thomas Waymark who went on to play for the first English team. They played their first match against Kent at the Honourable Artillery Company in London in 1744.

In 1729 as well as playing cricket, Gage showed that he was one of the few Seaford MPs who had an interest in local politics when he petitioned the House of Commons for funds to improve and rebuild Newhaven Harbour.

John Durand, however, was not so likable. He was our MP for four years from 1780. He lived in Carshalton, Surrey, and made a handsome fortune in the East India Company, later becoming a merchant with premises in Lime Street, London. In 1767 he decided that he would enter parliament and, with a bribe of 4,000, secured the seat of Aylesbury the following year.

A rival wrote, 'Durand is fully determined to get into the House at any rate, providing money to effect it'.

Despite being an MP he continued his business, no doubt using his position to secure the contract for victualling British troops in America and the West Indies and supplying the Navy with masts.

In 1774 he lost his seat in Aylesbury but soon became MP for Plympton, sponsored by Lord Edgcumbe. He rarely attended parliamentary sittings and a fellow MP described him at this time as being 'remarkably slack'.

When he lost his Devon seat in 1780, Durand was returned to represent Treasury interests at Seaford despite the English Chronicle writing of him 'No man understands the multiplication table with more comprehensiveness and intelligence; but in the laws of his country, or in the duties of a legislator, there is no individual more completely ignorant'. He was undoubtedly into politics for personal advantage and there is no record of him ever having spoken in Parliament during his 15 years as an MP.

KEVIN GORDON