Friends' garden party raises £5,000

He was opening the league's annual Hospital Garden Party. Stalls were packed with potential purchases and the sun-lit hospital lawns were thronged with supporters.

League chairman Peter Mitchell-Davis had told the crowd: "You have done so much over the years to help this hospital, all of you. You are doing it again today.

"Wherever you look around this hospital. When you look at the hospital behind us - that was built by your or your relatives, your neighbours, your friends. Certainly, it was built by public subscription, raising money at events such as this.

"You look at the nurses' unit there - now the health centre - the League of Friends refurbished that. The Irvine Unit, we refurbished that and built an extension to it - and all this has been possible because you have attended events like this and spent money and we appreciate that. Bexhill appreciates it.

"An army of helpers makes this day possible and the committee."

"Without the people who have turned out today to run the stalls we wouldn't be doing anything and without you turning out today we wouldn't be doing anything, so thank you for coming."

The Town Mayor said: "As I said when I became Mayor, it is an honour to be Mayor of Bexhill. So many people put so much effort into making our society what it is. This particular day has been a part of the calendar all my life. When I look around, Bexhill Hospital is a treasure, a gem, in our community. So I hope you all spend extremely well. I know the Lions are here, Rotary are here, many other voluntary groups putting effort into raising money for the League of Friends...

"The League of Friends has done so much for Bexhill. But it is not just bricks and mortar, it binds the community and it also touches nearly every household in Bexhill at some time.

"Please spend generously because I know it is doing good for the whole community."

League officers swiftly found that escorting the Mayor round the event would be no easy matter. Cllr Earl is so well known and so popular that he spent much of the afternoon exchanging good-humoured banter with friends.

He also spent on the stalls, amassing many items for collection later.

Like the crowds attending the event, he was entertained with live music. Eastbourne Pipe Band brought the skirl of the bagpipes and the swirl of massed kilts up and down the hospital lawn. The faithful band of Little Common Branch of the Royal British Legion continued their playing long after the crowds had dispersed and volunteers were clearing the site.

The Mayor enjoyed playing the Physiotherapy Department's human fruit machine, took the traditional tea on the lawn, had a strawberry tea, won a tin of baked beans on the tombola - and signed-up to join the league.

He also watched the display by pupils of the Janice Blake Dance Studio and presented the prizes at the baby show. The judges were Liz Gladman, Janet Dennis and Harriet Eldridge. Winners were: 0-six months, Lewis Esposito; six months to one year, Harrison Todd and one to two years, Skye Mitchell-Davis. The winners will now have studio portraits sessions at Bexhill Photographic in Sacvkville Road.

Features of this year's garden party also included the Lions Club swing-boats, exhibitions by Sussex Ambulance Service, crime prevention and Lifeline. St John Ambulance were on hand throughout the afternoon in case of emergency and volunteers brewed and served innumerable cups of tea.

The event grossed 4,500, with a further 500 expected.