Photography: Chris Jenkins
favourite things to do in the summer is
to have breakfast alfresco at one of the
local teashops.
As a keen photographer I love being able
to look out my window in the morning
towards the sea and know if it’s going to
be a good sunrise. Although I get some
strange looks from dog walkers being
up at the crack of dawn in the middle of
winter just so I can get a good shot! Just
a short distance down the road is Birling
Gap, an enclosed pebble beach made
famous by the Coastguard cottages
many of which have been lost due to the
fast erosion rate. This area is now part
of the National Trust with a café on site
that offers yummy soup - very welcome
after a long walk over the downs. This
is a great spot to go rock pooling at low
tide or to view the Seven Sisters cliffs. If
you plan on going for a stroll along the
beach be sure to check the tide times at
the visitor centre, otherwise you could be
going for an unexpected swim!
The area hosts the second hardest
marathon in the UK, The Beachy Head
Marathon formerly known as the Seven
Sisters Marathon. It is popular for its
scenic and challenging route through the
South Downs National Park countryside.
I am in awe of anyone who can complete
a marathon let alone one of the hardest
in the country, being only able to manage
a leisurely jog along the seafront myself!
Each year the town also hosts ‘Airbourne’
a free international air show with a
thrilling line up including military fast jets,
helicopters, parachutists and incredible
displays from aerobatics teams, including
the Red Arrows. One of the best vantage
points to watch the air show is from
Beachy Head with panoramic views over
the town and across out to sea.
The stunning coastline of the Seven
Sisters has been the backdrop for many
famous films including Harry Potter the
Goblet of Fire, Robin Hood Prince of
Thieves, Atonement and Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang. James Bond has also made
an appearance at the cliffs during the
filming of The Living Daylights. In the
film Bond parachutes out of Land Rover
in Gibraltar but this was actually filmed
at Beachy Head. Cars were catapulted
over the cliff with dummies attached to
a fishing line to release their parachute
upon exiting. The filming was part of a real
drama sequence when the boat positioned
at the bottom of the cliffs to film the
descent got into difficulty in a heavy swell
and the local Birling Gap lifeboats were
launched to pull the crew off the cliffs.
Some of the life boat members were given
awards for bravery.
At Christmas Meads High Street is shut
for an evening to host a Christmas market,
known locally as ‘Meads Magic’. This is
a free event which includes an array of
stalls showcasing mainly local handcrafts
- ideal as seasonal gifts, along with some
fabulous culinary delights and live street
music. The event has only been running
since 2012 but has so far proved to be a
great success. Another treat at Christmas
is taking a stroll down to the seafront
bandstand where yuletide entertainment
is provided throughout the festive
season with a traditional carol concert on
Christmas Day.
Although Eastbourne as a town is
growing with a large £85 million extension
planned for the current shopping centre
which forms part of the town’s wider
regeneration. Meads itself still retains
its village feel with its own bustling
community. Although I have lived here a
year I am still discovering new aspects to
Meads. I am incredibly lucky to live and
work in such a beautiful area.
By Annika Mason
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