August 18th, 2020.


VJ Day, on Saturday the 15th of August, was commemorated throughout the country. In Seaford the Seahaven Branch of The Royal Society of St George was supported by the Mayor, Cllr Rodney Reed, with a small commemoration at the Town's War Memorial.

The Mayor welcomed all at 10.45am and this was followed by prayers led by the Mayor's Chaplain, the Reverend Andy Machin, before the exhortations read by Ken Jupp, Chairman of the Seaford RBL, folowed by the national two minutes silence. Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Christoper Goodchild from the Seaford Silver Band.

The Town Crier, Peter White, gave a cry in which he announced the day and included a tribute to two local men who were involved in the war against Japan; the late Major Peter Gadsdon MBE MC, who fought in the Arakan and at Kohima, and the late Roger Rothwell, who was captured at the fall of Singapore. Both returned to civilian life after the war and pursued successful careers. Seaford resident Peter Gadsdon also became a local councillor and chairman/president of the Alfriston Branch RBL. Roger Rothwell was Headmaster of a school at Rye before becoming headmaster of Tideways School at Newhaven, then in retirement Town Clerk at Newhaven.


Pictured above at the Seaford War Memorial - (l to r) Cllr Rodney Reed, Mayor of Seaford, Laurie Holland President of the Seahaven Branch RSSG and Major Bob Peedle MBE, Chairman.