May 8th, 2025.



Seaford Town Council hosted another well-attended Town Forum at Cross Way Church last Thursday.

The Town Council is legally required to host an annual town meeting (Town Forum), with the purpose of enabling residents to ask questions of its local council. However, the Town Council embraces the opportunity to also share information about what it has been doing, its achievements in the year and its future plans, to aid with openness, accountability and increased public awareness of the Town Council’s activities and aims.

Recipients of the Town Council’s Large Grants in 2024-2025 hosted stalls which presented to the community how grant funds had been spent. Stalls were hosted by Bishopstone United Charities; Cuckmere Valley Canoe Club; Culture Connect Project CIC; Family Support Work (FSW); GIA (Gardening in Action) CIC; Newhaven & Seaford Sea Cadet Corps; Seaford Bonfire Society; Seaford Community Events Committee; Seaford District Guides; Seaford Dramatic Society (Seaford Little Theatre); SEDS Connective; St James's Trust (Seaford); St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne); and Teddy Treats Children’s Charity.

Opening the meeting, the Mayor reflected on the 2024-2025 year and discussed future projects in the town, including: Lewes District Council’s Local Plan; the 80th year celebration of VE Day; South Hill Barn development; and a review of the Town Council’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. The Mayor paid tribute to the Town Council’s 25th anniversary, which included wearing the Mayor’s Community Coat adorned with over 90 patches created by the community about what Seaford represents for them.

The town was then presented with a new Seaford Town Flag – a gift to the town marking the Town Council’s 25th anniversary. The flag’s unique design uses the symbols, colours and town motto from the Seaford Coat of Arms.

The Mayor proceeded to introduce her chosen charity for her year in office, SeaFriends. Mary Lumley of SeaFriends provided an overview of the incredible work of SeaFriends with tackling loneliness before the Mayor presented the charity with £800 from the Mayor’s recent ‘incognito’ fundraising event.

The Mayor then took the opportunity to celebrate those in the community providing exceptional support and services to people in and around Seaford. Awards were presented as follows:

Highly Commended Certificates:

To: Miranda Bearns-Lowles, Carol Trimbee and Vicki Skippings for commitment and collaboration to ensure the success of Christmas Magic 2024.

To: Duncan Kerr and Gavin Lisle of Wave Leisure for hosting of voluntary groups.

To: Zoe Jones of Seaford Library (to be presented onsite at the library) for her involvement in the Seaford Community, through hosting of community displays and local groups.

Mayor’s Awards:

Mayor’s Award for Innovation – Chris Goode, Seahaven Poets

Mayor’s Award for Creativity – Dawn Monk and Terri Simmons

Mayor’s Award for Entertainment – Anne Vickers, Strum 4 Fun

Mayor’s Award for Community Support – Len Fisher and Tom Bonner, Seahaven FM

Don Mabey Award:

To: Mary Lumley for her hard work and commitment with SeaFriends and Cycling Without Age.

The Mayor of Seaford also presented the retired Don Mabey shield to the Town Crier, Peter White, to take custodianship of, as a previous recipient of the Don Mabey Award and to recognise his continued work in and around the town.