That's very sad to hear :( I've not been in Eastbourne for 20+ years and I was a junior member of the Eastbourne model power boat club back in the 80's when they used to meet if I remember correctly the 1st Monday of every month at The Chaseley Trust for ex-serviceman
there was a member of that club that used to help me make model boats but his name slips my mind he used to work as a lorry driver for Newey & Eyre don't know if you remember him he lived up on The Hydneye and used to drive an old british racing green Triumph 2000 TC
Ah...that will me, then. Yes, I lived in The Hydneye, had a remarkably mouthy parrot called Frank...most of Hampden Park knew him. The 2000TC was the love of my life then, lovely old thing, built like a brick outhouse, but in the end the gearbox went bang, and that was her lot.
I'm trying to remember you...give me a clue?