Marathon Man Eddie Izzard opens Bexhill Museum

Comedian Eddie Izzard has run a half marathon between two south coast resorts before opening a newly modernised museum in his home town.

Izzard, who ran 43 marathons in 51 days for charity Sport Relief earlier this year, cut the ribbon at Bexhill Museum after running from Eastbourne.

In his youth, Izzard attended two schools in the town.  He lived in Bexhill, and used to work at a café near the site of the refurbished museum.

The opening is the culmination of a 10-year project to enlarge and modernise the 95-year-old museum.

The £2m-plus project was funded with a £900,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, £700,000 from Rother District Council and £250,000 from the Society of Bexhill Museums plus other donations.

The original display area has been refurbished as the Sargent Gallery and there is a new Costume Gallery housing the collection from the former Bexhill Museum of Costume and Social History.  The new Technology Collection is a gallery devoted to Bexhill’s motor heritage.

“A lot of Bexhill has stayed the same, but I like the idea of regeneration,” said Izzard.  Since the end of the war, with people retiring to Bexhill the pace and pulse has gone down.  I like new art exhibitions and bands coming in and the new vibrancy.  That is why I am running – because it is a healthy young idiot idea, even though I am 47.  Now I am running, I am as fit as when I was 13.”

The museum was designed by RFA Design, part of the expanding ID Ess Group and turned into reality by ID Ess CD – the specialist museum and interiors division.

Harvey Gardiner, FRSA – Director of ID Ess CD stated;
“The museum is a prime example of how cultural development can inspire new ideas and help in the regeneration process.  ID Ess is pleased to have played its part in helping to put the buzz back into Bexhill.”