Name: John Eccles
Profession: I’m a semi-retired newspaper reporter. I took early retirement from the Sussex Express in February this year because I’ve got cataracts in both eyes. I wasn’t a journalist. I was the foot soldier who interviewed people. I wrote 70 stories a week for 47 weeks for the 32 years I’d been there. I covered the Harvey’s shop fire and the flood in 2000. I most enjoyed interviewing the shocked passengers aboard the double-decker bus whose roof got ripped off by the 15th century bookshop. I still write the County Rouser column.
Do you miss full-time work? I miss the print room, the noise and bustle. I got dragged screaming into the electronic age. I started on the metal sit-down-and-beg typewriters. You can’t go back though. You’d be mad to.
Are you local? That’s a big question in Lewes. I’ve lived in various places in the town over the last 32 years. Now I’m in South Street. I didn’t get flooded though. I tell people it’s because I’m the street’s token Roman Catholic.
What do you like about Lewes? It’s the right size between a town and a village. You can live in a locality like the Cliffe or Malling like a villager, or you can live like a townie. I like the rooftops and the old, worn Victorian pavement bricks. They replace them with new ones, which are much less interesting.
What’s your favourite pub? The Brewers Arms at the moment, because they serve good cider. I like the Lewes Arms too.
What’s your poison? Biddenden Cider and Harveys
Waitrose or Tesco? Waitrose is closer and the staff more friendly. I don’t drive, and I don’t like what Tesco represents. Other regular shops I use are Mooreys and Catlins.