Malcolm retires

Representatives of The Sackville's various committees gathered with the apartment block's suppliers when Malcolm Mitcheson held the celebration in the block's Mistral Suite last Friday evening.

Long lessees have overwhelmingly agreed to the proposal to transfer the Sackville freehold and day-to-day management to Cooden Beach Hotel owner James Kimber.

Malcolm is stepping down and taking an extended holiday.

James Kimber and his wife Lesley were among guests at the event.

Malcolm staged the party because he says the Sackville's renaissance was made possible by the overwhelming support of all residents.

Sackville resident Marcus Blaber was at the piano to provide live music for an event which included a magnificent Mistral buffet.

It was all a far cry from The Sackville's dark days.

The town's MP accused the then owners of "iniquitous and irresponsible" treatment of residents after he was called to their assistance in February 1987.

Following the MP's intervention, receivers appointed by a major mortgagee of the De La Warr Parade complex agreed to meet electricity costs for communal areas of the De La Warr Parade complex.

The action staved off the immediate threat of a Seeboard black-out of corridors, staircases and lifts in the complex, built in 1880 and for generations the town's principal hotel.

Now exchange of contracts with James Kimber on the Sackville estate freehold interests and the commercial head lease to the garden-floor bar and restaurant areas in two separate transactions brings to a close Malcolm's 18-year custodianship of the Sackville.

His time in charge has taken The Sackville out of the "wreckage of Receivership" to "probably the most socially active, secure and best-maintained apartment block in Bexhill."

Malcolm says: "Over the 18 year period we have improved all round building standards and services to residents without once having to ask lessees for any surcharge on five-year forward-budgeted service charges.

"Our overall service charge costs have only moved in line with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors index of cost inflation.

"Our building is in condition and costs inspected by a Chartered Surveyor annually.

"A recent insurer survey gave Sackville a completely clean sheet and reported that Sackville was the best maintained and best managed estate he had ever inspected."

He says this is sharp contrast to many apartment blocks, where lessees face a maintenance backlog of up to 20,000 per flat.

In a letter to residents in May, Malcolm had set out the position, urging them to support Mr Kimber's bid.

He said: "Since 1989, with help from a resident custodian team and the support of all lessees, I have managed Sackville as a the lessees' nominated freeholder.

"I agreed to do the job for 10 years and have now completed 18 years.

"I will be 70 in January, so with the blessing of you all, I would like to retire from full day-to-day management, whilst still retaining my, present investment in letting flats, and an active role in maintaining Sackville.

"You already know that since the first round of major refurbishments was finished, I have been frequently inviting other lessees to express an interest in taking over the freehold and management of Sackville. These invitations were never taken up.

"Mr James Kimber, who first came to Bexhill as a 16-year-old and two years ago purchased and completely refurbished The Cooden Beach Hotel, has expressed an interest in taking over the freehold and management of the Sackville.

"After discussions with me, Mr Kimber has made an offer to buy the Sackville freehold interest.

"This is good news for Sackville lessees."

Malcolm Mitcheson told last Friday's guests: "Thank you - all of you. Everyone who is here tonight has made a major contribution to the success of Sackville.

"Sackville was derelict. It was falling apart.

"We used to have to rush round when it rained with buckets to put under strategic parts of the roof!

"Now it is really nice and it is all due to the combined efforts of the people who served on the committees..."

Former resident Stuart Earl, recovering from heart surgery, said it would be remiss of friends and colleagues present not to pay tribute to Malcolm Mitcheson for all he had done for the Sackville and for the town.

He had given 18 years of work to the community - not just in heading restoration of the Sackville but through the Bexhill 100 Motoring Festival, the campaign for Christmas lighting and the launch of the town regeneration programme.

"Every one of us appreciates your friendship and your contribution and we wish you success for the future."

Pictured: James and Lesley Kimber with Malcolm Mitcheson and the chairman of the residents' committee.