An Eastbourne man who was struck by a car and killed just a week before his 76th birthday had sung in front of the Queen as a leading chorister and was an accomplished historian, artist, musician and author.
Andrew Forrest died after he was hit by a car, which failed to stop, as he used a zebra crossing in Upperton Road at around 7.50pm on 26 July.
Six men, aged between 24 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of offences including causing death by dangerous driving, conspiring to pervert the course of justice and assisting an offender. They have been released on bail while police enquiries continue.
Andrew taught history at Woking College in Surrey for 30 years, was a talented artist and, in retirement, played rock and blues in the Southern Spirit band as a guitarist and lead singer.
He attended St Paul’s Cathedral School and became a leading chorister, singing in front of the Queen and Princess Margaret, according to close friend Oliver Sterno. “He was a star as a schoolboy singer,” he said.
Oliver, a drummer, and Andrew played in fundraising gigs in Southern Spirit with two other friends. “We all got on so well and did it for fun,” he said.
Andrew was also an accomplished artist and author, publishing books on Van Gogh and the Spanish Civil War. He had just published a book on artist Harold Swanwick (1866 – 1929), a Downland painter who lived in Wilmington, using material from Towner gallery archives.
Oliver said: “His knowledge was phenomenal and he shared it with everyone. He was very witty too. I miss him enormously – he would be the life and soul of a party.
“He is a huge loss. On all levels, he was a lovely man.”
His friends gathered on August 3 to celebrate his life on the day which would have been Andrew’s 76th birthday.
In a statement released by Sussex Police, Andrew’s family said: “We are truly devastated by Andy’s sudden death in such terrible and dramatic circumstances.
“He was an accomplished artist, musician and published author with a wide circle of friends in the Eastbourne community.
“He was much loved by all his family and friends. Always kind, always smiling and always grateful- he was a true gent. He will be greatly missed by us all.”
Detective Inspector Kani Barawi appealed for anyone who saw the collision or has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to contact collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk, quoting Operation Broomfield.
