Pub landlady saviour of A23 motorists (From The Argus)

Pub landlady saviour of A23 motorists

12:30pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

At the Black Swan in Pease Pottage, licensee Nicky Chamberlain and her 22-year old daughter Ashleigh put the “host” back into hostelry.

The pair gave up their beds to stranded motorists stuck on the A23.

Nicky said: “The driver and her two friends were trying to get to Hastings from Gatwick Airport but it was utterly impossible.

“They stopped at the pub to ask for help and there was no way I could let them try to make the journey. My daughter and I slept on the sofa. Ashley didn’t mind giving up her bed – in fact it was her idea.”

Marion Pocock said: “The conditions were absolutely atrocious. My partner and I were coming back from a holiday abroad.

“We were picked up at the airport by a friend but it was too bad to drive. It took us four hours to get to Pease Pottage from Gatwick. I was amazed when the landlady said we could sleep in her bed. It was a very kind offer.”

Regulars at The Railway pub in Burgess Hill helped out stranded motorists on Station Road.

Trevor Butler, who lives at nearby Junction Road, said:”There were about 40 to 50 cars stuck on the road around 7.45pm in the evening.

“The pub goers left their pints and pitched in to help push and pull the cars to safety.

“It goes to show that community spirit will come out in a crisis. I was really impressed with the effort people made.”

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