Evan John Hobden (1935-2018), known as John, was born in January 1935, the fourth of eight children. The family home was Hodges Farm in Bodle Street. The Hobden family were farmers and he was employed on a local farm until December 1953, when he joined the infantry battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment in which he served for 3 years. After early training in Sussex and Wiltshire, he spent time in Germany, Cyprus and Suez. On leaving the army, he joined the Civil Service at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, Herstmonceux in February 1957, where during the next 16 years he worked in various departments: Stores, General Office, Chronometer Department and finally back to the General Office. John was a keen participant in the sporting activities of the Observatory and helped construct the clubhouse near the west gate. A keen sports fan, he played cricket, hockey, badminton and squash at Herstmonceux and Hailsham, and went gliding at Firle. It was at the RGO that he met his wife, Dorothy, and they were married in September 1964. They purchased their house in Willingdon, where they lived thereafter. John left RGO in June 1973 to take up taxi driving full time with the Eastbourne Station Taxis Association. After more than 50 years’ service with them (during which time he held positions of treasurer and chairman, and later saw the merger with the Town and Country Group) he finally retired in December 2012. He died on 15 April 2018.