Solar Eclipse 2026

The plan was to go to Lewes, meet friends and then sit atop a west facing hill and watch the partial solar eclipse.

Fire A13

I got in my car about 14:00 and headed to East Sussex. When I turned on to the A13 there was a massive plume of smoke and it looked like Jenkins Lane recycle center was on fire. As I got closer it became clear that the fire was even bigger and actually at the other side of Barking. It was so large that I could still see it as I crossed the Dartford Bridge.

It turns out it was a two storey warehouse in Barking, attended by 125 firefighters, it started at 12:47 and was under control by 18:10. But I could still smell it and was diverted when I returned at 23:30.

Mayfield College

On my way to Lewes I stopped off at the school I used to teach at, from 1994 to 1999, Mayfield College. To visit the grave yard where the Brothers and my dear friend Antony (aka Bonk) is buried.

After this I dropped into visit some friends in Ringmer before meeting up with my eclipse viewing pals.

Solar Eclipse

Once at Lewes the consensus was that it was way too hot to climb a steep hilltop. So we decided that we would drive to Seaford Beach to watch the eclipse. This was a great idea because there was a car park, there were toilets and there was a lovely sea breeze.

When we arrived and had parked up we met my friend’s husband who had cycled and found a place on the beach near the shoreline.

I set up my camera to film the eclipse. I rushed this and didn’t set up correctly and I also need to get a much higher ND filter for filming the sun, the one I used was an ND256.

My friends had brought a picnic with homemade baba ganoush. There were also ritz crackers which we not only ate but also use the holes to project the eclipse onto a white plate, which was exceptionally successful and tasty. I had also brought eclipse viewing glasses, I gave some of the extra ones to a young man who asked if he could borrow ours to look through.

Once the eclipse had ended my friend got out his analog synthesiser and jammed some amazing improvised music.

We stayed on the beach until the sun had set and the tide was almost at our feet. A great time and experience with wonderful people.

I’ve already started planning a trip for the next eclipse 2 August 2027, come with me.