oxo wonders of the deep.

[jean_b]

Hi,does anyone remember OXO and his cart where he had lots of fish and he used to tell stories about each one .I spent many an hour listening to him and his Wonders of the Deep it was all for free he only asked for donations .As achild this was magical. He use to be along the old town.jean b

[Peps1965]

sadly Uncle Ernie passed away in 2004 but his memory lives on !

[ken_betts]

Yes, I weel remember OXO and his cart, as a kid I spent many happy hours in the Old Town and OXO with his "Skate with a cigarette in it's mouth" is a great memory.

[richard_pollard]

I interviewed OXO other wise known as Mr Leslie Ernest Richardson born 15/11/1917 in Hastings when he was fairly fit and well and a resident of Old Hastings House top end of High Street back in 2003.
I interviewed OXO along with many other residents to make up a book for the Old Hastings House. The book contains some 108 pages and there is a section dedicated to OXO.

Sadley, I have only one spare copy left from over 500 printed at the time. There might just be a chance that Od Hastings House may have one left somewhere, it's worth a try. If not, I could let the spare I have out!

His story was written as he spoke, and many words are not in the english dictionary either!! But all in all he was a great man and will always be remembered for his stories about the wonders of the deep.

The book was called 'Those were the Days'.

[jeanbooth]

i also remember the skate at the end of his talk had red lips . i had the good fortune to meet oxo in hospital where he was trying to explain to a young nurse about his cart and as i recognized him and told him i used to listen to him down the old town he was tearful that i had remembered him .

[jeanbooth]

hi richard , yes i would dearly love to see a copy of those were the days if you still have it .regards jean .

[richard_pollard]

Hi Jean, as it happens I do have just the one spare copy left.

If you would like to email: richpenbooks@aol.com I will talk with you directly, and we can then send you the book off. OK!

[Georgieboy]

Hello all,
I am a relation to Ernie 'Oxo' Richardson, My Grandfather was Oxo's nephew, I have literally just got back from the Museum down the Old Town, I went with my Grandmother to discover my Family roots and I did just that. Has anyone got any interesting stories about him that they would like to share? I also have seen the name 'Tony 'Oxo' Richardson' I am not quiet sure on who this is. My Grandmother cannot remember a lot of names as she is an older lady now. I saw this name in the 'Fishermen of Hastings' Book. Thank you all. Let the Fishing live on

[JACK :)]

As a kid I fished off the old harbour arm, I too spent hours around the "cart". I remember the Skate , "Ere' we 'ave a skate, turn him around,give 'im a collar n tie, cigarette in 'is mouf, and he becomes the old man of the sea, the only fish allowed to smoke under sixteen" For me that's about 60yrs ago. May he rest in peace.

[Richard]

So, 'Oxo' was not actually selling fish?
It was purely a form of entertainment, of a humorous kind, with pennies collected at the end of his show.
The Empire Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre would have been running in those days and perhaps there were al;so greater freedoms for those setting up 'street-entertainment'.
The wealthier residents of St. Leonards would probably have very much looked down upon the entertainment available in Hastings, as a form of lower class revelry beneath their dignity and status.