The Spirit of Eastbourne Award Returns with Rupert Kirby as First 2026 Recipient

Across Eastbourne, there are people quietly doing good every single day, often without any expectation of recognition. That’s exactly what the Spirit of Eastbourne Award is here to acknowledge, and it’s why we’re proud to be bringing it back for 2026.

The first recipient this year is Rupert Kirby, who was presented with the award at our recent Business Boost event on 6 March.

Rupert is known locally for his landscape photography, capturing Eastbourne, its people, and the surrounding countryside at its very best. His work is familiar to many across the area and celebrates local life and identity.

Profits from his work go directly to supporting St Wilfrid’s Hospice, helping a charity that has been there for so many families across Eastbourne. It shows how creativity can go beyond the image and directly support the community.

If you would like to support Rupert’s efforts, you can visit his JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/page/rupert-kirby-for-st-wilfrids

When we spoke to Rupert after the presentation, he shared how much the award meant to him and how proud he would be if it helped shine even a small light on the work of the hospice and its dedicated staff.

The Spirit of Eastbourne Award was first introduced in 2021 when we were unable to run our usual Business of the Year awards. It gave us a way to recognise individuals who were going above and beyond for the community at a time when so many people were stepping up to support others.

Hearing those stories was genuinely humbling. I’ve always tried to support things where I can, but these were people out there making a real difference, face to face, in ways that mattered.

Bringing the award back now feels just as important as it did then. There are still so many people across Eastbourne putting time, energy, and care into making things better for others.

This award isn’t about a big stage or a formal ceremony. It’s a simple moment to say we see you, we thank you, and we’re here to support you.

We’ll be recognising more individuals throughout the year, with a focus on quality over quantity. Awards are issued on a limited basis, with the aim of presenting around one each month to ensure each recipient is genuinely celebrated.

If you know someone who is going above and beyond for Eastbourne and deserves to be recognised, email us your recommendation and we’ll happily review it.

When you get in touch, please include your name, your email address, and a short outline of why you feel they should be considered. This helps us understand their impact and, where appropriate, have a follow-up conversation.

Every recommendation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While we won’t be able to present an award to everyone put forward, each one is genuinely appreciated. Keeping the number of awards limited allows us to give each recipient the recognition they deserve.