Jack Atkinson

Many people who visit Chaseley today will have spent time in the Atkinson Room. It is our large, multi-purpose space where residents take part in activities, enjoy film nights, dance at the monthly nightclub, and mark birthdays and milestones.

What is less well known is that the room is named after one of Chaseley’s long-term residents, Jack Atkinson. Jack was born in Hull in 1915. Before the war, he worked as a coalman, then joined the Army. While stationed in Malaya, he was captured by the Japanese and taken to Singapore. His health was badly damaged by severe malnutrition during his time as a prisoner of war. Jack later said he went into captivity weighing 14½ stone and came out weighing just 6 stone.

After the war, Jack was moved through a long line of hospitals as doctors tried to help him recover. These included Knapp Hill in Surrey, Beverley Base in Yorkshire, the National Hospital in London, the Red Cross in Derbyshire, Exeter, and finally Stoke Mandeville. It was there that he met other former servicemen who were living at Chaseley.

Tired of constant moves, Jack asked if he could come to Eastbourne. He arrived at Chaseley in 1952, following the recommendation of those residents he had met at Stoke Mandeville. Life at Chaseley suited Jack. He spoke warmly about the care he received and valued having physiotherapy and occupational therapy available on site. In 1968, he married a local Eastbourne woman and moved into the community. After her death, Jack returned to Chaseley in 1983, where he remained until the end of his life.

Today, the Atkinson Room carries Jack’s name and his story. It remains a place full of laughter, music, and shared moments — exactly the kind of life Jack found during his many years at Chaseley.