Many people who appear in "Hunstanton Miscellany" have died, but some were present for the launch.

They included former Lynn and Hunstanton Mayor, Alderman Charles Matkin, who was a fireman at the time of the 1953 floods, and retired top London designer Peter Lewis-Crown.

Mrs Rhodes (82), of Acle, also welcomed a number of former Hunstanton residents who helped her compile the book.

Mrs Jill Durne, of Cherry Hinton, who is the grand-daughter of Charles Gray, a leading hotelier and former council chairman, loaned her mother's scrapbook. Mrs Mary Holder, of Beccles, whose great-grandfather, William Chadwick Dodman, owned Caley Hall Farm, now a motel, loaned her great-aunt's scrapbook.

Mr George Hern, of Billingborough in Lincolnshire, gave her information about the development of the Cliff Estate by his father.

Also at the launch were Mrs Rhodes' sister, Mrs Betty Turnbull, of Queens Drive, Hunstanton, whom she thanked for giving her the idea for Hunstanton Miscellany, and her friend of 77 years, Mr Peter Hawes, of Peterborough.

"People came from a very wide area, including my neighbour from 1950 who now lives in Hertfordshire," said Mrs Rhodes.

The book, which costs £12, is now on sale at Witley's in Hunstanton and from the Tourist Information Centre.

• Hunstanton-born Mr Lewis-Crown, who used to own the Lachasse couture house, gained the OBE for his fashion achievements and charity work.

In May, he received an honorary degree recognising his services to fashion and good causes from Dublin Metropolitan University.

He was also made a professor of fashion and design at the university.



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