Eastbourne Man Accidentally Joins Tourist Coach And Doesn't Realise Until They Reach Beachy Head

By Barry Beakman, Senior Local Correspondent

EASTBOURNE — An Eastbourne man has accidentally joined an organised coach tour of the town and travelled all the way to Beachy Head before realising he wasn't supposed to be there.

The 58-year-old local resident had reportedly been walking near the seafront on Saturday morning when he became caught behind a large group of tourists boarding a coach.

Rather than move around them, he joined the queue.

"I didn't really know what they were queuing for," he explained.

"But everyone seemed very organised."

When he reached the front, a member of staff reportedly smiled and waved him aboard.

He thanked them and sat down.

Suspicions Begin

The coach departed several minutes later.

The man initially assumed it was some form of replacement bus service.

"I thought we'd probably go back towards town," he said.

"Then we started heading uphill."

Despite growing concerns, he decided not to say anything.

"There were about 40 people on there."

"I didn't want to make a fuss."

A tour guide then began explaining the history of Eastbourne.

The man listened politely despite having lived in the town for more than three decades.

"He actually learned a couple of things," his wife later admitted.

Situation Becomes Clear

The coach eventually arrived at Beachy Head, where passengers were invited to disembark and enjoy the views.

The Eastbourne resident followed them.

It was only when the guide announced they would have 45 minutes before continuing their tour that he finally became suspicious.

"I thought, hang on."

"I only went out to get some milk."

He subsequently approached the driver and explained the situation.

Witnesses say the conversation lasted several minutes because neither man could understand how it had happened.

"You got on a tourist coach," the driver reportedly said.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Family Not Particularly Surprised

His wife said she had become concerned after he failed to return home.

"I rang him and asked where he was."

"He said Beachy Head."

"I asked why."

"He said it was complicated."

She described the incident as "exactly the sort of thing he'd do."

The man considered walking home but eventually decided to remain with the tour after learning the coach would return to Eastbourne later that afternoon.

"I'd already come this far."

He spent the next two hours visiting local landmarks he had previously driven past hundreds of times.

Unexpectedly Positive Experience

By the end of the tour, the accidental passenger admitted he had enjoyed himself.

"Eastbourne's actually quite interesting when somebody explains it to you," he said.

"You don't really think about it when you live here."

He also praised the guide, describing the commentary as "very informative."

However, he refused to purchase a souvenir.

"I'm not a tourist."

The coach returned to the town centre shortly after 3pm.

He finally arrived home several hours after leaving.

He had forgotten the milk.

At the time of publication, his wife had gone to get it herself.