South Eastern Advertiser 27 July 1867

A LOVELY BOUQUET.—On Saturday last we saw such a garland of beauties on the roof of the stage coach, as it pulled up at the King’s Head door, that made the youthful blood of old seem to rush through our arteries once more.

There were ten or twelve ladies, dressed in costly, but simple costume, attended by “squires, and lords, and belted knights,” taking the advantage of a lovely day to have an hour by the sea side, and return by this splendid and aristocratic turn out to the west end, refreshed in health and beauty, to join, in the evening, their friends of the “upper ten thousand,” to which they all belong. We heard names mentioned, but only note that there were two duchesses, and some other ladies of the beau monde, that figure in high circles, and the court too, on the roof of our coach, looking fresh and beautiful, and enjoying their ride over the downs and through the weald of our lovely county, taking back with them on their return to the north that a ride on the stage coach from Brighton to London is worth far more than the stifling saloon of a railway carriage in France, or that of a yacht.

Bravo, ladies! and proud must have been Mr. Poole, as he teamed that splendid set of greys up Cuckfield town. We wish him success and long life and happiness to the lovely ladies who warmed up, for once again, the “cockles of an old fellow’s heart.” God bless them.