Hastings Museum & Art Gallery

A bit of a miserable damp misty mizzly day today, so I visited Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road TN34 1ET (website), hadn't visited for a while. You will guess that the photograph above is one I took a while ago as it is brighter, not to mention the blue sky. Until the end of March, winter opening times are (closed Mondays) Tuesdays to Saturdays 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, and 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm on Sundays. For visiting and access information go to the website.

 Peace Project

In addition to the regular exhibitions and events there are 2 separate exhibitions, the Peace Project, which continues to the 9th of February, so get in quick if you haven't visited recently. The Peace Project marks the centenary of the 'Peace Day' celebrations held in Hastings following the end of the First World War (1914-1918, website - many thanks to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery for the image above).

Also, until the 19th of April is Wunderkammer: Hastings Curiosities, which brings together exhibits from the museum's stores, some of which have not seen the light of days for years, including natural history specimens, archaeological artefacts, works of art, and exhibits concerning local and social history (website).

Grey Owl (1888-1938)

Of course there are the regular exhibitions and collections, including Natural History, Archaeology, Dinosaurs and Fossils, Paintings and Other World Art, Native North Americans, and the Canadian conservationist Grey Owl, who served as a sniper with the 13th (Montreal) Battalion of the Black Watch during the First World War (from 1915, he was wounded in 1916, and was shipped back to Canada in 1917). He visited Hastings on a tour of Britain in the 1930s, promoting books he had written and lecturing about conservation; what was not popular knowledge at the time was that he was born and raised in the Hastings area, and his real name was Archie Belaney! More information can be discovered at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography (website), and many thanks to the BBC for the image above.

I did not manage to get into the main gallery as an event for children, the Starlings Museum Group, was in progress (Friday mornings), with many children present, music and noise; indeed, the museum caters for learning activities aplenty, see website.

I'll have to visit on a different day next time, 'tis well worth it!

Domestic and Sexual Abuse

This photograph (above) is, I imagine, displayed in most pub's women's toilets in Hastings, and GP surgeries, and provides details of where women or children suffering abuse may seek help; go to the LoveRespect website for details about Women's Aid, the national charity that works to end abuse against women and children, and for advice about seeking help (website), or telephone freephone 0300 323 9985 for The Portal Hastings - domestic abuse. 

Of course, men do suffer domestic and sexual abuse too, and The Portal (website) provides advice to men, women and children in East Sussex, Helpguide (website) provides further advice too, as it does for women and children (website), and the ManKind Initiative offers help for men to escape domestic abuse (website).

If you are suffering abuse, man, woman or child, there is help out there.

Many Roadworks!

I've already mentioned in a blog a few days ago about the 3 months of temporary traffic lights and delays at Pelham Place on the seafront (see above photograph from yesterday), but I have noticed more roadworks, and have been informed about a couple more, including at the roundabout at the bottom of Alexandra Park, Bexhill Road near TK Maxx, Bohemia Road, and Gillsman Hill, I'm sure there must be more too, good job it's January! Please be patient...

Arson just off St Andrews Square

On Thursday 9th January there was a fire just off St Andrews Square, at the basement door of a 3 floor residential property that has been empty for at least 10 years. The East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service was called and extinguished the fire, many thanks to the crew, which apparently was set because people were trying to gain entrance (by burning down the door!), and was very likely to be connected to drugs...

More filming in Hastings!

Walking along the seafront early this morning I noticed a new film set at the Pelham Beach Car Park, so I had to find out what was going on and ended up having a chat with someone at a 'time out' whilst filming along the promenade later. They are filming an episode of a 4-part television political thriller by playwright David Hare, and starring Hugh Laurie, called Roadkill (Radio Times), to be shown later this year.

Local lad David Hare was born and bred in St Leonards.

Nomadic Beach Huts - Late News!

OK, sorry, I'm a wee bit late, but the nomadic Azur/St Leonards/Bulverhythe beach huts haven't been accorded their timely move to their winter site as early as I usually comment, eg blog, anyway, now at their summer site (above).

At Bulverhythe yesterday

Sorry about that 😉

Dark Beer Festival this weekend

By Steve the Beermeister:

Much nicer than potential traffic holdups in Hastings, this weekend there is a Dark Beer Festival (3-5 January) on at The Jolly Fisherman  micropub at East Beach Street TN34 3AR (facebook), open from midday: this will include up to 5 dark real ales and 5 dark crafty keg beers at any one time. Now, the image above was taken on Thursday, so I had a crafty early drink with 2/3rds of a pint of The Kernel Brewery Export Stout (7.0%), and it was smooth dark and gorgeous. You will not be disappointed, but it could well be very busy in the evening, I have little doubt, but do enjoy, and cheers! 

Roadworks for 3 months at seafront

From Monday the 6th of January 2020, there will be temporary traffic lights along the seafront at Pelham Place for the installation of a new gas main, it could be chaotic, but at least is will be out of holiday season, so fewer vehicles held up, fingers crossed. 😉

Happy New Year

And Good Luck for 2020!