Hastings Day 2025, indeed, in Hastings Week!

Indeed, today is Hastings Day, being the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (English Heritage) and, as usual, Hastings Week has been set up around this anniversary. For details of Hastings Week events still to come go to the website. For specific details about the Bonfire on Saturday, go to the HBBS website. Whatever, enjoy your week, and Happy Hastings Day!

Hastings Bonfire, Pier, RNLI Stall & O.W.E.N.S

Apologies for the language, but this was the effigy destroyed yesterday evening, self-explanatory, and cheers to Rod for sending this photo to me - credit for this photo goes to @allybobble from twitter - many thanks to you, nice one! But no fireworks last night sadly, as the wind was too strong to enable their safe display, still, looking on the bright side, plenty of fireworks available for next year!

I had chatted to a few of HBBS members clearing up before wandering to the west and passing the very empty Hastings Pier, apparently not to open up for Christmas, sadly.

A wander through Bottle Alley to just below Warrior Square Gardens and on the lower promenade was, and is still I presume, a RNLI Lifeboat Stall. Had a good chat with the 2 volunteers, good luck to their endeavour!

Oh yes, and carrying on home, walking into Robertson Street, and O.W.E.N.S appears to be open, sort of, they're not great with the online explanations (website), but the notice (above) is in the window of what was Debenhams, and presumably shows the opening times until they open 'officially' on the 11th of November... Not sure if it meant yesterday or next Saturday, but be watchful in the town centre. Anyway, the website gives alternative opening times to the 12.00 noon opening times in the notice.

I have spoken to friends who have visited O.W.E.N.S, so go for it people!

Hastings Bonfire, Procession & Fireworks and more!

The bonfire set up on Pelham Beach earlier today (above). Roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront and in the old town between 6.00 and 11.00pm this evening, to allow for the Procession and Hastings Bonfire celebrations to go ahead safely (HBBS), the culmination of Hastings Week 2022 celebrations. The procession will congregate at White Rock and starts from that end of Robertson Street about 7.15pm, following the lighting of the beacon at 7.00pm up on the East Hill and the arrival of lit torches. The procession will proceed along Robertson Street and across the America Ground, turning right into Harold Place, then turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, turning left and walking up All Saints Street to the top. Then crossing The Bourne to the High Street and back down to the seafront and turning right to the west and to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9pm, see the map below, and website for full details.

I wonder who the effigy will be of this year... Putin? 😏

As it still is Hastings Week (website), there are other things going on too this weekend. Today (Saturday) includes the 5th Hastings Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show, from 10.00am to 2.30pm at The Stade, and the 69th National Town Criers Championship at Butlers Gap in George Street from 11.00am. Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the 13th Sprat & Winkle Run, which begins in Sevenoaks from 7.00am, driving through Kent and East Sussex before arriving in Hastings between 10.00am and 12.30pm, and finishes at 4.00pm. What is the Sprat & Winkle Run? It is a run organised by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society (website), so expect to see about 70 vintage commercial vehicles at The Stade tomorrow...

The closing ceremony, that is The Reflection, will be held in St Clements Church, Swan Terrace from 4.00pm tomorrow (Sunday). 

Further details for the weekend can be seen at the website, enjoy, and stay safe!

Hastings Day Weekend!

As you can see above, the bonfire was already being prepared on Pelham Beach this morning for tomorrow's HBBS procession, dressing up, flaming torches, drums, fireworks and, of course, this year's bonfire and effigies (website). The procession starts at White Rock at 7.15pm tomorrow evening (13th October) and the fireworks are due to be ignited from 9.30pm (map on website).

Earlier in the day, Hastings new Shannon Class lifeboat will be arriving, escorted by both current Hastings lifeboats, and the lifeboats from Rye and Eastbourne (allowing for emergencies). I shall be there and so will many others to welcome her, the Richard & Caroline Colton, about 12 noon (Hastings RNLI facebook page).

Also, Saturday and Sunday, there are many other planned activities (website), for example on both days there are OHPS organised Stade Walks, meeting up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 11am, and on Sunday (Hastings Day, ie the 952nd anniversary of the Battle of Hastings), will be the last OHPS Old Town Guided Walk of the year, meeting up by the top of the West Hill Lift at 2.30pm (website).

Much for everyone in the family to enjoy this weekend!

Bonfires and Fireworks this Weekend...

I'd imagine the vast majority of HBBS members will be in Lewes this evening, if not all, where one of the most famous and spectacular Sussex 'bonfire celebrations' takes place (website), but if you want to start earlier, closer to home, the Battel Bonfire Boyes are Battle equivalent is today too (website), with daylight events from 10am. 

Tomorrow, on the 5th of November, other large events close to Hastings include the Bexhill Bonfire Guys celebrations at Galley Hill from 4-7pm (facebook page), and the annual Robin Hood Bonfire Society in Icklesham (facebook page), where the gates at the pub open at 5pm, whilst the procession starts at 5.40pm by the Village Hall; the bonfire is lit at 6.20pm and fireworks should begin about 20 minutes later.

Whatever you do, be careful, and especially be safe if you're lighting your own bonfire and/or firing off your own fireworks. Also, remember to check under your bonfire for small resting animals, particularly hedgehogs who love to curl up in small protected spaces... and then you may enjoy yourselves!

More crackin' images from last Saturday...

Not quite as exciting this weekend, though still plenty to do if you can dodge the wind and rain, though it's strangely quiet, bright and peaceful at the moment! Anyway, here are a few more images from last Saturday which I have borrowed from the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society's facebook page, many thanks to them and Mark Duncan!

If you are not already aware of HBBS, please have a look at their website, indeed, it may be worth a look at the website anyway, and again, many thanks to them for sharing these images. Have a nice day! 👌 

Hastings Day, plus 12 Hour Charity Indie Gig...

Hastings Day... as in, the 951st anniversary of the Battle of Hastings! Of course there's much much more to do today, culminating in the Torchlight Procession, Bonfire and fireworks; see yesterday's blog for more information...

In addition to all the usual music, and Music Month to boot, there is a one-day indie-pop festival today (midday to midnight) at the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association, Marine Parade, which will bring together current indie bands and those of yesteryear. The event is to raise money for the suicide prevention charity, GrassRoots, who provide support across East Sussex. See website for further information and details of bands.