Popeye Memorial in Butlers Gap.

Photograph thanks to Sid Saunders

A memorial to local character Popeye (Ron Everett) was unveiled yesterday by his daughter Lindy, and Judy Rogers, Mayor of Hastings, in Butlers Gap, George Street. The memorial was created by local sculptor Leigh Dyer, who hid upstairs, a wee bit shy, and is a wonderful recreation in metal of Popeye's cap, who's sad death was noted last year (blog). You can see more of the unveiling on youtube.

Ron Everett R.I.P.

Moving the 'Ghost of Dunkirk'

Jonathan Mendenhall sharing the history of the Cyril and Lilian Bishop, the 'Ghost of Dunkirk', with us before her final journey...

Judy Rogers, Mayor of Hastings, gives her account...

Michael Foster, ex-Member of Parliament and Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, and Hastings' resident all his life ("I've never stayed away from Hastings for more than 2 weeks, all my life", though he did attend the University of Leicester, so I'm guessing he included that as living in Hastings...), joins in!

I was surprised that All Saints Street was actually empty of parked vehicles by 10.00, well done folks!

The stewards do a typical steward thing and push people out of the way as if we are children, give someone a high viz jacket and the think they're God!

Despite listing to starboard for a short while, there was little problem with hauling her up through the narrow early part of All Saints Street.

Then, she sat outside the Crown for 20 minutes whilst the bar was overwhelmed!

Coming up to the Cinque Ports Arms

 Sitting outside the Stag Inn

More singing - She's arrived! 

Well done Hastingers, the Cyril and Lilian Bishop docked below All Saints Church.

The cricketer is back!

I saw a film of Judy the Mayor, and the unveiling of the return of Priory Meadow's cricketer, so I had to take photographs early morning! But, where had it been?

And there's the ball, up there still! 

More election results for Hastings!

I waited for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex to be announced, who is the sitting incumbent, Katy Bourne, Conservative, with a 22.5% turn-out, up 7.2% on 2012. 

Also, there was another by-election held in Hastings yesterday, for the St Helens & Silverhill seat on East Sussex County Council, again following the sad death of Councillor John Hodges, and which was won by Labour's Judy Rogers with 1,441 votes; 2nd Conservatives 1,253; 3rd Greens 214; last Lib Dems 212.