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.

A walk through Alexandra Park

Yesterday, I had a nice peaceful wander through Alexandra Park, before cyclists start thundering through the quiet and ensure a less pleasing experience! Ironically, on entering through the gate in the South West corner is the peace memorial, built after the First World War. Incidentally, there is an ongoing online petition against the cycle route...   

At the moment, there is a water quality improvement project going ahead to ensure a better aquatic environment, in a park with many lakes and reservoirs.  

Bandstand

Cafe

Alexandra Park was laid out in 1877 by Robert Marnock, already well known for designing the Botanical Gardens in London's Regents Park, and on the site of the 1830s Shirley Gardens, it covers 109 acres, and is a Grade II designated site in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. The eponymous Alexandra Park was opened in 1882 by the then Princess of Wales (later Edward VII's Queen Alexandra).   

Peace Garden

Miniature Railway

Dan Radcliffe, better known for the miniature railway down at the Stade in the old town, has painstakingly renovated the Park's miniature railway, which has only just reopened; great to see this resource reopen in Hastings, nice one Dan! 

Walking through some parts of the park you can imagine walking in the countryside, and not the centre of Hastings town! There are many rare and beautiful trees, and bird song filled the air as I carried on through the park. Garden birds dominate the songs, with Song Thrushes, Robins, and Blackbirds, the obvious voices, but Wrens, Tits, and even Nuthatches can be seen regularly too.

Although, ducks are seen on the various waters, this being Hastings, gulls are more prevalent, though other aquatic birds do live in the park, water fowl, such as Coots and Moorhens, for example, and you may be lucky and see a beautiful Kingfisher too; indeed, Swans, Herons, Cormorants, and even an odd Bittern or two may appear now and then! 

If you carry on Northwards, you will reach, later added, and even wilder, Coronation Wood, Little Roar Waterfall and Old Roar Ghyll, for a greater taste of nature...

I enjoyed my day! If you would like to find out more about Alexandra Park, or become involved with the Friends of Alexandra Park, have a look at their website.

Lifeboats - Priscilla MacBean and Mary Stanford.

It is nearly a year since I wrote my first blog about the Priscilla MacBean, its discovery, refurbishment, and the towing of that retired lifeboat up The Bourne to its present drydock. It is just over 87 years since the lifeboat Mary Stanford capsized in Rye Harbour, sadly with the loss of her entire 17 man crew (website); Hastings Lifeboat Crew and Launchers took part in the annual memorial service on Sunday.   

Last week, I noticed that another retired fishing boat (RX273) had been cut in half and used to provide protection for a bench beside the Priscilla MacBean, so I went back to take some more photographs... 

... and there she is with her bench, a fine monument to those people who risk their lives with the RNLI to help ensure the safety of people at sea, and by the sea, respect. 

R.I.P. The crew of the Mary Stanford...