Cyril & Lilian Bishop for RX134 site...

I had a chat with Tush Hamilton early this morning because I promised to solve the issue of which older lifeboat was planned to replace RX134 (blog), and he confirmed that they are planning to move the Cyril and Lilian Bishop to the site in front of the Fish Market and opposite the Dolphin Inn, and he should know! Still no idea when this would happen, as Tush said, still hurdles to cross. Both of the lifeboats need moving before they become victims of being dry-docked, and, after moving Cyril and Lilian Bishop it is hoped that Priscilla MacBean can be found a new home indoors too. 

Indoors? Tush explained that they hope to build a small 'lifeboat museum' around Cyril and Lilian Bishop on its, hopefully, successful move to the RX134 site, and then they need to find a suitable site for Priscilla MacBean.

Regular readers will be aware of my particular interest in RX134, also Cyril and Lilian Bishop and Priscilla MacBean, consequently, my interest in these developments, fingers crossed for the future... 

Whatever, I hope to continue the RX134 facebook page in her memory.

RX134 Stacey Marie Sadly Gone...

I'd been away over the weekend and now found out that the remains of RX134 Stacey Marie (facebook) were taken away on Friday; see my previous blog, if you weren't aware of her sad demise. I've also heard that her name plate, propellor, and other artefacts are now at Hastings Fishermen's Museum (blog). I've been aware for some time that one of the older lifeboats now situated up Old London Road was to be brought down to Rock a Nore Road. The first position proposed was apparently at the Shipwreck Museum, (website - I really do need to write a blog about this great museum!), but a trustee informed me that they just didn't have the space.

Anyway, the space now planned for the lifeboat is where RX134 used to be berthed, sadly, her final berth. I've been told that the Priscilla MacBean (blog) is the lifeboat moving down here, but I've also seen someone say it's the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (blog) that's being moved down! I shall try to find out the reality asap...

RNLI Lifeboats Remembered

Earlier today I revisited the final resting berths off the 2 historic lifeboats that welcome people as they enter Hastings 'Old Town' via Old London Road. The first boat is the 100 year-old Priscilla MacBean, which was pulled up The Bourne on the 15th of November 2014 (blog), exactly 86 years to the day after the sad tragedy that befell her sister lifeboat the Mary Stanford of Rye, and the loss of her 17-strong crew (RNLI). So, really the stories here are not just about the 2 lifeboats berthed in this part of the 'Old Town' but of 3 lifeboats and their brave crews, plus fourth and fifth lifeboats, the one we now have in Hastings, the Richard and Caroline Colton, and her predecessor the Sealink Endeavour (blog), and the brave volunteers and crews who help to save and preserve lives more recently in Hastings and nearby waters, 5 lifeboats, and many more...

The second historic lifeboat you reach when coming down Old London Road into The Bourne is the 'Ghost of Dunkirk' the Cyril and Lilian Bishop, which helped to evacuate troops from Dunkirk near the beginning of World War II. She was also pulled up from the seafront a few years later, this time up through All Saints Street in June 2017 and is now berthed below All Saints Church on the corner with Harold Road (blog).

With much respect to RNLI lifeboat crews and volunteers past and present...

Hastings Country Park and the 'C' Virus

From East Hill

For some reason I appear to have many hours stuck indoors now, no-one to talk to (like many I live alone), and so, rather than bang my head against the wall, I am going to use some of that time to share the delights of Hastings and its environs, and to remind us all of our responsibilities in this Coronavirus related national, and international, crisis. Also, I am sharing the results of my personal form of exercise, very much alone, early in the day, staying "more than 2 metres from others" and, consequently, why I am now indoors for the rest of the day (BBC & Government website).

Rooftops of the Old Town

Luckily, walking is an accepted form of exercise as long as you remain at least 2 metres from others, as said above (website), also, since I had my fractured spine operated on near the beginning of the Millennium, I was advised by the Consultant Surgeon to take regular walks for the rest of my life, when possible. Therefore, I was out early this morning, from 06.00 hours, to avoid as many others as possible, however, it still didn't prevent me from waving at and speaking loudly across the road to, a young woman I regularly talk to near Pelham Crescent, whilst she walks her wee dog, and Paul, the main man for street cleaning in the Old Town, bless them both.

Then I walked up the East Hill steps, I met no-one else for ages, but I did spot these Primroses and Primula 'Wanda' (RHS website) just before meeting Barley Lane; I hadn't realised they are called Wanda until I looked them up when I reached home, all those years of ignorance... I then wandered to the East along Barley Lane, meeting a lovely woman along the way, and we had a wee chat from 7 or 8 yards apart (very socially acceptable now!); people really are coming together and not forgetting we're human, well, at least some are (coming together metaphorically).

The sounds of birds singing, including hearing my first woodpecker of the year, otherwise quiet and peaceful, and the lovely aroma of blossom in the air, it is difficult to impart how wonderful it was in writing. And, not too much further on, I met someone else who I know who works at Hastings Fishermen's Museum (older blog), walking with her husband and dog, it's a small world, well, small Hastings! Again, we kept respectfully apart, well over 5 metres, and exchanged pleasantries. Indeed, although, for the distance walked, I didn't meet many others on the way and way back, but we all ensured we kept well away from each other, never under 5 metres apart, exchanged our 'hellos' 'be carefuls' and 'keep wells' and it was all very heartening.

Warren Glen

So, Hastings Country Park nature reserve (website) is a wonderful piece of land to walk up to and cross, peaceful, respectful, and a delight to observe its beauty.

Oh yes, and there are Exmoor Ponies, and Belted Galloway Cattle too, well away from their natural homes, but apparently happy to abide in East Sussex! 😉 Older blog.

Who are you looking at?!?

So, I reached Fairlight, which was my turning round point today (under 4 miles each way), and yet another beautiful spot where Pre-Raphaelite artists, and their friends, eg Edward Lear (Lear, already an accomplished artist, was a student to the Pre-Raphaelite William Holman Hunt), visited and painted during the 19th century (blog).

I returned to Hastings, walking back down Barley Lane, and reached the retired lifeboat, Priscilla MacBean, which I haven't written about for a while (eg my first ever blog).

Then, soon after, I reached Cyril and Lilian Bishop, the hero and Ghost of Dunkirk, returned to Hastings in 2017 (blog) below All Saints Church.

To repeat myself, which I think is important at this time, we do need to ensure we maintain a responsible level of social distancing at all times. More importantly, if you are someone, or live with someone, who the Government has designated as a 'vulnerable person' you need to take note of the even more severe restrictions recommended. Please see the Government website for further advice, and stay safe folks.

I hope you have enjoyed the photographs I have shared today, and this blog.

Remember, please be careful!

3 Years Ago Today and the Priscilla MacBean!

 Priscilla MacBean on The Stade

I started writing Steve on Hastings 3 years ago and, besides my introductory blog, my first blog was about the Priscilla MacBean and how a retired lifeboat had moved from a field near Eastbourne, given a makeover, and pulled up The Bourne to a new 'drydock' in Old London Road (blog), with thanks to friends from childhood Dee-Day White, 'Tush' Hamilton and Charlie Sharrod, and many more people too! A feat repeated with another retired lifeboat earlier this year (though coming over from France to Hastings, not from Eastbourne!), the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (blog).

One the move up The Bourne

The journey, when the Priscilla Macbean was pulled up the hill exactly 3 years ago today, was a wonder to behold, traffic held up for ages, but no road rage, just smiling faces, drivers making donations to the pot when they understood the history of the event, and police cooperation; more photographs on my earlier blog.

Local Coastguard on board at her final drydock

With respect and thanks to today's RNLI lifeboat crews, and to those of the past.

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...

Priscilla MacBean

I had a family visit yesterday, so took a few photographs, and couldn't miss out a seasonal couple of Hastings latest landmark now the fencing is down... 

Welcome to Hastings

"Welcome to Hastings Old Town", the sign says. Many of you will know this sign is close to where the retired lifeboat, Priscilla MacBean, whose details of her journey up The Bourne were recently described in one of my blogs, now rests. But I really mean to say "welcome to Steve on Hastings", but there isn't such a solid sign, yet... I shall carry on writing about this wonderful town and its inhabitants, despite the number of page views of this blog having well exceeded 1100 now, let alone the 1066 target, many thanks for your support. 

That's the first hurdle hurdled, now I shall continue to delve into the character and history of Hastings and its environs, and the characters of Hastings too. I'll no doubt upset people every now and then, with either an error, or just something they disagree with, but it shall be unintentional, though I shan't hold back, as I don't lie, and am always prepared to correct mistakes and apologise where appropriate.

Please feel free to join in this exploration, and I hope we can all learn something over the coming months and years, and next I shall deal with... I have to own up, I haven't decided yet, though I have at least 20 ideas floating around in my mind, but I intend to continue introducing interesting topics, and there are still 4 nights and 3 days until the 25th...

Though enjoy Winter Solstice tonight, the days can only get longer!  

Switching on the lights of Priscilla MacBean!

Friday 21st November at 6pm, the official switching the lights on was held at the 'dry dock' in Old London Road.

In the morning, a few hours before the lights were officially turned on, I had a good chat to the electrician who was working on the final electrics, I was certainly looking forward to the evening now I knew a bit more! 

Dee-Day says a bit more to his audience, just before getting up on board 

Charlie Sharrod, Tush Hamilton, Dee-Day White, together with the leader of Hastings Borough Council, Councillor Jeremy Birch, and Trust Patron and Mayor, Councillor Bruce Dowling, all on board for the event.

They all say a little something before the Mayor switched the lights on...

Bruce Dowling switchess on the lights, to the applause of those present, luckily not too many, or the road may have had to be closed again! Also present were many other representatives from the Council, including Councillor John Hodges, a strong protagonist for Hastings, the 'old town' and Priscilla MacBean, and Councillor Dawn Pool.

Priscilla MacBean actually looks much better at night than in my photographs, which don't do the lighting justice. Indeed, there is a lovely blue 'wash' shining up from underneath, and other white lighting and spots. Go and have a look! 

Afterwards, the main protagonists, their wives and friends, decamped to the FILO in the High Street for a pleasant drink and meal, and well deserved too!     

Priscilla MacBean

My first blog is a re-write of an article that I wrote for the November 21st issue of the Hastings Independent. 

 

So, why was traffic in Hastings Old Town inconvenienced for a couple of hours last Saturday 15th? So that a 93 years old lifeboat could be pulled up The Bourne to a purpose-built dry dock at the foot of Old London Road; it could only happen in Hastings! 

A year or so ago, a rather unkempt Priscilla MacBean had been found in a field near Eastbourne by Hastings-born Dee-Day White, who soon brought his pals since childhood, Tush Hamilton and Charlie Sharrod, 'on board' his project. They now form the committee of The Priscilla MacBean Trust, together with wives, Bev and Pat, and the patron, the Mayor of Hastings. 

The list of people who helped the project goes on and on, and no doubt will carry on increasing. With the help of friends and significant financial, physical and material support from many people of Hastings, the Priscilla MacBean was brought to, and restored on, land provided by East Hastings Sea Angling Club, as a monument to the RNLI and its staff.

During the week, Priscilla MacBean had been on show at The Stade.

On the Friday 14th, Tush et al were carrying out some final work, whilst Dee-Day made sure they carried out the work properly. Truly, he was posing for me!

On Saturday, at the Stade, Jonathan Mendenhall shared some history of this retired lifeboat (for some of her history see www.ehsaa.org.uk) and Father Fetherstone blessed her, also conducting a service of rememberence for the 17 crew members of the Rye lifeboat who lost their lives in the Mary Stanford tragedy 86 years ago to the day. 

Before the parade started, Fiona Harrison sang a couple of appropriate hymns, and some of the hundreds of spectators joined in, whilst preparations were made to pull Priscilla MacBean up The Bourne. 

Leaving The Stade for the road, and the start of her journey.

The Parade included many invited dignitaries, including Baron Boyce (retired Admiral of the Fleet); lifeboat crews, Coast Guard and the mayors of Rye, Eastbourne and Hastings; Amber Rudd MP; Hastings Borough Councillors, and many more. 

It took just 1 hour and 20 minutes, for a combined team from the Fire Service, Bonfire Society and a RNLI vehicle, to pull the boat, using the traditional method with trows, and the cooperation of local Police, to get from the Stade to safely securing her in her new home at the foot of Old London Road, and raising the sails. Congratulations to all, and trusting those inconvenienced appreciate the reason. 

People walking up the hill were smiling from ear to ear!

Having reached the dry dock, traffic had been diverted via Harold Road, and the crane was positioned to transfer Priscilla MacBean. I suggest about a thousand people were in attendance overall, at The Stade, coming up The Bourne, and here (above), for the 'docking'. 

The Priscilla MacBean will now be the first landmark visitors see when they reach Hastings Old Town. This Friday evening, 21st November at 6pm, the Mayor of Hastings officially switched on the lights, more of in my next blog. 

There are too many people to name all who contributed to the project, but Dee-Day and Tush said that Priscilla MacBean is now "yours", ie the people of Hastings. Dee-Day did ask me to mention that all the electrical work was supplied free, Josephine Cranford and Hastings Borough Council paying for the lighting; the council also provided her resting place for a peppercorn rent. 

With thanks and respect to our lifeboat crews, to the crew of the Mary Stanford, and all RNLI volunteers who have met similar fates trying to protect and save the public. R.I.P.