PRAM RACE Plus...

Despite Pram Race this evening, there are other events too for Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (website), remember that the seafront road and The Bourne will be cut off this evening, and trusting the evening is as relatively peaceful as last year (blog), fingers crossed folks!

Hastings Bonfire Day/Night 2024 This Weekend!

Hastings Week 2024 commences tomorrow (Saturday 12th September - website) and, of course, tomorrow also coincides with Hastings Bonfire celebrations (website). The bonfire is already being set up, indeed, saw people working on it yesterday, and leads up to Hastings Day on Monday 14th September, the 958th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (Britannica).

The procession congregates from 6.30 pm by the White Rock Hotel and, meanwhile, the beacon is lit up on the East Hill at 7 pm, then Hastings Runners will bring lit torches down to Robertson Street. The procession starts from the western end of Robertson Street at about 7.15 pm, heads along Robertson Street and the America Ground, where torches are lit, then turns right into Harold Place before turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, then turns left and goes up All Saints Street, where, at the top, it will cross The Bourne to the High Street, then back down to the seafront and along westwards to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9 pm, see the map above. Enjoy!

Hastings Day and Bonfire and Fireworks too!

Happy Hastings Day! 😕Coincidentally, this year, the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society's torchlit procession is on the same day, and their bonfire will be on Pelham Beach as usual, and yes, roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront from 6 pm to 11 pm this evening. Indeed, the Hastings Bonfire 2023 celebration (website) is the culmination of Hastings Week celebrations, as usual (website). 

A Past Procession

The procession congregates from 6.30 pm by the White Rock Hotel and, meanwhile, the beacon is lit up on the East Hill at 7 pm, then Hastings Runners will bring lit torches down to Robertson Street. The procession starts from the western end of Robertson Street at about 7.15 pm, heads along Robertson Street and the America Ground, where torches are lit, then turns right into Harold Place before turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, then turns left and goes up All Saints Street, where, at the top, it will cross The Bourne to the High Street, then back down to the seafront and along westwards to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9 pm, see the map above.

There are a few other Hastings Week events being held today, of course (website), including the sixth Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show at The Stade Open Space from 10.00 am to 2.30 pm.

Enjoy the day, stay safe, and please be careful for your pets when the procession gets going and, notably, when the fireworks begin 🎆 and look after each other!

Hastings Day is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, 14th October 1066 (blog).

Hillside Road Closed and Blood Donations

There is a link, which I shall come to, but first, OK a week late, but it is planned to go on for another 6 weeks, Hillside Road, up at The Ridge currently, is closed to cars, vans, motorbikes and buses etc, so you may need to plan your route carefully if wanting to get up to the Conquest Hospital, for example. This closure is to ensure 'essential gas supply works' are carried out.

So why am I a week late, and how do I know about this? Yesterday afternoon I walked up (access by foot is still OK) to The Hastings Centre up on The Ridge, opposite the hospital, to attend a blood donor session there, it all comes together, see! Anyway, if you do not already donate blood, and we never know when we may need blood ourselves never forget, and you would like to find out further information and whether you can donate, please go to the NHS Blood Donation website, many thanks!

Save a life Give blood 💗 

Queens Road closed on Sunday 15th

Notice for drivers et al, Queens Road is closed for road repairs on Sunday, planned from 06.00 to 17.00, fingers crossed...