RNLI Lifeboat Volunteer Life To Be Celebrated...

The life of local resident, and 25 years a Hastings RNLI Lifeboat volunteer, John Scollay, will be remembered at a special celebration at the Lifeboat Station on The Stade this Friday 1st March from 12.30, all welcome. Beforehand, Winkle Club members will be assembling on Winkle Island at noon (John was a long-standing and active member of the Winkle Club), when his coffin will pass on its way to the Lifeboat Station; there will be a family service at the Crematorium afterwards.

John Scollay R.I.P.

Congratulations to the Dolphin Inn!

By Steve the Beermeister:

So, congratulations to the Dolphin Inn (website), Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW, for winning the South East Sussex CAMRA Community Pub of the Year 2018!

 The Award

The Dolphin sells 6 different cask conditioned ales, 3 of which are regulars, ie Dark Star Hophead, Youngs Special and Harveys Sussex Best, so 2 local ales there. In addition, they always have 3 guest ales, with an emphasis on providing ales from local Sussex and Kent breweries.

Receiving the Award

Community pub? Certainly, the Dolphin is in the centre of the fishing quarter, opposite the Fish Market, and provides a service for the local community. You'll see fishermen, local tradespersons and artisans, retired and working, male and female, young and old! Regulars who need help get it, whether it's dropping off coal at their homes or providing food at home for those not so well, the landlord and a regular annually paint the Stacey Marie RX134 opposite (Hastings Fishermen's Museum outdoor exhibit), and various other locals help as well, including rebuilding and adding a fibreglass deck, as volunteers. And the catering side of the business is a firm champion of the local fishing industry and Hastings Fish (blog). 

Also, £thousands are raised every year for charity, including the local Winkle Club, RNLI Hastings Lifeboat, St Michael's Hospice, and, this year, making a specific campaign to raise money to support the grandchild of a local fisherman, Elsie- Rose, and for the Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation (blog).

All in all, nice one Mark, Maureen, family & colleagues!

Plenty to do this weekend!

There is plenty happening in Hastings this weekend, including...

Hastings Winkle Club's free JazzFest, a "weekend of Jazz & Bluesy Soul! Saturday sees Stade Saturday Do Jazz on the Stade Open Space, with Trevor Watts and Veryan Weston performing between 7.30pm and 9.30pm; in addition, there are acts at pubs and bars around the old town, including The Albion, The Anchor, The Dragon Bar, Porters Wine Bar and The Jenny Lind. 

On Sunday (5th) there is a free concert on the Stade Open Space from 2pm to 7pm, gates open at 1pm, and I believe there will be a bar, and acts include The Jane Reeves Jazz Trio, The Violet Jive, The Mike Hatchard Quartet, and Tony O'Malley. Associated music also at The Crown, Porters Wine Bar, The Jenny Lind, and The Albion, and, of course, there will be music at other venues both days too, eg at the Dolphin Inn on Friday and Saturday evenings. More information at the Winkle Club website.

This weekend also sees the 8th Hastings Town & Country Fair at Alexandra Park, 10am to 5pm both days, with fun for all the family, including birds of prey, children's entertainment, arts & crafts, gifts and food marquees, and the Companion Dog Show 2016 (see website) on Sunday, with all proceeds going to Marie Curie Cancer Care (go to their website for further information).

It's well over a year ago now since I first reported about the weekly 5km Park Run, and this Saturday 4th June will see the 60th Park Run in Hastings, which is held at 09.00 every Saturday (see website). With decent weather expect over 150 runners, maybe not so many this weekend though, what with all the other events happening? Entry is free, but it is preferred that you register beforehand.  

There is no Stade Walk organised from the Fishermen's Museum this week, the next Stade Walk will be on Saturday 25th June, held in conjunction with the Midsummer Fish Festival. Though, of course, a visit to the Museum is always a pleasure; see the Old Hastings Preservation Society website for more information. 

The 'Green' events continue at the Blue Reef Aquarium , down towards the end of Rock-a-Nore Road, this weekend, notably with World Environment Day on Sunday 5th June, as described more fully in a recent blog from last weekend. 

And, of course, the Pier is open, I hardly need to remind you! This weekend, all previously reported events are happening, with the funfair, bars, cafes, fish & chips, Memories Room, The Deck, Shop, gifts etc, and also The Science on Sea Workshops with Blast Science (see website); free 'family friendly' science workshops with experiments and audience participation, and a workshop where you can make something to take home! 

You can't fail to have fun this weekend, enjoy!

Winston Churchill 'winkles up' in Hastings

60 years ago, today, Winnie 'winkled up!' (film) 

Sunday in Carnival Week; It hasn't stopped yet!

I loved the fireworks last night, but there is still much to do today (see website), including a 'Pop Up' fete organised by the Winkle Club at Winkle Island, where else?!? I do believe there will be a piratical influence, enjoy!

Wednesday, and the Carnival keeps on keeping on!

Ain't no stopping us now... still many more walks, events, and the exhibitions too, of course! Today sees the Winkle Club's Annual Putting Competition starting at 6pm; see website for full details of what's happening today.  

Of course, culminating in the Pram Race at 7.30pm until closing time... Did you notice 2 songs intimated above? Anyway, have fun! 

PS. A couple of photographs of yesterday's bike race; many thanks to Pippa Wilcox. 

Hastings Winkle Club award goes to...

Yesterday evening the Hastings Winkle Club (website), supporter of local causes and charities, not forgetting famous members past and present, awarded The Dolphin pub at Rock-a-Nore with... 

Marl Little, the landlord of the Dolphin, was pleased to receive the award of "Best Collection of a Pub in 2014", ie the money collected in the collection box at the Dolphin was more than that collected in any other pub in the area! So, congratulations to all those who donated, as well as to the Dolphin, Mark and his family and staff... proves what a great bunch of folk work and drink down opposite the Fishermen's Beach! 

The Trophy was awarded, together with a certificate signed and dated 'Richard Read, Chairman, 5th January 2015', but the Winkle Club is yet to announce the total of monies collected at the Dolphin, or monies collected overall. 

Whatever, congratulations to a great cause!