Cider with Rosie

By Steve the Beermeister...

I hadn't drunk this for nearly a year, indeed, hadn't had any cider at all in that time, but had to visit the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, when I found out the 6% Bushels was back again (even the Beermeister has to have a change once in a while!), and a crackin' drink it is too, should be on for the rest of the week, so I'll be back again very soon...

And Rosie? She's the lovely pub dog!

Pier and Promenade Update.

Looking down to the Pier, and I noticed that most of the funfair had disappeared! However, on reaching the Pier I saw that it had been resettled further down, just after The Deck, all excepting the carousel, in fact, and the reason why? A circus is coming to the Pier, towards the evacuated front, although, I was told, the carousel will remain towards the front of The Deck (Pier website).

The White Rock Promenade's resurfacing is complete...

And the Kiosk towards Robertson Street is about to get there too! See my blog last year about the plans for the regeneration of this stretch between the Pier and America Ground.

Risør Skolemusikkorps at Hastings Castle!

Hastings Castle has a wee foreign invasion, but not a problem, indeed, a Norwegian marching band will be performing at Hastings Castle from 10.30am this Monday, 27 June. The 25-strong band, whose members come from Risør in southern Norway, are in the UK to take part in a series of competitions, seminars and workshops. 

Formed in 1948, the Risør Skolemusikkorps is made up of musicians aged between 11 and 19 years of age. They will be conducted by Rune Hansen. This looks like an opportunity to enjoy more than just a castle visit, which is always good (see my blog of 7 November 2015).

Hastings Old Town Hall Association Meeting Agenda 27th June

Meeting Monday 27th June at 6.00 for 6.30 – History House, Courthouse Street

A G E N D A

1] Submission to Cllr Peter Chowney requesting trial rent free period to include:

a] Covering letter

b] Business Plan – as confirmed 20/6

c] Expressions of Interest

d] CVs for future directors of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation

please forward to Anne Scott ohpscontact@gmail.com

e] Outline weekly programme of potential users

Happy Anniversary Alexandra Park!

Alexandra Park was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales (Princess Alexandra), after whom it was named, on this day in 1882; though with a longer history than that. For more about Alexandra Park, please see my blog of 18 February. 

Made me giggle!

I truly hope the new licensee chose this name deliberately! Oh irony...

Fish Festival and much more this weekend!

After all the excitement, joy and dismay, following the Referendum, Hastings gets back to what it does well, with the 3rd Midsummer Fish Festival starting today at The Stade, 11.00 until 20.00 hours; tomorrow until 18.00 hours. This means a free event sponsored by Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society and Hastings Borough Council with music galore, childrens' activities, cooking and fish filleting demonstrations, beer, and, of course, fish! See HBC website, and links from there, for further information about the event.

In conjunction with the Midsummer Fish Festival, the free guided Stade Walk returns, starting at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11.00, and arranged by Old Hastings Preservation Society! A donation to the Museum or OHPS would be appreciated, though; for more information, see their website. 

Of course, Hastings Pier cannot be ignored either! Music here too from 13.00 hours, with Helen Sharpe and the Soulshine Band, and Chill @ The Pier from 16.00 hours, with a Terrace DJ Set, and, of course the Vintage Funfare continues from 10.00. See website for more details and have fun!

Do vote today...

A poster in the High Street

Whatever position you take, please do vote today; in 1975, 17,378,581 voted to remain in the EEC, with 8,470,073 voting to leave, and with a turnout of 64.62% of the electorate. To ensure legitimacy is enshrined in whatever decision is reached, a large turnout should be necessary... 

Whatever your opinion, this is probably the most serious electoral decision you may ever make or influence, certainly since the referendum in 1975. It is about the future of your children, their children, and of our country, the UK, people have died to ensure you can vote, and a good person has died more recently too, R.I.P.

Another Hastings Eulogy, from Sunday; Jo Cox R.I.P.

From Louise Hersee, many thanks:  

"On Thursday, a truly brilliant woman was taken from us.
A woman who made fighting injustice her life.
A woman who stood up for others when they were vulnerable.
A woman not afraid to say it as it is.
A woman who helped so many other women, both here and around the world in a bid to end the many forms of violence we see, hear, and experience, every day.
On Thursday we lost Jo Cox.
We shall not forget her.
We shall take inspiration from her.
We shall focus on her life, not her death.
We shall carry on her fight."

Good and Bad News for Today.

OK, the good news first, well, the weather forecast for today is pretty good, so we should see sunshine for most of the day, and what better to do than go on one of the free guided walks of the Old Town provided by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (website), though free, a donation to the Society, or via the Hastings Fishermen's Museum, would be appreciated. Meeting up at the top of the West Hill lift at 2.30pm, enjoy! 

Bad news? Well, Southern Railways have another day of industrial action, so expect trouble today if you wish to travel by that company; they expect a limited service between 7.30am and 6pm, and if going to London, expect the last train to leave Victoria at about 4.30pm (see website for more details). 

So, why not just enjoy sunny Hastings today, maybe scouting the old town? 

Hastings Old Town Hall Association Agenda

This evenings meeting, 6.00 for 6.30 at Hastings History House, Courthouse Street.

A G E N D A

1] Quick debrief of meeting with Councillors

2] Submission to Hastings Council – what needs to be included

a] Revised Business Plan

b] List of expressions of Interest – received AND expressed

c] Personal background of key workers. For example
Name … Key Education …. Main jobs held …. Budgetary
responsibilities … Ambitions for HOTHA

Jo Cox Vigil...

Congregating outside St Mary in the Castle yesterday afternoon...

Before we set off for Swan Terrace there were a few moving eulogies and speeches, we were filmed by the BBC, a local businessman gave out free bottles of cooled water, very kind, many thanks, and passers by mostly weren't really sure what was going on!

From the front, the 2 main organisers (I believe) and one of our mayors, leading the way, walking up the High Street to Swan Terrace. This photograph I have borrowed from the Vigil's facebook page, many thanks, as I was towards the back of the demo, though most of these images are my own.

Entering Swan Terrace, the Old Town's  Peace Gardens, in effect, and an image of the woman whose assassination, sadly, led to this demonstration, this afternoon, against violence against women, and in memory of Jo Cox.

Looking up towards where speeches and eulogies were again made by the event's organisers and our Mayor, and including one from our local C of E Parish Priest, who also stated that the Seven-Day Candle he was holding would be returned to inside St Clements Church, opposite, later in the afternoon, and where it continues to burn.

Finally, a photograph from the event's facebook page, many thanks again, looking back down towards many of those who attended (I estimated that 150 people attended at Swan Terrace), including me, though the foliage mostly hides me. A very good turn-out considering it had been arranged so swiftly: In Memory of Jo Cox R.I.P. 

And this was all captured by the BBC (from facebook), see video...   

Gloriator at Stade Saturday

OK, I'm not a great lover of local theatre, but...

Gladiator was actually very funny! 

One actor, in particular, I thought was very funny, or, at least, she got the funnier part, if you were there, you know who I mean!

Good fun, and for nowt!

Hastings Vigil in Memory of Jo Cox

Today, Sunday 19th June, there will be a demonstration in Hastings against violence towards women. Meeting at St Mary in the Castle at 2pm, and walking to Swan Terrace in the Old Town for a vigil in memory of Jo Cox. 

All genders are welcome in support.

Saturday Events

Who said no-one would support the Pier?!? Anyway, don't expect it to be this busy this weekend, but the usual kiosks, funfair, food and drink are available, of course, and today, Saturday 18th June, the Hastings Beer & Music Festival is holding a Promotional Day, 10am to 4 pm; see website for more details.

Stade Saturdays has returned for the 2016 Summer season, and this Saturday, at 5.30pm and 7.30pm, are productions of Gloriator (website), so get yourself down to the Stade for a couple of hours of free fun and laughter, not Gladiator exactly, but with more lifelike effects, and with perhaps some historical inaccuracies too! 

There is also the Hastings Ukulele Weekend, but can I find a website for it, sorry, no, but I have found details of some of the listings at this page)! I have seen that in the Old Town this Saturday are the HOT Ukulele Group at the Royal Standard at 2pm; at 3pm are Cheap Dates at the Jenny Lind and The Luddites and the Ukulele Guy (I think, having problems getting the info!) at the Anchor; at the Nelson at 4pm are the Hastings Ukuladies; in Butlers Gap at 5.30pm onwards there is "The Big Busk", presumably an all join in event; at the Albion are The Pukes at 8pm and Opera-Lele at 9pm; and I'm sure I saw something about ukulele at the Stade Open Space during the afternoon, but please don't hold me to that! Anyway, have a wander, I'm sure there will be more about that I've missed!

Jo Cox R.I.P.

Now, I know she isn't a local, but, before I moved back down South, I studied, worked and lived in Yorkshire for nearly 16 years, and still have many friends up there, and the Yorkshire folk are a bit of a unique breed, so I am publishing something I wrote elsewhere because I believe this isn't just about the assassination of a Yorkshire politician, it is also about an attack on the social fabric of our country, wherever we live. 

70 years ago, British and allied forces landed in Europe to fight an evil, National Socialism, and British troops voted for, and returned to the promise of an end to the 5 evils described by Beveridge, with the introduction of the Welfare State, Full Employment, Education for all, and the National Health Service... 

This is what I wrote...

"Jo Cox, made in Yorkshire... someone proud to represent the constituency in which she was born, someone who celebrated the diversity of that multicultural constituency within the beauty of the county of Yorkshire.

She believed that "while we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."
She promoted human rights, and worked with others, whatever their political leaning, for a more compassionate and tolerant world.
She was so much more a better person than her assassin.
My thoughts are with those who knew her, her husband, children and other family, her friends and colleagues, and her constituents.
Sadly, we are living in an increasingly evil and intolerant world, returning to the Dark Ages as we split apart...

Jo Cox R.I.P."  

Happy Sussex Day!

Blessing of the Sea this evening

At 6pm this evening will be held the traditional ceremony where the Lifeboats, local fishing fleet, and other boats from Hastings, along with all who go to sea, are blessed, and those that have lost their lives at sea are remembered. Local ministers will lead the blessing from the stern of the Lifeboat, joined by Lifeboat Crew, Launchers and Volunteers from the Station. There will be readings, hymns and music from Sussex Brass (website). 

National Beer Day!

By Steve the Beermeister 

Celebrating National Beer Day 2016 (website) with a pint, or three, of an East Sussex ale, Dark Star Hophead at the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, cheers! 

Dolphin Inn Games Night Tonight...

In the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, tonight, no, not the usual Irish music of the Tune Raiders, but a change, for this evening, to a Pub Games Night, and believe me, there are many more games than just depicted in the poster, including what we used to call Boxo, when I used to play it at a pub near where I used to work, when you were still allowed to go to the pub from work, indeed, went with your bosses!

Anyhow, I digress, if you want some fun, go to the Dolphin tonight, and I believe there may be some nibbles available too...

Meetings today..

This evening, at 7pm, there is a meeting of the St Andrews Residents Association (STAR) in the Unitarian Meeting House, South Terrace. Find out what's new in the area, meet your councillors, and support your community, should you live in the area.

Also, for the Hastings Old Town Hall Association, at 11am, there will be a second chance to see inside the Old Town Hall. Visit, and consider how your group and/or ideas would fit into the spaces. Also, note any works needed before the lease is taken on. 

Also, the agenda for meeting 6 for 6.30pm at Hastings History House this evening.


1. Business Plan – hire fee structure – we need to reflect some more about all possibilities. { this is not easy }


2. Meeting with Cllr Peter Chowney – suggested Structure / approach.

Anne Scott – background and where we are including Business Plan; Charitable Incorporated Organisation; Coastal Communities Round 4; Foreshore Trust and other applications; Premises licence; Visitors shop + information + Language schools; Insurance cover; Building maintenance + utilities; Business rates; Festivals links;

To agree 6 short presentations

Hastings Embroidery – why we can not do it


3. Dick Edwards – what we would like HBC to do now


4. Any Other Business

Weekend Beach Clean, World Crazy Golf Championships & Cycles

The Blue Reef Aquarium in Rock-a-Nore Road has organised another beach clean for this Saturday, see their website. 

It'll be very busy down at our world famous crazy golf courses this weekend because of the 2016 World Crazy Golf Championship; see website for more details. 

Also, there's a bit of  cycling festival, not that I love cyclists, but see their website.

A new Groyne...

...opposite Debenhams, planning permission requested! 

Gerrard Winstanley said it in 1649, and he was correct! ‘O what mighty Delusion, do you, who are the powers of England live in! That while you pretend to throw down that Norman yoke, and Babylonish power, and have promised to make the groaning people of England a Free People; yet you still lift up that Norman yoke, and slavish Tyranny, and in the People as much in bondage, as the Bastard Conquerour himself, and his Councel of War.’  

I didn't realise that the Norman Yoke still existed, but they've still got their own Court!

The Winkle Club

Well, we've been given a weekend of music thanks to Hastings Winkle Club (website) so I thought I'd provide a bit of information for those not in the know!  

Hastings Winkle Club was founded in 1900 by local fishermen who wanted to raise money for the poorer children of Hastings, notably at Christmas, and still continues to raise money for less privileged local families.

Winston Churchill became a member in 1955; here's a relevant film to watch, though I doubt he was asked to "Winkle Up" too often! (Basically, a member has to  produce his winkle shell when challenged, according to the rules of the Club, but receives a fine if he cannot, though it's a bit more complicated than that). Indeed, many dignitaries have been members, and HRH Queen Elizabeth II is an Honorary Member.   

At the foot of All Saints Street in Rock-a-Nore Road is Winkle Island, the symbolic Gathering Place of Hastings Winkle Club for events and galas, and includes a Giant Winkle Shell where members of the public may make contributions into an incorporated collection box.  

More information can be read at the Registered Charity's excellent website.



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!