St Leonards Pier...

I have long been considering writing about the absent St Leonards Pier (1891-1951), thanks to regularly seeing the above when I walk along the promenade, and, I'd imagine, many people have been like me and stood below this plaque, realising you are standing under where the Pier used to be; though not so much when the beach huts are there... As the Pier was demolished in 1951, following bomb and fire damage during World War II, and storm damage earlier that year, I wasn't yet born, consequently I couldn't take any photographs of the pier, so the two below are borrowed, and suitably acknowledged, no plagiarism here!

Promenading along St Leonards Parade (image2)

The building of the 960 feet long (292.6 metres) St Leonards Pier was a response to the growing popularity of Hastings Pier, and no doubt rivalry with Hastings soon after the two had merged as a single entity in 1885. Work on building the pier began in 1888 virtually opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel, and the pier was opened by Lord and Lady Brassey on the 28th of October 1891 at a cost of £30,000. 

Looking down at St Leonards Pier (image3)

St Leonards Pier had a few owners before it was requisitioned under Defence Regulation 51 in June 1940 because of fears that a German invasion may mean enemy troops and supplies could be disembarked alongside all the piers in Sussex. They all had had demolition charges previously placed, removed and replaced in May, but now sections were cut out of the piers to hinder any German plans. St Leonards Pier had charges removed finally once an 18 foot gap had been cut using oxy-acetylene equipment between July and August 1940. Then, sadly, on the 4th of October 1940 three high explosive bombs were dropped on the beach end of the pier, 3 members of the Devonshire Regiment were wounded, and another, Private Stanley Beer, was killed.

The missing section of the pier, the bomb damage, a fire late in the war, and the previously mentioned storm damage in 1951 meant the pier never re-opened...

Acknowledgements: The first image is my own; image2 is circa 1905 and thanks to East Sussex Libraries; image3 is about 100 years old, I guess, looking at the military uniforms, and thanks to Jack Vanderwyck's website, though I have no idea who took the photograph; and information is from all over the place, many thanks to all!

Hastings Lifeboat Quiz

Join the crew, support staff and volunteers of the Hastings Lifeboat for a fun fund-raising Quiz Night tomorrow, Tuesday 28th of November, at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association (opposite the Lifeboat Station at the Stade), starting 7.30pm. Help to raise money for the Hastings Lifeboat Station, with complimentary nibbles, and a raffle, not to mention the quiz. Indeed, a charity well worth supporting; see website.

I've had a break, but plenty coming up!

I have had a short break, if you're used to reading my blogs they're usually more frequent so you'd have noticed! Anyway, I've taken time out, visited family and had a good (ish) rest, but I'm back during a quieter weekend than many coming up as we head into the 'festive' season. So what is happening over the next week? 

On Hastings Pier tomorrow (Monday) and Friday 1st December, there will be Yoga on the Pier, in the Deck Building from 10.30, these have become very regular sessions now. At the weekend, in the Memories Room of the Deck, there will be a Vintage and Retro Market from 11.00 to 17.00 both days, with homeware, clothes, records and collectables, and free entry. For more details of events coming up see their website.

OK, this is a stock photograph from a few years ago, but seasonal events have already started at Priory Meadow, notably, near the indoor entrance to M&S is the annual Santa's Grotto; from Thursday the 31st of November to the 3rd of December, then from the 7th of December every day until the 24th of December. Also, from the 1st of December until the 7th of January 2018 will be the annual Priory Meadow Ice Rink; see the Best of Hastings website for more details of these and many other events.

On Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd of December the Hastings Illustration Festival 2017 (HiFest) will be taking place from 11.00 to 18.00 each day at The Printworks in Claremont and the surrounding America Ground area. There will be an array of workshops, screenings, talks, exhibitions, gift options, cards and books, and much more; see their website for further details.

Finally, for today, here is notice of the Spirit of Christmas in Hastings Old Town, Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of December, from 16.30 to 20.00 each day, courtesy of Hastings Old Town Traders. There will be live music, food and drink, 'late night shopping' and another Santa's Grotto as you can see from the poster! See their facebook page for further details, or just pop into the Old Town and have fun exploring.

The festive fun is already upon us, have fun!

Another Full English Breakfast!

It's a while since I've had a 'Full English' recently, but I was talked into having one by a mate, cheers Mark, many thanks for this!

Apparently, the landlord of the Anchor Inn in George Street, Dennis, had recently suggested to Mark that he come in and eat one of their breakfasts, the Anchor being 'dog friendly', so Mark, his dog Rosie, and I, enjoyed a pleasant early-ish morning there! Steve the Beermeister has already added a blog to this publication about the Anchor Inn, its history, and the argument for and against it being the oldest continuous pub in Hastings, which there should be more written soon, I hope... Anyway, we arrived, and the Full English Breakfast variations, including vegetarian options are:

The Anchor Light Breakfast at £4.95 - Includes 1 x Sausage, 1 x Rasher of Bacon, 1 x Slice of Black Pudding, 1 x Large Flat Mushroom, 1 x Hash Brown, 1 x Egg (Fried or Scrambled), Plum Tomatoes or Baked Beans, a Slice of Toast or a Fried Slice, and a Mug of Tea or Coffee.

The Anchor Gut Buster at £7.95 provides 2 of all the above, and 1 Tea or Coffee.

The Anchor Veggie Breakfast at £4.95 - Includes 1 x Hash Brown, 1 x Bubble & Squeak Sausage, 1 x Large Flat Mushroom, Halloumi, 1 x Egg (Fried or Scrambled), Plum Tomatoes or Baked Beans, A Slice of Toast or a Fried Slice, Mug of Tea or Coffee.

Unsurprisingly, the Anchor Veggie Gut Buster at £7.95 also doubles up!

Well, this is what we both had, with slightly eyes bigger than our stomachs, notably Mark's, the same version of the Anchor Gut Buster, though he had coffee and I had tea, a nice strong mug of Breakfast Tea with the tea bag left in the mug, and milk on the side, so up to you how strong to have it; I forgot to ask Mark about his coffee, but he seemed happy with it. I just made little notes, so here goes my opinion:

The sausages were cooked well, not sure if they were Lincolnshire, though not packed with herbs so I doubt it, very tasty, not bad at all, and we all know how important I place the sausage on the ingredients that often need to be improved upon, so a pass here! The bacon was again cooked well, not burnt, nice and thick rashers of Middle, though not with the extra long thin bit. The slices of black pudding, hash browns and baked beans were what you would expect, difficult to go over the top about either of those ingredients. I love mushrooms, so always happy for as many as I can get of them, and the slices of toast were perfect and well buttered, I presume you could ask for this not to be buttered, but suited me, oh yes, and you can get brown toast if you want.

Overall, a very decent breakfast, pretty good value, and nicely presented. As I suggested, Mark left a bit, though not the meat, I didn't leave any, but was well full up, and we both shared various samples with Rosie (so I didn't eat it all!), so she was happy too. It has been suggested by another friend that you can ask for different combinations too, eg if you'd prefer a slice of bacon to a sausage. Mark's final words were "next time I'll just have the "Light Breakfast" - which means he/we'll be back!

Hastings Herring Fair 2017 - This Weekend!

The Herring Fair organisers invite you to celebrate the 'silver darlings of the sea' at this free fish, food, drink and folk festival at the Stade Open Space this weekend; 11am to 4pm both days. "Meet the fishermen, learn traditional skills, and witness the blessing of the nets. With around 20 food and drink traders, non-stop live music, a ceilidh, cooking demonstrations from Billingsgate Seafood Training School and top local chefs, and plenty of entertainment for children, there's lots to do. Please note that because the site can get very busy, and there are lots of young children and very hot cooking equipment around, only assist dogs are allowed into the marquee." See website.

Herring are small tasty silver coloured fish, and can be fried, smoked or cured, and are full of healthy oils, and because they have existed in abundance they were so named; the word herring comes from the Old German for “multitude”. The Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus), is caught around the British coast, though in the biggest numbers in the North Sea, can reach up to 16 inches in length, but we usually see them at about 8 inches. The photograph above was taken of recently caught herring in Hastings, so this year you will be able to sample locally caught fish, not always so in previous years, but the effort was made to ensure local supplies this year, nice one.

The Fair is free, so feel free to visit The Stade in Hastings 'old town' and sample the local fare, not to mention wines, beers at the FILO bar, and much local music, enjoy!

Crazy Golf: What's happening?

So, what is happening to the Office/Cafe/Ice Cream Shop at Hastings Adventure Golf, and why the high scaffolding? Well, thanks to information from someone very much in the know, many thanks David, I've found out what is happening... 

First, there's a temporary office so that the show goes on (see to the right and behind in the photograph above). Second, because there was little space inside to function as well as they'd have liked, more space is being produced by slightly increasing the size of the ground floor by adding to the corner cut-outs of the old building, redesigning the interior, and increasing the loft space. This means a new roof, a slightly higher building, but much more office and, more importantly, storage space, and all agreed to under planning requirements, nice one, and the show is still going on!

To find out more about the "European centre for Mini Golf" see their website.

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.

Hastings Foodbank: Donations Urgently Required!

The Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. An increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, consequently emergency food stocks are depleting very quickly! Requirements in Hastings include tinned fruit, meat, fish, tomatoes and vegetables, UHT milk, fruit juice, pasta sauce, and biscuits, tea and coffee; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA;

Asda, Opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, Opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, In main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, In reception.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!

Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service 2017

Today's Remembrance Day Parade began outside the Town Hall in Queens Road...

The Parade, from the back, soon to leave to head for Alexandra Park...

Where the Remembrance Service was held at the War Memorial.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Update

With the forecast rain, a visit to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery looks like a decent proposal today (website); admission to the museum is free and it is situated up Bohemia Road, on the right-hand side of the road, at Johns Place TN34 1ET, open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday, closed Mondays.

There is so much to see in this wonderful building, as I discovered on my return there yesterday, the first exhibitions you reach on entry are about Hastings itself, in three parts. The first, Before Hastings, takes you from the end of the Ice Age, via the Bronze Age and the Romans, up to the Saxons, the Haestingas Tribe, guess where the town's name comes from! Second, is the Story of Hastings in 66 Objects, the bell in my photograph comes from the early 19th century Old Town Hall in the old town High Street, and written about in my earlier blog. The third is Wish You Were Here, which looks at Hastings history as a seaside resort and includes Mods v Rockers in the 1960s!

And so much more, eg you have just this weekend to see the sculpture and ceramics exhibition Cash, Clash and Climate, and into January next year to see Beyond the Western Front, local stories of the First World War, and, just started until the 11th of March, A Sense of Place: Topographical Views from the Museum Collection, a selection of oil paintings covering 300 years, including many of Hastings (website).

The Museum & Art Gallery does so much more too, have a visit soon!

Beach Clean Cancelled!

I've just read on their website that the Beach Clean arranged for this morning by the Blue Reef Aquarium has been cancelled due to the forecast bad weather.

Southern Rail, and the Farce Goes on!

Well, the last 2 days strike by RMT union conductors is over, don't hold your breath, and you've probably already seen the drivers (Aslef union) have accepted a 28.5% pay deal, to be paid over 5 years (BBC website), that appears to include the aim of having a second 'safety-trained' person on board all trains, 'except in exceptional circumstances' - as in, when one is not available! However, trains will still be able to run with only a driver on board, except no-one else will be on board to supervise safety, eg evacuation procedures, indeed, the train will have no facility to assist disabled or older people requiring assistance, so they may well be left stranded on station platforms...

I think we haven't seen the last of this incompetent shower as we return to the inefficient rail service that Southern has provided over recent years, which, in reality, has continued even on non-strike days, and who hasn't been left stranded at Eastbourne late at night with no trains or replacement bus service available, I know I have!

Time to re-nationalise the railways, pretty please!

Bottle Alley, Film Star!

I decided to have an early wander this morning, just before the sun rose, to find out what all the fuss was about with the new lighting in Bottle Alley (see video on earlier blog), and I was quite impressed, it certainly brightens up the place

Bottle Alley was built in the early 1930s, the 'Concrete King' Sidney Little being the designer, and forms the lower deck of the half-mile long promenade between award-winning Hastings Pier and Warrior Square Gardens, and very useful if raining heavily! The name comes from the use of recycled bottles of varying colours used within the concrete along the wall; for more information see the 1066 website.

Indeed, Bottle Alley was one of the Hastings locations for the film Byzantium (YouTube, about vampires, so it is a little gory - thus, warning). It was half filmed in Hastings (remember Pelham car park was packed with large motor caravans and trucks at the time, 2011 I seem to remember) and half in Cork. Always fun to see places you know on film, eg one of the stars, Saoirse Ronan in Bottle Alley above, pre-new lighting! 

Southern Rail Strike 8th & 9th November 2017

It pains me to say it, but, more industrial action cometh this Wednesday and Thursday, just how much is this continuing farce costing the taxpayer?!? Anyway, here's a link to the Southern Railway webpage that gives details of planned changes to services, and it appears the rush hour services between Hastings and Ashford will be most hit down here, though, I wouldn't try to catch a late Southern train home from anywhere!

Fishing from Hastings Pier, plus nearby Beach Huts!

Hastings Pier 

This morning I had a few miles wander along the seafront, I saw a Red Admiral... on the 6th of November! Also a few people fishing, walking westwards earlier, I had made a detour to the end of the Pier and chatted to a few lads fishing there, and as I turned up, one of them caught a small Bass, I'd brought them luck, their first fish of the day!

On my way back later I thought I'd see if I could bring them even more luck and, as you can see, the five of them were still there when I returned just before midday. Whilst I'd been gone, they'd caught a couple more bass, couple of plaice, whiting and sole, and another fish that I can't remember what it was (I'd taken no notes). Then, there just for a few minutes chatting, they were very friendly gentlemen, and another bass succumbed to the bait, slightly larger than the earlier one I hadn't taken a photograph of!

Bass, just before being returned to the water

Anyway, details of current fishing hours from the Pier can be found on the Hastings Pier Fishing facebook page, together with other information and photographs of even more impressive fish, and are: 

8am – 5pm Sunday to Thursday 
8am – 10pm Friday & Saturday’s

If you would like to fish from the Pier, permits can be purchased from Paul's Tackle, 38 White Rock TN34 1JL (facebook page and tel no: 01424 433404), just a couple of minutes walk eastwards from the Pier, and you can also find out up to date information from him, not to mention fishing tackle and bait is available there too, you may not be surprised to discover! I had a short chat with Paul earlier too, and he said hours of fishing from the Pier may change soon, so keep a check on the facebook pages.

As you can see from this photograph, twelve new beach huts have arrived on the beach east of the Pier, newly built and newly painted (I saw them being painted there, last week I think). I doubt they'll be used now until next spring/summer, but I wonder if they'll remain in situ over the winter, or will they find a place to hibernate, like the St Leonards/Azur Pavilion beach huts do? 😉

RX60 Coming in to land yesterday (photographs)

It was wee bit dismal at times yesterday, but I noticed RX60 coming in to land, so thought a few photographs would be in order!

Hastings still has the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe, and it wasn't just me watching, but a fair number of Great Black-Backed Gulls too, dwarfing our usual resident Herring Gulls in number and size!

Got there!

A Beautiful Day to visit the Old Town and eat...

It's a lovely blue sky down here in Hastings today, so what better than to walk down to the seafront, wander along to the Old Town, and enjoy one of these for lunch...

Fishermen's Rolls cost just £3 each at Johnny Swan's The Net Shop in Rock-a-Nore Road, excellent! See earlier blog, and enjoy the roll and day!

As Socrates once said...

"You shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet..." 

Bonfires and Fireworks this Weekend...

I'd imagine the vast majority of HBBS members will be in Lewes this evening, if not all, where one of the most famous and spectacular Sussex 'bonfire celebrations' takes place (website), but if you want to start earlier, closer to home, the Battel Bonfire Boyes are Battle equivalent is today too (website), with daylight events from 10am. 

Tomorrow, on the 5th of November, other large events close to Hastings include the Bexhill Bonfire Guys celebrations at Galley Hill from 4-7pm (facebook page), and the annual Robin Hood Bonfire Society in Icklesham (facebook page), where the gates at the pub open at 5pm, whilst the procession starts at 5.40pm by the Village Hall; the bonfire is lit at 6.20pm and fireworks should begin about 20 minutes later.

Whatever you do, be careful, and especially be safe if you're lighting your own bonfire and/or firing off your own fireworks. Also, remember to check under your bonfire for small resting animals, particularly hedgehogs who love to curl up in small protected spaces... and then you may enjoy yourselves!

Bottle Alley - New Lighting Video

OK, a daytime image, but have a look at this video on youtube, impressive!

RX134 - The Stacey Marie, mission complete, and more thanks!

The 2017 refit and re-painting of the retired fishing boat and exhibit of Hastings Fishermen's Museum (website) RX134 Stacey Marie, is now complete...

I have already thanked the volunteers from the carpentry/building aspect of her restoration, Lee and his apprentice Rikki, and Brian McDonagh (blog), cheers again, and many thanks to Stamco (website) too, who supplied the timber used at no cost!

Now it is time to thank the annual painters and virtual caretakers, Mark and Steve, and Jason, who gave up his Wednesday day off to help us, many thanks all!

As I've said before, regular readers will be aware of my involvement with this project, the preservation of RX134, the Stacey Marie, which is the first exhibit of the Fishermen's Museum you reach when walking eastwards down Rock-a-Nore Road, on the shore/south side, next to the Fish Market and opposite the Dolphin Inn; go to her facebook page for further information, or visit Hastings Fishermen's Museum, a couple of minutes walk away further down Rock-a-Nore Road and on the same side (website), where donations would be very welcome, the museum being a registered charity, and who pay for materials used on the boat, many thanks.

More congratulations to Hastings Pier!

Congratulations to Hastings Pier, the Hastings Pier Charity, and to the people of Hastings, and others, who have supported the Pier of the Year and her regeneration, it has won another prestigious award, the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize (website)! The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) president, Ben Derbyshire described Hastings Pier as a "stunning, flexible new pier... a masterpiece of regeneration."

For more information, have a look at the BBC website, here's hoping that this award encourages more investment in the Pier and congratulations to the architects for again putting the People's Pier of Hastings on the map!