East Sussex Fire & Rescue Public Consultation

The East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is currently undertaking a public consultation of its policy document Planning for a Safer Future (website). The survey will be open until the 19th of June 2020, and the subsequent findings considered at a Fire Authority meeting in September 2020. The detailed 62 page document, and a link to the survey, can be found at the website.

A petition has been set up which reject cuts that "will negatively impact public safety as well as firefighter safety and will also impede firefighter's ability to rescue and assist members of the public." 

The petition also highlights specific cuts to Hastings, which include downgrading "The Ridge fire station from 24hr immediate response to only daytime immediate response" and cutting "dedicated crews for aerial appliances in Hastings." 

Looking through the 62 pages of the consultation document, though, and the plans also appear to have a positive plan for Hastings, remember please, I am not an expert in this area, so you would need to come to your own opinion, dependent on those who have devised the plans, and those who oppose those plans, for advice. What it does include is plans for an additional fire engine at the Bohemia Road fire station. The paper argues that "Bohemia Road has a significantly higher risk profile than The Ridge" and "Bohemia Road responds to some of our most deprived areas and our analysis shows there is a strong correlation with deprivation and the number of fires that occur."

There is further analysis concerning types of incidents that each station attends, and regarding aerial appliances, but, as I said above, there is substantial detail provided, and I am not an expert, anyway, should you want to find out more, go to the Service website. Paper copies of the consultation document can be requested by writing to: 

Planning for a Safer Future 

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service HQ 

Church Lane 

Lewes BN7 2DZ 

Beer and Cider to Your Door Update!

By Steve the Beermeister:

I have undergone some more research and appear to have found quite a few extra ways of getting locally brewed ales, plus quality beers, cider & wine, and in some instances food, delivered to your door from pubs AND from local breweries. As I said before, The Jolly Fisherman is offering a delivery service for beers, ciders and perry on Friday afternoons, please go to their website to order: delivery is free of charge in Hastings & St Leonards, and £2 to Bexhill and within 7 miles of Hastings. Last week the draught beers available were a Citra and Eldorado hopped 4.1% Pale brewed by North Brewing, a 4.2% Best bitter from 360 Degrees, and a 5.9% keg IPA from Belgian brewers The Musketeers. Go to their website for this weeks offerings.

In addition, Rod has advised me that Bob from the Albion (website) is also delivering cask ale, for £3 a pint, on Friday afternoon/evening: last week a 3.9% 'American Extra Pale Ale' Phoenix from Bedlam Brewery. Payment is by PayPal and I presume you need to telephone to order (I can see no link on their website or facebook page to place orders), which is 01424 439156.

Further, I have since discovered that the Eel & Bear is providing a local delivery service, Click & Collect (pre-ordered) at 28 Waldegrave Street TN34 1SJ, and nationwide courier deliveries (website). This does not include cask-conditioned ales, but they do have an excellent and wide range of interesting and exceptional craft beers.

In addition locally, around the corner from the Eel & Bear in Queens Road TN34 1RL, at The Imperial, the Brewing Brothers also appear to be offering a takeaway service, and delivery, including their delicious pizzas as well as beer (website).

I have also discovered that a further 3 breweries are advertising delivering to your door, unsurprisingly. bearing in mind I have published the image above, Battle Brewery (website) is one of them. Indeed they offer free local delivery, I would guess they expect a minimum expenditure by their customers (but within 10 miles of the brewery, well within the Hastings area!) and a courier service nationwide (at cost).

Furthermore, Three Legs Brewing Co (website) offer to deliver their own beers, and unique wine and food produce, and 1648 Brewing Co (website) their own beers.

So, very decent beer is still available to the folk of Hastings, cheers!

A Sad Sight...

They went to all that bother to get it ready for Easter, and here it is this morning (on my way home from my approved by the Government exercise/early morning walk, have to add that to avoid being reported on by informants to the Coronapolice 😉), 'our' Ferris Wheel, and it still hasn't been used in 2020, what a year... 😒

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Many thanks for recent comments, I am fit and healthy, touch wood, fingers crossed (though I'm not superstitious, honest 😉), but I'm having trouble posting comments to my own blog, oh well! It's happened before, no doubt I'll sort it out some time, though I suspect it's something to do with a Windows update, so don't hold your breath, cheers!

Hastings Virtual Jack in the Green 2020 and Bike1066

You'll not be seeing this

Jack in the Green, eh?!? Thousands of visitors to Hastings for May Day every year (blog), people all dressed up and make-up applied, traditional parade, alcohol imbibed, music and dancing, what is there not to like? Well, first, the Government tried to ruin the day by cancelling the May Day public holiday, and moving it to the Friday to celebrate the end of WWII in Europe, rather than just have an extra public holiday in 2020; oh the irony of Government not wanting the British people to have an extra day off this year!

 You'll not be seeing this either

Then Mother Nature's turn, with a virus called Covid-19, a Coronavirus, apparently from the same group that also contains the 200 plus viruses that cause the Common Cold. Well, we've seen what's happened since then, the wettest month in recorded history, February 2020, followed by wall-to-wall sunshine, and we're not allowed to go out in it, except for certain reasons (Government website)! So, Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green has been cancelled, understandably, for 2020 (facebook).

Presumably only close family will see her

But what you may see is:

OK, maybe not Bob himself, but people adorning the outsides of their homes and businesses, because, Hastings folk (and anyone else, for that matter, you definitely do not have to be in Hastings for this one!), Jack in the Green is going virtual for 2020 (facebook), as in, going online, and personal! Hastings folk are being encouraged by the organizers, starting on the real May Day itself, Friday the 1st of May 2020, to "dress up, decorate your houses with greenery, and join in the virtual parade by sharing pictures, videos and messages, via your social media channels using the hashtag #HastingsVirtualJack2020 " 💖

Also, not seeing this on May Day

The annual Bike1066, which usually sees over 40,000 motorbikes come to Hastings every year has also been, postponed, as in to August, to not only celebrate 'Victory in Europe 1945' but also 'VJ Day.' All things being well, it is planned for thousands of motorbikes to visit Hastings on Saturday the 15th of August 2020 (website).

So, all is not lost, despite the machinations of Government and Mother Nature, Hastings is still going to Virtual Party! Ain't no stopping us now!! 😉

#HastingsVirtualJack2020 

Vitamin D - a return...

I just noticed on the BBC website that they are suggesting people take supplements of Vitamin D, 4 days after I suggested a potential health risk. Keep up with the news BBC, I was there well before you, and with a much more natural solution! 😉 My blog.

Marine Court

The image of Marine Court coming out of the mist like a majestic liner in the Atlantic Ocean is what its architects, Kenneth Dalgleish and Roger K Pullen, would have been very proud of, because it was designed very much with the Cunard Liner, the Queen Mary, in mind! The Queen Mary entered commercial transatlantic service in 1936 (Modernist Britain website), the same year that Marine Court was designed and building commenced; building was completed in 1938.  Marine Court is situated at the seafront at St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings TN38 0DZ.

*Image thanks to Modernist Britain

Further to my recent blogs about The Sandcastle in Pevensey Bay (blog) and the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea (blog), regular readers were very likely wondering when I would get to the third, even more local, building that pioneered the age when Art Deco architecture coalesced with the Modern, using Art Deco design and Modernist materials, a steel frame construction and concrete and glass, indeed Postmodernity before its time! Marine Court is 14 storeys and 170 feet high, and was the tallest apartment block in the country when it was built in the 1930s. 

Recent Image

As we know from history, soon after in 1939, World War II was declared, and the building was requisitioned by the Government, servicemen and women were billeted in Marine Court, guns were emplaced on the balcony, and the basement was used as an air raid shelter, it had had insufficient time to develop as the promised 'holiday retreat' by the coast. During the war Marine Court was damaged by bombing at the eastern end (the prominent end in the images here), and restoration of the building commenced in the late 1940s. The building has since incorporated the obvious accommodation purposes, restaurants, galleries and shops, and even a nightclub, and on the 9th of November 1999 it was eventually Grade II Listed (Historic England website).

We are very lucky to have not just this wonderful local monument to Modernist Art Deco architecture, but 2 other glorious monuments nearby in Bexhill and Pevensey.

*The second image is with thanks to Modernist Britain, edited by me for this blog, both of the other images are mine, thank you very much, copyright me! 

Beer, Cider & Perry to Your Door!

By Steve the Beermeister:

The Jolly Fisherman is offering a delivery service for beers, ciders and perry on Friday afternoons, please go to their website to order: delivery free of charge in Hastings & St Leonards, and £2 to Bexhill and within 7 miles of Hastings. This week the draught beers available are a Citra and Eldorado hopped 4.1% Pale brewed by North Brewing (website), a 4.2% Best bitter from 360 Degrees (website), and a 5.9% keg IPA from Belgian brewers The Musketeers (website). Excellent, cheers!

In addition, Rod has advised me that Bob from the Albion (website) is also delivering cask ale, for £3 a pint, on Friday afternoon/evening: this week a 3.9% 'American Extra Pale Ale' Phoenix from Bedlam Brewery (website). Payment is by PayPal and I presume you need to telephone to order (I can see no link on their website or facebook page to place orders), which is 01424 439156. Nice one, cheers!

Operation Blitz!

Operation Blitz is a Sussex Police initiative, which I believe to have been ongoing for a while now, but I have just seen from the Hastings Police facebook page that they have an *OP BLITZ* mobile phone, and that there are currently "officers out until 9pm tonight" and they "can be contacted directly to attend incidents of ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR in the area."

"They can be contacted on 07779 772 352."

I presume this is a usual way to contact local police about antisocial behaviour now, but happy to receive any advice about this from the Police, many thanks!

Concern for Isolation and Those at Risk.

I just posted this message to my friends on facebook, and thought it was sensible advice to share here too, after all, what are you if not 'friends' too?

"A worrying thought... Although I doubt I'm the only one thinking similar thoughts, but retired NHS healthcare professional that I am, and spending nearly 24 hours a day alone, means that, except when listening to bird song during my daily exercise, I do spend plenty of time considering the health of others... 

Unless people can get out, or have a garden, being confined to quarters means that many people are not getting sufficient Vitamin D because they aren't getting enough sunlight to synthesize Vitamin D, consequently Britain could soon see an increase of Rickets among those particularly vulnerable at this time! 

So I am suggesting people look to good food sources for Vitamin D, and the oily fish that also provide the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are where to go, including Salmon, Herring, Sardines and Mackerel; also Tuna and Cod Liver Oil. 

The only good plant source of Vitamin D, excluding fortified foods, are mushrooms, particularly wild mushrooms (commercial mushrooms are often grown in the dark, not good for Vitamin D). 

Look after yourselves folks!" 

Then I referenced the NHS website.

A Little More on Fish...

OK, not the prettiest of fish, but very tasty, so I was told this morning. Further to my blog yesterday, my friend who had the Dover Sole the other day, yesterday bought down at Winch Road some more Dover Sole, a Skate Wing, and a Turbot that he ate for his main meal yesterday, lucky lucky person...

Indeed, as I said in an earlier blog, fresh fish is still available and can be delivered to your door if required, or should you not be able to get down to Rock-a-Nore Road/Winch Road to collect fish yourself.

It looks like it may be very choppy over coming days, particularly Mon/Tuesday, so take advantage while the fresh fish is still available, you know it makes sense 😉

Hastings Fish: Keep On Keeping On!

The photograph above was taken this morning, about 06.00, and Hastings Fish Market is still open to the trade, and a fishing boat had just been launched from the beach (just out of picture to the left, heading eastwards). Further to my recent blog about Hastings enterprising fish industry, today I had confirmation from someone working down there (photograph above), that fish caught locally is still being sent over to France and Belgium, which is a good job considering that 90% of fish caught by the Hastings fishing fleet is exported! 

Also, I heard from elsewhere that some very tasty Dover Sole was available recently from one of the huts behind the market on the Winch Road, a lovely fish indeed.

Oh yes, and the Government has apparently woken up and started helping fishing ports and boats that are in trouble economically (Guardian).

Be careful folk and keep on keeping on!

De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea

The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill On Sea is known as an "iconic Modernist building" which was created to be a "democratic space for art, culture and recreation" and championed by Herbrand Sackville, the 9th Earl De La Warr (DLWP website). De La Warr (20 June 1900 to 28 January 1976) inherited his title when his father died whilst on active service in 1915, and became the first hereditary peer to join the Labour Party; he was just 23 years old when he became a junior minister in the first ever Labour Government in February 1924. Later, in April 1933 and as Mayor of Bexhill, De La Warr proposed a scheme for an entertainment hall/pavilion, which received overwhelming support from the people of Bexhill, and a loan of £70,000 was obtained from the Ministry of Health to cover the cost of the project (Discover Bexhill website).

RIBA were asked to hold a competition for the building design, which was announced in The Architects journal in September 1933, and which received 230 entrants. The same journal in February 1934 declared the winner of the £150 first prize to be the architects Serge Chermayeff (8 October 1900 to 8 May 1996) and Erich Mendelsohn (21 March 1887 to 15 September 1953). Chermayeff was a Russian born British citizen who had been practicing as an architect for 3 years when Mendlesohn joined him as a partner in their own firm in 1933. Mendlesohn had been practicing as an architect in Germany but, with the rise to power of the Nazis and growing antisemitism, his assets were seized and he was excluded from the Prussian Academy of Arts and struck off the German Architects Union; he had fled to Britain in 1933.

The design was a blend of Art Deco style integrated with Modernist materials and construction techniques, indeed, the first Modernist public building. Mendelsohn had a passion for the use of concrete and glass with a welded steel frame which was unprecedented before his arrival to this country, and he was lauded by many of his British peers. This 'passion' ensured that Mendelsohn became "an integral part in spearheading the modernist movement throughout the world" (Arch Daily website). 

So, the De La Warr Pavilion really is 'iconic' and, if you haven't already visited, you should think about going as soon as the current Coronavirus crisis is over, I certainly will be there asap. There is an excellent restaurant on the first floor, and I love sitting on the balcony, drinking coffee, and enjoying the view over the Channel, roll on!

Sussex Wildlife Trust News

Having now read the Sussex Wildlife Trust (website) magazine Wildlife Issue 186 Spring/Summer 2020 I realize the answer to my query, in a recent blog, why could I see the view above? It appears that, following receiving a grant from the charitable fund, Sussex Lund, a digger (hired presumably) was used to clear invading reeds to benefit flora and dragonflies, for example, many thanks to Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin. More can be found out at the Lund Trust and Sussex Lund website.

Oh yes, and I mentioned the photographic competition for the Sussex Wildlife Trust 2020 calendar in a blog last year, and the overall winner from the 12 finalists was this wonderful image taken by Maxine Dodds of a vole in a foxglove and called Pretty in Pink (and what a great film that was, oops, sorry, going off subject!). 

My congratulations to Maxine, and to the other 11 finalists (website).

Rainbow Windows

This has been going on for a while now (you website), initially encouraged by school teachers I believe, but rainbows in windows, to help spread cheer in recent worrying days and weeks, now months... But I thought I'd share this one, just a shame the bar can't be open, that would spread even more cheer for me! 😉

Indeed, when out taking my daily exercise (Government approved) I noticed another 11 similar exhibitions, a few business premises, but mainly private residences.

Stay careful!

Car Park Open Again, plus central shops.

Must have been a blip, the Priory Meadow car park was again open this morning (I walked by on my way home from exercising/walk after 08.00), and free still! 

Earlier I'd walked by Iceland, 1 Castle Street TN34 3DY, and its opening times (these 'C' virus days) are 10.00 to 16.00 on Sundays and, for the rest of the week, 09.00 to 17.00 for everyone, and 17-18.00 for NHS workers only (ID required).

Tesco Express, Havelock Road TN34 1BP, was open at 08.00 this morning (opening times look to be back to 07.00 to 22.00 again, but always be aware of possible changes nowadays), and Sainsbury's Local, Station Approach TN34 1BA, was open on my way home too; looks like opening times there are 07.00 to 21.00.

Remain careful and look after yourselves folk!

Another Update!

Beacon on East Hill

I thought I'd share an early morning photograph of the Beacon up on the East Hill to cheer us all up, cheers me up anyway... 😊

Anyway, we've had 3 weeks of 'lockdown' already, and on my way back home from my early morning exercise a little while ago I passed both the Tesco Express in Havelock Road, and the Sainsbury's Local further up towards the railway station, and, just after 08.00 am, I noticed they were both open! Consequently, just keep on checking regarding their opening times, as things appear to change day by day; oh yes, and Tesco Express had a note in the window apologizing for closing at 8.00 pm this evening (still says 10.00 pm online).

Also, I noticed that Priory Meadow car park was closed at 08.15 am. * But today (Monday 13th April) at 08.00 it appears open again!

Keep on checking, and stay safe folks!

The Sky at Night

Not only have we been blessed in recent evenings of a dominant Venus in the sky, overnight we saw a Pink Supermoon (Astronomy Now), gorgeous natural beauty!

Coronavirus: Community Hubs

Community Hubs are operating across the county to bring help to people who need support to cope with the effects of Coronavirus/COVID-19. Go to the Council website for further information, and to complete an online form to request support, or call 01424 451019 (Monday to Thursday 09.00 to 17.00, Friday 09.00 to 16.30).

There is help out there if you need support, be careful folks.

Seafront Roadworks now over and other news...

The roadworks that were announced to last for 13 weeks (blog) have, indeed, done so, and the seafront is back to normal today (above), well, as normal as it can be these days, although the pedestrian crossing isn't working again yet, not that it's needed!*

* I have since read (overnight 05/06 April, many thanks Rod) that the update to the gas supply hadn't been finished in the 13 weeks, so expect more disruption later in the year.

Fewer people about whilst I was out for my daily permitted exercise earlier, perhaps more people will emerge to ensure their daily Vitamin D requirement is reached (NHS).

I also noticed that parking at Priory Meadow is free at the moment, which, I presume, is for the few shops still open there, M&S Foodhall, Grape Tree, Post Office/Smiths  and Boots indoors, and Poundland and Superdrug; although there's not much else to do in the town centre... 

Whilst talking about town centre shops, the Sainsbury's Local is still opening at 08.00, whilst Tesco Express is now opening at 10.00, although this morning (Sunday) they appear to have a 'technical problem' and there is a notice that it is closed until solved; definitely open again on Monday 6th April, I just shopped there.

Despite there not being much to do in the town centre these days, the 6-8 usual gregarious 'social drinkers' appear to be very happy congregating there. No 'social distancing' for them it appears...

Finally, has anyone received the 'letter to the nation' concerning Coronavirus that our Prime Minister said he would send to you a week ago? Despite the cost being estimated at nearly £6 million, I still haven't received it yet either! However, this website tells you what it says, if you want to read it, although he provides no new information.

Well, that's the latest news from me, be careful folks!

Hastings (Coronavirus) Covid-19 Community Support Hotline

If you, or someone you know, needs help, 01424 451019 is the Hastings Covid-19 Community Support Hotline, please be careful at this worrying time.

The Sandcastle, Pevensey Bay

The Sandcastle

The Sandcastle, The Beachings, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex BN24 6JQ, was designed by Hampstead born, and London based, architect Charles Evelyn Simmons (1879-1952), and is an excellent example of Art Deco meets the modern design-wise. Simmons commenced practice from 1905, having previously been articled to Horace Field, gaining LRIBA status in January 1912; during World War I he served at the Ministry of Health Architects Department. Most of his work was then in London, but he designed properties as far away as Scotland, eg churches in Gretna and East Riggs in Dumfriesshire (Scottish Architects website). What I'm more interested in is The Sandcastle, which sits on the beach at Pevensey Bay, and the design of which appears to be influenced by nearby Martello towers, and is valued at around £3 million plus by now (WowHaus). More images and a YouTube video offers a greater insight to the building, which was refurbished in more recent years.

Nicholas Princep and Anita Elson

The Sandcastle was designed and built in 1934 for the actor Nicholas Princep and his American entertainer wife Anita Elson, (many thanks to Homes & Property for the image of them above), with a definite aura of 'sauciness' provided by its private beach, outdoor swimming pool, cocktail bar, and secret passageways between bedrooms... You may take it from this that Nick and Anita liked to have fun, with celebrity parties infamously held here during the 1930s! It was even rumoured that Edward VIII, whilst still Prince of Wales, holidayed here with his American lover, Wallis Simpson, later to become his wife, and reason for his relinquishing the Crown in December 1936.

During World War II the property was requisitioned and used as a battery station for Canadian troops defending the coast, and afterwards it returned to use as a private residence until the 1970s, when it became a hotel. The building later fell into disrepair and, as I said above, was recently sensitively restored to its former glory, however, without the secret passageways or cocktail bar, and with some small alteration to the layout, and the outdoor pool is slightly smaller now too. 

A beautiful building though, well worth a look at when in Pevensey Bay.