St George's Day, Art in the Park & This Weekend

I took this photograph (above) whilst walking through Alexandra Park yesterday morning, and thought it an appropriate time to mention this excellent use of the old bowling green and pavilion to provide help for mental health in Hastings through Art for Wellbeing (website). Hastings Borough Council advertised its new use as Art in the Park on its website in March, and photographs of last weekend's successful activities and fete can be seen at the Sussex Express website. Nice one!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

And Happy St George's Day! The day that William Shakespeare was coincidentally born on (at least his birth is celebrated on the 23rd of April... he was baptised on the 26th of April 1564), and died on, the 23rd of April 1616.

So, apart from the sharing of St George's Day cards aplenty, what else is happening this weekend? Well, music, beer and cheer are still available this weekend on Hastings Pier (see earlier blog), and the weather appears to be staying fine (Met Office), so that's nice. Other events can be found online (eg visit1066country), or just walk along the seafront, or in the parks, and enjoy your weekend, have fun!

Congratulations to Hastings United!

Many (belated) congratulations to Hastings United Football Club for winning the Isthmian South East Division Title last week (website); how did I miss this at the time?!? Anyway, they won the title with 3 games in hand, 2 of which they have already won (Hastings United 3 VCD Athletic 0 and Lancing 0 Hastings United 2), with the remaining match at home to Sevenoaks Town on Saturday 23rd April, kick-off 15.00 hrs.

Great stuff, and congratulations again!!

Many thanks for the image above to the Sussex Express website. 

Easter in Hastings, and more to come!

If you'd like to explore Hastings fishing quarter, the Stade Fishing Quarter Guided Walk returns this Saturday and Sunday (website), organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS). Meet up at 11am both days, outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road (inside if raining, though not expected to rain this weekend) ready to explore the net huts, fishing industry and beach, and learn the history of this hundreds of years old industry for a walk of up to about 90 minutes. You are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing, and if you have any special mobility needs please contact the Fishermen's Museum in advance. This used to be a free guided walk dependent on donations, but now costs just £4, and is delivered by a volunteer. Great to see the return of these walks!

Of course there is much more to do over the weekend, for all ages, eg see Hastings Pier's facebook page, and, as I said last week, for most Sundays there is free live music on the pier too (blog). For further details of events this weekend, see Hastings Easter Festival website, or go to visit1066country.

If you've wondered what this (above) was, situated by the Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery, indeed, which arrived during the evening of the 31st of March, it is the Green Lady, and the harbinger of Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green, which returns to 'normal' over the May Day weekend this year (website). Incidentally, this week the gallery was accepted as a donation from the Jerwood Foundation to Hastings Borough Council; it will continue to be run by its current local management.

Have a good extended public holiday weekend folks!

Free Live Music on Hastings Pier!

I said I'd try to be more jolly this blog 😉 and a free live gig on Hastings Pier, which reopened at the beginning of the month (blog), what more do you want, oh yes, and the forecast looks favourable too (Met Office). 1066 LIVE brings Big Blue to the Bier Garden on the Pier from 3.00 to 7.00 pm tomorrow afternoon, and many other Sunday gigs until late in September too (see image above, weather permitting).

Enjoy! 

Sad Sight, and apologies, but I've been away again!

Again, my apologies for not writing recently, but I was up int' frozen North! But I'm back now, and was saddened to see the obvious loss of the fishmongers in Queens Arcade when I walked through it (blog from March), shakes head... 😢

I'll try to be jolly next blog! 😉