Hastings Park Run and O.W.E.N.S

Hastings Park Run was held this morning, as usual on a Saturday starting at 09.00 at West Marina Gardens, 2.5 Km along the seafront to just beyond Hastings Pier and back again. I took my photographs just as they were passing the Azur Pavilion the first time, looking down on the lower promenade; they return on the upper promenade. 262 runners took part, with 17 achieving personal bests, respect to them, young and not so young, and to all volunteers who help to make this a fun 5 Km run (website).

On my return to the town centre I ventured into O.W.E.N.S as it was open, and, apparently, at least for weekends and school holidays anyway, it is open from 09.00am to 11.00pm, so feel free to visit!

Alexandra Park Vandalism & Wildlife Crime!

Sad and angry to hear of youths in Alexandra Park killing parent ducks using catapults and leaving ducklings orphans (Make Alexandra Park Hastings safe facebook page), posts on that page share information, and the Police are now well aware, indeed, Bexhill & Hastings Wildlife Rescue had to be called to rescue ducklings rather than their being left to perish. Park Rangers don't appear to be capable of preventing these crimes, but if you do witness such crimes please report them the Police (website).

Stay safe folks!

Literature & Music in Hastings this Weekend

Obviously there is always something to do in Hastings, for example go to visit1066country, but this weekend there are a couple of festivals too, including the Hastings Storytelling Festival (website), and Sonics 2022 (website), a "3-day festival of ground-breaking experimental, electronic, and culture."

Whatever you do enjoy the weekend folks and stay safe! 👌

Hastings Bonfire, Pier, RNLI Stall & O.W.E.N.S

Apologies for the language, but this was the effigy destroyed yesterday evening, self-explanatory, and cheers to Rod for sending this photo to me - credit for this photo goes to @allybobble from twitter - many thanks to you, nice one! But no fireworks last night sadly, as the wind was too strong to enable their safe display, still, looking on the bright side, plenty of fireworks available for next year!

I had chatted to a few of HBBS members clearing up before wandering to the west and passing the very empty Hastings Pier, apparently not to open up for Christmas, sadly.

A wander through Bottle Alley to just below Warrior Square Gardens and on the lower promenade was, and is still I presume, a RNLI Lifeboat Stall. Had a good chat with the 2 volunteers, good luck to their endeavour!

Oh yes, and carrying on home, walking into Robertson Street, and O.W.E.N.S appears to be open, sort of, they're not great with the online explanations (website), but the notice (above) is in the window of what was Debenhams, and presumably shows the opening times until they open 'officially' on the 11th of November... Not sure if it meant yesterday or next Saturday, but be watchful in the town centre. Anyway, the website gives alternative opening times to the 12.00 noon opening times in the notice.

I have spoken to friends who have visited O.W.E.N.S, so go for it people!

Hastings Bonfire, Procession & Fireworks and more!

The bonfire set up on Pelham Beach earlier today (above). Roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront and in the old town between 6.00 and 11.00pm this evening, to allow for the Procession and Hastings Bonfire celebrations to go ahead safely (HBBS), the culmination of Hastings Week 2022 celebrations. The procession will congregate at White Rock and starts from that end of Robertson Street about 7.15pm, following the lighting of the beacon at 7.00pm up on the East Hill and the arrival of lit torches. The procession will proceed along Robertson Street and across the America Ground, turning right into Harold Place, then turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, turning left and walking up All Saints Street to the top. Then crossing The Bourne to the High Street and back down to the seafront and turning right to the west and to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9pm, see the map below, and website for full details.

I wonder who the effigy will be of this year... Putin? 😏

As it still is Hastings Week (website), there are other things going on too this weekend. Today (Saturday) includes the 5th Hastings Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show, from 10.00am to 2.30pm at The Stade, and the 69th National Town Criers Championship at Butlers Gap in George Street from 11.00am. Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the 13th Sprat & Winkle Run, which begins in Sevenoaks from 7.00am, driving through Kent and East Sussex before arriving in Hastings between 10.00am and 12.30pm, and finishes at 4.00pm. What is the Sprat & Winkle Run? It is a run organised by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society (website), so expect to see about 70 vintage commercial vehicles at The Stade tomorrow...

The closing ceremony, that is The Reflection, will be held in St Clements Church, Swan Terrace from 4.00pm tomorrow (Sunday). 

Further details for the weekend can be seen at the website, enjoy, and stay safe!