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Cllr Andy Patmore, upper left, at the Cabinet meeting, with Cllr Rob Lee on his left and Cllr Peter Chowney, right, who chaired the meeting.

Cllr Andy Patmore, upper left, at the Cabinet meeting, with Cllr Rob Lee on his left and Cllr Peter Chowney, seated in front of screen, who chaired the meeting.

Patmore: why I opposed solar farms proposal at Cabinet

At last week’s Cabinet meeting Conservative councillor Andy Patmore, together with his colleague Cllr Rob Lee, voted against the motion to authorise feasibility studies costing £80,000 for the ground-mounted solar farms proposed by the council for the Country Park. Here he explains his reasons for doing so, and why he thinks it is crucial to seek Natural England’s comments on the proposal as the next step – a move which was approved as an amendment. Continue reading…

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The White Rock Theatre

Theatre refurbishment to improve flexibility of venue

The White Rock Theatre (WRT) is to continue a series of full-scale improvements to the interior and exterior of the venue, including the provision for standing at concerts, new lighting for the outside of the building and more. Theatre staff describe what is in store.

CIP - Penny Hembrow, Chair

Hastings social enterprise funding marks a UK first

The Work People (also known as Hastings Works) is the first social enterprise in the UK to benefit from the newly-created Community Impact Partnership (CIP) fund. Based in Hastings in East Sussex, The Work People will benefit from £107,000 to take its business to the next stage of its development.

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Surviving the Streets to provide Christmas cheer at the Y Centre

The Y Centre will be open over Christmas as local charity Surviving the Streets provides seasonal cheer for the homeless, the lonely, the elderly and anyone unable to provide for themselves. Nick Terdre reports.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk – the facts updated!

The popular family tradition of Christmas pantomime is always a regular event at Hastings White Rock Theatre (WRT). This year Jack and the Beanstalk is the WRT’s annual festive entertainment. HOT’s Paul Way-Rider has received photos from the WRT of the well received show which started its run earlier this month and are featured below.

All eyes on the board as the 95th Hastings International Chess Congress gets under way.

Gormally takes sole chess lead

The 94th Hastings International Chess Congress is approaching its climax this weekend, with over 300 players taking part in its host of tournaments. In the Masters an English grandmaster has taken the lead with three rounds to go. Nick Terdre reports. Photos by Brendan O’ Gorman except where noted.

St Richard's Catholic College is one of many educational institutions which support Surviving Christmas.

Surviving Christmas in top gear

This week the Surviving Christmas charity is in top gear, with a focus on packing and delivering hampers across Hastings and Rother ahead of opening its doors on Christmas and Boxing days to provide festive hospitality to those who would otherwise miss out. Nick Terdre reports. Photos by Surviving Christmas.

Photo from Moneywise

Time to declare a Climate Emergency in Hastings

In the light of the recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5o C, cities and towns across the country are declaring a climate emergency. I think it is time that Hastings did as well. Julia Hilton from Hastings Green Party writes – and explains at the end of this article what you can do to support a declaration.

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Banksy's Christmas card on display at the PSC information stall in Hastings town centre (photo: Hastings PSC).

How to support Palestine

As life under Israel’s occupation becomes intolerable for Palestinians, Laurie Holden of the local Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) gives a few pointers as to how the local community can show solidarity.

Locals kayak over the channel in aid of Elsie-Rose charity

On Tuesday 1 August 2018, Mark Little and Jason Carrick of the Dolphin Inn, fisherman Paul Stanley and care worker Kerry Phillips all set off for Dungeness to kayak over to Boulogne to raise money for the Elsie-Rose and Friends Foundation. Last Thursday 30 November, before the usual Dolphin Inn quiz night, four year old Elsie-Rose was presented with a cheque for £3,253! HOT’s Chandra Masoliver asked the intrepid paddlers to tell their story.

Fisheries Bill to be discussed in Parliament today

The Second Reading of the Fisheries Bill is scheduled in the House of Commons today, Wednesday 21 November. Rick Dillon catches up with the Labour Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Peter Chowney to see how the Labour Party wants to support the nation’s small boat fishing fleets.

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HFS launches mobile training

With the support of Sussex Freemasons, Hastings Furniture Services has set up a mobile workshop to take training opportunities to people unable to come to them, as the charity reports.

Nish Kumar

Nish Kumar at the De La Warr Pavilion

Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Nish Kumar is taking his brand new show – It’s in Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves – on a nationwide tour of the UK. He will be stopping off at the De La Warr Pavilion on 31 January, writes the DLWP’s Dominika Hicks.

Julia Hilton

Solar panels in Hastings Country Park – ecology or politics?

Hastings Borough Council (HBC), with its majority of Labour councillors, has proposed to put two arrays of solar panels in the Country Park and one at Upper Wilting Farm in Crowhurst. Amber Rudd, Hastings and Rye Conservative MP, has launched a petition against this. HOT’s Chandra Masoliver asks Julia Hilton, spokesperson for Hastings Green Party, for her thoughts on the ecological and political issues involved.

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Success of Ore Synthesizer Club

Performing recently at The Printworks to an absorbed and enthusiastic audience, The Ore Synthesizer Club (OSC) used synthesized sound and carefully prepared projected visuals in their “Overtures – A Compendium of Love”. HOT’s Zelly Restorick writes.

Jazz Hastings December gig

Jazz Hastings has a real Christmas treat in store for its next session: celebrated jazz singer Claire Martin, ranked by Jazz Times USA as “among the four or five finest female jazz vocalists on the planet”, will be appearing alongside fabled guitarist, Jim Mullen on Tuesday 4 December at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association on the Stade. Julian Norridge writes.

Artisan and Craft Beer Festival at St Marys

St Mary in the Castle are hosting their first ever Artisan and Craft Beer Festival, alongside a Christmas market in the Crypt on 22 December. There will be live music from Suspect (Hastings Beer Festival headliners) and projections of winter sports, as well as a selection of some of the best craft beer in East Sussex.

Add your wishes for Hastings to the Magic Xmas Tree

Hastings and Rye Labour Party will be in Hastings Town Centre tomorrow, Thursday 20 December, inviting you to add your three wishes for Hastings to their ‘Magic Money Tree’. HOT’s (and Labour’s) Erica Smith peeps inside its branches.

Photo Bob Mazzer

Piano Competition 2019 seeks volunteers

The organisers of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, increasingly regarded as an important fixture in the country’s musical calendar, are looking for more volunteers to help in this exciting and prestigious event. Hannah Deeble writes.

Ian Botham, caught in action

Cricketing ghosts and heroes of Priory Meadow

Local resident and cricket enthusiast, Michael Gould recalls the glories of the unique seaside cricket ground that once stood on the site of the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre – and anticipates a shining future for the young guns of Hastings & St. Leonards Priory Cricket Club, the “Community Club.”

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Rare new tree for Alexandra Park

A wollemi pine, an historic tree, has been planted in Alexandra Park in Hastings, a green space that is renowned for its collection of trees, both rare and common. Over 2000 trees of about 400 different kinds (including forms and cultivars) grow in the park, and there are more in the adjacent woods.

Clay Culture Trail 2018

Clay Culture Trail 2018

Clay Culture is a group of ceramicists and potters working in Hastings & St Leonards. The range of their work crosses a wide and diverse spectrum; from the sculptural to the functional. In their annual Clay Culture Trail 2018 of open studios, the artists offer you a vision of the rich diversity of contemporary ceramics in the area.

No-go area: Hastings pier is expected to remain closed until March.

Come and support the pier!

Supporters of the pier are invited to a community gathering on Saturday morning to “demonstrate that we love Hastings Pier!”The event follows on the announcement that the pier will be closed until March for repair work. Nick Terdre reports, photos by Russell Jacobs.

Children homeless this Christmas – the result of Tory austerity

More than 80 children in Hastings will be homeless this Christmas according to Shelter. And the number is rising. The latest analysis by the housing charity indicates that 83 children in our town will spend Christmas in temporary accommodation – far from the comfort of home. Rick Dillon of the local Labour Party investigates.

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Drawing Life

Drawing Life exhibition

An exhibition of selected works by people living with dementia is at the Kino Teatr, Norman Road, St Leonards at 4 – 8 pm on Friday 30 November, and from 11am – 5pm on Saturday 1 December. The organisers would love to see you there.

LUX Awards 2018

Bottle Alley wins national award

Hastings Borough Council is celebrating after its Bottle Alley lighting scheme won ‘Outdoor lighting project of the year’ award at the prestigious 2018 LUX awards, which took place in London in November.

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THE PURSUIT OF SHADOWS

by John D Robinson

A Penny Pinchers Christmas

A Penny Pincher’s Christmas is a festive fixture on Hastings Christmas calendar!

Kate Tym and John Knowles of It’s Not Us Theatre Company are back for the a third year running with their sell-out Christmas show. “Every year we get requests from our audiences to put it on again,” says Kate Tym, “they tell us it wouldn’t be Christmas without A Penny Pincher’s Christmas Carol and we are more than happy to oblige!” Bevali Francis reports.

Gen Li, finalist in last year's Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition.

Gen Li to give winter recital

Chinese pianist Gen Li, who thrilled the audience at the final of last year’s Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition with his rendition of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3, will be performing in Hastings once again this month. Julian Norridge sets the scene.

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Rachel Glittenberg new work preview

Back in May, Erica Smith interviewed Rachel Glittenberg – one of the artists chosen to exhibit in the Hastings Arts Forum 15 year anniversary show. This week she caught up with Rachel again to find out about her recent work – on show on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 December in her pre-Christmas open studio.

The film, A Bold Peace

A Bold Peace

Hastings Against War invites you to our screening of A Bold Peace (2016), a documentary about Costa Rica’s path to demilitarisation. In a country with no military, another way to live beckons to the world… Rona Drennen writes.

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IncePoster

Saturday 8 December is Ince Day

Comedian Robin Ince is performing in both St Leonards AND Hastings this coming Saturday, 8 December. His national tour of independent shops includes an appearance at The Bookkeeper at 2pm and Wow and Flutter at 6.30pm. Erica Smith spoke to Bookkeepers’ Carol Dennard.

HEXAGONAL Chantelle Duncan 600

Hexagonal play the Kino-Teatr

Featuring internationally recognised musicians, Hastings-based jazz band Hexagonal get around, but on Friday 7 December they are back in town to play a gig at the Kino-Teatr in St Leonards. Julian Norridge reports.

Tina May at Jazz Hastings

The legendary Tina May, one of the UK’s most renowned and respected jazz vocalists, will be starring in Jazz Hastings January session at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association on the Stade on Tuesday 15 January. Julian Norridge rolls out the red carpet.

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Seaview Christmas events

The Seaview Project is the only organisation of its kind locally, supporting people on the margins of society in Hastings and St Leonards and the wider area. With Christmas coming, they have two events coming up: a carol concert and an afternoon of entertainment. You’re very welcome to attend.

Young Electrics host ‘mystery’ screenings at Electric Palace

Meet the ‘Young Electrics’, a new group of 10 young people from around the Hastings area who convene at the Electric Palace cinema in Hastings Old Town to learn about film programming, explains Annie Waite.

Prize Giving winners 600

Six-way tie for chess trophy

Six players shared first place in the Masters tournament at Hastings International Chess Congress, after a draw dashed Danny Gormally’s hopes of running out sole winner. Meanwhile the Horntye trustees have confirmed that the venue will remain available for the town’s prestigious chess event for the indefinite future. Nick Terdre reports, photos by Matthew Carr.