PhotoHastings summer exhibition at Stade Hall includes an astounding selection of images from 16 photographers. This year, the group has welcomed two new photographers working with a mentor. HOT’s Erica Smith was delighted to meet these budding photographers.
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Self-declared pensioner Rosamond Palmer has proven without a doubt that age is no boundary when we really want to do something, even something that is very, very challenging: like a 1,000 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail. An inspirational human being! HOT’s Zelly Restorick talked to Rosamond about her adventure and the creativity the journey catalysed.
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Theatre is back! Two performances in one evening at The Stables Theatre! Two talented, veteran actors! Two solo shows! Both influenced by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Both written and directed by renowned local playwright, John Knowles. One night only! Bringing their brilliance to the stage, Patrick Kealey performs in ‘Fiction Romance’ and Sidney Keane in ‘Toby Belch (is unwell)’. Both have had 5 star reviews and now we have a chance to see them in our own town. Fully accessible theatre. HOT’s Zelly Restorick writes.
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After all these months of staying-at-home, binge-eating, binge-watching, napping and possibly solo-jogging, we are delighted to celebrate the return of Park Run! HOT’s Erica Smith dusts down her trainers and sweat-pants and considers whether she should set the alarm to get up in time on Saturday for the first Hastings Park Run in over 16 months.
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For those living in blocks of flats, or who for some other reason are precluded from the pleasures of composting, help is on the way. The newly established Hastings & St Leonards Compost Community has just established its first composting hub for communal use and is now working to open up new sites across the town. Nick Terdre reports.
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Sussex Health and Care Partnership has arranged a busy programme of walk-in vaccination clinics across the two counties for the remainder of July, including clinics in Hastings all this week. Nick Terdre reports.
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See film adaptations of inspirational books and discuss your opinions in a friendly and open discussion forum after the screenings at Electric Palace cinema, says Annie Waite.
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The Green Party’s Cllr Julia Hilton has added her voice to the many objections lodged against Sea Change Sussex’s plan to develop the North Queensway Innovation Park, complaining of the council’s lack of scrutiny of the company. Meanwhile Sea Change envisages having the Queensway Gateway road in operation by November, and has been granted funding for the Bexhill Enterprise Park North. Nick Terdre reports.
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Scooters emerged onto the streets years ago. But they were for children. Now they are bigger, faster and ridden by older ‘kids’ – the electric scooter has arrived. But what is their status? HOT’s Lauris Morgan-Griffiths decided to find out.
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On Monday 12 July, at a meeting in County Hall, Lewes, the East Sussex Pension Committee rejected a fresh proposal to divest the East Sussex Pension Fund from the fossil fuel companies that are driving the climate crisis. The proposal was rejected by 3 votes to 2, with Cllrs David Tutt (Lib Dem, Eastbourne – St Anthony’s) and Julia Hilton (Green, Old Hastings & Tressell) voting in favour of full divestment, and the three Conservative Councillors – Gerard Fox (Hailsham New Town), Paul Redstone (Northern Rother) and Sam Adeniji (Seaford North) – voting against it.
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A meeting called by Conservative councillors was held on Harrow Lane playing fields on Saturday to protest against controversial council plans to sell the site. About 50 people attended, including MP Sally-Ann Hart and Labour Cllr Andy Batsford, the housing lead, who defended the policy. Report by Nick Terdre, photos by Russell Jacobs.
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Walk-in vaccination clinics will be held in Hastings town centre this week and a mobile testing unit is also operating in West St Leonards until Sunday as the health authorities deploy additional resources to combat the rising tide of infections. Report by Nick Terdre, photos by Russell Jacobs.
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The Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra has organised a series of free classical music events entitled ‘Open Doors’ which has something for everyone. The orchestra’s survival through Covid and its ability to perform for free owes much to the generosity of its sponsors, Fairlight Arts Trust and Penn Elcom, with further funding from the Lottery and the approval of the Arts Council, writes Chris Cormack.
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Hastings Literary Festival, founded in 2018 with Sir David Hare as patron, was just gaining momentum when it was called off last year due to Covid restrictions. Inevitably, due to restrictions, the Festival will be smaller and in fewer venues. However, the festival is back and raring to go. HOT’s Lauris Morgan-Griffiths was keen to know more about their planned activities.
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The Hastings Philharmonic Choir are now breaking their long 19-month silence (their last concert was in December 2019). Rehearsals began in Autumn 2020 for a concert of top choral pieces from Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741), but the subsequent concert had to be postponed to this Sunday 18 July. It must be the best rehearsed of concerts in a long time and the choir found the Covid lockdown more bearable, languishing in this beautiful music, writes Chris Cormack.
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