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Haydn Ackerley in action. Photographs © Jeff Pitcher
Music journalist Ben Thompson sings the praises of local legend, and member of Borough Council (the band, not the administrative body), musician Haydn Ackerley. Continue reading…
Over 1,100 people have signed a petition proclaiming that ‘Hastings is Proudly Trans inclusive – Let’s Keep it That Way’. Erica Smith reports.
The site of the Old Bathing Pool (OBP) in West St Leonards continues to attract support for a better future as well as fond memories of its sunny past. Importantly, a revision of the Local Development Plan reopens possibilities, including for elsewhere. A new exhibition at Electro Studios in Seaside Road says more. Bernard McGinley reports.
Hastings Book Festival opens on Friday 12 September and runs until Saturday 20 September with Nigel Planer taking the stage at The Observer Building. Erica Smith puts on her reading glasses.
Hastings Botanic Garden Project brings their Garden Festival back to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery for the third year next Sunday (14 September). The event will be a FREE festival filled with family fun, kids’ activities – and food and music from Brazil – all inspired by the amazing botanic artist Marianne North, who was born in Hastings in 1830 and spent a year in Brazil. Erica Smith encourages you to visit Brazil from the comfort of your own local Museum.
This September the Electric Palace is bringing you a wave of films that revel in the visual and visceral spectacle of water and swimming on the big screen! Co-curated with local beachside partners including Samphire Sauna and At Sea Studio, the cinema in Old Town will be showing new releases like Some Like it Classic and Wind, Tide and Oar alongside cult classic The Swimmer, says Annie Waite.
Andrew Hemsley, writer and journalist for the Hastings and St Leonards Observer, talks with HOT’s Chandra Masoliver about the writers who have influenced his own writing. This will be followed by a second article with his own writing and the blog he will launch.
The UK’s free speech crackdown continues as Israeli human rights organisations condemn Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza. HOT’s Erica Smith reports.
Local residents – including folk in Hastings & St Leonards – are opening their homes to public this September, so that people can view energy-saving improvements and renewables. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle explains what’s happening.
Hastings’ cultural reputation needs to be expanded to acknowledge its prominence as a town of poetry. A new anthology, to be launched during the rapidly approaching Hastings Book Festival, makes the case, as Ben Sumner eloquently argues.
As Labour escalates its anti-migrant rhetoric and legislation in a bid to emulate Reform UK and the Conservatives, the voice of those seeking to understand and help refugees and asylum-seekers receives little attention. But it has not been stilled. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the movement that gave rise to Hastings Community of Sanctuary, a leading local vehicle for supporting those who come here needing our help, as the organisation’s Pal Luthra documents.
The UK hosts the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) in London – an arms fair buying and selling death and destruction to countries around the world – from 9-12 September. In this time of uncertainty, with civilians being targeted by weapons manufactured and sold in this country, it is time to stand for peace. Report by Tamara Stevens.
Saturday 13 September will see the third ‘Drone Against Drones’ in Hastings as, once more, people will arm themselves with musical instruments and take on the issue of armed drones. Report by John Enefer.
HOT’s Judy Parkinson will be wearing her best cocktail gown and accessorised to the nines for this year’s Barefoot Opera production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor opening at St John the Evangelist in St Leonard’s.
Ben Thompson introduces us to photographer Jeff Pitcher who is part of this weekend’s Sunday Afternoon at the Mint House.
Local Joe Cruttenden ran nearly 50 miles on Saturday 23 August to raise essential funds for the Al Mawasi community in Gaza which has longstanding ties to Hastings. Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Katy Colley reports.
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