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The room’s name is now covered over, without the necessary consent

The name-plate over the entrance to the Birch room has now been covered over, without the necessary consent.

Carry on regardless at Hastings Pier?

Breaches of planning consent on Hastings Pier have been known for many months. Following coverage of this in HOT, there are four more big signs on the Deck building, there without permission. The Deck doors have new lettering over them, without permission. The inscription for the Birch Room has similarly been obliterated without permission. For Bernard McGinley, this looks increasingly like a slight to Hastings, its people, the council and Hastings Pier. Looking at the continuing mess, he wonders if it’s time to resave the pier. Continue reading…

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Somebody I used to know by Wendy Mitchell

Dementia – eleven books to help us cope (and literary events from 20 Aug 2019)

A search in the mind for a word that you used to know and you start to worry. Not about the word. About getting dementia. Do you have a friend or a loved one with Alzheimer’s? Do you find it difficult? Angela J. Phillip reports on eleven books that might help us to cope.

00bathers

Still watching paint dry

On Tuesday 20 August, artist Robin Holtom takes over Hastings Arts Forum for two weeks. The exhibition is part retrospective and part a showcase for brand new work – there will be drawings, paintings and prints of landscapes, architecture and the human form – plus figurative sculptures. HOT’s Erica Smith talked to him about stillness, movement, Hastings Arts Forum and his place in the wider landscape.

Hastings author’s traumatic experience sparks idea for novel

A Hastings author has turned his shattering personal experience of being cyber-stalked into material for a new thriller, which is gaining glowing reviews report the organisers of Hastings Litfest. Paul Burston, author of six novels and editor of two short story collections, was subject to homophobic harassment over a sustained period.

00Walk-in-Centre-Campaign

Celebrate outside the Walk-in Centre at 11am this Saturday!

Hastings has moved closer to keeping its walk-in medical centre at Station Plaza – after a vigorous campaign by local people, Labour Party members and union activists. HOT’s Erica Smith is happy to share the news and invites you to gather in front of the Walk-in Centre at 11am THIS Saturday (17 August) for a last group hug outside this valuable resource.

WRT-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-FI

Summer youth project brings hit show to life!

The White Rock Theatre’s (WRT) annual Summer Youth Project began in 2003 and has become a highlight of its Youth and Community Programme with more than 1900 youngsters taking part since the start! This year’s production, reports the WRT, is the family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – complete with a flying car!

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Bookchat: Be fearless – write your truth (and events Aug 13 onwards)

We have an almost overwhelming urge to make things better. To chop out ragged edges so that clear shapes emerge. To provide explanations and make things fit. The most powerful urge is to send a moral message but all these instincts are the enemies of our truths. Angela J. Phillip looks for inspiration from the writers of five incredible books who showed and shared their characters’ experience, but left the readers to interpret.

Fun House Festival Poster 2019

Fun House Festival returns to St. Mary in the Castle

This summer St Mary in the Castle will once again play host to the Fun House Festival – an immersive event offering an array of arts and crafts workshops designed for kids and their families to have fun, relax and express their creativity. HOT’s Jordan Dixon writes.

Gangster School

East Sussex youngsters to get chance to design for children’s books

Some lucky Hastings and St Leonards youngsters will get the chance to see their creative work in print reports Angela J. Phillip. This will be in a popular children’s book series, thanks to author Kate Wiseman.

LONDINIUM
Recording ' The Gluepot Connection'
Directed by
Andrew Griffiths July 2017
at All Hallows Gospel Oak-
Credit : Sheila Burnett

Londinium brings a cappella music to Hastings and Bexhill over bank holiday weekend

Critically acclaimed London chamber choir Londinium is visiting Hastings and Bexhill on the August bank holiday weekend with a programme celebrating the myths of the sea and the passage of time, as they explain.

lamb players poster 350

The Lamb Players are back in Rye for one show only!

The Lamb Players will be appearing at Bridge Point, Rye’s new cultural and artistic centre, this weekend in a one-off special show. Nick Terdre reports.

Local LibDem member George Goring outside party headquarters in Brecon on the morning after byelection victory.

Local Lib Dem member helps party to by-election success

Still on an upward trajectory after recent Euro-election success, the Liberal Democrats took a parliamentary seat off the Tories in last week’s by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire. Local party member George Goring was there to lend a hand. Nick Terdre reports.

New PM Boris Johnson chairing his first Cabinet meeting in July. Labour council leaders are now asking him to restore council funding (photo: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under the Open Governent Licence v3.0).

Chowney joins Labour’s plea for restored council funding

Council leader Peter Chowney has joined dozens of Labour counterparts from local authorities around the country to urge new prime minister Boris Johnson to restore the council funding which has been removed under the Tory party’s austerity policy. Nick Terdre reports.

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Acromax gymnasts group performing at last year's event.

Festive times in St Leonards at the Garden of Delights

This weekend sees St Leonards’ other festival – the Garden of Delights in St Leonards Gardens. As usual there will be a pulsating programme of entertainment and a fine collection of stalls providing food and refreshments, as well as community and faith groups publicising their activities. Nick Terdre reports.

Slots in the middle room have caused controversy (photo: Bernard McGinley).

Slot machines on the pier: answering some of the critics

Bernard McGinley’s recent piece about slot machines on the pier has provoked a lot of response, especially on HOT’s Facebook page, much of it critical. Editorial organiser Nick Terdre takes up some of the questions raised.

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Miss Haversham's Demise (mixed media).

Nick Hill’s solo show for charity as part of Coastal Currents

Zoom Arts member Nick Hill has a one-man show of paintings coming up as part of the Coastal Currents arts festival. Running from Wednesday 7 August to late September, the works will be on display at Oscar’s, the cafe on the Lower Promenade opposite Warrior Square Gardens. Nick Terdre reports.