Jeremy Birch leading a protest against the bedroom tax outside the town hall in March 2013 (Tracy Hobden/HBC).

Jeremy Birch memorial event this Saturday

An event to honour the memory of the late council leader Jeremy Birch will be held this Saturday evening, 20 June, in Warrior Square Gardens, Nick Terdre reports.

Starting at 8pm, the event will include tributes from leaders of different organisations Jeremy was involved in, along with music, dance and singing provided by community groups he was associated with, according to council spokesman Kevin Boorman. It will finish at around 10pm with a fireworks display.

“It will be an open air event, although marquees are being provided in case it is wet. The nature of the evening means that we will not be able to provide seats for everyone, but guests can bring their own chairs, or just sit on the lawn,” Mr Boorman said. (While rain is forecast for the afternoon in Hastings, the evening should be dry.)

“Jeremy played a huge role in Hastings over the past 20 years. Indeed he was active not just in Hastings but across East Sussex, and, in fact, across much of the south east, where he was involved in many different groups and partnerships over this time. We have tried to organise an event which recognises and acknowledges Jeremy’s work in the community, and for the town and county.”

Among those making musical contributions will be Sound Waves, Anyme, Opera South East, Sussex Brass, the Wobblies and Section 5. It seems likely that Jeremy’s close associate and successor as council leader, Cllr Peter Chowney, will also be among those paying a tribute.

Jeremy died on 6 May several days after suffering a massive stroke. By-elections to fill the vacancies he left as local councillor for Central St Leonards ward and as county councillor for Old Hastings and Tressell division will be held on Thursday 9 July.

Article amended at 21.40 on 18 June 2015.

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