Good News in Brief
24-Hour parking returns at Priory Meadow
The car park at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre has returned to 24-hour opening. The 1066 space car park in Hastings town centre has been operating on reduced opening hours since the flood last year.
Andrew Harvey, Centre Manager, welcomed the return of 24-hour opening of the car park saying he was “extremely pleased” to have it back open on full operating hours in time for the run- up to Christmas.
The car park operates a ticketless system using ANPR technology and is one of the most competitively priced and largest in the town. It is also a secure, well-lit car park with dedicated disabled spaces, and wide bays for parents with children and babies on most levels.
Order of 1066 Award
The Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Judy Rogers, has presented Reg Wood with this year’s Order of 1066 Award. The honour is given by the town in recognition of exceptional service to Hastings. It is decided by a panel, chaired by the Mayor.
This year’s winner was chosen in appreciation of the important role he has played in the local community and involvement in events dating back to 1976, when he was chosen to represent Hastings during a visit to Schwerte, Germany. It was this visit that led Hastings to being twinned with Schwerte.
Cllr Rogers said Reg was a “very deserving winner” of the award, and “does so much behind the scenes to make sure our local events run smoothly.” In addition to being chairman of the town twinning group, he also plays a key part in Hastings Borough Bonfire Society, Hastings Week, Hastings Old Town Carnival, and Hastings Winkle Club.
Best Small Museum Project Award
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has been shortlisted for the Best Small Museum Project Award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2024. The nomination is for their collaboration with The Refugee Buddy Project on the exhibition ‘Illuminating Invisible Histories: Flavours Without Borders’.
The exhibition was a large collaborative project that began with a dinner party, which aimed to make stories of migration to Hastings visible. Guests at the dinner shared stories of migration and seeking refuge through objects with personal meaning to them. These stories and objects were then featured in an exhibition over the summer at Hastings Museum. This enabled visitors to discover more about the diverse culture of Hastings and explore the significant objects on display.
Rossana Leal, CEO of The Refugee Buddy Project, said the exhibition “brought to life seldom told stories of the various communities which make Hastings the magical place we live in.”
This year’s awards will take place in Leeds on Tuesday 12 November 2024, as part of the Museums Association’s annual conference.
Celebration at the Hastings Arms
Twin sisters Susan Stoten and Hazel Sturmer have celebrated two decades of running the Hastings Arms on George Street. The pair took on the historic 18th century pub in the Old Town, back in 2004.
The sisters grew up in Hastings, with their parents, sister Heather and brother Gareth, and Susan attended Hastings College, so they were familiar with the area. Over the last 20 years, they have put their own unique stamp on the pub, building an excellent reputation for their well-kept cask ales, along with their delicious menu of homemade pub classics, including the popular Tuesday Curry Nights and Tapas Thursdays.
To mark the occasion, Shepherd Neame’s Chief Executive Jonathan Neame visited the pub to celebrate their 20th anniversary and to thank them for their dedication and hard work over the past two decades. He also presented them with a commemorative plaque and magnum of Champagne.
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