Sea Swimming
In the last issue we wrote about Swimming on Christmas Day (Christmas Rituals Issue 192). In this issue, EMMA CLAUGHTON writes about what sea swimming means to her. As a child I experienced the wrath of the sea when she…
Inspiration and Hard Work Pays Off
On a sunny Saturday morning in mid-January the crowds gathered for the opening of the second communal composting site at St Leonards Warrior Square station. The crowd wasn’t large, but it was impressive: there were volunteers from Hastings Composting Community,…
Painting with the Salts of the Earth
By Ben Cornwell January is often a month with little going on. Everyone is recovering from the chaos and celebrations of Christmas and New Year’s Eve: the weather is miserable, and the days seem to drag. But while many may…
Bexhill Comes Alive with Light
A brand new free light art festival comes to Bexhill on Saturday 29 January Bexhill After Dark, produced by local events company, 18 Hours, will feature 11 light-art installations around Bexhill town centre, along with an illuminated, wheeled parade. Installations…
Amazing Christmas Gift
Staff at a Bexhill-based holiday parks group have been described as “truly amazing” after they donated a whole van-full of gifts to a Hastings food charity. The comment was made by Dom Warren of Dom’s Food Mission who collected the…
Christmas Rituals
We all need rituals in our lives, and one that has been developing over our time in St Leonards is the Christmas Day swim from the beach – next to groyne 41 behind the Azur Marina Pavilion. I don’t know…
Highway to 2022
After reading newspaper article pointing out that two in three UK drivers were unaware of the imminent changes to the Highway Code, I did a mini poll at a New Year gathering. I only managing to ask four people –…
Borrowing Instead of Buying
Christmas is over and January sales are in full swing, but not everyone is rushing to the shops: some people are borrowing, giving or lending instead. One project at the forefront of this ‘sharing economy’ is Hastings Library of Things,…
The Grocer’s Story
By Nick Glass Ken McClelland of St Leonards Grocery is retiring after 31 years. “Bloody Hell! That’s the end of era!” was the reaction of Brighton wholesaler, Andy Griffiths of TG Fruits on learning that his longest serving customer (and…
Much-loved clubs need your support
The search is on for volunteers who can help bring stories to life and support others to access library services. Rhyme-time and Storytime sessions, homework club and code club are just some of the events that are run across East…