Archives for Features - Page 2
A Time to Remember: WW1 and a Local ‘Conchie’
CHRIS SANDERSON recounts coming across ‘The Reluctant Tommy’ by Ronald Skirth (edited by Duncan Barrett), an autobiography of a local man who volunteered for WW1 and survived as a pacifist …
Inua Ellams joins Hastings Storytelling Festival
Inua Ellams, the poet, playwright and performer, has a unique storytelling style which bridges cultures and histories, making him a significant voice in contemporary literature and performance. Hastings Storytelling Festival…
Historic Revelations at the Edith Festival
A couple of years ago, HIP published DAVID DENNIS’ article on the life of ‘Edith the Swan Neck’. He introduces another Edith Festival coming to Hastings soon. Everyone loves a…
Wish You Were Here
GILL GOLDENBERG explores the iconic Judges building on Bexhill Road with James White (Design Innovation), looking at the past, present and future of the postcard industry. How many photos do…
A History of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
We recently marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Country Park. Local historian, STEVE PEAK adds to the celebration with a history. Postcard of Ecclesbourne Glen in the…
On Pet Grief and How to Cope
ANITA KELSEY is based in Hastings and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is the author of 3…
The CountryPark is 50!
STEPHANIE DONALDSON, Editor of ‘Over the Glens’, the newsletter of the Friends of Hastings Country Park Reserve The clue is in the name - Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve (HCPNR)…
All Power to the Mighty Gig Poster
Hastings Flyer – one of Hastings largest gig-listing websites – is full to bursting with posters promoting events, but has also gone a bit retro with a growing archive of…
Seeing the Person, Not the Condition
INGRID ALLAN is a charity caseworker with a background in education, antiquarian books and the aquatics trade, she can often be found on the West Hill, with her dog Bentham…
Standing Up For Nature
Organised by DAVID EP DENNIS and introduced by CHARMIAN KENNER, Features and Environment join forces to highlight wildlife and environmentalist groups in the area David EP DennisThe beautiful Peacock butterfly…
Community Power Through Community Union
MERLIN BETTS writes about the recent work of Acorn Community Union, which uses direct action to campaign for tenants’ rights Naomi GannYour author celebrates a victory with other Acorn members…
Sunken Lands
Following on from the flooding-related futurology feature in the last edition, HIP contributor CALLUM THOMSON met an explorer of sunken lands, Gareth E. Rees. There’s a theme emerging. In his…
2066 Virtual City: The World’s First Inland Seaside
In the wake of a climate crisis architect KEN DAVIS imagines a new urban centre connecting Hastings, Battle and Bexhill This vision, this idea, this plan is overwhelmingly positive. It…
Cunning Men, Witches & Devils
DAVID EP DENNIS It’s 1593. What is a mother to do when her precious child is sick? There is no NHS, no internet or mobile phones. The vicar’s prayers are…
Cream Tea with HotWax
SERENA FERRARI “Which one do you put first – the cream or the jam?” asks Tallulah Sim-Savage, lead vocalist and guitarist of new hyped rock band, HotWax. “The cream, I…
Grapes of Rother
We suspect that many of our readers like a glass of wine - this is how it starts! CHRISTINE O’GARA shares her experience of grape-picking. Bailey’s Job Agency on Hastings…
Robert Tressell: The Original Hastings Independent
STEVE PEAK The creation of a new political party in Hastings – the Hastings Independent Group – because of the failure of the Labour Party to help ordinary people would…
Why are Teachers Leaving the Profession?
With almost a third of teachers leaving the profession within five years of starting, former teacher CALLUM THOMSON explores why. Recent data released by the Department for Education shows that…
The History of the Hastings Fishermen’s Museum
STEVE PEAK The Hastings Fishermen’s Museum was built in 1853/4 as a church, which closed in 1939 and was converted into the Fishermen’s Museum in ; Until the early 1830s…
Should Hastings follow the Basque Country’s lead?
After attending a talk on bottom-up regeneration, regular contributor and former Community Editor, ROD WEBB, visits a grassroots community project. ROD WEBB writes about the recent inspirational talk on social…
Christina Rossetti’s Hastings
RYAN ORMONDE, a poet who divides his time between Hastings and London, explores Christina Rossetti’s Hastings. A drawing of Christina Rossetti by her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti In his classic…
All Rise
As well as being a regular HIP contributor, DAVID EP DENNIS has been appointed as Project Manager for Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council’s Wild Domesday Project. One of his main areas of…
Valentino’s Vivarium
HIP Features Editor BEN BRUGES visits a Hastings vivarium that also houses people. Ben BrugesValentino with Amity - they often watch TV together Valentino Cerioli, five, can’t remember when he…
3 Million Pounds of Unclaimed Benefit for Hastings Residents
HIP social media co-editor, SALLY BURR, noticed that pensioners are missing out on money that’s due to them. Read on to help yourself or someone you know. Alexas Photos, Unsplash…
A Bit of Science and a Bit of Honesty
Annie Spratt, Unsplash MERLIN BETTS discusses climate change in response to Jonathan Andrews’ article (HIP 234) Whether facts are convenient or not, they’re supposed to Some people think ‘true’ is…
The Real Colin from Accounts
In homage to this summer’s word -of-mouth TV hit, TESSA BOASE investigates the lure of Brewing Brothers’ new taproom up on the Ridge. And yes, there’s a ; This summer’s…
Fresh in on the Tide
DAVID EP DENNIS Imagine a cold grey mist, a lamp in the darkness and the crunching sound of wood grinding on the gravel of an English beach. Here comes Mora,…
Henry Normal: Creative Crusader
SERENA FERRARI, a new contributor to HIP, talks to Henry Normal - poet, comedian, father - about poetry and the creative process. Richard Davis It’s a misty morning in Fairlight…
A Journey Into Activism
JILL KAYE moved down from London to St. Leonards 16 years ago and loves living so close to the sea. She used to run a gardening business and then a…
Digital Voice: Switching Off the Elderly
Due to a perceived conflict of interest, this contributor’s employer has asked them to publish anonymously. While HIP generally prefers to acknowledge the source of its articles, in this case…
What Lies Beneath: exploring an ancient cellar
DAVID CLEGG We knew when we moved into our house on Swan Avenue that it had a cellar, but we didn’t know quite how big it was – or that…
If You Had £400k to Spend on the Arts…
Following recent revelations, HIP asked three Hastings creatives what they would do if let loose with a chunk of taxpayer’s ; A poverty of ideals JOHN KNOWLES, writer, producer…
Where are the Blue Plaques?
DR HILDA KEAN, FRHistS, historian, and retired Dean of Ruskin College, Oxford on how we honour and remember people in Hastings. This May, including the May Day celebrations held in…
We Just Want to Swim in the Sea!
DAVID EP DENNIS, a regular contributor and local historian who has recently been made ‘Bexhill Wild Domesday project manager.’ looks at our problems with ; David EP Dennis The seas…
Invisible Hands: The Anxiety of the Childless
The economic shifts of the last 50 years have caused a crisis in family formation. Fewer and fewer people are managing to have children. Local writer and musician ADAM RUSSELL…
The Turnpike Roads
The development and layout of Hastings and St Leonards owe much to turnpike roads (toll roads) built in and around the towns in the 18th and 19th centuries. Local historian…
‘Mad Jack’ Fuller: Racist
Hastings’ Isobel Blackman Centre was standing room only as Black Lives Matter organiser Gary McFarlane and Sussex historian Mike Anderson spoke about the ‘Myth of Mad Jack Fuller’ to a…
Coronation Fever
KENT BARKER charts the involvement of a prominent Hastings civic dignitary at the coronation of George II in 1727 Hastings had been one of the original Cinque Ports - probably…
Designed to make you feel helpless and powerless
Miranda Cleland and Ayed Abu Eqtaish from Defence for Children International - Palestine recently addressed a packed meeting at the White Rock Hotel. KATY COLLEY ; Manal’s family home was…
I Remember Ramallah
170 Palestinians, including at least 30 children, were killed across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem last year. This January alone, 29 Palestinians including five children have been killed.…