How the Rock Fair Ended
As part of his history of America Ground Steve Peak wrote about the three main fairs, and how the killjoys ended the biggest and best – the Rock Fair. Three ancient fairs were held every year in Hastings until they…
OPINION: Without Representation
By Kent Barker Is there a case for the proposition that a hung Council better represents and better serves its electors than one where a single party has a substantial majority? In the 2021 local Council elections in Hastings, when…
OPINION: Two Cheers for a Trifle?
By Nick Pelling As you all probably know, a jubilee should begin with the blowing of a ram’s horn. This, I believe, was an ancient Jewish practice in which a so-called Yobel – Hebrew for a ram’s horn – was…
A Word From Our Founders
Current Features Editor Ben Bruges asked long-term HIP writer Gareth Stevens to explore the developmentof HIP from founding to 200th edition. Below Ben explores his own reasons for getting involved with the paper. Gareth Stevens talks to some of the founders…
OPINION: Are you Dizzy in disguise?
Nick Pelling explores a Tory Tradition. Imagine a politician who was willing to say almost anything to get into power. Who claimed he was going to level up society but actually did very little. Imagine a politician who wrote distinctly…
Living Off-Grid, Almost
In Features this edition new writer SONNY LEVITT recounts his experiences of living off grid, nearly. Features is always looking for new writers and new voices email todiscuss your ideas. Sonny Levitt, a young Hastings ‘townie’ finds himself exploring alternative…
OPINION
To Take up Arms? Kent Barker poses some uncomfortable questions about opposing military might. Where does a pacifist-minded person stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine? It may not be a very popular question given the widespread revulsion against Putin’s…
SATIRE
Diary of a Seaside Landlady By Teigh-Anne Toast Signore Benito Falabella arrived, tottering behind two enormous suitcases, fit for a princeling. His luggage contained more clothes than he had words of English. But, he managed to answer a couple of…
Vendelis: The History of Old Winchelsea
David EP Dennis Was there ever such a place as Old Winchelsea? Myth or a fisherman’s tale? The truth is that in the early part of the 13th century, Old Winchelsea was in its period of greatest prosperity. It had…
Age and ageism
Ruby Cox explores attitudes towards age and has a suggestion for coming together on the issue. Ben Bruges responds with three photo-texts. Greetings from the Yarnfield Conference Centre near Stoke on Trent where I’m attending the National Pensioners’ Convention Biennial…