Archives for Top Stories - Page 7
Make Timeto Do The Roo
CHRIS CONNELLEY gets excited at the Prince Albert’s bar menu We didn’t have a television in my house when I was growing up in the 1970s, so I spent a…
FOOTBALL: Pointless January Confirms Relegation Threat
19 January: Hastings Utd 1, Cray Wanderers 2 22 January: Hastings Utd 1, Binfield 2 26 January: Chatham Town v Hastings Utd – match abandoned 28 January: Carshalton Athletic 2,…
‘Hastings Three’ Acquitted
KENT BARKER Three men prosecuted for taking part in a peaceful protest at arms manufacturer General Dynamics have been acquitted of all charges at Brighton Law Courts. Laurie Holden, 72,…
‘Victory’For Hastings Academies
KENT BARKER Eight Hastings schools and six others across Sussex are to be removed from control of the University of Brighton Academies Trust (UBAT). In a brief statement on 20…
West Marina Consultation Jump-started
HUGH SULLIVAN A coalition of design and community groups has unveiled proposals for the future of the ex-bathing pool and holiday camp at West Marina. At a recent exhibition and…
Domestic Theatre as Future Hope
VICTORIA KINGHAM At the present time, the ‘value’ of education appears generally to be measured in literal financial terms: it ceases to be about learning to think, argue, or evaluate.…
End Game For Local Councils
PAUL McLAUGHLIN The Councils of Hastings Borough, Rother District and East Sussex County are set to be to be abolished. Taking their place, probably by 2028, will be a new…
Bus Fares Rise
Bus fares rose across England from 1 January as the government raised the nationwide cap for individual journeys from £2 to £3. However, a system of subsidies awarded by East…
Tax Hike on Farms: A Local Perspective
HUGH SULLIVAN Frank Langrish’s grandfather first came to farm in the Tilling Valley to the north of Udimore over a century ago. Frank eventually inherited, and has worked on the…
Interim Director for Hastings Contemporary
Arts powerhouse Kathleen Soriano is to become the Interim Director of Hastings Contemporary, taking up her new role in January 2025. She is an independent curator, strategic consultant and broadcaster.…
Future Growth at Ore Station
The Friends of Ore Station are thrilled to announce the next step in transforming unused derelict land near the station into a thriving community garden. Building on the success of…
Wisdens Closure: The Departure of a Sporting Family
HUGH SULLIVAN In 1896, W G Grace was opening the batting for England against Australia at the age of 48; The Wednesday club (later re-branded as Sheffield Wednesday) beat Wolves…
2024 In Review
Issue 244: Keeping HIP on the Road: Birthday Special, discussion of what the paper does, recent redesign Voices from founding and contributing membersIssue 246: International Women’s Day Festival Promises to…
Hastings Housing Crisis: No Room at the Inn
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN We all know there is a massive housing and homelessness crisis in Hastings. The growing visibility of rough sleepers on our streets, the simmering anger about the condition…
The Year In Sport 2024
ATHLETICS At Hastings Athletics Club (HAC) it’s been a busy and successful year for the club in every discipline - from local events to international level – as it celebrated…
Stand up for White Rock
Hastings Comedy Festival presents the second night of their winter stand-up comedy programme at the White Rock Studio, on 11 January. There will be live comedy from Suzi Ruffell and…
Government Acts over Hastings Schools Funding
ERIN WARD The Government has committed to abolishing the current Academy Schools’ funding model following the intervention of local MP Helena Dollimore in the House of Commons on 9 ;…
A Magical Pantomime Adventure
SARAH MILNE Some of my most treasured childhood memories are of Christmas in Hastings with my grandparents, going to see the pantomime at White Rock Theatre. I loved the thrill…
FOOTBALL: Confidence Ebbs at the Pilot Field
23 November: Hendon 9, Hastings Utd 0 26 November: Hastings Utd 1, Carshalton Athletic 130 November: Hastings Utd 0, Dartford 3 HUGH SULLIVAN Jon Smalldon November was a confidence-sapping month for Hastings United. Having ditched manager Danny…
Hastings Contemporary Director Leaves for Dorset
VICTORIA KINGHAM The Director of Hastings Contemporary is leaving to take up the post of Chief Executive Officer at The Sherborne in ; Liz Gilmore was the founding Director of…
Grand Designs on Other People’s Houses!
STEVEN SHORT, a writer, editor and publisher who lives in the Old Town, shares a favourite house What’s your favourite house in Hastings? I know what mine is, and although…
Digital Learning Skills Training at the White Rock
It was recently announced that the White Rock Theatre, operated by The Guildhall Trust, is to receive £25,000, awarded by East Sussex County Council from the Hastings Skills Capital Fund.…
Calling All Cat Lovers
MARIE ASHTON, Branch Manager of Bluebell Ridge RSPCA animal shelter, reminds our readers of the important work they do Bluebell Ridge Bluebell Ridge RSPCA animal shelter is holding an open…
Recycling Scheme Booking ‘Bonkers’
KENT BARKER HIP Readers have condemned Council proposals to introduce a booking system at recycling sites. Dave Young East Sussex County Council is considering introducing a booking system for its…
Home Office Slated Over Northeye Purchase
HUGH SULLIVAN A year ago we reported (in HIP 239: £9m Private Profit Revealed) that when the Home Office bought the former prison site of Northeye on the edge of…
Skates Off!
Ice Rink and Markets Pulled from Pier as Leaseholders Depart HUGH SULLIVAN An ice skating rink and “covered and heated” Christmas markets, which were due to be opened today (Friday) on…
Art, Angles, Adventure
VICTORIA KINGHAM talks to photographer and documentary filmmaker Rod Morris Photohastings is a loose collective – a network of photographers who exhibit together and jointly publish their work. Supporting each…
Remembering Glenys
WoH! members and the Wishing Tree House Writers’ group share their thoughts about Glenys Jacques who died on 6 November: artist, writer, craftswoman, teacher, musician and founder of Women of…
Something Bizarre at St Andrews Mews
ROD WEBB It’s not often that my daughter tells me what I should visit, but she was insistent. “You must go and see ‘Bizarre BUT True!’. It’s so good, and…
Sweating, Rocking, Tender Moments
JUDE MONTAGUE Amy Rigby, US singer-songwriter, visits Hastings for her first ever local gig with husband and sometime-duo partner, Wreckless Eric. Eric (Goulden) is local, from Peacehaven. Amy was raised…
Privilege to Serve
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN The Labour Government has held power for just over 100 days, experiencing a remarkable rollercoaster of highs and lows as new ministers navigate the intense scrutiny of a…
New Nuclear for Dungeness?
KAYLA POWER AND KENT BARKER Nuclear power generation could restart at Dungeness under plans being considered by the new Labour government. Both the outgoing MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian…
Living With Damp and Mould
KEN DAVIS, a retired architect, a director of Energise Sussex Coast and member of the Hastings Urban Design Group and Transition Towns explains why so many Hastings houses are damp…
The Independent Rescue Boat
JO O’HARA introduces Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat (PLIRB) - which provides a similar service to the RNLI but without the same level of funding or support Photos: PLIRB PLIRB…
Tuesday Grows Fat Again
Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival will return in its full form in 2025, running from 28 February to 4 March. The full five days of music and mayhem will launch…
Football: United Manager Sacked After Cup Defeat
HUGH SULLIVAN Danny Bloor, appointed as Hastings United manager on a two-year contract from last May, has been dismissed. On 26 October the team were defeated 4-3 in an FA…
Blokes in Wonderland
HELEN MURPHY & NICK PELLING The wonderful Rogue Gallery has moved. It is now to be found opposite the Kino-Teatr on Norman Road in St Leonards. The charismatic gallery owner,…
Sister Suzie: Honesty in Mid-Life
FIONA McGARRY It’s been six years since Susan Sims released her last album: Ain’t No Lady .“Life has been a little bit bonkers for me since then, so it’s taken…
Protesting and Picketing
ROD WEBB Early on Wednesday morning, 16 October, peace activists picketed the entrance to the site of weapons manufacturer General Dynamics in Sidney Little Road to protest the latest Israeli…
Dine & Dash Heroes
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN Diners at the popular La Bella Vista restaurant in Grand Parade, St Leonards, last Saturday evening (12 October) witnessed a violent attack which resulted in extensive damage to…