Archives for Top Stories - Page 8
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…
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.…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Owens Directors’ £4m loss
HUGH SULLIVAN Draft accounts of CFEC Ltd, the company which developed the Owens entertainment centre in the former Debenhams building in Robertson Street in 2022 and which filed for insolvency…
ATHLETICS: Hastings Parkrun 20th Anniversary
CHRIS SANDERSON, runner and volunteer at Hastings Parkrun, explores the popularity of the weekly event, that’s not run in a park Probably most people across Britain are aware of Parkrun.…
The Centre of the Community
The Clifton Community Centre in Central St Leonards recently welcomed supporters, funders, and partners to a celebration event to mark the end of a year-long project to make the building…
Pier Events Prompt Council ‘Investigation’
Newcomers to Hastings Pier, Rum Shed, have been advertising a programme of electronic music to be staged this autumn and winter in the three-room, two-storey wooden reception building in the…
Restoring Forgotten Brilliance
VICTORIA KINGHAM talks to Carina Cosgrave about the Sabi Ensemble Going to a concert of classical music, we expect to see accomplished performers playing written music perfectly. We are often…
SCHOOL SPORT: ‘Make It Happen’
Olympian Athlete Inspires Hollington Schoolkids HUGH SULLIVAN Sport is part of the curriculum at Hollington Primary School. There are two PE lessons a week with staff teacher Marlon Diamond. There’s…
Kneecap Packs a Kick
EBM HUMPHREYS Rave reviews led me to expect polished and perfect mayhem from Kneecap. Actually it’s imperfect, but full-blooded, solid entertainment, made brilliant by its context, message and moment. It…
Council Launches Housing Strategy Consultation
PAUL McLAUGHLIN Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has launched a public consultation as part of its plans to develop a new housing strategy for the town. At a well-attended launch in…
County Council Set to Slash Social Care Spending
The cabinet of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) wase due to meet on Thursday this week to discuss savings proposals on next year’s budget, which at present is predicted to…
Former University Building Under Hammer
The six-storey University of Brighton building at Priory Square was due to be auctioned on Wednesday this week by London agent Allsop. The building consists of the former main Hastings…
Alexandra Park Greenhouse Fully Restored After 10 Years
Volunteers have celebrated 10 years of progress at a Hastings community hub with a surprise presentation to its chairman. Photos: Colin Foy Linda Pearson receives a presentation album from Linda Foy…
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…
More Murals Help to Transform Town
TINA MORRIS With one more mural to come, and a selection of BT Boxes appearing, Coastal Currents has been leaving street art wherever they appeared in 2024. The Old Bathing…
CRICKET: The Royals’ First Season
HUGH SULLIVAN The Sussex Cricket League, whose 2024 season ended earlier this month, spreads over 39 Divisions, accommodating over 370 teams between Bosham in the west and Rye in the…
FOOTBALL: Two Sent Off as United Suffer Third League Defeat
31 August: Hastings Utd 3, Redhill Town 1 7 September: Hashtag Utd 4, Hastings Utd 0 Hastings United suffered their third successive defeat in this season’s Isthmian Premier League, finishing their match against Essex…
Pier Issued with Revised Licence Conditions
Following a meeting of the licensing sub-committee of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) on 2 September, the management of Hastings Pier has been issued with fresh licence conditions governing music events…