Tag archives for Chris Connelley
Baton of Hope Route Revealed
CHRIS CONNELLEY In a recent HIP we introduced the Baton of Hope suicide awareness tour that will be arriving here in Hastings on Tuesday 23 September. The 20 stop biannual…
Pip, Pip Hooray: new lease of life for Old Town shop
CHRIS CONNELLEY Strong community is one of the most obvious virtues of our town, and one that born-and-bred local Pip Hersee is proudly showcasing in his new eponymous venture at…
5 alive: Old Town Trader Celebrates Setting Up Shop
CHRIS CONNELLEY Opening a new retail business is always challenging, but doing so today, in an age of online dominance, never having run one before and with only a basic…
Meet Matt: Tales from the Tent
CHRIS CONNELLEY It’s a radiant Sunday morning – after months of greyness, spring has finally sprung – and Matt is in fine fettle. Photo: Jason Ellis For the last six…
International Women’s Day Festival at the OB promises to be a roaring success
CHRIS CONNELLEY Hear Me Roar 2025 is a day-long community festival celebrating International Women’s Day and the many inspiring women and women-led organisations in our town. Erica SmithKin Choir at…
New Housing Co-op Gets Green Light
CHRIS CONNELLEY Sharon Rhodes is a woman on a mission. Hastings born and bred, she is determined to provide co-operative housing for local people in need, an ambition that moved…
Hastings Commons Wins Housing Prize
CHRIS CONNELLEY Hastings Commons, the cluster of community businesses behind the refurbishment of Rock House and the Observer Building, and the lead organisation for the Hastings Heritage Action Zone in…
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…
Bookshop Goes Out On A High
CHRIS CONNELLEY The New Year’s Day post from Hastings Bookshop owner, Charlie Crabbe, that he would cease trading just a few days later, has generated much interest, affection and upset.…
Queen Bee
CHRIS CONNELLEY is bowled over by a new restaurant on Queens Road Like the stock market, Queens Road goes up and ; Aubergine dish When we rocked up in town…
Hastings Gets Baton of Hope
CHRIS CONNELLEY Established by former broadcast journalist Mike McCarthy in response to the suicide of his son, Ross, Baton of Hope (BofH) is a charity and campaign group that aims…
Read all about it
Hastings Book Festival gets off to a stellar start: CHRIS CONNELLEY reviews Patrice Milway with attendees at the Children’s Library This year’s Hastings Book Festival got off to a blistering…
Bookbuster Book Review: NOIR by Ken Champion
Review by Chris Connelley I read a fair amount of fiction, and most of the British stuff is clever, elegant and slight. Its miniaturist map takes in comfortably-off urban worlds…
Roundabout By Mel Wright
Chris Connelley feels the love with a heart- warming tale of everyday folk fighting against all odds Avid readers of this column may recall a review of Mel Wright’s previous…
St Leonards locals rally behind their local Post Office
by Chris Connelley The autumn sun shone brightly and passing motorists tooted their support as St Leonards traders and residents took to the streets to protest the proposed closure of…