He will be remembered as a prominent figure in the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society who advocated for and helped to preserve the bonfire tradition As one member recalled: “He was always working on the beach – building things, moving things, climbing up high on unsteady scaffolding – with others shouting, ‘Get down!’ And this was someone who had thirty years on most of us. Age had no apparent effect on him.”

He was President of the Old Town Carnival, where his hands-on involvement included helping to make some of the floats and “getting stuck in, always with good humour and always with a tot of rum generously distributed”. He would dress up and join the processions too, “often turning up with gifts of flowers for the ladies”.

Bill was also a member of Hastings Winkle Club and came up with the idea of creating a Winkle Club ‘thank you’ Christmas tree for all those who worked through the pandemic. He and his wife, Benny, made the decorations for the tree.

Bill will be greatly missed by all who knew him and by the many communities he supported with such energy, generosity, and good humour.

CREDIT: Andy Clifton

It will not be clear until less than 24 hours beforehand how many floats will join the cavalcade, since entry forms can be registered up to Friday evening. But in any event, there will be no cups or awards presented – the Carnival committee say that the theme of the afternoon will be one of “thank you” to all the people, particularly key workers, who have helped the town through the pandemic.

Carnival Week started last Friday evening with the Town Criers competition held on the steps of St Clements Church; the next day was a Tug of War contest, held outside the lifeboat station. And there will have been a number of walks, open gardens, church tours and other events through the week, with special exhibitions at the Fishermen’s Museum, Hastings History House in Courthouse Street (where Street Brocante stalls will
be trading) and Hastings Contemporary art gallery.