Town Crier

News & Gossip Pages By The  Editor

Knife Edge Election

The local elections resulted in a knife edge situation with full control of Hastings Borough Council being denied to the Conservatives by the literal tossing of a coin. Continue reading Town Crier

The Hastings Trolley Busses

80 Years Ago in Hastings
By Roland Jempson

On April 1st 1928 Hastings experienced a new type of public transport. The opening of the towns new Trolleybus system, it was inaugurated by four of the newly delivered GUY BTX 60 Trolleybuses Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Christopher Dodson open top bodies, on the No 4 route, Hollington to the Fish Market via Bohemia Road and The Memorial, replacing the Trams on the part of the route to the Memorial (Trams did not operate to the Fish Market or Old Town). One of the Trolleybuses was even driven by Mr Vincent Edwards the Manager, The First four were decorated with Flags and Bunting, and had as passengers invited guests and Ex Servicemen. Continue reading The Hastings Trolley Busses

Westward From Hastings Pier

The area around the pier has changed dramatically over the last hundred years, as has the pier itself. We can see from this contemporary postcard by the famous postcard photographer Louis Levy that the Grand Hotel on the left, the municipal Hospital on the right, and behind it. Lady Jocelyn’s house, have all gone.                    Continue reading Westward From Hastings Pier

Hastings 80 years ago

The Story of the Trolley Bus

By Roland Jempson

On April 1st 1928 Hastings experienced a new type of public transport. The opening of the towns new Trolleybus system, it was inaugurated by four of the newly delivered GUY BTX 60 Trolleybuses Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Christopher Dodson open top bodies, on the No 4 route, Hollinton to the Fish Market via Bohemia Road and The Memorial, replacing the Trams on the part of the route to the Memorial (Trams did not operate to the Fish Market or Old Town). Continue reading Hastings 80 years ago

How Dinosaurs Were Discovered in Hastings

By Jennie Ridd

In 1832 George Wooll, a lithographer who lived at 5 High Street, Hastings, and George Rubie, local schoolmaster, helped to found the Hastings Literary and Scientific Institute at Rubie’s rooms at 1 Burdett Place, George Street. They were well qualified for the task, since Wooll ran the Repository of Arts from Number 5 and sold the latest literary publications, and Rubie was “Professor of Mathematics, Astronomy, the Globe and Navigation”. Continue reading How Dinosaurs Were Discovered in Hastings

Jack in the Green

By Gemma Pocock Photographs Iain Pocock

What a lovely day it was on the 3 May. I went, with my husband, daughter and step children, to Hastings for the day. On arrival it was really busy, I just thought it was because of the gorgeous weather but later discovered it was all down to “Jack in the Green”. Continue reading Jack in the Green

Pen & Ink

Dear Editor

What a outstanding display in the Old Town for Jack in the Green. The shops really made an effort with the embellishments, there was greenery and ribbons throughout the area. It went really well with the Morris Dancers. Praise for the Old Town. What a shame that some of the day was spoiled by the power cut.

Pam Smith

Bexhill Continue reading Pen & Ink

The Castle Run

Cyclists set out in their hundreds from the Lifeboat Station in the shadow of Hastings Castle on a massive sponsored ride organised annually by St. Leonards Rotary Club. The destination was Pevensey Castle for those attempting the 25 mile return trip of Hurstmonceaux Castle for the more adventurous (or foolish) who decided they wanted a 40 mile round journey through some of the most beautiful countryside in East Sussex. Continue reading The Castle Run

The Story of the Storaa a Wartime Warrior

The Ship that Woke Hastings

By Jenny Ridd

At 12.30 on the night of 3 November 1943, there was an almighty explosion about ten miles off the coast of Hastings. Convoy CW221 was sailing from the Thames to Cardiff laden with supplies for the D Day invasion when German E Boat S138 fired a torpedo. The starboard bow of the SS Storaa was badly holed and she sank bow-first within thirty seconds, taking with her the bodies of 21 men. Sixteen men survived, but the Captain, a hero named Jens Fage Pedersen, and the Dover Pilot, Watson Peverley were both among the casualties. Continue reading The Story of the Storaa a Wartime Warrior