You don’t have to be from Hastings to know what 1066 means, but it probably helps if you are asked what 14th October means. For non-Hastingers, it is of course the date the Battle of Hastings was fought.
And, being Hastingers, we celebrated the event in style this year, as we always do. Not just the day, but the whole week:- Hastings Week (12th-20th October) was packed full of events, from the opening ceremony on the morning of Saturday 12th October through to the closing ceremony on Sunday 20th October. For many, the highlight of the week is the torchlight procession & bonfire, organised by the Hastings Borough Bonfire Boyes Society, followed by the fireworks display, put on by Hastings’ very own Renegade Pyrotechnics. This year’s event seemed to be bigger, better and louder than ever, and was enjoyed by an audience of over 20,000.
The 50th National Town Criers Championships was also very popular, with the criers’ enthusiasm undampened by the rain. Some criers travelled hundred of miles to come to Hastings, and several said that Hastings was their favourite championship.
But there was a lot more to Hastings Week than the bonfire, fireworks and Town Criers Championship. Under the chairmanship of Dorothy Clements, the Hastings Week Committee had spent much of the year planning a wide range of events, from a painting competition to opera, a hobbies and crafts exhibition to a special meal, an over sixties art competition and a ‘memories’ competition.
So, next year, do get the Hastings week programme, available from mid-August, to make sure that you don’t miss out on anything. (Hastings Week next year runs from Saturday 11th October to Sunday 19th October).
And, on 14th October each year, Hastings Day itself, the ‘Order of 1066 Award’ is made – given to a person who has made a special contribution to the Hastings community. This year’s very worthy winner was Dr Bruce Eton, who has done a tremendous amount of work for charities and other voluntary organisations in the area. (Regular readers may recall that a profile about him appeared in the Spring 2001 edition of About).
Perhaps the final word should go to the Normans who did, after all, win in 1066. A group of tourism professionals from Normandy asked to come over to see how we marked the Battle of Hastings as they had heard so much about it; their trip included a visit to the Town Criers finals, the torchlight procession, bonfire and fireworks, the re-enactment at Battle, and tea at Herstmonceux Castle. They went back to France full of praise for what they’d seen, saying that we celebrate the 14th October far better than they celebrate 14th July, Bastille Day – the French national day of celebration.
Praise indeed!
Back to top of page...
< Have you ever seen a Pink Grasshopper? | More Money for Low Income Households >
This page last updated: 09/04/2003