An Emergency Services '999' Display Day is being held in Hastings Old Town on Saturday, 7 June, and promises an action-packed day for residents and visitors.
Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service, RNLI, and Coastguard have organised the event in conjunction with Hastings Borough Council, and it will feature a host of arena displays as well as aircraft flypasts.
There will be the chance to see police dogs tackling an "offender", the dangers of a chip pan fire, a chemical incident display, a road traffic accident simulation, and a dramatic sea rescue involving the lifeboat and helicopter.
The all-action event is being held at The Stade Coach & Lorry Park and the Lifeboat House with the official opening by the Deputy Mayor of Hastings at 11am. It runs until 4pm.
As well as the arena entertainment there will be emergency services' vehicles on show, and static displays in the Lifeboat House.
Visitors will also be able to join in some of the inter-active fun on offer and talk to emergency services personnel about their work.
Hastings was once again the centre of attention in Oostende last weekend, as the town exhibited at one of the largest maritime exhibitions in Europe, 'Oostende voor Anker.'
Staff from the council's marketing department, and the Hastings Information Centre, gave away hundreds of leaflets promoting Hastings & 1066 Country, while Tush and Pat Hamilton, from Rock-A-Nore Road, did a roaring trade selling their famous 'Fishermen's Rolls' at just one euro each. The Hastings display includes a replica net hut, and authentic fishing gear including nets, a wooden fish box, a lobster pot, and a huge backdrop of the town's fishing fleet.
The council's Kevin Boorman explained:
"This is always a fantastic exhibition for us, both our marketing stand, and Tush & Pat's stall, are always incredibly busy. Over 200 000 visitors from France, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as from across Belgium itself, flocked to the show :- and most seemed to come to our stand, and buy a Fishermen's Roll!
"Because of our partnership working with Eurotunnel and the Nofolk Line, and the fact that we are seen as an attraction in our own right, the show costs us very little, yet is a brilliant way of promoting Hastings & 1066 Country."
Tush added:
"We really love doing this show, and the Belgians seem to love our local fish! We completely sold out, in fact on Saturday we cooked over 500 of our Fishermen's Rolls, one of our busiest days ever! And we even had one or two visitors to our stand who recognised us from our usual pitch in Rock-A-Nore Road !"
The sun shone on the trial St Leonards market outside Warrior Square Station on Saturday. Around 1,000 people visited the colourful range of stalls, which were populated by local traders, mainly from St Leonards. An appealing assortment of goods was on sale from hot food to arts and crafts, books, bakery, soaps and fruit and veg. There was something for everyone, even face painting for the kids. Live local music contributed to the fun atmosphere, and was arranged by neighbouring venue, The Rooms. Shoppers agreed that the talented, local, thirteen year old singer, Luke Jackson stole the show.
Visitors and locals said the market made the station square become a lively focal point. Local stallholders were enthusiastic, Chris and June Bouwer of A Bite of Africa in Kings Road were barbecuing their award-winning South African sausages, they said:
"Brilliant, we need that kind of thing to survive, we took four times our normal daily takings".
David Forte of Forte's Pizzeria was in favour:
"I think it's a good idea, it attracts people and is good advert for this area. I am sure we would benefit if it became a regular market, things are picking up in St Leonards and this sort of thing is important, it gives us a boost".
Spike from QOL @ Spike's in Norman Road sold fine deli foods, she said:
"I enjoyed it, it was a success from my point of view and the organisers did an amazing job. It was fun and a learning experience too".
Cllr Matthew Lock, Hastings Borough Council's Lead Member for Community Prosperity, explained:
"The event was organised as part of the Foodlocal Hastings scheme, and assisted by the Community Fruit & Veg Project. Foodlocal Hastings is run by Hastings Borough Council, and has been set up to assist local food enterprises. Events like this, and our popular Seafood and Wine Festival, are funded by the Government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative."
"We've got some fantastic local food locally, and some equally fantastic eateries, and it is great to be able to showcase them at events like this".
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This page last updated: 28/05/2008