Order of 1066 Award 2026

The Order of 1066 Award is presented annually and is linked with the celebrations for Hastings Day on Wednesday 14 October. 

The award is to recognise and honour a person who has given exceptional service to the town and its residents in a voluntary capacity.

The winner of the award is decided by a panel which is chaired by the Mayor, Cllr Paula Warne. Nominations are invited from both organisations and individuals in the town.

If you would like to make a nomination please complete the recommendation for Order of 1066 Award 2026 form with the details of any person who, in your opinion, is worthy of this award.  Please make sure to include why this person should receive this award.

All details must remain confidential, and the information provided in support of a nomination must be correct and gained with the knowledge of the person being nominated. 

The deadline for the forms to be submitted is Friday 7 August. This will allow time to make all the necessary arrangements for the award to be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday 14 October, as part of the Hastings Week programme.

The criteria for selection can be found below. Please provide as much information as you can about your nomination so that fair consideration can be given to it alongside the others submitted.

Only the winner will be notified, all nominations are kept on record and put to the panel for the next two years.

Criteria for selection

1. Nominations for the award will be invited each year from the public through the media and from clubs and voluntary organisations within Hastings included in a list to be maintained by the office. 

2. Each organisation may submit one nomination only each year and this must be on the form supplied. It is recommended that this nomination should contain as much information as possible.

3. Nominations submitted by individuals [other than by serving councillors and officers of the Borough Council] will also be considered.
 
4. The recipient of the award each year will be selected by a panel comprising the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and one councillor from each political group to be chaired by the Mayor.

5. The panel will select from amongst the nominees the individual who, in its opinion, has done most to benefit the community and people of Hastings.  Each nomination will be considered on its merits and must adhere to the following:

[a] Preference will be given to those with a record of service to the community and people of Hastings over a considerable period of time.

[b] Preference will be given to those whose activities have benefited the community.

[c] Services rendered to the community as a member of a political party or as a councillor or employee of Hastings Borough Council or East Sussex County Council will not be taken into account.

[d] Present and former councillors and employees of Hastings Borough Council will not be eligible for the Award within three years of ceasing to hold that position.

[e] Preference will be given to nominees who have acted in an unpaid capacity whilst serving the community.

[f] Nominees will be considered equally, regardless of their gender, race, ethnic origins, age, or marital status.

6. If, having considered all the nominations received, the panel considers that none is sufficiently worthy, it may not confer the award.

7. A decision of the panel will be taken by those present and voting.  The chair has a second or casting vote.  Any indication of preference on the part of a member of the panel who is absent will be taken into account by the other members but will not be counted as a vote.

8. Unsuccessful nominations in any year will be carried forward to the next two years only and considered together with new nominations received. Organisations or individuals who submitted nominations to be carried forward in this way, will be advised of this fact, but will be at liberty to submit an additional nomination in the second or third year if they so choose.