Press Releases week beginning 24 June 2019

Another fantastic fish festival

The sixth Hastings Midsummer Fish Festival was heralded another success as thousands of visitors flocked to the exhibition site on the Stade open space in the Old Town.

Cllr Kim Forward, deputy council leader and lead councillor for tourism, said, "It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves at the Midsummer Fish Festival, with local residents and visitors to the town enjoying great local produce, fish filleting and cooking demonstrations, and live music throughout both days.

"CJ Jackson, principal and chief executive of the Billingsgate Seafood School, and star of Sunday Brunch, and our own Tush and Pat Hamilton, gave talks and demonstrations over the weekend, and were extremely popular. There was a wide selection of other stalls selling some fantastic local food and drink, and some superb music too, performed by local musicians.

"The weather was glorious, and it was a great chance to showcase our local Hastings Fish brand, and so much more. I am pleased it was enjoyed by so many people."

Help the Community Help Themselves

A community integration and networking event called "Help the community Help Themselves" was held at the Cinnamon Spice restaurant in St Leonards last week, organised by Mohammed Akmol Ali.

The purpose of the event was to bring the community together and share experiences and expertise.  In his speech to the group Bilal Ansari spoke about his interpretation of "One Hastings, many voices"; how Hastings, as a diverse community works together to achieve common goals.

Judy Rogers, cabinet member for Hastings Borough Council said,
"I was delighted to be able to attend the lunch generously provided by Cinnamon Spice. The event, supported by the East Sussex Muslim Association proved a great success enabling individuals, charities and community groups to meet and exchange ideas. "

Art of Life on the Stade

An artist and her subject were reunited 40 years at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery last Saturday (15 June) at the official opening of 'The Art of Life on The Stade', one of two fishing-related exhibitions which opened then.

Amongst the many paintings on show is one by the artist Laetitia Yhap, who lives locally, famous for her pictures of the fishing beach. One of her early subjects was Paul Joy, now chair of the Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society.

Attached pic shows Laetitia and Paul in front of the work, alongside the mayor of Hastings, Cllr Nigel Sinden, and Cllr Judy Rogers, who opened the exhibition.

The exhibitions run until 27 October.

Raising the Hastings FLAG

The Hastings Fisheries Local Action Group ('FLAG'), a European union funded project to help fisheries, celebrated its successes at an event held on the Stade on 18 June. It is managed locally by Hastings Borough Council.

Local councillors and other community representatives were given a talk on sustainable fishing by retired fishmongers Tush and Pat Hamilton, presentations on the FLAG and the Hastings fish brand, and a demonstration of a new ice-making machine for the Hastings Fishmarket by local fisherman and market director Paul Joy.

Chair of the Hastings FLAG is Steve Manwaring. He said,
"The Hastings FLAG has been a tremendous success, receiving £800 000 of funding from the European Union. We have helped 19 projects, all aimed at improving the lot of our fishery, including making the fleet more sustainable, improving the environment, and improving safety.

"We have also helped fund a training programme to help aspiring seafood chefs, which has been fantastic. I have been particularly impressed, but not surprised, with the support the projects have had from the local community."

Paul Joy added,
"We have been very pleased with the FLAG, and what it has done for the Hastings fishing fleet. The ice maker received around £72 000 from the FLAG, and £18 000 from the Foreshore Trust :- and we couldn't have bought it without that support.

"It produces flaked ice which is used by the fleet, supply chain, local businesses and our fish festivals. The new machine is more environmentally friendly as it uses less water and electricity than the old machine. We have also used FLAG funding to invest in LED lighting in the fish market, which is also more efficient and sustainable."

Pic shows Cllr Sue Beaney, chair of the council's charity committee which manages the Foreshore Trust (and which contributed £18 000 towards the ice maker) and Paul Joy watching Steve Manwaring cut the ribbon to officially 'open' the icemaker at Hastings Fishmarket.

Walking the walk

Ark Little Ridge Primary School was the winner of the 2019 Walk to School trophy.  Walk to School Week took place in the week of 20th -24th May 2019. Students were encouraged to walk, cycle and scooter to school, and the winners banked the most mileage.

Ten primary schools across Hastings participated in the competition.
Andy Batsford, lead councillor for leisure presented the school with the trophy this week. He said,

"Congratulations to the Children of Ark Little Ridge School for winning this most converted prize and well done and thank you to the teachers and staff in motivating them and collecting the points on top of all their other duties. The children put a huge effort in and they told me really enjoyed the challenge. As I said to them walking to school is not only fun, keeps you fit and looks after the planet as well by cutting down car travel"

Hastings events go green

Hastings Borough Council is celebrating its first single use plastic free event.
 
Kim Forward, deputy leader of the council, and lead councillor for tourism explained,
"Back in February, our full council unanimously agreed to set a target for Hastings to become carbon neutral.
 
"As part of this, we agreed to build on our existing single use plastic policy by not only eliminating single use plastics in council buildings, but also at festivals and events held on council land.
 
"I am really pleased that, with last weekend's Mid-Summer Fish Festival, we did that.
 
"No traders used single use plastic 'glasses', instead using either reusable or compostable vessels, and they also used bamboo plates, and wooden cutlery/stirrers.
 
"Even our emergency water was in cans! It just goes to show what can be done. It was quite appropriate that it was a fish festival, as we all know what a problem marine litter, including plastic waste, has become.
 
"I'm incredibly proud that we've delivered the council's first single-use plastic free event, and I hope that other event organisers will follow our lead."

You, me and those who came before

Over 200 people attended the Links Project Refugee Week celebration at Concordia Hall on 19th June 2019. The theme this year was "You, me and those who came before" and was an opportunity to explore the positive impact of refugees on Hastings and St Leonards as well as those who have welcomed them here. 

Marc Turczanski from Hastings Voluntary Action said,
"We had a huge range of nationalities attend the event including those from Sudan, Kurdistan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Eritrea, Bulgaria, Poland, and Spain, all of who live in Hastings or St Leonards.

"Hastings has been welcoming asylum seekers for the last 20 years, and thousands have passed through the asylum system. Some people have just arrived, some have settled in Hastings to raise their families, some have moved away, and others are preparing to return to their countries of nationality.

"We also had representatives from a range of local organisations as well as elected members of Hastings and East Sussex Councils."

The Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Nigel Sinden said,
"One Hastings, many voices is never better shown than at events like this. We come from all over the world, so many different places, and it is what we have in common that is always so interesting to hear about and share."

The Links Project is a multi-agency partnership that provides access to support and advice for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants living in Hastings and St Leonards on Sea.  The project is funded by Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council."