Unique winner for Order of 1066 Award

There has been a unique winner this year for the Order of 1066 Award. This is the award made annually on Hastings Day, 14 October, to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the community of Hastings.

Exceptionally, this year the award has been made to the people of Hastings.

Hastings mayor, Cllr Nigel Sinden, explained,

"Over the years many good and deserving local people have received the Order of 1066 Award. This year we have decided to change things a little.

"This year's deserving winners of the Order of 1066 Award are the people of Hastings.

"This has been a quite different year in so many respects. Whilst a lot of voluntary activity has had to stop, particularly under the full lockdown in the early days of the pandemic, many local people have gone far 'above and beyond' in terms of looking after their neighbours.

"Hastings has been through a tough time of lockdown and we have missed meetings with friends and relations, often being kept away from work and asked to 'self isolate' and keep our children off school and our partners away from work. We have spent time washing our hands, keeping two metres apart and wearing face coverings.

"I congratulate everyone for looking out for vulnerable neighbours, obeying the COVID-19 rules and remaining the friendly town we all know and support. 

"In the days of the full lockdown we had one of the lowest infection rates in the country, thanks to how seriously we all took the lockdown measures, although I know our rates have started to creep up since then.

"So, this year, we think it is right that the Order of 1066 has been awarded to the people of Hastings. This is another first, and recognises how the whole town pulled together, showed fantastic community spirit, and worked so hard to keep infections down."