A special event organised by WRVS Heritage Plus

By Domenico Trillo

On the 12th of May 2010 , the WRVS Centre in St Leonards was transformed into a seaside resort to celebrate the history of Hastings Old Town . Along with a street market of local traders, there were deckchairs and artefacts on display from the Fisherman’s Museum as well as beautiful fish decorations created by Heritage Plus activity participants.

During the day a selection of films were shown including a film about the fishing industry in Hastings and archive footage of the long since gone Bathing Pool in St Leonards. Visitors were also treated to a selection of entertaining talks including Mick Barrow’s reminiscences of being a fisherman, local historian Anne Scott’s ‘History of Postcards’ and a history of  Seaside Entertainments by Brion Purdey, who also acted as compere for the day, with an inimitable panache. Added to that, arts and crafts activities, a fish and chip lunch and a knobbly knees competition, judged by Hastings Mayoress, Maureen Charlesworth, made it day to remember.