Events past & forthcoming
Latest events photos
The latest events:
Tues 15th-Thurs 17th July. The Hastings Schools Charity Gala. Three nights of the performing arts from a huge number of amazingly talented Hastings schoolkids from some 20 of our primary and secondary schools. I saw the last night, and was bowled over by the way the youngsters combined exuberance and professional standards. It was all great, though some acts will stay in my mind for a very long time: All Saints Primary's 'Heard it in the Playground', which used typical children's phrases, chanted to evoke the atmosphere of the playground - very clever; St Paul's Primary's medley of song and dance which conjured up World War II and their zingy 'Jamaican Alphabet'; and some incredible dancing, especially a Spanish routine from Helenswood. Perhaps the highlight
of the show was the ACROMAX Gymnastics Performance Group's 'Pirates', brilliantly costumed and choreographed. As someone said during the interval, you'd cheerfully pay good money to see a fantastic act like that in the West End.
The Finale was very moving, with Miki Scrivener leading the whole cast in 'I love Hastings', the song she wrote for the children in Hastings SL when we twinned in February 07, and a final rendition of 'Hand to Hand' led by two terrific girl vocalists. A night to remember, with the proceeds to be split between Demelza and a nursing project in Hastings SL. The Link is hugely grateful to all the children who took part, their teachers, the orchestra, impresario / MC Chris Lacey of Helenswood, the staff and management of the White Rock Theatre, and all the families and friends who supported the three performances. - Robin Gray
Some of our primary schools in Hastings and St Leonards celebrated their links with schools in Hastings Sierra Leone on Friday 11 July with a 7-a-side soccer tournament.
The Tournament was held at Filsham Valley School, being the Secondary school in the Borough making a link with a secondary school in Sierra Leone. The afternoon was bright and breezy in every way and there was concern that the refreshment tent might not be standing by the end.
The event was brilliantly hosted and organised by Teresa Bennett, Filsham Valley School’s Sports Coordinator and by Dave Amiet, Community Project Manager with the County’s Fire and Rescue Services.
Each team was allocated a trainer for the afternoon and all the match officials were either students at Filsham Valley or members of the Fire and Rescue Services.
Each school entered a team of boys and one of girls and the tournament was organised on an all-play-all basis which ensured that each match was hard-fought and all the players were kept busy with little time to relax.
Filsham Valley students provided English-style refreshments while Sierra Leonean friends from London brought with them a selection of African delicacies and drinks.
The Vice-Chair of the County Council, Cllr Simmonds, was in attendance to open the afternoon’s events and Councillor Jeremy Birch, as Chair of HSLFL, presided over the presentations.
The Mayor, Cllr Maureen Charlesworth, and our MP, Mr Michael Foster, were present to give out the medals and trophies. Every participant received a ‘silver’ medal with the Sierra Leonean flag embossed upon it while the winning teams received similar medals in ‘gold’. The winning schools also received a shield to hold for a year until next year’s tournament.
There was no doubt about the winning school, Little Ridge lifting both the boys’ and the girls’ team trophies. In the girls’ tournament they were hard pressed by both St Mary’s RC and Sandown, while in the boys’ event it was Sandown that was snapping at their heels. Other schools taking part were Blacklands, Elphinstone and St Leonards CE.
Results: Boys - Little Ridge 13, Sandown 12, Blacklands 10, St Leonards CE/ Elphinstone 9, St Mary Star-of-the-Sea 7
Girls - Little Ridge 13, St Mary Star-of-the-Sea / Sandown 11, Elphinstone/ Blacklands 9, St Leonards CE 7
Forthcoming events:
St Leonard’s Festival – Saturday July 18th. Essentially an opportunity to show our own community how the Link is progressing. A table has been booked for our display. If you have an hour to spare and would like to help - please let Derek know (753768 or derek@tomblin.org.uk ).
A General Meeting of the Link on Wednesday 17th September in Committee Room 1 of Hastings Town Hall at 6.15pm. Please come along and help to shape what we do to raise funds in aid of Hastings SL in the coming months!
Barn Dance at the Phœnix Arts Centre - Saturday 8th November
Should be even bigger and better than the May barn dance. Don’t miss it! Ticket details nearer the date.
Dinner Dance - 14th February 2009. You’ll remember that the two Hastings were officially twinned on 14th February 2007. We intend to organise a bit of a ‘do’ each February to celebrate our friendship with Hastings Sierra Leone. Please make a note on the 2009 page of your diary. More details of the event (at the Phœnix Centre) fairly soon.
Earlier events:
2008
Friday 9th July
Friday 8th Feb. We ran a Quiz Night in the White Rock Theatre, by kind permission of Live Nation. Nola McSweeney begged enough food from generous local shops to provide a Ploughman's Supper for 150 people (prepared by Nola, Pat Botley and their band of stalwarts). Jeremy Birch acted as jovial quizmaster, Jim McSweeney did the maths, Kylie's Carpets kindly provided bottles of wine as prizes, a good time was had by all - and we cleared £702 profit! Look out for the next quiz night!
2007
This was our 2007 Christmas card
Working together with Michael Foster, the Link produced a great Christmas card which was really a charity card with a difference. Thanks to Michael's generosity, for every pack of 10 cards sold for £3.50, at least £2 went straight to the building project to 'put the heart back into Hastings SL'. We'll post exactly how much was raised through the cards, once we've finished doing the sums.
We will be running a sponsored cycle run in Normandy in May, and some barn-dances later in the year. Please check this site again soon for details of forthcoming events. Our next meeting is on Jan 15th 2008 in the Council Chamber of Hastings Town Hall. We'll send out agendas shortly before that date. Meanwhile, if there's something you think needs bringing up urgently at the meeting, please let Derek Tomblin or Robin Gray know beforehand - a.s.a.p. (See the 'Contact us' page). The last meeting was such a marathon that we are determined to structure meetings better in future.
Saturday 20th October
The Link staged an exhibition in Priory Meadow shopping mall from 9.30 to 5.30. The display boards covered themes like the background to the twinning, daily life in Hastings SL, health, education (with work from at least 4 local schools), the community resource building and the emergency services. Priory Meadow echoed to the sound of African music, as we played the new DVD of the Blind School Choir's concert - on superb equipment generously loaned to us by Graham Dawson of Showman AV Ltd. The Mayor, Cllrs Eve Martin, Peter Pragnell and Jeremy Birch and MP Michael Foster all turned out to help us talk about the Link's work, and members of the public 'sponsored a brick' to the tune of over £300.Saturday 1st September
Fire Service Marathon Ladder CarryHastings Town Centre looked like the scene of a full-blown emergency on Saturday – but in fact the teams of firefighters and support staff had come with their tenders to talk to the public about their work, and to raise money for two local charities. Red Watch, from the Bohemia Road Fire Station, gave advice on fire safety in the home and demonstrated how they free people from crashed vehicles using cutting equipment, while dozens of children had their photos taken in full firefighter gear. Meanwhile, a team carried a heavy ladder from Rock-a-Nore to the old Bathing Pool and back – 5 times, or a distance of 26 miles, in about 8 hours. A generous public put £2924 into the orange buckets of the Fire Service staff and members of the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link, and the money will be divided between the Link’s work in our namesake West African twin and the Kipling Ward at the Conquest.
Friday 3rd August
The Sierra Leone Blind School Choir concert was a huge success. The following account appeared, slightly shortened, in the Hastings Observer:
Deeply moved, the whole audience of 400 people gave a 10-minute standing ovation and clapped their appreciation to the rhythm of traditional folk and gospel songs, as the 25-strong choir from the Milton Margai Blind School danced off the stage at the end of an amazing performance at St Mary-in-the-Castle on Friday.
The choristers, drummers and percussionists, assisted by composer Alie Conteh on the keyboard, thrilled everyone present with their 100-minute programme, entitled “Sing Freetown”, telling the history of Sierra Leone, from the abolition of slavery and the founding of Freetown, through the crown colony’s independence in 1961, to the devastating 11-year rebel war, the restoration of peace and democracy and the children’s hopes for a better future. The music mixed traditional West African songs and hymns, specially composed items, drums and dance, the whole pacy programme being structured by the delightful voices of young narrators Joanna Davies and Osman Kamara, who conveyed in just a few words the story of Sierra Leone’s journey to democracy, and the young people’s pride in their country. At times it was easy to forget that singers and musicians were all blind, or nearly so, as they moved around the stage, dancing rhythmically and keeping perfect time.
The youngsters had spent the afternoon in Hastings, enjoying the sunshine on the beach and the rides at the Flamingo Park fun-fair, before going off to Blacklands Church where they were delighted to find that the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link’s ex-pat friends had provided a delicious meal of food familiar to them, including their favourite cassava leaf soup. The Link members who looked after the choristers in the afternoon were deeply impressed with their dignity, the way they helped each other the whole time and their refusal to let their blindness stop them having fun. One of the boys said: “We’re learning so much about Britain and life, it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to come here.”
The concert was part of the second UK tour organised by the charity which supports the Blind School, and which is chaired by former British High Commissioner Sir Peter Penfold, who is also Patron of the Link. Sir Peter thanked Hastings for inviting the choir down and for looking after them so well, and spoke briefly about his association and the School’s needs. Jeremy Birch, vice-chair of the Friendship Link, expressed everyone’s admiration for the choir’s talent and zest for living. The audience clearly agreed: a bucket-collection realised an incredible £750, bringing the total raised by the event to around £3,000. The money will be shared equally by the two charities.
Derek Tomblin, chairman of the Link, said: “It was a thrilling yet humbling experience to witness the vitality and optimism of these young people in spite of all the disadvantages they have to face. I’d like to thank everyone who came along and gave so generously, Hastings Borough Council for its tremendous support, and Glenn and Cathy Khan and the whole Sonrise Church team, who beavered away all week to get St Mary-in-the-Castle ready in time and provided a very professional team of stewards to ensure the evening ran smoothly. It was wonderful that the very first event in the ‘new’ St Mary-in-the-Castle was such an inspiring concert that sent us out into the night, glad to be alive.”
Anyone who would like to support either the Link or the choir can get more information on-line at www.hastingshastings.org.uk or www.miltonmargaischool.org, or contact Robin Gray on 436603.
Monday 7th May
The LOAF walk was a great success this year. The weather was kinder to us than last year. Many thanks to all those who walked, who sponsored walkers, or who helped with the organisation. So far, over £8388 has come in, and there's more to come. If you're sitting on sponsor money, please let Christine Lane at LOAF have it as soon as you can! We need it urgently in order to go on paying our bills as the Community Resource Building takes shape.
Saturday 24th March
A Dinner Dance was held at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Parkstone Road, Hastings with music by King Mascoe and amazing West African food by Yvonne John and her team.
