Newsletter - JULY 2014

 

 

 

 

'Summer Season'

We have a fun packed summer ahead. Look out for our new 'Summer Season' leaflet with details of our range of activities: there's something for everyone from under 5s to families and adults. These sessions are all free thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Coming up in July we have our regular Thursday morning 'Pier explorer' sessions for families with under 5s; there's lots of songs, games and craft fun. The sessions take place in the Hub, from 10.30am - 11.15am and there's no need to book.
This year we are entering the Old Town Carnival and we need your help to build the float! We are running a series of workshops in July, led by Radiator Arts, to create the float which will be inspired by the past and future pier. Come along to contribute to the overall construction of the float and you will also be able to make a souvenir to take home. We also need your help to carry the float on the day of the carnival, Saturday 2nd August. If you aren't able to make the carnival itself you are still welcome to attend one of our workshops. See our website for dates and venues for the workshop.
We are also running an art workshop every Wednesday in the school holidays starting on 23rd July. Each week we will be using a different art technique to create images of the pier. For those who would like to there will be an opportunity at the end of the summer to display the completed works in the Hub.
To round off July we have a talk on the 'Entertaining History of the Pier' by former pier music promoter and volunteer archivist at Hastings Museum, Andre Palfrey-Martin. The talk on 31st July will look at a wide variety of entertainment on the pier from steam boat trips to rock concerts, penny arcades to fashion parades. To book your place phone us on 01424 435587 or email us.

Construction update

The construction works have now reached the next phase as the work on the parade extension has now been substantially completed. The construction team have moved out of the old pavilion building (internal view above) to new temporary offices. Work on the refurbishment of the pavilion to create the new restaurant can now start. The existing structure is being retained as far as possible; the roof will be recovered, the external walls will be reconstructed with sliding glass doors and new windows will be fitted. There will be two ‘pods’ built on the west side for toilets and kitchen areas; the intention is to clad these with recycled decking. The inside will then be completely opened up to form a spacious restaurant and bar.
For more information about the latest reconstruction work come to our teatime updates at The Hub on alternate Wednesday afternoons between 3pm and 4pm (9th & 23rd July) or look on our website for more information.

The Hub

The Hub, our temporary visitor centre in the old White Rocks Baths entrance building, has been busy with visitors and events over the first part of the summer. We have had several visits from pupils from Christ Church Primary School in St. Leonards who have been piloting some schools sessions for us. If you are a teacher look out in the autumn for more details of these and how you can get involved.
The Hub also played host last month to a repeat talk about the musical history of the pier. Lots of you have also been contributing your memories of music on the pier by adding to our display of old singles. If you have an ephemera from concerts on the pier, such as tickets or posters, our archive group would love to see them. They meet every Wednesday in the Hub from  11.30am - 12.30pm. If you can't make Wednesday mornings leave your items with one of our Hub Interpretation team and we can return the items to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work placements in construction

Hastings Pier is a unique heritage structure and we are delighted to be able to offer young people from the local area the opportunity to do a two week work placement with us. We are one of the few construction sites in the country offering young people who have not yet had the opportunity to work on a construction site a chance to gain practical skills in carpentry. The current cohort are students from Sussex Coast College and they have been assisting TimberCraftUk Ltd with laying the decking. Our first two students Callum Wood and James Childs, who started in June, have since been offered full time apprenticeships with TimberCraftUk. Above is Callum Wood working on a shelving unit as part of his work placement.

If you'd like to find out more about the life of the Hub when it was the swimming baths visit Hastings Museum and Art Gallery to see an exhibition of photographs of the now derelict, but still evocative, space. For further details see their website.