December Newsletter

 

 

 

 

Happy Christmas from Hastings Pier Charity

Construction Update

The demolition of the Ballroom was successfully completed, ahead of schedule and the temporary scaffold road has been removed.  We have carried out the initial survey of the Pier Head steelwork to confirm what needs to be replaced and start the manufacturing process.  The repair work will start in the New Year and will continue through to the end of the Project.
Elsewhere, the repairs to the structure continue, with the temporary ‘rig’ progressing along the Pier to provide the working platform for the steelworkers. The steelwork to the main spine has now been replaced up to the Pier Head and when the deck is laid, it provides us with the access for the work. The old balustrade around the Pier Head is being carefully removed and is to be taken by Hastings Borough Council for use in the Country Park.
We are now making preparations for the start of the Visitor Centre construction in the New Year. There are six new piles to be bored to form the foundations, these will be drilled from the deck. We have just carried out a borehole investigation to establish the make-up of the ground beneath the Pier so that we can calculate how deep the new piles will have to be. On to the piles we will build a new steel structure to take the load of the new building.
Work on the refurbishment of the Bandstand Pavilion continues. The new zinc covering to the main roof and the two cupolas is being completed. Inside the building, the new floor structure is being built up and steel supports installed in the walls to form the openings for the windows. We have also treated all of the existing roof timbers with a fire retardant spray which will give it some fire protection. The new pod extensions on the West side are being constructed, these will form the new toilets and kitchen support areas, and they will be clad with some of the old timber deck.
Picture taken by John Cole wishing

Staff profile: Clive Wormald - Financial Controller
I started work in the Lloyd's Insurance Market back in the mid-seventies where I trained to be an accountant. In 2005, after 30 years of commuting to London I decided to take early retirement and to work locally in and around my home town of Eastbourne. I have had a several local jobs prior to this latest appointment, including working as a Disability Employment Advisor on a European Social Fund Project, a Town Clerk for Polegate Town Council and Chief Executive of Age Concern Eastbourne.
Undoubtedly this project is one of the most exciting and interesting things I have had the pleasure to be involved with. I believe the rebirth of the Pier will be a fantastic fillip for Hastings and I am proud to be associated with this unique adventure. 

Science On Sea

Science. The Pier. The Sea. All very interesting, super exciting and ever changing. If you like your science, and science near the sea, why not come along to one of our interactive educational and most engaging workshops.  They are just for you, for the Pier and all about the Pier. Hosted by Americano-Sussex Science Dude Brad Gross, these family friendly, engaging, all ages - bang smash boom pow type science workshop will leave you feeling like a breath of fresh air and to top it off there will be something to take home too.
FREE December 2014 to March 2015 every 2^nd Saturday of the month @ The Hub
Saturday 13^th December 2014
11am – 12noon or 1pm – 2pm
If you would like to book a place email or phone us 01424 435587

Help make sure your local school doesn't miss out!

We are in the process of setting up an e-Learning Network through which we want to reach all the schools in Hastings and the local area.
We will be using this email network to let teachers know about exciting and FREE opportunities for schools!
If you know a teacher that would like to be added please ask them to e mail: learning@hpcharity.co.uk

In Living Memory

Hastings Pier’s Learning and Education department are going to be starting work on a new and unique inter-generational oral history project called ‘In Living Memory’.
We are recruiting for a Coordinator for the project so if you know anyone with experience in community engagement and in gathering oral histories do encourage them to check out the recruitment section of our website.
The project will connect local school children with older people in our community and the students will train in oral history interview techniques and learn how to use recording equipment to gather people’s personal stories about the pier. The students will then use these stories to devise a piece of verbatim theatre which will be performed in Hastings.
If you have a great story to share about Hastings Pier and think it could be interesting for the project please e mail beatrice.rapley@hpcharity.co.uk with the subject line ‘In Living Memory’ and once the Coordinator is in place they will contact you.
Your story could become part of an original drama and you could be played by an actor in a re-enactment of your own story!
Photograph by Chris Parker

The Hub will be closing for 1 month from Sunday 14th December 2014 and will open again on Saturday 10th January 2015.  Have a fab Christmas and a great new year!