The Court Players on The Pier at the Shore Pavilion

In 1932 South African born Harry Hanson formed the “Harry Hanson Court
Players” at Hastings. Its success led directly to the formation of further companies at Leeds, Sheffield, Peterborough, Penge, Nottingham, Richmond, Stockton, Chester, Bradford and Swansea. He went into partnership with George Black and established the Court Players as the leading force in the weekly rep movement.

MY wife and I spent 18 very happy months – 1959/60 – appearing at the Hastings Pier Theatre with The Famous Harry Hanson Court Players - MIKE NEVILLE MBE

CARGO" Pirates, priceless pearls hidden in a cigar, shooting and mutiny are some of the ingredients of "Queer Cargo," by Noel Langley, which Harry Hanson repertory company, the Court Players, have introduced to local audiences the Hastings Pier Theatre this

 NEXT WEEK: CRY FOR THE MOON Next week the Court Players present the delightful play ” Cry for the Moon.” by All on Bacon. It has a well-told story, and strong dramatic moments with a touch comedy. The play was produced not long ago at Kew and had a big
28 June 1952 - Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Hastings, East Sussex, E

http://www.slideshare.net/1066heritage/entertainment-on-the-pier

http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Hastings.htm

Artefacts made at the Pier Hub Workshops

Felt making from scratch (using a hank of sheep's wool)

Clay making, shaped and decorated, still to be painted

Gift box, painted and decorated with shells

Coaster made from old decking

 and galvanized zinc offcuts from restaurant roof

And this is where it will go

Monday May 25th - Free Family Workshop

Clay souvenir - @ The Pier Hub

Drop in from 11am - 3pm

Create your own super seaside souvenir from clay.  Decorate with seaside stamps and use natural materials to make patterns.

Children should be accompanied by an adult.  Suitable for ages.

SafetyLiftinGear Provide Permanent Access Equipment at Hastings Pier

This project is yet another example of SLG's ability to provide a bespoke solution for any brief. Visit our Height Safety department or contact us now to get what you need for your project.

lhttp://www.safetyliftingear.com/news/post/hastings-pier-access-system

Definitely dangerous and difficult ...

.... but decidedly  done and dusted!

Saturday 23rd May 2015 - Free Family Workshop

Super Seaside Shell Boxes - Drop in at The Pier Hub from 11am - 3pm

Where's the Pier Hub? - HERE!

Have fun using shells to decorate your own seaside souvenir memory box.

Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Suitable for all ages.

Hastings is to feature in a BBC documentary……..

……………….detailing its recovery from war tonight (Monday, May 11).

The programme on BBC One examines how seaside resorts recovered from the devastating effects of the Second World War and started welcoming holiday-makers back in summer 1945.

First Days of Peace: Back to the Beaches will be on air on BBC One at 7.30pm.

BBC SOUTH EAST

WW2 Hastings Post War

Monday 11th May 19:30 BBC1 SE

Anthony Horowitz on the Pier

Demolition – The Wrecking Crew

Transmission dates for the series which are as follows:-

Sundays - on BBC 2 @ 20:00

EP01 – 17th May

EP02 – 24th May

EP03 – 31st May

The Hastings Pier story features in EP01.

Construction Update April 2015

Construction of the Visitor Centre is progressing well.  There is approximately 100 tonnes of steel to be installed to form the framework on top of the piles that will support the new building.  In the past month over 40% of this steel has been constructed and installed.

Because of the size of the trusses a crane is being used to lift them in place with a “man –rider” on another crane to carry the steel erectors whilst they bolt the steelwork in place.  With the main trusses in place the diagonal supporting props which will hold the structure rigid can be installed.  It is hoped to finish this steelwork within the next month so that the concrete slab can be cast ready for the main cross laminated timber building which arrives in June.

Beneath the Pier the replacement of  the vertical bracing and horizontal rails which are essential to keep the structure rigid and able to withstand the forces of the wind and sea, contimues. There are about 400 sets of bracing and 500 rails which have to be fixed to the columns by the steelworkers hanging from the Pier on ropes.  This work has to be programmed to suit the tides.

Work on the Old Pavilion continues with most of the windows and sliding doors installed. The building will soon be watertight and then the internal fit out of the restaurant can take place.

From Newsletter - May 2015

People’s Pier Project to study Hastings Pier & Clevedon Pier

The People’s Pier project, led by the University of Brighton, aims to investigate how piers are changing from simple pleasure palaces with gambling machines and rides to hubs for hosting community events, including pop-up cinemas and music and food festivals.

The research will concentrate on two piers: Clevedon Pier and Hastings Pier in East Sussex.  The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is providing £48,000 for early career researchers to help with the project which starts in May and runs for ten months.

“The University of Brighton has since 2001 played a key part in the education-led regeneration of Hastings and, with one of its campuses located in Hastings, it is well placed for this research project.

“The primary aim is to develop an understanding of how seaside pleasure pier culture converges with, engenders and sometimes resists twenty-first century community-led approaches to the economic regeneration of British seaside resorts.

“Due to their exposure to seawater and storms our nineteenth century piers, with their iron and wood constructions, are often financial liabilities. But piers are more than just metal and wood, more than treasured architectural landmarks – they are lived experiences shaped by the mood of the time and the socio-cultural make up of their location.

“It is important to gain an updated understanding of 21st century pier culture.  This includes more in-depth knowledge about how seaside piers as popular culture and leisure spaces converge with new usages such as those introduced with the concept of the community pier.”

Dr Jenzen will be collaborating on the project with academics from the universities of Bristol, Edinburgh and Kent.  She added: “We hope our research will show the strengths and challenges of running pleasure piers as community-ownership enterprises that other coastal communities who are looking to safeguard their piers from dereliction can benefit from.

“We hope to contribute to innovative ways of using pleasure piers as urban community spaces, and to establish how the community pier and its popular culture heritage can be utilised to build positive relationships across different groups and empower the community.”
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2015/may/peoples-pier-project.html

Engineering Students Have Welding Experience on the Pier

17 Level 3 Engineering students from Sussex Coast College Hastings were invited on to Hastings Pier this week to experience welding on site, as part of the welding module of their Diploma.

They saw how challenging welding can be whilst in a harness and battling the elements on a typical ‘British’ day.

The college has two Engineering Apprentices working on the pier.

The college want to thank Peter Wheeler and his team for the site visit.

A Feast of Videos

Hastings Pier_An Urban Park

Hastings Pier Charity CEO Simon Opie discusses his vision for the Piers' future.
Video and content produced by zeroh.net

Hastings Pier Hub_04/15

Beatrice Rapley, Susan Kent and Jo McLaughlan discuss the aims, activities and events happening at Hastings Pier Hub, on Hastings seafront.
Video and content produced by zeroh.net

Hastings Pier _ The Story So Far April 2015

Hastings Pier Construction Project Manager David Spooner discusses the regeneration works on Hastings Pier so far.