HS023
Today I
saw Hastings through the eyes of another. I was showing a guest around
town. Someone who is very influential in my field of work. We
proudly showed her the cultural highlights of the seafront - The Stade and
fishing beach, Jerwood, St Mary in the Castle, Source Park, the Pier, Norman
Road - on a beautiful sunny day that had Hastings looking at its best. A
lot to be proud of in a small town.
She saw
what we saw, and more. New opportunities, potential partners, ideas we
could develop. Walking into the wind trying to make notes on the move -
looking slightly comical but capturing the nuggets was too important.
Lunch -
fish obviously
Then a
wave goodbye with brain churning, stimulated, wondering how I can make best use
of this person’s knowledge, freely given. Wanting to do the best for the
town and the people in it. Wanting to stop saying that Hastings ‘has
potential’ and have that potential fully realised.
Then to a
meeting about how communities can be empowered to lead the development of their
areas. A timely reminder that for many people, things are very tough in
this town. But there too, many ideas and opportunities and lots of
willingness to try and make things happen, and to do it better than in the
past. I’m sure every generation tries to do the same.
And
finally, to the Pier again for the first event following the reopening.
Open Air cinema, the premiere of Archie Laughlin’s Re: A Pier - a story
ten years in the making. The weather behaved (mostly) and while we were
chilled by the wind, we were warmed by the stories and our own memories of the
Pier. Evocative, magical, unique, and now reborn in the year of the 950th
anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. One battle that’s been fought and won
by the people of Hastings who believe in their town.
I smiled
and looked to the future with optimism.
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