Hastings remembers

The town is set to remember the 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War with a series of events being held over this weekend.

The official opening of Hastings Remembers at Hastings Museum is at 2.30pm on Saturday. This exhibition runs until January27th next year and looks at the impact war had on Hastings and its communities. Then between 2pm and 3.30 pm on Saturday there will be a special afternoon of music and songs to mark the centenary of the Armistice at the museum the event includes WWI teatime refreshments, music by Sally Layne and a children’s poppy activity.

On Armistice Day, which is also Remembrance Sunday this year, Hastings town crier Jon Bartholomew will play the bagpipes at 6am at the war memorial in Alexandra Park, part of a national programme to mark 100 years of remembrance.

The traditional Remembrance Sunday service will also take place at the war memorial in Alexandra Park at 11am, preceded by the civic procession from the town hall, which leaves at around 10.30. A special commemorative, lit, lamp will be blessed which will be on display at St Clement’s Church, in the Old Town, during the day.

It is hoped that the bells of all four church towers in the town; All Saints, Christ Church, Blacklands and Christ Church, St Leonards and St Clement’s will join other churches across the country in ringing at 12.30 to coincide with the nation’s tribute as thousands march past the Cenotaph.

The commemorative lamp will then be used to light the beacon on the East Hill at 7pm, and there will then be a torchlight procession along the seafront to the White Rock Theatre, with the lamp being welcomed during the annual remembrance service there, which starts at the earlier time this year of 6.45pm. During this service the town crier will make a cry for peace around the world, again as part of a national programme.

The bells at the Old Town church of All Saint will also ring out from 7.05pm, as the East Hill beacon burns.

Mayor of Hastings Nigel Sinden says: “I am so pleased that the town is marking the 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War in this way. So many people – including many from Hastings, of course – made the ultimate sacrifice in this and other wars, and so many more played a huge part in securing the freedoms we take for granted today.”

THE BOROUGH’S ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

The act of remembrance to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War will be conducted by Father David Hill Rector of St John the Evangelist, Upper St. Leonards

• Sunday November 11th 11am
• The War Memorial Alexandra Park
• Two minutes’ silence
• Exhortation
• Reveille
• Kohima Epitaph

Blessing of Commemorative Lamp Fr Hill will bless the commemorative lamp which has been on display in St Clement’s Church, and will be used to light the beacon on the East Hill on Sunday night as part of the national programme to mark 100 years since the end of hostilities

Laying of wreaths The order will be announced by Fr Hill, laying wreaths will be

• The Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Nigel Sinden
• Hastings & Rye MP, Amber Rudd
• The British Legion
• Serving Representatives
• Uniformed Service Units
• The Emergency Services.
• Representatives from Hastings’ twin towns,
• Ex Service & Supporting Organisations,
• General Public.

Hymn

Our God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come.

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Beneath the shadow of Thy throne,

Thy saints have dwelt secure,

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defence is sure.

Our God our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while troubles last,

And our eternal home.

• Address
• Prayers
• The Blessing
• The National Anthem

God save our Gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen!

Not on this land alone,

But be God’s mercies shown

From shore to shore.

Lord, make the nations see,

That men should brothers be,

And form one family,

The wide world o’er.

The ceremony will conclude with a ‘thank you’ on behalf of the Royal British Legion & Hastings Borough Council to Dean Pelling Trumpet, Helen Bird Keyboard, Ian Dobson PA System and Hastings Coastal Twirlers.

Christ Church Ore

There are other Remembrance Day events going on in the town on Sunday, there is the  Remembrance services beginning at 10.15am, The  ‘Churches Together in Ore’ service takes place in Christ Church Ore before the Act of Remembrance at 11am beside the War Memorial. There will be tea and cake in the hall afterwards.