Who thought all the action for the 950th anniversary of the Norman conquest would be at Battle last weekend? Well apparently there were a few bits and pieces going on there, but Hastings is never a town known for shy, retiring modesty. With the commemoration coinciding with ideal tide conditions for bonfire, Hastings took full advantage of the occasion and partied like it was . . . well 1066 and they were the victors.
The day began with the 64th annual National Town Crying Competition. Jon Bartholomew, the Hastings town crier, kept his audience on the edge of their toes until the final judgment was awarded at 1:15pm and then the hoard of spectators were encouraged to go down to the Stade on the seafront where there was live music, a beer and wine tent, a hog roast and stalls (much as usual for Hastings).
However on the way down to the seafront, it was impossible to avoid a variety of brilliant marching bands. Stix and Drumskullz were having a drum off outside Debenhams, much to the joy of shoppers who were standing on benches gyrating to the beat. Later on Stix, in their purple and black costumes drummed down town to the matching Carlisle pub.
When we arrived at the Stade, there were many tents offering people the chance to whittle a stick, try on some simple peasant robes or stroke a pot. Thank goodness those Normans came in, bringing ball bearings, wine, vaccination, castles and letter boxes (I learned this from the town crying event earlier). Midway through the afternoon, my companion and I were perturbed by a vast number of bodies being brought into the arena, slung over the shoulders of hefty men, women and sometimes children. There must have been about 40 of them! It turned out these were the guys that had been made earlier in the day. The best would be conflagrated later that night on the bonfire.
Then it was time for the daylight fireworks. An unusual idea and I am not sure it will catch on. There was a lot of smoke, banging, a slight ash cloud and lots of screaming children. However I enjoyed it.
Immediately after, it was time for the procession. The storm clouds gathered, spots of rain started to fall, the wind whipped up and took some spray from the sea. So, a lovely English autumn’s day. A giant, Saxons and Normans, marching bands, quite a few bonfire boys (and girls), a walking maypole and his attendants – all human life was there. We even saw some police officers and signs of parking enforcement – sights almost unknown in Rye. The procession went past and the heavens opened. It seemed as though everyone at once rushed to the Jenny Lind, where Teachest Blue were performing live. This was a great vantage point as the parade came back down the High Street so we could see them all again. We hope they managed to get somewhere warm and dry before the bonfire night celebrations began in earnest a couple of hours later .
Photos: Seana Lanigan