Sunday 1^st October
We enjoyed a very interesting and informative tour of the Commonwealth War Graves in Hastings cemetery yesterday. Martin Barry told us the stories behind many of those men and women commemorated here and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission across the world.
Among these were Private W.Curtis who  survived the horrors of Ypres and the Somme to be killed by a tram in Hastings and Corporal L. Algeo who died in a brawl in St Leonards. His killer was sentenced to 5 years hard labour at Maidstone.

Saturday 2nd September
We had another good turnout for Dave Heatherall’s excellent talk on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the iconic Durbar Hall at the Museum. He explained the history of the organisation and its work in many countries across the world. The CWGC website has a great deal of information about every aspect of its work.

Saturday 27th July
Despite the rain, a good number came along to Fairlight church yesterday for an interesting visit with Paul Draper from Fairlight History Society regaling us with information about some of the characters buried in the churchyard. It seems that many of those buried there have no apparent connection to Fairlight and nobody knows why they’re there. Some intrepid souls climbed the tower with Rev Sandi Wickens.

Saturday 17th June
We had a very interesting walk around Rye on Saturday under the expert guidance of our President, Brion Purdey. We visited the church, Ypres Tower, including the women’s prison, Rye Museum and the historic roads in between.

Sunday 14th May
19 members enjoyed a very interesting walk around Robert Tressell’s Hastings led by Dr Trevor Hopper., author of ’Robert Tressell’s Hastings’. We visited places associated with Tressell (Robert Noonan in real life) including his former home in Milward Road and one of the places he worked while living in Hastings. Dr Hopper also pointed out places represented in ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ including the Town Hall from whose balcony election results were announced and inside which the ’40 Thieves’ plotted their self-enrichment schemes. We also saw the Carlisle where Noonan attended Trades Council meetings and the former Cricketers pub on South Terrace both of which also appeared in the novel. If you want to find out more, visit the Robert Tressell Society website.

Saturday 29th April
Members enjoyed a fascinating visit to Rye Harbour on 29^th April, to learn more about the history of the village and particularly the tragic story of the Mary Stanford lifeboat.
KT and Martin Bruce told us the history of the village which dates from the early nineteenth century, having been built on an extension of the shingle beaches, progressively deposited by the sea over the last 800 years.
In November 1928 the 17-man crew of the Mary Stanford lifeboat was lost when the boat capsized on its way to a rescue. Unbeknown to the crew, another vessel had already reached the ship in trouble. Every year, a special service in their memory is held in the church. Martin also regaled us with a sea shanty he has composed telling the story.
There is a further memorial made up of pebbles decorated by local residents by the lifeboat station.

Saturday 4th March:
A good number of members and non-members enjoyed the fascinating talk “RAF Fairlight: wartime radar and the cold war bunkers under the cliff top” by Haydon Luke in the Durbar Hall. This was followed by an interesting discussion not only on the subject but on future events and activities members would like to see.

Sunday 29^th January Guided tour of Bexhill Museum
Members enjoyed this visit to the always fascinating and eclectic Bexhill Museum. We were welcomed by Gordon Smith, the Volunteer Co-ordinator, who talked about the history of the museum and were then guided round the exhibits by the knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. If you haven’t been, you really should. Why not become a member? Check out their website.

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The events below are in the early planning stage. An adequate number of expressions of interest from Association members are needed in advance in order to proceed. Given the exorbitant costs of coach hire, future visits will involve participants making their own way or car sharing. We are very disappointed about this.

• Hastings Cemetery Tour Part Two with Anne Scott
• Fairlight Church and cemetery tour
• Winchelsea Church, Town Hall Museum and Town tour
• Michelham Priory guided tour and tea
• Anne of Cleves House and Lewes Castle and Museum guided tours
• Herstmonceux Castle guided tour and tea