Following the hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic, we decided that our first event would be a repeat of the last which had to be cut short by heavy rain and cold wind. Fortunately on Sunday 29th May the weather gods were feeling more kindly disposed towards the event. Thirty-nine people came along, many of whom hadn’t taken part in the previous tour.

Our guide was the excellent and knowledgeable Anne Scott. We only covered a small part of the 87 acres but heard the fascinating stories behind many of the memorials including:

• Queen Victoria’s pastry chef,


• Alf Cobb “the Mugsborough Rebel” friend of Robert Tressell and figurehead of the of the radical socialist movement in Edwardian Hastings,


• Napoleon Montenegro who made his fortune in Costa Rican coffee.


• Annie Whistler, subject of the famous portrait by her son, James McNeil Whistler officially called ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1’ but more commonly referred to as ‘Whistler’s Mother’.

Many former British soldiers in the Indian army and civil service are also buried here.

Anne also explained the symbolism of some of memorials. The money raised will be shared with Old Hastings Preservation Society.

There’s a lot more information at https://friendsofhastingscemetery.org.uk/index.html