The Regiment, to whom we gave the4 Freedom of the Town in 2008, will be going to Afghanistan in the middle of this month. I am sure we all wish all 76 men, all the very best of luck, and hope to see them home in November, with a Welcome Home March
, through the Town.

I am very pleased that after all this time, we are actually re-dedicating the War Memorial on Sat. March 27th, and the Bishop of Lewes willbe traking the Service. I hope as many local people and Veterans and Cadets will be able to attend, as this is 88 years, plus 12 days, since the original dedication, 26.03.1922. Before this event at Noon, we are also re-opening the East Hill Lift at 11.00am.. TYhere will be free trips on the Lift and a chance to have a good look at our wonderful Country Park.

I am holding 3 civic events , fund-raising for my Charities. The first is Burns Night on Jan 23rd, the next is my Birthday celebration on Feb 27th, and the Big One is the Civic Ball on May 1st. Everyone is welcome to attend, tickets from Helen Bird at the Town Hall. Also I am having three coffee mornings , 2 at the own Hall, to Celebrate on March 1st, and 17th, and on April 23rd at the White Rock Theatre ( The Town Hall is fully booked that day ).Please come along and enjoy yourselves, and help to raise money for my two Local Charities.

I have already been to some Carol Services which I have really enjoyed, but tonight, I was at the William Parker Sports College Service at St. Clements Church, and it was really lovely. The singing b y the Chioiur, an d playing by the Orchestra was great, and so were the readinbgs, which were evry unsusl, and very well read by the Students. All credit must go to the Students themselves, and the Teachers for making this such a lovely evening, and really startinfg my Christmas off properly !!

Today we had the most Servicemen and women, and cadets from all the services plus Veterans an d other local organisations that I have ever seen. There was also a very large contingent from Buckswood School, who were a credit to themselves and their school. The Bishop of Lewes gave the sermon, and prayers, and it was a very moving ceremony....also the rain did noit really start until we had all left the Park.!! This evening I attended, with many people of the Town, as well as allthe Standard Bearers, and Veterans from all parts of the Forces, in a vey moving Festival of Remembramce, and again there were more people that I have ever seen in the Theatre, ..everyone seemed to have turn ed out in support of our Armed Forces today, and the money so gfarcollected by the Royal British Legion tonight was £20,000.00 with many boxes yet to be collected and counted from retail premises. It looks as though it will be another bumper year, and of course every penny is used to support wouned servi

This morning, along with several people from the Town, as well as Cadets, Veterans and Standard Bearers, we opened the Memorial Garden, so everytone who wishes to, can plant a cross in memory of someone they loved and lost.

We have just ended a wonderful 10 days of events for the Hastings Week Celebrations. The weathewr has been very kind to us, and all the evnts have been w3ell supported. Three new3 events this year..My Chess Challenge, A meal folr two for £10.66, The Castle Hill "Run", and to end a wonderful Commercial Vehicles "Spratt and Winkle Run". It has been such a successful qweek, that all these new events will be back next year, including the wonderful Classic Car Show, The ational Towen Criers Championship, and of course the fantastic Bonfire Society procession and lighting of the Bonfire and to end a massive Firewor4k Display, that had everyons "ooh and aah ing ". A truly fantastic period of events and my Deputy and I have covered about 90 events, some separately and some together The week ended, as usual with The Mayors Youth Servuice at Holy Trinity. A truly exciting time for the people of the Town and all the visitors that this event attracts. We now start planning for next year!!.

My two Charfities for this year are S.S.A.F.F.A; who look after our servicemen and women, and their needs when they returnhome, and FVriary Gardeners, who look after 150+ disabled adults in the gardens on the Ridge.

Nov.4th...SSAFFA;Nov.17th, Friary Gardeners,Nov.30th St.Andrews Day, March 1st, St. Davids day, March 17th St.Patricks Day;April 23rd.St.Georges Day.

At the end of July I was porivileged to visit HMS Albion, in Portsmouth. Her Captain is a local man and has risen up through the Ranks, from being a Sea Cadet. A really super day, ending with Sunset Ceremony, a really moving experience

Nov.8th.Remembrance Service in the Park, and Evening at Whitre Rock Theatre;Nov 11th.Remembrance in Queens Square.Nov 29th.Prayer Supper;Dec 2nd.Xmas Celebrations;Jan 23rdBurns Night; Feb 20th My Bthday party;May 1st.Civic Ball

On Sept.6th 2008, The Town gave the Freedom of The Borough to The Royal Artilley 47 . Regiment.This...

I was again privileged to open this years Seafood and Wine Festival, showing all the wonderful...

Another Wonderfully successful day, for the Veterans Assn, and also for all the Charities who took...

The Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Maureen Charlesworth, is pleased to announce the safe arrival of her new grandchildren.

Mayor, Maureen Charlesworth needs your help to raise funds to restore the war memorial in Alexandra Park

The second Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival took place this weekend.

Today, along with other Councillors, the Mayor joined members of the various ex-service associations to remember those who fell during the war to liberate the Falkland Islands 25 years ago.

On Wednesday I took up the invitation to help with the annual taxi run for disabled children

On the 28th April I hosted the Annual Civic Ball on behalf of the Council and residents of Hastings

I have been trying to work with the college about the parking problems in the area, but no results yet.

Albany Charity Childrens Taxi Run 2006
In June this year I was delighted to be invited to welcome...

I am working with Officers and the Ex.Servicemens Assn. to get the Memorial properly repaired . The money left over from the collection made in the 1920'swas actually given to the council in the 1930,s on the understanding that the Council would then be responsible for the continued maintenance and upkeep "for ever and a Day". I am told that there is no more spare money for this work but I am continuing to fight this battle and will not let it rest.

I and the other Councillors in area have been fighting for a long time, it seems, for a proper plan for this site. There have been three lots of consultations with local people and all said that a Marina or Slipway is needed (Government policy states that there should be a Marina every 20/30 miles ) with relevant shops , restaurantrs and gift shops, with accommodation over, and I would like to have a "Heritage Centre" where we could bring back our wonderful Hastings Embroidery etc. This would bring many visitors to our end of Town (The forgotten end !) and also increase business for our local shops, and with some employment for local people.

I am also fighting for reinstatement of a "Memorial" in the town centre - something to replace the old burnt-down Albert Memorial. Again I am told that there is no money for this at the moment, although there is a perfect site for it in the pedestrianised areas. I am told that there is a possibility of some money from out-of-town but of course it has to be match-funded.!!!!!!

I liased with Southern Trains and Commuters Assns. to complain about the constant loud noise of the Train horns into and out of every tunnel. We did win a small battle last year when the Train authority agreed to implement a "Quieter" order. It is much improved but not yet as quiet as we think it could be, and I am still trying to get the noise reduced even more.

I and my fellow ward Councillors fought hard and long for the improved and decorative lighting in the gardens, which all seem to like, and we also now have a Croquet Lawn in the gardens as well as the Bowling Greens and the Putting greens. The Mayor kindly opened this last Summer and played an initial round with us.

I have had some small success in improvements to the street lights in Albany Road; but am still fighting for improvements to the pavements in our area.