'The Glory Of St Clements Church Christmas Fair!'

I went to my favourite Christmas Fair of them all yesterday namely the one at St Clements Church, High Street, Hastings!

I ALWAYS have a lovely time there meeting old friends (some from my school days whom I never seem to 'bump into' at any other time?) and so it is something I look forward to every year at this time.

I was the very first person through the doors this year as I got to the church about 25 minutes early! I love to chat with the people behind me in the queue as its an opportunity to soak up some Christmas atmosphere, share a few laughs and help promote the festive spirit!

Me doing just that! (lol)

The queue this year was not as long as in previous years but then, as I reported at St Luke's a while back, this is the trend these days with the generations that love actually doing this kind of thing dying off!

This said, I was heartened to see a number of kids being brought to the fair by their parents. It is vital for the very survival of Christmas itself that we all do our bit to keep introducing Christmas to the next generation you know!

As you may already know, I LOVE the £1 a go prize every time stall and usually make a bee line for it as soon as I enter the church. For some reason though this year I didn't - deciding to browse through some of the bric-a-brac and craft stalls first. I bought a lovely Debenhams Christmas Tree broach (all sparkly!) that I shall wear myself (and blow the damage to my reputation!) in December and found the PERFECT present for a friend as well that I won't reveal the nature of here just in case they read this!

Sadly though when I did finally arrive at my beloved £1 a go stall I noticed that some of the familiar faces that I usually share some fun with were missing. I've never been one for remembering names ( unless you've ever had a record out!) but usually remember faces and some the elderly 'stalwarts' of the event I was hoping to see were definitely not there...

Thankfully one of the ladies I was hoping to see was there and she told me the sad news that the other lady I had expected to see had died recently and that her husband, with whom I often share some laughs, was in hospital at the moment. I felt so sad hearing the news because every year when I go back I fear hearing this kind of thing and up until now have always been pleasantly surprised to see them all smiling back at me for another year.

Pic courtesy of, Keith Leech.

The GOOD side of such sad news though was that the lady I spoke with had her DAUGHTER running the stall for her with a friend this year. At least if the tradition is 'handed down' so to speak it will help St Clements continue to put on such events!

After I 'bought my fill' of presents to open on Christmas Day from the stall I went for a cup of tea and a mince pie with my school-friend, Paul. He is a really nice, gentle bloke and said he would treat me this year so that was even better! (lol) We sat down and spent a good half an hour catching up on stuff and chatting about Christmas and there was only a smidgen of politics, honest guv! (lol)

I then saw the lady who organises the Fair every year. She is a marvellous lady, who at 78 is an incredible asset to the church. She was dressed with her usual festive hat on and a tiny mince pie hanging down (not a real one!) but was not quite as bright and smiley as usual I detected. It turned out that her brother passed away last week quite suddenly (though they knew he was terminally ill) which was why. What a STAR she is to STILL turn up, help out and be as Christmassy as ever in such sad circumstances, eh?

People often ask me why I love The Old Town and Old Towners particularly - well that's why! They are made of sterner stuff and do all they can for their community even in their own darkest hours. If only the people of other areas in Hastings & St Leonards would take a leaf out of their book!

I felt very honoured talking to her as well because she recounted to me how special it was to read the 'lovely story' I wrote about the Fair for 'Hastings Town' magazine a few years ago. That was probably more than 'a few' years ago now so it is nice for me to think that someone still remembers my efforts!
I really hope that this lady reached her fund-raising target from the Fair this year. The number of stalls was down a little on previous years but there was a 'Mulled Wine' seller this time around and of course the HUGE raffle!

It always pains me that I am invariably MEGA busy at this time of the year and so can not stay right until the end but I really enjoyed myself (as ever) again and came away with a bag full of presents and 'goodies' as I always do to help make mine and those I buy for's Christmas Day special.

Oh and I also bought 4 lovely home made cakes that were divine! I took a pic of them for you before sharing them with family and a friend. They look a bit 'sickly' but actually weren't as the sponge inside them was as 'light as a feather'!

Who needs 'Red Bull' to give them wings, eh? (lol)

God bless all at St Clement's Church - I wish them all a SMASHING Christmas and a very HAPPY new year xxx

'My First Christmas Fair Of The Year'

It was the annual Christmas Fair at St Luke's Church in Silverhill today! I always try to get along to the little churches 'festive do' as it is always a lovely event with a nice community atmosphere. The Church hall is big enough to make browsing fun but not so big that you lose the intimacy, if you know what I mean? I always associate the way that the parishioners lay out tables in the centre of the hall with Christmas table cloths on and implements for Tea and biscuits with the 'Women's Institute' for some reason (probably because my mates Mum, Mrs. Crouch was in the habit for many years of baking cakes for similar events and she was a W.I. member) and the whole event somehow evokes thoughts of a bygone age...

It is a fact, sadly that many of the generation of people who put a lot of work into running such events at local churches and community centres are now dying off. There were not as many stalls this year as last and the queue at the door before the STRICT opening time of 10AM only consisted of about a dozen or so people whereas I recall it stretching all the way back to the pavement in Sedlescombe Rd South a few years back. I always say to my Mum (who went with me) how we must all appreciate such events while we still have them because I can't see the latest 'always too busy on their phones' generation being bothered about 'Christmas Fairs' - or any social activity that involves the real world for that matter! (lol)

While there was a CRACKING selection of fresh, home made cakes to buy and sample this year and a HUGE raffle with maybe 100 or more prizes I was a bit disappointed with what was on offer on the majority of the other stalls this year. In my opinion there were far too many raffle style stalls where you had to rely purely on luck to get anything. I prefer to be able to buy items as - not being very lucky with raffles (or any form of gambling for that matter!) I often end up spending a lot of money and come away empty handed. I did have a go on the MacMillan Nurses stall though (and lost!) because that is a cause worth supporting.

My main disappointment this year though revolved around the AMAZING lady who sold home made Christmas cards to me last year. I got some genuine bargain cards last year at incredible prices and was looking to 'fill my boots (or stockings!)' again this year but though there was a card stall the cards were more expensive this time and not as nice so I didn't buy any. I do recall that the lady that sold me them last year was quite elderly so maybe she is not as fit as she was or no longer with us now...

The tea was great though! A really fresh and invigorating brew and the choccie biscuits were nice. I would have LOVED to have had a go in the raffle but it was not to be drawn until about 1pm and as I have lots of things to do at this time of year ( Reindeers to train & feed, Sleigh to get through another M.O.T etc) I wasn't going to be able to be there at that time. This is a common problem for me and spoils my enjoyment of a lot of Christmas Fairs. I know that you can write your name and number on the back of your tickets but I like to be able to choose my own prize if I win and you have to arrange to go and collect your prize from the venue as well, which can be tricky.

I DID get something (or someone!) that I LOVE at the Fair though and hope to get them to make a special appearance with me on the Jeff Belton Christmas Show on Conquest Hospital Radio on Christmas Eve! More about that in future posts! (lol)

Photo by Keith Leech

The next Christmas Fair I hope to get to is next Saturday the 23rd of November. It's the BIG ONE for me at St Clements Church in High Street and so I shall hope to pick up some wonderful cards and gifts there! I often 'bump into' people I only ever see at that event as well (hi Paul Bryant!) and am hoping that will be the case again this year so we can share a cuppa and a cake or something and have a good natter. The raffle at St Clements is always a good one but I have never won anything (yet) - mainly though I suspect because I am hard to catch by phone so even if I do win and they try to reach me I probably won't be in at the right time! Maybe this year I will try and stay to the end so that I can see the raffle drawn live!

Lastly, November the 30th sees the annual Christmas Fair at The Holy Redeemer in Upper Church Rd take place. That's another Fair I usually attend. It's not always been great for me as far as 'finding a bargain or a gift for someone' goes but the atmosphere is ALWAYS Christmassy and there are plenty of stalls of all sorts!

If you see me at any of the above do say hello!

'Christmas Fun At My Favourite Christmas Fair!'

Well, I had a LOT of fun today at, St Clements Christmas Fair! I look forward to this event every year and save 50p pieces in a model lighthouse all year round in order to give me some money I can afford to 'enjoy myself with' and not worry too much. Being unemployed and on a paltry income is not a lot of fun and so I LOVE the feeling of freedom that saving for this event gives me. Oh to often in the past I would look at the lovely raffle FULL of great prizes and mouth watering chocs and yet not really feel comfortable with 'spending a few quid on tickets' because the odds of winning are so slim and I always have things more important I need to spend my money on at this time of year like presents...

Some of my 'haul' from today's Fair

It is then with a MASSIVE smile upon my face that today I had a go at EVERYTHING! (lol) I had a couple of goes on the Tombola stall (and eventually won a nice pen in a box), I 'went back to my childhood' and had a go on the 'bounce a ping pong ball into a glass jar to win the prize inside the jar' game and of course I PLUNDERED the £1 a go - prize every time stall!

Because I am a 'regular offender' as far as attending this event goes and (hopefully) spreading a bit of Christmas cheer and good will I am well-known at St Clements by all of those who organise and put on the Fair. It was lovely today when walking up the front steps of the church two people said hello to me and said that they were 'glad to see me back again'. The two people I spoke to were elderly and they said were going to be in charge of organising the tea & coffee. I SO admire them and their fellow parishioners for all the hard work they put into making this Fair happen. It's a LOT of work in the kitchens at this event and the tables need wiping, the plates of biscuits and mince pies need replenishing and then there is all the washing up that needs to be kept on top of so that there are enough cups and saucers!

About our new, 'Vintage World' magazine...

I gave the couple a free copy of 'Hastings Town' as a little gift. I brought a few with me to try and promote the magazine as we ( I have been writing for 'Hastings Town' now for a decade) have a NEW title coming out soon called, 'Vintage World' and so it was a good chance to 'pop a flyer' for that in the middle as well.

While the event was well attended it was more of a trickle of people coming in rather than a 'long queue to get in' kind of event. I felt a little sad waiting outside before the doors opened as I realise that going forward there are likely to be less and less of these community type events. People today seem more interested in the 'virtual' world and 'talking to their T.V.'s' than they do in attending and taking part in organising events. The lady who has been at the helm of St Clement's Christmas Fair for years told me herself that she is now 80 and can only really see herself carrying on for another two or three years. It is SO SAD how so many of the hard working and happy faces behind the stalls at this event are now the 'older generation'. Why and how has society gotten to the state that it is in today with people so seemingly disconnected from each other?

The sense of community in The Old Town though is second to none and that's precisely why I like to think of myself as a kind of 'Honourary Old Towner'...

This all said, there were a few YOUNG people helping out today! The ladies 'ladying' the ping-pong game were very fun and smiley and a schoolgirl who looked very chirpy was also helping out on the £1 a go - win a prize every time stall.

There was no 'bottle' stall this year though and it didn't seem to me that they had quite had the level of donations as far as 'bric-a-brac' was concerned that they usually get (though I got a lovely book for someone I know as a Christmas present and a fun little finger puppet that I'm going to have some fun with!) but all in all the FESTIVE spirit and feel of a 'Traditional Christmas' was as intact as ever!

The St Clement's Church Christmas Fair is like the best tonic any Doctor could prescribe for me and I almost got a bit teary after I left. This time of year there is so much going on and it all comes at you so fast. With other appointments today I could only spare an hour and a half at the Fair this morning and I got a bit emotional when I realised that it would be a WHOLE YEAR now before I could potentially feel that happiness again.The upside to this sad tale being the fact that I soon realised that, just like the days of Charles Dickens when 'Christmas was just a few days and far less commercialised' when something in life is so rare it is that very rareness that makes experiencing it that much more SPECIAL.

There is no way I would ever want to get 'over familiar' with the MAGIC of my favourite Christmas Fair and so until next year I shall hold on to my special memories and keep the spirit of Christmas they evoke in my heart...

Finally, I also got a copy of the brilliant, 'A Pier Amongst Peers' book at the Fair today. It was brand new and £10 but if I was ever going to buy a copy I thought today was the day to do it! All of the money raised goes to charity and (as you may know if you read, 'Hastings Town' magazine) I have a very personal connection to the history of Hastings Pier...

Lots of love to all at St Clement's Church and A MERRY CHRISTMAS and THANK YOU for all they continue to do to make this event so special.

My Christmas starts from today and long may it last!

Love Tony xx

'Welcome Back For Another Year!'

Hi Everyone!

I hope this post finds you and yours in good health and looking forward to the run up to Christmas this year? I've taken to leaving it a bit later (past Guy Fawkes Night) to begin posting about Christmas these days as there is so much in the media and in the shops that winds you up well before bonfire night that I didn't want to add to that.

I've been a right old, 'Scrooge' this year!

2018 has not been a great year for me but then again I don't expect it has for a lot of people. Finances have been dire this year and that has meant that I've been unable to do any recording. This has been tough for me to bear and I've had to battle depression as a result. It's also been a sad year because I lost another good friend in, Bin Kennedy and felt compelled to leave my writing club, Shorelink Writers due to 'differences' as well after 14 and a bit years. Not much good any of that, eh?

STILL, all the time you are still in the game and battling there is always a chance that a 'silver lining' to all this misery will show itself and I HAVE done wonders this year in my role as, 'The Clean Up Man' - recently receiving a 'contribution recognition' award from the 'Tidy Up St Leonards!' Group.
In the last few weeks my creative mojo seems to have returned also and I have written a number of poems and THIS MORNING a NEW Christmas song called, 'What We'd Got For Christmas'!

Considering my financial state and the fact that we are already into November, I doubt I will get the chance to record the song this year but it has been a bit of a boost coming up with something new as I really had 'dried up' the way I was feeling.

The other GOOD news is that I have booked a short break in order to return to the 'Grassington Dickensian Festival' again later this year. In DIRE need of getting away from it all earlier in the year I rather stupidly booked a holiday (when you are depressed you just think 'Oh, sod the expense!'). As it turned out the tour operators had to cancel that one and so I was due a refund. It all seemed a bit like 'Deja Vu' to me because that is exactly what happened last year! I really LOVED my trip to Yorkshire last year and so in the end decided to re-book the same holiday that I went on in 2017 again. It's not always a good idea to try and 'replicate' a great experience as you can set yourself up for a tarnishing experience but the tour operators have dropped the holiday from their 2019 brochure and so I realised that if I ever wanted to experience the Grassington magic I probably best go again this year. You can see a few of my favourite Grassington pics from last year with this post...

Lastly, we are coming around to the 'Christmas Fair' time of year again! My 'beloved' 'do' at St Clements Church in High Street Hastings takes place on the 17th of November at 10AM and so I am looking forward to that! In case you live in my area (Hastings & St Leonards) here is a short list of a few other Christmas Fairs to go to in the next fortnight or so...

10th November - St Luke's Church (Silverhill) - Christmas Market 10AM -1.30PM
17th November - St John's (Nr St Michael's Hospice) Christmas Fair 10AM - 1PM
24th November - Battle Xmas Lights Switch On (always lovely to see Battle at Christmas!) 1.45 PM
1st December - Holy Redeemer (Upper Church Rd) Christmas Fair 11AM -1PM

I'm not sure if I will be able to get to all of the above (especially St John's as it clashes with St Clement's do) but will try to get to as many as I can. If you see me there do come and say 'hello', won't you?

'It's Creeping Up On Me Again!'

"There HAS to be an easier way of NOT making a living" is a phrase I have repeating to quite a few people of late!

What with FINALLY getting all of my 'A Nod To Mr.Dickens' CD's off to friends and family around the world, WORKING MY SOCKS OFF writing and researching a VERY ambitious article for 'Hastings Town' to do with my 'Festive 50' local music records that 'define Hastings musical history so far' AND continuing my voluntary work as 'The Clean Up Man' the time has just disappeared of late!

I have had some GOOD news though as 'The Clean Up Man' has been nominated for an award! I'm up for the 'Against All Odds' award from HVA (Hastings Voluntary Action) having been put forward by Pete Shoesmith M.B.E., who is involved with the Hollington Youth Centre across the road from where I live. I regularly clean up the Youth Centre car park and grass verges and have done now for almost 6 years. Whether I actually win the award or not, its lovely to get some recognition from somewhere - thanks Pete!

The pics you see with this post are 'festive' ones I took a couple of weeks ago out near Sellindge in Kent. While they are autumnal rather than snowy I think they are pics that make you feel really festive and depict the kind of 'idillic Christmas' scenes you see in ads by 'Marks & Sparks' on T.V. each year...

Its my FAVOURITE Christmas Fair of the year again this Saturday! Yes, folks I will be off to St Clements Church armed with my usual bags full of 50ps in search of loads of their '£1 a go win a prize every time' stall again! I always get some good prizes every year, lots of chocolate and the odd 'WTF' kind of prize! Last year on Christmas Day I unwrapped a tin of pilchards! NOT the greatest of presents to receive, eh? Makes 'socks, pants and handkerchiefs' sound like 'Harrods finest hamper', don't you think? Anyway, I am a well-known character at the Church at the event these days and each time I go I feel the spirit of Christmas within me and come away knowing that my special time of the year isn't far off now...

Sadly, I'm often unable to sustain the high that St Clements Christmas Fair gives me as 'much as I love them' most of the rest of my family are NOT Christmas people and can be 'old miseries'. Last year the '£1 a go etc' stall sold out completely thanks to me! When other people see me having loads of go's and see the smile on my face they all want to join in. I always think that alone sums up Christmas for me and how it should be - if we were all to be happy and smiley at Christmas the joy would be infectious! I like to think of myself therefore as 'the Murray Walker' of the festive season! Even if I am an bit of a misery the rest of the year round! Trust me to be 'out of step' with every one else, eh?

'Its More Like Winter Now!'

Well, it is definitely getting more like Christmas outside now! The temperature has dropped quite a bit this last week and the wind-chill when it starts to blow goes right into your bones...

Unsurprisingly, I have now developed a cold and an writing this feeling a bit groggy from my bed! Luckily, I don't have a headache just a cold but my eyes are a bit sticky and my eyebrows feel quite sore. That last development is a new one for me!

The GOOD news is that I DID manage to go to my favourite Christmas Fair at St Clement's Church this year. Amazingly, I had not been in the church before so it was a completely new experience other than some of the familiar stall holders. The inside of St Clement's is quite an unusual mixture of the very old with the new and sparkling. There is a lot of new glass and wooden panels about and some new looking staircases behind and above the rows of traditional wooden benches which point to the altar. Normally, I feel a bit awkward inside a church. Being a bit of a gambler and not exactly a stranger to the odd 'sin or three', I feel a bit guilty and imagine a giant face looking down on me, God rubbing his hands together and saying in a slightly sarcastic manner "Ah, Mr.May! We haven't seen you for a while boy!". I'm sure God's not really like that but it shows that I am aware I'm not perfect and recognise that when entering a church. I very much doubt that I am the worst person on earth mind - but I'm a fair way from being the best either. Still, I'd rather feel a bit guilty and care about that than simply not be bothered no matter what I had done...

As usual, I made straight to the £1 a go 'win every time' stall. The organisers always make a real effort to wrap the presents you get in pretty Christmas paper and the contents of each present always work out to be good value for money as well. Inside each parcel you can be sure there will be a nice little gift and over the years I have won everything from a large Teddy Bear to a pair of ladies stockings! Now, If only they could supply me with someone to go in those! HA HA

What was really nice this year as well was the fact that when I introduced myself to the stall holders they all said that they remembered me from the days when the Fair was held at All Saints Church Hall in All Saints St. I had been sadly missed the last few years they said and told me that they'd wondered whether I had not realised about the change of venue before. While I am pretty distinctive wearing my Cowboy Hats It was still nice to know that the fun we had shared in the past had endeared me to them enough for them to remember me and be pleased to see me back.

I simply LOVE paying my money (usually all in 50p pieces) and then picking my winning raffle tickets from out of the pot or container. The fun of unfolding those tiny bits of paper, calling out the number on it and then searching the table for the relevant parcel is HUGE and really helps make my Christmas right there and then! This time I bought 10 presents when I first arrived and then another 5 after having a good look around at the other stalls. I must make quite a difference to the success of the whole Fair with spending like that and there are very rarely many presents left unsold at the end of the event when I'm about!

While browsing the other stalls I also picked up a cute Father Christmas Salt & Pepper set! I liked the look of it on the box and as it was only £1 decided to buy it as a Christmas decoration. It must have been meant to be that I did this as, when I opened the box at home and took a look at the figures inside, there was actually a 'Grannie Christmas' inside rather than any of the figures shown on the packaging accompanying Santa. I got a bit emotional when I saw that as, having lost my beloved Nan in June this year, it was almost as if her way of letting me know she's looking down on me. I shall give 'Grannie Christmas' pride of place on display indoors this year and think of my Nan every time I look at her...

The inside of St Clement's church is a much better venue to hold the Christmas Fair as well really. While its not as Christmassy in the respect of things like the paper streamers and tinsel that used to adorn All Saints Church Hall it is much bigger and gives all who come to the Fair a better chance to look at everything without tripping over each other. A large toy Train had been set up in front of the rows of pews and that added a childlike element to proceedings which was nice. As ever, for your 50p entry fee ( though the advertising posters outside all stated that 'admission was free', oops!) once you had finished browsing a nice cup of coffee or tea and a mince pie awaited you in the refreshments area. I guess there were about 20 odd stalls in all and pretty much anything and everything was on sale somewhere! I got a few cheap CD's (10p each!) and a charming little golden bear broach for £2 as well as my 15 presents so I did my bit to help the event make money!

To be honest, I would have loved to have spent even more money there but finances are not what they used to be these days and I am having to be a bit more sensible about what I spend (well, most of the time, anyway!). I always have a fair few pounds to spend at this Christmas Fair because I save up for it all year. I save 50p's in a wooden lighthouse all year round as a way of remembering my friend, Simon Patrick Kerr Griffiths (1946-2001) who, sadly, took his own life in November, 2001. Each year on the anniversary of his death I empty the lighthouse and then make a few charitable donations in his honour with whatever is inside. The money I send though usually comes directly from my bank account and so each year I am left with £30-40 of 50p pieces jangling about in my pockets. I try to spend this money on good causes as well if I can and the All Saints Christmas Fair always seems like a worthy place to spend my money and be able to have a lot of fun doing so in the bargain...

If ever you are in Hastings mid to the end of November do make sure to find out about St Clement's Church and its Christmas Fair. Unless you are a 'Bah Humbug' person you are sure to love it and come away full of the spirit of Christmas.

'My Favourite Christmas Fair & Other Things'

Well, I have to say that so far this year my 'Christmas Mojo' is struggling to get out of first gear! I have watched a load of Christmas Movies on Channel 5 and 'blubbed like a baby' at the obvious though touching story lines and have felt the thrill of buying someone a present I hope they will be over the moon with but overall, I''m still not feeling this Christmas...

I did get a kick though out of finding out the other day that it was a man by the name of Robert L MAY  who invented 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer'.

 That someone with my family name invented a character so interwoven now with the story of Christmas seemed fitting! I am nicknamed 'Mr.Christmas' by my friend (and Producer), Harvey Summers so maybe this is why! Robert was American apparently so I doubt we are actually related but he obviously had a love of Christmas to be able to write the poem featuring Rudolph that he did.

I found the story of Robert & Rudolph here: The Story of Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Sadly, in rather an uncharitable and un-Christmassy way, I am not allowed to reprint of re-produce any of their article here for copyright reasons. Don't you just love the irony of that? I mean, how much of an own-goal is not being able to spread the word about a character like Rudolph's invention for the human race? Its typical of the modern world I dislike so much to be honest!

Anyway, my Christmas spirit may well get a boost soon as tomorrow my favourite Christmas Fair of the year is due to take place at St Clements Church in the Old Town of Hastings. It has been a few years now since I was able to attend the event as the last couple of years it has clashed with a writing festival I go to in London each year. This time though I am free and am hoping it will be every bit as memorable and Christmassy as I remember it! They usually have a £1 a go 'present every time' stall and I LOVE supporting that because I get loads of UNOPENED MYSTERY wrapped presents to put under our tree for opening on Christmas Day! Ho, Ho!!

 Getting to feel like a kid again is such an important part of Christmas for me and going to Christmas Fairs is all part of the fun. The St Clements Christmas Fair (used to be held at All Saints Church Hall in All Saints Street) is by far the best Fair of the year for me though so I do hope I won't be disappointed tomorrow...

Last years Christmas run up did not quite work out for me in a number of ways as you will know if you read this blog regularly. Thankfully, after the  'Santa at Battle' debacle last year, my camera has been a 'good boy' this year so hopefully this time if I go I will get some proper photos to share with you all here.

Oh well, back to the present hunting!