The Choir In Alexandra Park

A Memory of Hastings.

I lived in Hastings from birth until the mid fifties. Each year there was a carnival week and one memorable year my music teacher was to conduct the Chippenham Police Choir in Alexandra Park. He and the choir would be on one side of a large pond and the audience on the other. My music teacher from the Grammar School, Mr Batts, with baton akimbo, turned his back on the audience to face the choir for the first piece. Unfortunately, the box upon which stood was too close to the pond and fell backwards into the pond.

I recall there was a mixed response from the crowd many said, "Oh", others laughed, while others clapped. They clapped even louder as he was helped out of the water. The pond was only about two feet deep. To his credit, he went home and changed and the concert went on albeit half an hour late.

Rob Catt