A Dinner to the Recorder, the Mayor, the Magistrates and other officials of the borough was given at the close of the Quarter Sessions in March by J. Grenside, Esq.
Another Dinner to the Recorder, the Magistrates and Borough officials was given at the Castle Hotel at the termination of the Quarter Sessions on the 13th of July, the entertainment being provided at the expense of the Mayor.
The Mayor’s Dinner took place, as a matter of course at eventide of the day when was elected the new civic chief, that honoured gentleman being F. Ticehurst, Esq., who accepted office for the 4th time. The dinner was served up in grand style in the highly decorated Swan Assembly-room, where scores – ay hundreds of similar festivals had taken place before. Between 60 and 70 gentlemen assembled on this occasion, and during the toasting and responsive proceedings, the principal speakers were, Messrs. E Hayles (chairman), J. Crosbie, Capt. Scrivens, F. Ticehurst, G. Scrivens, W. Ginner, J. Phillips T. Ross, S. Putland, R. Growse, J. R. Bromley and J. G. O’Neil.
A Dinner at the Castle Hotel on the 20th of December, said to be one of the best of its kind ever partaken of in Hastings, was provided by the liberality of George Clement Esq. for the entertainment of the Town Council and a few other friends.
More Civic Hospitalities were engaged in on the 28th of December, when F. North Esq., M.P. (who had just returned from a tour in Switzerland, Sardinia and Naples) entertained at Hastings Lodge the Recorder, the Mayor, the Magistrates and other gentlemen.
The Farmers and Tradesmen’s Dinner took place on the 26th of December at the George Inn, Battle, and this annual affair is here noticed because Mr. James Lansdell, sen. of Hastings (originally a Battle man) occupied the chair, and had been present at fifty successive anniversaries of the said dinner.
Balls and other Diversions
Mrs Fletcher Norton opened her spacious residence on the 17th of January with a ball, the invitations to which included the élite of both towns and their vicinities.
A Soiree of the Victoria Lodge of Oddfellows was held in the Music Hall on the 18th of January, and proved to be most successful of any that had been before held. About 300 persons were present.
The Hastings Annual Borough Ball (under the patronage of the Mayor and the Borough representatives) came off at the Music Hall on the evening of Valentine’s Day, when about 120 persons were present, including Lord Harry Vane, M.P.
The Volunteer Ball, in aid of the funds, took place in the Music Hall on the 28th of March, at which 180 persons were present. The -
