Swan Memorial Service

 HASTINGS OLD TOWN PARISH OF ST CLEMENT AND ALL SAINTS

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 17th May 2021

Contact: Paul Hunt

E-mail: pic@oldtownparishhastings.org.uk

Tel. 01424 441197

IT WILL BE EXACTLY SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO THIS COMING SUNDAY THAT THE HISTORIC SWAN INN, A HASTINGS LANDMARK SINCE THE EARLY FOURTEENTH CENTURY, WAS DESTROYED BY ENEMY ACTION.  IT WAS AROUND LUNCHTIME ON SUNDAY 23RD MAY 1943 THAT A LUFTWAFFE RAID CAUSED DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES AROUND THE TOWN WITH SIXTEEN PEOPLE BEING KILLED INSIDE THE SWAN INN, NOW THE SITE OF A MEMORIAL GARDEN OPPOSITE ST. CLEMENT’S CHURCH.

THE STEP GREAT GRAND-DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE CASUALITIES, THOMAS WINBORNE, WILL BE AMONG THOSE ATTENDING A SHORT OUTSIDE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE CLOSE TO SWAN GARDENS AT 11.15 A.M. THIS SUNDAY LED BY THE REVEREND PAUL HUNT AND MEMBERS OF THE OLD TOWN PARISH CONGREGATION.  CHURCHWARDEN JUDY CUBISON RECALLS THAT TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE FAMILY NEIGHBOURS.  “IT WAS ALL SO TRAGIC.  VIOLET COX AND HER NIECE ANN TESTER HEARD THE SIREN AND SHELTERED in POST OFFICE PASSAGE.  BUT THE SWAN LANDLORD INVITED THEM TO SHELTER IN THE INN WHICH THEN RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT.  ANN WAS NOT MUCH OLDER THAN MY SISTER WHO WAS THEN ONLY FIVE.”

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ATTEND ARE ASKED TO WEAR MASKS AND BE MINDFUL OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.

ENDS.