Victorian celebration

Families picnicked in park, enjoying all things English, such as pasties, tea, cake and scones, and listening to the sound of a traditional brass band, Sussex Brass, playing on the bandstand.

Many people dressed in traditional Victorian garb and period games included hammer throwing, quoits and traps, as well as model boats on the boating lake.

In the middle lawn, spectators enjoyed a Maypole, Morris dancing and a Punch and Judy show and Victorian gentlemen riding penny farthing cycles pleased the crowd.

Cllr Dawn Poole, the council’s lead member for leisure and amenities, said: “It was great to see so many people in the park on Saturday to mark the 150th anniversary of this exceptional park.

“Old Hastings Preservation Society presented a very special tree to the park which was planted by the Mayor. The Japanese maple has a particular significance as it was first introduced to Britain in 1864, the year the park was opened.

“Our thanks must go to organisers, friends of the park and all who attended on the day to make this anniversary event so successful.”