Back from East Sussex and off to West Somerset Railways 1940s Event!

Shopping On Holiday in Hastings Old Town!

I’m sorry I’m so behind with my blog this week since returning from holiday I’ve hit the deck running. I’ve had a heep of paperwork to address and shows every-day so I’m quickly trying to catch up now.

It was lovely to get away with Paul and Poppy and stay at The Powder Mills Hotel in Battle. I adore this part of the world and I’ve had many happy memories there. It was wonderful for us to visit some of my favourite haunts although so much has changed since the pandemic. Businesses come and go and when it comes to old Hastings so

The Powder Mills Hotel!

many of the vintage fashion shops where I use to shop have changed hands and are now selling a different style of vintage.

All the 1940s dresses which use to be in such abundance back in the early noughties have all been bought up and no longer exist. It’s all about the 70s and 80s now and trying to find those forties treasures is getting increasingly more difficult. When I look a vintage fashion shops these days, I realise I have far better sitting at home which is why I have to be very selective about what I buy. I have a couple of filming

Paul and I at The Powder Mills Hotel!

projects I’m working towards and fortunately I was able to pick up the perfect Gatsby style dress at KoKo in Battle. I want to film a 1920s postmodern take on the song “All About that Bass” in January so this will be ideal.

Holidays are all about taking it easy and our hotel room had a beautiful view overlooking the lake. Poppy loves to walk on grass and the Power Mills Hotel is very doggy friendly. A lot of the visitors are regulars who like to bring their dogs with them as we enjoyed morning walks around the lake. The hotel also has a swimming pool although

Poppy Enjoying her Holiday!

it was still a bit too cold for me to venture in.

Our holiday really consisted of just pottering about with no particular plan as we visited Battle, Hastings, Bexhill and St Leonards. St Leonards is just out-site of Hastings and has really come up where in the nineties it was a bit run down. It’s very bohemian and we enjoyed visiting the old cinema which has a coffee shop and a beautiful auditorium where they stage live performances. Another theatre I couldn’t not visit was the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. I’ve played there many times although nowadays they like to refer to it as an Art Centre.

The Beautiful de La Warr Pavilion!

On the first floor they had a display of thought provoking art which didn’t float my boat at all. They had a lady guarding it which might be to protect it from adverse physical criticism. On the face of it it looked like a lot of it was made from plasticine and I think one piece featured sheep’s legs with-out a body and a broken chair. All a bit too deep for me as we decided to move through onto the first floor balcony to enjoy the sea views.

Nothing to misunderstand there – Oh I do like to be beside the seaside and all that!

I love the De La Warr it’s a beautiful Art Deco theatre which was built in 1935. I’ve performed there many times with my shows “We’ll Meet Again”, How Hovis Won the War”, “Down Paradise Row”, “From Cobbles to Rock” and in the concert with “You are My Heart’s Delight” with Opera South East and in

Oh I do Like to be Beside the Seaside in Bexhill!

“Three Diva’s in Oh My Beloved Father”. I’ve also performed there when they use to stage a 1920s festival so it was good to return and to see the theatre again.

Afterwards Paul and I took Poppy for a walk along the prom which has a beautiful view of the see.

Holidays are always over far too soon and now it’s full steam ahead as I head off next weekend to West Somerset Railway to perform for their 1940s weekend 9th & 10th September. It’s promising to be an amazing event and I hope the

Inside the Old Cinema at St Leonards!

lovely weather continues. I’m opening the event bright and early at the start of the line at Bishops Lydeard. I’ve been booked to perform 3 x 45 minute shows daily. Check out my shows and performance times:-

Saturday 9th – 9.30am ATS – “Well Meet Again”, 11.45am Stage and Screen “Hooray for Hollywood”, 2pm US WAC “GI Jive”

Sunday 10th – 9.30am Wrens “The Fleets in Port Again”, 11.45am 1940s Glamour “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree”, 2pm WAAF