Whitehawk Community Festival

Residents and community groups will be celebrating local heroes at the  Community Festival in Whitehawk on Saturday July 13 from 1pm – 5pm.

The East Brighton Bygones Local History Society are celebrating their 10^th anniversary with an exhibition in St Cuthmans Church opened by their President Fred Netley and Faith Matyzsak who both have MBE’s for their service to the local community.

The festival is organised by residents, tenants and local community groups from Whitehawk Manor Farm and the Bristol Estate under the banner of  the  council’s pilot Neighbourhood Council also known as Due East.

The life of  air raid warden Mr William Hayler, killed in the bombing of St Cuthmans church in 1942 will also be celebrated as the festival launches a project to raise funds for a new memorial involving the local church, community and local councillors

There’s much to take part in;

• The Whitehawk primary school samba band Bloco Falcao Branco is collaborating with Silver Sounds over 55’s samba band to play together and run workshops at the festival which is part of the national Olympic legacy project Our Big Gig happening all over the UK at the weekend.

• For the first time there will be an environmental display about downland culture – complete with sheep, rural crafts such as spinning, dye-ing weaving and wood cutting and horse and cart rides .

• With three musical stages, more than 30 stalls in the Market Zone, a Sports Zone and demonstration Arena the event has something for everyone.

• With the weather forcast this weekend being very good, record numbers are expected at the event and organisers advise visitors to walk or use the bus – numbers 1/1A and 1B to Whitehawk Way and get off at the St Cuthmans Stop.

Festival Group chair Christine El Shabba said:

“More than 50 local groups and organisations and over 100 volunteers have come together to create this special day  for the local community and we just can’t wait to welcome everyone to discover  all that this beautiful part of the City has to offer.”