The New Hamptons
If not a scientific fact, it is certainly a social reality that famous people tend to gravitate towards other famous people. When Spike Milligan lived in neighbouring Rye for instance, Paul McCartney would pop over from Peasmarsh to play his grand piano. In fact, many people played Spike’s piano but they weren’t famous, and therefore didn’t affect the share price – when the piano was auctioned off in 2008 it went for a vast sum, partly because it had had a Beatle running up and down its ivories.
Hastings has long had an association with people of note. Lewis Carroll spent his childhood summers with his two aunts at their house on Wellington Square and in later life gave lay services at the local church – thereby swelling the pews. Whistler, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Catherine Cookson, David Hare, John Bratby, Quentin Blake, Kaffe Fassett; over the centuries, generations of writers and artists have taken refuge in (and inspiration from) its eclectic mix of the medieval and Georgian. But now our fame-ometer has been turned up a notch and Hastings is fast becoming the new Hamptons. Yes, dear reader, we now have people from ‘the telly’.
Our latest star is the adorable actress Doon Mackichan, best remembered for her comedy role in the series Smack The Pony, she once swam the Channel in a relay team that also included two pet dogs. These days she spends her weekends more sedately, often reading a book on her new doorstep, which gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘celebrity doorstepping’.
In the meantime, on Saturdays and Sundays, the sun-filled courtyard at Alastair Hendy Home Store has turned into something of an unofficial lunch club for those with autograph appeal. Doon goes there (why wouldn’t she?). Other cast members who have been spotted have included Anna Massey, John Rocha, several Conrans, two TV chefs, Clare Holman, the pathologist from Lewis – and perhaps the only one who might have swiftly identified the pig’s ears on last week’s lunch special. Sir Bob Geldof has been seen lingering near the till and Graham Norton gazing at the unique Georgian entrance. Not that anyone is staring, of course.
Next week: Bankruptcy looms…
Hastings has long had an association with people of note. Lewis Carroll spent his childhood summers with his two aunts at their house on Wellington Square and in later life gave lay services at the local church – thereby swelling the pews. Whistler, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Catherine Cookson, David Hare, John Bratby, Quentin Blake, Kaffe Fassett; over the centuries, generations of writers and artists have taken refuge in (and inspiration from) its eclectic mix of the medieval and Georgian. But now our fame-ometer has been turned up a notch and Hastings is fast becoming the new Hamptons. Yes, dear reader, we now have people from ‘the telly’.
Our latest star is the adorable actress Doon Mackichan, best remembered for her comedy role in the series Smack The Pony, she once swam the Channel in a relay team that also included two pet dogs. These days she spends her weekends more sedately, often reading a book on her new doorstep, which gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘celebrity doorstepping’.
In the meantime, on Saturdays and Sundays, the sun-filled courtyard at Alastair Hendy Home Store has turned into something of an unofficial lunch club for those with autograph appeal. Doon goes there (why wouldn’t she?). Other cast members who have been spotted have included Anna Massey, John Rocha, several Conrans, two TV chefs, Clare Holman, the pathologist from Lewis – and perhaps the only one who might have swiftly identified the pig’s ears on last week’s lunch special. Sir Bob Geldof has been seen lingering near the till and Graham Norton gazing at the unique Georgian entrance. Not that anyone is staring, of course.
Next week: Bankruptcy looms…