The Observer Building, Hastings

You, that's who! Thank you so much to our pioneer crowd funder buddies, and good running to anyone joining the Hastings Half Marathon next weekend. 

Good luck with the last days, hours and minutes of prep!

We have raised £1328 so far and we have 20 days left to reach our £10,000 target. 

Please share the crowd funder link, and help to:

• fund early essential building works
• provide capped-rent spaces to local businesses
• protect this important iconic building in your neighbourhood
• help us leverage the investment needed to fully resuscitate this precious building by showing bigger funders that local people care 

This week we have been sharing pictures of the Observer Building in its heyday, and asking people for their personal stories. Here are some of the lovely stories we have heard:

This is Bob Chenery, working in the Machine Room: here are some stories from friends and family via Facebook:

His Dad worked in the binding room Fred Chenery and Edna Chenery his mother worked in accounts. My Dad Bill Biggs worked on the Litho printing before he moved on to the Sunday People in London. 

- Denise Chenery

I used to work in the Bindery with Fred Chenery, a really nice man - that would have been 1963. I stayed in the Bindery then moved into Work Study when my apprenticeship finished in 1968. Finally escaped to work in the NHS in January 1974. In 1963 I formed a group called The Confederates who went on to play all over the country and 3 of us are still performing. I remember well playing at two of the FJP Christmas dances at the White Rock Theatre, that would have been 1964 and 1965 I think, very boozy events! In the group's first year we had no transport and needed way of getting our gear to and from gigs - Fred offered to be our Roadie, (ha ha) and we formed a strong friendship, he, the group members and his black Morris Traveler, good job we didn't have much gear - Great days! 

- Peter Millington

My dad Jim Rogers also worked in the machine room with Bob Chinery, Vic Chalcraft, et al. My dad worked on the Lithos and Heidelberg machines.

- Jane Hurt

My mum Grace Knight worked for F. J Parsons in the 60s in the binding dept

- Glynis Phillips

Follow our Facebook page and watch out for historical references every Thursday.

Thanks OB buddies. Have a lovely weekend!