Community Events Voluntary Work

Keith and Heather Leech have a proven track record with community events. Both have researched and written papers on local street events and actively promote Hastings events while researching carnival traditions. They are currently working on a new book on traditional customs. They were both members of the 'Hastings Celebrates' Committee which led and produced the community events for the town’s celebration of the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

Keith Leech MBE B.Sc. M.A.

Keith researched, set-up, developed and sustained the Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green (JITG) and the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society. He is currently chairman of Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green, President of Hastings Borough Bonfire Society and until recently was the chair of the Hastings Old Town Carnival. He was a trustee of local arts centre Saint Mary’s in the Castle until it had to close due to covid and regularly puts on music and Arts events. He was awarded an MBE for services to Heritage in Sussex and the Order of 1066 for setting up and sustaining community events in Hastings.

Heather Leech B.Ed. B.A.

Heather is chair of the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society and  was until recently the public voice on the night of Bonfire Celebration. She is a member of the Hastings Week Committee for which she organises the official closing ceremony and is an active member of the Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green committee for which she liaises with Old Town Parish for joint events and is the announcer for the Jack in the Green main event