By Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, HCO
A few months ago, Christina rocked up at my door to collect a steak and ale pie (as you do) and lamented from a 2m distance about what a miserable Christmas it was going to be and how we had to do something. I agreed, and within a few minutes we concocted a plan.
Christina Angus is co-founder of Street Diner, Brighton’s biggest street food market and co-founder of The Sussex Hive, a networking collective for women (both re-launching in 2021). She’s been organising street food at The Hassocks that we’ve delighted in when we’ve needed a break from cooking 200 meals a week, and would liaise with community-focused landlord Chris Lambe to curate a huge line up of traders for a night market. The pub would sort out mulled wine and Christina’s mum, Margaret, would organise a festive choir.
I (Trustee of Hassocks Community Organisation - HCO) would coordinate the late-night shopping, speak to organisers of the FoHIS Festive Trail of Light and recruit marshals to keep the event Covid-safe. We’d attempt to bring everything together on the same day with our brilliant Hassocks Village Market kicking everything off.
Frantic activity ensued. Emailing councils and traders, form filling, poster design and WhatsApp-ing. We even checked to see if we could help get the Elf and Christmas Window Display competitions up and running. Fantastically, they were already in hand. Eventually we obtained all the permissions and were set to make our big announcement when another lockdown was announced.
While 2020 has been hard, it’s been wonderful to see how residents have stepped up to support local businesses, and what our resourceful shop owners have been doing to reach customers. Just as in Lockdown#1, people have pulled together, buoying each other up mentally and financially. They’ve been shopping local, contributing to food banks and donating money for meals for children during school holidays. So, on the back of this mood of support, and as Lockdown#2 neared its end, we began to promote and look forward to our event.
We’re delighted to say it looks like everything on the 19th can go ahead with measures in place. There’s something for everyone and all budgets: local produce and crafts at the HCO village market. A fun FoHIS festive trail for young and old. A delicious line up of Street Diner traders, drinks and carols at The Hassocks. And the opportunity to shop late for gifts from our high street – supporting local businesses and of course our local economy, which is vital in keeping our high street independents alive!
It goes without saying we need everyone to be sensible and comply with government guidelines (hands – face – space) but we hope that this event will bring a smile to people’s faces and some much-needed festive cheer.
From all of us involved in bringing this event together: ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS!’
www.hassockscommunity.org.uk
