Memories of the Pilot Field - not of Hastings United, though

The news that Hastings United Football Club may, finally, move away from its present ground and finish up with a new stadium in St Leonards brought back some memories of visits I made to the Pilot Field many, many years ago.

Although it was in line of sight of my Hughenden Road bedroom window I can only recall ever attending one match there (during which one of my relatives ran onto the pitch and had to be removed by a police officer!) but other, more exciting things, took place at the Pilot which really grabbed my attention.

Amongst them were motorcycle speedway, although getting some of the grit that the machines threw into your eyes was an ever-present risk, trotting races, which consisted of two-wheeled carts, called sulkies, and were occupied by a driver who had to ensure that his horse kept up a specified gait or trot, and, my very firm favourite for the few years that they took place, the military Searchlight Tattoos.

The highlight for me was when an air raid siren was sounded, the searchlights shone up into the night sky and the anti-aircraft guns in the arena fired off as a bomber circled overhead.

Those were the days!