Tributes paid to a well loved Hastings character

He passed away at the Conquest Hospital on January 13. His wife Sheila said: “He had been poorly for a while. I think everyone will agree he was a one-off.”

A colourful, charismatic and well-loved local man, André grew up in Hastings and was a fount of knowledge about the town.

Under the name Chris Gentry, he became a popular DJ spinning records on Hasting Pier. He later used those skills and his vast musical knowledge at Hastings Conquest Hospital Community Radio, of which he was chairman for many years as well as continuing with his radio show.

He had a great sense of community and pride in the town, being a long-standing volunteer at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and also volunteering with the historic Hastings trolley-bus Happy Harold.

For the past two years he had take part as ‘resident historian’ at the Bottle Alley Art Market event, where he would share his knowledge of Bottle Alley creator Sidney Little.

Fellow local historian Steve Peak said: “André was a good friend of mine for many years. In 2014, when I told him that I had been asked to write a book on the history of Hastings Pier, he very kindly offered to put in writing his many experiences as a leading DJ there.

"The book, A Pier Without Peer, was published in 2016 and Andre’s chapter Memories of a Music Maker records how he loved the pier both when he was a toddler and when he became host to many of Britain’s famous pop groups in the late 1960s and ‘70s.”

Alice Roberts-Pratt, head curator at Hastings Museum, said: “André lived and breathed Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. He volunteered in the Local Studies room every Wednesday for many years. His vast local knowledge was much admired among the museum team, and he wasn’t afraid to get stuck into all sorts of enquiries.

"André also served on the Hastings and St Leonards Museum Association as well as the Museum Council Committee. He will be deeply missed; he was not only a volunteer but a good friend.”

Former Hastings Mayor Nigel Sinden said: “He was a life-long friend. He was a good friend and school and I have good memories of Hospital Radio at Christmas.”

Pictures by Sid Saunders.