I don’t know about you but I am still buzzing after our Spring in to Action event at Hythe Pier last Saturday (11th May). We had such a wonderful response and welcomed around seven hundred and fifty of you on to the pier between 10.30am and 3 pm.

We were once again blessed with fine weather which always helps these events and the sight of so many of you on the pier and around the entrance enjoying the entertainment and activities gave us all a real lift.

We were also thrilled at your response to the improvements we are making around the entrance. It was great to receive so many positive comments about this. There is a little more work to be undertaken before we complete our entrance facelift but we hope you will agree even these modest improvements really do make a difference. Thanks once again to Waitrose for their generous grant to support this work and to the volunteers who have worked so well to undertake the work.

We were so pleased to welcome New Forest Coastal Ranger Chris Marshall to the pier on Saturday as part of their year of green action. Chris gave us a real insight into the huge issue of plastics in the sea. The environmental catastrophe of plastics in our marine environment is something we all need to recognise and work together to help resolve. For our part we will be considering how we can improve our approach and limit the use of plastics going forward. We look forward to working with Chris and the team from the New Forest Park in the future.

Our Pop Up Cafe ‘The Waiting Room’ was once again really busy and I must here say a big thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers who run it, together with everyone who bakes cakes to sell on the day. I am certain that putting a permanent cafe back on the pier would be a very popular amenity in the future.

At the pier entrance we were entertained by singers and musicians and not just one but two school choirs. It was so good to welcome children from Waterside Primary School and Hythe Primary School. I think you will agree they sang beautifully and delighted everyone who came along to see them.

This event was a real success and with the support we received from both the Waterside Network Group and the local opticians Dawkins & Lodge we have raised over £2,500 towards our community fundraising campaign. This will make a real difference and help us with our planning and development work going forward.

Of course these events don’t just happen, they take a great deal of work and support from our core group of volunteers. I am very proud of them all. They give up their time and provide their energy and initiative to plan and organise so many things. Without their efforts we simply could not create these community events at the pier.

Looking ahead and following our AGM which was held at the beginning of May we are working steadily on the development plan and getting ready to take the next steps in our journey as we commence the project to protect and preserve the pier. There is a great deal of work to be completed now as we look to prepare funding applications and develop the detailed plans for the restoration of the buildings and the historic railway. Of course, this is not a short-term project so please be patient. I promise to keep you updated as we make progress.

Well I think that is enough from me, your support and encouragement is crucial to our success and I cannot thank you enough for this.

Hythe Pier Heritage Association was formed to make a difference, to bring our heritage and history to life.

Together we can

Peter King
Hythe Pier Heritage Association