I don't have access to the full article, however there is a mention of Will HASTINGS in Hastings in 1939:
2 September 1939
Publication: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
"Will Hastings of Hastings - Mr Will Hastings who many older residents will remember as a comedian, instrumentalist and entertainer in the town and district in pre-war days. Mr Hastings who is a native of the town, has been spending a short holiday here revisiting the place for the first time in 36 years. He has had very varied experience of stage and concert party work, and a few years ago toured America, Canada, Australia and South Africa. The old days at Hastings his services as entertainer were in great demand and he appeared with the famous Jonny Hunter, Hastings Pier, later teaming up with "J.D." and his wife Eva Bayley to tour the surrounding district. For many years Mr Hastings was a member of the Castle Hotel Grill Club which used to meet once a week for supper and a musical evening. The late Mr J Baker Guy whose fine tenor singing still re echoes pleasantly in many local ears was also a member. Mr Hastings has been connected with a great many well know seaside concert parties, toured as "Old Bill" in "The Better'Ole", appeared in the Brydon Phillips pantomimes, well known to local theatre goers and in J H Tompkinson's "Gypsy Revue", which Josh Dixon, the comedian, and Gertie Gitana served their "apprenticeship" Hippodrome Appearance When the Hippodrome, now the De Luxe Cinema, first opened Mr Hastings had a week's engagement there, and later he appeared at the Kusall Bexhall with Will Pepper. He ran his own concert parties at Plymouth Hoe, Dunoon, Colwyn Bay and Littlehampton. When he left Hastings he joined Tom Whites "Arabs", who were a hit in their day, and when quite a youngster was engaged by the old London comedian, Harry Rickards, at the Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane, Australia, afterwards fulfilling several engagements with him at the Tivoli, Sydney. I quite believe Mr hastings when he says he could write a rather interesting and novel book on his travels and adventures. He has by no means finished yet, and one of these days you may be hearing him on the air. Perhaps some you may remember his song (written himself) "The Penny Whistler". It enlivened many a prosy political meeting in these parts in the long winded days, and created quite a furore when he sang it in America and Australia.. "
