hˈeɪstɪŋz wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn kˈæmbɚwˌɛl, sˈaʊθ lˈʌndən, ðə sˈʌn ʌv dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪst ænd plˈeɪɹaɪt bˈeɪzəl məkdˈɑːnəld hˈeɪstɪŋz.
Hastings was born in Camberwell, South London, the son of journalist and playwright Basil Macdonald Hastings.