cmpcanews13SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2008

>>> Future meetings . . .� Tuesday 16 September Changes in how food is grownand sold with reps fromWaitrose, Barcombe OrganicNurseries and Infinity Foods

Meetings held at St MaryMagdalen’s CommunityCentre Upper North St at 8pmpreceded by Police Surgery at7.30pm (please note somechanged days and locations).

Who are we?The Clifton Montpelier and PowisCommunity Alliance is a communityassociation for the Montpelier and CliftonHill Conservation Area. All residents cancall themselves members andmembership is free (for more informationand streets included, see page 19).

� Wednesday 19 November What you can and can’t do ina Conservation Area with RobFraser and Roger Dowty

CMP Festival 2008From 4–20 July we welcomed over a thousand of you to our second CliftonMontpelier Powis Festival with over 30 family, music and literary eventsspread over 17 days in and around our two beautiful churches, St Michael'sand St Nicholas. See Festival Review (pages 8–11).

The Garden Gadabout wasenormously popular – congratulationsto our garden openers. Andrew Doig,Gadabout coordinator, writes: ‘Onceagain the Clifton Montpelier Powisgarden trail made a hugecontribution to the GardenGadabout event, raising justunder £3,000 for The SussexBeacon. Eight local gardensopened over two Sundaysduring the CMP Festival in July. Somegardens attracted more than 300people each day, creating a palpablefestival atmosphere in the neigh-bourhood as visitors clutching theGadabout guide thronged to the opengardens. Tea and cakes in a range ofstyles were on offer and proved very

popular with visitors. At the thank-youevening up at the Sussex Beacon later inthe month, garden owners spoke bothof the hard work involved in openingtheir gardens but also of the great

reward from meeting friendly andappreciative visitors. Most willhappily do it yet again next year.

The whole event which wassupported by the Mayor, who

visited two gardens on our trail,was twice the size of last year’s eventand, at £16,530, raised more thanthree times last year’s total. The SussexBeacon plans for the event to growand welcomes new gardens. Pleasevisit www.gardengadabout.org.ukto find out more or to offer yourgarden for next July’s event.

� Tuesday 2 December Christmas Party St Nicholas Church

Royal Alex Sites Update

Comments on the revised planningapplication (BH2008/02095) fromTaylor Wimpey are required by 12September. As we went to press TaylorWimpey said ‘A revised planning appli-cation has been submitted and isawaiting registration. A newslettercontaining further details will beissued to 6000 residents shortly.Subject to planning consent, TaylorWimpey expects to commence workin early 2009’. The latest view of thefront is shown above. As regards thecarpark site, 3rd AvenueDevelopments Ltd report that theirapplication is still going through theappeal process.

2

The Crescent open all day fabulous new menu served12–3pm and 5.30–9pm Sunday Roast large beer garden 6 Clifton Hill t 205260

Hair Emporium� Aveda customised colouring� Environmentally conscious� Five minute scalp ritual with each treatment� Open late until 9pm Thursday

24 Upper North Street, Brightont 01273 202303www.hairemporiumltd.co.uk

full spectrumTM

hair colour system,

up to 99% naturally derived*

*from plants and non-petroleum based minerals

full spectrumTM

hair colour system,

up to 99% naturally derived*

*from plants and non-petroleum based minerals

3

For talks, events and workgroups onaddressing climate change and rising oilprices at a community level visitwww.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk

Advertise inCMPCAnews!cmpcanews, the only genuine not-for-profit community newsletter forour area, by residents for residents,is distributed free to 2,500 house-holds and businesses in the CMPCAarea quarterly

For rates e cmpca.advertising@googlemail.comt 07816 403099 or write to cmpcanews21 Clifton Hill BN1 3HQ

Deadline 18 October 2008 forcmpcanews 14 (Dec 2008–Feb 2009)

Do you have a full set?With our thirteenth issue, wecelebrate our third birthday, enterCMPCAnews’ fourth year, andhave many to thank: � First and foremost Teresa Dearlove,whose distinctive design work givesCMPCAnews its identity and makesadvertisers want to advertise andwriters want to contribute; we knowmany of you have kept every issue(and CMPCAnews is held in the EastSussex Record Office and the BrightonHistory Centre);� Lynn Brazier and One Digital for

the great printing job – and theirgenerous sponsorship – not only of thisyear’s Festival but now of CMPCAnews;� our wonderful advertisers, 25 ofwhom have been with us since the earlyissues – eight since the very first – andwho also generously sponsor the CMPFestival and our Christmas charity raffle.The only genuine community magazinefor the area, we are entirely dependenton our advertisers. We know how muchyou appreciate CMPCAnews as a meansof feeling part of the community, evenwhen you cannot attend all our

meetings. CMPCAnews is producedentirely by volunteers – and distributedby our trusty street reps (see page 19).Times are getting harder for smallbusinesses, so please support our adver-tisers and local traders who support usso generously.� Our contributors and those featuredon our pages as we build a picture ofour area’s richly interwoven past andpresent. Keep you articles flowing inand let us know of events to publicise!07816 403099 orcmpca.info@googlemail.com

Licensing Application2008/01306/LAPREN 50 Upper North Street

The CMPCA has supported residents intheir opposition to this licensing appli-cation on the grounds that ‘theprecedent set by a license granted on thebasis of this application would furtherincrease the late-night noise and distur-bance . . . on this formerly quiet street’.As the result of local pressure we under-stand that the applicant has reduced thehours for the off-licence to 8am–11pm.The Licensing panel hearing decides on 5September in Brighton Town Hall.

The Polish BuildingCompany

High Quality WorkReasonable Rates

All Jobs ConsideredProfessional and Courteous

Fully insured

Please contact Lukasz on 07871452272 or tpbc@tlen.pl

for free estimate

In this issue� Celebrate our third birthday with a brand new bespoke crossword

(page 17) by James Snodgrass and win the new Pevsner Guide fromCity Books!

� A preview (page 16) of Steve Myall’s long-awaited book about our area – don’t miss hisCity Books’ launch before Christmas

� Read your neighbours’ reviews of the CMPFestival (pages 8–11)

� Meet the inmates of the Church Workhouse with James Gardner (pages 14–15)

� Read the story of the Western Road Waitrose,treated by many as their ‘local fridge’ (page 7)

4

Representatives from two ground-breaking Brighton-based organisationsworking to relieve those suffering fromHIV/AIDS, addressed our June meeting.

Andrew Powell, Clinical Manager,and Julie Hales, Community Fundraiser,described the work of The Sussex Beacon– one of only two centres in the UK thatprovides specialist care for people withHIV/AIDS. The ten-bed purpose-builtBeacon (above), designed by an Arundelarchitect, opened in 1992. Since then,the focus has shifted – from offering onlypalliative, terminal care, to supportingpeople living with AIDS with a totalphysical, spiritual and emotional carepackage. In-patient care is provided in afriendly and safe environment and daycare is available two days a week tosupport and maintain the well-being ofpeople living with HIV.

Lynette Lowndes, programmesdirector of the International HIV/AIDSAlliance, described its growth and impactsince moving its headquarters fromLondon to Brighton in 2001. Now a globalpartnership of 31 organisations working inover 40 countries, the Alliance supportssome 1400 community-based organisa-

Back pain is the biggest cause of sicknessabsence in the UK and lower back painaffects 7 in 10 people at some time intheir lives. A study published in Augustissue of the British Medical Journal,referring to a trial with over 500 patients,offers some hope. Professor Paul Little ofSouthampton's faculty of medicine andhis colleagues recruited 579 patients from64 GP practices. They were either givennormal care, massage, 6 lessons ofAlexander technique, or 24 lessons. Halfthe patients in each group were also givenan exercise programme involving walking.Little said ‘This is a good, large, trial. It isgood enough evidence for people to takeit seriously. Those who combinedAlexander technique with exerciseimproved by about 40% to 45%’. LocalAlexander Technique practitioner, MarkClaireaux, said that he is not surprised bythe study’s results. As one of his clientssays, ‘I went to learn the AlexanderTechnique because I had considerablelower back pain and also suffered fromdisabling migraines. Both these conditionshave not just been alleviated they havebeen almost entirely removed. I no longertake painkillers for either one of theseproblems’. Find out more atwww.alexandertechniquebrighton.comor The Society of Teachers of The AlexanderTechnique (STAT) www.stat.org.uk

>>> STOP PRESSAlexander Techniqueendorsed by BritishMedical Journal

Living withHIV/AIDSlocally andinternationally

tions representing and working with thosemost affected by the AIDS epidemic. Shegave moving accounts of reducing riskybehaviour among drug-users in Ukraineand sex-workers in India, supportingnetworks of people living with HIV inUganda and Zambia, and working withBuddhist monks in Myanmar. Drawing ona £4 million annual grant from the Britishgovernment and substantial sums fromthe Global Fund for AIDS, TB and malaria,the US and other governments, the inter-national staff in Brighton work with HIV-positive people across the world to reducestigma and discrimination. Last year over500,000 Alliance publications and toolkitswere distributed or downloaded from itswebsite. Growth plans for the next fewyears are equally ambitious.

How can the community get involved?HIV organisations such as the Beacon areexperiencing growing pressure on statutoryfunding. Community support – such as theGarden Gadabout – is vital. Volunteeringat The Beacon, as volunteer Zita Lathamtestified ‘is great fun and really worth-while’. The Alliance’s websitewww.aidsalliance.org provides moreinformation and opportunities to contribute.

5

Useful numbersMP for Brighton PavilionDavid Lepper Advice sessions 1st Friday of the month, 5.30–7pmBrighthelm Church and Community Centre(North Rd)� CouncillorsSven Rufus sven.rufus@brighton-hove.gov.ukt 01273 296429Jason Kitcat jason.kitcat@brighton-hove.gov.ukt 01273 296447Or write to councillors c/o King’s House,Grand Avenue, Hove BN3 2LS� Police surgeries from 7.30pm beforecommunity meetings at St Mary Magdalen’sCommunity Centreregency.team@sussex.pnn.police.uk Police non-emergency numbert 0845 6070999� Refuse Help Line includes missed refusecollection/black bin emptying, disposal oflarge items, fly tipping removalt 274674/292929� Furniture recycling

Emmaus 426480YMCA 777212Magpie 677577

An increase in the theft of pedal cycles in Brighton and Hove, hasprompted OPERATION TYRE II. It aims to reduce the incidence of cycle thefts in Brighton byoffering education and crime prevention advice and by security marking bicycles in andaround the City centre: during this operation security coding is offered at various locationsin the City. BMX bikes seem to be favoured by thieves at the moment. Another OPBLUEBIRD has taken place in the town centre, targeting the misuse of Blue Badgesresulting in 2 confiscations, and one stolen blue badge. OP BLUEBIRD will continue tooperate at different times.

Sussex is a safe place to live and work – we want to keep it that way. The CounterTerrorist Security Advisers would like to remind you that if you consider anythingsuspicious, or connected with terrorism, contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 orthe Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. The threat to the UK from terrorism isconstantly monitored by Sussex Police and other agencies. Our message is for peopleto Be alert but not alarmed! Contact Sussex Police through our non-emergencynumber 0845 60 70 999 or via our Contact Us page on the website. In anemergency, always dial 999.

As always, for your own personal safety, be aware of your surroundings!

Hello again from PCSO Bobbi King

Parking Update

PCSO KINGRegency Team NSTSussex Police, John Street, Brighton BN2 0LA0845 6070999 ext 19824Roberta.King@sussex.pnn.police.uk

John Riddington writes ‘Last summerJohn Riddington, Ann Smith and JohnWarmington toured the area with acouncil officer and identified locationswhere changes could be made thatwould increase the parking spaceavailable to residents. The council hasnow published a new parking orderincorporating these proposals and

Communal Bins B & HCC’s full cabinettakes the decision on communal bins on18 September. CityClean recommends theintroduction of the bins throughout ourarea although we understand some binlocations are being changed from theoriginal proposals following feedback. Themap from Cityclean confirming these newlocations is not yet available.

consequently the changes should beimplemented in the near future. Thechanges include changing lengths ofdouble yellow line to either parkingspace or to single yellow line, changingvoucher only spaces to shared spacesand applying a 9am to 6pm limit tomany of the disabled spaces close toWestern Road. Unfortunately errors inplans published with the traffic orderhave resulted in two changes proposedfor Clifton Place being withdrawn.These proposals should however beincluded with the next traffic order,expected early next year’.

6

Afternoon of funin the Rest GardenOrganised jointly by SNCGSAand CMPCA on 6 July 2008.

A huge amount of effort, particularly by local artists ChrisaCook and Jill Francis, went into preparing for this event at thestart of the CMP Festival but, alas, the combination of windand rain on the day meant that only a few people camealong to enjoy the fun.

Enjoyment there was though: Chrisa had installedsome wonderful sculptural pieces 1 around the space, one ortwo of which were small pyramids reminiscent of Amon Wilds'rather grand notion of incorporating a huge pyramid into hisdesign for the new burial ground. There was also a spider’sweb 2 (though the spider was hiding somewhere out of therain) and a wonderful full-sized deckchair 3 the fabric of whichhad been woven by Chrisa from Waitrose plastic bags.

The marquee was often in danger of blowing away butprovided enough shelter for artistic endeavours enjoyed by bothchildren and grown-ups – and for the storyteller Jamie Crawfordwho performed to a small but appreciative audience. The FrenchRevolution’s creperie kept artists and visitors well fed.

The weather was so bad that even the Green Man 4 tookshelter under a tree. Let’s hope for sunshine and a blue skynext year! Bob Young

BOB Y

OU

NG

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 11–14 SEPTEMBER2008 WWW.HERITAGEOPENDAYS.ORG . . . OPENING DOORS EYES, HEARTS ANDMINDS! ONE OF OVER 3,500 EVENTSNATIONALLY IS . . .

12 NOON–4PM THURSDAY–SUNDAY

ST NICHOLAS’ CHURCHYARD DYKE ROAD:ACCESS TO SAKE DEEN MOHAMED’SMEMORIAL (‘SHAMPOOING SURGEON TOTHE KING’ AND OWNER OF ENGLAND’SFIRST INDIAN RESTAURANT)

SATURDAY 20SEPTEMBER 4–8PMSNCGSA BARBEQUEAND GAMES IN THECHURCHYARD.

TICKETS £5 ADULTSAND £2.50 CHILDRENINCLUDING FOODAND DRINK.

PARISH OFFICE07746 198026

1

4

3

2

Chrisa Cook writes: ‘Living locally for 20 years, I was delighted to get theopportunity to take part in the CMP Festival. The Rest Garden made a perfectvenue to display sculpture. With the sculptural forms of old tombstones and thevaulted doors creating the atmosphere and structure of the site, I found thatexisting and new pieces of work blended in very interestingly. Lack of sitesecurity meant that the logistics of setting up in a few hours and then disman-tling early because of the bad weather made it a difficult day. But it was still veryrewarding to see the work in place and attracting so many positive comments’.

News from St Nicholas Green Spaces: our first project in the churchyardin the autumn, is to plant ornamental foliage shrubs and bulbs to the northof the Church. We have begun clearing the fenced-off area at the far backof the children’s playground. We hope to grow fruit and herbs and developsmall planting projects around the playground. Recently children from theyouth club planted a bed of chamomile within a derelict monument, tocreate, in time, a scented ‘chamomile seat’. A scented walkway to attractmore people, bees and butterflies is being planted above the historic vaultsin the Rest Garden. We also hope to transform the derelict space near thefront entrance – muscles and strong backs required for preparing this bed!Contact jessygreen@ntlworld.com

7

In mid April, we talked to SteveRaisey, the new manager of our localbranch of Waitrose, about the store, thecompany and himself. Steve is veryproud to be a member of the JohnLewis Partnership – ‘the largest workers’co-operative outside China’ – for whichhe has worked for 27 years, thinking ita ‘brilliant’ company to work for. This isnot surprising: it is well known that staffare partners and that last year allpartners received a bumper bonus of20% of their pay and voted for £84million to be put into their (final salary)pension fund. Partners are well lookedafter: lunch costs £1, there is healthcare, and help with financial difficulties;holidays to be taken in properties andhotels owned by the JLP for £14 a nightfor dinner, b&b. No wonder we see thesame faces in our ‘corner shop’ andthat there are very few job vacancies!

The Brighton Waitrose opened 41years ago and has expanded four timessince. It has a record ‘footfall’ (and theworst car park, used in regional meetingsas an example of transport difficulties).Brighton is a medium-sized store but hasdouble the transactions a week ofWorthing’s store, for example). Storesstock different products to suit localdemand: here, kosher food, and morefresh food for the one-basket shoppers.

Steve is regularly stopped in storeover the carbon footprint of importsand packaging issues. The answers arenot straightforward: for example tilapiacome from a Zimbabwe co-operative

supporting 400 members; the carbonfootprint of growing roses in Kenya isless than in the UK; 50% of the store’scarbon footprint comes from refriger-ation (‘Waitrose is the local fridge’). Inrecent years, one third of foodpackaging has been removed. Carrierbags are more problematic: accordingto Steve, they represent a minisculeelement of landfill, Waitrose was thefirst company to introduce ‘bags forlife’ and you can get rid of unwantedplastic bags in-store (see Chrisa Cook’sdeckchair ‘knitted’ from bags in theSculpture Garden page 6). ‘Bags forlife’ are re-cycled into park benches(one of which is ‘on order’ for the RestGarden) and the Brighton branch hasbeen picked to trial a disposable carrierbag with a 33% recycled content

A local produce (grown in the south)stall has just been reinstated in thestore. But small local producers havedifficulty in fulfilling quality controltests, although Steve would love to

have more local fresh food. The company’s

management structure isstraightforward: director;managers at area, regionaland branch level. In our storethere are three departmentmanagers and eight sectionmanagers who you will often

see on the shop floor: the ones in thedark suits, working alongside theirpartners, answering questions,observing, discussing, in short,managing. There are good trainingopportunities and no bars on movingnor any pressure to move. There isgraduate entry and promotion from theshop floor, good relocation packages.

The night before our conversationwith Steve there was the branch AGM,a chance for all Partners to exchangeideas, learn how the branch hasperformed financially over the last year,and have a party. The manager’s officeis always open, he addresses partners byfirst name as they pass in the labyrinthof corridors and stairs that is the staffarea and seems to run a very happyship. Does Steve have concerns? Not tobecome complacent and let the highstandards of customer services slip.

And don’t forget the Communitymeeting on 16 September whereSteve and others will be speaking.

WAITROSE 1966

WAITROSE BRIGHTONINTERIOR CHECKOUTS 1966

41 years of Waitrose Brighton

8

CMPFestival2 The very best of BrThe success of this year’s festival is due to the input of the hundreds ofenthusiastic performers, sponsors, helpers and festival-goers. Once againit was a real community project.What follows is a selection ofhighlights both literary andmusical that caught the imagi-nation of Festival goers. Thestandards of the musical perform-ances were all extraordinarily high:audiences were deeply moved –sometimes to tears – by thepowerful combination of settingand performance, the beauty ofthe surroundings (sometimesbeing experienced for the firsttime) adding an extra dimension.

Special thanks must go to ourFestival partners, the churchcommunities of Saint Michael’s andSt Nicholas, for providing thestunning venues and the teams ofvolunteers and stewards who ranthe events in both churches, toTeresa Dearlove who designed ourpublicity and of course our wonder-fully loyal sponsors from the localbusiness community whosesponsorship rose this year to 24.Waitrose’s role as a major sponsorwith their generous donation ofwine for the whole Festival was ofhuge benefit. We would also like tothank One80news for theirexcellent Festival coverage in theweeks running up to the Festival,City Books for their supportthroughout and French Revolutionfor lovely food.

Special thanks too, to ourliterary coordinators Peter Burtonand Peter Guttridge and musiccoordinators Anthony Hawgoodand Philip Adams.

church because the music was stillthere. The music is so diverse: un-churchy rhythms and textures from thepiano, an unusual colour and synco-pation from the harmonium, cheeryand solemn sections, passionate decla-rations – credo! gloria! a blissfulsanctus, tender repetitions of donanobis pacem. Many sections soundedas though they were on their way to anopera – part of some character’semotive narrative – and stopped off atthe church on the way, deciding to staybecause the company was so good. Awhole bag of scales, progressions andmodulations that Rossini must havebeen dying to use while he had thechance – this was composed when hewas seventy, after decades of absencefrom the opera scene. At the mid-pointof the concert I was thrilled by whatwas emerging; excited by what cameup after the break (as were the choirtoo, it seemed); and the end was oneof those moments when you just wantto shout with delight. Thank youRossini for getting this out. Thank youchoir/leader for choosing this andperforming it so well: all the performerswere high-quality – soloists, choir andinstrumentalists. Thank you festival forscheduling this excellent ensemble and

Geoffrey Hatcher writes ‘Thosefortunate enough to be at St. Michael’son the morning of Saturday, 5 July,were privileged to be treated to adelightful recital of Gerald Finzi’srefreshingly English songs, his settingsof poems of Thomas Hardy. We believethat this was the first performance tohave included both cycles. AnthonyHawgood, whose talent is familiar tous, gave a fluent and expressive inter-pretation of ten songs for tenor andMartin Wood from Reigate, unknownto most of us, sang ten songs forbaritone in a splendid voice, thankfullyfree of vibrato, with exquisitetenderness. Please could we hear morefrom him in Brighton? Finzi’s refinedwriting of the piano accompaniment,played splendidly by Nick Andrews,gave us additional pleasure.

Michael Hales writes about BrightonChamber Choir’s Petite MesseSolennelle – St Michael’s, Saturday 12

July: ‘I came to this gigexpecting to enjoy the choirbut with no sense of what themusic would be like. Twohours later I was in anotherworld – transported, amazed!I didn’t want to leave the

The music programme

Our first weekend had a family-oriented and youthful focus but was also verywet and windy which affected attendance! Tusia Werner writes ‘MatthewBurrows structured his Building Stories workshop superbly, in a way thatwould hold any child’s interest and attention. Had I known that he organisesthese events at the National Gallery I would gladly have taken all my grand-children, aged from four to sixteen, to London to be captivated and enriched bythe mixture of narrative and artistic experience. Not only that – it was great funand granddaughter Ruby and I were riveted!’ And Ruby (aged 10) writes ‘Thosewho planned to come but did not, missed out on a fantastic morning. It wasgreat learning what the stained glass windows in the church told us. I enjoyedlearning proper tips from a professional artist and making a cube in my owndesigns and styles. I cannot wait to go again next year and learn even more’.

9

rightonwonderful piece in just the right venue,the stagey and sonorous St Michael’s. Ahigh point of my month. Oh, Waitrose’sdonated red wine was good too’.

Kate Hall writes about Greg Moore,Love in Summer, St Nicholas Church.‘Bathed in candle glow Greg chatted,played and sang us through the‘romance experience’. We relaxed intothe intimacy of the atmosphere he

created. This was 21st CenturyLieder, a gorgeous offeringwhich included works by Kern,Gershwin, Cole Porter andLloyd Webber and had love

covered from first flirt to final farewell.Apparently casual but actually accom-plished patter connected the songs.Before launching with unclouded joyinto On The Street Where You Live heassured us that this was definitely astalker’s number! His strong, gracefultenor voice expressed passion and painwith equal conviction. All The ThingsYou Are ended with a scorching octaveleap on the final phrase. He thrilled usagain, soaring effortlessly throughTonight, One Hand One Heart andSomewhere. Freewheeling, breezilyphrased I Got Rhythm contrastedcompletely with Smoke Gets In YourEyes and the group of reflections onlove lost which followed. Tender, rueful,

John Werner writes ‘The BluebirdEnsemble (Saturday 19 July) wasdescribed in the festival programme as'dynamic', ‘uplifting’ and 'a pleasure towatch anda joy tohear’. Wefound allthis to betrue as welistened tothemplayingShostakovitch and Tchaikovsky. Theensemble's playing was cohesive andsubtle bringing out the intenselypersonal aspects of the Shostakovichand the sheer beauty of sound in theSouvenirs de Florence. Through itscombination of intense professionalismand fabulous ensemble playing thisgroup of young string players draws theaudience right into the music, so that itsemotions and beauty can be fullyenjoyed and internalised.

As an encore they played PusztanRomance by Stefan Rogez. This was arevelation – has the ensemble issued arecord including this piece? Apartfrom wanting to hear their recordingsat home we would travel a long wayto hear them perform again. However,we hope that they will return nextyear – as well as sooner!’

wistful, pass me a hankie, darling. Iwanted more of the show-off stuff andback it came with the final number,Midler’s magical Wind Beneath MyWings. Ravishing! What a lovelyevening – thank you, Greg!’

Peter Tuckett writes: ‘Dear CMPCA, Ihad to write and thank you for awonderful occasion at St NicholasChurch on Sunday 13 July: one ofthose times it was so moving to bethere on that warm summer eveningin the tranquil surroundings ofBrighton’s oldest church and listeningto what became an enchanting recitalof harpsichord and guitar by thedelightful Ariadne Blyth and VincentLindsey-Clark. The rich scene of thechurch combined with the deep redand gold of the harpsichord andAriadne’s plum-coloured velvet suit.Both performers are accomplished andwell-known players on the interna-tional scene, the programme demon-strating the wide range of their talentswhich included a number of Vincent’sown charming compositions inter-spersed with classical pieces, but thetriumph was Vivaldi’s Concerto in Dmajor which included the famousGuitar Concerto. The whole eveningwas uplifting and made complete by arepeat of the Guitar Concerto’.

10 Peter Freeman writes ‘CarolynSansbury gave a fascinating and well-researched account of HormuzdRassam, who retired with his familyto Powis Square towards the end ofthe nineteenth century. Coming fromMesopotamia (now Iraq) Rassambecame Queen Victoria’s envoy to theEmperor of Abyssinia, only to be

enthusiastic audience encouragedCarolyn to further restore Rassam’sname by writing a biography’.

‘A Crime in the City Weekendwouldn’t normally be my cup of tea,’writes Nigel Pittman. ‘But the factthat this mini-festival was being coordi-nated by Peter Burton and PeterGuttridge was enough to excite myinterest. The three events I attendeddid not disappoint. First the two Peterswere joined by the author and reviewerLaura Wilson for an urban(e)stroll around the various depic-tions of Brighton and Hove incrime fiction, together withsome interesting reflections fromLaura and Peter Guttridge onwhat drives their own writing. Iwas particularly reminded of mylong-held promise to myself toread more of Patrick Hamilton’screepy and atmospheric fiction.Later in the weekend PeterGuttridge also displayed hisconsummate skills as an interviewer,teasing out the inspiration for thewriting of local author Susanna Jones,who also read from her latest novelThe Missing Person’s Guide to Love.But for me the high-point of theweekend was James Gardner’s illus-trated talk about his own book TheTrail of the Serpent, tracing the fasci-nating story of the infamous BalcombeTunnel murder. A brilliant piece ofinvestigative writing and a tale that hadits full audience totally gripped.

‘Peter James, a born storyteller, wasa huge draw, regaling his fans withwitty anecdotes about his writingcareer, the special appeal of Brightonto crime writers, from ‘bottom-feeding’ crime families to shadowy‘fences’, providing many insights intothe rich culture that makes Brightondetective Roy Grace so iconic.’

Reicke Schweitzer writes onLadislaus Löb’s Dealing with Satan(16 July, St Michael’s Church): ‘Wecannot escape the fact that ‘theHolocaust’ is now seen in the West asthe defining event of the 20th century.Our normal reaction is one of horror,incomprehension and ultimatelysuppression of any possible ‘logical’

Does this look familiar?Glorious lighting at theMagic Lighting Company.Come and treat yourself!

Wonderful woodburners,fabulous fires andgorgeous gas fires.

John Cox writes: ‘The second CMP Festival ended with a justifiableflourish on 20 July at St Nicholas Church with Handel’s Acis andGalatea, in a concert performance by the Baroque Collective.Defined by the composer as a Masque, its staging would requirea one-eyed giant, a mermaid and a shepherd who ends up under,

rather than on, a rock. The company prudently spared us theseshocks and provided instead a musically distinguished excursion into

the baroque, leaving the imagination free rein with the visuals.The seven-instrument ensemble was in perfect accord throughout, adding

two baroque oboes to a string quartet and harpsichord continuo. The oboesprovided a suitably rustic, albeit virtuosic colour to the prevailing sophisticationof Handel’s string writing, led by Alison Bury’s eloquently bowed fiddle.

The Sussex Baroque Singers made a major contribution as chorus, enjoyingthemselves infectiously. Next time we must hope, perhaps, for more consonantsand certainly for more men. Amongst the stylish and nimble vocal quartet, theAcis of Julian Podger (tenor) impressed with the forceful masculinity of timbrealways presumed by Handel’s writing (even for castrato!): Love sounds thealarm was a high point. Doubling as Polyphemus and conductor, JohnHancorn was an amiable monster in both, leaving his rival crushed and hisaudience equally rocked by the excellence and brio of the whole affair!’

John Cox has held senior posts with the Glyndebourne, Royal and Scottish operacompanies, as well as pursuing an international career as a freelance opera director.His next production is of Massenet’s Thais for the Metropolitan Opera, New York,which will be screened in cinemas world-wide in December. He lives in Powis Squareand in Greenwich, London.

imprisoned with other Europeantravellers until rescued by a largeimperial army. A self-trained archaeol-ogist, he provided the British Museumwith some of its most admired exhibitsfrom his home country only to findhimself vilified by jealous rivals whoremoved his name from their labels –an omission only recently put right. An

The literary programme

80 Dyke Road Brighton � 01273 748526

Fires

tores

Magic

Ligh

ting

Comp

any

CMPFestival2

For those of a bookish bent the closing weekend With Words and Pictures ofthe festival offered four enjoyable gatherings in the south aisle of St Michael'schurch, writes Tom Sargant, long-term Seven Dials resident and founder ofBrighton Ourstory www.brightonourstory.co.uk. On the Saturday PeterBurton's new anthology, A Casualty of War (reviewed below), his seventhexcellent harvest of gay short stories, was celebrated with readings from Juba bySimon Lovat and a posthumous piece by John Haylock (whose great-uncleJames worshipped at St Michael's in the 1890s). Rose Collis then took herbiographical scalpel to the supposed romance of Fifties TV stars Gilbert Harding('The Rudest Man in Britain' and once a resident of Montpelier Villas) andRoedean-educated Nancy Spain, exposing the ripe bones of a great gay privatejoke. On Sunday Colin Spencer delivered a beautifully-written reminiscence ofvisits to the literary giants of 1959, drawing portraits of a sleepy EM Forster anda fat-faced Evelyn Waugh. The afternoon's final event brought together threeauthors of the eminently-collectable Snake River Press series of Sussex guidesto marvel over the quirks of our county's wildlife, musicians and women.

11

The Crescent

Parker Bathrooms

D.R.F. SERVICES

FRIENDS OFST NICHOLAS

Waitrose in Brighton is proud to support the CMP Festival

explanation. We see it in the darkestshade of black – with no mitigation.Löb’s account as it affected his ownlife, has particular significance as itdraws attention to the possibility of apositive outcome that can co-exist in aframework of horror. As a child of 10,he found himself in Belsen with hisfather – herded together with tens ofthousands of the ill, helpless andstarved. As a child, he could of coursenot understand politics and almostenjoyed the sunshine of summer in1944 and a feeling of travel and recre-ation. Only a personal decision from abribed Adolph Eichmann spared fatherand son the gas chamber.

At the centre of Löb’s story is oneRezsó Kasztner, a colourful, entrepre-neurial, brave and roguish Hungarianlawyer. He arranged for some millionsof Reichmarks to be transferred toEichmann for the purchase of 1,670Hungarian Jews and thus saved theirlives. After the war, an Israeli court,reflecting the view that the onlyhonourable option for Jews was tofight the Nazis and die in the process,

branded Kasztner atraitor for negoti-ating with archcriminals. Althoughthe Supreme Courtdid not uphold thisjudgement, RezsóKasztner wasmurdered byZionist extremists.

Dealing withSatan is a personalsalute to a patchyhero. Löbpresented it to a

rapt audience, captivated by the calmand reflective fashion in which herecalled the ultimate horrors of Belsen,co-existing with his own memories ofsummer holidays, long railway

might have been less than attractive.The book, and Professor Löb

himself, serve as important remindersto us of the complexities governingmoral values – in all circumstances oflife. We are accustomed to consideringthe existence of Evil within the Good:perhaps less to realise that Good canexist within Evil.

Rose Collis writes ‘CMP Festival literary programmer Peter Burton has doublecause to celebrate this month. On 30 August, he will be marking his unprece-dented 40 years in gay journalism with Forty Years On, a talk for the Friends ofBrighton Ourstory Project (www.brightonourstory.co.uk) at the CornerstoneCommunity Centre, at 3pm. It promises to be an entertaining and fascinatinglook back at the history of British gay journalism, in which he has played such apivotal role, from the 1960s onwards. And this month also sees the publicationof A Casualty of War (Arcadia), a daring new short story anthology, edited byPeter – and the subject of Peter’s CMP Festival event – who has been nominatedthree times for Lambda Literary Awards for his anthologies. As with previouscollections, A Casualty of War features some of an internationallist of acclaimed fiction writers, including Neil Bartlett and FrancisKing, alongside newer names who, judging by their efforts, havethe potential to reach the same heights. There are no weak linksin this eloquent and eclectic anthology, which takes as its themethe issue of conflict and war. But worthy of particular mention areScott Brown’s brave and disturbing title story, set in Iraq;Awkward Relations, by former Brighton resident, the late JohnHaylock; and Francis King’s delectable A Very Special Customer’.

journeys and precious days with hisfather. To Ladislaus the child, orProfessor Löb the mature and distin-guished scholar – Kasztner could onlybe acknowledged as the vital saviourof his life, and that of hundreds ofothers. No matter that principles wereexpendable, that ends justified somegreyish means, and that his character

CMPFestival2

S Michael & All Angels’ news

Sunday 28 September 10.30am

‘BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY’ THANKSGIVING FOR THE HARVEST

Monday 29 September 8pm

MICHAELMASS DAY FESTIVAL MASS tocelebrate S Michael's PATRONAL FESTIVALone of the highlights of the Parish’s year.You are most welcome to join us.

Sunday 2 November

THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

Monday 3 November 8pm ALL SOULS Sung Requiem Mass

Sunday 9 November 10.30amREMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Requiem Mass sung for War Dead

Sunday 23 November 5.30pmFEAST OF CHRIST THE KING DEANERY BAPTISM and CONFIRMATION

Lunchtime Music at Saint Michael’sSaturdays at 1.15pm

13 September James Shenton Violin Glen Capra Piano27 September Raija Walker Piano Recital4 October Philip Adams Organ Recital1 November Deltcho Deltchev Piano Recital8 November Neil Turner Tenor Philip Adams Piano15 November Malcolm Kemp Organ Recital22 November Pavlos Carvalho cello

Admission Free – retiring collection

Father Robert Fayers writes Warm congratulations to all those organising

and taking-part in the recent Clifton,

Montpelier & Powis Festival – it was another

triumph, and S Michael’s was delighted to have

been involved in hosting many of the events.

CORPORATE SINGING IS GOOD FORYOU – did you know?

It’s reckoned that singing with others cangive a real sense of well-being. Why notjoin a choir? S Michael’s, with itswonderful acoustic, is an ideal place inwhich to sing, and our choir is friendlyand warmly welcomes newcomers [abilityto read music not essential]. For furtherinformation about ‘Music at S. Michael’s’(we have frequent concerts), putting on amusical event, or joining S Michael’s Choirplease contact Director of Music, PhilipAdams � 01903 813743.

The Friends of S Michael's Annual Lecture

GOTHIC REVIVAL GENIUSby MATTHEW WILLIAMS

2pm Saturday 11 October

The Curator of Cardiff Castle will talkon WILLIAM BURGES, one of England’smost flamboyant and brilliant Victorianarchitects, who designed S. Michael’sextension [or, ‘new church’], as well assilverware, choir stalls and an altarfrontal. Followed by cream teas andChoral Evensong. ‘The Friends’ helpmaintain the fabric of this wonderfulbuilding. For more information aboutThe Friends/ the Lecture please contactChris Such chris.such@ntlworld.comor S Michael’s Parish office � 822284.

PARISH CHURCH ofS MICHAEL and ALL ANGELS

Victoria Road

Every SundayMass [said] 8am SUNG MASS 10.30am

Mass said daily, usually at the following times:Monday and Tuesday 6pmWednesday 2pm [at The Pines]Thursday 10.30amFriday 11amSaturday 12 noon

For enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings, etcplease contact the Vicar:Father Robert Fayers, SSC on 727362

AN INCLUSIVE and FRIENDLY CHURCH

12

with every organic colour receive a FREE

blow dry & finish*

68 upper north, brighton bn13flSunday appointments upon request!

t: 01273 727666www.waterhairstylists.co.uk

*offer available from 22 to 29 September

Saturday 13 September 10amSunday 14 September 3.30pm

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS GUIDED TOURS (in addition to usual opening times)

September10 Ambrose Page Piano17 Michele Roszak & Linda Spinney Mezzo Soprano

/Piano24 Peter Jones TenorOctober1 Philip Sear Piano8 Alessandra Testai & Robin Jeffrey Soprano/Lute15 Geoffrey Bentham Bass-Baritone22 Dorothy Maxwell Piano29 Joan Rayment and Friend PianoNovember5 1st in series of Solo Bach Concerts

Peter Sulski Violin/Viola12 James Shenton Violin19 Ben Solomon Piano26 St Paul’s School Choir December3 Dorothy Maxwell & David Elwin Piano10 Sophie Liu Piano

To be considered for a lunchtime recital at St Nicholas’, contact vicar@stnicholasbrighton.org.uk

St Nicholas’ newsFr Robert Chavner writes It was a joy and a privilege towelcome so many people to St Nicholas’ for the 2nd CMP Festival.Organisers worked hard, but countless others were involved –members of the CMPCA and St Nicholas’ and St Michael’s churchesand friends whose help was crucial. The Festival will soon be a distantmemory and the committee will be planning the next one. I hope youenjoyed your involvement in the Festival as much as I did and l lookforward to welcoming you to St Nicholas’ again in the future.

LUNCHTIME RECITALSMUSIC AT THE HEART OF THE CITYWednesdays 12.30–1pm Admission free!

St Nicholas’ Church with its flexible space is an ideal venue for all occasions: contact Julie Watson � 07790 578251.

Come and sing at St Nicks! Weare a fun, adult choir with alarge and varied repertoire fromall musical periods. Rehearsalson Thursday evenings at7.30pm run by ex-Kings CollegeChoral Scholar, Greg Moore � 07971 684990 for furtherdetails. Go on, you know youwant to. . . !

St Nicholas of MyraThe Mother Church of Brighton

11th century or earlierDyke Road

SUNDAY8am Holy Eucharist10.30am Parish Eucharist withJunior Church and Crèche

WEEKDAYSWednesday 10.30am Holy EucharistMorning and Evening Prayer is saidevery weekday at 8.30am (Sat 9am)and 5.30pm

contact 709045 or www.stnicholasbrighton.org.ukParish Priest Fr Robert Chavner TSSFALL WELCOME

13

13 September SUSSEX HISTORICCHURCHES SPONSORED STRIDE AND RIDE Friday 19 September 7.30pm The St Nick’s ‘Boiler Bash’ Concert withstar-studded cast! £10Saturday 20 September 4–8pmSNCGSA Barbecue and Games in thechurchyard £5 adults and £2.50 children5 October 10.30am HARVEST THANKSGIVING1 November 7.30pm‘A night at the Opera’ OperaGala with guests from Glyndebourne,English National Opera and other nationalcompanies in aid of new boiler for StNicholas’. Tickets £10 available fromParish Office9 November 10.30am REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY29 November THE FRIENDS OF STNICHOLAS ANNUAL DINNERDetails from Chair: autonLloyd@aol.com30 November ADVENT CAROL SERVICEwith Brighton Chamber Choir

For tickets or more info on the above,contact Lynn Rashid (Parish Office) 0774619 8026. Christmas cards for sale

sixtyseven for

gifts

cards

wrap

toys

lighting

homewares

67 Dyke Road(corner of Clifton Road)BrightonBN1 3JE01273 735314

6 December SAINT NICHOLAS DAY11.30am PATRONAL FESTIVAL EUCHARIST 4pm–8pm ST NICHOLAS’ CHRISTMAS MARKETThe first market of itstype in Brighton, visitorscan expect a mix ofquality hand-craftedgoods, gifts, locallyproduced specialist foods and entertainment,set against the backdrop of the magnificentancient mother church of Brighton. Fordistinctive Christmas gifts, explore the craftstalls, with everything from ceramics andwoodcarvings, to glassware, jewellery,wooden toys, sculptures. Visitors should findsomething for every taste and budget. Tohire a stall, contact Parish Office.

19 December Handel’s’MESSIAH with theHanover Band and Chorus. Contact: The Old Market.

14

As early as 1822, the workhouse boyswere being described as ‘rude andabusive’. In 1837, three were broughtbefore the magistrates for refusing toget out of bed and making offensiveremarks to the gardener when he triedto get them up. They received twoweeks ‘hard labour’ in the House ofCorrection. Others regularly abscondedto the races or refused to turn the cornmill or deliberately turned it the wrongway. Retribution was often swift withbeatings and one boy, George Slaughter,actually died after being kicked by staff.

Workhouse girls were seen as just astroublesome. Having sometimes to sleep

with transportation if theycame before them again.Most of the girls weregroomed for domestic serviceand found placements,sometimes with unfortunateresults. In 1857, Louisa Abinett, afifteen year old workhouse girl wasraped by her ‘master’. The man, JosephBowtell, a married shoemaker with fourchildren of St James Street, was arrestedand charged. But the magistratesdecided that ‘in consideration for theprisoner’s position and the feelings of hiswife’, to fine him ten pounds instead ofsending him to prison.

five to a bed may not have helped. Inthe early 1830s the Guardians hit uponthe idea of sending some to Tasmaniaand congratulated themselves on easingthe burden to the ratepayers. However,in 1835 they received a stern letter fromthe Secretary of the Emigration Board,claiming that the Brighton girls on boardthe Strathfieldsaye had apparently sleptwith the sailors all the way there. TheBoard wanted no more paupers fromthis parish.

The following year, six girls threw thecocoa fibre (which had been sent tothem to pick for mattresses) over theworkhouse wall. The governor lockedthem inside a cottage in the yard. Theythen knocked two door panels out, puttheir heads through it and ‘abused himwith terrible language’. They eventuallysmashed the door down, broke sixwindows and encouraged other inmatesto do the same: 42 were broken in all.They were sentenced to ‘hard labour’ bythe magistrates and were threatened

Church Hill WorkhouseChildren and Vagrants

Further to his article in CMPCAnews 11, localhistorian and writer James Gardner looks at

the two inmate groups which caused the officials at theChurch Hill Workhouse most concern: children and vagrants.

PART2

One fourteen year old boy, JohnHedgecock, was brought before thebench for absconding:

Magistrate: Why did you leave the Workhouse?

Hedgecock: Cos, I don’t like it. I want togo to sea. That would do me good.

Magistrate: Well, I dare say Mr Thorncroft[the overseer] would be veryglad if he could find you a berth.

Hedgecock: Aye, that workhouse won’t do me any good.

Magistrate: And you won’t do it much good.

Hedgecock: If I go to sea, I could do a good deal of good. I’m sharpenough to get over anybody[laughter].

Magistrate: Aye, you’re not such a fool as you’re taken for.

Hedgecock: No, that I ain’t be.Magistrate: You’re sharp enough to get

over walls.Hedgecock: Yes. [laughter].Magistrate: You wouldn’t be sharp

enough to get over the Houseof Correction walls.

Hedgecock: I don’t know. Magistrate: Twenty-one days, House of

Correction and there you’ll learn to pump water before you go to sea.

15

Most of themisbehaviour of theyoungsters in theChurch Hill workhouse

was put down to theirbeing ‘contaminated’ by

the adults. Only thebedrooms and school rooms

were separate. A report in 1847concluded that ‘the lack of separationexposed the workhouse children to badexamples from persons of more matureage who were likely to exercise abaneful influence over their minds’.Eventually, in 1854, the Poor Law Boardgave permission for Brighton topurchase land for a new workhouseand a separate industrial school for thechildren. Land was soon acquired atWarren Farm, Woodingdean, for thelatter. On 14 August 1862, a processionof 77 boys and 65 girls accompanied bythe juvenile band marched from theChurch Hill site to the Industrial School.It was reported that the children ‘lookedwell and happy’. That evening theGuardians threw a party for themselves.

By 1863, Church Hill was heavilyovercrowded and one Poor LawCommissioner called it ‘dilapidated anduncomfortable with not a cheerful well-lighted room anywhere; and theordinary dayrooms as well as thebasements, abominable’. From 1859 to1864, more than 20,000 paupers hadbeen admitted into Church Hill, threequarters of them vagrants or trampswho had a right to stay one night inany workhouse in the country. In thatfive year period there had been 177births and 604 deaths.

Vagrants often left hidden messagesin workhouses either recommendingplaces to fellow travellers or warning ofsevere regimes. One Poor Law inspector

he saw me and I told him about thevermin, the cold and the lack of food’.

In January 1865, at one of the lastmusical entertainments given to theChurch Hill inmates, they were treated tooranges, cakes, coffee and tea andlistened to songs by entertainers,including 63 year old Rhoda Martin, aninmate herself. In a speech, the chairmanof the Guardians, Colonel Moorsom, saidthat ‘happiness did not depend onwealth or station, and that contentmentand real enjoyment were to be found inthe Workhouse as well as the palace’.Between 12 and 21 September 1867 allthe inmates were removed to the newworkhouse at the top of Elm Grove. Bythe time the Guardians had sold all thegrounds of the old workhouse and builtthe new one they had made a profit ofalmost £9,000.

in this period criticised the BrightonGuardians laxity towards vagrants whohe claimed used the workhouse as a‘good hotel’. He recommended thatafter breakfast the able-bodied onesshould be sent to work for four hoursbefore leaving. The Guardians rejectedthis idea explaining that the vagrants’wives and children were often in cheaplodging houses in the town and wouldbe begging in the streets if their menwere made to work in the mornings. Farbetter, they argued, that the vagrantsleft first thing and took their familieswith them. Besides, if they worked theywould have to give them extra food.

The vagrants’ ward was often in apitiful condition. One sick inmate, JamesBacking, wrote to the Poor Law Boardin 1863 complaining that: ‘I was kept inthe tramps ward, lying on the boardswith a little straw, an old blanket andan old rug full of vermin. I had a badleg and was attended by a doctor whoordered me poultices for my leg. I waskept there with very little food to eat.Two days later the doctor laughed when

LEFT, WORKHOUSE ATCHURCH HILL IN 1822.

RIGHT, MRS SATTINMATRON (SEATED).

FAR RIGHT, HUSBANDEDWARD SATTIN,WORKHOUSE MASTER1859–91.

16

Much has been written about the earlyGeorgian history of Brighton, and at theother end of the time-line great use hasbeen made of the wealth of black andwhite photographs from the reigns ofEdward VII and George V. However, thisforthcoming publication The VictorianDevelopment of the Clifton, Montpelier andPowis Estates of Brighton (£19.95) by localhistorian Steve Myall who used to live inour area, fills the important gap betweenthose two eras. This book concentrates onthe early Victorian period and is the firstpublication to explain the history and devel-opment of ‘Church Hill – West Side’, thename with which our particular areaentered the nineteenth century while it wasstill sheep down and farm land. The authormakes the point that ours is the mostcentral, the earliest and the most importantVictorian residential development inBrighton & Hove. The book explores theWelsh origin of the Powis estate; throughVictorian engravings it makes hitherto un-recorded identifications of The Temple FieldsCricket Ground, where Montpelier Crescentwas built, finds an 1839 advertisementshowing the first house to have been builton Clifton Hill, identifying that home today,and illustrates a rare 1846 lithograph whichshows the extensive grounds of the ChurchHill Workhouse, being worked by theinmates. Among other interesting explana-

tions is the Daniell engraving of Kemp’sTemple in 1823, showing the early carriage-way that became Clifton Hill, and the cornfield that became Powis Square. Including awealth of other fascinating and rareVictorian illustrations, this book shows usan 1835 lithograph of the ‘Swiss Cottage’that stood at the entrance to the chaly-beate spring, (now St Ann’s Well), and thearchitect’s drawing, from a deed in PowisVillas, that established the design of thePowis Square homes. The front cover illus-trates the only known nineteenth centuryengraving of Saint Michael and All Angels’church, which also includes a rare glimpseof the north side of Victoria Road in themid 1860s. Through many privately helddeeds the author tells the intriguing storyof local middle class builders, craftsmenand businessmen who took the opportunitypresented by the financial difficulties ofThomas Read Kemp to build new homeson Church Hill – West Side. They builtdetached houses, a crescent and innovativestreet designs that are unique in the city.This book will give you a fresh perspectiveand a new admiration for the Clifton,Montpelier and Powis area.

The VictorianDevelopment of theClifton, Montpelierand Powis Estatesof Brighton

BrunswickWestward U3A(University of theThird Age)Joining the U3A (University of theThird Age) is a wonderful way ofmaking new friends (especially ifyou’ve recently settled in the area),pursuing current interests, oropening up your mind to new ones.Don’t be put off by the name –U3As exist for all who want tolearn, appreciate and enjoy theirspecial interests and the onlyrequirement is that you are nolonger in full-time work.

There are several U3As covering theBrighton area. Ours is calledBrunswick Westward U3A but in factwe have members from all overBrighton & Hove. Apart from meetingin small special interest groups wealso organise 3–4 illustrated talkseach term, somewhere in Hove, givenby knowledgeable speakers on avariety of subjects, with a break forcoffee and socialising.

Further information can beobtained from Anne Brilli(Secretary of BW U3A), t 738656, e anne.brilli@btinternet.com. Youwill be most welcome (andespecially so if you might consideracting as a focal point for a smallgroup of people eager to pursueand learn your particular interest ifwe do not yet have a group on thatsubject). Jackie Fuller, Chair ofBrunswick Westward U3A

The subscription for the 2008/09season is just £20 for seven talks.Non-members pay £5 at the door.Meetings: 8pm Pelham House Hotel,St Andrew’s Lane, Lewes.

Programme for 2008/09 season

27 October 2008 Andrew O’Hagan,novelist, writer and anthologist of RobertBurns, talks about his work.

24 November 2008 Daljit Nagra,teacher and award-winning poet, readsand talks about his poetry.

15 December 2008 KatharineWhitehorn, journalist and writer.Followed by Christmas party.

26 January 2009 Judith Carver, WilliamGolding’s daughter, talks about writing amemoir of her father.

23 February 2009 Anne Sebba,biographer and journalist, speaks onWinston Churchill’s American mother,Jennie.

30 March 2009 Nicola Beauman,founder of Persephone Books, talksabout neglected women writers.

Founded in 1948, the Lewes Monday LiteraryClub has a proud record of attracting themost distinguished speakers from all areasof literary endeavour – novelists, poets,playwrights, biographers, historians, literarycritics, travel writers, illustrators . . .

27 April 2009 Colin Brent, well-known local historian and writer,explores Tom Paine’s debt toLewes, in commemoration of the200th anniversary of Paine’s death.This meeting marks the Club’s 60thanniversary.

Steve Myall

Publication in November; call City Books 23 Western Road(725306) at end of October for

date and venue of launch evening.

17

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8

9

10

11

12 13 14 15

16

17 18 19

20

21

22

23

ACROSS1. Stray child4. Incapacitated7. Publish9. Reasoning10. Prickly pear12. Scarcity14. Aim towards19. Forever20. More fully developed21. French Headwear22. Capital of India (3.5)23. Skirmish

DOWN1. Distressed Brighton landmark

(4,4)2. Montpelier _____3. Vine ____, twitten5. St. Michael and All ______6. ____ Street, between Western

Road and 88. _____ North Street11. Clifton Hill Pub13. ______ Gardens, between

Furze Hill and Victoria Road15. Hampton _____16. Noted bather buried at St.

Nicholas (6,4) and 1717. see 1618. _____ Gardens, twitten

What price quality?Less than you think.

Waitrose is different from other supermarkets. Our customers know that real value is all about enjoying good service and paying a fair price for better quality food.

And that’s exactly what you get at Waitrose – along with hundreds of money-saving offers every month throughout the shop, especially on everyday items.

131–134 Western Road Brighton BN1 2LATelephone 01273 326549 Website www.waitrose.com/brighton

Opening hours Monday–Thursday 08.00–20.00 Friday 08.00–21.00 Saturday 08.00–20.00 Sunday 11.00–17.00

CMPCA Crossword 001This issue of CMPCAnews features our first crossword, compiledfor us by a local business that designs professional-qualitybespoke crosswords (and other puzzles) for special occasions.GiftPuzzles.co.uk is the brainchild of former CNN, NME and TopGear journalist (and Crown Gardens resident), James Snodgrass.‘I’d been running a small publishing company producing quizand puzzle books when a client asked for a 300-pagecrossword title on a tight deadline,’ says James. ‘I soon realised Icouldn’t deliver the book within budget without learning tocompile crosswords for myself.’ A crossword-buff for manyyears, Snodgrass found compiling crosswords as satisfying assolving them. Then, two years ago, he made a codeword puzzleas a gift for his mother’s birthday. Within the grid he concealedthe name of her home town in Italy and various other personalwords. She was delighted with the gift and an idea was born.

The giftpuzzles.co.uk website was launched shortly beforeChristmas 2007 and allows online customers to specify a giftpuzzle (crossword, cryptic crossword or codeword) and choosewhether to include a message or a few, choice words. But Jamesis also happy to discuss clients’ needs face-to-face or on thetelephone in order to produce a truly bespoke gift experience.

Gift Puzzles e GiftPuzzles.co.uk or t 01273 252337

PRIZE! The first correct entry drawn receives acopy of the new Pevsner Guide to Brighton and

Hove, courtesy of City Books. Write your name and addressbelow and send your entry to CMPCA Crossword, 21 Clifton Hill, BN1 3HQ to arrive by 4 October 2008.

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE PHONE NO.

18

SEPTEMBERTuesday 9

6.30pm City Books at The Old Market Grammynominated writer and broadcaster DavidSedaris one of the wittiest and original writers

at work today Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) from CityBooks 23 Western Road 725306

Friday 19 7.30pm The St Nick’s ‘Boiler Bash’ Concert with star-studded cast! Tickets £10 from Parish Office (07746198026) St Nicholas Church

Saturday 204–8pm SNCGSA Barbecue and Games in thechurchyard Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children, fromParish Office (07746 198026) St Nicholas Church7.30pm Sussex Musicians Club Concert includesFlute solos by Mike Mower & Anne Boyd, Music fortwo pianos, Messaien – music for violin & piano,John McCabe, Arnold Cooke & Arne – Songs forsoprano, clarinet and piano St Peter’s Church HallYork Place. Tickets £3 on the door

Thursday 256.30pm City Books at The Old MarketComedian MARK THOMAS talks about his newbook 'Belching Out the Devil' which looks at

Coca Cola, one of the world's most recognizedbrands Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) from City Books23 Western Road 725306

Friday 26Saturday 27, Tuesday 30 September–Saturday 4 OctoberShakespeare's ‘Richard III’. Rich in

scheming and villainy, performed entirely in theround. Barn Theatre, Southwick. Tickets: £8.50 BoxOffice on 597094.

OCTOBERWednesday 1 7pm The Regency Society Presents: ‘C F A Voysey –architect, artist and designer’ Dr Wendy Hitchmough,Curator, Charleston The Old Market , Upper MarketStreet Tickets £5 free to members Box Office 736222

Saturday 410.30am–5pm AFFORDABLE ART & CRAFT FAIROriginal artwork created by local artists. The FriendsMeeting House, Ship Street, Brighton. Admission freeCafé

Saturday 112pm MATTHEW WILLIAMS, Curator of Cardiff Castletalks on WILLIAM BURGES, ‘GOTHIC REVIVALGENIUS’ S Michael’s Church Victoria Road. Tickets:Parish Office 822284.

Saturday 186.30pm City Books at The Old Marketwelcome to Hove one of the world's greatestwriters: Thomas Keneally, short listed for the

Booker Prize on 4 occasions, winning it in 1982 with‘Schindler's Ark’ Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) fromCity Books 23 Western Road 7253067.30pm Sussex Musicians Club Concert includesBach – ‘Goldberg’ Variations, arr. String trio, Pianosolos, Songs by Copland, Barber and selection ofEnglish composers. St Luke’s Church, Queens ParkRoad. Tickets £3 on the door

Tuesday 216.30pm City Books at The Old MarketIllustrator Graham Rawle, (with his own versionof 'The Wizard of Oz'), and best-selling novelist

writer Susie Boyt (with her fascinating memoir 'MyJudy Garland Life' ) talk about all things 'WIZARD OFOZ' as the film approaches its 70th anniversary.Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) from City Books 23Western Road 725306

Monday 27 6.30pm City Books at The Old Market CandaceBushnell author of 'Sex and the City'and 'LipstickJungle introduces her new book 'ONE FIFTHAVENUE'. Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) from CityBooks 23 Western Road 7253068pm Lewes Monday Literary Club Andrew O’Hagan,novelist, writer and anthologist of Robert Burns, talksabout his work Pelham House Hotel Lewes Ticketsmembers free non-members £5 at the door

Wednesday 29 7pm The Regency Society Presents: ‘Pugin and theBuilding of Romantic Britain’ Rosemary Hill, writer,historian and trustee of the Victorian Society The OldMarket , Upper Market Street Tickets £5 free tomembers Box Office 736222

NOVEMBERSaturday 110.30am–5pm AFFORDABLE ART & CRAFT FAIROriginal artwork created by local artists. The FriendsMeeting House, Ship Street, Brighton. Admission freeCafé 7.30pm ‘A night at the Opera’ – Opera Gala withguests from Glyndebourne, English National Operaand other national companies in aid of new boilerfor St Nicholas’. Tickets £10 from Parish Office(07746 198026) St Nicholas Church

Saturday 227.30pm Sussex Musicians Club Concert includesVocal items by Dowland, Handel & Purcell, Chopin –Ballade No.4 in F minor for piano, Songs for Baritoneby Reynaldo Hahn, Bach – Sonata for Violin &Keyboard, Piano music from Czechoslovakia. St Luke’sChurch, Queens Park Road. Tickets £3 on the door

Monday 24 8pm Lewes Monday Literary Club Daljit Nagra,teacher and award-winning poet, reads and talksabout his poetry Pelham House Hotel Lewes Ticketsmembers free non-members £5 at the door

Thursday 276.30pm City Books at The Old MarketCreative Director of History programmes forthe BBC and author of 'Nazis – A Warning

from History', LAURENCE REES, talks about his newtelevision series and book 'WORLD WAR 2 – BehindClosed Doors’. Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine) fromCity Books 23 Western Road 725306

Sunday 30 ADVENT CAROL SERVICE with Brighton ChamberChoir, St Nicholas Church

DECEMBERTuesday 2 7pm/7.30pm CMPCA Christmas Party and Concert –proceeds to charity. St Nicholas Church

Wednesday 3 7pm The Regency Society Presents: ‘ClassicalAntiquity and the Georgian Garden’ Roger White,Architectural Historian The Old Market, UpperMarket Street Tickets £5 free to members Box Office736222

Saturday 610.30am–5pm AFFORDABLE ART & CRAFT FAIROriginal artwork created by local artists. The Friends

Meeting House, Ship Street,Brighton. Admission free 4pm–8pm St Nicholas’ Christmas

Market

Wed 10–Saturday 13 7.45pm ‘Gaslight’ by Patrick Hamilton. Set inVictorian London, a masterpiece of atmosphere andbrooding menace. Barn Theatre, Southwick. Tickets:£8.50 Box Office on 01273 597094.

7.30pm Sussex Musicians Club Concert includesChristmas music for organ, Stravinsky – Suite Italienfor Violin & Piano, Handel – Trio in F major for flute,‘cello & keyboard, Vocal items; followed by seasonalrefreshments. St Luke’s Church, Queens Park Road.Tickets £3 on the door

Monday 15 8pm Lewes Monday Literary Club KatharineWhitehorn, journalist and writer. Followed byChristmas party Pelham House Hotel Lewes Ticketsmembers free non-members £5 at the door

Friday 19 7.45pm The Hanover Band and Chorus performHandel's Messiah. St Nicholas Church Box Office01273 736222 www.thehanoverband.com

Free listings page for events in and around our area and beyond (or pay to advertise); e details of events for December 08 – March 09 by 17 October 2008

>>>Events

AFFORDABLE ART & CRAFT FAIR

4 October, 1 November, 6 December10.30am–5 pm

The Friends Meeting HouseShip Street, Brighton

Original artwork created by local artistsAdmission free . café . all welcome

The Sussex Musicians’ ClubA Brighton-based club where peoplewith a common love of classical musicmeet to share their interest, whether asprofessionals, amateurs, students orlisteners. Concerts Septemberto May, by members,covering a wide range ofsolo and ensemble items,both instrumental and vocal.

For more information contact Muriel Hart (Secretary) 01273 748651

Every Sunday 9.30am–12.45pm outsideSt Mary Magdalen’s Upper North Street:locally grown organic produce andplants sold in aid of tsunami reliefhouse-building project, Sri Lanka.

Montpelier Terrace Jane Gray Montpelier Villas Benjamin DruryNorfolk Road John BristowNorfolk TerracePowis Grove Steve CrockettPowis Square Ann Smith Powis Road Brian IzzardPowis Villas Roger WardleRegent Hill Bob HighamSt Michael’s Place Liz Stewart & Roz ChartersSpring Street Steve Pavey Temple Gardens Julie RignellTemple Gdns (York Mansions) Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper Temple Street Aidan LunnUpper North Street Richard BrownVernon Terrace Tony DavenportVictoria Place/Street Peter WoodheadVictoria Road Nick von Tunzelmann & Carol DyhouseVine Place Dan Andrew & Malene KastorWykeham Terrace Michael Fisher

19

OfficersChairperson Adam JonesVice-Chair John RiddingtonTreasurer Peter FreemanSecretary Philippa Sankey

Would you like to be a street rep? There are still some vacancies! For those whose details do not appearbelow please e info@cmpca.org.uk or t 07816 403099 and we will put you in touch or try www.cmpca.org.uk

The CMPCA’s purpose, as stated in ourconstitution is to ’promote the benefit ofthe inhabitants . . . without distinction ofsex or political, religious or other opinionsby associating the local authorities,voluntary organisations and inhabitants ina common effort to advance educationand to improve the physical and economicconditions of life . . . and to provide facil-ities in the interests of social welfare forrecreation and leisure time occupationwith the object of improving the condi-tions of life for the said inhabitants.’

Street Reps

Newsletter and advertisingPhilippa Sankey, Judy Bowe cmpca.info@googlemail.come cmpca.advertising@googlemail.comt 07816 403099

21 Clifton Hill BN1 3HQDesign Teresa Dearlovee t.dearlove@dsl.pipex.comPrint one digital

Management Committeealso includes OfficersCorinne AttwoodJudy BowRoz ChartersTony DavenportJane GrayAidan LunnPauline MessumNick von Tunzelmann

The views expressed in cmpcanews are those of contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official view of the CMPCA

Non-resident in street in red

Borough StreetChurch Street (Upper) Shaun KiddellClifton Hill Carole Moorhouse Clifton Place John & Jenny Riddington Clifton Road Pauline MessumClifton Road (Homelees) Michael HalesClifton Terrace Morham WhiteCrown Gardens Helen SmedleyCrown StreetDean Street Paul SchofieldDyke Road (west side) Bernard HowellsDenmark Terrace Sadie CookHampton Place/Street Arnold RoseHampton Terrace Richard BrownMarlborough St/Mews Sue Paskins Montpelier Crescent Peter Freeman Montpelier Road (Lower) Margy NixonMontpelier Road (Upper)Montpelier Road (Park Royal) Jill LangridgeMontpelier Street Bernard Dutton-BriantMontpelier Place John Warmington

>>>> Summary records of CMPCA meetings

Tuesday 17 June 2008 Living withHIV/AIDS locally and internationally

Police report: PC James Marter and PCSO CatThick reported that situation in area pretty good:,burglaries, violent crime and vehicle crime allreduced. Police keen to disavow reports that onlychasing easy detection crimes. Andrew Powell,Julie Hales, and Lynette Lowndes, discussed‘Living with HIV/AIDS’ (see page 4).

Communal bins: cabinet to decide –September. Parking amendments sought.Update on RAH TW to submit new application,letter received from PCT confirming no other sitesuitable for surgery. TW asked to address securityconcerns on site, PC Marter also consulted.

AOB Meeting on 16 Sept on food issues fromthree viewpoints. Green Spaces update nowsufficient funds to put projects in place.

30 attended

Full minutes available by email from Secretary atcmpca.info@googlemail.com

PAY LESS TAXFormerly with theworlds largestaccountancy firm formany years, I am nowavailable freelance, to deal with all tax/accountancy matters, at a fraction ofcompany rates. Ring for a free meeting.

Lawrence Flowers01273 891505

One DigitalHigh Quality Digital and Lithographic Solutions

Large Format Exhibition Displays

54 Hollingdean RoadBrighton, East Sussex BN2 4AA

t 01273 887575 f 01273 878401 w www.onedigital.uk.com

a new generation of print

20

109/110 Western Road, Brighton BN1 2AA

Thinking of selling or letting your property?Tel. 01273 747473

e-mail: info@masseyproperty.com

Parker Bathrooms� Design service� Fitting arranged� Fully qualified� Latest equipment� Bathroom lighting� Classical to contemporary� Friendly and helpful staff� Wet room, steam room

or shower� We sell tiles as well� Free delivery

66–80 Dyke Road t 329829