The Whistler – February 2012

Charles Dickens Bicentenary 2012 - image by David Levine

LUCKY WEST HILL

How lucky we are, in the West Hill, to have so many community-minded individuals and at the heart of the community, to have a store, Bright News, owned and run by Vinod & Meena Mashru, who organised a most successful and happy Christmas party. Held at the West Hill Hall, the evening was full of fun and good humour. Unfortunately the Carol Concert, which has been such a great success in past years, had to be cancelled due to the lack of a pianist at short notice, but we hope to hold it again this December.

The community quiz continues on the last Tuesday of the month at West Hill Hall and more participants are welcome to the quiz where the quiz master/mistress actually gives the teams clues to the answers! It’s not taken seriously, but it’s seriously good fun.

2012 is an amazing year for celebrations — the Olympics, the Cultural Olympiad, the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, Brighton Pride’s 20th anniversary, and the royal Diamond Jubilee where we can enjoy an extended holiday in June and another round of street parties. Is there anything planned for West Hill and its surrounds? Write and let us know your thoughts so we can get that community spirit working together again.

Richard Ford Memorial Fundraiser

Richard Ford

We’ll have more details about the Ford-Fest in the April issue but in the meantime, save the date, 20th April, for the extravaganza being organised by Paula Ford in memory of Richard and to raise funds for the Martlets Hospice.

There will be some great raffle prizes but she is looking for more, corporate or individual ones, so if you would like to donate a prize, please get in touch with The Whistler at whwhistler@aol.com or leave a comment here.

Brighton Science Festival Highlights

Hammer and Tongue – Science Festival Special
Hammer and Tongue is a wild monthly poetry slam – a cross between Poetry Please and the Battle of Waterloo. This Festival special features special guests and a super science-themed slam – sign up on the door to take part. Hosted by Rosy Carrick and Mike Parker.

Thursday 2 February, 7.30pm, Komedia Studio, 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UN, 01273 647 100.
Tickets £5/£4, available on the door

Lights Out 31 March 8.30pm

WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple idea that’s quickly turned into a global phenomenon. Hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the planet.

But it’s not to save an hour’s electricity. It’s something much bigger. WWF’s Earth Hour is about people coming together to put the focus on this brilliant world we all share – and how we need to protect it. Not just for an hour a year, but every day.

Because a healthy planet isn’t just good for polar bears or tropical tree frogs. It’s essential for us all. It’s easy to forget how much we depend on it for food, fuel, water, fresh air… And the truth is, our modern lifestyles have been taking a toll on our planet.

WWF already tackles a lot of the environmental impacts – like deforestation, endangered species, and the impacts of climate change. But Earth Hour is a chance for everyone to say they’ll do their bit.

Earth Hour is a celebration. It’s always a night to remember – whether it’s a special candlelit evening at home with friends or family, or a night out on the town, or watching the spectacular global switch-offs from landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza, Times Square, Sydney Opera House, The Whistler office in West Hill Road.

For more information and to sign up, visit the website at: www.earthhour.wwf.org.uk

Kindling

Peter Batten muses about which books to read…

Recently, whenever I search for a book on Amazon, I am invited to purchase a ‘Kindle’. This, I am told, will give me access to hundreds of books. But how will I know which I will want to read?

This is a question which several of my English teachers of 60 years ago would have been eager to answer for me. They were very sure of the importance of ‘English’ in the school curriculum. In their view, which had been formed by their tutors at Cambridge, our culture was at a vital moment of change. For several centuries the foundation of our culture had been the study of Latin and Greek, but that foundation was crumbling. Our salvation would be the development of English studies, based on a carefully-trained reading of our literature. As their tutors had guided them, so would they teach us to “discriminate”, to separate the wheat from the chaff and benefit from reading the finest examples of our literature.

Shakespeare United 2012

Members of the Brighton branch of Equity will be rehearsing at West Hill Hall for another presentation of their play, A Midsummer Night’s Madness, at the Unitarian Church, New Road on 21, 22 and 23 April.

Curated Pavilion and Museum News

An Etcher in the Wake of Whistler: gallery tour at Brighton Museum

Sunday 12 February, 2.30-3.15pm Free

Guest curator Alexandra Loske introduces Hove-based artist Robert Goff’s work and discusses his atmospheric etchings of Sussex, Italy, Egypt and Japan.

Charlotte, the Forgotten Princess, at the Royal Pavilion

10 March 2012 to 10 March 2013, Admission payable, members free

The only daughter of George, Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, Charlotte was a feisty and headstrong child, who became very popular with the public, in stark contrast to her father. Charlotte married in 1816, but then tragically died the following year shortly after giving birth, aged only 21. Her sudden death sent shockwaves across the country and the public outpouring of grief was exceeded in English history only by that following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Charles Dickens, the Royal Pavilion and Brighton at the Pavilion

Wednesday 28 March 11.30am-12.30pm £10, members £8.50

Lecturer in 19th century literature Dr Peter Blake discusses the importance of the Royal Pavilion and Brighton to the life and work of Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens – The Man and his Books

Charles Dickens

No writer’s imagination has been more haunted by London than Charles Dickens (1812-1870) and no writer since has more haunted the spirit of London itself or had such an effect on literary treatments of it. The Dickensian vision of London, city of bustle and crossing-sweepers, the foggy river and the marshes, debtor prisons and old crooked lodging houses, ancient inns-of-court and smoky counting houses, ship chandlers’ stores, taverns and coaching inn yards, is the strongest literary vision of the capital we have. His books spill out its sights, smells, and human collisions. His writing captures the voice of London from the cockney of Sam Weller and Mrs Gamp to the chatter of Mr Jingle. However, he was not born there but in Portsmouth in 1812. In 1816, his father, a clerk in the Naval Office, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, was sent to London for two years until he was moved to the dockyard town of Chatham, Kent, that “mere dream of chalk, and drawbridges, and mastless ships, in a muddy river” Dickens would often use in his novels.

Unknown Unknowns

As we start to settle into the New Year, and wish each other well for 2012, it is easy – when minds wander – to wonder what might happen over the next 12 months. The last year was full of uncertainty, and it seems there is no reason to think that this year will be any different. As far as financial matters are concerned, we are no more settled than we were last January, and within reason, anything could happen. Who would have imagined the changes that have occurred in the Middle East, for instance?

Digestive System Problems?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastro-intestinal disorder reported to GPs and up to 50% of referrals to gastroenterologists are for IBS. Patients may suffer recurrent abdominal pain, allergies and severe bloating with diarrhoea and/or constipation. It is more common in women, especially between ages 20-40 years. Symptoms include pain low down on the left and/or right of the abdomen. There is often discomfort just below the stomach. There are usually loud bowel sounds, which can be embarrassing. Patients can experience tiredness, nausea and be very windy.

WHAT’s Going On?

The West Hill Action Team (otherwise known as the WHAT) meets on the first Tuesday, every alternate month, ie January, March, May, July, September and November.

It is the Local Action Team for the area, one of many across the city, as part of a police initiative to enable people to respond to crime and anti-social behaviour as a community. Local PCSO Sian Davies, council Communities officer, Matt Easteal, and local councillor, Lizzie Deane, all come to the meetings to meet residents and hear their views on what they feel needs to be done to make West Hill a better place to live in.

LGBT Police Liaison Team

PC Rachel Piggott, PC Rich Bridger & LGBT Caseworker, Clare Briscoe are here to understand, respond to, and prevent hate against our local community. They have been holding a series of drop-in meetings at different venues across the City.

The next ones are:

Neighbourhood Councils

Brighton & Hove City Council is developing new ways of working with communities to make this a more democratic city, leading the way as a place to live and work.

Neighbourhoods will be offered greater power to make decisions about services and budgets, addressing issues relevant to them. Arrangements may vary from place to place, but there will be opportunities for all to participate in decision-making. The intention is that these changes will allow people to:

Resident Parking Permits

For many years the permit ratios in each zone have been held at a fairly low level. Several years ago we managed to get the ratio of 1:1.8 reduced to 1:1.2 but unfortunately the Council does not appear to have taken into account the amount of other permits issued for use on the same resident parking bays. Amongst these are Resident Visitor permits, Carers, Council vehicles, Window Cleaners, Scaffolders and, of course, Trader permits.

Now, the Council intends to issue unlimited amounts of trader permits at nearly double the price. This is very unfair as it will mean that the low ratio will rise to a much higher level. This, in turn, will mean fewer parking spaces for the resident permit holders. Although the trader permits are supposed to be limited to a 4pm use I can tell you that due to the lack of enforcement, the restricted use is rarely observed. I sympathise with tradesman needing to park close to their work but with unlimited permit issue the situation could become quite serious. I will be investigating the situation in greater depth and discussing it with the Council in the near future.

Sparkling Tips

Champagne really annoys me. There’s been a lot of it about recently, so I’m going to get this off my chest. It’s not that I don’t like it; it’s the best sparkling wine in the world, with an ability to age, a complexity of flavour, and the variation from one producer to another is fascinating. But you really have to pay over the odds for that excellence. Furthermore, poor Champagne abounds and it comes at a fairly high price too. The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée rules are supposed to protect us from poor wine. To be called Champagne the wine has to come from the area and be made from the right grapes in the right way and the French are very good at enforcing that. But, to be called Champagne, the wine also has to taste like Champagne and to meet a certain minimum standard and the French are very poor at enforcing that. So we can easily spend £20 on a bottle that is trading on its name, not its quality.

The Whistler – December 2011

Richard Ford 1954 - 2011

Richard Ford

For a great number of years your Whistler was brought to you by Richard Ford. We attended a celebration of his life on Friday 11/11/11, during which his wife Paula referred to his sartorial taste, which was always relaxed but suited to his nature and activities. I was reminded of some lines from Two Noble Kinsman by Shakespeare and John Fletcher.

‘Tis in our power
(Unless we fear that apes can tutor’s) To be masters of our manners.
What need I affect another’s gait,
Which is not catching where there is faith, or to be fond upon
Another’s way of speech,
When by mine own
I may be reasonably conceived -
saved too,
Speaking it truly? Why am I bound
By any generous bond to follow him
Follows his tailor, haply so long until
The followed makes pursuit?

Richard was a man, master of his own behaviour who shunned fashion and did not take up others’ ways or imitate their behaviour. Speaking truly his own words and thoughts. Paula Ford asked us all to give generously to the Martlets Hospice for how they cared so lovingly for Richard and have supported and will continue to support her.

SAV

Enriched by Mr Ford

Richard Ford

A man of many parts who sprinkled the gold dust of friendship over his many acquaintances, most of whom came celebrate his life at the South Chapel Woodvale Crematorium on Friday 11 November with his family. Those parts were remembered as kindness, generosity, a willingness to help, trustworthy, enthusiastic, dignified, calm, receptive, witty, loving: a gardener, an advisor, a cricketer, a postman, a husband and a teacher who imbued all his friends and family with a corresponding love of justice and equality. You did not want to be thought of badly by Richard. You valued his judgements. You were amazed by the diversity of his interests and wanted to share them. A great reader, he inspired wide-ranging discussions of literature, history, art and music, but grounded and reasonable, his contributions were always considered and apt. All these and many more happy memories of this exemplary member of the community were re-called by written tributes and voiced expressions of sheer delight in the life of this decent, interesting man at the celebration conducted with sincerity by Belinda Chapman, a Light on Life celebrant, and arranged with ARKA Original Funerals. SAV

Paula, his beloved wife, read a tribute which included touching accounts of their life together. Here is an edited extract.

Brighton Station Gateway

Brighton Station Gateway proposal

Some residents will have received a consultation booklet about the biggest project to affect the West Hill area for many years. The objectives of the change to Brighton station and its surrounds are to provide a great welcome to Brighton, an effective transport interchange, good cycle facilities, managed deliveries and a pleasant and accessible place to spend time.

The key aims of the scheme are to improve the southern station entrance around Queens Road and create a high quality northern entrance, and you have until 9 December to return the survey or join the consultation on the council’s website, under Travel & Transport, Brighton Station Gateway proposals.

Larger than Life

Peter Batten muses about Art…

James Middleton was a large man, large in size and large in personality. Once a Cornish rugby player, he won an MC in World War I. At St Olave’s School in Southwark he was my Art teacher.

It was my good fortune to meet him at a time in my life when I needed a role model. Also, I was beginning to discover what interests in life I might enjoy. Without ever showing feelings of self-importance, he possessed a quiet confidence and dignity. I soon began to admire his talent. As a founder member of the Wapping group of artists he spent most of his spare time painting the many ships and barges to be seen along the Thames near St Olave’s. [A few schoolboy jokes were made by the obvious pun connecting his size with “Wapping”] Above all, he taught me about Art. Because I had so much respect for him, I felt that Art must be something I should learn to admire and enjoy. He told us about various schools and periods, always with practical illustrations. I vividly remember his imitation of the stained-glass-like paintings of Rouault and his demonstration of the way in which a modern portrait painter might start to develop a painting. By the time I left school I was making regular visits to London’s many galleries.

Brighton & Hove Photographic Collection

Comtesse du Barry character in “Fete de France"

QueenSpark Books has launched an online photographic collection of historic and contemporary images of the city.

This unique collection is a ‘People’s History’ of the city using images that have been collected over the last 18 months at community events, media appeals and via the Queenspark website.

Public events at the Jubilee Library, Saltdean Library, Patcham Library, Fabrica Art Gallery and Hove Library were led by volunteers and they collected some fabulous photographs, including this one showing a costumed actor at Brighton Dome in the 1930s. Fifty of the images donated by the general public also feature in a very special book offering a fascinating insight into the city’s people, places and events, both past and present. The website is a ‘live’ site, and local people are encouraged to submit their photos to the collection, which will be scanned and digitally stored.

www.photosbrightonandhove.org.uk

Mini Movers Dance Group

Thursdays 11.30-12.15 at West Hill Hall

Every parent knows just how much little children love to dance. From a very young age, often way before they can walk, they begin to dance. It seems responding to music with simple rhythmic movement is a deeply ingrained instinct and a very important part of being human. Although as adults many of us lose touch with this instinct, saying we “can’t dance” or are “not musical”, I have yet to come across a young child who does not respond to music with rudimentary dancing. It is often amazing to see just what a good sense of rhythm a baby can have at an age when they seem hardly able to control their bodies in other ways. Shaking a rattle, banging on the table or rocking and swaying along to the radio is an important way for young children to learn about how their bodies work and how to make an impact on the world around them. I remember when my own child was just 6 months old she was rocking back and forth to a Bob Dylan track, then when the middle eight came on she started swaying from side to side instead. I was very impressed with her sense of musicality, as well as her good taste in music!