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.
Tibetan Monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, World Sacred Music Festival 2-16 October A Christmas Party for West Hill residents is being planned by Vinod and Meena Mashru of Bright News for the second Saturday in December. Look out for more details in the next issue, but in the meantime, save the date.
The Whistler has always attracted regular contributions from a number of local residents and we’re happy to keep the tradition going. David Foot and Deborah Grant offer advice on finance and health, while Steve Percy pursues parking issues. We welcome our new contributors, Peter Batten who writes about his experiences in this town and elsewhere, and Andrew Polmear, who takes over the long-running Love of Wine column. Appropriate for this edition as October derives its name from the place it held in the old Roman calendar, when the year began in March and ended in February. The Old English called October Winmonath, (wine-month or the month of vintage), an allusion to the fact that the treading of the grape took place in this month. Some of our regular writers have moved on this year, Philip Reddaway, Sirena Bergman and Pizza Girl. We thank them for their columns and wish them well. Continue reading The Whistler – October 2011→
Charles Kempe window in St Nicholas Church
At a well-attended Annual General Meeting on 31 May, chaired by Sylvia Alexander-Vine, members heard about the installation of the new stylish windows in the West Hill Hall and the excellent refurbishment of the kitchen and office by Simon Kelly of Sky Dec. All the work has meant a big expense, in the region of £16k, which, due to good house-keeping and careful accounting, we had in a CAF bank gold account.
Lianne Hall was thanked for her expert handling of Hall bookings. The Hall has also become a successful Festival venue, with several sold-out performances of Anima by the Karavan Ensemble. Members were given a retrospective of the Hall and The Whistler by Sylvia and were asked to note that WHCA has not received any funds from the Council. Pam Bean was fondly remembered and Gina Dodds and Sue Williams from the Gardening Group reported on the pleasure that the garden surrounding the Hall gives, and requested that any shrub cuttings or over-ordered seeds could be donated to the West Hill Hall garden. Members were invited to pick, with care, the various herbs that are growing there.
The accounts were formally adopted and it was agreed that we should ask Mr Jones to continue his work as our auditor. Sylvia emphasized that Mr Jones checks the accounts but the actual book-keeping and accounting is done by her and that she would welcome some help. Erica McKenzie and Rhonda Gregory promptly and kindly offered their expertise. The full committee, as usual, stood down and were thanked for their service. The Committee was then re-elected en bloc, proposer Jim Gowans, seconder David Perrett.
Sarah Taylor
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Building on the success of the West Hill Street Party, more opportunities to meet neighbours and allow children to play safely on the street are planned by Dan Bernstein and co. Residents in other streets may also wish to hold similar events. A long-term aim is for West Hill Road to become ‘pedestrian priority’. If you’re interested in finding out more about how to organise neighbourhood events write to The Whistler and we’ll put you in touch with Dan.
The West Hill Road Street Party on 29 April 2011 was a masterclass of organisation and bonhomie. Step forward the organisers to take a bow: Alexa de Castillo, Jake Smith, Joelle, Manuel Tavarez who made THE cake (see pictures opposite), Daniel Bernstein & Charlotte, Dan Karen, Tui Davenport, Sarah and Will Baker, Julian Musto, Anton, and Ellen Laverty. They and others receive the heart-felt thanks of all those who attended from West Hill Road, West Hill Street and some other nearby roads. It was a great day and the rain came just at the end when it was time to clear and pack up. Yes, there’s nothing these guys can’t organise!
WHCA was represented at the Brighton Station Gateway project design meeting in May, along with representatives from Network Rail, Southern Railway, the council, Queen’s Road traders, taxi and bus companies, the disabled, cyclists, pedestrians, residents and more. Many ideas were put forward, including making the southern approach to Terminus Road accessible only to public transport and residents to allow taxis to queue up the road; closing Trafalgar Street to cars under the bridge to allow it to be widened to create more space in front of the station; locating the bus stops in Surrey Street, moving buses from the south entrance to create clear views of the sea. Some ideas were dropped – including the ones just mentioned – and others will go forward for review, design and feasibility studies before being put out for public consultation later in the year.
It’s a major project and will have a huge effect on the West Hill area and Queen’s Road. Have your say when consultation begins.
Aung San Suu Kyi, this year’s Brighton Festival guest director, sends a message to the festival:
“We all think about the Brighton Festival as an occasion for festivities, for diversity, for creativity, for expression, for freedom of expression. This is especially important to us in Burma, who have been deprived of this right of freedom for very many years. We look to you to use your freedom of expression to let the world know what it is like in our country.
There is connection between all kinds of expression and because everything is connected we think that what you do there, half way across the world from us, can help us here a great deal.”
Last year The Whistler wrote about the Burmese comic Zarganar who has been jailed by the military junta for 35 years. This May, Brighton & Hove comes alive with a powerful and exciting programme of cultural events in celebration of this year’s Guest Director, Aung San Suu Kyi, the courageous Burmese leader, human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has fought peacefully for democracy and, taken to the heart of this year’s Festival, is her message, “use your liberty to promote ours”. West Hill Hall is a Festival Fringe venue and has been used as a rehearsal space for festival shows.
Structural changes are in the news too – the long running campaign to save the Royal Alexandra Hospital buildings has been won. Taylor Wimpey responded to the majority of local feeling and withdrew the demolition option prior to the Council planning committee meeting. The plan to convert and restore the main building was unanimously approved. The Brighton Station gateway project is looking at ways to improve access and facilities at the station and the only way that a great scheme can be developed is with the input and ideas of users of the area. Let us know your views so we can feed them into the planning process.
The Annual General Meeting of the West Hill Community Association, at which the accounts will be adopted and the officers and committee elected, will be held on Tuesday 31 May 2011 at the West Hill Hall. Nominations for the committee must be seconded and sent with the written consent of the nominee to the Hall. The business of the meeting will be followed by our perennial favourite, the Quiz, set and presented by David Perrett. Refreshments and bonhomie free. All welcome.
Everything you ever wanted to know about life in Brighton (OK, and Hove)
The Whistler 