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Editorial

Editorial

The Whistler – March 2010

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Brighton Pier viewed from West Hill

Spring into West Hill

As the sound of anniversary congratulations to Vinod and Meena of Bright News fades, citizens of West Hill have been giving their support to Stephen Anderson of Buckingham Road who is taking part in the Brighton Marathon on 18 April in aid of Cancer Research UK. He is dedicating the run to his mother, Barbara, who died from cancer last year and to numerous friends and colleagues who have suffered from this disease. He’s raising money and a sponsorship form is in Bright News or donations can be given via the website www.justgiving.com/stephen-anderson

On 26 March, The Whistler’s Finance writer, David Foot, is walking from Southampton to Wembley to watch Southampton Football Club playing in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final against Carlisle FC on 28 March. He will walking in aid of the “Everyman” prostate and testicular cancer charity, and is also looking for sponsorship. Visit www.justgiving.com/saintswembleywalk and make a donation there or write to The Whistler if you’d like to sponsor him. Every little helps.

The AGM of the West Hill Community Association for 2010, at which the accounts will be adopted and officers and committee will be elected, will be held on Tuesday 27 April at 7.30pm at West Hill Hall. All nominations for the committee must be seconded and have the written consent of the nominee. Our constitution’s first objective is: to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the area, without distinction of gender, sexuality, or political, religious or other opinions. The business of the meeting will be followed by an always-popular Quiz, set and presented by David Perrett. Refreshments and bonhomie free.

Communities are good for the spirit, and given a degree of nurture, will continue to flourish, just like the wild life garden at the West Hill Hall, which will need volunteer helpers again this Spring and Summer to keep it alive and thriving.

Editorial

The Whistler – January 2010

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West Hill N-ice Man - Photo by Mark Baynes
West Hill N-ice Man - Photo by Mark Baynes

WONDERFUL WEST HILL

As the rest of the country shivered in December and January, community spirit warmed the residents of West Hill. Despite the weather conditions, a great number of people turned out to celebrate the holidays at the Christmas Party and the Carol Concert in West Hill Hall. This same community spirit led to innovative fun on January 9 when the icy slopes of West Hill Road became a tea-tray run for a number of neighbours and their hardy little ones, turning snowy adversity into a pleasurable event, having sealed the bottom of the hill with a barrier to prevent cars spoiling the fun (they weren’t attempting to venture up there any way).

Congratulations to Vinod and Meena of Bright News, who celebrate their 25th year of serving West Hill. Their never-failing value to the community was demonstrated as Vinod battled indefatigably through the snow and ice-clad roads, starting off from his home at 6am for the one hour journey to the shop, a drive which usually takes him 10 minutes. While the Co-op shelves ran short of vital supplies, Vinod managed to ensure continuity of supply, and the ever-cheerful James continued to provide freshly baked bread and personal food deliveries to those more vulnerable residents who could not venture out in the treacherous conditions.

Aren’t we lucky to live in such a great community? Let’s hear it for our West Hill heroes. To those of our many readers outside the area – may you have as much good fortune where you live.

Editorial

The Whistler – December 2009

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Seven Dials
Seven Dials - Photograph by Pee Gee

EDITORIAL


The last decade in West Hill has been one of change but also constancy. Pam Bean continues to hold Grand Sales, which not only raise funds for the Association but bring people together and the helpers’ joie de vivre inspires others to lend a hand. David Perrett, after 11 years, still finds new questions with which to baffle the aficionados of the WHCA quiz, held on the last Tuesday of the month. A fun evening rather than a trial of intellect, very often breaking out into community singing, that is, on occasion, tuneful.

The greatest success story since Sylvia rescued the Hall from demolition is the Music Club run by Lianne Hall at the weekends, which has put the Hall on the international venue map. Members continue to express their regret that the escalating price of film hire caused the Film Society to shut down after three seasons of extraordinary and unusual showings of classic films, accompanied by detailed and well-researched notes. The Hall, the 16mm projector, the membership list and £100 donated by Steve Birch all still belong to the Association should anyone have any ideas to revive this enterprising film club.

After last year’s great Christmas party, the ever constant Vinod and Meena are thinking about organising another one, to co-incide with Bright News’ 25th Anniversary. Details have yet to be finalised.

In 2010 take the opportunity to meet and greet your neighbours. Communities are good for the spirit. Happy New Decade.

Editorial

The Whistler – October 2009

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1010 logo
10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions by the end of 2010. Individual efforts are not just a pointless drop in the ocean if they’re part of a mass movement. 10:10 makes the efforts of individuals meaningful by ensuring that lots of people will be pledging to make the same cuts, and shows politicians that we, as a people, are taking the threat of climate change seriously.
Doing any or all of the following will make a difference.

1 Fly less, holiday more
Swap plane for train, holiday nearer to home and take fewer but longer trips – same tanning time, dramatically less climate change emissions.

2 Save 10% on heating
Turn down your thermostat, turn off radiators in hallways and more jumpers all round. Then apply for a grant to insulate your loft & walls.

3 Save 10% on electricity
Save big cash by changing lightbulbs, replacing old fridges & freezers and always turning stuff off. Use your bill to compare 2009 usage to 2010.

4 Drive less
Leave your car at home one day a week. Walk, cycle or take public transport. Join a car-club rather than owning your own and share your ride to work with a colleague or two.

5 Eat better
Local, in-season fruit & veg produce the least emissions – and the less processed the better. Have one meat-free day per week – but don’t replace with just-as-bad cheese.

6 Buy good stuff
Less stuff made = less emissions = less climate damage. So buy high-quality things that last, repair broken stuff rather than chucking, buy & sell second-hand and borrow your neighbour’s mower.

7 Dump less
Avoid excess packaging and buying pointless stuff that goes straight in the bin, recycle everything possible and compost your food waste. No garden or scared of worms? Let you off the composting.

8 Don’t waste food…
The average British family throws away £50 worth of food every month. So don’t buy or cook more than you need and eat up those tasty leftovers. With a smile on your face.

9 … or water
Your tap water uses lots of energy – and then heating it in your home uses loads more – so take showers rather than baths, be careful when watering plants and only run full dishwashers & washing machines.

This is a project to start making genuine changes to British society, changes we need so that we can leave our children a future we can be proud of. That’s why 10:10 does not recognise any form of offsetting as counting towards the 10% target.
10:10 was conceived by the team behind climate blockbuster The Age of Stupid, which was shown recently at the West Hill Hall. They now run the campaign with support from a team of partner organisations including The Guardian, ActionAid, Comic Relief, Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust, the Public Interest Research Centre and many more.

Find out more and sign up at www.1010uk.org

EDITORIAL

Activities in the Hall continue to thrive, there are new classes and the area is looking more beautiful each day on account of the hard work of the Wildlife Garden group. In May the Hall became licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and hosted its first wedding in August. The licence also covers naming ceremonies and funerals. At the same time, the premises licence was re-applied for to enable to Hall to continue hosting music and arts events. Sadly, there was a local objection to this application so we have been working hard to communicate with local residents that a new licence does not mean more events and the Hall becoming a ‘rock venue’. We have been listening to and answering concerns, and have offered to organise an open meeting if there is enough interest.
We welcome your feedback – the Hall is there for everyone in the local community.

The West Hill Gardeners’ Group will be holding a sale at the Hall on Saturday 31 October from 1-3pm. We look forward again to have help from our friends in Compton Avenue, especially with the clearing up from 3-3.30pm. All unsold items will be donated to the British Heart Foundation.

The Rock House is a new monthly night at the Hall for people with learning difficulties to learn and play music in a fun and relaxed DIY environment. “Boogie hard in the Rock House, hang out with your friends. Spin like a record till the party ends”. On the third Tuesday of each month, 7.00pm to 9.30pm. Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15.

Editorial

The Whistler – August 2009

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Perennial Sights and Sounds
Perennial Sights and Sounds. Photo by Felicity Bath

EDITORIAL

The West Hill Community Association AGM was held on 30 June, at which the yearly accounts were adopted and the committee was re-elected en bloc after standing down. However, we are always looking for new members and volunteers so if you had to miss the meeting and would like to join us, please get in touch. Reports were received from Sylvia Alexander-Vine and Lianne Hall concerning the extensive use of the Hall by people of all ages undertaking a variety of activities, and the news that the Hall is now registered as a venue for civil ceremonies and weddings. Although the fee for this registration has been paid by our first couple, we will now be paying rates and intend to renovate the kitchen.

Pam Bean reported on the enthusiasm of the Wild Life Garden group who have created an imaginative and flourishing haven in the garden surrounding the Hall. They had the need for an outdoor tap, answered voluntarily by Laurence Parker, a local businessman and trader, who generously gave time, thought and skill to helping the group when he knew their work would benefit from having water on hand. Mr Parker has also said he will mend the wooden strut of our notice board at the beginning of the approach twitten where he has had flowers planted along the border, making the entrance more attractive. The freshly repaired pathway, tarmac covered over with gravel, is a most welcome addition to the health and safety of the Hall users after a very busy period of construction of the 3 town houses behind the Hall undertaken by Mr Parker. Thank you.