Category Archives: Editorial

Editorial

The Whistler – February 2016

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Brighton Science Festival 2 - 28 February
Brighton Science Festival 2 – 28 February

West Hill let its hair down at the sold-out WHCA Social held at the Hall in early December. Ticket-holders were expertly seated by our Chair and Host-with-the- Most, Vinod Mashru, and while Meena, Mel, Laura, Sarah and Colette organised the serving of 100 meals, party-goers were delighted by Candide, a local duo who played an eclectic mix of music. West Hill Street resident, Didier and his musical partner, Dr Pangloss, serenaded diners and then a select group of entertainers answered our call for local talent to shine. Thanks to Kate for her Kate Bush song; 15-year old Loli, and her friend Berry, who performed ‘Love Yourself’; little Ruby who sang, ‘Shake it off’; and a special mention goes to 13-year old Magda, who wowed the audience with her rendition of ‘Santa Baby’ accompanied by Candide. The evening was an opportunity to meet old acquaintances and make new friends in our wonderful West Hill Hall. Thanks to volunteers James, Chad, Finn, and Lucas and to all those who cleared up at the end – in half an hour the Hall was spick and span. Now, that’s what we call community spirit! Continue reading The Whistler – February 2016 →

Editorial

The Whistler – December 2015

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Play Streets in West Hill

Kids playing on streets is a rather old fashioned idea, but it is making a comeback!

There are proven benefits to children’s health and community cohesion. Research carried out by National Playday shows that 81% of adults think it improves community cohesion and 70% think it makes an area more desirable to live in.

Play Streets are a recent initiative born in Bristol and being encouraged by the Council here. Basically, they involve regular times on specific days when a road becomes pedestrian priority. Adults ‘close’ the road each end (often with bunting) allowing children and adults to come out and chat/play. If a resident needs to get in or out of the road in their car then they can do so, driving at walking pace, accompanied by an adult. Other cars are stopped from driving through.

Are you interested in discussing how we might do this, possibly, in different streets on a regular basis, in the West Hill area?

Daniel Bernstein has approached West Hill Community Association and we are keen to support it. We even asked our local cartoonist, Nathan Ariss, to create an original cartoon on the theme of West Hill’s kids playing out.

Whistler-editorial-NOV21-2015There is an open meeting on Sunday 10 January at 11.30am in West Hill Hall for all those interested in making it happen. Do come along – children are welcome too. Let’s make 2016 an even better year to live in West Hill, and make our community even stronger.

In the meantime you can read more about ideas and tips for getting started here: http://playingout.net

 

 

 

 

Editorial

The Whistler – October 2015

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Quadrupeds’ illustration from a late 18th century encyclopaedia. Private collection
Quadrupeds’ illustration from a late 18th century encyclopaedia.
Private collection

EVENTS FOR ALL

By living in the West Hill area you are automatically a member of the West Hill Community Association, which is why you receive The Whistler.

Some members have asked the Trustees to organise some more community events in addition to the quiz we hold on the last Tuesday of each month, the annual summer Treasure Hunt and the frequent Christmas socials. We’d like to hear about your ideas for the sort of events you’d like to attend, and if you have a hobby or interest that you would like to talk about and share with other West Hill residents. The Association is going to host a series of occasional talks at West Hill Hall – together with refreshments and bonhomie – and we thought we’d start by asking our own really interesting residents to let us know what they’d like to hear or want to share. The subject matter can be anything – say, the history of the Seven Dials, films, setting up a small business, women’s suffrage, windmills, alternative therapies, art movements, 7 Dials Open Houses, a wine and cheese tasting evening – the list is endless. The Association and the Hall is available to all residents, so do let us know what you’d like to see there. Write to Colette at whwhistler@aol.com to let us know your ideas for community events, and if you are interested in giving a talk, please contact Dorothy at westhillhall@gmail.com and we’ll make it happen.

Talking of Christmas Socials, there’s another one on Saturday 5 December – see details in the panel below. West Hill’s got talent and we want to showcase it. We’re looking for 15 acts who can entertain us on the evening and win a prize into the bargain. Don’t hide your talents – share them with West Hill. Apply in writing to Colette at westhillhall@gmail.com telling us about your act and why “it will mean the world to you” if you could perform on 5 December 2015.

Go on, you know you want to.

WHGT

 

Editorial, Events

The Whistler – August 2015

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West Hill Hall by Clare Harms
West Hill Hall by Clare Harms

What a Treasure

Above is a facsimile of an original watercolour drawing by local artist Clare Harms which the WHCA Trustees commissioned to present to outgoing Chair, Sylvia Alexander-Vine. It’s a superb representation of West Hill Hall. Clare’s work can be seen on her website, clareharms.co.uk, and in Seven Dials shops Fullertons and Dragonfly. Sylvia was over the moon to receive the Hall picture. She is still recovering, slowly, from her recent stroke. She has only praise for the dedicated and fun-loving staff at the Royal Sussex County hospital stroke ward and the Community Neuro Rehab Team who are now visiting her at home regularly to put her through physio and occupational therapy.

Unlike Sylvia who is currently housebound, over 50 people in 10 teams turned out for the third annual West Hill Treasure Hunt on 19 July. Janice Johnson of Albert Road and her team, the Allotmenteers, won the £25 first prize, with The Three Js, Meow! and Pat n’ Reg coming in close behind. Special mention to the fastest team, Pirates of Something, who completed the course in 49 minutes.

AlbertAlbert’s Astonishing Army won best team name; and the two dogs, Elvis and Albert, both won a prize for being the brightest (and noisiest) dogs in West Hill. Albert (pictured) won everyone’s heart.

It was a glorious day and it was great to see so many people come and join in the fun. Dorothy Lamb and Jack Jackson set the questions, Meena from Bright News made a wonderful selection of onion bhajis and vegetable samosas, and despite the refreshments table being absolutely full at the beginning of the afternoon, suffice to say that there was nothing left to take away at the end. Even the doggie biscuits found a home. Balloon clearance experts James and Lily helped clear up the Hall. Thanks to the participants and the organisers. See you next year!

 

Editorial

The Whistler – June 2015

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Brighton is so Bracing
Brighton is so Bracing

THANK YOU SYLVIA, WELCOME VINOD

After 22 years, Sylvia Alexander-Vine has retired as Chair of West Hill Community Association. She was planning to announce this at the April AGM but she suffered a serious stroke earlier in the month and was unable to attend. The Association sends heartfelt best wishes for her speedy recovery and thanks Sylvia for her tireless work securing the purchase of the Hall, and the day-to-day running of WHCA. For many years she did the Hall bookings, correspondence and administration as well as the typesetting of The Whistler without the help of a computer as, in the early days, everything was done by hand and post! She leaves WHCA with a thriving, well-maintained and well-used community hall. She stays on as a trustee and co-editor of The Whistler. WHCA trustees voted Vinod Mashru, the proprietor of Bright News, to the position of Chair, and Dorothy Lamb was also welcomed as a new trustee.

Vinod with Mayor Brian FitchNo, the Mayor (pictured with Vinod), did not inaugurate him as Chair of WHCA, but together with the other trustees, association members, and Whistler contributors, Councillor Brian Fitch and his wife Norah, hosted a small gathering recently in the Mayor’s Parlour to celebrate WHCA’s contribution to the voluntary landscape of Brighton & Hove.

 

The national annual celebration of volunteers, marked during Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June, recognises the contribution made by millions of volunteers across the UK. In Brighton and Hove, volunteers donate 5.7 million hours every year to our city’s community groups and voluntary organisations. If they were paid the living wage for their work, their donated time would be worth £44 million a year.