Archive

  • Anniversary name change for recruitment firm

    Office People, one of the leading recruitment companies in Sussex, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a name change to First People. The company, which has offices in Brighton, Chichester, Horsham and Southwater said the change reflected the scope

  • How a businesswoman got shirty with blouse market

    A businesswoman amazed at the lack of choice of suitable outfits for the office has started her own marketing company. Sandra Street, from Chailey, tired of searching for blouses that suited her and reflected her style and personality, without costing

  • Ivor's hat

    Why was MP Ivor Caplin looking faintly ridiculous in a hard hat (January 10) in George Street, Hove? The story was about the council spending money. Ah, isn't the election coming? -Name and address supplied

  • Charity cash

    I would like to let people know the amount collected on Saturday, October 10 for the NSPCC. Rottingdean £74.80; Whitehawk £43.80; Woodingdean £110.11, a total of £228.71. -Mrs Mary Kellett, vice-chairman, Brighton and Hove District NSPCC

  • On a culinary note

    I am writing to ask people's opinion on having music playing in restaurants in Sussex. In other countries you find music playing which makes it more cheerful. Could it be done here? -Mrs Sally Toth, Hove Park Villas, Hove

  • Is Adam biased?

    Did I detect a subtle digression from the Argus's commendable political impartiality when Adam Trimingham in his predictions for the coming election claimed that William Hague would remain leader of the Tory Party? No better outcome can be envisaged for

  • Not civilised

    I have lived in the British countryside all my life and I have never been able to understand how any right thinking person can possibly enjoy seeing an animal hunted by other animals and then torn apart. My concern is not only for the hunted animals but

  • Signal Failure, by Lizzie Enfield

    I'm celebrating," said friend Sarah, taking a very large bottle of champagne out of a carrier bag. "Good. What?" I asked, eagerly accepting the plastic cup she handed me. ". . . are you celebrating?" "No more commuting," she replied, which seems to be

  • Sharp rise in violent crime

    Violent crime and robbery in Sussex has soared, according to Home Office figures released today. The county came fifth in a league table of 43 police force areas for attacks against people. Violent crime, including muggings, sex offences and robberies

  • Murdered Sarah's mum 'among Britain's bravest'

    The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne was today being honoured as one of Britain's bravest women. Sara Payne, disabled athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson and Paddington rail crash survivor Pam Warren were among the eight women named as Britain's bravest

  • Bone shakers

    To befit our city of Brighton and Hove, it would be appreciated if the Metrobus bus company would use modern vehicles like Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company instead of tatty old bone shakers resembling a job lot from a scrap yard. Ray Wootton -Stanmer

  • Waiting lists

    An increasingly cocky Tony Blair will not let a small matter such as the truth stand in the way of his re-election. He proudly boasts that he has met three of the five guarantees on his famous pledge card issued before the last election. Included is the

  • New leg thanks

    I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Strachan and his surgical team at the Royal Sussex Hospital. Due to their expertise and the care of nursing staff on Towers Ward, I now have a new leg (minus painful varicose veins) and a new lease of life! -Lesley-Anne

  • Concert coming

    I was delighted to see your mention of the forthcoming concert at The Pavilion, Worthing on January 26 by The College. The school has a very high standard of performing arts and this annual event - sponsored by Seeboard for the umpteenth time - is a perfect

  • Dangerous liaison

    Playwright Brian Behan from Brighton has launched a campaign against marriage, calling it a most dangerous occupation for both men and women. He believes these days when most people live so long it can develop into a lengthy form of slavery. Brian, brother

  • Dome losses

    How sincerely I agree with G.M.Agate (January 12) about the Millennium Dome. I have despaired at the way so many national newspapers spent so much time deliberately and viciously knocking it. I think these newspapers and other commentators should be challenged

  • No new name

    We are going to respond every time someone says Hove is in danger of being renamed. The latest person to be misled by malicious campaigners is William Armstrong (January 10). This is because the council has policy of rebutting all misinformation - whether

  • Hockey Roundup: Worthing make short work of Valence

    Worthing's excellent season continued with a 3-0 victory at home to mid-table Sutton Valence in Kent and Sussex division one. This latest victory keeps Worthing three points ahead of Burnt Ash and Maidstone, with Ashford also in contention for one of

  • Police have some explaining to do

    Sussex Police have been accused of systematic failure after an inquiry into a murder investigation that went wrong. The report is one of the most damning ever issued by the Police Complaints Authority and shows a whole series of alarming mistakes by the

  • Hockey: Brighton hang on as title race hots up

    Brighton left it late before cruising to a 3-0 victory over bottom side Marden Russets in the Kent and Sussex Regional League. The victory keeps Brighton on the tails of the top two, Holcombe and Tulse Hill, who meet each other this weekend. Only one

  • Rugby: Royal win is a crowning glory for Newick

    Newick are celebrating their first win of the season after beating Royal & Sun Alliance 8-5 in Sussex One. Outside half Kevin Byrne crafted a try for wing Dan Childs and later guided over a penalty to put a broad smile on the face of skipper Wayne

  • Rugby: Worthing aim to end Brighton's challenge

    Worthing are aiming to kill off Brighton's flickering play-off hopes in a London Three South East's south coast derby. Tim Mackew's side powered in 34-0 at Cranbrook on Saturday to preserve their five-point buffer over Brighton, who battled to an 11-5

  • Albion clean their act up

    Albion manager Micky Adams has saluted his promotion-chasing players for cleaning up their act. The Seagulls have accumulated only 22 yellow cards in the League this season, the lowest total in the country. It's an amazing turnaround after last season's

  • Kissing doc can carry on

    A GP who admitted French kissing a patient while counselling her for child abuse can continue to practise medicine. Dr Wesley Scott-Smith, of Wayfield Avenue, Hove, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council's professional

  • Jobs boom in building

    An industry report forecasts growth in the construction industry will provide thousands of new jobs in the South East during the next five years. The Construction Industry Training Board report comes as the board begins a major campaign to attract more

  • Greener graphics

    The idea that using environmentally-friendly products in printing gives inferior results is being challenged by printer Steve Elford. Steve, who has just started his own business, Twelfth Knight Graphics, with his partner Coco Sato in Brighton, said quality

  • Karen's a smooth operator

    Soothing stressed out staff and turning workplace tension to harmony is all in the day's work for Karen Minikin. A former teacher, airline cabin crew supervisor and management trainer, Karen heads Brighton-based counsel-ling and training service Link

  • Employers seek tribunal fairness

    Business leaders in Sussex are calling for action to stop disgruntled employees making frivolous claims against them. The Sussex Branch of the Institute of Directors wants the Government to deal with the rise in employment tribunal applications and the

  • Networking: Sad when we go home

    This week's Networking column features Rob Love, chief executive of award winning multimedia company Victoria Real. Q: What is the best and worst thing about your company? A: The talent of the people who work here, the culture that ensues and the passion

  • Blockbuster burglar busted

    A drunken hod carrier was so desperate to get a copy of the film Gladiator he burgled the home of a family who forgot to return it to the local video store. Stuart Collins, 23, saw red when told he was unable to hire the film, starring Russell Crowe,

  • Marriage gets a popularity boost online

    Married life has become ten times more popular in the last week. A cartoon taking a tongue-in-cheek look at matrimony has become a smash hit on the internet. Visitor numbers to the Married-Life.com website have risen from 200 a day to more than 2,000

  • BT battles to meet demand for new broadband system

    Sussex surfers have been left waiting for access to a revolutionary internet technology which has been taking the world by storm. ADSL (Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line) offers an internet connection ten to 40 times faster than conventional modems. It

  • 'Forgotten' NHS staff get more money

    Thousands of "forgotten" health service workers have been offered an inflation-busting pay rise. NHS ancillary workers, who include clerical and administrative staff, porters and lab technicians, are expected to get a 3.7 per cent rise from April. The

  • Hotels get a quality edge

    There has been enthusiastic response to the new Quality Edge partnership promotion for the Kemp Town and St James areas in Brighton. Much of this response is from owners and managers of local hotels, guesthouses and B and Bs. More than 20 hoteliers attended

  • How a businesswoman got shirty with blouse market

    A businesswoman amazed at the lack of choice of suitable outfits for the office has started her own marketing company. Sandra Street, from Chailey, tired of searching for blouses that suited her and reflected her style and personality, without costing

  • Ivor's hat

    Why was MP Ivor Caplin looking faintly ridiculous in a hard hat (January 10) in George Street, Hove? The story was about the council spending money. Ah, isn't the election coming? -Name and address supplied

  • Charity cash

    I would like to let people know the amount collected on Saturday, October 10 for the NSPCC. Rottingdean £74.80; Whitehawk £43.80; Woodingdean £110.11, a total of £228.71. -Mrs Mary Kellett, vice-chairman, Brighton and Hove District NSPCC

  • Boost farmers

    Using home grown produce for school meals would give local farmers a big boost says Michael Fordham, chairman of East Sussex NFU. What say you Neil Matthewson, chairman of (the now defunct) West Sussex education committee? -Richard W. Symonds, Lavington

  • Tomboy - Grim Reaper

    A man is planning a campaign against marriage that may even include death certificates being issued to newlyweds. Tomboy appears daily in The Argus and is updated each day on this website. You can see more of Tomboy on www.moontoon.co.uk The Moontoon

  • Is Adam biased?

    Did I detect a subtle digression from the Argus's commendable political impartiality when Adam Trimingham in his predictions for the coming election claimed that William Hague would remain leader of the Tory Party? No better outcome can be envisaged for

  • Best-dressed sweeper

    A couple of Wednesdays ago, a Mrs Joan Meads asked about me on Southern Counties Radio Where Are You Now? slot. Back in 1965, I was called the smartest dressed roadsweeper in Britain. I used to cover the Brighton station area. From there, I went on to

  • Not civilised

    I have lived in the British countryside all my life and I have never been able to understand how any right thinking person can possibly enjoy seeing an animal hunted by other animals and then torn apart. My concern is not only for the hunted animals but

  • Signal Failure, by Lizzie Enfield

    I'm celebrating," said friend Sarah, taking a very large bottle of champagne out of a carrier bag. "Good. What?" I asked, eagerly accepting the plastic cup she handed me. ". . . are you celebrating?" "No more commuting," she replied, which seems to be

  • Limits eased on flu drug

    A controversial anti-flu drug is to be made more easily available to vulnerable patients if an epidemic breaks out. Brighton and Hove Primary Care Group is to train chemists based in the city so they can supply Relenza over the counter to vulnerable people

  • Homes plan for power station site

    Plans to build houses and shops on the site of an asbestos-riddled former power station have been unveiled. Hastings Borough Council bought the disused Broomgrove Power Station last year after its owners failed to clean up the site. The building was left

  • Sharp rise in violent crime

    Violent crime and robbery in Sussex has soared, according to Home Office figures released today. The county came fifth in a league table of 43 police force areas for attacks against people. Violent crime, including muggings, sex offences and robberies

  • Murdered Sarah's mum 'among Britain's bravest'

    The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne was today being honoured as one of Britain's bravest women. Sara Payne, disabled athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson and Paddington rail crash survivor Pam Warren were among the eight women named as Britain's bravest

  • Waiting lists

    An increasingly cocky Tony Blair will not let a small matter such as the truth stand in the way of his re-election. He proudly boasts that he has met three of the five guarantees on his famous pledge card issued before the last election. Included is the

  • New leg thanks

    I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Strachan and his surgical team at the Royal Sussex Hospital. Due to their expertise and the care of nursing staff on Towers Ward, I now have a new leg (minus painful varicose veins) and a new lease of life! -Lesley-Anne

  • Concert coming

    I was delighted to see your mention of the forthcoming concert at The Pavilion, Worthing on January 26 by The College. The school has a very high standard of performing arts and this annual event - sponsored by Seeboard for the umpteenth time - is a perfect

  • Dangerous liaison

    Playwright Brian Behan from Brighton has launched a campaign against marriage, calling it a most dangerous occupation for both men and women. He believes these days when most people live so long it can develop into a lengthy form of slavery. Brian, brother

  • Dome losses

    How sincerely I agree with G.M.Agate (January 12) about the Millennium Dome. I have despaired at the way so many national newspapers spent so much time deliberately and viciously knocking it. I think these newspapers and other commentators should be challenged

  • No new name

    We are going to respond every time someone says Hove is in danger of being renamed. The latest person to be misled by malicious campaigners is William Armstrong (January 10). This is because the council has policy of rebutting all misinformation - whether

  • Rugby: Royal win is a crowning glory for Newick

    Newick are celebrating their first win of the season after beating Royal & Sun Alliance 8-5 in Sussex One. Outside half Kevin Byrne crafted a try for wing Dan Childs and later guided over a penalty to put a broad smile on the face of skipper Wayne

  • Boxing: Halpin's on for a title shot

    Hove featherweight Paul Halpin has been promised a shot at the WBO inter-continental title. Halpin was expecting to fight the winner of last night's scheduled title bout between Gavin Rees and Alex Moon on March 10 or 17. But Newbridge youngster Rees

  • Albion clean their act up

    Albion manager Micky Adams has saluted his promotion-chasing players for cleaning up their act. The Seagulls have accumulated only 22 yellow cards in the League this season, the lowest total in the country. It's an amazing turnaround after last season's

  • Drugs claim in hitman hearing

    A man accused of trying to hire a hit man not realising he was an undercover police officer claimed he was drugged before they met. Tariq Darwish, 41, of Herbert Road, Sompting, denies soliciting to murder his former wife Wafaa between November 24 and

  • Kissing doc can carry on

    A GP who admitted French kissing a patient while counselling her for child abuse can continue to practise medicine. Dr Wesley Scott-Smith, of Wayfield Avenue, Hove, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council's professional

  • Jobs boom in building

    An industry report forecasts growth in the construction industry will provide thousands of new jobs in the South East during the next five years. The Construction Industry Training Board report comes as the board begins a major campaign to attract more

  • Greener graphics

    The idea that using environmentally-friendly products in printing gives inferior results is being challenged by printer Steve Elford. Steve, who has just started his own business, Twelfth Knight Graphics, with his partner Coco Sato in Brighton, said quality

  • Ricardo scoops awards

    Ricardo, one of the world's leading independent engineering firms, has won two top awards for its use of the web. The Shoreham-based company, working with global information and communications technology services group CMG, has won the Intranet/Extranet

  • Karen's a smooth operator

    Soothing stressed out staff and turning workplace tension to harmony is all in the day's work for Karen Minikin. A former teacher, airline cabin crew supervisor and management trainer, Karen heads Brighton-based counsel-ling and training service Link

  • Employers seek tribunal fairness

    Business leaders in Sussex are calling for action to stop disgruntled employees making frivolous claims against them. The Sussex Branch of the Institute of Directors wants the Government to deal with the rise in employment tribunal applications and the

  • Pensions remain a mystery to many

    The majority of small firms in the UK are still unaware of the new stakeholder pension arrangements coming into force in April. Findings from the Prudential show a high degree of confusion and ignorance relating to the Government-backed scheme. It found

  • OAP bus card charge scrapped

    A council is to scrap the £5 charge it makes to issue cards which allow elderly and disabled people cheap bus fares. The administrative charge will be removed from April 1 by the district council at Chichester which is two months earlier than required

  • Storm as leaflet names benefits staff

    Union members say their safety was put at risk after activists named them in a campaign against an "offensive" staff newsletter. Now Unison could drop its support for Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre, which circulated copies of the offending

  • Playwright proclaims the death of marriage

    A controversial playwright has launched a society to persuade people to say: "I don't". Brian Behan, brother of the late Irish writer Brendan Behan, plans to campaign against marriage because he believes it enslaves people. He said: "Marriage is a most

  • Hate mail sparks global support

    Big-hearted businessman Robbie Raggio raised more than a smile with his Christmas lights. He also raised £2,720 from well-wishers and he believes the grand total was actually boosted by a neighbour who sent him hate mail. Self-made millionaire Robbie

  • Networking: Sad when we go home

    This week's Networking column features Rob Love, chief executive of award winning multimedia company Victoria Real. Q: What is the best and worst thing about your company? A: The talent of the people who work here, the culture that ensues and the passion

  • Hardware: Lightweight headset to feast your eyes and ears

    Have you every tried something and instantly thought it is the very best thing of its kind you have ever seen? That feeling hits you hard when you first clap eyes on a Plantronics PC/Mac DSP 500 USB headset. The first thing you notice about the Plantronics

  • Blockbuster burglar busted

    A drunken hod carrier was so desperate to get a copy of the film Gladiator he burgled the home of a family who forgot to return it to the local video store. Stuart Collins, 23, saw red when told he was unable to hire the film, starring Russell Crowe,

  • At last I can grieve for my husband

    Four years after her husband was murdered, Linda Henderson is only now beginning to grieve. The 46-year-old widow said it was her "disgraceful" treatment at the hands of Sussex Police which stopped her coming to terms with the terrible events of December

  • BT battles to meet demand for new broadband system

    Sussex surfers have been left waiting for access to a revolutionary internet technology which has been taking the world by storm. ADSL (Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line) offers an internet connection ten to 40 times faster than conventional modems. It

  • Payout for widow of pier blast victim

    A widow whose husband died from horrific burns after an electricity substation exploded on Brighton's Palace Pier has settled her damages claim. Sally Thomson, 34, of Rectory Road, Worthing, was left to bring up her six-year-old daughter Lily May alone

  • Death crash driver escapes with fine

    A motorist who admitted driving carelessly in an accident which left a father and son dead has escaped with a ban and a fine. The sentence has caused an outcry among campaigners calling for tougher sentences in the wake of the Jeff Tooley case, the young

  • 'Forgotten' NHS staff get more money

    Thousands of "forgotten" health service workers have been offered an inflation-busting pay rise. NHS ancillary workers, who include clerical and administrative staff, porters and lab technicians, are expected to get a 3.7 per cent rise from April. The

  • Minister launches community renewal scheme

    Government plans to transform life for residents on deprived estates were unveiled in east Brighton today. Cabinet Minister Ian McCartney visited the Wellsbourne Centre in Whitehawk to outline the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. The blueprint

  • Hotels get a quality edge

    There has been enthusiastic response to the new Quality Edge partnership promotion for the Kemp Town and St James areas in Brighton. Much of this response is from owners and managers of local hotels, guesthouses and B and Bs. More than 20 hoteliers attended

  • Boost farmers

    Using home grown produce for school meals would give local farmers a big boost says Michael Fordham, chairman of East Sussex NFU. What say you Neil Matthewson, chairman of (the now defunct) West Sussex education committee? -Richard W. Symonds, Lavington

  • Tomboy - Grim Reaper

    A man is planning a campaign against marriage that may even include death certificates being issued to newlyweds. Tomboy appears daily in The Argus and is updated each day on this website. You can see more of Tomboy on www.moontoon.co.uk The Moontoon

  • What, no Madonna?

    A few weeks ago Tory Candidate David Gold was inviting Madonna to Brighton for a concert or a romantic weekend. This has not happened and at the end of this month we are getting Anne Widdecombe at Hove town hall (Admission £25!). Am I the only one who

  • Best-dressed sweeper

    A couple of Wednesdays ago, a Mrs Joan Meads asked about me on Southern Counties Radio Where Are You Now? slot. Back in 1965, I was called the smartest dressed roadsweeper in Britain. I used to cover the Brighton station area. From there, I went on to

  • Limits eased on flu drug

    A controversial anti-flu drug is to be made more easily available to vulnerable patients if an epidemic breaks out. Brighton and Hove Primary Care Group is to train chemists based in the city so they can supply Relenza over the counter to vulnerable people

  • Fatboy's a Brit hopeful

    Hove-based chart-topper Fatboy Slim and Sussex band Toploader have been nominated for Brit Awards. DJ Fatboy, real name Norman Cook, is up for an award in the Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Dance Act categories. He faces stiff competition

  • Hunting ban

    I must say it was lovely to see the Countryside Alliance once again making utter fools of themselves (January 13). To be able to muster up only 30 people in a town the size of Lewes, even on a snap demo, shows just how much support they have really got

  • Law must change

    Here we go again. A father and son on a motorbike were killed when they collided with a car which pulled out in front of them. Yet the 74-year-old man whose careless driving led to their deaths has merely been fined £500 and banned from motoring for only

  • Parking lines

    I would like to respond to the lady who said that her son's car was towed away and that it was only his bumper over the driveway. My mum pays the council to paint lines on the road outside her driveway. Last year, on a day when I was due to go to work

  • Personal criticism is not good for politics

    I seem to have well and truly rattled the cage of the Campaign for a Better Brighton. Anyone reading the Opinion page recently would have thought I had committed a crime against humanity. All I actually did was point out that some of the changes that

  • Boxing: Halpin's on for a title shot

    Hove featherweight Paul Halpin has been promised a shot at the WBO inter-continental title. Halpin was expecting to fight the winner of last night's scheduled title bout between Gavin Rees and Alex Moon on March 10 or 17. But Newbridge youngster Rees

  • Drugs claim in hitman hearing

    A man accused of trying to hire a hit man not realising he was an undercover police officer claimed he was drugged before they met. Tariq Darwish, 41, of Herbert Road, Sompting, denies soliciting to murder his former wife Wafaa between November 24 and

  • Channel 4 gets 'booked'

    Brighton based design agency HA Design has just completed a major project for Channel 4. HA was asked to develop a unique promotional piece for the TV company's programme support department. The department produces all Channel 4's education and support

  • Ricardo scoops awards

    Ricardo, one of the world's leading independent engineering firms, has won two top awards for its use of the web. The Shoreham-based company, working with global information and communications technology services group CMG, has won the Intranet/Extranet

  • Small firms face legal headache

    Small businesses could be the big losers in the current legal aid shake up, a Sussex judge has warned. District Judge John Robinson, who sits at Haywards Heath and Lewes County Courts, said the recent reforms to the legal aid system meant businesses now

  • Pensions remain a mystery to many

    The majority of small firms in the UK are still unaware of the new stakeholder pension arrangements coming into force in April. Findings from the Prudential show a high degree of confusion and ignorance relating to the Government-backed scheme. It found

  • Storm as leaflet names benefits staff

    Union members say their safety was put at risk after activists named them in a campaign against an "offensive" staff newsletter. Now Unison could drop its support for Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre, which circulated copies of the offending

  • Playwright proclaims the death of marriage

    A controversial playwright has launched a society to persuade people to say: "I don't". Brian Behan, brother of the late Irish writer Brendan Behan, plans to campaign against marriage because he believes it enslaves people. He said: "Marriage is a most

  • Love at first byte for couple who clicked

    It was love at first byte for internet romantics John Owen and Kimberley Cleland when they logged on to an international chat room. When she finally flew into the UK from the US, two years after they first met on the web, the attraction was confirmed.

  • Hate mail sparks global support

    Big-hearted businessman Robbie Raggio raised more than a smile with his Christmas lights. He also raised £2,720 from well-wishers and he believes the grand total was actually boosted by a neighbour who sent him hate mail. Self-made millionaire Robbie

  • Hardware: Lightweight headset to feast your eyes and ears

    Have you every tried something and instantly thought it is the very best thing of its kind you have ever seen? That feeling hits you hard when you first clap eyes on a Plantronics PC/Mac DSP 500 USB headset. The first thing you notice about the Plantronics

  • Printers aim at harder copy

    First there was the humble Sinclair printer. Those of us who remember this miracle of technology can only look back with nostalgia at a printer that used thermal technology to print on what was effectively a silver-coated toilet roll and gave off what

  • Net Solutions with Andrew Hardy

    Q I have seen some people have really great pictures on their windows desktop. Where can I get some of these? A Desktop wallpapers are a growing fashion accessory for PC owners. There are a number of sites dedicated to offering desktop wallpapers you

  • At last I can grieve for my husband

    Four years after her husband was murdered, Linda Henderson is only now beginning to grieve. The 46-year-old widow said it was her "disgraceful" treatment at the hands of Sussex Police which stopped her coming to terms with the terrible events of December

  • Payout for widow of pier blast victim

    A widow whose husband died from horrific burns after an electricity substation exploded on Brighton's Palace Pier has settled her damages claim. Sally Thomson, 34, of Rectory Road, Worthing, was left to bring up her six-year-old daughter Lily May alone

  • Death crash driver escapes with fine

    A motorist who admitted driving carelessly in an accident which left a father and son dead has escaped with a ban and a fine. The sentence has caused an outcry among campaigners calling for tougher sentences in the wake of the Jeff Tooley case, the young

  • Minister launches community renewal scheme

    Government plans to transform life for residents on deprived estates were unveiled in east Brighton today. Cabinet Minister Ian McCartney visited the Wellsbourne Centre in Whitehawk to outline the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. The blueprint

  • Anniversary name change for recruitment firm

    Office People, one of the leading recruitment companies in Sussex, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a name change to First People. The company, which has offices in Brighton, Chichester, Horsham and Southwater said the change reflected the scope

  • On a culinary note

    I am writing to ask people's opinion on having music playing in restaurants in Sussex. In other countries you find music playing which makes it more cheerful. Could it be done here? -Mrs Sally Toth, Hove Park Villas, Hove

  • What, no Madonna?

    A few weeks ago Tory Candidate David Gold was inviting Madonna to Brighton for a concert or a romantic weekend. This has not happened and at the end of this month we are getting Anne Widdecombe at Hove town hall (Admission £25!). Am I the only one who

  • Payout for widow of pier blast victim

    A widow whose husband died from horrific burns after an electricity substation exploded on Brighton's Palace Pier has settled her damages claim. Sally Thomson, 34, of Rectory Road, Worthing, was left to bring up her six-year-old daughter Lily May alone

  • Filofax workers to keep jobs

    Staff at a firm which makes personal organisers were told today: "Your jobs are safe." Filofax boss Christopher Brace said the planned sale of Filofax by its American owners Day Runner was good news for the 60 employees at the Burgess Hill offices in

  • Fatboy's a Brit hopeful

    Hove-based chart-topper Fatboy Slim and Sussex band Toploader have been nominated for Brit Awards. DJ Fatboy, real name Norman Cook, is up for an award in the Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Dance Act categories. He faces stiff competition

  • Bone shakers

    To befit our city of Brighton and Hove, it would be appreciated if the Metrobus bus company would use modern vehicles like Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company instead of tatty old bone shakers resembling a job lot from a scrap yard. Ray Wootton -Stanmer

  • Hunting ban

    I must say it was lovely to see the Countryside Alliance once again making utter fools of themselves (January 13). To be able to muster up only 30 people in a town the size of Lewes, even on a snap demo, shows just how much support they have really got

  • Law must change

    Here we go again. A father and son on a motorbike were killed when they collided with a car which pulled out in front of them. Yet the 74-year-old man whose careless driving led to their deaths has merely been fined £500 and banned from motoring for only

  • Hockey Roundup: Worthing make short work of Valence

    Worthing's excellent season continued with a 3-0 victory at home to mid-table Sutton Valence in Kent and Sussex division one. This latest victory keeps Worthing three points ahead of Burnt Ash and Maidstone, with Ashford also in contention for one of

  • Police have some explaining to do

    Sussex Police have been accused of systematic failure after an inquiry into a murder investigation that went wrong. The report is one of the most damning ever issued by the Police Complaints Authority and shows a whole series of alarming mistakes by the

  • Parking lines

    I would like to respond to the lady who said that her son's car was towed away and that it was only his bumper over the driveway. My mum pays the council to paint lines on the road outside her driveway. Last year, on a day when I was due to go to work

  • Hockey: Brighton hang on as title race hots up

    Brighton left it late before cruising to a 3-0 victory over bottom side Marden Russets in the Kent and Sussex Regional League. The victory keeps Brighton on the tails of the top two, Holcombe and Tulse Hill, who meet each other this weekend. Only one

  • Personal criticism is not good for politics

    I seem to have well and truly rattled the cage of the Campaign for a Better Brighton. Anyone reading the Opinion page recently would have thought I had committed a crime against humanity. All I actually did was point out that some of the changes that

  • Rugby: Worthing aim to end Brighton's challenge

    Worthing are aiming to kill off Brighton's flickering play-off hopes in a London Three South East's south coast derby. Tim Mackew's side powered in 34-0 at Cranbrook on Saturday to preserve their five-point buffer over Brighton, who battled to an 11-5

  • Belt up in the back, say police

    Police today launched a crackdown on motorists who fail to ensure their youngsters are buckled up. Polegate traffic police officers will keep watch outside more than 100 schools across Eastbourne, Seaford, Lewes and Wealden as part of Operation Buckle

  • Channel 4 gets 'booked'

    Brighton based design agency HA Design has just completed a major project for Channel 4. HA was asked to develop a unique promotional piece for the TV company's programme support department. The department produces all Channel 4's education and support

  • Small firms face legal headache

    Small businesses could be the big losers in the current legal aid shake up, a Sussex judge has warned. District Judge John Robinson, who sits at Haywards Heath and Lewes County Courts, said the recent reforms to the legal aid system meant businesses now

  • Love at first byte for couple who clicked

    It was love at first byte for internet romantics John Owen and Kimberley Cleland when they logged on to an international chat room. When she finally flew into the UK from the US, two years after they first met on the web, the attraction was confirmed.

  • Mystery death of woman, 89

    Police are investigating the death of an elderly woman whose body was discovered by a neighbour. Elsie Cook, 89, was found dead at her home in London Road, Hastings, yesterday. It is not clear how long she had been dead, but officers say they were concerned

  • High Street revamp on hold

    A £1 million masterplan to improve Worthing High Street has been put on hold. The long-awaited scheme would see a bus lane and cycle lane installed and improvements made to the junctions with Lyndhurst Road and Union Place. But the borough council has

  • Villagers to count cost of safety

    Villagers demanding a road safety scheme will be asked if they are willing to pay at least £30,000 towards it. Balcombe Parish Council has called a public meeting to decide what to do. Residents called for action to cut speeding through the village, blaming

  • Printers aim at harder copy

    First there was the humble Sinclair printer. Those of us who remember this miracle of technology can only look back with nostalgia at a printer that used thermal technology to print on what was effectively a silver-coated toilet roll and gave off what

  • Net Solutions with Andrew Hardy

    Q I have seen some people have really great pictures on their windows desktop. Where can I get some of these? A Desktop wallpapers are a growing fashion accessory for PC owners. There are a number of sites dedicated to offering desktop wallpapers you

  • Marriage gets a popularity boost online

    Married life has become ten times more popular in the last week. A cartoon taking a tongue-in-cheek look at matrimony has become a smash hit on the internet. Visitor numbers to the Married-Life.com website have risen from 200 a day to more than 2,000

  • Rail chaos boost for airport

    Gatwick enjoyed an extra surge of passengers in December thanks to the rail disruption caused by the Hatfield crash. Just over two million passengers used the airport, an increase of 12.8 per cent over the same time last year. The figure mirrored the

  • New revamp bid for famous pavilion

    Fresh restoration plans have been drawn up in the hope of safeguarding the future of a listed theatre. Permission is being sought to embark on major refurbishment work at the famous art deco De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. The Grade-I listed structure