Archive

  • Will night noise verdict hit Gatwick?

    Gatwick has 50 night flights in the summer and 25 in the winter, compared with Heathrow's 16. Now the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign hopes the ruling on Heathrow heralds hope for a cutback in night flights over Sussex and Surrey. Yesterday a European

  • Where's the objectivity?

    I've finally seen The Argus's objectivity go out of that editorial window ("Fighting the real issues", Voice Of The Argus, September 25) - "A revival of the tired old committee system". Come on, you can do better than that, surely. At least we readers

  • Twin city with Miami

    I suggest twinning Brighton and Hove with Miami Beach. It is beside the sea, just like Brighton, and has a cosmopolitan population. It is also buzzing with life and has bars, restaurants and beaches that would be a model for Brighton and Hove to aspire

  • Costs of having a mayor

    An elected mayor could be an extra cost to ratepayers. But if the city councillors who will decide this issue and have been promoting a directly-elected mayor were in the right that a mayor would reduce their workload and were to take a ten per cent cut

  • Personality put-off

    I would be more inclined to vote Yes in the forthcoming mayoral referendum if it were not for the "personalities" involved in promoting the Yes vote in the campaign. Simon Fanshawe has said he will not be standing as a candidate, so why does he feel the

  • Why a mayor would be good for buses

    Erica Smith accuses me of misusing my position to further my agenda (Letters, September 25). We remain resolutely non-political in our stance but the ability of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company to offer the standards it does, and to continue to

  • American way

    When I was in New York some three years ago, discussion of what the mayor was doing was part of everyday conversation, as much for as against. I heard talk in the street, on the subway, in the bars and at the diners. There was even a Mayoral TV Channel

  • Ivor made me smile

    I had to smile when I read about Hove MP Ivor Caplin suggesting Brighton's Citizens' Advice Bureau should close instead of Hove's (October 1). I would think Brighton MPs Dave Lepper and Des Wilson might just have something to say about that. -S Wells,

  • Leaves on the line? It's no joke

    New Sussex rail operator South Central is ensuring all its drivers have been trained to cope with the slippery autumn rails. The slippery foliage is no joke for the rail industry, especially drivers who apply the brakes and find themselves sliding through

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    Spare me, please, from conversation which starts with someone muttering into my ear: "If I were you ..." or "The best thing you can do now ..." The advice that usually follows is invariably well-intentioned but when you're feeling at odds with the world

  • Match in memory of terror victim

    Rival fans will put aside their differences to play a charity football match in memory of a victim of the US terrorist attacks. Albion supporters will join fans of arch-rivals Crystal Palace for a game on November 9, organised in honour of Seagulls fan

  • Blunkett: Sorry for disruption

    Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to Brighton and Hove residents for the disruption caused by two Labour Party conferences in two years. He made his comments as he toured the operations room at Brighton Police station to thank the officers

  • Fury at nursing home wrangle

    An elderly patient has spent four months in hospital waiting for a place in a nursing home. Ronald Billinghurst was taken to Worthing Hospital at the beginning of May after suffering a fall. Mr Billinghurst, 83, has senile dementia and needs a place at

  • School arithmetic

    I wonder if the head teacher of Varndean College could let in one more pupil? I think I might need to go back to school because my basic arithmetic seems to be letting me down. School + more classrooms = more pupils. How do you fit fewer playing fields

  • No masts here, thanks

    With regard to Spencer Payne's complaint about bad mobile phone reception at Woodingdean and Rottingdean (September 27), we three ward councillors and many residents campaigned against telephone masts and won. Woodingdean is surrounded by an area of outstanding

  • Patient plans

    A consultative public meeting in Brighton on September 28 outlined proposals to move, among others, the breast cancer services from Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton to Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. This move would seriously disadvantage

  • Youth rugby: Denereaz lights way for Beacon

    Beacon Community College, Crowborough, beat Hove Park 21-12 in the opening round of the Daily Mail Under-18 Schools Cup. They led 6-5 at the interval through two penalties by fly-half Sam Denereaz, wing Keeba Edwards scoring a try in reply. Tom Carruthers

  • Youth football: Luke helps St Bede's to victory

    Luke Wells, son of England and Sussex cricketer Allan, helped St Bede's to victory at a prestigious countywide schools tournament. Versatile Wells, who reached a county cricket final this year, and his team-mates secured Saints' fourth triumph in the

  • Youth hockey: Hawes hopes to follow Houslop

    Ben Hawes is determined to follow the World Cup success of fellow Sussex player Frances Houslop. Hawes is Tasmania preparing for the men's under-21 event while Houslop has just returned in triumph after helping England win the women's qualifying tournament

  • Class acts

    Two ten-year-old boys from the same school have clinched parts in Peter Pan, the Christmas show at the Theatre Royal in Brighton. Congratulations are due to Daniel Nevas and Boycie Al-Shamli from Goldstone Primary School in Hove. They'll love it so much

  • Bus anger

    I am annoyed and frustrated to hear the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company intends to cut out the No 35 bus (September 27). This means we have only one bus serving the Port Hill areas and cannot get a direct bus to the London Road market, where one

  • Youth gymnastics: Katherine the great

    Katherine Stevens is the best female gymnast in Sussex. The 12-year-old was crowned supreme champion at the County Championships at The Hawth, Crawley. The Uckfield club member dominated the vault, bars, beams and floor at the Federation of the International

  • Free beds

    There are beds in nearly every large hospital blocked by elderly patients. They cannot leave because there are not enough places in nursing homes where they could be looked after more cheaply. Nursing homes are closing because social services departments

  • Where have all the buses gone?

    Labour conference delegates who stayed between Hove and Worthing must have had a shock. From last Sunday (September 30), all the evening buses on the No 700 route were withdrawn. For the first time, an evening out in Brighton or Worthing is no longer

  • Concert is far from oportunistic

    Ralph Taylor accused the Sussex Symphony Orchestra of "jumping on the bandwagon" and capitalising upon the tragedies in the US in its proposed performance of an all-American programme of music on October 6 (September 26). I have to stress this concert

  • Ryman League: Bognor on top

    Ten-man Bognor held firm to remain on top of division one as they beat Tooting and Mitcham 3-1 last night. The Rocks found themselves a goal behind in the second minute when a left wing cross was placed into the far corner via the post by Nigel Webb.

  • No slip-up for Crawley

    Crawley booked an FA Cup third qualifying round clash with Dr Martens rivals Weymouth last night after an emphatic victory over Fareham Town at Broadfield. Relieved Reds manager Billy Smith admitted: "This game was a potential banana skin. "I noticed

  • Legion bug found at clinic

    Bacteria which can cause Legionnaire's disease have been found in a water system at a Sussex psychiatric clinic. The bug, Legionella pneumophila, can lead to potentially-fatal respiratory infections. It was found during routine testing of the water system

  • Kidnap bid on walk to school

    A Worthing schoolgirl was dragged into a car by her hair in a terrifying kidnap attempt as she walked to school. The 14-year-old was walking to Durrington High School along Roedean Road at 8.40am yesterday when a man halted his car next to her. He wound

  • Man in airport alert is freed

    A man detained at Gatwick Airport under the Prevention of Terrorism Act has been released without charge. He was allowed to leave police custody but has since been held by immigration control. The 36-year-old man was on his way to America when he was

  • Blunkett: Sorry for the disruption

    Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to Brighton and Hove residents for the disruption caused by two Labour Party conferences in two years. He made his comments as he toured the operations room at Brighton Police station to thank the officers

  • Boy hurt himself, cruelty case told

    An accused father has told a cruelty case that jury his adoptive four-year-old son deliberately hurt himself. Simon McWilliam was close to tears as he claimed he was so concerned about John Smith's bizarre behaviour he asked for advice from social workers

  • Blunkett unveils race hate clampdown

    Home Secretary David Blunkett today unveiled plans to jail extremists who stir up religious hatred. The measures come amid concern about attacks on members of the UK's Muslim community following the suicide attacks on the US. But they will also help the

  • Conference round-up

    Here we summarise the main speakers over a muted four days in Brighton for the Labour Party. SUNDAY: The Prime Minister insisted he would press on with his domestic agenda of public service reform, as Labour's low-key conference began in the wake of terror

  • Mayor camp wins last-ditch boost

    The row over whether there should be an elected city mayor reached a climax today just as voting forms were due to be sent out. Two former council finance bosses came out in favour of the system as well as former Hove Council leader Bernard Jordan. But

  • Flood defence work in pipeline

    Emergency work to stop flash floods affecting businesses will start in the next few months. Southern Water will sink a 750,000-litre tank below ground to take storm water which pours into nearby buildings. John Hynan, owner of Grate Fireplaces in Church

  • Callers clamour for 'ugliest dog'

    Charlie, the ugliest dog in Sussex, has won the hearts of our readers. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has been inundated with calls offering the shar-pei a home since he appeared in Friday's paper. Workers at the Mount

  • Long road ahead, delegates told

    Delegates leaving the Labour Party conference were today warned they faced a long journey from "hatred to hope." Dr John Reid, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said the war against the terrorists who committed the atrocities in the USA would be

  • Will night noise verdict hit Gatwick?

    Gatwick has 50 night flights in the summer and 25 in the winter, compared with Heathrow's 16. Now the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign hopes the ruling on Heathrow heralds hope for a cutback in night flights over Sussex and Surrey. Yesterday a European

  • Where's the objectivity?

    I've finally seen The Argus's objectivity go out of that editorial window ("Fighting the real issues", Voice Of The Argus, September 25) - "A revival of the tired old committee system". Come on, you can do better than that, surely. At least we readers

  • Costs of having a mayor

    An elected mayor could be an extra cost to ratepayers. But if the city councillors who will decide this issue and have been promoting a directly-elected mayor were in the right that a mayor would reduce their workload and were to take a ten per cent cut

  • Personality put-off

    I would be more inclined to vote Yes in the forthcoming mayoral referendum if it were not for the "personalities" involved in promoting the Yes vote in the campaign. Simon Fanshawe has said he will not be standing as a candidate, so why does he feel the

  • American way

    When I was in New York some three years ago, discussion of what the mayor was doing was part of everyday conversation, as much for as against. I heard talk in the street, on the subway, in the bars and at the diners. There was even a Mayoral TV Channel

  • Which type of cabinet do you want?

    The Brighton and Hove referendum is not just about an elected mayor, it is about a mayor and cabinet. Every local council has a "cabinet" at its centre, with members of the ruling party making all the key decisions. The referendum will decide what sort

  • Labyrinth? no

    The committee system proposed by Councillor Keith Taylor and his colleagues would be costly and complicated. The Nos have consistently failed to demonstrate how their proposals would improve public services or streamline decision-making. Labryinthine

  • Gutter politics

    I received a copy of a pamphlet which is supposed to be in support of the No campaign for a directly-elected mayor. It confirms all my fears that the debate would get nastier as it progressed. It seeks to malign Lord Bassam both as regards his character

  • Not convinced a mayor would be democratic

    Mark Crane is most probably right ("Democracy's death is a smokescreen", Letters October 1). The No campaigners have over-inflated the potential dangers of an executive mayor (as well as their claims regarding the effectiveness of the committee system

  • Eubank fined for riding without helmet

    Former world boxing champion Chris Eubank was fined £110 today for failing to wear a crash helmet while riding his motorbike. Eubank, 35, of The Upper Drive, Hove, was stopped by police at 9pm on July 6 this year while riding his Harley Davidson Fat Boy

  • Figures blow for BA

    British Airways announced a dramatic 11.6 per cent decline in passenger numbers today. The company released a report this afternoon into the number of travellers using its aircraft. The report reveals the substantial drop in numbers compared with the

  • Blunkett: Sorry for disruption

    Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to Brighton and Hove residents for the disruption caused by two Labour Party conferences in two years. He made his comments as he toured the operations room at Brighton Police station to thank the officers

  • Hotel wins service award

    More prizes keep rolling in for Eastbourne following the town's win as number-one resort for group bookings in the UK. The Grand Hotel in King Edward's Parade has been presented with a Coastal Corker award and one of Which? magazine's hotels-of-the-year

  • Dog survives 140ft cliff plunge

    A pet dog had a lucky break when he plunged 140ft from a cliff top and survived with just an injured leg. The owner of Henry the retriever-cross watched helplessly as he ran off the cliff chasing a seagull. Artist Louise Chavannes, 42, was convinced her

  • Legion bug found at clinic

    Bacteria which can cause Legionnaire's disease have been found in a water system at a Sussex psychiatric clinic. The bug, Legionella pneumophila, can lead to potentially-fatal respiratory infections. It was found during routine testing of the water system

  • School arithmetic

    I wonder if the head teacher of Varndean College could let in one more pupil? I think I might need to go back to school because my basic arithmetic seems to be letting me down. School + more classrooms = more pupils. How do you fit fewer playing fields

  • No substitute for milk

    I disagree with Peta's "Dump Dairy" campaign, aimed at getting primary school children to stop drinking milk because of cruelty to dairy cows. Skimmed milk is very low in fat and cholesterol and is full of calcium, an important nutrient for growing children

  • Head becomes superhead

    A head teacher is leaving his school after more than two decades to become a 'superhead'. John Rimmer, head of Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath, is leaving after 21 years in his job to become a consultant superhead for West Sussex County Council

  • Youth rugby: Denereaz lights way for Beacon

    Beacon Community College, Crowborough, beat Hove Park 21-12 in the opening round of the Daily Mail Under-18 Schools Cup. They led 6-5 at the interval through two penalties by fly-half Sam Denereaz, wing Keeba Edwards scoring a try in reply. Tom Carruthers

  • Nurses' parking quota quibble

    "Nurses are sick of parking fiasco" (The Argus, September 27) raises a number of issues that need clarification. The number of car parking spaces available for staff on the Royal Sussex County Hospital site was set by Brighton and Hove City Council -

  • Youth football: Luke helps St Bede's to victory

    Luke Wells, son of England and Sussex cricketer Allan, helped St Bede's to victory at a prestigious countywide schools tournament. Versatile Wells, who reached a county cricket final this year, and his team-mates secured Saints' fourth triumph in the

  • Bus anger

    I am annoyed and frustrated to hear the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company intends to cut out the No 35 bus (September 27). This means we have only one bus serving the Port Hill areas and cannot get a direct bus to the London Road market, where one

  • Youth gymnastics: Katherine the great

    Katherine Stevens is the best female gymnast in Sussex. The 12-year-old was crowned supreme champion at the County Championships at The Hawth, Crawley. The Uckfield club member dominated the vault, bars, beams and floor at the Federation of the International

  • Free beds

    There are beds in nearly every large hospital blocked by elderly patients. They cannot leave because there are not enough places in nursing homes where they could be looked after more cheaply. Nursing homes are closing because social services departments

  • Legion bug found at clinic

    Bacteria which can cause Legionnaire's disease have been found in a water system at a Sussex psychiatric clinic. The bug, Legionella pneumophila, can lead to potentially-fatal respiratory infections. It was found during routine testing of the water system

  • Kidnap bid on walk to school

    A Worthing schoolgirl was dragged into a car by her hair in a terrifying kidnap attempt as she walked to school. The 14-year-old was walking to Durrington High School along Roedean Road at 8.40am yesterday when a man halted his car next to her. He wound

  • Man in airport alert is freed

    A man detained at Gatwick Airport under the Prevention of Terrorism Act has been released without charge. He was allowed to leave police custody but has since been held by immigration control. The 36-year-old man was on his way to America when he was

  • Blunkett: Sorry for the disruption

    Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to Brighton and Hove residents for the disruption caused by two Labour Party conferences in two years. He made his comments as he toured the operations room at Brighton Police station to thank the officers

  • Boy hurt himself, cruelty case told

    An accused father has told a cruelty case that jury his adoptive four-year-old son deliberately hurt himself. Simon McWilliam was close to tears as he claimed he was so concerned about John Smith's bizarre behaviour he asked for advice from social workers

  • Blunkett unveils race hate clampdown

    Home Secretary David Blunkett today unveiled plans to jail extremists who stir up religious hatred. The measures come amid concern about attacks on members of the UK's Muslim community following the suicide attacks on the US. But they will also help the

  • Conference round-up

    Here we summarise the main speakers over a muted four days in Brighton for the Labour Party. SUNDAY: The Prime Minister insisted he would press on with his domestic agenda of public service reform, as Labour's low-key conference began in the wake of terror

  • Mayor camp wins last-ditch boost

    The row over whether there should be an elected city mayor reached a climax today just as voting forms were due to be sent out. Two former council finance bosses came out in favour of the system as well as former Hove Council leader Bernard Jordan. But

  • Flood defence work in pipeline

    Emergency work to stop flash floods affecting businesses will start in the next few months. Southern Water will sink a 750,000-litre tank below ground to take storm water which pours into nearby buildings. John Hynan, owner of Grate Fireplaces in Church

  • Police quiz naked protester

    A naked male protester was arrested outside the Brighton Centre as delegates arrived for the final session. The man appeared in front of the railings where delegates and media were queuing to gain entry to the centre. He held up a newspaper headline saying

  • Labour's scared of protest

    Dorothy Jones's ridiculous outburst (Letters, September 28) about anti-globalisation protesters in general and Councillor Taylor in particular just shows how scared the Labour establishment is of popular protest and other parties. Coun Taylor was elected

  • Which type of cabinet do you want?

    The Brighton and Hove referendum is not just about an elected mayor, it is about a mayor and cabinet. Every local council has a "cabinet" at its centre, with members of the ruling party making all the key decisions. The referendum will decide what sort

  • Labyrinth? no

    The committee system proposed by Councillor Keith Taylor and his colleagues would be costly and complicated. The Nos have consistently failed to demonstrate how their proposals would improve public services or streamline decision-making. Labryinthine

  • Unique chance

    It is absurd, cynical and downright stupid to try to tag Steve Bassam and the Yes campaign as latter day Goerings (Letters, September 24). Absurd because the comparison belittles history and human experience. Cynical because that kind of language debases

  • Gutter politics

    I received a copy of a pamphlet which is supposed to be in support of the No campaign for a directly-elected mayor. It confirms all my fears that the debate would get nastier as it progressed. It seeks to malign Lord Bassam both as regards his character

  • Not convinced a mayor would be democratic

    Mark Crane is most probably right ("Democracy's death is a smokescreen", Letters October 1). The No campaigners have over-inflated the potential dangers of an executive mayor (as well as their claims regarding the effectiveness of the committee system

  • Oscar winner aids budget movie team

    You could almost picture the cigarette dangling from Bette Davis' lips and Humphrey Bogart leaning against the wall. Film noir had come to a bedroom in Sussex and it had that authentic feeling suggesting the presence of a real Hollywood legend. Bogie

  • Eubank fined for riding without helmet

    Former world boxing champion Chris Eubank was fined £110 today for failing to wear a crash helmet while riding his motorbike. Eubank, 35, of The Upper Drive, Hove, was stopped by police at 9pm on July 6 this year while riding his Harley Davidson Fat Boy

  • I don't welcome New Labour

    I object to the Brighton Centre being emblazoned with a large red banner screaming "Brighton and Hove Welcomes New Labour". Don't get me wrong, I'm no Tory voter (indeed, I voted Liberal Democrat in the 2001 General Election) but, being a resident of

  • Who feeds the demonstrators?

    While watching 8,000 protesters demonstrate against capitalism last Sunday, I wondered how many of them hold true to their beliefs when they collect state benefits, which have been provided by taxpayers of a system they probably do not contribute to,

  • Figures blow for BA

    British Airways announced a dramatic 11.6 per cent decline in passenger numbers today. The company released a report this afternoon into the number of travellers using its aircraft. The report reveals the substantial drop in numbers compared with the

  • No substitute for milk

    I disagree with Peta's "Dump Dairy" campaign, aimed at getting primary school children to stop drinking milk because of cruelty to dairy cows. Skimmed milk is very low in fat and cholesterol and is full of calcium, an important nutrient for growing children

  • Nurses' parking quota quibble

    "Nurses are sick of parking fiasco" (The Argus, September 27) raises a number of issues that need clarification. The number of car parking spaces available for staff on the Royal Sussex County Hospital site was set by Brighton and Hove City Council -

  • Ruling is no flight of fancy

    Night flights are a nuisance to thousands of people living near busy airports such as Gatwick. Now residents hope a European Court of Human Rights ruling that overnight flights at Heathrow violate human rights will affect Gatwick where there are more

  • Comment: Hart of the Matter, by Ian Hart

    Everyone knows that football is a passionate game. It was demonstrated again last Tuesday at Adams Park, Wycombe, when Nathan Jones rounded off a superb move to put the Albion 1-0 up after only ten minutes. During the goal celebration that followed an

  • Mailbag could have been a bomb

    I was walking along Clarendon Road, Hove, on Friday, September 14. Near the post office in Sackville Road, I noticed a postie's bag resting on the pavement. I waited approximately five minutes and still there was no postman to be seen. I took a nosey

  • Culture Capital bid launched

    Leading figures and businesses gathered for a reception to launch a campaign for Brighton and Hove to become European Capital of Culture in 2008. The event was held at Victoria Real Ltd in Queens Road, Brighton and included appeals for sponsorship. More

  • Adams' hunt for good October

    Albion boss Micky Adams believes an onerous October will shape the Seagulls' season, not their special September. The tough run of fixtures lying ahead have caused Adams to revise his opinion of when the table takes on some meaning. He has stated previously

  • Police in car crash

    A driver was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises after a crash between the van she was in and a police car. Two Sussex Police officers suffered shock in the accident, which happened as they responded to an emergency call. The van driver, a woman from

  • £20,000 fine over forest tragedy

    A forestry company has been fined £20,000 after a man died in an accident when a tree fell on him. Peter Aleksejevs was found pinned underneath a beech tree in woodland north of Chichester in September 2000. A judge at Chichester Crown Court was told

  • Police quiz naked protester

    A naked male protester was arrested outside the Brighton Centre as delegates arrived for the final session. The man appeared in front of the railings where delegates and media were queuing to gain entry to the centre. He held up a newspaper headline saying

  • Conference ends quietly

    Labour's truncated annual conference closed today with none of the usual razzmatazz of previous occasions. The conference usually ends with a tub-thumping speech by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, followed by music and singing. But in keeping with

  • Parents call for head's sacking

    Parents are demanding the sacking of a primary school head over a report by the Government's schools watchdog. The report from the Office for schools watchdog Ofsted slammed Gossops Green First School and laid the blame firmly on head teacher Sylvia Rogers

  • Woman in smash fights for life

    Three generations of one family were involved in a head-on crash with a lorry which left one woman fighting for life. The 55-year-old grandmother suffered serious chest injuries and was last night in an intensive care ward. Her 35-year-old daughter suffered

  • Labour's scared of protest

    Dorothy Jones's ridiculous outburst (Letters, September 28) about anti-globalisation protesters in general and Councillor Taylor in particular just shows how scared the Labour establishment is of popular protest and other parties. Coun Taylor was elected

  • Twin city with Miami

    I suggest twinning Brighton and Hove with Miami Beach. It is beside the sea, just like Brighton, and has a cosmopolitan population. It is also buzzing with life and has bars, restaurants and beaches that would be a model for Brighton and Hove to aspire

  • Why a mayor would be good for buses

    Erica Smith accuses me of misusing my position to further my agenda (Letters, September 25). We remain resolutely non-political in our stance but the ability of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company to offer the standards it does, and to continue to

  • Unique chance

    It is absurd, cynical and downright stupid to try to tag Steve Bassam and the Yes campaign as latter day Goerings (Letters, September 24). Absurd because the comparison belittles history and human experience. Cynical because that kind of language debases

  • Oscar winner aids budget movie team

    You could almost picture the cigarette dangling from Bette Davis' lips and Humphrey Bogart leaning against the wall. Film noir had come to a bedroom in Sussex and it had that authentic feeling suggesting the presence of a real Hollywood legend. Bogie

  • I don't welcome New Labour

    I object to the Brighton Centre being emblazoned with a large red banner screaming "Brighton and Hove Welcomes New Labour". Don't get me wrong, I'm no Tory voter (indeed, I voted Liberal Democrat in the 2001 General Election) but, being a resident of

  • Who feeds the demonstrators?

    While watching 8,000 protesters demonstrate against capitalism last Sunday, I wondered how many of them hold true to their beliefs when they collect state benefits, which have been provided by taxpayers of a system they probably do not contribute to,

  • Ivor made me smile

    I had to smile when I read about Hove MP Ivor Caplin suggesting Brighton's Citizens' Advice Bureau should close instead of Hove's (October 1). I would think Brighton MPs Dave Lepper and Des Wilson might just have something to say about that. -S Wells,

  • Leaves on the line? It's no joke

    New Sussex rail operator South Central is ensuring all its drivers have been trained to cope with the slippery autumn rails. The slippery foliage is no joke for the rail industry, especially drivers who apply the brakes and find themselves sliding through

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    Spare me, please, from conversation which starts with someone muttering into my ear: "If I were you ..." or "The best thing you can do now ..." The advice that usually follows is invariably well-intentioned but when you're feeling at odds with the world

  • Match in memory of terror victim

    Rival fans will put aside their differences to play a charity football match in memory of a victim of the US terrorist attacks. Albion supporters will join fans of arch-rivals Crystal Palace for a game on November 9, organised in honour of Seagulls fan

  • Fury at nursing home wrangle

    An elderly patient has spent four months in hospital waiting for a place in a nursing home. Ronald Billinghurst was taken to Worthing Hospital at the beginning of May after suffering a fall. Mr Billinghurst, 83, has senile dementia and needs a place at

  • Kidnap bid on walk to school

    A Worthing schoolgirl was dragged into a car by her hair in a terrifying kidnap attempt as she walked to school. The 14-year-old was walking to Durrington High School along Roedean Road at 8.40am yesterday when a man halted his car next to her. He wound

  • Parents call for head's sacking

    Parents are demanding the sacking of a primary school head over a report by the Government's schools watchdog. The report from the Office for schools watchdog Ofsted slammed Gossops Green First School and laid the blame firmly on head teacher Sylvia Rogers

  • £20,000 fine over forest tragedy

    A forestry company has been fined £20,000 after a man died in an accident when a tree fell on him. Peter Aleksejevs was found pinned underneath a beech tree in woodland north of Chichester in September 2000. A judge at Chichester Crown Court was told

  • No masts here, thanks

    With regard to Spencer Payne's complaint about bad mobile phone reception at Woodingdean and Rottingdean (September 27), we three ward councillors and many residents campaigned against telephone masts and won. Woodingdean is surrounded by an area of outstanding

  • Patient plans

    A consultative public meeting in Brighton on September 28 outlined proposals to move, among others, the breast cancer services from Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton to Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. This move would seriously disadvantage

  • Youth hockey: Hawes hopes to follow Houslop

    Ben Hawes is determined to follow the World Cup success of fellow Sussex player Frances Houslop. Hawes is Tasmania preparing for the men's under-21 event while Houslop has just returned in triumph after helping England win the women's qualifying tournament

  • Class acts

    Two ten-year-old boys from the same school have clinched parts in Peter Pan, the Christmas show at the Theatre Royal in Brighton. Congratulations are due to Daniel Nevas and Boycie Al-Shamli from Goldstone Primary School in Hove. They'll love it so much

  • Where have all the buses gone?

    Labour conference delegates who stayed between Hove and Worthing must have had a shock. From last Sunday (September 30), all the evening buses on the No 700 route were withdrawn. For the first time, an evening out in Brighton or Worthing is no longer

  • Ruling is no flight of fancy

    Night flights are a nuisance to thousands of people living near busy airports such as Gatwick. Now residents hope a European Court of Human Rights ruling that overnight flights at Heathrow violate human rights will affect Gatwick where there are more

  • Concert is far from oportunistic

    Ralph Taylor accused the Sussex Symphony Orchestra of "jumping on the bandwagon" and capitalising upon the tragedies in the US in its proposed performance of an all-American programme of music on October 6 (September 26). I have to stress this concert

  • Comment: Hart of the Matter, by Ian Hart

    Everyone knows that football is a passionate game. It was demonstrated again last Tuesday at Adams Park, Wycombe, when Nathan Jones rounded off a superb move to put the Albion 1-0 up after only ten minutes. During the goal celebration that followed an

  • Mailbag could have been a bomb

    I was walking along Clarendon Road, Hove, on Friday, September 14. Near the post office in Sackville Road, I noticed a postie's bag resting on the pavement. I waited approximately five minutes and still there was no postman to be seen. I took a nosey

  • Ryman League: Bognor on top

    Ten-man Bognor held firm to remain on top of division one as they beat Tooting and Mitcham 3-1 last night. The Rocks found themselves a goal behind in the second minute when a left wing cross was placed into the far corner via the post by Nigel Webb.

  • No slip-up for Crawley

    Crawley booked an FA Cup third qualifying round clash with Dr Martens rivals Weymouth last night after an emphatic victory over Fareham Town at Broadfield. Relieved Reds manager Billy Smith admitted: "This game was a potential banana skin. "I noticed

  • Culture Capital bid launched

    Leading figures and businesses gathered for a reception to launch a campaign for Brighton and Hove to become European Capital of Culture in 2008. The event was held at Victoria Real Ltd in Queens Road, Brighton and included appeals for sponsorship. More

  • Adams' hunt for good October

    Albion boss Micky Adams believes an onerous October will shape the Seagulls' season, not their special September. The tough run of fixtures lying ahead have caused Adams to revise his opinion of when the table takes on some meaning. He has stated previously

  • Police in car crash

    A driver was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises after a crash between the van she was in and a police car. Two Sussex Police officers suffered shock in the accident, which happened as they responded to an emergency call. The van driver, a woman from

  • £20,000 fine over forest tragedy

    A forestry company has been fined £20,000 after a man died in an accident when a tree fell on him. Peter Aleksejevs was found pinned underneath a beech tree in woodland north of Chichester in September 2000. A judge at Chichester Crown Court was told

  • Callers clamour for 'ugliest dog'

    Charlie, the ugliest dog in Sussex, has won the hearts of our readers. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has been inundated with calls offering the shar-pei a home since he appeared in Friday's paper. Workers at the Mount

  • Long road ahead, delegates told

    Delegates leaving the Labour Party conference were today warned they faced a long journey from "hatred to hope." Dr John Reid, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said the war against the terrorists who committed the atrocities in the USA would be

  • Conference ends quietly

    Labour's truncated annual conference closed today with none of the usual razzmatazz of previous occasions. The conference usually ends with a tub-thumping speech by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, followed by music and singing. But in keeping with

  • Harbour opponents to meet developers

    The deadlock between developers and residents fighting plans for up to 260 high-rise flats at Sovereign Harbour has been broken. Campaigners opposing the huge development in Eastbourne have been trying to meet developer Redrow Homes since approval was

  • Parents call for head's sacking

    Parents are demanding the sacking of a primary school head over a report by the Government's schools watchdog. The report from the Office for schools watchdog Ofsted slammed Gossops Green First School and laid the blame firmly on head teacher Sylvia Rogers

  • Woman in smash fights for life

    Three generations of one family were involved in a head-on crash with a lorry which left one woman fighting for life. The 55-year-old grandmother suffered serious chest injuries and was last night in an intensive care ward. Her 35-year-old daughter suffered