Archive

  • Good luck, Splash FM

    Regarding The Sentinel's question "Should Worthing have a radio station totally dedicated to the town?", my answer is a wholehearted yes. I have lived her for 15 years and, although born in Lambeth, I would not want to live anywhere else. I wish I had

  • Just claim

    In 1996, an MP was paid £31,687. Within five years of a Labour government, MPs' pay increased to £55,118, a hike of 74 per cent with a pension, an allowance increase and, just the other day, a decrease in working hours. People seem to forget that medical

  • Needless fear

    West Sussex County Council has opted to spend money on its Keep It Local campaign and is promoting some concern about the impact of the Government's changes to the way in which grants are distributed to local authorities. It fears losing between £4 million

  • Boxed in

    Please allow me to respond to the short articles in The Sentinel concerning the cabinet-style system of local government. Quite rightly they state that this is now fully implemented by Worthing Borough Council. All the criticisms voiced by The Sentinel

  • Dispossessed

    I read with interest the article about London evacuees in 1939. We had one staying with us in Goldsmith Road. How long he stayed I don't remember but it seemed a fairly short time. In March 1941, my brother and I, and many more from St Mary's Roman Catholic

  • Mental health is at mercy of a lottery

    When it comes to number-crunching, I wonder who arrives at the number of support workers needed to help vulnerable people with mental problems living alone? I have two friends in this category. Both have long records of being in and out of psychiatric

  • Comeradeship

    Derek and I were very happy to attend the Crescent Operatic Society's 50th anniversary celebration at the Wickwood Country Club, near Albourne, on Saturday, October 19. Actually, the first formation of the Crescent was Mixed Spice in 1951. It was good

  • Please help save clinic

    I read with great sadness in The Argus that the Dr Jan De Winter Clinic is being forced to close at the end of the year. Considering the great benefit and service this clinic has provided for so many years, is it possible The Argus could highlight this

  • Tommy Emmanuel, Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton, November 17

    Being billed as one of the best guitarists working today, gave Tommy Emmanuel something to aim for - and he was equal to the task. In a 40-year career, he has played every venue from the corners of Outback pubs in his home town of Alice Springs, Australia

  • Laura lands a corporate tax role

    Laura McLaughlin has joined the Brighton office of business advisers and accountants Mazars as a senior manager for corporate tax services. A qualified chartered accountant with a degree in economics from Nottingham University, Ms McLaughlin joins Mazars

  • Smaller firms lead on better pensions

    Staff at small firms are set to receive more than £2 billion extra in pension contributions in the next three years. Research showed employers in small and medium-sized companies currently pay 5.3 per cent of staff's salaries into pension schemes but

  • Industry calls for a boost

    Industry leaders have urged the Government to bolster investment in the hard-pressed manufacturing sector or risk losing more business overseas. The Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) and 24 other trade bodies issued the warning in a submission to

  • Mortgage tables to help choice

    The Financial Services Authority has launched a series of comparative mortgages tables to help consumers shop around for the best deal. Under the chairmanship of Howard Davies, the authority has set up the tables, which contain details on more than 1,300

  • Footpath win for ramblers

    Ramblers have won a legal victory in their bid to get a footpath cleared of obstructions put up by a firm linked to Nicholas Van Hoogstraten. Judges told the council to think again after it proposed to divert the path instead of forcing the landowner

  • Steady on now

    I have just read Marcus O'Dair's review of the Desmond Dekker concert (November 12) and think it was fair, although I couldn't work out why there was a reference to Bob Marley. Bob and Desmond are like chalk and cheese. Desmond started off solely as a

  • In hysterics

    The story about the "terrorist" art student reminded me of a similar tale from Canada that happened during the Quebecois separatist movement - a time during which the Mounties achieved almost legendary status for their incompetence and bungling. A 14-

  • Be vigilant

    I am writing to praise the objective reporting of an incident involving some suspicious photographs ("Terrorist? I'm an art student", November 15). The police were quite rightly contacted by Boots when the shop developed some negatives showing a man with

  • Martial arts: Little Jay gets big kick

    Tiny Jay Rolf has won a trophy that is almost as big as he is. Ten-year-old Jay is just 4ft.3in but that hasn't stopped him roasting fellow competitors. Jay is one of the star pupils at the Zen Ch'Uan Academy in Southwick and senior instructor Graham

  • Keep it quiet

    Planning permission has been sought to convert a care home at 14 Eaton Gardens, Hove, into a hostel for homeless people. This application is a private enterprise. One wonders which caring agency would supervise and control the selection of residents?

  • Cup round-up: Hornets go through

    Horsham progressed to the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Hassocks at Queen Street. The Hornets started slowly and the visitors could have gone ahead in the seventh minute when Richard Thompson's deep cross was headed wide by

  • Fear not

    Chris Gull aims to take the fear out of people who are worried about a trip to the dentist. He even uses hypnotherapy at his practice in Ship Street, Brighton, to make them feel comfortable. The idea is to make them have good, rather than bad, recollections

  • Few chances

    Good on Neil Hunter, headteacher of Blatchington Mill. He is a lovely man and it is wrong that many Hove children have been denied places at his school. I am so happy my daughter is at his school. Many Hangleton families were not given the chance to go

  • Football: Ramsay does it again

    Eastbourne Borough cruised into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 5-0 victory over Shoreham at Priory Lane. A brace each for Scott Ramsay and Mark Goodwin as well as a Dave Adams strike was enough to see Garry Wilson's men through. Shoreham

  • Prime number

    Why is everyone so upset about Blatchington Mill headteacher Neil Hunter giving preferential treatment to the daughter of one of his senior teachers? I seem to remember Prime Minister Tony Blair using his position to get his two sons into the prestigious

  • Pupil priority

    Well done, Neil Hunter, for your decision to offer a pupil a place at your school on the basis that to change the decision would be unsettling for her (The Argus, November 13). The decision seems to have been made with the interests of the pupil as a

  • Football: Reds set up mouthwatering clash

    Billy Smith got one over his old mate at Nyewood Lane last night as his Crawley side set up an intriguing North Sussex cup derby. Reds played some super stuff to go 3-0 up by the break and were never really in danger of being taken to extra time in this

  • Pandong's strike enough for White

    Albion Reserves disposed of manager Dean White's old team in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup but it was hardly convincing. Teenage trialist Roger Pandong volleyed in the only goal in the 15th minute from close range after a good run and cross

  • Karate: Fans turn out for championship

    Sussex karate fans were out in force at the weekend for the annual county championships. Fighters aged six to 60 took part in the prestigious event at Lancing Leisure Centre and there were some exceptional performances. Among the entrants to caught the

  • Trialist nets winner

    Trialist Roger Pandong marked his Albion debut with the winner to send the Reserves into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup at Woodside Road last night. The Cameroon teenager, who turns 19 today, caught the eye on the left of midfield and scored

  • Athletics: Hannah shows 'em how

    Hannah Brooks showed up her county colleagues at the English Schools Cross Country Cup at Kingston. Sussex schools were unable to provide a winner but Brooks (Crawley), who attends Oxted School in Surrey, was a convincing winner of the intermediate girls

  • Triathlon: Jon's just mad for crazy sport

    Triathlete Jon Worcester is training with the Scotland squad, just a few months after being spotted competing in his first ever race. Worcester, who turned 18 in October, completed his first triathlon during the summer in London when he came 11th out

  • EMI returns to proitability

    Moves by EMI to slash costs have paid off as the music group returned to profitability despite a further slide in sales. The group, recently demoted from the FTSE 100 Index and home to stars such as Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, has been rocked by

  • Property prices rise 23% a year

    House prices are continuing to power ahead and look set to remain strong until the end of the year. The annual rate of property price inflation is running at about 23 per cent, more than double the long-term average of ten per cent, according to the Royal

  • Crimes that go unpunished

    More than nine out of ten crimes in Sussex go unpunished by the courts, government figures revealed today. Sussex Police's 8.5 per cent conviction rate is the second worst in England and Wales, ahead of only the Metropolitan Police. Besides the Met, Sussex

  • Where are the poser farmers?

    Sussex farmers are being encouraged to strip for a calendar to raise funds for the industry's benevolent fund. The saucy calendar - with vegetables, animals and machinery hiding their blushes - has been produced every year since 1999. But not one Sussex

  • Butters still part of plans

    Albion chief Steve Coppell believes Guy Butters still has a part to play in the relegation battle. The former Gillingham centre half has not featured since Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United. Teenager Adam Hinshelwood

  • Trialist nets winner

    Trialist Roger Pandong marked his Albion debut with the winner to send the Reserves into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup at Woodside Road last night. The Cameroon teenager, who turns 19 today, caught the eye on the left of midfield and scored

  • Rock artist's designs for life

    Roger Dean was the little known artist behind riotous album covers for veteran rockers Yes and Asia. Now, he's planning a village for the future. Curved walls, domed ceilings and bubble-shaped rooms have made his Teletubby-style buildings capture the

  • A touch of Christmas magic

    Children whooped in delight as the Gingerbread House opened its doors for the first time this year next to Donatello restaurant in Brighton. They all agreed it was even better than last year's magical grotto, which raised £25,000 for The Argus Appeal.

  • 200 pets in house of squalor

    A woman who kept more than 200 exotic mammals in filthy conditions has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to her pets. RSPCA inspector Barbara Kvalheim visited Ute Siewert's home following a complaint from a member of the public. The inspector

  • Tribute tree for lost loved ones

    Relatives and friends can keep the memory of a loved one bright by taking part in a festive fund-raiser. St Catherine's Hospice is preparing to launch its Tree of Light Appeal, in which each light on its Christmas tree is sponsored in honour of someone

  • Ferry stuck in north France

    The Newhaven-Dieppe passenger ferry service was disrupted after one of the ships suffered technical problems. The Dieppe was stranded in France this morning but was due to be up and running again later today. Passengers making the four-hour crossing were

  • Tim Rice sees school musical

    Maestro Sir Tim Rice returned to his old college to watch Jesus Christ Superstar, the musical he wrote with Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Sir Tim is best known as the man who put the words to Lord Lloyd-Webber's music. The pair are responsible for hit shows

  • Call centre 'threat' to town halls

    Town halls could be replaced by call centres, according to a leading Brighton and Hove city councillor. Conservative Geoffrey Theobald said many public services including water, gas, electricity, much of the health service and education already bypassed

  • Dance that ended with a punch

    A woman punched another woman in the head at a nightclub for dancing with a man she fancied, a court heard. Nikki Sweet said she felt a blow on the back of her head as she stood in The Junction club in Brighton. Miss Sweet, a bingo supervisor, said she

  • Dentist eases fear with hypnosis

    Patients scared of sitting in the dentist's chair are being hypnotised to relax them before treatment. Chris Gull, both a dentist and a hypnotist, believes it is the perfect way to help people overcome their fear of drills, injections and fillings. He

  • Teacher hanged himself after police raid

    A teacher killed himself hours after police searched his home in connection with an indecent assault at his former school. Neil Bibby, 56, was found hanged by a blue nylon rope at his house in Guildford Road, Brighton. He called friends the previous day

  • Plea for calm as baby dies

    Sussex health bosses today urged parents not to panic following the death of a baby boy from meningitis. The 11-month-old child, from the Bexhill area, died after contracting meningococcal septicaemia. The boy's parents and people in close contact with

  • Guggenheim designer's King Alfred bid

    The man who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao could be chosen to design the new leisure centre in Hove. Brighton and Hove City Council has produced a shortlist of four developers for the seafront redevelopment. They will be asked to submit detailed

  • Good luck, Splash FM

    Regarding The Sentinel's question "Should Worthing have a radio station totally dedicated to the town?", my answer is a wholehearted yes. I have lived her for 15 years and, although born in Lambeth, I would not want to live anywhere else. I wish I had

  • What sort of fools?

    Just what is the Government thinking about? In one breath it states it's going all out to stop street crime and increasing yob culture and, in the next breath, wants to relax licensing laws for 24-hour drinking. What sort of fools do we have ruling our

  • Ban smoking in public

    In view of the fresh evidence by the BMA on the dangers of passive smoking, surely it cannot be right for smoking to be allowed in local care homes? I have recently visited two such places where it was most unpleasant, as well as being a fire risk. The

  • Andy Bishop is alive and well

    Corporal Andy Bishop (The Sentinel, issue 34), a great friend of mine, is well and living happily in the Philippines. I met him for a beer in Thailand only last month, as I, too, work out that way. He was actually awarded the Military Medal for his bravery

  • On deaf ears

    Thanks for your mention of our store in The Sentinel. We have considered staging flamenco dancing in the town centre but few in Worthing seem interested. We held a free display in The Steyne last summer - to a very small audience - and have twice held

  • Just claim

    In 1996, an MP was paid £31,687. Within five years of a Labour government, MPs' pay increased to £55,118, a hike of 74 per cent with a pension, an allowance increase and, just the other day, a decrease in working hours. People seem to forget that medical

  • Safer at home

    It was reported on BBC Radio 5 Live that firefighters spend half their time cutting motorists out of crashed vehicles using hundreds of specially built rescue tenders. There must be serious concern how the 39 under-equipped general-purpose military rescue

  • Needless fear

    West Sussex County Council has opted to spend money on its Keep It Local campaign and is promoting some concern about the impact of the Government's changes to the way in which grants are distributed to local authorities. It fears losing between £4 million

  • Boxed in

    Please allow me to respond to the short articles in The Sentinel concerning the cabinet-style system of local government. Quite rightly they state that this is now fully implemented by Worthing Borough Council. All the criticisms voiced by The Sentinel

  • Dispossessed

    I read with interest the article about London evacuees in 1939. We had one staying with us in Goldsmith Road. How long he stayed I don't remember but it seemed a fairly short time. In March 1941, my brother and I, and many more from St Mary's Roman Catholic

  • Mental health is at mercy of a lottery

    When it comes to number-crunching, I wonder who arrives at the number of support workers needed to help vulnerable people with mental problems living alone? I have two friends in this category. Both have long records of being in and out of psychiatric

  • Comeradeship

    Derek and I were very happy to attend the Crescent Operatic Society's 50th anniversary celebration at the Wickwood Country Club, near Albourne, on Saturday, October 19. Actually, the first formation of the Crescent was Mixed Spice in 1951. It was good

  • Please help save clinic

    I read with great sadness in The Argus that the Dr Jan De Winter Clinic is being forced to close at the end of the year. Considering the great benefit and service this clinic has provided for so many years, is it possible The Argus could highlight this

  • Tommy Emmanuel, Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton, November 17

    Being billed as one of the best guitarists working today, gave Tommy Emmanuel something to aim for - and he was equal to the task. In a 40-year career, he has played every venue from the corners of Outback pubs in his home town of Alice Springs, Australia

  • Caught In The Net, Theatre Royal, Brighton, until November 23

    John Leonard Smith, a 43-year-old taxi driver, lives in Wimbledon with his wife Mary, daughter Vicki and lodger Stanley. The same man also lives in Streatham with wife Barbara and son Gavin. The only difference is one John Smith works days, the other

  • Massage away workplace stress

    Sussex bosses are helping stressed staff calm down by offering them an on-site massage. Qualified therapeutic masseur Adam Reeves said massage may not be the complete answer to workplace stress but it did show employers were taking the matter seriously

  • Industry calls for a boost

    Industry leaders have urged the Government to bolster investment in the hard-pressed manufacturing sector or risk losing more business overseas. The Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) and 24 other trade bodies issued the warning in a submission to

  • Last bid to halt airport strike

    Union bosses have agreed to hold last-ditch talks today in a bid to stop a series of strikes from causing Christmas chaos at Gatwick. The Transport and General Workers Union yesterday agreed to join airport operator BAA and another union, Amicus, for

  • Firewoman's horror plunge

    An ex-PC has told a court how he saw a firefighter vault a crash barrier and plummet 40ft during a rescue operation. Emergency services had been called to the A27 Shoreham flyover when a lorry smashed into the barrier. John Burgess, a former traffic police

  • Drunk teen's demolition mission

    A teenager drunk on vodka went on a demolition mission and caused more than £2,000 damage, a court heard. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, hurled rocks at shop windows and cars. He pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage and asked magistrates

  • Amnesty boxes for weapons

    Eastbourne's criminals are being encouraged to drop their guns and drugs into amnesty boxes in pubs and clubs. Police are placing boxes and metal detectors in venues across the town to counter violence and drug abuse. The scheme has been organised by

  • Park man is named

    A young man found hanged from a tree in an Eastbourne park has been named by police. Luke Pettitt, 21, was found hanging from a 3ft-long electrical cord in the park off Decoy Drive, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, on Thursday. His fully-clothed body was found

  • Steady on now

    I have just read Marcus O'Dair's review of the Desmond Dekker concert (November 12) and think it was fair, although I couldn't work out why there was a reference to Bob Marley. Bob and Desmond are like chalk and cheese. Desmond started off solely as a

  • Fear not

    Chris Gull aims to take the fear out of people who are worried about a trip to the dentist. He even uses hypnotherapy at his practice in Ship Street, Brighton, to make them feel comfortable. The idea is to make them have good, rather than bad, recollections

  • Few chances

    Good on Neil Hunter, headteacher of Blatchington Mill. He is a lovely man and it is wrong that many Hove children have been denied places at his school. I am so happy my daughter is at his school. Many Hangleton families were not given the chance to go

  • Football: Ramsay does it again

    Eastbourne Borough cruised into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 5-0 victory over Shoreham at Priory Lane. A brace each for Scott Ramsay and Mark Goodwin as well as a Dave Adams strike was enough to see Garry Wilson's men through. Shoreham

  • Football: Win's no surprise for Barry

    Boss Barry Lloyd was unsurprised by Worthing's 2-0 Sussex Senior Cup win at Lewes last night, despite his side entering the second-round tie as underdogs. Lloyd admitted many pundits would have backed the Rooks to rock the Rebels but said he expected

  • Prime number

    Why is everyone so upset about Blatchington Mill headteacher Neil Hunter giving preferential treatment to the daughter of one of his senior teachers? I seem to remember Prime Minister Tony Blair using his position to get his two sons into the prestigious

  • Longer arm of the law

    With the passing of time, many criminals who escaped the police net may well be sleeping comfortably in their beds - until now. Advances in forensic science and DNA mean that police could still find their man many years later. One of the most notorious

  • Football: Reds set up mouthwatering clash

    Billy Smith got one over his old mate at Nyewood Lane last night as his Crawley side set up an intriguing North Sussex cup derby. Reds played some super stuff to go 3-0 up by the break and were never really in danger of being taken to extra time in this

  • Comment: Ian Hart

    Not so long ago Albion fans used to sing a song about Steve Coppell contracting a rather unpleasant disease. That terrace chant is now a dim and distant memory because Coppell is on a journey that could put him right up the list of all-time legendary

  • Traditional party is not total disregard

    To the "many irate residents of the Pembroke and Sackville district". As you appear to have forgotten to put your address on the letter I received last Wednesday morning, I take this opportunity to respond to some of your points concerning our bonfire

  • £200,000 bill for church roof

    A church in Goring is facing a £200,000 bill to replace its Victorian roof. St Mary's Church parishioners in Goring have been warned the beams are riddled with woodworm and the slates need replacing. The defects were identified during an inspection that

  • Karate: Fans turn out for championship

    Sussex karate fans were out in force at the weekend for the annual county championships. Fighters aged six to 60 took part in the prestigious event at Lancing Leisure Centre and there were some exceptional performances. Among the entrants to caught the

  • Bouquet for bus firm

    A Sussex bus company is the first winner of an award for customer care. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company received the Commission for Integrated Transport Customer Service Award at a London ceremony to celebrate excellence in the bus industry. Managing

  • Butters still part of plans

    Albion chief Steve Coppell believes Guy Butters still has a part to play in the relegation battle. The former Gillingham centre half has not featured since Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United. Teenager Adam Hinshelwood

  • Triathlon: Jon's just mad for crazy sport

    Triathlete Jon Worcester is training with the Scotland squad, just a few months after being spotted competing in his first ever race. Worcester, who turned 18 in October, completed his first triathlon during the summer in London when he came 11th out

  • Coffee takeover rejected

    Struggling espresso bar chain Coffee Republic has turned down a takeover approach from rival Caffe Nero. Caffe Nero said it had made a bid at a substantial premium to the share price and was disappointed it had been rejected. Shares in Coffee Republic

  • Property prices rise 23% a year

    House prices are continuing to power ahead and look set to remain strong until the end of the year. The annual rate of property price inflation is running at about 23 per cent, more than double the long-term average of ten per cent, according to the Royal

  • Where are the poser farmers?

    Sussex farmers are being encouraged to strip for a calendar to raise funds for the industry's benevolent fund. The saucy calendar - with vegetables, animals and machinery hiding their blushes - has been produced every year since 1999. But not one Sussex

  • Butters still part of plans

    Albion chief Steve Coppell believes Guy Butters still has a part to play in the relegation battle. The former Gillingham centre half has not featured since Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United. Teenager Adam Hinshelwood

  • Trialist nets winner

    Trialist Roger Pandong marked his Albion debut with the winner to send the Reserves into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup at Woodside Road last night. The Cameroon teenager, who turns 19 today, caught the eye on the left of midfield and scored

  • Rock artist's designs for life

    Roger Dean was the little known artist behind riotous album covers for veteran rockers Yes and Asia. Now, he's planning a village for the future. Curved walls, domed ceilings and bubble-shaped rooms have made his Teletubby-style buildings capture the

  • 200 pets in house of squalor

    A woman who kept more than 200 exotic mammals in filthy conditions has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to her pets. RSPCA inspector Barbara Kvalheim visited Ute Siewert's home following a complaint from a member of the public. The inspector

  • Strangler hunt reopened

    Sussex Police are re-examining a 37-year-old unsolved murder in the hope that modern DNA tests will point to the killer. Silvia Doreen Taylor, 46, was found strangled in the off-licence she managed in Nile Street, Brighton, on May 22, 1965. Evidence from

  • MP to rescue of Blunkett's hound

    Hove MP Ivor Caplin's job as a Government whip included an unusual responsibility in the House of Commons last night. The Labour MP had to apprehend Home Secretary David Blunkett's dog and return her to her master. Mr Blunkett's faithful guide dog, Lucy

  • Firewoman's horror plunge

    An ex-PC has told a court how he saw a firefighter vault a crash barrier and plummet 40ft during a rescue operation. Emergency services had been called to the A27 Shoreham flyover when a lorry smashed into the barrier. John Burgess, a former traffic police

  • More help for abuse victims

    A pilot service for domestic abuse victims in East Sussex has been extended. Wealden Domestic Abuse Support Service was being launched at the Uckfield Civic Centre today. The venture, run by charity Crime Reduction Initiatives (Cri), was so successful

  • Memories of a lovely singer

    I was most interested in Peter Wilson's comments (Letters, November 16). While serving in the ATS, I decided to spend a leave in Scotland, five days of that being in Edinburgh. I went to see Adelaide Hall at the theatre, which proved very rewarding as

  • What sort of fools?

    Just what is the Government thinking about? In one breath it states it's going all out to stop street crime and increasing yob culture and, in the next breath, wants to relax licensing laws for 24-hour drinking. What sort of fools do we have ruling our

  • Ban smoking in public

    In view of the fresh evidence by the BMA on the dangers of passive smoking, surely it cannot be right for smoking to be allowed in local care homes? I have recently visited two such places where it was most unpleasant, as well as being a fire risk. The

  • Andy Bishop is alive and well

    Corporal Andy Bishop (The Sentinel, issue 34), a great friend of mine, is well and living happily in the Philippines. I met him for a beer in Thailand only last month, as I, too, work out that way. He was actually awarded the Military Medal for his bravery

  • On deaf ears

    Thanks for your mention of our store in The Sentinel. We have considered staging flamenco dancing in the town centre but few in Worthing seem interested. We held a free display in The Steyne last summer - to a very small audience - and have twice held

  • Dark deeds

    Last Friday, I phoned the council for the second time about having no street lighting at night. I was first told it was not viable to have street lighting in the night. My second call was because two cars went up in flames in the early hours of this morning

  • Safer at home

    It was reported on BBC Radio 5 Live that firefighters spend half their time cutting motorists out of crashed vehicles using hundreds of specially built rescue tenders. There must be serious concern how the 39 under-equipped general-purpose military rescue

  • Caught In The Net, Theatre Royal, Brighton, until November 23

    John Leonard Smith, a 43-year-old taxi driver, lives in Wimbledon with his wife Mary, daughter Vicki and lodger Stanley. The same man also lives in Streatham with wife Barbara and son Gavin. The only difference is one John Smith works days, the other

  • Monsters Of Rock, Brighton Centre, November 17

    Alice Cooper is one of rock's true innovators: Gender-bending before David Bowie, a punk before Malcolm McLaren and wearing make-up long before Kiss. It must be difficult to remain shocking when your first album was released 33 years ago but the second

  • David Gray, Brighton Centre, November 19

    When David Gray signed to Hut Records at the tender age of 22, he must have thought success was imminent. But his hopes were dashed when his first two albums met with a poor response and he was dropped from the label. Not one to give up easily, Gray signed

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    The Mother and I have been playing our own version of hide and seek during the past few days. It goes something like this. The postman rings the doorbell, The Mother answers it. "A parcel? Oh, it will be for me. It's my birthday this week," I hear her

  • Massage away workplace stress

    Sussex bosses are helping stressed staff calm down by offering them an on-site massage. Qualified therapeutic masseur Adam Reeves said massage may not be the complete answer to workplace stress but it did show employers were taking the matter seriously

  • Thief on a unicycle?

    To the person who stole the back wheel of my bike outside the Brighton Dome the other night, I assume you are a unicyclist. Anyway, good luck on your one-wheelie endeavour. I hope you get to where you are going. -Oliver Tate, London Road, Brighton

  • Top choice

    Richard Rodgers, Frank Gehry and Piers Gough are among the finest architects in the world, responsible for a host of breathtaking buildings. It's a compliment to Brighton and Hove that all three, along with many other leading architects, are interested

  • Football: Young spot on for Rebels

    Two penalties by Worthing's Gary Young proved a knock-out blow for Lewes in a battle of the Sussex heavyweights. The Rebels' captain struck from the spot after 56 and 81 minutes to give Barry Lloyd's side a deserved win at the Dripping Pan. After an evenly-fought

  • Longer arm of the law

    With the passing of time, many criminals who escaped the police net may well be sleeping comfortably in their beds - until now. Advances in forensic science and DNA mean that police could still find their man many years later. One of the most notorious

  • Comment: Ian Hart

    Not so long ago Albion fans used to sing a song about Steve Coppell contracting a rather unpleasant disease. That terrace chant is now a dim and distant memory because Coppell is on a journey that could put him right up the list of all-time legendary

  • Traditional party is not total disregard

    To the "many irate residents of the Pembroke and Sackville district". As you appear to have forgotten to put your address on the letter I received last Wednesday morning, I take this opportunity to respond to some of your points concerning our bonfire

  • Bouquet for bus firm

    A Sussex bus company is the first winner of an award for customer care. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company received the Commission for Integrated Transport Customer Service Award at a London ceremony to celebrate excellence in the bus industry. Managing

  • Butters still part of plans

    Albion chief Steve Coppell believes Guy Butters still has a part to play in the relegation battle. The former Gillingham centre half has not featured since Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United. Teenager Adam Hinshelwood

  • Hostel scheme attacked

    Labour councillor Vince Meegan has attacked plans to convert a care home into a hostel for the homeless. An application has been lodged with Brighton and Hove City Council for the Sunningdale Care Home in Eaton Gardens, Hove. Applicant Janek Masrani told

  • Coffee takeover rejected

    Struggling espresso bar chain Coffee Republic has turned down a takeover approach from rival Caffe Nero. Caffe Nero said it had made a bid at a substantial premium to the share price and was disappointed it had been rejected. Shares in Coffee Republic

  • Theatre bid for city

    Arts chiefs are to pump hundreds of thousands of pounds into a project intended to turn Brighton and Hove into a centre of theatre production. South & South East Arts has pledged to give the new Made In Brighton initiative £150,000 a year for the

  • Guggenheim designer's King Alfred bid

    The man who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao could be chosen to design the new leisure centre in Hove. Brighton and Hove City Council has produced a shortlist of four developers for the seafront redevelopment. They will be asked to submit detailed

  • Sir Cliff fans going on tour

    A coachload of Sir Cliff Richard fans are going on a winter holiday - to follow their idol around Europe. Next month's trip organised by Ray Williams, will emulate the double-decker jaunt around the Continent featured in Sir Cliff's 1963 film Summer Holiday

  • Strangler hunt reopened

    Sussex Police are re-examining a 37-year-old unsolved murder in the hope that modern DNA tests will point to the killer. Silvia Doreen Taylor, 46, was found strangled in the off-licence she managed in Nile Street, Brighton, on May 22, 1965. Evidence from

  • MP to rescue of Blunkett's hound

    Hove MP Ivor Caplin's job as a Government whip included an unusual responsibility in the House of Commons last night. The Labour MP had to apprehend Home Secretary David Blunkett's dog and return her to her master. Mr Blunkett's faithful guide dog, Lucy

  • Crime writer's talk for women's refuge

    Crime writer Ruth Rendell is to be guest of honour at a literary lunch to raise money for victims of domestic violence on Friday. Baroness Rendell will give a speech and sign copies of her books at the lunch being held in the Royal Albion Hotel on Brighton

  • Firewoman's horror plunge

    An ex-PC has told a court how he saw a firefighter vault a crash barrier and plummet 40ft during a rescue operation. Emergency services had been called to the A27 Shoreham flyover when a lorry smashed into the barrier. John Burgess, a former traffic police

  • Woman on child porn charges

    A woman accused of downloading indecent pictures of children from the internet will appear at Lewes Crown Court on December 30. Susan Robb, 47, of Chichester Drive East, Saltdean, is charged with five offences of making indecent photographs of children

  • Woman's fright at police crash

    A woman told of her horror as a police car travelling at breakneck speed crashed in to a hotel, yards from where she was standing. Janine Ayre, landlady of the Neptune Inn, Hove, was walking home when she saw the marked car driven by PC Sean Allman crash

  • Last bid to halt airport strike

    Union bosses have agreed to hold last-ditch talks today in a bid to stop a series of strikes from causing Christmas chaos at Gatwick. The Transport and General Workers Union yesterday agreed to join airport operator BAA and another union, Amicus, for

  • Memories of a lovely singer

    I was most interested in Peter Wilson's comments (Letters, November 16). While serving in the ATS, I decided to spend a leave in Scotland, five days of that being in Edinburgh. I went to see Adelaide Hall at the theatre, which proved very rewarding as

  • Tribute to wartime heroes

    Worthing will pay tribute to a wartime bomber crew who sacrificed their lives to save the town from destruction. Next month, the town's mayor will unveil a plaque on the pier commemorating the deaths of the seven courageous airmen in 1944. The Lancaster

  • Dark deeds

    Last Friday, I phoned the council for the second time about having no street lighting at night. I was first told it was not viable to have street lighting in the night. My second call was because two cars went up in flames in the early hours of this morning

  • Monsters Of Rock, Brighton Centre, November 17

    Alice Cooper is one of rock's true innovators: Gender-bending before David Bowie, a punk before Malcolm McLaren and wearing make-up long before Kiss. It must be difficult to remain shocking when your first album was released 33 years ago but the second

  • David Gray, Brighton Centre, November 19

    When David Gray signed to Hut Records at the tender age of 22, he must have thought success was imminent. But his hopes were dashed when his first two albums met with a poor response and he was dropped from the label. Not one to give up easily, Gray signed

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    The Mother and I have been playing our own version of hide and seek during the past few days. It goes something like this. The postman rings the doorbell, The Mother answers it. "A parcel? Oh, it will be for me. It's my birthday this week," I hear her

  • Laura lands a corporate tax role

    Laura McLaughlin has joined the Brighton office of business advisers and accountants Mazars as a senior manager for corporate tax services. A qualified chartered accountant with a degree in economics from Nottingham University, Ms McLaughlin joins Mazars

  • Smaller firms lead on better pensions

    Staff at small firms are set to receive more than £2 billion extra in pension contributions in the next three years. Research showed employers in small and medium-sized companies currently pay 5.3 per cent of staff's salaries into pension schemes but

  • Mortgage tables to help choice

    The Financial Services Authority has launched a series of comparative mortgages tables to help consumers shop around for the best deal. Under the chairmanship of Howard Davies, the authority has set up the tables, which contain details on more than 1,300

  • Major shake-up for police

    A major policing shake-up to provide 24-hour patrols could be in place in the Worthing area within six months. The revamp of Sussex Police's Highdown division, stretching from Littlehampton to Shoreham, is a response to public demands for better policing

  • Last-ditch bid to halt bin strike

    Rubbish collectors in the Arun district and their employers are holding last-ditch talks to prevent a strike. Street cleaners and refuse collectors in Arundel, Littlehampton and Bognor are due to walk out on Friday if there is no resolution to their pay

  • Tory defects to Lib Dems

    A leading Conservative Party activist has defected to Worthing borough council's ruling Liberal Democrats. Mark O'Keeffe, a former Tory executive councillor for housing and planning, is being lined up to stand for a seat in Salvington ward against Tory

  • Boy fights for life

    A Worthing schoolboy has been left fighting for life after a collision with a van on a busy main road. The 14-year-old, who has not been named, was walking along the A2032 Littlehampton Road in Worthing at 3.35pm yesterday when he was involved in an accident

  • Ferry stuck in north France

    The Newhaven-Dieppe passenger ferry service was disrupted after one of the ships suffered technical problems. The Dieppe was stranded in France this morning but was due to be up and running again later today. Passengers making the four-hour crossing were

  • 200 pets in house of squalor

    A woman who kept more than 200 exotic mammals in filthy conditions has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to her pets. RSPCA inspector Barbara Kvalheim visited Ute Siewert's home following a complaint from a member of the public. The inspector

  • Footpath win for ramblers

    Ramblers have won a legal victory in their bid to get a footpath cleared of obstructions put up by a firm linked to Nicholas Van Hoogstraten. Judges told the council to think again after it proposed to divert the path instead of forcing the landowner

  • Thief on a unicycle?

    To the person who stole the back wheel of my bike outside the Brighton Dome the other night, I assume you are a unicyclist. Anyway, good luck on your one-wheelie endeavour. I hope you get to where you are going. -Oliver Tate, London Road, Brighton

  • In hysterics

    The story about the "terrorist" art student reminded me of a similar tale from Canada that happened during the Quebecois separatist movement - a time during which the Mounties achieved almost legendary status for their incompetence and bungling. A 14-

  • Be vigilant

    I am writing to praise the objective reporting of an incident involving some suspicious photographs ("Terrorist? I'm an art student", November 15). The police were quite rightly contacted by Boots when the shop developed some negatives showing a man with

  • Martial arts: Little Jay gets big kick

    Tiny Jay Rolf has won a trophy that is almost as big as he is. Ten-year-old Jay is just 4ft.3in but that hasn't stopped him roasting fellow competitors. Jay is one of the star pupils at the Zen Ch'Uan Academy in Southwick and senior instructor Graham

  • Keep it quiet

    Planning permission has been sought to convert a care home at 14 Eaton Gardens, Hove, into a hostel for homeless people. This application is a private enterprise. One wonders which caring agency would supervise and control the selection of residents?

  • Cup round-up: Hornets go through

    Horsham progressed to the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Hassocks at Queen Street. The Hornets started slowly and the visitors could have gone ahead in the seventh minute when Richard Thompson's deep cross was headed wide by

  • Top choice

    Richard Rodgers, Frank Gehry and Piers Gough are among the finest architects in the world, responsible for a host of breathtaking buildings. It's a compliment to Brighton and Hove that all three, along with many other leading architects, are interested

  • Football: Young spot on for Rebels

    Two penalties by Worthing's Gary Young proved a knock-out blow for Lewes in a battle of the Sussex heavyweights. The Rebels' captain struck from the spot after 56 and 81 minutes to give Barry Lloyd's side a deserved win at the Dripping Pan. After an evenly-fought

  • Pupil priority

    Well done, Neil Hunter, for your decision to offer a pupil a place at your school on the basis that to change the decision would be unsettling for her (The Argus, November 13). The decision seems to have been made with the interests of the pupil as a

  • Pandong's strike enough for White

    Albion Reserves disposed of manager Dean White's old team in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup but it was hardly convincing. Teenage trialist Roger Pandong volleyed in the only goal in the 15th minute from close range after a good run and cross

  • Trialist nets winner

    Trialist Roger Pandong marked his Albion debut with the winner to send the Reserves into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup at Woodside Road last night. The Cameroon teenager, who turns 19 today, caught the eye on the left of midfield and scored

  • Athletics: Hannah shows 'em how

    Hannah Brooks showed up her county colleagues at the English Schools Cross Country Cup at Kingston. Sussex schools were unable to provide a winner but Brooks (Crawley), who attends Oxted School in Surrey, was a convincing winner of the intermediate girls

  • Store plans a step closer

    A £20 million redevelopment of Worthing College could be about to take a long-awaited step forward. For months, little was heard of the controversial plans to build an Asda superstore at the college's Bolsover Road site in Maybridge, Worthing. However

  • Diamond day for peace-loving couple

    While some couples enjoy a good tiff, one happy pair from Worthing say the secret to a successful marriage is never having a row. Laurence and Freda Tarrant, both 81, celebrated their diamond wedding yesterday, following a party at the Beach Hotel, Worthing

  • Hostel scheme attacked

    Labour councillor Vince Meegan has attacked plans to convert a care home into a hostel for the homeless. An application has been lodged with Brighton and Hove City Council for the Sunningdale Care Home in Eaton Gardens, Hove. Applicant Janek Masrani told

  • Station revamp back on track

    Rail bosses have promised that Arundel station will be given a revamp costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Train operator South Central says it will spend a "considerable" amount of money on refurbishing Arundel station at the start of next year.

  • EMI returns to proitability

    Moves by EMI to slash costs have paid off as the music group returned to profitability despite a further slide in sales. The group, recently demoted from the FTSE 100 Index and home to stars such as Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, has been rocked by

  • Theatre bid for city

    Arts chiefs are to pump hundreds of thousands of pounds into a project intended to turn Brighton and Hove into a centre of theatre production. South & South East Arts has pledged to give the new Made In Brighton initiative £150,000 a year for the

  • Guggenheim designer's King Alfred bid

    The man who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao could be chosen to design the new leisure centre in Hove. Brighton and Hove City Council has produced a shortlist of four developers for the seafront redevelopment. They will be asked to submit detailed

  • Crimes that go unpunished

    More than nine out of ten crimes in Sussex go unpunished by the courts, government figures revealed today. Sussex Police's 8.5 per cent conviction rate is the second worst in England and Wales, ahead of only the Metropolitan Police. Besides the Met, Sussex

  • Sir Cliff fans going on tour

    A coachload of Sir Cliff Richard fans are going on a winter holiday - to follow their idol around Europe. Next month's trip organised by Ray Williams, will emulate the double-decker jaunt around the Continent featured in Sir Cliff's 1963 film Summer Holiday

  • A touch of Christmas magic

    Children whooped in delight as the Gingerbread House opened its doors for the first time this year next to Donatello restaurant in Brighton. They all agreed it was even better than last year's magical grotto, which raised £25,000 for The Argus Appeal.

  • Tribute tree for lost loved ones

    Relatives and friends can keep the memory of a loved one bright by taking part in a festive fund-raiser. St Catherine's Hospice is preparing to launch its Tree of Light Appeal, in which each light on its Christmas tree is sponsored in honour of someone

  • Ferry stuck in north France

    The Newhaven-Dieppe passenger ferry service was disrupted after one of the ships suffered technical problems. The Dieppe was stranded in France this morning but was due to be up and running again later today. Passengers making the four-hour crossing were

  • Crime writer's talk for women's refuge

    Crime writer Ruth Rendell is to be guest of honour at a literary lunch to raise money for victims of domestic violence on Friday. Baroness Rendell will give a speech and sign copies of her books at the lunch being held in the Royal Albion Hotel on Brighton

  • Tim Rice sees school musical

    Maestro Sir Tim Rice returned to his old college to watch Jesus Christ Superstar, the musical he wrote with Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Sir Tim is best known as the man who put the words to Lord Lloyd-Webber's music. The pair are responsible for hit shows

  • Call centre 'threat' to town halls

    Town halls could be replaced by call centres, according to a leading Brighton and Hove city councillor. Conservative Geoffrey Theobald said many public services including water, gas, electricity, much of the health service and education already bypassed

  • Cat killed in house fire

    A cat died and several others were rescued by firefighters in a bedroom blaze in Crawley. The fire in Silchester Drive, Gossops Green, broke out shortly after 9pm. Sub Officer Frank Pickett said: "On arrival there was a severe fire in the first floor

  • Woman on child porn charges

    A woman accused of downloading indecent pictures of children from the internet will appear at Lewes Crown Court on December 30. Susan Robb, 47, of Chichester Drive East, Saltdean, is charged with five offences of making indecent photographs of children

  • Dance that ended with a punch

    A woman punched another woman in the head at a nightclub for dancing with a man she fancied, a court heard. Nikki Sweet said she felt a blow on the back of her head as she stood in The Junction club in Brighton. Miss Sweet, a bingo supervisor, said she

  • Woman's fright at police crash

    A woman told of her horror as a police car travelling at breakneck speed crashed in to a hotel, yards from where she was standing. Janine Ayre, landlady of the Neptune Inn, Hove, was walking home when she saw the marked car driven by PC Sean Allman crash

  • Last bid to halt airport strike

    Union bosses have agreed to hold last-ditch talks today in a bid to stop a series of strikes from causing Christmas chaos at Gatwick. The Transport and General Workers Union yesterday agreed to join airport operator BAA and another union, Amicus, for

  • Dentist eases fear with hypnosis

    Patients scared of sitting in the dentist's chair are being hypnotised to relax them before treatment. Chris Gull, both a dentist and a hypnotist, believes it is the perfect way to help people overcome their fear of drills, injections and fillings. He

  • Teacher hanged himself after police raid

    A teacher killed himself hours after police searched his home in connection with an indecent assault at his former school. Neil Bibby, 56, was found hanged by a blue nylon rope at his house in Guildford Road, Brighton. He called friends the previous day

  • Plea for calm as baby dies

    Sussex health bosses today urged parents not to panic following the death of a baby boy from meningitis. The 11-month-old child, from the Bexhill area, died after contracting meningococcal septicaemia. The boy's parents and people in close contact with