Memorial near Pink Floyd star’s Hove home to move

8:10pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

The memorial to Wilford Cole Verner in Medina Terrace, Hove The memorial to Wilford Cole Verner in Medina Terrace, Hove

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has won his planning battle to move a historic memorial cross near his £3 million seafront mansion.

Despite local opposition when proposals to extend a canoe store were first submitted, planners have given the musician the go-ahead to move the six-foot Victorian monument.

It is part of wider plans by Mr Gilmour and wife Polly Samson, who moved to the area in 2009, to transform outbuildings near their six-storey home in Medina Terrace, Hove.

But critics have said the decision, which was near unanimous, throws into question Brighton and Hove City Council’s commitment to preserving local history.

Valerie Paynter, of campaign group SaveHove, said: “David Gilmour did a wonderful job on restoring his home in Medina Terrace.

“But he is merely passing through, as we all are, and both the studio and his home have a future beyond his years and ownership.

“Local history and the valuing of it, trumps the need for a bigger boat store along a wall whose ownership remains a question.”

Verner monument

The controversy centred on a white monument to Wilford Cole Verner, who served in the Royal Fusiliers and died aged 26.

Related links

He was the younger brother of Ida Constance Verner, who used to live in nearby Victoria Terrace and used the buildings as an art studio.

The cross, which is at the far end of the development site, is currently embedded in the boundary wall with Medina Terrace.

When planning permission was approved to convert the former workshop last January it was agreed to keep it in place.

But a further application was submitted by Hoveco, which has Mr Gilmour listed as a director, to move it in November.

It was approved by the council’s cross-party planning committee.

Consecrated land

Denise Cobb, the only councillor who voted against the plans, said she believed more work should be done to find out if the cross marked a grave.

Coun Cobb said: “I do not think it should have been moved without us knowing more about why it was put there in the first place.

“I do not believe on building on consecrated land.”

Lynda Hyde, deputy chairman of the planning committee, said: “The committee was satisfied the cross would be safe in the new position.

“It will also be inset into the wall for added protection.

“The applicant has agreed to reinstate the inscription which is currently difficult to read and generally clean up the cross which will be an improvement.”

See the latest news headlines from The Argus:

More news from The Argus

Follow @brightonargus

Daily Echo on Facebook - facebook.com/southerndailyecho Like us on Facebook

Google+ Add us to your circles on Google+

Comments(20)

Martha Gunn says...
10:48pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Now here's a contest - or rather no contest at all.

Whose sense of the aesthetic and sensitivity would you rather trust? Dave Gilmour or that of Valerie Paynter and Denise Cobb? Are you all managing to hold your sides in while you laugh at the obvious answer.

Report this post »

Athena says...
1:02am Sat 16 Mar 13

When I remember Gilmour's son dangling himself from the Cenotaph, it makes me think that family has no respect for the dead, whatsoever.

Report this post »

qm says...
2:46am Sat 16 Mar 13

Martha Gunn wrote:
Now here's a contest - or rather no contest at all.

Whose sense of the aesthetic and sensitivity would you rather trust? Dave Gilmour or that of Valerie Paynter and Denise Cobb? Are you all managing to hold your sides in while you laugh at the obvious answer.
I'll go with Valerie on this one!

Report this post »

george smith says...
7:31am Sat 16 Mar 13

Wasn't his son jailed for climbing on the war memorial in London. This memorial in Hove is for a poor young man who lost his life to keep freedoms so that Gilmour can have easy access for his canoe and the brat son can demonstrate

Report this post »

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
7:41am Sat 16 Mar 13

Memorials have been moved before. When I lived in Lancing they moved the Railway Works memorial about a mile away to outside the Parish hall. (Actually just the names, the memorial itself was demolished). I'm with 'Martha' on this.

Report this post »

george smith says...
7:56am Sat 16 Mar 13

Martha Gunn wrote:
Now here's a contest - or rather no contest at all. Whose sense of the aesthetic and sensitivity would you rather trust? Dave Gilmour or that of Valerie Paynter and Denise Cobb? Are you all managing to hold your sides in while you laugh at the obvious answer.
Are you saying that the lyrics to another brick in the wall were aesthetic and sensitive? the rapper M & M are better

Report this post »

StyleCop says...
9:42am Sat 16 Mar 13

Where exactly is it moving to?

Oh and valerie, if you're going to get all sentimental - yes we are all transient, even the earth we stand on... all it takes is one giant meteorite and the whole planet is toast...

So get some perspective eh...?

Report this post »

50 Shades of Grey Mortuary Services Inc. says...
9:54am Sat 16 Mar 13

If human remains are found when it is moved will the Department of Work and Pensions immediately pass them as fit for work? That Richard III was dug up ages ago and still hasn't got a job. That's royalty for you I 'spose. Bone idle.

Report this post »

nosolution says...
9:58am Sat 16 Mar 13

Ok,bully for Dave he has won his case,war memorial bashing is obviously a family trait but surely there was a clause to tread carefully in case there is a grave there and provisions made for a proper exhumation,the feelings of any surviving relatives should be taken into account or didn't the planning committee think that far ahead?

Report this post »

On_the_Level says...
10:43am Sat 16 Mar 13

I don't see any other offers to tidy up the inscription, as stated it will be an improvement.

Report this post »

fredflintstone1 says...
11:20am Sat 16 Mar 13

In our celeb-driven culture of today, you don't think that history counts for anything, do you?

As Denise Cobb asks, why was the memorial put in that location in the first place? And is it a grave?

Surely, Gilmore should have been required to submit some historical research before this was even considered? I don't think an application from Joe Public would have been handled in the same way.

Report this post »

Surely not! says...
4:28pm Sat 16 Mar 13

george smith wrote:
Martha Gunn wrote:
Now here's a contest - or rather no contest at all. Whose sense of the aesthetic and sensitivity would you rather trust? Dave Gilmour or that of Valerie Paynter and Denise Cobb? Are you all managing to hold your sides in while you laugh at the obvious answer.
Are you saying that the lyrics to another brick in the wall were aesthetic and sensitive? the rapper M & M are better
1. Yes they were.
2. Dave Gilmour didn't write them.
3. Some of eminem's lyrics are better.

Report this post »

minimee says...
4:30pm Sat 16 Mar 13

I agree with Valerie. The planning committee is not fit for purpose,led by a chair who jokes his way through proceedings when decisions made will affect residents quality of life.It was brave of Denise Cobb to vote against the removal of the cross and more information should have been sought before its removal which has now been undertaken.As for the Elm tree at the 7 dials and the proposed high rise at Aniston house which will overshadow Preston Park we need competent officers that respect residents and local history not a farcical show that should be in Rotten Boroughs.

Report this post »

elephantsandowls says...
5:00pm Sat 16 Mar 13

OH the irony of this....

Report this post »

Hove Actually says...
6:48pm Sat 16 Mar 13

The planning committee are only as good as the decisions it makes...............
.......
Ours is a bit cr@p at the moment

Report this post »

hubby says...
8:10pm Sat 16 Mar 13

It was Gilmours stepson wasn't it?
Not really his flesh and blood.

Report this post »

Wooleyespull says...
5:27pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Money get back
I'm all right Jack
Keep your hands off my stack

Report this post »

pinky1 says...
10:39am Mon 18 Mar 13

You don't need a monument to remember some one, my mother and father died some time ago now and they don't have a monument or even a grave stone but because I loved them both I can still remember them...! and if all of you who are against Mr Gilmour are honesty with yourself's you didn't even know that it was there..! if it was such an important peace of history then why wasn't it on display so that every body could see it. Do you think If I made an application to the council to put a monument to my mother and father in the wall of my flat now..! that they would say yes...? my parents meant just as much to my family as Wilford Cole Verner did and did they get permission to put it there...? in the first place..! if Mr Verner has any family left then they should remember him in there hearts and mind's for what he did and for what he was...!

Report this post »

Omnishambles_1 says...
1:59pm Wed 20 Mar 13

nosolution wrote:
Ok,bully for Dave he has won his case,war memorial bashing is obviously a family trait but surely there was a clause to tread carefully in case there is a grave there and provisions made for a proper exhumation,the feelings of any surviving relatives should be taken into account or didn't the planning committee think that far ahead?
They did, all checks were done months in advance.
All the information is available on the website - i suggest you read/watch them.

Report this post »

Omnishambles_1 says...
2:02pm Wed 20 Mar 13

To all o f you moaning and groaning about this, start reading and educating yourselves on the planning processes. I hate spoon feeding you lot information:

http://www.brighton-
hove.public-i.tv/cor
e/portal/webcast_int
eractive/93796

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree