Don't give to baby beggars, Help at hand, Secret Samurai

Anyone venturing into the centre of Brighton will see large numbers of beggars on the streets every day of the year. But in a new development, beggars with babies have been calling at people's homes in Southwick to demand money.

No one should give money to these beggars who are using their babies in an attempt to gain sympathy for themselves. It is legally and morally wrong to exploit children in this way.

Police must take action to stop this practice and also determine the status of these women. If they are illegal immigrants, they should leave the country. If they have just reasons for being here, they will receive help from the Government, local authorities and charities so that they can settle in this country and start a new life here.

This kind of begging is unnecessary and puts off people who might otherwise be sympathetic to the plight of families facing war and poverty in their own countries.

Help at hand

Miscarriages are common, happening to one women in every six. Yet there has been little discussion about them in the past or support for the women involved.

Now in Miscarriage Awareness Week, two mothers who suffered a series of miscarriages have spoken to the Argus about their problems. Beverley Smith and Gillian Carr had happy endings to their stories with the births of their babies.

But there are many other women who've had miscarriages and have never experienced the joy of being parents.What they should know is there are people prepared to give help and support, notably members of the Miscarriage Association.

These experts will know more than anyone how upsetting miscarriages can be and what can be done to increase the chances of normal, healthy births for them.

Secret Samurai

Take a close look at your solicitor next time you see him. He may look as British as John Bull. But secretly he could be training at the first Samurai training centre in Brighton which has just opened.

The Samurai soldiers in Japan were feared and admired in equal measure for their courage, warrior's abilities and their strict code of ethics. So don't upset your lawyer, especially if a large sword happens to be standing by his side.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.