Cash-rich Bass, the pubs-to-hotels group, outlined ambitious expansion plans as it posted a strong set of full-year results. It said it aimed to expand both its international hotels arm, which includes the Inter-Continental and Crown Plaza brands, and
On a recent shopping trip to Brighton I made my way to my favourite shopping centre. Outside a supermarket, camped on the pavement, was a cold, damp and emaciated young man, complete with a small pile of coppers on a tattered blanket. On this was a large
They won't need central heating or running water, but they might make a mess on the walls. Hundreds of starlings which swarm around the West Pier in Brighton could soon be living in a specially-constructed house. That's if Richard Vahrman gets his way
Here Dr Stuart Newton, head teacher at Selsdon High School in Croydon, urges us not to write off the troubled youth of today after the murder of Damilola Taylor. A LITTLE body is lying in a mortuary. A family is devastated. The many decent people in his
A Peacehaven woman keeps getting other people's mail because of a mix-up over street names. Tomboy appears daily in The Argus and is updated each day on this web site. You can see more of Tomboy on www.moontoon.co.uk The Moontoon web site also has comic
All eyes were on pop star Louise at the Southern FM Sussex Awards last night. The singer, who went to school in Sussex, won the award for Best Female Artist of 2000. Louise hugged fellow guest Gary Kemp, of Eighties band Spandau Ballet, before running
Storm-force winds and heavy rain swept through Sussex overnight - and weathermen say more bad weather is on the way. Rivers were back on flood alert and gales gusting to 75mph brought some structural damage. Scaffolding crashed on to a police van at Shoreham
Take a deep breath everybody, here we go. We managed to change the sex of actor Tyrone Power to female in Gordon Dean's letter about Errol Flynn in last Thursday's paper. Apologies to Mr Dean, of St Lukes Road, Brighton, and Gerald Spicer, of Portslade
The mother of ten-year-old Timmy Barry, who was swept out to sea and drowned, said a tearful farewell at his funeral today. "I love you so much," Emma Barry said over her son's coffin at the service in Newhaven. Timmy drowned off Brighton beach on November
Major flood defence projects in Lewes and Chichester face cutbacks after the Environment Agency failed to secure the cash it says it needs. Lewes MP Norman Baker described the Sussex Flood Defence Committee's decision as "madness". The committee - made
The Access To Hastings study group is not "sitting on the fence" as the Hastings And Bexhill Integrated Transport Partnership (Habit) spokesman says (December 5). What it has done is prepare the ground for John Prescott to take his decision next spring
Did you serve in the Army during the Second World War? Do the terms "Army Bureau of Current Affairs" and "British Way and Purpose" ring any bells? If you can answer yes to both these questions, I would love to hear from you. I am an undergraduate at the
I must vent my anger at the shoddy way Brighton and Hove Council deals with Hove. The final straw was the repair of shelters on the seafront at Hove's boundary. I list the catalogue of failures: The King Alfred sports centre is a disgrace, overpriced
A funny thing happened on the way to Chris Pett's installation as Brighton and Hove captain. By tradition, he followed the new lady captain at the ceremonial drive-in. He shared in the applause of members as 25-handicapper Katha Bushell, playing from
The leasehold system badly needs reform as thousands of people in Sussex know to their cost. They have been sent big bills by managing agents, often for work which has not been properly done to their houses or flats. The Government has promised reform
Last week on television there were two programmes about footballers, David Beckham and Vinnie Jones (This Is Your Life). Solely on a footballing basis, Vinnie Jones caused more mayhem on the pitch than David Beckham ever did - ask Gary Stevens (ex-Albion
Ian Naylor and David Strachan, the two professionals at East Sussex National, have been made redundant. The first casualty was chief executive Wyndham Heyring when the blue chip club changed hands ten months ago. Phil Lewin, director of golf, left by
Good news has followed bad at Gatwick. Only a day after British Airways announced it was shedding 1,000 jobs there, Virgin Atlantic has announced a recruitment drive. Sir Richard Branson's airline is to take on more than 1,700 staff during the next year
World champion Mark Loram goes for indoor speedway glory at the Brighton Centre on Sunday. Loram, the only British rider to win the sport's Grand Prix title, is the big draw card on the annual dirt track spectacular which will again be watched by a 5,000
Albion are pitching for a quick kill in the FA Cup at Scunthorpe tomorrow to avoid a Withdean replay. That would be played on December 19, bringing forward the Seagulls' next fixture at their temporary home by a precious three days. Manager Micky Adams
Police recovered a body after a train driver spotted it at the side of a railway line this morning. The driver saw the body lying near the track as he approached the north end of the tunnel at Patcham at 8.58am. Police were today searching for clues to
Gatwick workers today welcomed news that airline Virgin Atlantic is to create 1,700 jobs - the day after rival British Airways revealed plans to axe 1,000 posts there. The Virgin jobs, part of an expansion by the airline, will be split between Gatwick
Milliner Lucy Tammar has won a national award for designing a wacky chocolate box hat. At the age of seven, Lucy won a Boy George look-alike competition after making hair plaits out of tights. She has been creative with clothes and hats ever since and
Developers have submitted new plans for shops and offices on an island site near Brighton's Clock Tower. The scheme by Wildmoor Properties (Brighton) is for Air Street and North Street Quadrant. It would involve demolishing some existing buildings in
The man who acted as minder to screen goddess Marlene Dietrich when she visited Britain has died aged 74. Ray Walters, a Brighton cabbie, started working for the singer and actress when she appeared at the Theatre Royal in 1965. She took such a shine
On a recent shopping trip to Brighton I made my way to my favourite shopping centre. Outside a supermarket, camped on the pavement, was a cold, damp and emaciated young man, complete with a small pile of coppers on a tattered blanket. On this was a large
They won't need central heating or running water, but they might make a mess on the walls. Hundreds of starlings which swarm around the West Pier in Brighton could soon be living in a specially-constructed house. That's if Richard Vahrman gets his way
A crucial decision on the future of alternative health treatment on the NHS has been delayed. West Sussex Health Authority is reviewing whether it can justify paying tens of thousands of pounds a year for homeopathic remedies. It was due to make a commitment
A Peacehaven woman keeps getting other people's mail because of a mix-up over street names. Tomboy appears daily in The Argus and is updated each day on this web site. You can see more of Tomboy on www.moontoon.co.uk The Moontoon web site also has comic
I am not alone, I suspect, in finding the headline in a recent local Tory leaflet, "Mugged by Labour", hugely offensive. That local Tories, who make much of their Christian credentials, are prepared to stoop to such negative, American-style campaigning
Walking along Eaton Road, Hove, I spotted two females of a rare species. Their plumage was black with yellow markings. They seemed to be able to hear and speak but this species must have poor eyesight as they walked past Selbourne Road without seeing
My supermarket is selling deeds of land on the moon at £12.99 per acre. Those nave or gullible enough to be tempted to buy such a deed should know nobody owns or has the right to sell lunar real estate. The purported deeds are worth no more than the paper
Major flood defence projects in Lewes and Chichester face cutbacks after the Environment Agency failed to secure the cash it says it needs. Lewes MP Norman Baker described the Sussex Flood Defence Committee's decision as "madness". The committee - made
If reports are true, the Countryside Alliance, in return for new investment in rural Britain, has eventually come to an agreement with the Government to co-operate in the abolition of blood sports. It can only reinforce one's belief in the advantages
Villagers are at loggerheads with school governors over a housing scheme which would provide new facilities for local pupils. Retired pig farmer Peter Brook, 62, has offered to give £1 million and a two-and-a-half acre site in Wivelsfield Green to Wivelsfield
While I appreciate the problem of undesirable tenants in Downland Court, Portslade (opinion November 30; report December 6), I would like to point out the problems of privately rented homes. We have two in this area and they house two children of the
Did you serve in the Army during the Second World War? Do the terms "Army Bureau of Current Affairs" and "British Way and Purpose" ring any bells? If you can answer yes to both these questions, I would love to hear from you. I am an undergraduate at the
I must vent my anger at the shoddy way Brighton and Hove Council deals with Hove. The final straw was the repair of shelters on the seafront at Hove's boundary. I list the catalogue of failures: The King Alfred sports centre is a disgrace, overpriced
City? Mayor? Is it fair? I came away from last Thursday night's public meeting, held at the Brighthelm Centre, enlightened but deeply depressed and concerned. There are three core elements to genuine, democratic local government: Local people, local taxes
The leasehold system badly needs reform as thousands of people in Sussex know to their cost. They have been sent big bills by managing agents, often for work which has not been properly done to their houses or flats. The Government has promised reform
Last week on television there were two programmes about footballers, David Beckham and Vinnie Jones (This Is Your Life). Solely on a footballing basis, Vinnie Jones caused more mayhem on the pitch than David Beckham ever did - ask Gary Stevens (ex-Albion
Ian Naylor and David Strachan, the two professionals at East Sussex National, have been made redundant. The first casualty was chief executive Wyndham Heyring when the blue chip club changed hands ten months ago. Phil Lewin, director of golf, left by
Good news has followed bad at Gatwick. Only a day after British Airways announced it was shedding 1,000 jobs there, Virgin Atlantic has announced a recruitment drive. Sir Richard Branson's airline is to take on more than 1,700 staff during the next year
Albion are pitching for a quick kill in the FA Cup at Scunthorpe tomorrow to avoid a Withdean replay. That would be played on December 19, bringing forward the Seagulls' next fixture at their temporary home by a precious three days. Manager Micky Adams
Police in Brighton are out to ruin Christmas - at least for criminals. They have launched a two-pronged blitz on shoplifters and people who have failed to show up in court. Operation Sleighbell involves high-profile patrols in the town centre and car
Up to 40 jobs will be created when part of a former town centre cinema is turned into a restaurant. The Santa Fe restaurant chain has already been granted a licence to use part of the old ABC cinema in East Street, Brighton. Bosses at Santa Fe said the
Hundreds of residents and traders turned out in the pouring rain to see Lewes' Christmas lights switched on and to tell the world their town is back in business. The streets were full of shoppers and onlookers as BBC TV presenter Sally Taylor flicked
Border terrier Pru had a happy reunion with her owners after three weeks trapped in a rabbit warren. Prudence could have done with a dose of caution as she headed off down the underground hole. Robert and Jane Thomas had given up hope of ever finding
The relaunch of a failing school raised expectations which were impossible to fulfil, a council report says today. Troubled Marina High School in Brighton was relaunched last year as East Brighton College of Media Arts under the Government's Fresh Start
The owners of an 87-year-old printing works in Worthing have joined residents to fight a proposed housing development. The long-established Worthing firm faces closure with the loss of ten jobs if its site is sold to make way for the homes. Gadds was
Cash-rich Bass, the pubs-to-hotels group, outlined ambitious expansion plans as it posted a strong set of full-year results. It said it aimed to expand both its international hotels arm, which includes the Inter-Continental and Crown Plaza brands, and
I am glad Titanic is on television on Christmas Day but I found it a bit unrealistic. Was Rose ever reunited with her snobby mother on the ship Carpathia? Would a first-class passenger put her finger in the air as a sign of saying "Up yours" in 1912?
Here Dr Stuart Newton, head teacher at Selsdon High School in Croydon, urges us not to write off the troubled youth of today after the murder of Damilola Taylor. A LITTLE body is lying in a mortuary. A family is devastated. The many decent people in his
Why doesn't the train company build double-decker trains? Then all the people using the trains might get a seat and we could be the first country to do it. -Mrs J. Wright, Ditchling Road, Brighton
All eyes were on pop star Louise at the Southern FM Sussex Awards last night. The singer, who went to school in Sussex, won the award for Best Female Artist of 2000. Louise hugged fellow guest Gary Kemp, of Eighties band Spandau Ballet, before running
Storm-force winds and heavy rain swept through Sussex overnight - and weathermen say more bad weather is on the way. Rivers were back on flood alert and gales gusting to 75mph brought some structural damage. Scaffolding crashed on to a police van at Shoreham
Take a deep breath everybody, here we go. We managed to change the sex of actor Tyrone Power to female in Gordon Dean's letter about Errol Flynn in last Thursday's paper. Apologies to Mr Dean, of St Lukes Road, Brighton, and Gerald Spicer, of Portslade
Despite growing, worldwide fears over the health dangers of mobile phones and phone masts, the Church of England has given its blessing to aerial installations on church towers. With the international debate intensifying and scientists disagreeing among
Two coach crash victims say they will fight for compensation over a Christmas shopping trip they believe could have cost their lives. John and Eileen Datson were among 48 passengers aboard a Leger Holidays coach which overturned into a ditch as it returned
The mother of ten-year-old Timmy Barry, who was swept out to sea and drowned, said a tearful farewell at his funeral today. "I love you so much," Emma Barry said over her son's coffin at the service in Newhaven. Timmy drowned off Brighton beach on November
The Access To Hastings study group is not "sitting on the fence" as the Hastings And Bexhill Integrated Transport Partnership (Habit) spokesman says (December 5). What it has done is prepare the ground for John Prescott to take his decision next spring
Findon handler Josh Gifford is one of the few trainers not complaining about the excessively wet weather of recent weeks. His strike rate this season of 17 per cent, nine winners from 54 runners, is satisfactory and Gifford knows he has plenty of ammunition
Brighton Bears' coach Mark Dunning has the full backing of his players, according to captain Michael Brown. Dunning provoked an angry response from owner Romek Kriwald when he staged a sit-down protest during last weekend's Uni-ball Trophy defeat by Sheffield
Sandra Scott receives twice as many parcels as most people because of her address in Peacehaven. There are two sections of Roderick Avenue and she keeps receiving mail addressed to people in the other half. She's even received a threat of legal proceedings
A funny thing happened on the way to Chris Pett's installation as Brighton and Hove captain. By tradition, he followed the new lady captain at the ceremonial drive-in. He shared in the applause of members as 25-handicapper Katha Bushell, playing from
Brighton General Hospital is an old building, as other letter writers have stated. The quality of nursing, however, is not impaired. My husband is receiving care which cannot be improved upon. No matter how odious the task involved, the nursing staff
We recently had occasion to visit Brighton General Hospital where a senior member of our family was terminally ill after being transferred from the Royal Sussex County. The conditions we found filled us with horror and disgust; the environment of Cuckmere
World champion Mark Loram goes for indoor speedway glory at the Brighton Centre on Sunday. Loram, the only British rider to win the sport's Grand Prix title, is the big draw card on the annual dirt track spectacular which will again be watched by a 5,000
Gary Croydon returned from a scouting expedition to Arlesey and declared: "We have nothing to fear." The Burgess Hill boss took almost three hours to reach the Bedfordshire ground and watch Tuesday's League win over Bracknell. He was impressed with the
A man was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident in Horsham. The 45-year-old local man was left lying in the road after the accident in New Street at 2.09am. He is being treated for serious injuries in the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath
Police recovered a body after a train driver spotted it at the side of a railway line this morning. The driver saw the body lying near the track as he approached the north end of the tunnel at Patcham at 8.58am. Police were today searching for clues to
Sandra Scott hates the thud of post arriving on her doormat at this time of year. Whether it's fishing tackle, stockings or Christmas cards, Mrs Scott is inundated with other people's parcels darkening her doorstep. Roderick Avenue, Peacehaven, may sound
A postmaster today offered a cash reward to catch raiders who threatened two female workers with a meat cleaver. Nagpal Sherman, who runs a shop and post office in Elm Grove, Brighton, urged: "It's time we all fought back against these villains." The
Police numbers in Eastbourne should be back to full strength by March, says Sussex's police chief. Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse said measures were in place to ensure a full contingent of 222 officers would be available in the district. Eight officers
Two good Samaritans who acted quickly when an elderly man collapsed in the centre of Burgess Hill yesterday are being asked to contact the ambulance service. Medics want to trace the women, who disappeared when crews took over, saying they gave the heart
A ban on Sunday entertainment is set to be lifted so revellers can celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Both dates fall on Sundays, when current licensing laws ban dancing and music in Eastbourne's clubs and pubs. Eastbourne Borough Council plans
Gatwick workers today welcomed news that airline Virgin Atlantic is to create 1,700 jobs - the day after rival British Airways revealed plans to axe 1,000 posts there. The Virgin jobs, part of an expansion by the airline, will be split between Gatwick
Hastings is to star in a major feature-length BBC television drama. Scenes for When I Was Twelve have been shot in Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards. It marks yet another telly appearance for the seaside town, which also features in the latest Norwich
Scores of West Sussex students took to the stage for a spectacular at the Millennium Dome. A total of 23 schools provided the manpower for a theatre production at the controversial London landmark. Sixty-five pupils, aged 11 to 16, responded to the call
A psychiatric patient who threw herself beneath a train travelling at 80mph may have been desperately trying to contact her children. Nicola Page, 39, failed to return after an outing agreed by doctors at the hospital where she was staying voluntarily
Milliner Lucy Tammar has won a national award for designing a wacky chocolate box hat. At the age of seven, Lucy won a Boy George look-alike competition after making hair plaits out of tights. She has been creative with clothes and hats ever since and
Developers have submitted new plans for shops and offices on an island site near Brighton's Clock Tower. The scheme by Wildmoor Properties (Brighton) is for Air Street and North Street Quadrant. It would involve demolishing some existing buildings in
First-time buyers in Brighton and Hove have all but resigned themselves to the area's inflated house prices. But even if they do find an affordable property, a mortgage does not necessarily make them master of their own home. An estimated 25,000 people
The man who acted as minder to screen goddess Marlene Dietrich when she visited Britain has died aged 74. Ray Walters, a Brighton cabbie, started working for the singer and actress when she appeared at the Theatre Royal in 1965. She took such a shine
I am glad Titanic is on television on Christmas Day but I found it a bit unrealistic. Was Rose ever reunited with her snobby mother on the ship Carpathia? Would a first-class passenger put her finger in the air as a sign of saying "Up yours" in 1912?
Why doesn't the train company build double-decker trains? Then all the people using the trains might get a seat and we could be the first country to do it. -Mrs J. Wright, Ditchling Road, Brighton
I am not alone, I suspect, in finding the headline in a recent local Tory leaflet, "Mugged by Labour", hugely offensive. That local Tories, who make much of their Christian credentials, are prepared to stoop to such negative, American-style campaigning
Walking along Eaton Road, Hove, I spotted two females of a rare species. Their plumage was black with yellow markings. They seemed to be able to hear and speak but this species must have poor eyesight as they walked past Selbourne Road without seeing
My supermarket is selling deeds of land on the moon at £12.99 per acre. Those nave or gullible enough to be tempted to buy such a deed should know nobody owns or has the right to sell lunar real estate. The purported deeds are worth no more than the paper
Despite growing, worldwide fears over the health dangers of mobile phones and phone masts, the Church of England has given its blessing to aerial installations on church towers. With the international debate intensifying and scientists disagreeing among
If reports are true, the Countryside Alliance, in return for new investment in rural Britain, has eventually come to an agreement with the Government to co-operate in the abolition of blood sports. It can only reinforce one's belief in the advantages
While I appreciate the problem of undesirable tenants in Downland Court, Portslade (opinion November 30; report December 6), I would like to point out the problems of privately rented homes. We have two in this area and they house two children of the
Findon handler Josh Gifford is one of the few trainers not complaining about the excessively wet weather of recent weeks. His strike rate this season of 17 per cent, nine winners from 54 runners, is satisfactory and Gifford knows he has plenty of ammunition
Brighton Bears' coach Mark Dunning has the full backing of his players, according to captain Michael Brown. Dunning provoked an angry response from owner Romek Kriwald when he staged a sit-down protest during last weekend's Uni-ball Trophy defeat by Sheffield
Sandra Scott receives twice as many parcels as most people because of her address in Peacehaven. There are two sections of Roderick Avenue and she keeps receiving mail addressed to people in the other half. She's even received a threat of legal proceedings
City? Mayor? Is it fair? I came away from last Thursday night's public meeting, held at the Brighthelm Centre, enlightened but deeply depressed and concerned. There are three core elements to genuine, democratic local government: Local people, local taxes
Brighton General Hospital is an old building, as other letter writers have stated. The quality of nursing, however, is not impaired. My husband is receiving care which cannot be improved upon. No matter how odious the task involved, the nursing staff
We recently had occasion to visit Brighton General Hospital where a senior member of our family was terminally ill after being transferred from the Royal Sussex County. The conditions we found filled us with horror and disgust; the environment of Cuckmere
Gary Croydon returned from a scouting expedition to Arlesey and declared: "We have nothing to fear." The Burgess Hill boss took almost three hours to reach the Bedfordshire ground and watch Tuesday's League win over Bracknell. He was impressed with the
Sandra Scott hates the thud of post arriving on her doormat at this time of year. Whether it's fishing tackle, stockings or Christmas cards, Mrs Scott is inundated with other people's parcels darkening her doorstep. Roderick Avenue, Peacehaven, may sound
A postmaster today offered a cash reward to catch raiders who threatened two female workers with a meat cleaver. Nagpal Sherman, who runs a shop and post office in Elm Grove, Brighton, urged: "It's time we all fought back against these villains." The
Police in Brighton are out to ruin Christmas - at least for criminals. They have launched a two-pronged blitz on shoplifters and people who have failed to show up in court. Operation Sleighbell involves high-profile patrols in the town centre and car
Up to 40 jobs will be created when part of a former town centre cinema is turned into a restaurant. The Santa Fe restaurant chain has already been granted a licence to use part of the old ABC cinema in East Street, Brighton. Bosses at Santa Fe said the
Hundreds of residents and traders turned out in the pouring rain to see Lewes' Christmas lights switched on and to tell the world their town is back in business. The streets were full of shoppers and onlookers as BBC TV presenter Sally Taylor flicked
Border terrier Pru had a happy reunion with her owners after three weeks trapped in a rabbit warren. Prudence could have done with a dose of caution as she headed off down the underground hole. Robert and Jane Thomas had given up hope of ever finding
The relaunch of a failing school raised expectations which were impossible to fulfil, a council report says today. Troubled Marina High School in Brighton was relaunched last year as East Brighton College of Media Arts under the Government's Fresh Start
First-time buyers in Brighton and Hove have all but resigned themselves to the area's inflated house prices. But even if they do find an affordable property, a mortgage does not necessarily make them master of their own home. An estimated 25,000 people
