Archive

I feel like the person who hears the first cuckoo in spring. Yesterday morning, I saw a cyclist stop at a red light on the pedestrian crossing outside my home. This must be a record. -John Lucas, Dyke Road, Brighton

Could any older reader give me some information regarding the converted railway coaches in "bungalow town", Shoreham-by-Sea, in the early Thirties? We moved into one of these coaches then with my parents and sister and our gate had the sign "Redcot" on

I would like to respond to Jonathan Sheppard (Letters, February 13) and his points on local housing. Of course, no individual is to blame for the current crisis. But it was Margaret Thatcher who stressed individual rights and allowed social policy to

We would like to pay tribute to Roy Woodhouse, of Hangleton Road, Hove. For the past 16 years, he has organised a different monthly walk of between six and eight miles, with a pub or picnic stop half way, for members of the Sussex Wildlife Trust. He is

The Royal Sussex County Hospital plays a very important part in treating patients from London, Surrey, Kent, Hants, West Sussex and even French people if they are taken ill on the ferry at Newhaven. Every day we hear the ambulances, fire engines and police

I thank The Argus for publishing my letter (December 28) regarding ageism in the NHS. I have received many letters from readers detailing their case histories, most of which made very sad and disturbing reading. One or two people seem to think I am trying

A marine mammal specialist has been carrying out autopsies on dolphins washed up along the South Coast. Richard Sabin, from Worthing, a co-ordinator of the UK Cetacean Strandings Programme at the Natural History Museum in London, has carried out post-mortems

C Aubrey Smith's involvement with cricket (Letters, February 16) didn't end when he left Sussex and England for film fame in Twenties and Thirties Hollywood. Well into his 70s, he continued to organise the Hollywood Cricket Club ensuring, as David Niven

Television presenter Zoe Ball has revealed how her school friends used to make fun of her ears. Zoe, who lives with her husband, musician and DJ Norman Cook, in Hove, said she was called FA Cup because of the shape of her ears. She recalled the jibes

There is no way I would risk the safety of my child to MMR. Thank heaven my children are all grown up and healthy. They all had measles when young, as did most of our generation - it was part of childhood. To give a child a dose of measles, mumps and

I was stationed at Royal Air Force Schwechat, near Vienna, from 1951 to 1954. Austria was still split into four sections - British, French, US and, to the east, Russian. We were 140 miles behind the Iron Curtain. The Army used to organise a historical

When Gary Nash saw the home address on his grandparents' marriage certificate it made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It was exactly the same as his own - 8 King's Gardens, Hove. It also got him thinking. What if they had spent their honeymoon

Because of West Sussex County Council's reorganisation of Crawley schools, the only school in the first neighbourhood of the New Town is about to be closed. Once that land goes, there will be no spare land in West Green so there can never be another school

I am pleased Brighton and Hove City Council is increasing its grant to the Women's Refuge project and that grants to social and community groups will increase by 13 per cent next year, while cash for the arts faces a small reduction. I am happy the vast

Brighton Bears have reached the national under-16s cup final. They overcame London Towers 75-61 at the University of Sussex to make sure of their place at the Sheffield Arena on March 23. Coach Phil Waghorn said: "The rest of the country had better sit

Gary Nash was surprised when he came across the wedding certificate his grandparents signed more than 80 years ago. For it gave their address as a house in King's Gardens on Hove seafront, where he is living now. His granny was a housemaid and may even

Chris Bristow believes he can put his experience to good use after being called into the England under-16s squad again. The 15-year-old Worthing club goalkeeper won three caps last season against Poland, Belgium and Wales. He said: "I kept a clean sheet

A man accused of threatening to "blow away" his brother in a feud over their grandmother's will was cleared yesterday. Judge Richard Brown told Lewes Crown Court he would not get involved in a family dispute. The judge stepped in to stop the case as Gareth

Lib Dem leader Paul Elgood was way off the mark in his bizarre attack on David Panter (Letters, February 15). The chief executive of any council is paid to deliver and, where necessary, explain the policies of the elected administration. He or she should

Last night's Eastbourne derby between Borough and United was abandoned amid farcical scenes at Priory Lane. The fourth round Sussex Senior Cup tie was plagued by floodlight problems and referee Henry De Winne eventually called the match off after 30 minutes

Albion's fringe men get a chance to stake a claim as Bobby Zamora's stand-in at Worthing tonight. Boss Peter Taylor will be at Woodside Road to watch the reserves in action against one of his former clubs Gillingham (7.0). The match offers an opportunity

Harvey Stephens' career has blossomed since he took over as head gardener at one of the UK's most important horticultural sites. Harvey's CV is impressive for someone of just 29. He has worked in gardens in Israel, the Botanic Garden of Moscow University

A devoted daughter has flown across the world four times to try and get her 87-year-old father out of hospital and into a nursing home. Pensioner Albert Russon, who was once the Queen's telephonist, has been in hospital for the last 14 months, during

Moves to stop racehorses training on a popular section of the Downs are being stepped up after a greyhound was injured by a galloping horse. Lewes trainer Jamie Poulton has agreed to pay the veterinary bills for the dog after accepting one of his horses

Financial services group Bradford & Bingley today unveiled a bumper payday for shareholders after posting a 48 per cent rise in pre-tax profits. The former building society said it would return £150 million to shareholders through a share buy-back

The final car was today leaving the production line at Ford's biggest UK factory, signalling the end of an era - and the loss of 1,100 jobs. The last three Ford Fiestas built at the giant Dagenham plant in Essex are to be given to charity, including one

A woman was forced to clear out her home today after health inspectors branded it a public health hazard. Brighton and Hove City Council's environmental health team was called in by police who had raided the terraced house in Washington Street, Hanover

A six-day-old baby girl has died in what police believe was a tragic accident, it emerged today. Six-day-old Shannon Murphy was rushed to hospital from the family home in Langney, Eastbourne. Medics tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead on arrival

Killer Robert Cairns has been found guilty for the third time for the brutal murder of cancer sufferer Justin Hayward. Cairns was convicted first in 1998 and again in 2000 after a retrial. Three judges at London's Court of Appeal have now dismissed his

A mother and her three young children were offered a free one-way ticket to Pakistan after she was refused council housing. The 36-year-old Crawley-born mum fled her home in Karachi, Pakistan, after splitting up with her husband and had nowhere to stay

A fruit picker has denied starting a fire that killed 15 travellers at an Australian hostel, including a man from Sussex. Adam Rowland, 19, of Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards, was killed at the Palace Backpackers' Hostel in Childers, 190 miles north

A talented young orchestral conductor narrowly missed out on a big prize but is preparing for his next big event. Quentin Clare, 26, of First Avenue, Newhaven, reached the last three in the recent BBC Young Conductors competition finals. He remains upbeat

Almost 300 motorists have been collared in a record-breaking blitz on car tax dodgers in Brighton. A total of 25 unregistered vehicles were towed away for crushing and another 258 issued with penalty notices. Their owners face a maximum £1,000 fine. Driver

Bowls players are furious they could lose a prized green and only learnt about the plans when they read The Argus. The green in Hove is played regularly by club bowlers and members of the public and is used for an annual summer tournament. However, last

I was saddened to hear of the arson attack on Derrimans Funeral Directors in Patcham. This family business showed us such kindness, respect and help when my teenage son, Richard, died nearly three years ago that without its gentle care this would have

I feel like the person who hears the first cuckoo in spring. Yesterday morning, I saw a cyclist stop at a red light on the pedestrian crossing outside my home. This must be a record. -John Lucas, Dyke Road, Brighton

A village social club set up by Sir Winston Churchill's head cook has held its last meeting. The Rottingdean Good Fellowship Club was established for over-60s as life got back to normal after the Second World War. Its members have been meeting for the

Could any older reader give me some information regarding the converted railway coaches in "bungalow town", Shoreham-by-Sea, in the early Thirties? We moved into one of these coaches then with my parents and sister and our gate had the sign "Redcot" on

I would like to respond to Jonathan Sheppard (Letters, February 13) and his points on local housing. Of course, no individual is to blame for the current crisis. But it was Margaret Thatcher who stressed individual rights and allowed social policy to

We would like to pay tribute to Roy Woodhouse, of Hangleton Road, Hove. For the past 16 years, he has organised a different monthly walk of between six and eight miles, with a pub or picnic stop half way, for members of the Sussex Wildlife Trust. He is

The Royal Sussex County Hospital plays a very important part in treating patients from London, Surrey, Kent, Hants, West Sussex and even French people if they are taken ill on the ferry at Newhaven. Every day we hear the ambulances, fire engines and police

Reading about the convicted 28-year-old mother of eight neglected children, who is now expecting another child, made me wonder whether enforced sterilisation is actually practised anywhere in the Western world. I agree it may seem authoritarian but what

A marine mammal specialist has been carrying out autopsies on dolphins washed up along the South Coast. Richard Sabin, from Worthing, a co-ordinator of the UK Cetacean Strandings Programme at the Natural History Museum in London, has carried out post-mortems

Television presenter Zoe Ball has revealed how her school friends used to make fun of her ears. Zoe, who lives with her husband, musician and DJ Norman Cook, in Hove, said she was called FA Cup because of the shape of her ears. She recalled the jibes

Why should we respect a police force which sends Valentine's Day cards to criminals (February 13), sticks signs on lamp posts and makes excuses. It reminds many of us of a police farce, not a police force. -Nigel Donovan, Portslade

A teenage girl may have talked a knifeman out of killing her after he abducted her and cut off a piece of her hair. The terrified 17-year-old student was forced into an allotment and repeatedly threatened with a knife. Her attacker kept her there for

An elderly man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a car on an East Sussex road. He was in collision with a Volvo 440 which was travelling north-west at Horebeech Lane, near Mile Green Cottages, Horam, near Heathfield. He

A six-day-old baby from Eastbourne has died in what police believe was a tragic accident, it emerged today. Six-day-old Shannon Murphy was rushed to hospital from the family home in Langney. Medics tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead on arrival

Council tax rises in East Sussex are expected to be the lowest anywhere in England, county councillors have promised. Bills will increase by 4.9 per cent from April, almost certainly less than any other English council but still double the rate of inflation

A gang of teenagers made unsuccessful attempts to grab a handbag and a mobile phone from a group of friends in Crawley. The gang of ten to 15 youths, aged 14 to 16, were walking the opposite way to the four friends, who were on their way to the cinema

A Lancing pensioner's dream holiday turned into a disaster when she was left stranded at Singapore airport with no hotel to go to. Wheelchair user Pam Gavan, 67, of Gordon Road, was so frustrated she has vowed never to fly abroad again. She is in dispute

A supermarket giant plans to buy college land in Worthing for almost £20 million and build a new store there. The deal between Asda and Worthing College, in Bolsover Road, would also create a modern "superschool" - but it depends on planning permission

A former traffic policeman from Haywards Heath died instantly when his motorbike crashed into two cars, an inquest heard. Roy Townshend, 57, may have been momentarily distracted as he approached a Volkswagen Golf that was about to turn into a side road

A teenage girl may have talked a knifeman out of killing her after he abducted her and cut off a piece of her hair. The terrified 17-year-old student was forced into an allotment and repeatedly threatened with a knife. Her attacker kept her there for

I am pleased Brighton and Hove City Council is increasing its grant to the Women's Refuge project and that grants to social and community groups will increase by 13 per cent next year, while cash for the arts faces a small reduction. I am happy the vast

Thank you for publishing the list of organisations which did and did not receive grants (The Argus, February 15). It made most interesting reading. I see the Sudanese Elderly Group is to receive nearly £16,000 in the next two years, which begs the question

Brighton Bears have reached the national under-16s cup final. They overcame London Towers 75-61 at the University of Sussex to make sure of their place at the Sheffield Arena on March 23. Coach Phil Waghorn said: "The rest of the country had better sit

I am getting a little tired of Lib Dem claims to be the real opposition in Brighton and Hove. Where is their opposition to another horrendous rise in Labour's council tax? They simply demand all their pet projects are funded, which would push up taxation

Chris Bristow believes he can put his experience to good use after being called into the England under-16s squad again. The 15-year-old Worthing club goalkeeper won three caps last season against Poland, Belgium and Wales. He said: "I kept a clean sheet

Binmen who held a sit-in last year are being hailed as heroes by their union colleagues tonight. Staff at Hollingdean depot in Brighton will receive a commemorative lamp from the local trades council, the highest honour it can bestow. The members of the

A man accused of threatening to "blow away" his brother in a feud over their grandmother's will was cleared yesterday. Judge Richard Brown told Lewes Crown Court he would not get involved in a family dispute. The judge stepped in to stop the case as Gareth

Alex Harrison is ready to captain his country on Friday. He hopes to be wearing the armband when English Schools under-18s face Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield at The Oval, Glentoran. The 18-year-old striker, from Eastbourne, successfully captained

Hospitals are only too keen to ensure most people remain inpatients for as short a time as possible. It's best for the patient to be at home if possible. It saves the NHS money and it enables other patients to be treated more quickly. So there's cause

Lib Dem leader Paul Elgood was way off the mark in his bizarre attack on David Panter (Letters, February 15). The chief executive of any council is paid to deliver and, where necessary, explain the policies of the elected administration. He or she should

Arundel left it late to clinch a place in the final of the Sussex RUR Cup. Jon Tucker's 90th minute strike was enough to beat Ringmer 1-0 at Wick to secure a final place against either Rye United or Selsey, who meet at Lancing tonight. There was some

A woman has beaten off competition from across Britain to win a sermon contest. Claudia Gould, of Compton Road, Brighton, had to give a sermon in front of an audience in London. The Sermon of the Century competition was run to mark the centenary of the

Last night's Eastbourne derby between Borough and United was abandoned amid farcical scenes at Priory Lane. The fourth round Sussex Senior Cup tie was plagued by floodlight problems and referee Henry De Winne eventually called the match off after 30 minutes

Crawley Town missed the chance to go top of the Dr Martens League premier division after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Folkestone Invicta. Victory would have put Reds a point clear at the summit after leaders Tamworth could only draw 2-2 at Tiverton

Financial services group Bradford & Bingley today unveiled a bumper payday for shareholders after posting a 48 per cent rise in pre-tax profits. The former building society said it would return £150 million to shareholders through a share buy-back

Antisocial neighbours and drivers could face a hefty fine as part of a clampdown on noise pollution in Eastbourne. The borough council and Sussex Police have joined forces in the purge. They have been seizing stereo equipment and say they'll keep prosecuting

A woman was forced to clear out her home today after health inspectors branded it a public health hazard. Brighton and Hove City Council's environmental health team was called in by police who had raided the terraced house in Washington Street, Hanover

A councillor at the centre of a two-year race slur row has quit his party, branding accusations against him "disgusting". Pat Beresford last night publicly resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Adur District Council. The 57-year-old financial

A six-day-old baby girl has died in what police believe was a tragic accident, it emerged today. Six-day-old Shannon Murphy was rushed to hospital from the family home in Langney, Eastbourne. Medics tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead on arrival

A mother and her three young children were offered a free one-way ticket to Pakistan after she was refused council housing. The 36-year-old Crawley-born mum fled her home in Karachi, Pakistan, after splitting up with her husband and had nowhere to stay

Hospital performances in Sussex have been among the worst in England according to figures published today. Government statistics covering dates ranging from 1999 to June 2001 show some hospitals were close to the bottom of the table in several areas.

A fruit picker has denied starting a fire that killed 15 travellers at an Australian hostel, including a man from Sussex. Adam Rowland, 19, of Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards, was killed at the Palace Backpackers' Hostel in Childers, 190 miles north

Once a week, black Labrador Norton takes a trip to the nearby primary school for a spot of learning. The six-month-old mutt is being groomed to become a care dog for the disabled. As part of his training, his puppy parent, Peter Place, takes him to visit

Almost 300 motorists have been collared in a record-breaking blitz on car tax dodgers in Brighton. A total of 25 unregistered vehicles were towed away for crushing and another 258 issued with penalty notices. Their owners face a maximum £1,000 fine. Driver

Coach services to Gatwick airport are being slashed as a result of the downturn in passenger numbers. Gatwick has been one of the hardest-hit airports in Europe from the decrease in the number of travellers since the September 11 terrorist attacks. The

Councillors are complaining that community groups are being forced out of Hove Town Hall through a new pricing policy. They have ordered a review of the impact of changes on the number of bookings and the budget. Members of Brighton and Hove City Council's

Bowls players are furious they could lose a prized green and only learnt about the plans when they read The Argus. The green in Hove is played regularly by club bowlers and members of the public and is used for an annual summer tournament. However, last

I was saddened to hear of the arson attack on Derrimans Funeral Directors in Patcham. This family business showed us such kindness, respect and help when my teenage son, Richard, died nearly three years ago that without its gentle care this would have

Can East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council and the Green Party (February 14) explain why a muddy field at Falmer is an area of outstanding natural beauty? -Mike Walsh, Nesbitt Road, Brighton

A village social club set up by Sir Winston Churchill's head cook has held its last meeting. The Rottingdean Good Fellowship Club was established for over-60s as life got back to normal after the Second World War. Its members have been meeting for the

I am extremely concerned by the implications of recent statements made by the US government regarding the potential extension of its "war on terrorism" to the unilaterally identified "axis of evil" and the failure of the British government, unlike its

In response to the report on Sussex road deaths (February 18), roads do not kill. It is the people that drive on them that kill. The AA report underwrites the UK's culture of blaming everything but the driver, yet it is driver error that is responsible

The news that Stuart Welling has "saved" his job because of the "improvement" in performance of Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust over the past three months left me shaking my head in disbelief. This organisation managed to mislay my mother's important X-rays

I am very concerned at the negative press given to our hospitals in relation to a small minority of patients having to wait on trolleys and allegedly being treated with no respect. Last week, I sat with my neighbour while she waited for an ambulance to

A campaign to force cycle manufacturers to fit a light and a bell to all new models has won the backing of an MP. Tim Loughton took to the saddle to promote a bid to make the safety features compulsory. The campaign was launched in Brighton and Hove in

Reading about the convicted 28-year-old mother of eight neglected children, who is now expecting another child, made me wonder whether enforced sterilisation is actually practised anywhere in the Western world. I agree it may seem authoritarian but what

The cruel mother expecting her ninth child (February 15) should not be allowed to have any more children. Doesn't she realise every time she falls pregnant the baby will be taken away because of what she and her partner did? In cases like this, the mother

Why should we respect a police force which sends Valentine's Day cards to criminals (February 13), sticks signs on lamp posts and makes excuses. It reminds many of us of a police farce, not a police force. -Nigel Donovan, Portslade

Theatre box office staff were held up by a knife-wielding robber. The man went into the Komedia in Gardner Street, Brighton, at 4.10pm yesterday brandishing a 10in bread knife. He threatened a woman assistant and stole the contents of a till. He fled,

Think of ferrets and what do you see? A vicious, sharp-toothed, smelly animal ... or an adorable, furry pet? If you were me you would opt for the former. If you're The Mother, well, you're likely to come over all soft and sentimental at the mention of

Striking binmen who staged a three-day occupation of their depot have been hailed as trade union heroes. Members of the GMB will receive Brighton Trades Council's highest accolade, a commemorative miner's lamp, at its annual meeting tonight. Binmen won

A teenage girl may have talked a knifeman out of killing her after he abducted her and cut off a piece of her hair. The terrified 17-year-old student was forced into an allotment and repeatedly threatened with a knife. Her attacker kept her there for

Thank you for publishing the list of organisations which did and did not receive grants (The Argus, February 15). It made most interesting reading. I see the Sudanese Elderly Group is to receive nearly £16,000 in the next two years, which begs the question

In response to Peter Bartram (Letters, February 18), since David Panter was appointed at the council meeting of September 12, 2001, when the grant allocation was confirmed, he has the minutes and the reports on which the grants were based. He should know

I am getting a little tired of Lib Dem claims to be the real opposition in Brighton and Hove. Where is their opposition to another horrendous rise in Labour's council tax? They simply demand all their pet projects are funded, which would push up taxation

Binmen who held a sit-in last year are being hailed as heroes by their union colleagues tonight. Staff at Hollingdean depot in Brighton will receive a commemorative lamp from the local trades council, the highest honour it can bestow. The members of the

Why does Lib Dem leader Paul Elgood have to turn everything into his petty party politics? The reply by the council's chief executive to Julie Burchill's latest ill-informed rant was factual, witty and appropriate. Why shouldn't the chief executive put

Alex Harrison is ready to captain his country on Friday. He hopes to be wearing the armband when English Schools under-18s face Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield at The Oval, Glentoran. The 18-year-old striker, from Eastbourne, successfully captained

Hospitals are only too keen to ensure most people remain inpatients for as short a time as possible. It's best for the patient to be at home if possible. It saves the NHS money and it enables other patients to be treated more quickly. So there's cause

Arundel left it late to clinch a place in the final of the Sussex RUR Cup. Jon Tucker's 90th minute strike was enough to beat Ringmer 1-0 at Wick to secure a final place against either Rye United or Selsey, who meet at Lancing tonight. There was some

A woman has beaten off competition from across Britain to win a sermon contest. Claudia Gould, of Compton Road, Brighton, had to give a sermon in front of an audience in London. The Sermon of the Century competition was run to mark the centenary of the

As long as Brighton and Hove City Council's spokesman continues to promote misinformation about the Best Value Review of discretionary grants, he can expect people from individual community and voluntary organisations to exercise their right to reply.

Crawley Town missed the chance to go top of the Dr Martens League premier division after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Folkestone Invicta. Victory would have put Reds a point clear at the summit after leaders Tamworth could only draw 2-2 at Tiverton

Thieves ruined seven-year-old Natalie De Falco's school holidays by breaking into her family home and stealing her treasured toys. Natalie and her mum Melanie Camero were enjoying a trip to the park during the half-term break when burglars smashed their

Council tax rises in East Sussex are expected to be the lowest anywhere in England, county councillors have promised. Bills will increase by 4.9 per cent from April, almost certainly less than any other English council but still double the rate of inflation

A councillor at the centre of a two-year race slur row has quit his party, branding accusations against him "disgusting". Pat Beresford last night publicly resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Adur District Council. The 57-year-old financial

Hospital performances in Sussex have been among the worst in England according to figures published today. Government statistics covering dates ranging from 1999 to June 2001 show some hospitals were close to the bottom of the table in several areas.

Coach services to Gatwick airport are being slashed as a result of the downturn in passenger numbers. Gatwick has been one of the hardest-hit airports in Europe from the decrease in the number of travellers since the September 11 terrorist attacks. The

Councillors are complaining that community groups are being forced out of Hove Town Hall through a new pricing policy. They have ordered a review of the impact of changes on the number of bookings and the budget. Members of Brighton and Hove City Council's

A new scheme to revive Brighton's West Pier, the only Grade I listed pier in the UK, will be unveiled later this month. Plans for two large new pavilions on either side of the shore end of the West Pier in Brighton have been proposed to help make the

Kemp Town Constituency Labour Party congratulates Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust on improvements recognised in the recent report and welcomes the fact that managers will not now be brought in from outside the trust. We remain opposed to the introduction

Can East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council and the Green Party (February 14) explain why a muddy field at Falmer is an area of outstanding natural beauty? -Mike Walsh, Nesbitt Road, Brighton

I am extremely concerned by the implications of recent statements made by the US government regarding the potential extension of its "war on terrorism" to the unilaterally identified "axis of evil" and the failure of the British government, unlike its

In response to the report on Sussex road deaths (February 18), roads do not kill. It is the people that drive on them that kill. The AA report underwrites the UK's culture of blaming everything but the driver, yet it is driver error that is responsible

The news that Stuart Welling has "saved" his job because of the "improvement" in performance of Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust over the past three months left me shaking my head in disbelief. This organisation managed to mislay my mother's important X-rays

I am very concerned at the negative press given to our hospitals in relation to a small minority of patients having to wait on trolleys and allegedly being treated with no respect. Last week, I sat with my neighbour while she waited for an ambulance to

I thank The Argus for publishing my letter (December 28) regarding ageism in the NHS. I have received many letters from readers detailing their case histories, most of which made very sad and disturbing reading. One or two people seem to think I am trying

A campaign to force cycle manufacturers to fit a light and a bell to all new models has won the backing of an MP. Tim Loughton took to the saddle to promote a bid to make the safety features compulsory. The campaign was launched in Brighton and Hove in

The cruel mother expecting her ninth child (February 15) should not be allowed to have any more children. Doesn't she realise every time she falls pregnant the baby will be taken away because of what she and her partner did? In cases like this, the mother

C Aubrey Smith's involvement with cricket (Letters, February 16) didn't end when he left Sussex and England for film fame in Twenties and Thirties Hollywood. Well into his 70s, he continued to organise the Hollywood Cricket Club ensuring, as David Niven

There is no way I would risk the safety of my child to MMR. Thank heaven my children are all grown up and healthy. They all had measles when young, as did most of our generation - it was part of childhood. To give a child a dose of measles, mumps and

Theatre box office staff were held up by a knife-wielding robber. The man went into the Komedia in Gardner Street, Brighton, at 4.10pm yesterday brandishing a 10in bread knife. He threatened a woman assistant and stole the contents of a till. He fled,

Think of ferrets and what do you see? A vicious, sharp-toothed, smelly animal ... or an adorable, furry pet? If you were me you would opt for the former. If you're The Mother, well, you're likely to come over all soft and sentimental at the mention of

Striking binmen who staged a three-day occupation of their depot have been hailed as trade union heroes. Members of the GMB will receive Brighton Trades Council's highest accolade, a commemorative miner's lamp, at its annual meeting tonight. Binmen won

A cottage owner has vowed to fight on to stop his property crumbling into the sea. Builders have begun work to demolish the cottage next to Richard Worsell's as the cliffs at Birling Gap, Eastbourne, continue to erode further towards the terrace of six

The Tories have been warned they face a public backlash at the local elections after they voted to close Eastbourne's Old Town library. Campaigners turned out in their hundreds to convince councillors that the library in Victoria Drive should be preserved

A councillor at the centre of a two-year race slur row has quit his party, branding accusations against him "disgusting". Pat Beresford last night publicly resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Adur District Council. The 57-year-old financial

I was stationed at Royal Air Force Schwechat, near Vienna, from 1951 to 1954. Austria was still split into four sections - British, French, US and, to the east, Russian. We were 140 miles behind the Iron Curtain. The Army used to organise a historical

A mother and her three young children were offered a free one-way ticket to Pakistan after she was refused council housing. The 36-year-old Crawley-born mum fled her home in Karachi, Pakistan, after splitting up with her husband and had nowhere to stay

When Gary Nash saw the home address on his grandparents' marriage certificate it made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It was exactly the same as his own - 8 King's Gardens, Hove. It also got him thinking. What if they had spent their honeymoon

Because of West Sussex County Council's reorganisation of Crawley schools, the only school in the first neighbourhood of the New Town is about to be closed. Once that land goes, there will be no spare land in West Green so there can never be another school

In response to Peter Bartram (Letters, February 18), since David Panter was appointed at the council meeting of September 12, 2001, when the grant allocation was confirmed, he has the minutes and the reports on which the grants were based. He should know

Gary Nash was surprised when he came across the wedding certificate his grandparents signed more than 80 years ago. For it gave their address as a house in King's Gardens on Hove seafront, where he is living now. His granny was a housemaid and may even

Why does Lib Dem leader Paul Elgood have to turn everything into his petty party politics? The reply by the council's chief executive to Julie Burchill's latest ill-informed rant was factual, witty and appropriate. Why shouldn't the chief executive put

As long as Brighton and Hove City Council's spokesman continues to promote misinformation about the Best Value Review of discretionary grants, he can expect people from individual community and voluntary organisations to exercise their right to reply.

Albion's fringe men get a chance to stake a claim as Bobby Zamora's stand-in at Worthing tonight. Boss Peter Taylor will be at Woodside Road to watch the reserves in action against one of his former clubs Gillingham (7.0). The match offers an opportunity

Harvey Stephens' career has blossomed since he took over as head gardener at one of the UK's most important horticultural sites. Harvey's CV is impressive for someone of just 29. He has worked in gardens in Israel, the Botanic Garden of Moscow University

A devoted daughter has flown across the world four times to try and get her 87-year-old father out of hospital and into a nursing home. Pensioner Albert Russon, who was once the Queen's telephonist, has been in hospital for the last 14 months, during

Moves to stop racehorses training on a popular section of the Downs are being stepped up after a greyhound was injured by a galloping horse. Lewes trainer Jamie Poulton has agreed to pay the veterinary bills for the dog after accepting one of his horses

The final car was today leaving the production line at Ford's biggest UK factory, signalling the end of an era - and the loss of 1,100 jobs. The last three Ford Fiestas built at the giant Dagenham plant in Essex are to be given to charity, including one

Thieves ruined seven-year-old Natalie De Falco's school holidays by breaking into her family home and stealing her treasured toys. Natalie and her mum Melanie Camero were enjoying a trip to the park during the half-term break when burglars smashed their

Council tax rises in East Sussex are expected to be the lowest anywhere in England, county councillors have promised. Bills will increase by 4.9 per cent from April, almost certainly less than any other English council but still double the rate of inflation

Cranes have moved in to start a £1 million development of a run-down seafront tourist attraction in Eastbourne. Workmen yesterday began the first phase of transforming the Treasure Island Adventure Park on Royal Parade. London-based investors Coasta is

Three men have been jailed for carrying out a "concerted and cowardly" attack on a defenceless young man in an East Sussex pub. The men - two brothers and a friend from Hastings - appeared at Hove Crown Court yesterday. They had denied causing grievous

Killer Robert Cairns has been found guilty for the third time for the brutal murder of cancer sufferer Justin Hayward. Cairns was convicted first in 1998 and again in 2000 after a retrial. Three judges at London's Court of Appeal have now dismissed his

A talented young orchestral conductor narrowly missed out on a big prize but is preparing for his next big event. Quentin Clare, 26, of First Avenue, Newhaven, reached the last three in the recent BBC Young Conductors competition finals. He remains upbeat

A new scheme to revive Brighton's West Pier, the only Grade I listed pier in the UK, will be unveiled later this month. Plans for two large new pavilions on either side of the shore end of the West Pier in Brighton have been proposed to help make the

Kemp Town Constituency Labour Party congratulates Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust on improvements recognised in the recent report and welcomes the fact that managers will not now be brought in from outside the trust. We remain opposed to the introduction