New recruit leads fightback

I wonder if his assistant Alan Cork, alias Fraser, announced to Adams (Captain Mainwaring): "We're doomed!" The under-fire duo had just watched Martin Gritton give Plymouth the lead with the quickest goal of the day.

After Cork had been slammed by supporters, Adams had to explain poor results and discipline to his chairman and then lost a loan signing in less than 24 hours to the man who turfed him out of Brentford, that must have felt like a shot through the heart.

Fortunately for the beleaguered boss, his troops refused to surrender.

Instead they carried the words of Corporal Jones into battle. "Don't panic, they don't like it up 'em."

On a pitch resembling the beach at Warmington-on-sea, they marched forward into enemy territory for the rest of the match. And Adams' new recruit made sure the fight was not lost. There is a touch of Pike about Bobby Zamora, a gangly youth wet behind the ears in first team terms.

Adams had no cause to call him a stupid boy though. Wonder boy more like. Forget Roy of the Rovers, Albion have found Robert of the Rovers.

The 19-year-old Londoner capped an encouraging debut with a soft equaliser four minutes into the second half.

Darren Freeman, an industrious threat to Plymouth down the right flank, did the donkey work. He got the better of Adam Barrett close to the corner flag to deliver a cross to the far post.

Zamora met it with a header which Jon Sheffield should have stopped, but the keeper managed only a partial block and the ball trickled over the line. It was no goal of the month contender, but Zamora won't mind one bit. It was the first start of his fledgling career, as well as his first appearance for Albion, and he could not have wished for a better kick-off.

Despite dominating throughout, the Seagulls found it difficult to break down a well-drilled defence, marshalled by Mick Heathcote. He looked like a casualty of war with his head swathed in a blood-stained bandage after a first-half wound which required five stitches.

The closest Albion came to the winner their superiority warranted sawSheffield reveal his good and bad side in the same incident. The bad was an unconvincing flap at a Kerry Mayo cross. The good was his resulting block on the retreat from Freeman's bullet volley.

Adams was at pains to point out afterwards that he substituted Freeman with Rod Thomas for the last 17 minutes because his leading marksman had been hospitalised by a leg infection which prevented him from training.

Zamora's "calfs were tight", which is why Scott Ramsay replaced him five minutes later, and Warren Aspinall suffered a knock in the first half, when he was also booked for a reckless challenge on Gritton.

Shaun Wilkinson, one of five teenagers on parade for Albion, came on for his home debut at Aspinall's expense. Adams rammmed home the youthfulness of his squad by meticulously detailing the age of almost every player.

He also praised his team's "terrific fighting spirit, commitment and

enthusiasm". But most of the post-match chat centred on the ex-soldier cast in the role of a Nazi infiltrator. There were a few boos for Cork when he made his way to the dugout, accompanied by shouts of "Super David Cameron".

Perhaps Cameron took up the Dad's Army theme when he was hauled off after 20 minutes at Hull by muttering the words: ""Who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler!"

It has been a truly extraordinary episode, with much more to it than initially met the eye. Adams, as he insists, must be allowed to manage his way, even if his methods in this instance seem a little strange.

With hindsight he perhaps regrets recalling Cameron at Hull, rather than bombing him out and letting him rot in the reserves. Nobody would have batted an eyelid if the big Scot had not been in the squad at Boothferry Park.

Instead the player, manager and assistant have all, one way or another, been victims of something akin to a very public firing squad.

Cameron will probably find himself warming the bench at Sidley on Wednesday.

The message is unmistakeable: Nobody messes with Sergeant Major Adams. "This is as tough as I have ever known it as a manager," he said. "But I am not going to crumble."

Prejudice is not the sign of a truly civilised society

The avalanche of comments in your letters pages on the subject of Section 28 has proved rather depressing.

So much of what has been written has been based upon misconceptions and blind prejudice. The "I'm not prejudiced but" variety demonstrate bigotry is alive and well.

The important point about the repeal of Section 28 is it would enable teachers to take measures to prevent homophobic bullying through education. Such education has ensured racist bullying has largely disappeared from schools.

As it stands this law sends a definite message to young people and that is homosexuality isn't normal. For those children who are homosexual it generates an isolation and agony that can ultimately lead to suicide.

As a Conservative I see no incompatibility between cherishing the family while valuing homosexual relationships. True equality and an end to discrimination are the hallmarks of a truly civilised society.

For those whose objections are religious, I thought the Christian God was a God of love and compassion. These features seem absent from those who thunder against homo-sexuality. Do these people really believe the Kingdom of God is full of people like them? Is heaven really full of doctrinaire, hatchet-faced, zealots? I think not.

Adam Millward, Grand Avenue, Hove

Homophobia

I am astounded by the letters on these pages and the underlying homophobia behind them.

Homophobia means someone who has a fear of homosexuals. Fear comes from a lack of knowledge. The whole point of repealing Section 28 is to move away from a homophobic environment.

To allow teachers and local authorities to provide the necessary knowledge that will reduce homophobia in and out of school and to recognise gay relationships are as valid and equal as heterosexual ones.

Those people who believe this will cause their children to become gay should think again. Being a homosexual is not something you can be taught. It is part of your sexual make up. I spent my school years at a comprehensive school being taught about family values. Yet today I am a gay man.

Do not let your ignorance get in the way of equality.

David King,Trafalgar Place, Brighton

Happiness

I am gay and am willing to concede maybe some of the material published pre-Section 28 wasn't objective enough. But a handful of leaflets aren't the issue.

More importantly, the fact is private, sensitive, informed conversations between trustworthy educators and their charges are outlawed by this vindictive ruling. Section 28 must go along with the dinosaur peerage seeking to undermine the safety and happiness of our young people.

Neil Woodcock, Kemp Town

Badly-designed

Good grief! Anyone who thinks Brighton and Hove is a cosmopolitan broad-minded area must have been rattled to read the letters about Section 28.

Letters referring to gay people as perverted and repulsive are actually shocking.

At the heart of the debate about Section 28 is a misunderstanding. Section 28 is a badly-designed law which has never proved useful as no teacher would encourage pupils to give homosexuality a go.

Unfortunately, the side effect of having it is for years teachers have felt hindered from discussing homosexuality with pupils, even if a pupil raises the subject.

Surely nobody thinks keeping a pupil completely ignorant of the world's realities is a proper way to prepare them for adult life. To ban any mention of homosexuality leaves a lot of worried teenagers feeling they have no one to talk to.

Every school has gay pupils. Most schools have gay parents. To deny this and insist the merest mention of homosexuality must be completely banned from schools is to deny the real world.

Brian Warren, Egremont Place, Brighton

Right of access

The potential crisis of new housing has not focused on the potential problems of the loss of access to the countryside, via public footpaths, bridleways, etc.

These footpaths network and their importance to our countryside was amply illustrated by the public at Southwater when they used them to bring vital attention to their loss from over-development

In three to four weeks the Government is due to publish the Access to the Countryside Bill. In this is an area dealing with rights of way (footpaths, bridleways and so on).

Can everyone write to their MPs seeking their assurance they will actively participate in the readings of the Bill and support the need to provide, maintain and enhance our rights of way network.

D J Barber Chairman, Ramblers Association, Sussex Area, Stirling Way, Horsham

New location

Now Lewes District Council has said no to a football stadium at Falmer village, perhaps we can consider the ideal location, right at the hub of the public transport network beside Brighton Station.

Architecture students at Brighton University have already shown the huge town centre site could have a stadium, 400 homes, a car park for the station and a new bus station. It may not be the most profitable use of the site but let's urge Railtrack to consider the bigger picture, and one that promotes public transport.

Robert Stephenson, Upper Lewes Road, Brighton

Good deeds

As honesty is the best policy, over the years I have handed to the police a gold ring I found in Ship Street, Brighton, returned a purse to a lady who dropped it in George Street, Hove, and picked up a student's purse in North Road, Brighton, and put it through her letterbox.

I have also returned to the bank £70 that came out of the hole in the wall before I had put my card in and various other good deeds.

Recently I left my umbrella, with my name and address inside, at the doctor's waiting room. When I returned the next day no one had handed it in!

R Johnstone, Overhill Way, Patcham

More information

As an institution that cares for ex-service personnel we can only endorse Jim Marshall's remarks about the closure of the registration office in Hove (Letters, February 7).

If it hadn't been for the article in the Argus, another of this council's plans would have gone unnoticed.

This is not a case of party politics. We, as an organisation that cares for bereaved elderly citizens, are interested to know the thoughts of our local councillors.

Tony Crook, Branch Secretary, Hove Royal British Legion

True professional

Pat Cairncross (Letters, February 8) asks if anyone has a problem finding a solicitor or dentist who is Church of England or Catholic.

Why would anyone want to know? If they do their jobs properly, that is enough, regardless of religion, sex, colour, etc.

Pam Bennett, King Edward Avenue, Worthing

Benefits for who?

I refer to the letter (February 8) from an anonymous employee of Shamrock Monkey Farm.

He or she tries to justify their evil trade by claiming it is for the benefit of mankind. The truth is animal experiments are valueless to mankind. The results are relevant only to the species involved - not man.

They carry out their trade for money. Shamrock make a lot of money supplying monkeys for pointless and barbaric experiments.

R J Grout, Enys Road, Eastbourne

Thank you for finding Kirsty

Thanks to everyone who helped to find my lurcher, Kirsty.

Also thanks to Isabelle and family and a very big thank-you to the two women who found Kirsty in danger and brought her safety home.

(Miss) Caroline Bassett, Bellingham Crescent, Hove

The Northern Ireland Assembly should not be suspended. It is unthinkable the UK, once again, should be subject to acts of terrorism with all this involves.

The question of decommissioning should be forgotten and the peace process vigorously pursued. At the end of the day the success of the peace process will bring about decommissioning.

Arthur Beale, Golden Cross, Hailsham

Buy one, get one free

I have thought of a good way for hospitals to advertise for patients.

Brighton General Hospital: Have your operation here and get one free. The Royal County Sussex Hospital: Have your baby here and get one free!

Earl Barrey, Gordon Road, Brighton

Lambs to the slaughter

I am sure the late Jim Gumbrell would have condemned the appalling consequences of live exports taking place today.

I refer to thousands of British sheep going to a barbaric death at the killing fields of the Eid El Kebir festival.

K Chuter, Graham Avenue, Brighton

Positive thinking

I agree with Labour councillor Francis Tonks when he criticises the questionnaire Brighton and Hove Council devised to get approval for its new council decision-making structure. It's quite easy to get the right answers when you only ask for positive replies.

A Bruggi, Clifton Road, Brighton

Not in my back yard

With the Portobello sewage disposal controversy, the question was asked why should the solution be dumped on Newhaven?

A very good point. After all, who wants other people's rubbish dumped in their front garden?

Ray Wootton Stanmer Avenue, Saltdean

Dogged by kindness

Thank you to the kind, caring young driver who stopped on the busy Falmer Road to pick up and hand me my dog who had escaped through a hole in the fence.

Jean Teague, Crescent Drive South, Brighton

Vaccines can affect some for the rest of their lives

Perhaps the Shamrock employee (Letters, February 8) would like to explain to my brain-damaged, six-year-old daughter how fortunate she was to have had the MMR vaccine.

Better still, maybe he would like to speak at a meeting of our local vaccine damage support group. I'm sure we parents would be very interested to hear what he has to say.

Readers may be interested to know, in the developed world, death rates from infectious diseases had declined by 90 per cent before the mass vaccination programmes had begun. In the UK for example, the death rate from measles had declined 96 per cent by the end of the Sixties.

This was due to the public health act of the late 1800s which guaranteed clean water, a proper sewage system and greatly improved nutrition. The measles vaccine itself was introduced in 1970.

I would not presume to tell other parents whether or not to have their children vaccinated but they deserve the right to more information.

Finally, regarding medical research in general, I don't believe the cruelty of vivisection has aided the search for cures to human illness. My daughter is neither a rat, a cat nor a dog. She is a human being. Drugs and medicine work differently from one type of mammal to another.

Paul David Holden, Bonchurch Road, Brighton

The most important function the mayor of any town performs is to represent the people in a totally apolitical way.

Coun Jenny Langston has so blatantly used the Brighton and Hove mayorality to reinforce her party political aspirations in a most untrustworthy way. May she be trusted in other ways?

Should she be deputy mayor? Only if the Conservative party pay for her expenses out of their pay rise. Not the council tax.

Kathlyn Taylor, Courtenay Terrace, Hove

Short-sighted

The audacity of Mrs J Brotherton beggar's belief. To accuse Simon Fanshawe of expounding on Section 28 and then to request he sort out her problems is simply stunning.

Confusing the already clouded arguments over Section 28 with The Place To Be campaign is dangerous and foolish.

Likewise, the comments of F Ditch and J Churchman are equally short-sighted. Of course they are being homophobic.

Homophobia, like racism and sexism, is insidious and subtle.

If we realised the debate in terms of hatred and violence, we might all have a clearer understanding of the deeper issues, instead of worrying about schoolchildren and the promotion of lifestyles.Teachers never did and never will teach schoolchildren anything about sexual acts (heterosexual or homosexual).

What they should and could do is be able to examine the differences between the two lifestyles and educate one is as valid as the other. Choices will then be left to the individuals as they grow and develop their identities.

Martin Warren, Albion Hill, Brighton

Three cheers

Having been a firm believer in the abolition of the House of Lords, I never thought I would be saying three cheers for its members.

By throwing out the Government's intention to ditch Section 28 they have stood up for the wishes of every single parent in the country.

Such comments do not make me homophobic. I would be the first to stand up for a homosexual's right to live his or her life in peace. However, I also have the right to expect my children are protected from people who want to promote homosexuality as an acceptable alternative.

Stuart Bower, Hawkhurst Road, Brighton

Bad move

Regarding the pedestrianisation of George Street, Hove, what a farce!

Between 10.30am and 11am (February 4) I counted at least eight to ten cars and assorted vans. Therefore, don't cross without looking as one man did and narrowly avoided being run down.

At 11am a refuse lorry pulled up at the entrance to George Street and reversed into the road.

He narrowly missed the No Entry signs but knocked off two other signs and sped off along Church Road towards Brighton.

I didn't get his registration number as I was negotiating my way through two lanes of traffic which were at a standstill due to the lunatic manoeuvres.

(Mrs) Margaret Thurley, St Aubyns Road, Brighton

Taxing time

Bearing in mind this Government has already cancelled concessions on private healthcare premiums and share dividends, it is raising fuel tax to near disastrous levels for the haulage industry. And on April 6 the married couple's allowance for those under 65 on that date will be abolished.

Also cancelled on this date will be the additional relief for children, the widow's bereavement allowance and tax relief on maintenance and child maintenance payments.

As the age allowance is also cancelled this means couples retiring from April 6 onwards will be £512 a year worse off than couples already retired. To me this appears to be age discrimination and a two-tier system of pension.

D Simmons, Barnett Road, Brighton

Joy at Christmas

Thank you to everyone who responded to the Pass the Parcel campaign organised by ITV's This Morning programme.

The toys were collected at Boots just before Christmas. Horsham Salvation Army delivered the gifts to children who had been identified as being in need, St Catherine's Hospice, a women's refuge and two children's respite homes.

These toys brought a great deal of joy and happiness to a lot of children on Christmas morning.

Barbara Jeffery, organiser, Community Care Ministries, Salvation Army, Horsham

Very sad loss

It is difficult to put into words one's feeling of sympathy for Doug Drake on the sad loss of his wife, Mary.

Reading Doug's words of love and devotion for his wife and of the empty feeling he now feels must have tugged at the heart strings of many.

The One above must have decided Mary had suffered enough and called her to rest. No words of mine can help your grief, Doug, but my thoughts, and I am sure hundreds of others, are with you at this moment.

Frank Edwards, Craven Road, Brighton

Cheeky chappie who's appreciated by many

Liz Solkhon gave the Max Miller Appreciation Society a great write-up in her column (February 7). On behalf of our members I would like to thank her for telling us about her time with Max, Claire Allen and the late Nat Gonella.

The society has been in existence for just over a year and it has already generated a great deal of interest from fans old and young.

If anyone has special memories of Max or would like details of our society, I would be pleased to hear from them.

Visit our website at www.theoneandonly63.freeserve.co.uk.

Jack Strutt, Secretary, Max Miller Appreciation Society, Brentwood Road, Brighton

Hell for leather

William Fraser believes he saw many of the Shamrock Farm protesters wearing leather when he visited Small Dole recently.

It just goes to show what excellent non-leather boots, shoes and jackets are available. If he'd taken the trouble to ask any of the 'leather-wearing' protesters, he'd have found the majority were kitted out in animal-friendly non-leather, available locally and by mail order.

Linda Freston, Portland Street, Brighton

Man-made materials

In response to William Fraser's letter (February 10) regarding protesters against Shamrock Farm wearing leather, if Mr Fraser stepped outside his house he would notice there are hundreds of shops selling shoes, jackets, trousers and skirts which look like leather but are man-made and cruelty-free.

K Fowler, Freshfield Road, Brighton

Brighton Tigers availability?

I would be interested to hear from anyone who knew my father, Gordie Poirier. He played for the Brighton Tigers between 1935 and 1948 and was well known in the town. Does anyone has any photographs of him in his heyday?

Any information about his time in Brighton would be most appreciated.

Michael Blade-Poirier , c/o 15 Berkeley Court, 153-154 Kings Road, Brighton

On borrowed time

I find the services at the Whitehawk mini-library deplorable. I have tried to borrow ten books from the request-lists but have got nowhere.

The staff say the books are all unobtainable or at other branches. Is there no money to keep their stocks up or what?

name and address supplied

Postmen sometimes ring once

Don't postmen knock on doors in Brighton when delivering a parcel?

I saw a postman deliver a parcel which butted out on to the pavement. He then drove off. Anyone could have picked it up.

June Marshall, Seaford

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