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PICTURE DIARY: Bulldog Awards and staff Christmas Party

The Bulldog in St James Street closed the doors for one night only on December 14 for their annual staff awards and Christmas party for the staff.

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The Awards section of the evening were hosted by DJ Marcia, the Bulldog’s long serving DJ who after eleven years is hanging up his ear phones on New Year’s Eve and retiring to the Jane McDonald twilight home for old DJs in Newhaven. Cabaret was provided by Cassidy Connors, and the hospitality was spectacular.

The evening gave an opportunity for everyone past and present, to pat themselves on the back in what has been a very difficult few months for Dean, Bobby and staff at the Bulldog.

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Holocaust Memorial Day event in January

Brighton and Hove Holocaust Education Project have organised a memorial event for the afternoon of Tuesday, January 26 at the Old Court Room from 2.45-4pm.

WEB.600.2During the Second World War, it is estimated that 17 million “undesirables” were murdered by the Nazis which included many thousands of gay men and to a lesser extent gay women.

Brighton and Hove’s memorial event aims to remember those who suffered discrimination, celebrate diversity and encourage acceptance within our own community.

WEB.300The afternoon will include a presentation from the son of a Holocaust survivor followed by an open discussion of panel members including a representatives from Brighton’s Kurdish community, the Racial Harassment Forum and Jess Woods from Allsorts.

Everyone is welcome to the event and refreshments will be provided.

As part of the occasion, local school communities will be taking part in an art project to collect unwanted Lego bricks to represent the lives lost during the Holocaust.

To find out more about the project and/or donate any bricks, click here:


Event: Holocaust Memorial Day

Where: Old Court Room, 118 Church St, Brighton East Sussex BN1 1UD

When: Tuesday, January 26

Time: 2.45pm-4pm

Kemptown MP visits Whitehawk pharmacy

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, visits Lloyds Pharmacy, Wellsbourne Health Centre in Whitehawk.

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He wanted to witness how community pharmacies operate at the heart of the communities they serve, offering high quality health services and advice.

Open daytime, evenings and at the weekend, accessible without an appointment, your community pharmacy can dispense prescriptions, provide advice about common conditions, health and medicines which may save an unnecessary trip to the GP or even A&E.

Community Pharmacies also offer:

♦ personalised medicines advice,
♦ help to quit smoking,
♦ flu vaccinations,
♦ treatment for minor conditions,
♦ advice on preventing disease,
♦ help with the safe use of medicines,
♦ assistance to care homes and
♦ support for patients to live independently.

This winter, community pharmacies can provide free NHS flu jabs to all adults aged 65 years and over, and those aged 18 years or over and in clinical risk groups.

They also offer guidance and support on how to use medicines, to help people manage their treatment better and reduce the number of medicines that go on to be wasted or incorrectly used.

If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s just a cough or a cold, then get help from your pharmacist.

Simon said: “It was great to visit Lloyds Pharmacy in Whitehawk last week and speak to the Pharmacist about the important work Community Pharmacies do.”

Be safe this Christmas – stay away from the sea!

Brighton & Hove seafront officers urge residents and visitors to stay away from the sea this winter.

Brighton Seafront Storms

The warning comes as the recent mild weather has drawn more people than usual for this time of the year, onto the beaches, many getting dangerously close to the crashing waves.

Seafront Officer Chris Ingall explained: “The continuing mild weather has meant that the Seafront has been much busier than in previous winters. It’s been great to see so many people enjoying a stroll on the promenade and its good news for seafront businesses, but we would ask people to stay on the path or high up on the beach, especially when the sea conditions are rough.

“Please keep a close eye on children and hold their hand when on the beach.  Do not allow children to play ‘chicken’ with the surf washing up the beach – we see this regularly on big winter surf days and this is precisely how people become washed out to sea.  Parents need to take greater responsibility and keep little ones close at all times when visiting the beach.”

Dog owners are also advised to keep their pets on leads and away from the shoreline.

The council will once again be taking extra measures to discourage swimmers from taking a Christmas Day dip by closing access to the beaches around Brighton Pier.

“Sea swimming takes skill, stamina and knowledge of the physical dangers and should only be for the very experienced, using suitable wetsuits, in very calm conditions and with a friend,” said Chris. “Even on a calm day sea currents, undertow or a sudden change in weather can create life threatening hazards without warning. Even experienced swimmers can get caught out.”

Brighton Beach Storms

Roger Cohen
Roger Cohen

Roger Cohen, Operations Manager for Brighton Lifeboat, added: “Christmas Day is like any other day for the RNLI. If assistance is required, our volunteer crews will turn out and aid where we are needed.”

The following Winter Water Facts, endorsed by the RNLI, show why it is better to stay on the shore rather than in the water at this time of year:

♦  Sea temperatures in the winter months are about 5 degrees centigrade and can be even colder.

♦  Even on an apparently clear sunny day, the sea temperature can drop body temperature quickly and fatally.

♦  It only takes a few minutes for the body’s core temperature to drop by two degrees and for the onset of hypothermia to begin.

♦  It is never safe to go into the sea after drinking alcohol. Even a small amount of alcohol speeds up the onset of hypothermia in cold water. Drinking also reduces your capabilities. You may also think you are a better swimmer than your true ability and take unnecessary risks.

♦  Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition or taking medication runs additional risks by subjecting their body to a sudden drop of temperature by entering the sea.

♦  Winter environmental conditions can be extremely challenging, even for the most experienced swimmers. The tide and the weather dictate the conditions and these should not be underestimated.

♦   There is no beach lifeguard service provision in place during the winter months

♦   Large crashing waves close to the shore can place emergency services’ lives at risk and make it impossible to reach those in need.

For more information about Sea Safety, click here:

Win £300 at the Brighton Bear Weekend Quiz at Camelford Arms on Thursday

The Camelford Arms will be hosting the next Brighton Bear Weekend Quiz night on Thursday, December 17 starting at 9pm.

Brighton Bear Weekend

The Quiz will be will raising money for The Rainbow Fund a not for profit, grants giving organisation based in Brighton.

Look forward to easy questions from across the spectrum and maybe the odd one about bears set by Head Bear Munday.

Winners of the Quiz have a chance to go on win £300 cash.

There will be a raffle with great prizes and the new T-shirts for Brighton Bear Weekend 2016 will be available and on sale on the night when the new logo for 2016 will be revealed.

The quiz starts promptly at 9:00 pm and entry is £2.00 per person. It is always a busy night so book a table in advance.

Graham Munday
Graham Munday

Graham Munday, chair of Brighton Bear Weekend, said: “It is important to get there early as the tables go very quickly. Better still telephone, make a table reservation and treat yourself to some of the best food in Brighton. The Camelford has a wide range of food and a daily changing special board.”

Grab a friend, sort out a team, book a table and you could be winning £300 just in time for Christmas shopping.

Prizes include:

♦ Choccywoccydoodah cake from Choccywoccydoodah

♦ Day at the Racecourse with drinks from Brighton Racecourse

♦ £25 voucher from Moodybear

♦ Jocks from Bear Bum

♦ Aussie Bum lanyard from Prowler Brighton


Event: Brighton Bear Weekend Christmas Quiz

Where: Camelford Arms, Camelford Street, Brighton

When: Thursday, December 17

Time: 9pm

Cost: £2 per person

To reserve a table or make a dinner reservation, Tel: 01273 622386

BBC reporter suspended over Fury comments

BBC suspends gay reporter pending an investigation into his public criticism of the broadcaster.

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Andy West, a gay man, who works for BBC Northern Ireland was suspended after posting on his Facebook that he was “ashamed” to work for the broadcaster.

It followed the BBCs decision to nominate at a late stage, world champion boxer Tyson Fury for its annual Sports Personality of the Year Award after winning his World Heavyweight Boxing Championship fight against Wladimir Klitschko last month.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday Fury said: “There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia.”

He has also been accused of sexism after a video emerged of him saying Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill “slaps up good”.

Adding: “A woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back – that’s my personal belief.”

Mr West wrote in his original Facebook post: “My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world.

“It’s tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encouraged by his naive, juvenile bigotry.

“I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks bravery to admit it is making a mistake.”

Later on Twitter Mr West confirmed he had been suspended by the BBC pending investigation and could not say anymore.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating a hate crime allegation against the boxer.

To sign the petition in support of Mr West, click here:

Over a hundred and thirty thousand people have also signed a Change.org petition calling for Fury’s removal from the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist over his sexist and homophobic remarks.

To sign the petition to remove Fury from BBC shortlist, click here:

Local Healthwatch groups seek assurances from South East Ambulance Trust

Four South East Healthwatch organisations have met with the CEO of South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) to seek assurance for patients.

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This follows recent media interest and claims over problems with their call handling pilot project between December 2014 and February 2015.

In an open and honest meeting, local Healthwatch felt that they have an assurance from the Trust that there will be a platform for the patient voice to be heard from now on.

Fran McCabe
Fran McCabe

Fran McCabe, Chair of Healthwatch Brighton & Hove talking on behalf of all the local Healthwatch, said: “We have assurance that going forward, SECAmb will be doing a lot more to ensure the patient experience is at the heart of how services are shaped and delivered, and we look forward to working more closely with the trust in the future. We would encourage anyone who has concerns about this or any other health and social care issue to get in touch with their local Healthwatch.”

 

 

For more information, click here:      

 

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