Located in the quintessentially English South Downs, Firle Vintage Fair celebrates the beauty and antiquities of the past.
ON site there will be a host of cherry-picked antique and vintage stalls including; French brocante, haberdashery and latest crafting trends, Danish design, fashion, country interiors and gardenalia, plus original 1880 Victoriana fair-rides and Croquet games to have a whirl on.
Complementing the countryside location this year there will be rocking horse workshops, and talks on keeping bees, with local beekeepers bringing wildflower and herb infused honey to taste.
Special guest this year is the Charleston Trust who are coming to offer decorative upcycling workshops and talks on the Bloomsbury set.
For foodies they will be serving up the very best artisan street food and beverages with Iced Sloe Gins and a Champagne bar on the lawns in front of Firle Place.
A new addition this year The Food Emporium will host an array of artisan producers and specialty bakers.
Savoy Kicks
The pavilion stage will feature a lineup of live swing jazz bands, solo artists, the Windups spinning original vinyl to the Gatsby Girls, Savoy Kicks and Lindy Hop troupes, as well as the latest fashion trends of handpicked vintage and Bespoke Couture.
For motor enthusiasts, the 15th Century Grand Manor at Firle Place will be the back-drop for the shiny bonnets of the Firle Vintage car motor show.
Dust off your tea dresses, braces and brogues, hop on your bicycle or the vintage double-decker Route master bus to join everyone at Firle and step back in time in style!
Free parking available all day.
Event: Firle Vintage Fair
Where: Firle Place – Sussex
When: August 11-12
Time: 10am – 5.30pm
Cost: £10 on the door
To purchase discounted tickets in advance, click here:
Brighton & Hove Green Party selects candidates for the Brunswick and Adelaide ward for the May 2019 council elections.
Hannah, Phélim and Caroline Lucas MP for Brighton Pavilion
THEY are, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Convenor of the Green Group of Councillors and Hannah Clare, former Co-Chair of the Young Greens of England and Wales and a local resident.
Sitting Councillor Ollie Sykes has decided not to stand for re-selection.
Cllr Mac Cafferty
Councillor Mac Cafferty said:“Ollie has been a tremendous representative for Brunswick and Adelaide residents: continuously putting the good people of our ward first. In his 7 years of service he has been a strong voice for residents. But the city will miss his scrutiny of the city council’s budget too- in administration and in opposition Ollie has brought his meticulous attention to detail to bear. I know few Councillors locally or nationally who have brought such rigour to local government finance. Ollie’s thoughtful approach and careful consideration will be sorely missed.
“I’m delighted to have been re-selected by Green Party members to stand for a third term in the Brunswick and Adelaide ward, the ward I have been proud to represent since 2011. There is no question it is one of the most beautiful areas of the city. And in the 7 years representing the ward, I have built up a thorough understanding of the needs of residents in the area and responded to hundreds of pieces of casework. I will be campaigning for the ward to continue being represented by two Green representatives and look forward to working with Hannah to ensure a Green victory in Brunswick and Adelaide in May next year.”
Hannah Clare added:“Following the great work Cllr Sykes and Mac Cafferty have done as councillors in Brunswick and Adelaide since 2011, I’m thrilled to have been selected by Brighton and Hove Green Party to continue to provide a strong green voice in the ward. I’m passionate about ensuring the inclusion of more young women in politics and proud to be standing for a party that fights for equality, inclusion and environmental justice.”
Cllr Ollie Sykes
Councillor Ollie Sykes said:“It’s been an amazing, life-changing experience being a Councillor in our city and one I wholeheartedly recommend. I’m not able to stand again in 2019 as am likely to be based outside Brighton and Hove in the next couple of years, however I will stay a committed member of the Green Party and remain politically active. Looking at key contemporary issues: Brexit, stark evidence about the state of our environment, mounting concerns about our broken democracy, the housing crisis, the relentless weakening of the state in favour of big business; it’s often just Greens fighting the progressive corner.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in this city as a political group over the past seven years, both in power and in opposition: £100m of project funding brought in, much of which is now being implemented; the Living Wage for council staff, and the Living Wage commission with local employers; equal pay and allowances for council workers finally resolved after many years.
“We initiated the first council houses built in a generation plus numerous award-winning transport schemes. We raised funding for the Bike Hire scheme, which is currently the most successful in the country.
“In opposition, we have: protected the Downland from sale; and Hove Library from closure; rents have been reduced in new housing schemes proposed by the current administration. Behind the scenes it was our budget analysis that protected services amidst the financial cuts.
“At a ward level, it may be that all Councillors say they’re lucky to represent the best ward in the city. Everyone agrees Brunswick and Adelaide is a very special part of the city. It shows if there were any doubt the importance of conserving a historical sense of place; the importance of looking after this amazing Regency legacy. Of course, the same can be said about historic purpose-built public institutions such as Libraries, and public feelings about this are clear.
“Brunswick and Adelaide has a number of strong and hard-working Residents’ Associations that do a huge amount to look after our local environment and also keep Councillors on their toes. As central government cuts bite, more and more is expected of local communities but we must not take them for granted.
“Finally, while Councillors get the headlines, the real work is done by council officers. In our city they’re a quality team at all levels and it’s been a privilege and an education working with them.”
I have just come home from LGBT+ Pride in Eastbourne and felt so upset that I had to write to you.
I’VE been going to Prides for over twenty years now and although they are all different, this is the only one that has disappointed me to this extent.
The thing that I found upsetting was the route. It was 0.8 miles long, starting way to the east of the town centre, ending 1.2 miles from the pier. It went along what I thought was a dirt track by the sea, nowhere near the town, people or businesses.
As the main part of Pride for me is for our communities to come together for a day, be visible, and for the townspeople of Eastbourne to see that we are just normal people, to interact with, and respect.
I don’t think this can be achieved when you shove us out-of-town. This parade should be renamed Eastbourne shame! I am so upset, I have no vocabulary to express how I feel.
There were no floats, no sound systems and most importantly no crowds.
I hope you could look into this and maybe raise awareness that it isn’t good enough?
Once we were in the enclosed area in the park, there was a lovely atmosphere, with load of lovely people.
I went to Isle Of Wight pride last year. It was their first Pride and the parade went all around the town making lots of noise, with floats and thousands of supporters everywhere. The whole island appeared to be there!
I have come to the conclusion that Eastbourne just wanted to shove ‘the gays’ out-of-the-way. Sounds like homophobia to me.
Green MEP Keith Taylor gives his support to Brighton Table Tennis Club for the work it does in the local community after recently visiting the club in Kemptown, Brighton.
MEP Keith Taylor and Founder Director of BTTC, Tim Holtam
BRIGHTON Table Tennis Club (BTTC) is a registered charity giving more than 1,500 people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to come together to play table tennis each week.
It brings together people with disabilities, young people from the Brighton Travellers site, Over 50’s groups, looked after children, people from the LGBT+ communities and young asylum seekers. BTTC has also become the world’s first recognised Club of Sanctuary for its work with refugees.
Keith Taylor MEP has praised the club for making a difference in the local community and bringing people from all walks of life together. Keith Taylor is the Green MEP for the South East of England and a Brighton resident.
Speaking about BTTC, he said:“Brighton Table Tennis Club is making a huge difference for so many people of all ages from many different countries and many different communities. It works so well because of the absolute commitment of staff and volunteers.
“It doesn’t matter where people playing at the club come from, they all speak the same language: the language of friendship and table tennis”
This support for the club is another boost as they get ready to screen their 30-minute documentary Believe That for the final time.
The film follows the journey of Team Santos (Harry Fairchild, Andrew Tonkin and Chris O’Flinn from BTTC) as they prepare to represent their country at the European Down’s Syndrome Championships.
The final screening of Believe That will take place on August 6 at the Duke of York Picturehouse.
Greens call for commitment to protocol for fairer debt collection, as Universal Credit continues to bite.
GREEN councillors in Brighton & Hove have urged the Labour run Council to commit to making debt collection fairer for those struggling on low incomes across the city.
Concerns about the impact of debt on vulnerable households have risen since the introduction of Universal Credit, a new welfare benefit change that has left many in the city struggling with debts.
Council reports show that 68% of the households now in receipt of Universal Credit are in rent arrears, and that Universal Credit is “a key causal factor in homelessness in the city.”
Under Universal Credit, individuals falling into arrears could see their benefit reduced by up to 40% in order to pay off debts or bills such as Council Tax or rent, a change that Citizens Advice say has contributed to destitution amongst local claimants.
Prior to the roll-out of Universal Credit, the amount that someone could see deducted from their benefit payment was capped at 5%.
Amid fears that the further roll-out of Universal Credit could lead to greater numbers of evictions as residents struggle to manage their debts, Convenor of the Green Group, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty has pushed the Council to consider signing up to a new Council Tax Protocol developed by national organisation Citizens Advice.
The protocol outlines 27 measures Councils can adopt to minimise the impact of debt collection, including reducing bailiff usage and developing clear policy on how to support residents in vulnerable circumstances.
In response to the request from Councillor Mac Cafferty, Labour Council Finance Lead Councillor Les Hamilton confirmed that the Council would consider becoming a full signatory of the Council Tax Protocol.
Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty commented:“Relentless Conservative Government austerity is seeing our residents facing unprecedented levels of debt as they deal with cuts to welfare benefits, with many on low incomes really struggling. Greens warned two years ago that the roll-out of Universal Credit would be a disaster leaving many in spiralling debt and we have sadly been right. The latest report to the Council on Universal Credit shows it is already a key factor in the rise in homelessness and food bank usage in the city. In the face of this it is clear that the Council has a responsibility to support those in difficulty.
“I have been shocked to learn that under the changes, people may see their benefit reduced by as much as 40% in order to pay off council tax bills arrears – a frightening outcome for those already living in poverty. I find it deeply concerning to think that letters about Council Tax debt collection could add to this distress, and lead to bailiffs, or worse. I welcome news that following my request, the Labour Council has indicated they will look in to adopting the Council Tax Protocol which has been written by Citizens Advice and the Local Government Association. The protocol is important because it sets out a number of ways our council could collect debt fairly from some of our most marginalised residents.
“Greens are also repeating our call for changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme, so that those already in poverty have the option of a Council tax discount. The fallout from this cruel benefit change shows no sign of abating so the Labour Council needs to show it is prepared to stand up for those most severely affected and improve how it helps and approaches people in debt.”
If your around for Brighton Pride, start your weekend off by attending a book reading by Jane Traies to celebrate the publication of her new book Now You See Me.
NOW You See Me is a collection of powerful personal accounts which bring to light previously undocumented lesbian lives.
The stories are told in the women’s own words and vividly recreate a time when being lesbian meant either hiding your true identity or paying the price for breaking society’s rules.
A pure delight from beginning to end….. Clare Summerskill
There will be readings, refreshments and the chance to buy a signed copy of the book at the special pre-publication price of £10.00 (RRP £11.99).
For anyone with older lesbian friends – you’ve just solved your Christmas present problem!
Event: Book reading by Jane Traies – Now You See Me
Where: University of Brighton, Room G4/G5, 64 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY
The venue has step free access, bookable disabled parking, and accessible toilets. A loop system can be organised if notified in advance (nowyouseeme@btinternet.com).
The King, dealing as it does with the comic side of misogyny and the clash of alien cultures, could be deemed in some circles to be out of joint with the times.
BUT get past this 1950’s American view of the world, and the show could not be more appropriate for our times in 2018.
An all-powerful ruler, disrespectful of women, and indeed the views of anyone with whom he disagrees, feels threatened by forces outside his empire. His answer ? He thinks of building a wall to keep the world at bay. Sound familiar ?
But before I carry the Trump-alike idea too far, this is essentially a gloriously energetic and tune-filled three hours in the theatre, with some towering performances.
The King will be forever associated with Yul Brynner who made the part his own for decades, and indeed there have been few revivals. But Japanese actor Ken Watanabe brings a brooding, sulky side to the character and he elicits every single laugh he can from his wily stubbornness and awkward use of the English language.
In his terribly difficult patter song A Puzzlement, he often fails to get the words across, but he has a visceral energy that lights up his every scene.
Kelli O’Hara has an operatic purity to die for, and she plays the English school mistress much as I imagine Julie Andrews might have done, given the opportunity. She has a subtlety of tone that is thrilling and her gentlest of beginnings to the showstopper Shall We Dance is absolutely enchanting. In Hello Young Lovers she is effortlessly beautiful.
Enchanting too are the host of Siamese children – just a few of the King’s many offspring, who each is given a character and each of which in their big numbers creates comedy of their own making.
As the doomed young lovers, Na-Young Jean and Dean John-Wilson, have an electrifying chemistry in that haunting duet We Kiss in a Shadow and later in the show in the beautifully rendered I have Dreamed.
Nabokov Mori is mesmerising as the crafty lead wife the Lady Thiang, and sings Something Wonderful from the heart and not the head. And returning to the Trump parallels she tells Anna “King cannot take advice. It must not sound like advice.”
The King concedes Anna is a “very difficult woman” and admits he doesn’t really know how to deal with that novel situation. In this relationship there is much humour but also a warmth of spirit. The impossibility of their love being realised is the second doomed affair in the show.
But all in all it’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s block-buster musical numbers that make this a truly memorable evening on the London stage 2018.
The King and I is playing at the Palladium Theatre, London
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