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East Sussex households urged to get their heating system ready for Winter now!

With a sudden drop in temperatures expected to hit this week, households in East Sussex are being urged to check their heating systems are working correctly to avoid being caught out with an unexpected breakdown when the cold weather bites.

Malcolm Farrow of OFTEC
Malcolm Farrow of OFTEC

THE warning comes after last year’s ‘Beast from the East’ played havoc with people’s heating systems, leaving many in the cold. Local technicians also struggled to keep pace with the surge in demand from households requiring emergency repairs.

To help prevent similar issues this winter, OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, is advising homeowners to get on the front foot and take the necessary steps now to avoid potential problems before the weather turns colder.

OFTEC’s advice includes:

  • Book your boiler in for a service by an OFTEC (for oil) or GasSafe (for mains gas) registered technician. Correct servicing is vital and these professionals have been certified as fully competent and will complete the work to a high and safe standard.
  • Purchase heating oil early to avoid the risk of possible price rises later in the winter. Oil is currently the cheapest form of off-grid heating so it’s worth ensuring you have enough to last the whole winter. Make sure you use a supplier who is a member of the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) for complete peace of mind.
  • Adjust the timers on your heating controls to ensure the heating comes on when you need it to and radiators are only on in the rooms you are using.
  • Bleed your radiators to make sure they work as efficiently as possible.
  • For the 21,000 oil households in East Sussex check your oil tank is in good condition. Look out for any signs of corrosion, leakage or sudden drops in fuel levels.

Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC, commented: “Following this year’s scorching summer, the nights are drawing in and the cold weather is not far behind. As many of us look to turn our heating back on, it’s important to check everything is still working correctly and efficiently.

“Regular maintenance by an experienced heating professional is the best way to avoid problems, so book your boiler service now before winter bites and use a qualified technician who will check everything is working correctly and identify any potential problems. Remember, it’s far easier and quicker to fix any issues now than to wait for the whole system to stop working when you need it most.”

For more information and advice, click here:

PREVIEW: Cinderella at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

There ain’t nothing like a dame – Best friends reunited for Cinderella Panto at Eastbourne!

Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre will once again host the biggest panto in the South East, Cinderella from December 7.

Dame Martyn Knight returns as one half of the ugliest sisters around – with his partner in crime, Scott St. Martyn who has known Martyn since the age of 11 – and been best friends ever since. The first day of rehearsals will in fact mark their 50th anniversary of them both becoming friends!

Scott St. Martyn now lives in France but he has been tempted back to the UK for this pantomime season with his old pal Martyn who has been delighting Eastbourne audiences for the last 15 years.

Beginning a stage career at the age of 11, coincidentally that’s how he and Martyn first became friends, Scott has enjoyed a hugely varied career on the boards but highlights include West End appearances as Bert Barrie in 42nd Street at Drury Lane, Chantel in La Cage aux Folles at the London Palladium and Worker 1041 in Metropolis at the Piccadilly.

Scott has performed in pantomime all over the country including Stevenage, Guildford, Woking, High Wycombe, Canterbury and Dartford. Cinderella marks his Eastbourne debut.

Pantomime writer and director Chris Jordan said of the casting: “We know that Martyn and Tucker are audience favourites, however Cinderella splits this beloved duo up so casting the opposite Ugly Sister was going to be tricky – but when Scott’s name came up it was a natural and obvious fit.”

Chris added:Scott and Martyn have incredible onstage chemistry because they know each other so well having enjoyed a 50 year friendship! I’m sure audiences won’t need to worry about seeing Martyn, who normally plays such a warm dame, in a different light as Ugly Sister – as he and those in the audience are going to have a LOT of fun watching him with his best friend. It’s going to be a ball!”

A young Martyn and Scott - friends for life
A young Martyn and Scott – friends for life

Of the casting Scott said: I’m counting the days til’ we start panto and I’ve not said that for a long time! It had to be something really special to tempt me away from my lovely life in France but the thought of being with my oldest friend on stage is just an absolute delight.”      

Scott and Martyn have been life-long friends, they used to share a flat together in London in the 1980’s and even performed to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the same bill at the Royal Variety performance in 1985 – although they were not on the stage together at the same time.

Scott jokes: “The Queen could always book for Cinderella to see me and Martyn together again on stage at last!”

Marytn Knight said: “It will be wonderful to get back to the Devonshire Park Theatre and under those magical stage lights but this time with my best friend by my side. We are going to give the audience a lot of laughs with our deliciously devilish sisters Flora and Marge.”

He joked: “We are going to have fun with my old mate Tucker as Buttons too – it’s going to be a change not to play his Mum!”

Martyn Knight and Scott St Martyn
Martyn Knight and Scott St Martyn

Event: Cinderella

Where: Devonshire Park Theatre, 8-10 Compton St, Eastbourne BN21 4BW

When: December 7, 2018 – January 13, 2019

Time: For times, click here:

Cost: For ticket prices, click here:

Or telephone: 01323 412000

IGLTA joins the ‘Miles of Love’ LGBT+ Travel Advocacy Forum in Hong Kong

The Miles of Love LGBT+ Travel Advocacy Forum, a chance for LGBT+ activists and travel industry representatives to explore ways to bridge the gap between human rights and travel, takes place at the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong from November 2–5.

SET to coincide with Hong Kong’s annual Pink Season LGBT+ festival, and hosted by Planet Ally and All Out, Miles of Love will feature 30 speakers from 15 countries including representatives from the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a global leader in advancing LGBT+ travel.

John Tanzella
John Tanzella

John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO, will deliver a keynote address at the conference and host a business networking session for local tourism professionals on the last day.

He said: “IGLTA is proud to support Miles of Love. We are dedicated to strengthening ties in the region and sharing our resources to help create greater understanding of the LGBT+ travel community.” 

Bess Hepworth, founder of Planet Ally and lead organiser of the conference, added: “The conversations that will happen at Miles of Love are long overdue. I believe that this dialogue will be a key driver in opening new collaborations that will drive both business success and the achievement of safety and dignity for LGBT+ people.”

For full details on Miles of Love, click here:

No more money for public health in budget announcement

HIV organisations Terrence Higgins Trust and NAT (National AIDS Trust) are angry that no money was allocated in todays budget for Public Health which includes prevention and sexual health services, which both organisations consider to be in crisis.

DESPITE extra spending being announced for health and social care in todays budget, no extra money was announced for the public health budget which has been cut by around £700 million for the spending period 2015/16 to 2019/20.

Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold

Deborah Gold, CEO of NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: “We welcome much-needed extra funding for health and social care, but it must be distributed across the health and social care system to truly be effective at even sustaining our NHS as we know it, let alone improving it.

“Public health is a vital component of the system that has been annihilated – this includes services that many people think fall within NHS funding and that are essentially NHS services. Sexual health and drugs prevention and treatment services have been reported as being at crisis point this year – recent evidence shows a consensus amongst sexual health doctors that their services are at breaking point due to cuts to the public health grant.

“Public health services have a crucial role in supporting a healthier nation that ultimately costs the NHS less in the long-term. These cuts are a total false economy.”

Debbie Laycock
Debbie Laycock

Debbie Laycock, Head of Policy, Terrence Higgins Trust added: “Today, the Government has absolutely failed to take steps to address the public health and sexual health crisis England is currently experiencing.

“Investing in prevention is common sense. Despite this, today’s budget provides zero relief to frontline sexual health workers, nor people who are currently unable to access these services.

 “Public health, including sexual health services, lead to better health outcomes for individuals, prevent ill-health and help relieve pressure on already overstretched NHS and social care sector.

 “Yet, sexual health services are unsustainable without increased public health funding and, by 2020, local authority public health budgets will have seen real-term cuts to the value of £700million.

“If this wasn’t bad enough, today’s budget not only leaves us even more disappointed with the Government’s lack of action, but also increasingly worried about the impact that this will continue to have on so many people across the country.”

 

Expert advice to help keep dogs safe during fireworks season

With fireworks lighting up the skies on Bonfire Night, Diwali and New Year’s Eve soon after, it can be a stressful time for dogs that don’t like loud noises.

HOW can you help keep them calm and safe?

David Grice, Head of Canine Training and Behaviour at national charity Guide Dogs, shares his tips how to help dogs before, during and after Fireworks night.

Step OneKnow if your dog is stressed

David says: “There are a number of warning signs to indicate that your dog fears fireworks, but every dog is different, and they show anxiety in their own way. Key to look out for is whether a dog is trembling, shaking or hiding which you might expect, but behaviours such as restlessness, destructiveness or attention-seeking can also signify anxiety. “

Step TwoHelp to reduce the shock of Fireworks

“On the days leading up to firework-filled parties taking place nearby, you can make sure you are as prepared as possible to reduce the impact on your pup.

“Buy plug in adaptors that release pheromones that can help relax your dog. Plug the adaptor about a week before the start of firework season to allow the pheromones to spread around the house. Also try getting your dog used to the TV or radio being louder than usual by gradually increasing the sounds levels in the lead up to the night.

“Check with neighbours if they are planning a fireworks party and you can find information about displays near you online or on social media. If lots of fireworks are expected nearby you may want to see if a friend or relative would like you and a four-legged visitor for the night.”

Step ThreeHelp your dog to feel safe on the day

“On the day you are expecting fireworks to take place, make sure your dog has a good walk before dark, so they are tired and relaxed for the evening. You should also feed your pup earlier than normal, so they can relieve themselves before the fireworks start.

“Hold back a portion of their evening meal and put this into a kong for your dog to have just before fireworks are likely to start, you can also give your dog a chew to keep them busy and distracted during fireworks.

“Remember it’s not just the sound that can upset our dogs, the flashing lights and smell of burning can also cause problems. Try closing all the curtains and playing an action film to cover up the flashing lights. Popping a lavender plant outside your back door can help mask the smell which can last for days!

“Make sure you have everything you need for the evening, so you can stay at home with your dog, and prepare an area for your dog to go if it becomes scared. If they already have a puppy crate, cover it with a blanket to make a quiet, dark den. You could also use a table or a cupboard under the stairs with an open door and place a TV or radio to help hide the noise of fireworks. Try to leave the TV or radio on all night, you never know when fireworks will go off.”

Step FourMake sure your dog is happy after fireworks have finished

“There’s often so much attention on how to help dogs during Fireworks, but how we support them afterwards is just as important. It’s a good idea to allow your pup to leave its hiding place as soon it feels safe and ready and be prepared that your dog may have an accident overnight as it may have been too scared to relieve itself.

“It helps to act as if nothing has happened – don’t make a big fuss of the fireworks ending and if your pup is worried about going out into the garden or for a walk the next day, use treats to reward it for going out to rebuild a positive association.

“You may need to keep your dog on a lead when walking for a few days after a firework night and remember that fireworks can last for more than just one night, so be prepared for the unexpected!

“Consider preparations for next year. You can find sound tracks and playlists on-line to get your dog used to them in plenty of time for next year. Even if your dog appeared fine over the season, play some firework sounds quietly in the background while you play with a toy or give them a chew, this will help prevent them developing issues in the future.”

Vigil for those murdered at Tree of Life Synagogue in USA – tonight at 6pm

Following the dreadful events at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, USA, the Sussex Jewish Representative Council have organised a vigil for those who were murdered.

THE vigil will be this evening (October 29) at Hove Town Hall in Norton Road, starting at 6pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend to show their respects to the eleven people who were shot dead by a lone gunman at the Synagogue on Saturday, October 27.

Everyone is welcome to attend.


Event: Vigil for those murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

Where: Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove

When: Monday, October 29

Time: 6pm

Hibernation raises £15,568 for good causes!

Hibernation 2018, the annual Community Luncheon organised by Danny Dwyer and Bear-Patrol broke all previous records, raising an amazing £15,568.00 for MindOut and The Rainbow Fund.

HIBERNATION, now firmly established as one of the city’s premier LGBT+ community events, took place on Sunday, October 21 in the Paganini Ballroom at the Old Ship Hotel on Brighton seafront.

Over two hundred of Brighton’s finest were welcomed by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Dee Simson. The High Sheriff of West Sussex, Caroline Nicholls DL was also in attendance.

£5,000 will be donated to MindOut the LGBT mental health service as Bear-Patrol’s continued commitment and support for their Counselling Project and £10,568.00 will be donated to the Rainbow Fund to distribute to LGBT+/HIV organisations providing effective front line services to LGBT+ people in Brighton and Hove.

Entertainers included Krissie Ducann, Dave the Bear, whose spectacular Jessica Rabbit and Leather Daddy routine went down a treat, Rob ‘The Voice’ Stevens who performed showstoppers from the musicals and duetted with Jennie Castell in his Meatloaf set and David Raven whose beautiful rendition of Over the Rainbow opened the show and set the tone for the afternoons entertainment.

Mysterry hosted the luncheon and Carole Todd’s direction kept everything moving along very nicely.

Jennie Castell ably assisted by Graeme Atack excelled as auctioneer with her efforts alone generating £7,010.00 towards the final total raised.

Toastmaster Dan Rennie-Hale brought an element of order and decorum to the proceedings as did the new General Manager at the Old Ship Hotel, Jason Bramwell whose help and support ensure the event happens in such wonderful surroundings.

Star item in the auction, was an original piece of pop art of Freddie Mercury painted especially for Hibernation by local artist Lez Ingham. It raised £2,700 which along with the £3,300 raised from the auction of her painting of George Michael at last years Hibernation, brings the total donated by Lez to Hibernation in the last two years to £6,000. Well done Lez!

Brighton cross-stitch enthusiast Robert Flint’s remarkable embroidered portrait of fifteen renowned drag stars, raised a fantastic £1,300. The drag artiste project took Robert seven months to complete, with each individual portrait of 6,400 stitches taking three and a half weeks making an astonishing 96,000 stitches in all and about 2,160 hours spent sewing.

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Chris Gull
Chris Gull

Chris Gull, Chair of the Rainbow Fund, said: “Congratulations to Danny and Bear Patrol on the success of this year’s Hibernation event. Our thanks, on behalf of the 22 local LGBT+ and HIV projects which The Rainbow Fund is supporting with grants this year, also go to those who attended and donated, bought raffle tickets, and bid in the auctions, and of course to those who donated, and created, the fabulous prizes and auction items. Hundreds of people in our LGBT+ and HIV communities will benefit from your generosity.”

Danny Dwyer
Danny Dwyer

Danny Dwyer from Bear Patrol, added: “From what started as a small luncheon at the Malmaison (then hotel Seattle) in 2011, Hibernation has become one of the most sought after Community luncheons in the LGBT + calendar and it really is an absolute pleasure to create and put on for people to attend and get involved with. This years total has far exceeded expectations raising an amazing amount of funding which will be distributed back into the community and I’m already looking forward to putting together next years event. We are keeping the line up under wraps and tickets are already selling fast ! Get in quick so as not to miss out on this wonderful day.”

Helen Jones
Helen Jones

Helen Jones, CEO MindOut said: “The Hibernation Luncheon is a fantastic fundraiser for the MindOut counselling service, we really could not survive without this support.  Danny and his team are brilliant fundraisers!  Its wonderful to see so many people having such a good time as well as raising money for vital community run services.  This is the LGBT+ communities maximising its resources and using them for the good of all of us.  I’d also like to say a big thank you to the people who donated items for the auction: the art work was stunning, really beautiful and so generous of those artists.”

The last Hibernation in 2017 raised £9,193.04 for MindOut and the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum.

Hibernation 2019 will take place on Sunday, October 20. To secure a place email: info@bearpatrol.org.uk

 

Ireland votes to remove blasphemy from its constitution

Ireland’s vote to remove blasphemy from its constitution is a resounding success for free speech, says Humanists UK.

IRISH citizens voted resoundingly at a referendum on Saturday, October 27 to remove the clause from the constitution. 64.8% (951,650) voted in favour and 35.1% (515,808) against with 22,236 invalid voting papers.

The referendum followed complaints made to Ireland’s police service following an interview on RTÉ TV between Gay Byrne and comedian Stephen Fry.

In the interview, Byrne asked Fry “what would he say to God in the afterlife.”

Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry

Fry responded: “Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world so full of injustice and pain?”

He was accused of running afoul of Ireland’s blasphemy laws, and Irish police opened an inquiry.

The investigation was eventually dropped, however the high-profile nature of the case sparked a public debate about the country’s blasphemy laws resulting in an alliance of 14 Churches – including the Catholic Church – declaring the constitutional clause “largely obsolete” and calling for its removal.

Humanists UK encouraged Irish citizens to go home to vote in the run-up to the referendum, with Stephen Fry tweeting about its campaign. On the eve of the referendum, Fry tweeted: “that scrapping the blasphemy law would be a signal of a “new, tolerant, liberal Ireland”.

Andrew Copson
Andrew Copson

Welcoming the referendum decision, Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said: “Irish people have voted to decriminalise blasphemy because they value their right to freedom of expression and they don’t believe that making comments about religion or a God should ever be a crime.

“It is welcome news for the international campaign against blasphemy laws, as even though the Irish law was obsolete, countries like Pakistan have cited it to justify persecuting religious minorities and the non-religious and enforcing extreme punishment such as prison or death for people accused of blasphemy.

“Today’s vote should surely also send a strong message to Scotland and Northern Ireland of the need to urgently join the growing international movement of countries turning against these laws.”

Ireland is the latest country to repeal its blasphemy laws, joining France, Malta, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark.

New study reveals 100% of PrEP bought online is the real deal

No evidence found of fake or counterfeit PrEP in any samples examined in new research by HIV organisations PrEPster and Terrence Higgins Trust.

REASSURANCE has come for the thousands currently sourcing HIV prevention pill PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) online as a new study commissioned by HIV organisations Terrence Higgins Trust and PrEPster finds that samples from the six leading online suppliers are the real deal.

Following testing by scientists at Imperial College London, the 14 samples from the six main online suppliers of generic PrEP were found to contain what is necessary to prevent HIV infection. There was no evidence of fake or counterfeit PrEP in any of the samples bought online.

These findings are important as it’s thought nearly half of PrEP users in England are accessing PrEP outside of the NHS trial. When taken as prescribed, PrEP gives almost 100 per cent protection against HIV.

The results will be presented at the HIV Drug Therapy Conference at Glasgow’s SEC on Monday 29 October.

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have the same dosage and intended usage as the original drug. Generic PrEP can be bought online for between £20 and £30 a month.

The research is a collaboration between scientists at Imperial College London, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust and community organisation PrEPster, which campaigns for wider PrEP access.

Drug samples were bought directly from online suppliers and care was taken to ensure those placing the orders were not known to the online suppliers as PrEP activists.

PrEP is currently available in England as part of a three-year NHS England trial providing access to 10,000 people. However, within one year of starting, it has already had to be increased by 3,000 places (to 13,000) due a surge in demand. Almost 9,000 people are currently accessing PrEP via the trial with some of the busiest clinics now unable to provide PrEP to gay and bisexual men due to being oversubscribed.

This means people at risk of HIV are finding themselves unable to access this game-changing drug.

PrEP is available on the NHS in Scotland and via an uncapped study in Wales.

The drug from NHS England’s three-year PrEP IMPACT Trial was also tested in the study, as well as a sample of Gilead’s Truvada, which is the non-generic version of PrEP.

Last month, new figures from Public Health England showed a 17 per cent drop in new HIV diagnoses in 2017, which is a 28 per cent decline over two years. The drop among gay and bisexual men is even bigger with a 31 per cent drop in two years. 2016 saw the first decline in new diagnoses among gay and bisexual men since the very start of the HIV epidemic.

PrEP, alongside condoms, HIV testing and the rapid initiation of effective treatment for people living with HIV – which means the virus becomes undetectable in the blood more quickly and therefore can’t be passed on, has played a key role in that progress.

Will Nutland
Will Nutland

Will Nutland, co-founder of PrEPster, said: The data should offer further reassurance to those sourcing online PrEP in other parts of Europe, given that many of the supplies from the sellers are imported via the UK.

“This data builds on the existing results of therapeutic drug monitoring testing and offers additional and ongoing assurances about the quality and integrity of generic online PrEP being sold by six of the main suppliers.”

Ian Green
Ian Green

Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “These results clearly show that the PrEP being privately sourced online from the main suppliers is fit for purpose and therefore, when taken as prescribed, highly effective at preventing HIV. Understandably, those considering ordering PrEP online have some concerns about what they are buying and hopefully this will act as further reassurance.

“But this doesn’t change the fact that NHS England must make PrEP routinely available to those who need it. It’s unacceptable that many trial sites on the IMPACT Trial are now unable to provide PrEP for gay and bisexual men as no-one should be denied a pill which can prevent HIV as we work toward reaching zero HIV transmissions in this country.”

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