The Good Son has been selected for the City Reads event, taking place as a part of Brighton Festival.
Brighton-based author Paul McVeigh’s novel The Good Son has been chosen for City Reads 2016, when the big read for adults returns to it’s cultural home as a part of Brighton Festival’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Sarah Hutchings, the Artistic Director of City Reads, said: “Choosing one book for a whole City to read, share and celebrate is a wonderful thing because it brings people together. Brighton-based Northern Irish writer Paul McVeigh’s incredible book was the perfect choice, particularly as 2016 marks the centenary of the Easter Rising, a rebellion that led to the eventual signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of Northern Ireland. I defy anyone not to fall in love with its protagonist Mickey Donnelly. He’s clever, naive and hilariously funny. I hope you love it as much as we do at City Reads.”
McVeigh is delighted to have been chosen as this year’s author, and will be speaking at Brighton Festival on May 29.
Born in Belfast, Paul McVeigh began his writing career as a playwright before moving to London where he wrote comedy shows. His short stories have been published in literary journals and anthologies, read on BBC Radio 5 and commissioned by BBC Radio 4. He is also the co-founder of London Short Story Festival.
He said:“When I moved to Brighton a few years ago, one of the first things I did was volunteer for City Reads to celebrate books and get to know my new city. Who could believe that just a few years later my book would be chosen and my adopted city would adopt me right back. That it will be part of the 50th Anniversary of the Brighton Festival is such an honour. I can’t wait to get started.”
For more information, about City Reads, click here:
Sport Relief 2016 is due to take place between March 18 – 20 and Brighton & Hove City council is organising the city’s contribution to the annual country-wide fundraising event.
The Brighton & Hove Sport Relief Mile will take place at Preston Park, on Sunday, March 20. This will be the seventh Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile held in Brighton & Hove, and residents are being encouraged to get involved by entering now at sportrelief.com.
Participants can walk or run a one, three or six-mile course in order to raise life-changing money for Sport Relief 2016. The colourful, cheerful and eager ‘Milers’ will be doing their bit to make a difference to people living across the UK and in the world’s poorest communities.
Cllr Alan Robins
Cllr Alan Robins, Deputy Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Preston Park will be a great community event with a happy atmosphere. From little ones with their mums and dads, to runners-up against the clock there’s something for everyone to make themselves feel proud on this special day. I’m looking forward to joining in with the one mile run, it’s all about having fun and making a difference. We always see a lot of support for this popular fundraising event and this year will be no exception.”
The Sport Relief weekend runs from Friday March 18 – Sunday 20, 2016 and there are more ways than ever to take part. The event in Preston Park on Sunday 20, will include local performers providing entertainment alongside the sporting element. Local clubs will also be taking part to provide activities and demonstrations.
Nicky Butcher
Nicky Butcher, Campaign Events Project Manager for Sport Relief, said: “Whether you get sponsored to enter an event at the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games or fundraise with friends and family at home, work or school, you’ll help people living incredibly tough lives. In fact, half of all the money raised by the public is spent right here at home in the UK, with the other half used to make a difference in the world’s poorest communities.”
Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives, across the UK and the world’s poorest communities. It all leads up to the Sport Relief weekend and a fantastic night of TV on the BBC.
Brighton Corn Exchange will host the 26th Sussex CAMRA Branches Beer & Cider Festival from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 of March 2016.
With sales of real ale showing no signs of slowing down, the event will see more than 160 beers from across the UK including some new beer launches from Sussex breweries. A large selection of ciders and perries will also be available alongside an excellent selection of British and foreign bottled beers to drink on the day or take away.
This year all beers will be cooled throughout the festival, meaning that it should be in the same excellent condition on the Saturday evening as it is when the event opens on Thursday 17. Bear in mind that popular beers can sell very quickly, and as it takes at least 48hrs for beers to settle, cannot be replaced.
A variety of food will also be on sale throughout the festival, with both vegetarian and vegan options available as well as a selection of soft drinks.
If you are lucky enough to look under 25 years old then please bring photo ID and note that all attendees must be over 18 to gain admission.
Advance tickets are available now from Evening Star, Brighton; Gardener’s Arms, Lewes; Duke of Wellington, Shoreham-by-Sea; Selden Arms, Worthing; and Beer Essentials, Horsham.
For postal sales please state which session(s) you require and enclose a 9×4 SAE with your cheque, made payable to “Sussex CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival” and send to SBB&CF Ticket Sales, 16 Connell Drive, Woodingdean, Brighton, BN2 6RT.
Cyclists will soon be able to leave their bikes in seven new locations across the city, as the council look to increase cycle parking facilities in Brighton.
Members of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee are being asked to agree proposals for new pedal cycle parking places in locations across the city.
New on-carriageway cycle racks are proposed for Bonchurch Road, Broad Street, Devonshire Place, Eaton Place, Franklin Street and Walpole Terrace, with an additional extension to the existing cycle parking in Bartholomews. This is in addition to the five sites that were approved in November last year.
The new locations were chosen to help meet the growing demand in the city centre for cycle parking. The council is committed to improving cycle parking provision in the city and encouraging residents and visitors to travel by bike, with residents and traders near to each site also being consulted on the proposals.
The new facilities, part of a £40,000 scheme to improve cycle parking, will be funded with Local Transport Plan money. The new cycle racks will hold at least 10 bikes at any one time.
Since the council began installing pedal cycle parking places in 2008, spaces for more than 600 bikes have been provided at 61 locations across the city.
Cllr Gill Mitchell
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee said: “As cycling continues to increase in the city, I’m pleased to see these proposals which will help to meet the growing demand for safe and secure cycle parking across the city.”
For more information on cycle parking and other cycle facilities in Brighton and Hove, click here:
The British Film Institute (BFI) have revealed the favourite couples from the world of film and television, as voted for by the British public as well as thousands of people from all over the globe.
Brokeback Mountain
Gay and Trans* characters feature in both polls, with Glee’s Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) being just pipped to the top spot in the TV poll, and Torchwood’s (2006-11) Jack (John Barrowman) and Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) coming in at number 5.
Meanwhile the heart-breaking romance between Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger) in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain (2005) was voted into the film top ten at number 7.
In the North East of England Boy Meets Girl (2015) topped the TV polls, starring trans* actor Rebecca Root as Judy, a trans* woman in her forties who falls in love with Leo (Henry Hepple) ten years her junior.
Favourites amongst the TV poll results are ‘will they/won’t they’ couples, with such couples from The X Files, Doctor Who, Gossip Girl and The Office all featuring in the top ten.
Whilst the TV poll is dominated by contemporary couples, the film poll results demonstrate that classic couples still resonate with audiences, with top ten appearances from Gone With the Wind, Casablanca and When Harry Met Sally.
Full national and regional poll results are shown below:
Overall Film Top 10: Overall TV Top 10:
1. DDLJ – Raj and Simran
1. Outlander – Claire and Jamie
2. Before Trilogy – Jesse and Celine
2. Glee – Kurt and Blaine
3. Gone With the Wind – Scarlett and Rhett
3. Poldark – Ross and Demelza
4. Casablanca – Rick and Ilsa
4. Gossip Girl – Chuck and Blair
5. True Romance – Clarence and Alabama
5. Torchwood – Jack and Ianto
6. The Princess Bride – Buttercup and Westley
6. The X Files – Mulder and Scully
7. Brokeback Mountain – Jack and Ennis
7. Doctor Who – The Doctor and Rose
8. Twilight – Bella and Edward
8. Pride and Prejudice – Darcy and Elizabeth
9. When Harry Met Sally… – Harry and Sally
9. Parks and Recreation – Leslie and Ben
10. Star Wars – Han and Leia
10. The Office – Tim and Dawn
UK Only Film Top 10: UK Only TV Top 10:
1. DDLJ – Raj and Simran
1. Poldark – Ross and Demelza
2. Before Trilogy – Jesse and Celine
2. Glee – Kurt and Blaine
3. Casablanca – Rick and Ilsa
3. Gossip Girl – Chuck and Blair
4. True Romance – Clarence and Alabama
4. Outlander – Claire and Jamie
5. Gone with the Wind – Scarlett and Rhett
5. Torchwood – Jack and Ianto
6. The Princess Bride – Buttercup and Westley
6. The X Files – Mulder and Scully
7. Brief Encounter – Laura and Alec
7. Pride and Prejudice – Darcy and Elizabeth
8. When Harry Met Sally… – Harry and Sally
8. Doctor Who – The Doctor and Rose
9. Brokeback Mountain – Jack and Ennis
9. Parks and Recreation – Leslie and Ben
10. Star Wars – Han and Leia
10. The Office – Tim and Dawn
East Midlands
Film Top 5: TV Top 5:
1. The Princess Bride
1. Poldark
2. DDLJ
2. Glee
3. True Romance
3. Torchwood
4. Brief Encounter
4. Outlander
5. Gone with the Wind
5. Pride and Prejudice
East of England
Film Top 5: TV Top 5:
1. DDLJ
1. Glee
2. True Romance
2. Poldark
3. Gone with the Wind
3. Outlander
4. The Princess Bride
4. The X Files
5. Star Wars
5. Gossip Girl
London
Film Top 5: TV Top 5:
1. DDLJ
1. Glee
2. Before Trilogy
2. Gossip Girl
3. True Romance
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Gone with the Wind
4. Outlander
5. Casablanca
5. Torchwood
North East
Film Top 5:
1. Casablanca
2. The Princess Bride
3. Harry Potter
4. When Harry Met Sally…
5. Star Wars
TV Top 5: 1. Boy Meets Girl
2. Poldark
3. Doctor Who
4. Torchwood
5. Glee
North West
Film Top 5:
1. Casablanca
2. Before Trilogy
3. True Romance
4. Brokeback Mountain
5. Twilight
TV Top 5: 1. Glee
2. Outlander
3. Gossip Girl
4. Friends
5. Parks and Recreation
Northern Ireland
Film Top 5:
1. DDLJ
2. Gone with the Wind
3. True Romance
4. The Princess Bride
5. Casablanca
TV Top 5:
1. Glee
2. Poldark
3. The Simpsons
4. Parks and Recreation
5. Doctor Who
Scotland
Film Top 5: 1. DDLJ
2. Before Trilogy
3. True Romance
4. Casablanca
5. Brokeback Mountain
TV Top 5: 1. Outlander
2. Glee
3. Gossip Girl
4. Torchwood
5. Poldark
South East
Film Top 5:
1. Before Trilogy
2. Gone with the Wind
3. DDLJ
4. Casablanca
5. Brief Encounter
TV Top 5:
1. Poldark
2. Gossip Girl
3. Glee
4. The X Files
5. Torchwood
South West
Film Top 5: 1. Before Trilogy
2. Casablanca
3. True Romance
4. Brief Encounter
5. Brokeback Mountain
TV Top 5:
1. Poldark
2. Torchwood
3. Glee
4. Outlander
5. Gossip Girl
Wales
Film Top 5: 1. DDLJ
2. Before Trilogy
3. Casablanca
4. Brokeback Mountain
5. The Princess Bride
TV Top 5:
1. Glee
2. Torchwood
3. Poldark
4. Gossip Girl
5. Doctor Who
West Midlands
Film Top 5:
1. Before Trilogy
2. Casablanca
3. True Romance
4. DDLJ
5. The Princess Bride
TV Top 5:
1. Glee
2. Outlander
3. Poldark
4. Gossip Girl
5. Torchwood
Yorkshire
Film Top 5: 1. DDLJ
2. Casablanca
3. Before Trilogy
4. Twilight
5. When Harry Met Sally…
TV Top 5:
1. Poldark
2. Gossip Girl
3. Torchwood
4. Glee
5. Outlander
Outside the UK
Film Top 5: 1. DDLJ
2. Gone with the Wind
3. Before Trilogy
4. Casablanca
5. Twilight
TV Top 5:
1. Outlander
2. Glee
3. Gossip Girl
4. Poldark
5. Torchwood
ZLS and Sweet Venues are organising a new performing arts festival for writers and performers in the city of Brighton & Hove.
(Brighton &) Hove Grown will showcase local talent, with performers and writers from the area now being encouraged to register and declare their interest in taking part.
The festival, billed as a multi-arts celebration of the creative community, will cover theatre, comedy, improv, spoken word, cabaret as well as family-friendly shows.
Three venues have been confirmed so far for the event, which will take place between Friday 18th and Sunday 27th March. The Dukebox Theatre, the Brunswick pub and Artista Studio.
The festival is a joint venture between Sweet Venues, and social enterprise theatre company ZLS Theatre. The festival aims to showcase the work of local writers and performers while also increasing the awareness of venues in the Western Road area of Brighton & Hove.
(Brighton &) Hove Grown also aims to encourage the to take a look at local talent, ahead of the annual Brighton Fringe Festival.
Guy Wah, Artistic Director and founder of ZLS Theatre, said:“Brighton & Hove has a wealth of creative talent, and now we have an outlet designed to celebrate that. This is a great opportunity to see new work in some wonderful venues that don’t always receive the attention that they deserve.”
Sweet Venues manage the Dukebox Theatre in Brighton, which won best venue at the Brighton Fringe Festival in 2013.
JD Henshaw, Artistic Director of Sweet Venues, added:“That we can build a festival that focuses solely on new work across multiple genres is a testament to the quantity of highly creative people living and working in our city, as well as the large number of exciting and supportive venues in and around the Western Road area of Hove. We are committed to presenting this festival for the next three years and believe that it will become a fixture in the Brighton & Hove festival calendar, one that we can carry on far beyond our initial three year plan.”
Registration opens this weekend.
Performers and writers wanting to register, click here:
University researchers ask for experiences of same-sex couples, 10 years after the Civil Partnership Act was first introduced.
Researchers from Coventry University and the University of Worcester are asking same-sex couples from across the UK to tell them about their views and experiences 10 years on from the introduction of the Civil Partnerships Act 2004.
The act – introduced on December 5, 2005 – created the new legally recognised relationship of civil partner for the first time in the UK, giving same-sex couples access to rights and responsibilities previously reserved for those who are married.
Eight years later, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was introduced alongside the Civil Partnerships Act, effectively giving same-sex couples in England, Wales and Scotland two different ways for their relationship to be recognised in the eyes of the law.
Researchers from both universities are looking for couples who are currently – or have previously been – in a civil partnership or same-sex marriage to take part in their online survey to find out what these different options mean to them.
Since the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act came into force, the number of people in England and Wales registering civil partnerships has fallen by 70% according to the Office for National Statistics, and many same-sex couples in England and Wales are now converting their civil partnerships to marriages.
Meanwhile, civil partnerships remain the only option for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland, which has yet to legislate to allow same-sex marriage. There are also calls – in the form of the Equal Civil Partnerships campaign – for civil partnerships to be opened up to opposite-sex couples.
Dr Adam Jowett
Dr Adam Jowett, lecturer in social psychology in the University’s Centre for Research in Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement, said: “We have a situation where there are two parallel forms of legal recognition for same-sex couples to choose from, and we don’t know how couples view these two institutions. We want to know why people are choosing one over the other, and why people are choosing to convert their civil partnership to a marriage – or, indeed, why they have chosen not to.
“Back when civil partnerships were introduced, we conducted a study similar to this one. Many of the people we spoke to were treating their civil partnership as a marriage, and used the language of ‘marriage’ – although some people did not want to model their civil partnership on heterosexual marriage. This new study is seeking to find out how the landscape has changed, what these two forms of legal recognition mean to same-sex couples, and how it has affected their relationships and family lives.”
Six people have been fined for the misuse of Blue Badges intended for the disabled.
The motorists were caught fraudulently using Blue Badges, which led to them being brought before Eastbourne Magistrates last Friday November 20). All of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges brought by Brighton & Hove City Council prosecutor Len Batten.
The drivers were all convicted of using a Blue Badge when the holder of the Badge was not present, or of displaying a photocopied badge. Several of the drivers had been caught using Badges that had been cancelled after being reported as being missing or stolen. When a Badge is reported as missing and cancelled, a new Badge is then issued and the original Badge cannot be reused.
Owen Richards of Lansdowne Place, Hove; Vimbai Shoko of Montpelier Mansions, Hove; Russell Screen of Knoll Close, Hove; Deborah Laverack of Knolton Was, Slough; William Morrison of Ditchling Road, Brighton; Carolyn Giliam of Elizabeth Avenue, Hove and Beatrix Szabo of Foxhill, Peacehaven all received fines as well as costs, ranging from £310 – £767.
Other drivers were caught displaying photocopies of Blue Badges – the maximum penalty for this offence is £1,000.
Cllr Gill Mitchell
Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of Brighton & City Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said:“These prosecutions send out a clear message that Blue Badge misuse is being addressed in the city. The Blue Badge scheme is intended to make sure that parking spaces are available for people who genuinely need them.
“We will continue to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to crackdown on misuse of Blue Badges, and ensure that people with disabilities can get to and enjoy everything Brighton & Hove has to offer.”
For more information on using a Blue Badge in Brighton & Hove, click here:
Celebrate Cumbria launch appeal for information regarding significant historical organisations and events which may benefit their history project.
Celebrate Cumbria
Celebrate Cumbria is the first project to explore and uncover the living history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Cumbria. They would love to hear your memories, stories and personal experiences. and to collect photographs and any other items which may be relevant and reflect the lives of LGBT people living in Cumbria.
Through their own research they have compiled a list of some specific events that they are eager to learn more about:
♦ Cumbria & The Borders CHE – SHRG Group – later a Gay Community Group: Founded in 1973 by Richard Webster, and later ran by Alwin Stockdale until early 1990s. Monthly meetings in the Old Town Hall, Carlisle
♦ CHE Group for Cumbria South: Founded in 1976 by Mr P J W Holland
♦ Gay Carlisle Group (a local CHE Group): Founded in 1977 by Jim Straker, a monthly meeting used to be held at the Morton Community Centre, Carlisle
♦ CHE Group for Barrow: Founded in 1979 by Mr Brian Hobson
♦ Kendal Indecency Trial, 1959: 13 men were tried for indecency for their homosexuality, and was reported at length by local newspapers – which also published the names and addresses of the men involved.
♦ Carlisle Indecency Trial, 1966: 7 gay men were tried in Carlisle for indecency, this was reported widely by local newspapers as well – which also published the names and addresses of the men involved.
♦ Sir Hugh Walpole (March 13, 1884 – June 1 1941): Best-selling writer in the first half of 20th Century who settled in Lake District in his later life, more information here.
♦ H. Montgomery Hyde (August 14, 1907 – August 10, 1989): Politician, writer and early campaigner for gay rights, schooled in Sedburgh before left for University.
Autumn is here, and hibernation is imminent – don’t hideaway just yet though, because queer performance and events group Wotever World are showcasing a fantastic line up of film events over the coming weeks.
The events, hosted by the Wotever DIY Film Festival (WDIYFF), are taking place as a part of the British Film Institute’s LOVE season. Based in London, Wotever aims to create a safe space for everyone with their events.
“Respect and welcome to one and all. No matter what identity, or multiple identities, any person may have or choose, Wotever welcomes them. This includes (but certainly is not exclusive to) : drag kings, queers, women, mtf, femmes, trans, butches, queerbois, gay, drag queens, dykes, bisexuals, ftm, men, straight..”
Upcoming events include:
Go Fish Screening and Panel Discussion November, 22, 1pm @ Picturehouse Central, 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, Piccadilly, London W1D 7DH
Screening of lesbian classic GO FISH followed by a panel discussion on lesbian filmmaking hosted by the WDIYFF. This is a part of the BFI’s ‘Queer Women in Love’ programme, which was put together by our good friends at the Scottish Queer International Film Festival.
Queer Women in Love at Bar Wotever
December, 15, 8pm @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Ln, London
Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) in collaboration with Wotever DIY Film Festival presents a selection of shorts from SQIFF’s UK-wide Queer Women in Love season, featuring films by and about lesbian, bisexual and queer women.
The line-up includes a range of styles and ideas relating to the theme of love, from Barbara Hammer’s innovative 1970s lesbian experiment Dyketactics to Ami Nashimoto’s vegan, gluten-free date nightmare-comedy Dinner for Two, via queer filmmaking legend Cheryl Dunye’s very first film, Janine, and activist Krissy Mahan’s 1980s-set gay beach town dramedy 1987, Summer.
With an introduction from SQIFF’s Helen Wright, plus BSL Interpretation and English subtitles for accessibility. A part of BFI LOVE, in partnership with Plusnet.
Sport Relief 2016 is due to take place between March 18 – 20 and Brighton & Hove City council is organising the city’s contribution to the annual country-wide fundraising event.
(Brighton &) Hove Grown will showcase local talent, with performers and writers from the area now being encouraged to register and declare their interest in taking part.
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