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Bohemia Village Voice No. 47. May 2007
Circulation: 5,000 (unaudited)
Free local newsletter and village directory
ELECTION SPECIAL (4 pages start p 13)
Shoppers’ parking - the debate opens (p 8)
Stewart Buchan
YMCA is the real community centre (p 5)
‘Where’s my Silo?’ – asks Clive (p 6)
Masquerade – more than window dressing (p 19)
‘Greatest English Opera’ by local group (p 12)
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Bohemia Village Voice
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May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
Editorial Voice one year old Congratulations to us on our first birthday! Bohemia Village Voice was first published in May 2006, carried only one story and was received by just seven email subscribers. One year and 45 editions later, 362 stories have been written, with 247 pictures and 60 letters. Today, 5,000 copies of the Voice are printed and distributed in and around Bohemia. Well done us!
Poison pen
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In this issue ...
mation it contained we would be letting down the community we purported to serve. In the event we have decided neither to publish the letter, nor to follow up the ‘story’, nor to pass it on to the police. It was decided to destroy the letter. If any member of the public has information about criminal activity going on, they should report it to the police. Obviously, in order to do that they would no longer be able to hide behind the cloak of anonymity. If the person who wrote has real evidence and is not merely intent on libel, then we are certain that Hastings Police would be happy to follow it up.
In early April the Voice received an unsigned letter accusing a Bohemia resident of criminal behaviour. The tone of the letter suggested that if we did not either publish it or act on the infor- The editor
Cover
Masquerade report – page 19
Location, Location, Location – page 4
Laura’s brave fight – page 12
Clive asks: where’s Silo? – page 6
Opera South East – page 12
Parking for shoppers – debate opens – page 8
Penny Lane Music shop opens – page 7
YMCA is community centre – page 5
Election special – pages 13 to 16
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On other pages ... BAA report ................ 11
Puzzle Corner ............ 20
Bohemia Bygones ...... 21
Richard Slater (4/8) .... 9
Cargo second-hand .. 10
Short stories .............. 10
Doug Harcourt .......... 10
Vie de Bohème ........ 21
eBay shop opens ...... 20
Village Directory .. 23-27
In short ...................... 16
Village Fair .................. 7
Letters ........................22
Bohemia Village Voice Published and edited by John Humphries at 79, Bohemia Road, Bohemia Village, Sussex, TN37 6RJ. Tel: 01424 430460. Email: editor@bohemiavillage.com Assistant editor: Julian Beecroft. Proofreader: John E Humphries. First published May 2006. © John Humphries. Circulation: 5,000 (unaudited). To receive a free email version of this newsletter, simply send your email address to us.
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
Scott & Jakki get ‘Location’ TV show help A chance phone call to a popular property programme has brought a young creative couple to St Peter’s Road in the heart of Bohemia. This time last year life for Scott Garrett and Jakki Pransky was getting a little chaotic. They had recently moved from London to a rented flat on the West Hill, but when Jakki found out she was pregnant they realised they needed a bigger place. They both knew they wanted to stay in Hastings and had started to look around, without much luck. Then one night they were watching Location Location Location on Channel 4 and it dawned on Jakki that they should put themselves up to appear on the show. ‘I phoned them the next day, and they got straight back to us,’ she says. ‘We were about to go off on a road trip around the States, but they came down here and did a recce and then phoned us while we were on the road to say “yes”.’ FRIENDLY
Fans of the programme will be familiar with Phil and Kirsty, the friendly presenters who help the house hunters find their ideal home. In Scott and Jakki’s case, Phil took them through the process on his own, as Kirsty was away having a baby. They found him to be as amiable in the flesh as he appears on TV. They told the Village
the next one, and so on. We watch the TV with different eyes now, though we’re not complaining, of course.’ TEXAS
Jakki & Scott – with Texas – looking forward to TV fame
us to look at, Voice, ‘He mostly over is a really in the West nice perHill or Clive son. In fact Vale area all the crew that we were. They knew. We laid on a actually hadnice lunch n’t thought every day at of living in St a good local Leonards restaurant, until we saw and they this place. w e r e The day we a l w a y s came to see keen to it, a couple make sure up from we were London had happy. The put in an researchers offer, but we were also Scott & Jakki’s house in St told Phil to great. They Peter’s Road offer the full found out everything we might want asking price and we got to know about this area, it.’ such as the fact that STRANGE there was a good school Scott admits that they just across the road.’ found the filming process a bit strange. ‘We had to CLIVE VALE The programme was wait up the road while shot over four days in they got set up in the first late June 2006. Jakki room. Then when we’d says, ‘They found, I think, seen that one we had to five different places for wait until they’d set up in
In the end the process of moving took longer than expected. ‘Our baby boy, Texas, was born in October, and we didn’t move in until he was five weeks old, so that was a challenge,’ says Jakki, while adding that she’s now sold on Bohemia as an area. ‘It’s leafy and green, and you’re within walking distance to everything. I really love it.’ The house is also big enough that the couple can both work from home. Scott is a freelance illustrator for clients including the Guardian and the LA Times, and he now has a big office at the front of the house. Jakki is a jewellery designer and sells mostly through her own website, rubydixie.co.uk. BUSY
Scott and Jakki are still busy settling in to their new home, but they’ve already had another visit from the programme in recent weeks. ‘Kirsty came to see us while she was down here with another couple who are looking to buy in Hastings and St Leonards. She said they’re going to combine the two stories in an hour-long show, and that she’d like to come back with Phil in a year or so to see how we’re doing. That’s fine by us.’
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
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A real community centre for youth at the ‘Y’ The Village Voice has recently turned its attention on the problems of local youth – both the problems they cause and those they experience. The lack of a local space in which to play football was the major hassle described by the kids we spoke to back in March. In response to their plea the Voice identified a useful facility down at White Rock Gardens, and if that wasn’t enough we’ve since had a call on the same subject from Karen Manning, who runs the YMCA in St Paul’s Road. Karen insists that anyone can use their facilities to play football or other sports, or to take part in the youth clubs that run four nights a week. In fact the range of activities that goes on at the YMCA is surprising. ‘We run football sessions for primaryschool children on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3.30 to 5pm, and there are other groups who use the sports hall for football. But that’s only a part of what we’re about.
Karen Manning – proud of the YMCA
‘We have a thousand people a week through the doors,’ Karen says proudly. ‘For instance, we started the free-skate sessions back in November, and we now have 240 members for that night alone.’ The free skate, which is open to anyone aged 14 and over, takes place on a Tuesday night from 8 to 10.30pm, while other clubs for 13–19year-olds are held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 9pm. ‘We’d like to be open earlier, but there’s a limit to how much funding
we can get for staff. That’s always the biggest problem, and it’s why we have to hire the hall out whenever we can. Of course, we’re a community centre, but we’d love to be more youth-based. We just can’t afford to do it.’ The YMCA is also now registered with the Open College Network, and is currently running the Toolbox Project, which teaches carpentry skills to secondary-school children, some of whom have been on the verge of being excluded. ‘That’s been a great success,’
says Karen. ‘We run twohour sessions in the workshop, morning and afternoon, five days a week. The kids love it, and a lot of them have taken it further and learned a trade. Other schools in the town want to send some of their children here, but the classes are full.’ Karen is currently looking to secure £100,000 for the installation of a kitchen at the centre, as well as refurbishment of the sportshall floor and provision of disabled access. But that’s not the limit of her ambitions for the place. Currently, part of the top floor of the main building is used by the Jigsaw nursery. ‘We’d like to put up a new building for them where the Portakabin classroom is now, and that would free up more space upstairs. In the end it all comes down to money. But anyone can use our facilities if there’s space available. They just need to come and see us or give us a ring.’ Karen’s number is 429677.
The YMCA building in St Paul’s Road. The sports hall (left) and the fully equipped workshop (right)
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
Clive: ‘Can I please have my Silo back?’ Bohemia Road resident Clive Coleman has had his beloved dog Silo impounded by the RSPCA following a tip-off by an anonymous caller. Silo, a Welsh collie, had been suffering with fox mange since the summer despite Clive’s strenuous efforts to treat the condition. The first thing he knew of the RSPCA’s interest was when he returned home on the evening of Wednesday 31st January to find one of the charity’s inspectors, accompanied by a police officer, waiting outside his house. INFORMATION
‘I had gone up to see a lady of mature years in Salisbury Road who I take care of regularly. I came back home half an hour later and the RSPCA inspector and a police officer were waiting outside. The RSPCA inspector said she had come to take Silo away to be looked at by one of their vets. I invited them in.’ FOX MANGE
Clive had been treating his dog for fox mange ever since it first appeared. The condition is caused by a mite that gets under the skin. ‘You can treat one part and it can break out somewhere else. It causes sores, and the dog’s hair to fall out, and it generally makes the dog look down, look as if they’re feeling sorry for themselves. Between 50 and 60% of dogs already
carry this condition but show no signs of it. Anywhere a fox has been a dog can get it, even by rolling over in a field. It’s highly contagious. My dog got it from rolling in a
Clive agreed to let the RSPCA inspector take the dog away on a temporary basis, so that she could be cared for by a vet. ‘I signed the dog over to them, then I
‘The RSPCA wanted to know what size shoes do I take, how many tattoos I’ve got, what’s my national insurance number, how tall I am.’
informed that the charity intended to keep the dog until further notice. Clive phoned them again a month later to find out when he could have his dog back, and was told that the dog had been ‘“seized by the police, so you’ll have to take it up with them”’.
The Village Voice was told by the RSPCA’s Klare Kennett of the charity’s standard procedure. ‘Initially, if we get a report of cruelty, an inspector will go on their own to see the animal. If the owner refuses to take it to a vet, or if the animal is suffering greatly, then we have powers to take it away. In those cases where we subsequently decide to prosecute the owner, we win 99% of the In happier times: Clive’s beloved Silo time, and the animal is sheep field. Foxes eat phoned them up every found a new home.’ the afterbirths of sheep, day to find out how she INSPECTOR and dead lambs. was. They told me she Ms Kennett told us that Wherever you have was doing better than the procedure was folsheep you’ll get foxes. before since she was lowed to the letter in this now being treated with SHEPHERD case. She was adamant ‘I had been treating it antibiotics.’ that the presence of a with vitamin tablets and Clive had further visits policeman was only Battle’s Green Oil, which from the RSPCA inspec- because the inspector is used extensively for tor, mostly to ask him happened to be travelling the same infection in live- very personal questions. with the officer at the time stock on farms. It was ‘She wanted to know when they passed Clive’s recommended by one what size shoes do I address, and the inspecperson who used to be a take, how many tattoos tor decided to stop. She shepherd for 40-odd I’ve got, what’s my also said that the case years. It takes a long time national insurance num- was currently being to clear up. In the mean- ber, how tall I am. I asked looked at by the charity’s time I had to keep her her what she wanted all prosecutions departaway from other dogs. that for, and she said she ment. But I don’t need a lead. wanted information for She’s a very loyal dog their records. I’d never Clive says, ‘I wouldn’t want anyone else to have and never runs away.’ heard anything so ridicuto go through the kind of lous.’ WRENCH stress I’ve experienced in Despite the emotional Then at the beginning of the last couple of wrench of losing Silo, March Clive was months.’
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
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Penny Lane offers wide range of copy guitars Bohemia’s credentials as a creative hub were enhanced last month with the opening of a guitar shop on the south corner of Bohemia Road and Tower Road, at the premises recently vacated by Furniture Corner. Penny Lane Music is one of a chain of shops owned by Gary Hutchins, including other outlets in Eastbourne, Brighton and Haywards Heath. The Village Voice spoke to Shaun Matthews, who works in the shop parttime, but will eventually work a five-day week once the business gets going. The shop sells copies of classic guitars – Fenders, Gibsons, even Rickenbackers – many of them bearing the Hutchins name. Shaun
in China. But if someone wants a custom-built instrument he can do that too. All the ones you’ll see in the shop are goodquality copies, not bottom-of-the-range, and the prices reflect that.’ Shaun plays guitar himself, though he says he is not in a band at the moment. ‘I just play for fun.’ But it obviously helps to know what you’re talking about. ‘We’ve sold a few guitars already, mainly acoustics, plus strings and things like that.’ At the moment the shop only seems to be open 10am–5pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and Shaun Matthews of Penny Lane Music demonstrates guitar 9am–5pm on Saturdays, told us, ‘The boss gets ously worked in the though in time Tuesdays someone to design the industry, and then he and Wednesdays will be guitars who has previ- gets them manufactured added to that schedule.
All the fun of the (Bohemia Village) fair Kat Lee and Jewels White are planning to stage the first Bohemia Village Fair – from 1pm to 9pm on 12th August on the green space between Summerfields Leisure Centre and the ambulance station. Kat and her co-organiser Jewels, together known as Purple Furball Events, have previous experience in the Hastings area and elsewhere of putting on big public events. ‘I was one of the organisers behind the Green Fair two years ago, and before that while I was still in London I put on the the annual ‘Chill on the Hill’ in Crouch Hill,’ says Kat. ‘Jewels was part of the team behind the Mad March Fair here in Hastings.’ Kat also plays in a band called Red Diesel,
their turn on a solar-powered Scalextrix,’ says Kat, ‘Plus we’re planning a nature trail through Summerfields Woods. And of course there’ll be refreshments stalls, including a veggie food stall run by the Rooms.’ PLAY
Kat & Jewels – planning Bohemia’s first village fair
which performs once a month at the Rooms in St Leonards. The duo have ambitious plans for the Village Fair. ‘We’ll have a stage for local bands, and a drum village organised by the Centre of Creativity, who are based in West St Leonards. There’ll be a space for
other performers, too – poets, dancers, gymnasts and circus performers. Gyros, who rehearse at the YMCA – they’ll be there. Then there’ll also be a children’s arts tent run by Andreswald Arts and Recycling, where kids can learn rag-weaving and peg-doll making, or take
Kat says any bands wanting to play at the event should contact the Rooms in St Leonards. Local traders or community groups who want to take a stall, or anyone interested in performing or volunteering their services, can contact Kat at: kat.leeryan@btinternet.com . Meanwhile, keep reading the Village Voice over the coming months to learn more about this exciting event as it takes shape.
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
Shoppers’ parking bays – the debate opens park there all day. So, obviously, the 2-hour bay makes perfect sense. I’m all for it.’
The most common complaint we hear from local traders is over the lack of parking spaces. Greater minds than ours have wrestled with this problem in recent months before giving up the fight. However, on the basis that a number of small measures might eventually add up to a solution, the Village Voice has been wondering whether one minor change to parking conditions in the area might point the way to a more widespread improvement. Anyone who shops in this area will know of the unrestricted parking bays outside the shops in London Road opposite the old Buchanan Hospital site, now Buchanan Gardens. In the last few weeks the Voice has spoken at length to most of the traders along this stretch. We asked them about turning the existing bays in this parade into 2-hour parking bays. Arun Thiva, the owner of High Spirits newsagents, said that the current arrangement was not ideal. ‘I have to go to the cash-and-carry three times a day, and when I get back I can’t park outside sometimes. Some people park in these spaces all day long, or even all weekend.’ Like
London Road shops – is shoppers’ parking needed?
some of the other traders in this parade, Mr Thiva lives above the shop. ‘I’d be happy to see these bays turned into 2-hour parking bays as long as parking permits were also available for residents.’ Keith Morris, the owner of Ultrasafe, said that he was not against the idea of 2-hour parking bays. ‘The current situation is certainly a problem,’ he said, ‘though the nature of our business means we’re not directly affected. I’d certainly want any new scheme to allow for permits for local businesses, including a concession for those who are only here during business hours.’ Michael and Claire Hitchings, who own Little Mill Bakery and live on the premises, insisted that the permits issued under any new scheme would have to be free for residents and businesses, pointing out that commercial permits are more expensive than residential ones. Michael said, ‘I don’t want the added costs to my business that
would come from having to buy a permit. I don’t think my business is that much affected by the current parking arrangements. If we have deliveries then the vans tend to double-park. Likewise, if they can’t park outside, our customers will park up on the pavement opposite, in spite of the double yellow lines. Of course, this can lead to problems when you get buses or lorries held up along London Road.’ Kim Callow, the owner of KC Computers, told us that 2-hour parking bays would significantly help his business. ‘They’d be a godsend. We do have an advantage over the town in that you don’t have to pay for parking, but customers always have to park away from the shop. If we had 2-hour bays I wouldn’t have to spend such a large amount on advertising. We have staff who commute from Eastbourne, and three of them park outside. I should make them park elsewhere, but then someone else would
Mick Triggs, who owns Mick’s, agreed that 2hour parking would be better than the current arrangement. But he saw the problems for 2-hour bays being the people who lived above the shops along that stretch. ‘Flats above shops are always a problem. Where are those people supposed to park? It’s a problem generally with houses that get converted into flats.’ Gemma Richardson, manager at HKS, was also firmly in favour of 2hour bays. She said she had noticed that custom has fallen away in the last two years as Tower Road West has got busier. ‘There are more flats there now – recent conversions – and they all have cars. We find we’re busier on Saturdays than during the week, and I put that down to the lack of parking. Customers say they’ve had to park far away. Two-hour bays would really help us.’ It seems clear that there is broad general traders’ support for the idea of 2hour parking bays in the London Road parade. But we’d really like to hear from anyone who would be affected by such a measure. Please write to us at 79 Bohemia Road or email us at: editor@bohemiavillage.com
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
Page 9
I was married in a Bohemian Castle
Part 4 (of 8) Business & pleasure in Bohemia – by Richard Slater
Richard Slater and first wife Eva Fránková
system at a service bureau in central Prague. I remained there, apart from a couple of quick trips back to England, from midJanuary to mid-June. It was a very large and complicated installation and took a long time – quite unrelated to the fact that I had met my future wife, In early 1966, I flew to Eva Fránková (in Slav lanBohemia to install a 503 guages, women add -ová St Peter’s Road resident and technical author Richard Slater recounts his days in Bohemia. [Bohemia is the western province of the Czech Republic; the eastern one is Moravia.] In this fourth part, Richard describes the period when he met his first wife, Eva.
or -á to the male surname; Eva's father and brother were called Fránek). It also has to be said that Prague is a beautiful city and, unlike most of central Europe, undamaged during the Second World War. After another return trip to London, I went back to Moscow for two weeks in July 1966 to add extra equipment to the Gosplan system, and from there I flew straight to Prague to get married. But first we had to visit the British Embassy to notify them, so the marriage would be recognised in the UK, and it was then that I received a sharp reminder that Czechoslovakia had been occupied during the war. Most people think of occupation as invading troops
and secret policemen, but mostly it's just the same old bureaucrats: my wife was born in 1944 and so her birth certificate was in German and carried the Nazi eagle and swastika stamp of the occupation government. I also remember that visit because the vice-consul we saw was a very capable-looking individual and my wife commented on how well he spoke Czech. Some time later, back in England, we read a small paragraph in the paper saying that the British vice-consul in Prague had been expelled ‘for activities incompatible with his status’, as the saying goes. We assumed it was the same man, and that he was an MI6 agent. Very John Le Carré!
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
Doug scoops ultra-short story first prize At last, those of you who entered our ultra-short story competition first announced on 18th November 2006 (issue 42) can be put of your misery. In the end we received 23 stories from 9 different writers. The longest was 266 words (yes, slightly over our word limit, but not enough, in our judgement, to breach the spirit of the competition, if not the rules); the shortest was a mere 24 words.
but one story no more than 5 out of 10, while the winner got a perfect 10; the most generous judge gave no story less than 6 and none more than 9. Our thanks go to all eight of them for the seriousness with which they approached the task. We sincerely hope they enjoyed themselves. As a reminder, our panel consisted of Allena Tyrell, Bill Third, Clive Linklater, Shelagh Davey, Vivienne Bond, Pauline Kentli, Peter MERITS and Peter We gave our judges a Holland long period in which to Winder. assess the merits of each FAITHFUL story, though as far as we And the story they are aware there was no thought best of all was conferring. The result Faithful by Doug was a great variety of Harcourt of De Cham marking ranges: the Road. Hotel Paradiso by meanest judge gave all Julian Graff of
Cargo opens
Tina Johnson of Cargo
‘good’ and gave it a very high mark indeed. Clive Linklater wrote of Terra Firma, simply, ‘loved it!’ CHEQUE
A cheque for £25 for Mr Harcourt and a £10 cheque for Mr Graff have been sent. A £5 token to spend in Bookman’s Halt has gone to Mr Niccals. The Voice intends to publish most of the stories submitted to it in forthcoming issues of the magazine. Having stirred the pool of local literary talent, it seems only natural to give Bohemia’s writers a wider readership. The first story to be published is, Faithful by Doug Harcourt (below). For those interested in the full results table of judges’ marks see page 11, opposite.
Faithful by Doug Harcourt The dog was ordinary, medium-sized, a nondescript tan colour and with a floppy ear. Yet someone loved him, for he wore a collar and was sleek and well-fed. He had winning eyes, a sloppy grin and a tail that wagged constantly.
A second-hand shop, ‘Cargo’, opened recently at 65 Bohemia Road. Shop owner Tina Johnson told us, ‘We’ll be selling clothes for all ages, and all kinds of knick-knacks. I buy stuff off eBay and also bulk stock that people can’t get rid of towards the end of car boot fairs.’ The shop is open Mon–Sat, 9.30am–5pm.
Aldborough Road was a close second, while Terra Firma by Efrim Niccals of Bohemia Road was third. We also invited our judges to offer brief comments on the various stories. Vivienne Bond wrote of Faithful that she ‘enjoyed this story’, adding that it was ‘well written’, while Pauline Kentli found it ‘gripping’. Peter Winder also gave it a high mark, regarding it as a ‘good story’, and that he found it ‘similar to many others’. Shelagh Davey also gave the eventual winner a high mark. Allena Tyrell marked Hotel Paradiso highly, describing it as ‘well told, very real’ though lacking in ‘sitespecific descriptions’, while Bill Third thought it
‘Where’s your master, Rain was falling when I reached the country inn then?’ He whimpered at a where I had booked a crash of thunder. I made room. Seated at the bar to move on down the with a pint of ale, I path and he changed, recounted the story of suddenly in front of me, the dog to the friendly landlord. He regarded growling. me with suspicion. ‘Hey!’ He would not ‘What’s wrong?’ I move and countered each of mine. I was get- asked. ting annoyed when a ‘You just described Ted bolt of lightning hit a tree Bannister’s dog, Gypsy,’ twenty yards along the he said softly. ‘They path. The giant toppled were both killed by a falling tree last year.’ and I dived for cover.
He stood on the path, his head cocked to one side as he watched me approach. Thunder and lightning presaged a storm as I hurried through the woods, but I had to stop and greet After the commotion, I I gaped. turned to the dog. He ‘Aye, were a storm the fellow. was gone. Spooked, I much like this,’ he added ‘Hello, old chap,’ I said, thought. Still, he saved thoughtfully. stroking his head. my life.
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
Page 11
Ultra-short story competition - judges’ marking Author 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Title
A Doug Harcourt Faithful 7 Julian Graff Hotel Paradiso 8 Efrim Niccals Terra Firma 9 Sophie Farrington December Morning 8 Julian Graff The End of the Road 7 Sophie Farrington Astronomical Clock 8 Doug Harcourt Dreams 6 Doug Harcourt Home 8 Tom Bartlett The Only Explanation 8 Sophie Farrington Melancholy 8 Sophie Farrington Temporary Insanity 6 Sophie Farrington Counting 8 Suzy Stone Describe Your Perfect House 7 Tom Bartlett Day at the Seaside 6 Ian McCormick Sweet Tea for Micha 8 Sophie Farrington The Cent 8 Peter T. Alexander Gerald Custard 8 Peter T. Alexander Sergeant Murphy 6 Julian Graff Crossed Wires 6 Julian Graff A Short History of Hastings Pier 6 Sophie Farrington Premonition 7 Vic Chalcraft A Short Story 5 Peter T. Alexander Hello Fred 6 Total marks per judge 164 Average mark per judge 7.1
B 8 10 6 9 8 8.5 10 8.5 7 7 6 9 6.5 10 6 6 7 7 8 5 7 6 5 171 7.4
Judges C D E 4 9 10 3 8 9 10 6 8 3 8 9 2 7 10 3 8 7 3 4 10 3 7 8 3 7 7 5 7 8 3 8 8 2 6 9 4 9 8 3 7 8 3 7 7 3 4 9 3 4 9 3 7 8 4 5 7 1 8 5 2 6 8 1 4 2 1 3 1 72 149 175 3.1 6.5 7.6
F 9 9 7 8 8 7 8 8 7 6 8 6 7 6 8 8 7 7 5 9 6 7 6 167 7.3
G 8 7 6 6 8 8 8 6 9 6 8 6 4 4 5 6 4 4 6 4 4 2 2 131 5.7
H 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 10 7.5 7.5 7.5 175 7.6
Total 62.5 61.5 59.5 58.5 57.5 57.0 56.5 56.0 55.5 54.5 54.5 53.5 53.0 51.5 51.5 51.5 49.5 49.5 48.5 48.0 47.5 34.5 31.5 1204 7.5
% 78 77 74 73 72 71 71 70 69 68 68 67 66 64 64 64 62 62 61 60 59 43 39 65
Bohemia Area Association Report on the April AGM by chairperson Peter Holland
The Association’s Annual General Meeting for 2007 began with Chairperson Peter Holland’s report on the business of the last twelve months. The committee bemoaned the permission given by Hastings Council for the opening of another off-licence in Bohemia Road, despite the firm opposition of local councillors and the committee. The gyratory-system plan had been unveiled, but the business community had shown little interest in the scheme, so without their support the idea had been abandoned. As for the various subcommittees, the Upper Park Road subcommittee has held meetings with representatives of the Council and the Co-op, and the situ-
ation regarding deliveries is improving though still not ideal. Terry Foord’s immaculate record-keeping helped enormously in this enterprise. Meanwhile, the alleyways subcommittee will soon be approaching the Council to adopt, maintain and light the various alleyways and twittens. The Bohemia Bygones exhibition was to take place on the weekend following the AGM, and the committee wished it every success. The BAA News editorial board, which produces the quarterly fourpage newsletter, continues to promote Bohemia and takes a careful and considered line on our area and its future. The BAA continues to be represented at the HVA and the Gensing and Central St Leonards Forum meetings. Councillor Daniel Poulter’s
resignation has placed an extra burden on the shoulders of Councillor Vivienne Bond to attend these meetings, and the committee expressed their gratitude for her efforts. County Councillor Trevor Webb has also attended meetings and followed up several issues, and thanks were also given to him for his support. Looking to the future, in the absence of the gyratory-system proposal, the Chairperson offered the following as suggestions for new campaigns: Bohemia Road to be a target of the Council’s ‘Grotbusters’ scheme; attention to be paid to the Bohemia entrance and boundaries of Alexandra Park; sympathetic architectural improvements to be made to those retail premises converted to domestic or office use in this
area; reinvigoration of the ‘Don’t be a moaner, be a phoner’ campaign, which has had success in the past; extra effort to be put in to getting residents to renew their membership of the Association; a ‘down with the anodyne’ campaign to be started, championing higher aesthetic standards for new buildings in the area; as a flight of fancy, Gensing and Central St Leonards to be granted ‘Initiative-free Zone’ status so that existing problems could be tackled without constant intervention from central government; BAA meetings to become more inclusive; and the BAA’s area of influence to be widened in line with findings by the Bygones committee that Bohemia once occupied a much greater area than is currently recognised under the name.
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
Brave Laura gets TV help in weight campaign
Laura Ripley in April this year
The Voice recently had a visit from Laura Ripley and her aunt, Salisbury Road resident Anne Williams. Fans of the Jeremy Kyle Show, which appears in ITV’s morning schedule, will no doubt recognise Laura and Anne from the appearance they made on the programme that went out on Thursday 5th April. Laura first approached the show in
January of last year. ‘My mum died of obesity on Christmas Eve 2005, and I was just sitting down watching the programme when the number came up. I texted in to them and they called me back. They told me, “We’ll definitely do your story.” It was Heather, the researcher, who called me. I told her my consultant had given me four years to live.’ Laura says the programme called her again in Sept-ember to tell her they wanted to record her appearance the next day. ‘They paid for a taxi for me and my aunt from Hastings to Manchester. We left here at 6.30 in the evening and got there at 1.30 in the morning. They put us up in the deluxe suite of a lovely hotel. They said we deserved it. Then the next day we did a soundcheck and went on. We were both very,
very nervous. Then when Jeremy Kyle mentioned my dream to get into jeans, I cried. It’s something my nan always used to promise she would buy for me.’ CONSULTANT
Laura says the programme has helped her turn her life around, though she’s also reassessed her strategy since she first started. ‘I’ve lost six stone in all since I first got in touch with them. Originally, I wanted to get down to a good weight just through diet and exercise, but over Christmas last year I decided I wanted to have a gastric bypass. The consultant in London said I needed to lose another five stone before that could happen.’
two lots of private counselling, and they want me on again later this year, possibly in June or July. I’ve also promised Graham, the show’s psychiatrist, that after my next appearance I’m going to start goin to a gym. My aunt Anne or aunt Julie, or possibly my cousin, will come with me. The TV company have said they’ll pay for those sessions as well.’ CAMPAIGN
Laura says that in addition to the goals she set herself to lose weight, she has also started an obesity campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of being obese. ‘I was in the local paper at the beginning of April, and now Pick Me Up magazine want to cover my story with an article COUNSELLING The programme have every few months, so I’ll been very supportive of promote my campaign Laura’s battle to lose through that.’ weight. ‘They’ve paid for
Local group stages ‘greatest English opera’ Music lovers take note that our local opera group, Opera South East, are giving an English double bill at the White Rock Theatre over the last weekend of April. The programme comprises two short operas – Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury – that are ‘both quintessentially English in very different ways’, according to chorus manager Sandra Lambourne. Dido, which Sandra described to the Voice as ‘possibly the greatest English opera’, is being given an interesting
modern staging. ‘It’s set now. Perhaps ironically, because it’s mythology it’s timeless and can be set in any period,’ says Sandra. Opera South East, which has premises at 111 Bohemia Road, began life 25 years ago as Hastings Opera. They are unusual in being a pro-am company that concentrates mainly on opera. The principal singers (see picture) for this production are all professionals, as are many members of the orchestra, while the chorus members are amateurs.
Sandra also told us that the current productions will be taken to Schwerte in Germany at the beginning of May, and that the company’s next production at the White Rock will be a staging of Rossini’s La Cenerentola in November. The Dido and Aeneas/Trial by Jury double bill can be seen at the same theatre on either Friday 27th or Saturday 28th April at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 each for the best seats or £12 for cheaper seats or concessions. Phone the White Rock Theatre on 0870 1451 133.
Helen Bruce – singer
ELECTION SPECIAL Six-way fight in Gensing by-election contest May 2007
Our collage of the Gensing ward candidates shows, from top centre, clockwise: Tricia Kennelly (Lib Dem), John Martin (BNP), Simon Corello (Con), Mick Turner (UKIP), Sally Phillips (Green) and Andrew Cartwright (Lab). The picture was drawn specially for the Voice by Amherst Rd illustrator Stewart Buchan.
by-election has been called for one of the council seats in Gensing ward.
A
Conservative councillor Daniel Poulter resigned at the end of March to take up a medical post in Surrey, leaving Vivienne Bond temporarily as the sole serving councillor for the ward. The by-election for this seat and one in neighbouring Silverhill ward is given extra spice by the prospect of either a hung council or a change of overall control if the Conservatives lose one or both of the seats up for grabs. The Voice believes this ought to be sufficient incentive for even the most reluctant to get out and vote, on the basis that if you don’t then you can hardly complain if the Council does things you don’t approve
of. To help our readers make up their minds we invited each of the six candidates to come to our offices to be interviewed. Five accepted the challenge. The five interviews all employed a roughly similar format, though each one also followed the logic dictated by the candidates’ individual responses. In some cases the views expressed may be offensive to some readers, but that was the point of the exercise: to get behind the official literature to see what the candidates really felt about the issues that affect the residents of this ward, and to find out what they wanted to achieve if elected.
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2006 On the basis that some voters might be interested to know how people in Gensing voted the last time this seat was contested, the voting figures from the 2006 election were as follows: Dr Daniel Poulter (Con)
750 (47.2%) Andrew Cartwright
(Lab) 417 (26.2%) Nathan Lauder (Lib Dem) 315 (19.8%) David Carey-Stuart
(Green) 108 (6.8%) The turnout was 42.2%, one of the highest in the borough and significantly higher than the 30% norm for local by-elections.
Gensing ward, which includes Bohemia – the territory being fought over by six candidates
ELECTION SPECIAL Andrew Cartwright – Labour Party Page 14
We first asked Andrew about his background. Andrew: I was born in Stockport and studied at Hull University. In the 1980s I worked in Hastings as a computer systems administrator. I’ve been here more or less ever since. I was unwell for a number of years in the 1990s, and since then I’ve worked for myself in a number of
jobs. Now I’m semi- to do if elected? retired. I live in Parker Andrew: A lot of money Road, in Ore. has been spent on tackVoice: What is your polit- ling antisocial behaviour in the town over the last ical experience? Andrew: I’ve been a five years. We need a member of the Labour review now to see what party since 1989, and a has worked and what councillor for this ward hasn’t. There’s also a from 2002 until last year. need for providing more activities for young peoVoice: What are the local ple. As for planning, I’d issues? like to change the system Andrew: Most of the so that major developers issues people raise are had to consult with local concerned with commu- residents and traders nity safety and cleanli- before submitting appliness, and also fumes cations. The system is and noise from traffic. the wrong way round at But the biggest issue is the moment. I would also antisocial or threatening like to see environmenbehaviour and the under- tally friendly measures age drinking that goes included in the forthcomwith it. ing local development Voice: What do you plan framework. The parking
May 2007
problems locally could also be alleviated by a number of small measures, rather than a grand scheme. Voice: What distinguishes you from the other candidates, and what should we ask them? Andrew: I’ve got experience of doing the job. I think you should ask the other candidates if they’re not local, why are they standing? And are they sure they can find the time and energy to do the job? Every councillor needs to spend a minimum of 20 hours a week in this role, and they have to compete with other councillors to get money for their area.
Simon Corello – Conservative Party a formal interview as we have done with the other five candidates. In the interests of fairness, however, we are reprinting some material here from Simon’s official flyer. ‘Candidate statement: My family connection with St Leonards stretches back over 60 years with my grandfather serving as a Councillor, Alderman and Mayor of Hastings. I very much relish the opportunity of representing the people of Gensing and working alongside the councillors in adjoining wards addressing issues within St Leonards.’
The Village Voice was paid a visit on Friday 30th March by Simon Corello, who introduced himself as the conservative candidate for Gensing ward in the forthcoming byelection. Mr Corello lives in Udimore near Rye but has business interests in St Leonards. We did not interview Simon at this time and we are very dis- Other points mentioned appointed that it hasn’t on Simon’s flyer include: been possible to arrange – Good communication
through listening to your opinions and using them to inform the council and the whole community. – Promoting the street warden service to support our local police in conjunction with the neighbourhood watch scheme to improve the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. – Seeking your views as to how parts of the Gensing area can be regenerated
ward and representing the residents at council. I intend to do the same. – Simon would appreciate hearing from residents with any concerns regarding local open spaces, public garden and local facilities in Gensing. – When elected, Simon would like to launch a quarterly Residents’ Meeting, to give him an opportunity to hear and understand your thoughts and ideas on local issues.
– Promoting the affordable access of leisure facilities at Summerfields – We Conservatives and within Hastings & St remain committed to Leonards. keeping your Council – Continuing with the Taxes as low as possible, projects initiated by Cllr. while providing the servDr Daniel Poulter. Daniel ices you need. worked hard within the
ELECTION SPECIAL Tricia Kennelly – Liberal Democrat Party May 2007
though my daughter lives in Cumberland Gardens, so I know this area well. It’s a really socially mixed ward. That’s what’s so wonderful about it. Voice: What’s your political experience?
Voice: What’s your background? Tricia: Our family has lived in Hastings on and off since the early seventies. Both of our children were schooled here, and both still live and work here. I am now retired, but my professional life was spent as an administrator and lecturer. I live in Albourne Road, in West St Leonards,
cerned about the pier. They don’t want any more money spent on it. The recycling scheme has also been raised. People wonder whether it’s all a waste of time. The threats to A&E and maternity units at the Conquest are also a big issue, though there’s not much the council can do there. And then there’s dog mess, of course.
Tricia: I’ve been a Lib Dem supporter since the early 80s. I very much admire Deirdre Razzel and Paddy Ashdown. I’ve worked for the party for more than 20 years, and Voice: What are the I’ve previously stood as a biggest issues for you? candidate in other wards. Tricia: People are not Voice: What are the local being listened to by councillors. What’s the issues? point of empowering peoTricia: Parking is a big ple and then not listening issue on the doorstep. to them. People are worried about the prospect of a CPZ Voice: What do you plan here. They’re also con- to do if elected?
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Tricia: I’ll worry about that when it happens. I’m finding it interesting enough just finding out what people’s problems are. Voice: What distinguishes you from the other candidates? Tricia: I’m retired, so I’ll have as much time as I need to do the job. That’s something that people grumble about. I’m also interested in people, not political promotion. Voice: What do you think we should ask ask the other candidates? Tricia: The same questions. We’re all trying to get to the same point. It should be interesting to see what they all say.
John Martin – British National Party ning the Imperial pub in Voice: Is the BNP racist ? Queen’s Road. John: I’ve been a memVoice: What doorstep ber of the BNP for a year, reaction have you had ? and if I thought it was a John: We haven’t can- racist party I wouldn’t be vassed yet. We’ve had sitting here now. I’m not a good feedback through racist and I don’t want to the pub. People’s minds be labelled as one. aren’t made up. John Martin visited the offices of the Village Voice with his agent, Nicholas Prince, the leader of the local BNP group. The Voice first asked John about his background. John: I come from an Old Town fishing family, though I grew up in Hollington. I’ve always worked and for the last five years I’ve been run-
Nick: We want to win to hold the balance of power. We’d then decide each issue on its merits, rather than doing a deal with one party.
Voice: How can you explain the presence on the BNP website of an article on racial differences? What’s that doing on the website of a political party?
party’s mission statement seeks to define British people ethnically. Who are British people as far as you’re concerned? Nick: A true British person would be white. Voice: So who is eligible to join the BNP?
Nick: Anybody of Western European origin can join automatically. Other groups can join on merit. I’d need to talk to them first, see why that John: I don’t look at the person came here. If I website, and I don’t was happy that they were agree with what is there. British for the right reaNick: I know the article sons, they could join. you mean, and I think it’s Voice: Isn’t that discrimination? well worded.
John: We’re campaigning on local issues, like the pier and the money wasted on the CPZ [Controlled Parking Zone] consultation. We support the community, Voice: A British person is Nick: If you let everyone and by ‘community’ I surely anyone who holds into the party, we’d be mean everyone. a British passport, yet the like everyone else.
ELECTION SPECIAL Sally Phillips – Green Party Page 16
need a break from looking after their children. Having been through motherhood I know how important it is to have time for yourself. Voice: What’s your political experience?
The Voice asked first of all about her background. Sally: I’ve lived in Hastings since the mideighties. Until recently, for 20 years I helped run the local branch of the Woodcraft Folk youth group. I also still do a lot of voluntary work, visiting and supporting people who are lonely or vulnerable. And I also do childminding for people in difficult circumstances who
Sally: I’ve been standing in elections since 1985. I usually stand in Braybrooke ward, where I live. I’ve been a Green for more than 30 years – since we were the Ecology Party. Voice: What are the local issues? Sally: The Traveller site was a big issue. I believe in having Traveller sites, but the needs of the local community are important. The Summerfields site should never have been
suggested. Also the pier, which I’ve photgraphed a lot. The Council needs to have proper surveys done as soon as possible. They could even confiscate it from its current owner if he refuses to pay for its upkeep. Gensing also needs better public transport, but I would like to encourage the idea of a walking bus to local schools, to reduce traffic congestion. And when there are developments, a chunk of any money the Council makes from land it sells should be ploughed back into the community. The development policy in Hastings is very shortterm, and there’s not enough consultation with local people, or else their
May 2007
views aren’t taken into consideration. Voice: What distinguishes you from the other candidates? Sally: Quality of life should be the top priority of our society, not economic growth. I like the idea of supporting small businesses, keeping money in the community, rather than letting big business syphon it off. But regeneration is not a question of economics, it’s about lifting people’s spirits. I’d like to ask the other candidates ‘How can the idea of economic growth work, with all the inevitable increases in consumption and pollution?’
Mick Turner – United Kingdom Independence Party ing illnesses. Looking local authority? after her takes up a lot of Mick: Not at the moment, my time. but Blair has never used Voice: What’s your politi- his veto in the EU. That’s the kind of thing I’m talkcal experience? Mick: I’m a member of ing about. I believe in UKIP and also of the telling people the truth, Democracy Movement, and I believe in democrawhich used to be the cy, which is disappearReferendum Party. I’ve ing. People are not being Voice: What’s your back- never stood for election given the correct inforbefore, but I’m disillu- mation. ground? Mick: I live in Havelock sioned by what is hap- Voice: What are the local Road. I’m a carpenter pening to our country. I issues? and joiner by trade but I even voted to join the Mick: More police are retired early due to my EEC at the time, but needed – people are wife’s ill health. She went Edward Heath lied to us. frightened to go out at in for a routine operation Local Government can night. And the youth cen– not at the Conquest – be overruled by central tres and playing fields and got MRSA. She was government, who can be need revamping. on life support for six overruled by the EU. Voice: What do you plan weeks, and now her Voice: Can you give an to do if elected? immune system has bro- example of central govMick: I’d like to improve ken down she gets ongo- ernment overruling a local sports facilities.
Summerfields should have had a full-sized pool, but the council ducked the issue when it was built. It’s just a leisure centre when it should have been a sports centre. Voice: What distinguishes you from the other candidates? Mick: My stance on the EU. I think you should ask the other candidates what they think of the EU ruling this country without the people being allowed a say? Also, we’re overcrowded with immigrants. In that heart hospital 11 out of 12 patients couldn’t speak English. We believe in controlled immigration.
May 2007
In short ... LOWER SOUTH ROAD Planning permission has been refused for a development of four flats at 27 Lower South Road. The planning-committee decision states that ‘the proposal fails to provide adequate off-street parking facilities to serve the development ... [which] will therefore exacerbate the on-street parking problems in the area.’ Councillor and planning-committee member Vivienne Bond told the Voice, ‘We reluctantly agreed to the development when it was just three flats, but then they added another one, which would mean potentially too many cars for the area to cope with.’ BAA MEETINGS From now on, all meetings of the BAA will be ‘open’ meetings, i.e. anyone may attend and speak if they wish, but will not be allowed to vote unless they are members of the committee. The next three BAA meetings will be held at 7pm at the YMCA on Thurs May 10, Thurs June 7 and Thurs July 5.
Bohemia Village Voice
within the Bohemia Road village directory comes in Core Shopping Area set handy. We’re delighted to out in the Borough Plan.’ hear that, of course, and ST PETER’S CHURCH Dorothy says she’s also For the seventh year in a glad she decided to adverrow, the book sale held at tise with us. ‘I’ve picked up St Peter’s Church Hall (on several new customers for Sat 17th March) was a the newspaper round,’ she great success. Organiser said.’ Stewart Buchan said, ‘The event was well served by dealers, including Clive Linklater of Bookman’s Halt. There were four or five dealers who went away with their bags full. In all we made £310, of which half must have come from the dealers.’ VIC CHALCRAFT Mr Vic Chalcraft, local resident, has decided not to go ahead with plans to have his Bohemia Remembered memoirs published by Voice owner John Humphries. John said, ‘I’m really very sorry about this, as they are good stories and deserve to be told.’
LONDON ROAD A planning application has been submitted to convert a disused shopfront, basement flat and three-storey maisonette at 237 London Road into five flats. The applicant is A. Chaudhry of CHURCH ROAD Planning Trentcrown Ltd, Southall, permission is being sought west London. to turn a former care home VOICE FORMAT Local at 57 Church Road into 12 reaction to the recent self-contained flats. changes in the format of Colben Properties is the the Village Voice has been applicant, c/o Pump House broadly favourable. Local Designs of Sedlescombe. newsagent Dorothy Wood BOHEMIA ROAD The proposed conversion of a shop into a one-bedroom flat at 121 Bohemia Road has been refused permission by Hastings Council’s planning committee. Councillor Vivienne Bond told the Voice, ‘This was turned down by the planners before it ever came to us, because the shop lies
told us that people have generally appreciated the new look. ‘People like the new book form and tell me it’s better than the “sheets” [the old A4 format] it used to come in. Most of them also seemed to like the cover. There are a couple who grumble, but then they always do.’ Dorothy also told us that people find the
COUNCIL TAX Have you had your council tax bill yet? If not then you’re not alone. Councillor Vivienne Bond says that some half a dozen Bohemia residents she had spoken to recently had yet to receive their bills for 2007/08. ‘The Council has insisted that all bills were sent out on 9th March, meaning that perhaps many more must have gone astray. Anyone paying in monthly instalments who is not on direct debit should be particularly concerned. ‘If you’re late on a payment then the Council is likely to ask for the full amount in one lump – even if it’s not your fault.’ Anyone who has still not received their bill should phone Nick Brocklebank at HBC on 451540.
Page 17
issues arising in the vicinity of Lidl’s. ‘We’ve had reports of shoplifting and intimidation. Customers have written to me and a couple of the staff at Lidl have approached me about their own safety.’ NEWGATE ROAD One of the less obvious business premises in Bohemia was recently brought to our notice. The freehold of the shop at 2a Newgate Road has recently gone on the market for £62,000. The premises has an A1 designation, allowing it be used either as retail space or as a café. The estate agent is Maltby’s.
SCRAPSODY The closure of Bohemian Scrapsody has led to one of the two units the shop once occupied, plus living accommodation on two floors above, coming up for sale. Estate agents Oakfield say the flat above the shop consists of living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, shower room and WC. There is also a raised decked area leading out from the dining room. The agent’s asking ANDY’S DROP-IN Street price is £120,000. bobby Andy Hubbard told TOWER ROAD WEST A us about the successful development of five flats drop-in he held at the and a maisonette at 3–5 YMCA on Wed 28th March. Tower Road West has been ‘In three hours we had 25 granted permission by people come in,’ he said. Hastings Council’s planning ‘Two of our local street committee. Councillor wardens also attended. Vivienne Bond said, ‘The People were raising the planning of the building is usual issues like litter and good – they’re using the dog fouling, and the warexisting building – so we dens have taken action allowed it. But in truth I’m since then. But they also worried by how safely peogave me some good intelliple living in these flats will gence on drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the be able to get out onto to area, and even the names Tower Road West. There’s and addresses of some of a lot of traffic along that the youths involved.’ Street road, and of course people bobby Andy told us that are constantly turning into four officers from Hastings it from London Road.’ Police’s probation section are now dealing with
Masquerade
Masquerade 77, Bohemia Road. Tel. 720733
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
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Masquerade – more than just window dressing It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to find a fancy-dress shop in an area called Bohemia. Masquerade is owned by Sarah Givertz and run by her daughter Hannah. Sarah, who also owns a tea shop in Rye, bought the shop as a going concern last year, and the business is thriving. Hannah told the Voice, ‘We just go for things Masquerade’s manager Hannah and assistant Bethan Davies without thinking about it dren alike, but the main Tinkerbell and Alice in too much. I like a bit of a part of the business is Wonderland costumes. challenge.’ costume hire. The range When they’re done, I’ll be MISTRESS of customers is wide and redoing Cinderella and The decision to buy may surprising. There’s a lot Dorothy from the Wizard have been impulsive, but of busiof Oz. A Hannah and her mother n e s s lot of the are well equipped to from hen new stuff cope with the demands p a r t i e s , will also of running a costume stag dos be in bigshop. Sarah is wardrobe and birthger sizes mistress for the Rye day parfor the Players, a local amateur ties, but more curtheatre company, while the shop vaceous Hannah has a degree in a l s o lady.’ The technical theatre from the t a k e s new cosMountview School in o r d e r s tumes will Crouch End, and six from local also have years’ experience as a schools. shorter freelance wardrobe ‘ T h e y skirts to supervisor for various might be appeal to theatre companies. ‘Very doing a t e e n early on I worked in the Victorian a g e r s dye room at the National day or a who want Theatre, and I’ve also T u d o r to look made masks for the Carl day, and trendy Rosa Opera Company, t h e y ’ l l and modfor productions like want thirern even Snow White costume Gilbert and Sullivan’s ty of this if they’re Yeoman of the Guard. and forty of that,’ says wearing fancy dress. I’ve also done a lot of Hannah. ‘If people give ‘They may be dressed up touring, and plenty of us enough notice, we can as Snow White or Red Shakespeare, but also do pretty much anything.’ Riding Hood, but they still lots of panto too.’ want to look cute,’ says TINKERBELL HEN PARTIES Hannah’s training and Hannah. Masquerade has a range experience means she SWORD of party outfits, wigs and makes a lot of the cos- Masquerade’s customers other accoutrements for tumes herself. ‘At the are mostly local people sale to adults and chil- moment I’m making new from Hastings, St
Leonards and Bexhill, though her mother also gets orders through the tea shop in Rye. Perhaps surprisingly, the shop gets as much business from men as from women. According to Hannah, ‘Men are more up for looking silly, whereas women want to look nice. If men dress up, they want to do it properly, so they want the sword, the gun, the works.’ UNITED STATES
Regular customers will notice a change of personnel in the coming months. Shop assistant Emily Carter left at Easter to go travelling around the world, and Hannah herself will be off soon to the United States to work in the summer theatre schools. She may even extend her stay into next year if things work out. But Masquerade is a long-term project, she says, so anyone needing fancy dress can count on them to be there. In the meantime, two new parttime assistants, Bethan Davies and Carol Pearson, will be running the shop. Bohemia resident Bethan works Mondays, Tuesdays and every other Saturday, while Carol does the other Saturday as well as Thursdays and Fridays. The shop will also now be open 11am–6pm on Mondays and Fridays, 11am–5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9am–5pm on Saturdays.
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Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
eBay shop opens in Bohemia Road Voice, ‘The idea for the shop has come from America. Very active, expert sellers on eBay are given the name “power sellers”. I’ve been sellEdward & Karen – starting eBay business ing on A cutting-edge business eBayfor a couple of has opened at 91 Bohemia Road in half of years, and I’ve been a the premises occupied power seller for about until recently by five months. A lot of peoBohemian Scrapsody. ple don’t have access to Sell-it on eBay is the a computer, or they don’t brainchild of Dr Edward want to be bothered with Alagoa and Dr Karen selling things themSkinner. Edward told the selves. Now they can bring things to our shop
and we’ll sell it for them. We know how to present things properly, how to get an item the attention it needs to achieve the best price.’ Edward outlined how the business operates. ‘Customers bring in their items, which we take pictures of and then store. We give the customers a receipt and we also ask for the small registration fee – bet-ween £1 and £2 – that eBay demand to cover the cost of listing it on their site. Then, if we sell the item, we give our customer the money less our commission, which will be between 10 and 20 per cent. And we’ll also act as a collection
point for things local people may have bought on eBay.’ Karen and Edward are both practising doctors, so sales in the shop will be handled by Yvonne Aziz, while Taiwo OluAjayi is the technical support manager. Edward insisted that they can sell anything on eBay, even if it’s faulty. But he also pointed out that any seller has to be at least 18 years old, and that everyone using the shop to shift their stuff is obliged to sign a form declaring that the item belongs to them. ‘If we suspect any item of being stolen, we will definitely call the police.’
??? Puzzle Corner ??? puzzle was answered correctly by three of our readers. The letters ‘WAT’ form part of the word ‘MAZAWATTEE’, which is spelled out in the pavement mosaic directly outside the office of the Voice at 79 Bohemia Road. Mazawattee was once a brand of tea (and also apparently cocoa), which presumably hints at the business of a former occupant of these premises. We assume that the mosaic was a form of advertising at the time – labour-intensive Closing date for entries is perhaps, but also rather Thursday 10th May. beautiful. The winning Answer to puzzle 46 entrant is David Finn of Upper Park Road. He has been sent a £10 token from Empress Art of Tower Road. The answer to our last
Puzzle 47
We try to make these puzzles a challenge that only the most observant among you will meet. So this month’s question is: where in our neighbourhood can these two Bohemians be found? We’ll be delighted, of course, if anyone can come up with the right answer, but we’d also love to know who painted these sombre portraits. That’s not another quiz question, it’s a plea for local knowledge.
Puzzle 47 – where’s this?
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
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Bygones
Vie de Bohème HowThe Bohemian Club Was Formed – part 22 (of 24). The story so far ... homeless artist and musician Alexandre Schaunard has been traipsing the streets of Paris, looking for a change of fortune. He meets a philosopher, Gustave Colline, and later two gentlemen, M. Mouton and M. Rodolphe. Schaunard, forgetting he is homeless, invites everyone back to his lodgings, only to discover Marcel, the new tenant, in occupation. After much confusion they share dinner with Marcel who, next morning invites his new friends to lunch. Now read on ...
‘With the speed of a javelin hurled by a sure hand,’ said the philosopher, who was fond of eccentric images. He left with Rodolphe.
t the end of luncheon, Rodolphe rose to speak. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘I must ask permission to leave you....’
A
‘The lodging, yes, but the furniture – if I pay up, I shall legally remove it. If it were possible, I would even remove it extra‘As a matter of fact,’ said legally.’ Schaunard, left alone with ‘In short,’ Marcel went on, Marcel, ‘instead of loafing ‘you have furniture and no on the pillow of far niente, lodging, and I have a perhaps I should go in lodging and no furniture.’ search of wealth to appease the cupidity of ‘Quite so.’ ‘For my part, I like this monsieur Bernard.’ ‘But are you still intending lodging.’
‘Ah, no,’ said Schaunard to move out?’ said Marcel sentimentally, ‘let us anxiously. never part.’ ‘By Jove, I have to. I’ve ‘No, indeed, it’s very nice been turned out by the bailiff, cost five francs.’ here,’ said Colline. ‘...to leave you for a brief while,’ Rodolphe proceeded. ‘Tomorrow appears The Scarf of Iris, a journal of fashions of which I am chief editor. I must correct my proofs. I shall be back in an hour.’
month in advance.’
‘So do I: never more than now.’
‘Well, we can arrange the matter. Stay here with me. I provide the lodging, and ‘But, if you move out, will you provide the furniture.’ you take away your furni- ‘And the rent?’ ture?’ ‘At present I have the ‘That’s what I intend. “I money: I shall pay. Next shall not leave a single time it will be your turn. hair,” as monsieur Think it over.’ Bernard would say.’ ‘I never think things over – ‘The deuce! That will be especially not a proposal awkward for me,’ said that appeals to me. I Marcel. ‘I’ve taken your accept at once. It’s a fact that painting and music room furnished.’ ‘Of course, so you have,’ are sisters.’
‘Confound it,’ said Colline, ‘that reminds me that I have to give a lesson to an Indian prince who has come to Paris to learn said Schaunard. ‘Ah, well, Arabic.’ anyway,’ he added ‘You can go tomorrow,’ gloomily, ‘there’s nothing said Marcel. to prove that I shall find ‘No, because the prince my seventy-five francs pays me today. Besides, I today, or tomorrow, or any must confess to you that day.’ this beautiful day would ‘Listen, I have an idea.’ be spoilt for me unless I ‘Out with it.’ went for a little tour of the ‘The situation is like this: book market.’ legally this lodging is ‘But you’ll return?’ asked mine, since I have paid a Schaunard.
‘Sisters-in-law.’ [To be continued] Vie de Bohème by Henry Mürger, a vivid portrait of the ‘Bohemian’ life of the artistic quarter of Paris in the nineteenth century, was originally published (by Michel Lévy) in 1851. The extract above is taken from a translation by Norman Cameron, published by Hamish Hamilton. The illustration is by Dodie Masterman.
Local historian Edward Preston (above) delighted the audience packed into the new ‘vestibule’ at Park Road Church. The show had been organised by Mike Ward in cooperation with Park Road Church and the Bohemia Area Association. A large number of old and interesting photographs were on display (see below). Highlight of the first day’s exhibition (Fri 13th to Sun 15th April) was local historian Edward Preston’s talk, which was illustrated with dozens of slides of old Bohemia. Although his projector broke down halfway through, unflappable Edward simply plugged in a spare machine and carried on.
Page 22
Letters
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Bohemia Village Voice
to that almost obscene cover of your latest production. You may think it art, then so be it. Put it on exhibition in an art gallery where I can choose to see it or not, but to force it on me by putting it Horntye Park through my letter box is Dear Sir, I cannot help another matter and if this but feel that Horntye Park is talking up Bohemia, I came under fire in the can only say ‘Help’. April issue with regard to Vic Chalcraft, its rates for its sporting Aldborough Road facilities. Cath Smee [Vic feels very strongly says we are too expensive and that the multi- about this – but what do user games area at you think of last month’s White Rock is consider- cover picture? We’d really like to know.] ably cheaper. Please write to Bohemia Village Voice, 79 Bohemia Road, Bohemia Village, Sussex, TN37 6RJ. Please note that letters may sometimes be abridged to fit.
I wish to draw attention to the fact that the White Rock Facility is subsidised by the Council and is therefore paid for in part by your readers via the Council rates. Horntye Park receives no money whatsoever from any external source and relies 100% on fees charged for its services. Furthermore, I would add that people are comparing apples with oranges: the White Rock games area is at most only a quarter the size of our all-weather pitch, making the Horntye Park ground cheaper pound for pound, or per square foot if you prefer. Kevin Miller, Horntye Park Sports Complex
That picture! Dear Sir, I object most strongly to having such an obnoxious picture put through my door in the name of Bohemia. I refer
Where’s the kids? Dear Sir, In reply to the article by street bobby Andy, I must say that I do know where my children are. I actively encourage my teenagers to socialise and hang around together in groups, just as I did, and I imagine young people throughout the centuries have done. However, the difference now is that the behaviour of an antisocial minority queers the pitch for all the others, and there is a growing fear of young people, and a consequent prejudice which can only harm society as a whole. It amused me to read that street bobby Andy regards a game of football as antisocial behaviour. Was he ever young? Has he heard about Britain’s obesity epidemic, and the fact that this town is one of the worst-affected areas
in the world for ill health and lack of fitness, especially amongst children? I notice that street bobby Andy ups the ante and warns that young people seen in the vicinity of Lidl may be barred from the premises, and that steps will be taken; dark threats against young people committing no crime other than being teenagers, with their distinctive tribal markings and a desire to gather in groups apart from adult society. I wonder what the function of a street warden is in this connection: I regard their role as that of scarecrows, and am not cognisant of their exact powers. The wardens seem to ask a lot of young people for their names and details, and notch up the odd triumph for arresting someone who has dropped a cigarette butt. They do not seem to notice significant criminal acts, however, and I suspect their powers do not extend to doing much that is of value. They fail to inspire trust as they are so obviously abusing their limited powers and impotent in the face of real crime. Much is made of the fear of crime in our town. This is fostered by alienating young people rather than trying to understand their needs, and ignoring the fact that they are different from older people. Respect and tolerance are twoway processes, and nei-
May 2007
ther can be fostered by blind prejudice and blanket bans on anybody wearing a hoodie and a logo-emblazoned cap. It is time for a more mature view of young people and a lot less criticism. Vanessa Gent, Bohemia
Parking sign Dear Sir, Last week, I was delivering some heavy equipment to a shop in Bohemia Road, before 6pm. In less than two minutes I had a ticket served upon my vehicle. I believe that the sign showing the regulations was obscured by cables. Should this then be legal? I don’t know the answer but have appealed. The shop where the sign is placed is right by the Bohemia Village Voice office. Paul Elmes, St Leonards
Email Voice Dear Sir, It took me an hour to download and print out issue 46 of the Bohemia Village Voice [April 2007], and when I opened the file in Acrobat the page orientation was wrong. I hope something can be done about this. Val Torrington, Devon [We will have endeavoured to fix these problems by the time this issue reaches you, Val, but in any case readers should note that our website will soon be going live with the latest Bohemia stories.]
May 2007
Bohemia Village Voice
Page 23
Bohemia Village Directory A free listing for all businesses, organisations and individuals in Bohemia. Please note: unless otherwise stated, all telephone numbers have the Hastings (01424) area code and all addresses are in Bohemia Village. If you would like your business to be listed here, or to make changes to your entry, please send details to Bohemia Village Voice, 79, Bohemia Road, Bohemia Village, Sussex, TN37 6RJ. Tel: 430460. For extra lineage and small box ads, please see advertising rates on page 3.
Bohemia Area Association Residents’ and traders’ association for Bohemia. Peter Holland, chairman. Tel: 445086. 21 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RA. j-holland-2001@yahoo.com
ESCC Hastings: 0845 274 1066. General: 01273 747 154. Street lighting: 0845 60 80 193. Trading standards: 01323 418200. Social care (adults): 0845 60 80 191. Social care (children and families): 01424 775599. Education: 01273 481000.
ESCC Children’s Services Children’s Services includes Hastings area bases for the education welfare service, the educational psychology service and the early years service. Antoinette Freeman or Reece Buckley. Tel: 720702. Fax: 428277. Tower Building, Lower South Rd, TN37 6RH.
Hastings Badger Society Badger protection society with small dedicated park in Church Road next to Lidl. Tel: 439168; 431188. Don Wise, 304, Bexhill Road, St Leonards, TN38 8AL. [See Voice 38]
HBC Estates Estates office. Tel: 451641. Hastings Borough Council Estates Division, Horntye Park, Bohemia Road, TN34 1UT.
Outdoorsman Outdoor kit for the outdoors man or woman. Nature watching, work, trekking, military, security, shooting, hunting, survival, camping. 9am to 5.30pm. Alan. Tel: 429343. 122 Bohemia Road. sales@outdoorsman.co.uk www.outdoorsman.co.uk
Preston, Edward Edward is a writer on local history; he is also a minister of religion and a lecturer. Tel: 435849. Edward Preston, 63 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RG.
Red Cross Medical loan office. Tel: 425342. 38 Newgate Road.
Register Office Register Office for births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and celebratory services. 9am to 4.30pm. Estab. 1837. Tel: 721722. Hastings & Rother
Register Office, Horntye Park, Bohemia Road, TN34 1EX. hastings.registrar@eastsussex.gov.uk
Sell-it on eBay Second-hand items sold on eBay for customers, £1–2 listing fee per item. Commission taken only on items sold. Also items for sale in the shop. Yvonne Aziz, 91 Bohemia Road.
artists. Mon–Fri, 9am to 5pm, Sat 9am to 4pm. Mr Colin Green. Tel: 442000. Empress Art, 3–4 Tower Road, TN37 6JE.
Tyrell, Allena Artist. Tel: 718727. Allena Tyrell, Bohemia Studios, 9 Horntye Road, TN37 6RT.
Welch, Matthew Artist. 443804.194 London Rd.
Wilhams Insulation Suppliers of acoustic and fireprotection products to UK and Far East. Don Hammeck. Tel: 717171. Fax: 201000. Wilhams Insulation Group, 117 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RL. sales@wilhamsinsulation.co.uk www.wilhams.co.uk
ACCOUNTS & FINANCE Tel: 444461. 9, Sedlescombe Road North, Silverhill.
Bryan Coyle Accountant. Tel: 438191. 14 Barnfield Close, Hastings.
Sellens French Accountants. Tel: 446488. 93–7 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RJ.
AMBULANCE
Cake Box Wide range of bread and confectionery. Trading under the present ownership since 2006. Mon–Fri: 7.15am to 4.30pm, Sat: 7.15am to 4pm. Tel: 420872. 49 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RE.
FOR ALL YOUR BAKING NEEDS
First-aid cover at public events. Youth organisation. Patient transfers. Tel: 421105.
Silverhill branch of Natwest Bank. Tel: 0845 610 1234. Natwest Bank plc, 142 London Road.
ARTS & ARTISTS Bartlett Arts Contemporary paintings and prints on canvas, including portraits of people, pets, etc. Tel: 721566. 45–7 Bohemia Road.
Buchan, Stewart Illustrator. Born 1948. Tel: 435922. Mr Stewart Buchan, 77 Amherst Road, TN34 1TX.
Empress Art Undertake all types of picture framing, including mounting, drymounting and conservation framing. They also sell prints and greetings cards, as well as vintage photographs of Hastings and original watercolours by local
Decorators, general building, maintenance. Mon–Fri: 8am to 5pm. Tel: 713434. Mob: 07790 983491. 3 Cornfield Terrace. Main building contractor, specialising in refurbishment, alteration, renovation and extension. Tel: 436166. Fax: 420603. George Stone Limited, 10 Tower Road West, TN38 0RG.
Parsons, Bob Builders. Brickwork, roofing, plastering, painting & decorating. Tel: 200135. Mob: 07979 502842. Bob Parsons Building, 14, Bohemia Road, TN37 6RB.
Travis Perkins Builder’s merchants, timber merchants Tel: 424300. Travis Perkins Ltd, Springfield Valley Road, TN38 0RP. www.travisperkins.co.uk
BANKS Natwest Bank
Sussex Ambulance Service, Ambulance Station, Bohemia Road, TN34 1ET.
Bracey & Brown
Bakers. Michael and Claire Hitchings. Tel: 421474. 265 London Road, TN37 6NB.
St John Ambulance
Sussex Ambulance Service
Domestic & commercial work. 0800 169 6995. 26 Salisbury Rd.
George Stone BAKERS
Little Mill Bakery Capital Costing Services
BUILDING Barco Brickwork
BETTING Bet Bet Bet 24/7 Independent bookmaker. Robert & Adam Prior, Dan Holmes, Emily Halfacre. Tel: 444044. 43 Bohemia Road.
BOOKS Bookman’s Halt Has been a second-hand bookshop for 50 years, The shop stocks all kinds of books, and members of the public are welcome to bring in any they want to sell. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm. It is also open Sat: 10am to 1pm. Mr Clive Linklater. Tel: 421413. 127 Bohemia Road..
BUSINESS SERVICES 1066 Enterprise Business advice, support, training, Tel: 205500. Summerfields Business Centre, Horntye Park, Bohemia Road.
Bizfizz Government-funded business counselling service for new businesses. Clive Gross, Tel: 205509. Mob: 07771 645263.
CAFES & RESAURANTS See also ‘Takeaway Food’
A21 Café Café for lunch or breakfast. Tel: 433375. 96, Bohemia Road.
A21 Café Eat-in or takeaway 7 days a week Lunch or Breakfast Specials every day Tel: 433375 96 Bohemia Road
Page 24 Café 67 Café. Tel: 423291. 67, Bohemia Road.
Café 67 Wide range of eat-in and takeaway meals. Specials every day, including goulash, curry and chilli con carne, and traditional English dishes. Full English breakfast available all day. Mon–Fri: 7.30am to 2.30pm, Sat: 8.00am to 2.30pm. Sue & Loraine. Tel: 423291. 67 Bohemia Road
Bohemia Village Voice COMPUTERS KC Computers
ENTERTAINMENT South East Entertainment
Computers and accessories, sales and service. Visa, Delta, Mastercard, Switch. Kim Callow. Tel: 203799, 714713 and 08717 500202. 261 London Road, TN37 6NB. sales@kccomputers.co.uk www.kccomputers.co.uk
Entertainment for any occasion, from small birthday parties to stag and hen nights, weddings and concerts. Mr S. Wood. Tel: 446691. 2B Tower Road West. djsw@hotmail.co.uk www.seents.co.uk
COURTS
Masquerade
The court deals with civil cases for debt, damages, repossession and bankruptcy. The family-section work involves divorce, Children’s Act cases and familylaw injunctions, e.g. domestic violence. Tel: 435128. Law Courts, Horntye Park, Bohemia Road, TN34 1QX.
Fancy dress for adults and children, face paints, wigs, accessories. Bethan, Carol, Hannah. Tel: 720733. 77 Bohemia Road, . www.masqueradefancydress.com
Magistrates’ Court
Thai restaurant. Open seven days a week, 6pm to 11pm. Tel: 721852. 249 London Road.
Magistrates’ court. Tel: 437644. Hastings Magistrates’ Court, The Law Courts, Bohemia Road.
CYCLES Hastings Cycles Retail and repair of cycles for the whole family. Tel: 446886. Hastings Cycles Ltd, 75 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RG. sales@hastingscycles.co.uk www.hastingscycles.co.uk
Methodist Church. Church services: Sunday at 10.15am and 6.30pm. Minister: Revd Marion Proud, tel: 422350. Church, tel: 443030. Mike Ward (retired minister), tel: 460727. The church was established in 1886. Park Road Methodist Church, Upper Park Road.
DENTISTS The Dental Surgery Drs Badrbeigi & Katterman. Tel: 433666. Emergencies: 850792. NHS Direct: 0845 4647. 56 Chapel Park Road.
DISABLED EQUIPMENT
St Matthew’s Church
Breckland Mobility
St Matthew’s Church, St Matthew’s Road, Silverhill. Sunday services at 10.30am (with children’s activities) and 6.30pm. Revd Mike Coe, tel: 430262. mike@stmatts.co.uk www.stmatts.co.uk
Mechanical aids for the elderly and disabled. Tel: 438300 and 0800 783 8205. Mob: 07780 995413. 35 Tower Road.
St Peter’s Church Revd Alex Brown. Tel: 445606 and 446606. Mob: 07759 311375. Address (church): St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Road. Address (vicarage): St Peter’s Vicarage, 10 Blomfield Road. apeter-aidan@lineone.net
CLEANING
DOG MESS Fed up with dog mess in your street? Contact the Community Information Centre. See entry under ‘Info Centres’.
ELECTRICAL Appliance Master New & used washing machines, fridges, etc. Tel: 424282. 74 Bohemia Road. [See advert]
FIRE Fire Brigades Union Administration office. Tel: 447700. Fire Brigades Union, Fire Station, Bohemia Road, TN34 1EX.
Fire Station Fire station. Open 24/7, 365 days a year. Mr Mark Webb, station officer. Tel: 01323 462166. Bohemia Community Fire Station, Bohemia Road, TN34 1EX.
Ultra Safe Fire Solutions Fire extinguishers. Design and installation of fire-sprinkler systems. Tel: 719563. Ultra Safe Fire Solutions, 263 London Road, TN37 6NB.
FISHING S.H. Tackle Angling supplies. Live bait. Tel: 431583. S.H. Tackle Angling Supplies, 58 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RQ.
FLOWERS Flower Shop Fresh flowers, bouquets, wreaths, artificial flowers. Sue. Tel: 423377 and 429464. The Flower Shop, 46 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RQ.
FUNERALS Co-operative Funeralcare Provides support, care and reassurance to families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tel: 444325. 233 London Road, TN37 6LU.
Newman’s Cleaners
Battle Electronic Services
FURNITURE
Clothes cleaning. Tel: 465006. 62 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RQ.
Specialist commercial microwave engineers. Tel: 447799. Fax: 447070. 52 Bohemia Road
Gordon Busbridge
Tower Launderette Launderette. Tel: 447889. Tower Launderette, 140 London Road.
Bohemia Lighting Lamps and bulbs, including specialist items. The premises also house Security First. Tel: 427550. 71 Bohemia Road.
GARDENING Lady Gardener Nicola. £7 per hour. Tel: 443748. Mobile: 07940 374 756.
GIFTS Eversfield Food & Gifts Gift shop. Tel: 437961. Eversfield Food & Gifts, 257 London Road.
FANCY DRESS
County Court
Talay Thai
CHURCHES Park Road Church
May 2007
Family-owned company, selling quality bedding, carpets, curtains and fitted furniture. Tel: 420368. 289–97 London Road.
GLASS A&M Glaziers Traditional glass and glazing merchants. Tel: 717161. 235 London Road.
Scott James Windows, doors and conservatories. Tel: 431422 and 435229. 64 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RQ. jim@scottjameswindows.co.uk
GREETINGS CARDS Roseanna & Brian’s Gifts and bespoke greetings cards. Tel: 715392. 130 London Road.
GROCERS Alldays Supermarket, owned by the Coop. Wines and spirits, cigarettes, newspapers, groceries and lottery tickets. There is also a Paypoint, where TV licences and bills for electricity, gas and water can be paid for, and phonecards, bus and train tickets can be purchased. Mr Alan Derosa. Tel: 423875. 45–7 Bohemia Road.
Bohemia Foodmarket Supermarket. Due to be opened 2007. Mr Masood Iqbal. Tel: 07814 866473. 68–70 Bohemia Road.
Lidl Supermarket Mon–Sat: 8am to 10pm, Sun: 11am to 5pm. Nick, manager. Tel: 0870 444 1234.
HAIRDRESSING Dominic’s Barber Shoppe Gents’ hairdressers. Contact: Dominic. Tel: 712252. 119 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RL.
Flickers Local hair salon offering all aspects of ladies’ and gents’ hairdressing. Peter Feist. Tel: 439621. 16 Tower Road.
Waves Ladies’ and gents’ hairdressers. Tue, Thu, Fri: 8.30am to 5pm, Wed: 8.30am to 4pm, Sat: 8.30am to 1pm, closed Mondays. Estab. 1981. Mrs Val Easton, proprietor, and Mrs Chris Harvey. Tel: 426872. Waves Hairdressers, 73 Bohemia Road.
May 2007 HOTELS & Guest Houses
Summerfields House Guest house. Luxury en-suite rooms, family suite, disabled suite, open all year. Tel: 718142. Summerfields House, Bohemia Road, TN34 1EX. liz.summerfields@btinternet.com www.summerfieldshouse.co.uk
Tower House Hotel Hotel. Tower House Hotel, Tower Road West. www.towerhousehotel.com
Bohemia Village Voice Mick’s Key-cutting, dry cleaning, handbags, watch batteries, watch straps, shoe repairs. Mick Triggs. Tel: 201775. 253 London Road.
Mick’s for keys & shoe repairs
INFORMATION CENTRE Community Info Centre Run by Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum. The forum consults with the community on issues that affect their quality of life, and reports those views to the service providers. It holds meetings at various venues around the area. All incidents of dog fouling, noise nuisance, dumped cars, litter and rubbish dumping, etc. in Gensing and Central St Leonards can be reported to the Information Centre. Sylvia Bennett. Tel: 438291. 16 Silchester Road, St Leonards.
INSURANCE WBM Insurance All types of business insurance, plus home, private, car and travel, etc. Mon–Fri: 9am to 5pm, Sat: 9am to 12 noon. Estab. 1970. George Ware and Steve Mann. Tel: 434675. Fax: 716420. WBM Insurance Services, Bohemia House, 78 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RN. waremann@aol.com www.wbminsurance.co.uk
KEYS LOCKS SECURITY Hastings Locksmiths Locksmiths and key-cutting service. Safes. Door furniture. Ian Burt. Tel: 432882. 59 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RE.
Hypno-psychotherapy James Caspian. For positive change and achieving goals. Tel: 714647 and 07939 542632.
Slimming World Security First Supplies intruder-alarm systems, servicing, and CCTV. Locks, safes, fire alarms, key-cutting. Tels: 427550. 07973 322697. 71 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RG.
Travelodge Hotel Room rates: £10, £15, £26, £49 per room per night. Prices are per room, not per person. The £10, £15 and £26 rates are only available via the internet. Open 24/7, 365 days per year. Estab. Dec 2005. Mr Adam Griffiths. Tel: (central reservations): 0870 085 0950 (hotel – direct number): 0870 191 1810. Travelodge Hotel, Bohemia Road, TN34 1ET. www.travelodge.co.uk
parties for groups, plus bridal, teen and other packages. Tel: 721890 and 07791 899904. GL Sanctuary, 72 Bohemia Road.
KITCHENS Country Kitchens Hand-built kitchen-unit manufacturer. Tel: 438148. Country Kitchens, 35B Tower Road.
HKS Kitchens
Meets at Park Road Methodist Church Hall, Wednesdays 5:30 and 7pm. Denise: 440293.
MOTORS Autopoint Hastings Wide range of services for all makes of cars. Tel: 718700. 221–9 London Road.
Autotec Car repairs, servicing, MOT and repairs. Car sales. Dennis. Tel: 07802 648374. Autotec, 30B St Peter’s Road.
Bohemia Motors Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, studies. Gemma Richardson. Tel: 443464. Fax: 719966. HKS Kitchens, 138 London Road, hastings@hks-uk.com
LITTER & RUBBISH Litter or dumping of rubbish in your street or area? Contact the Community Information Centre see under ‘Info Centres’.
MANUFACTURERS Top Gun Clothing Specialist clothing manufacturers for the sportswear market. Suppliers of shooting, sailing and fishing gear. Mr Ron Salt. Tel: 719734 and 719707. Top Gun Clothing Ltd, 2 Shornden Passage, Upper Park Road, TN37 6SG. ron@topgunclothing.co.uk www.topgunclothing.co.uk
MIND BODY SPIRIT Air Tan & Nails Manicurists. Tel: 461200. Air Tan & Nails, 241 London Road, TN37 6LU.
Bohemia Counselling Offers humanistic, person-centred counselling and psychology. Tel: 722923. 133A Bohemia Road.
Eden Crystal Healing Crystal healing, reflexology, readings and advice. Evenings. Emma Langley. 07756 434960. Flat 2, 42 Church Road,
GL Sanctuary Health & beauty salon. Pamper
Car repairs and servicing of all makes and models. Mon–Fri: 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 421205. Upper South Road.
Cassidy’s Car Mechanics Car & van repairs. 8.30–6pm Mon–Sat. Tel: 201128 and 07706 916969. Unit 1, Salisbury Yard, Salisbury Road.
Destination Mx Major makes of new and used moto-cross bikes. Tel: 439767. Destination Mx, 18B Tower Road, www.destmx@aol.com
Garage on the Green Retail car sales. 718080. The Green, St Leonards. www.garageonthegreen.com
Garage on the Green Vehicle repairs and servicing, all makes catered for. Tel: 425599. 12 Tower Road West, TN38 0RG.
M. Hall Motor Services Vehicle repairs. Malcolm Hall. Tel: 07773 216363. M. Hall Motor Services, Shornden Works, Upper Clarence Road.
Imperial Motor Company
Imperial Motor Company Car sales. Tel: 442200. 209–19 London Road, TN37 6LU. www.imperialmotorcompany.com
Resto Classics Air-cooled specialists. Original Ersatzteile. Upper Clarence Rd.
Shell Service Station Petrol & diesel supplies, logs, coal, newspapers, off-licence,
Page 25 grocery. Tel: 728950 or 0800 731 8888. Bohemia Road.
T&D Auto Repairs MOT repairs, welding, servicing. Tel: 07885 719769. Studio Workshop, Upper Clarence Rd.
TW Car Sales Car sales. Low-mileage, lowownership cars. Tel: 719888. TW Car Sales Ltd, 17 Tower Road, TN37 6JE. www.twcarsales.com
MUSEUMS Hastings Museum Museum and art gallery. Closed for refurbishment, reopening summer 2007. 0845 2741052. St John’s Place, Bohemia Road.
MUSIC & DANCE Opera South East Local pro-am opera company performing two operas each year. 443316. 111 Bohemia Road
Penny Lane Music Good-quality guitars, amplifiers and accessories. Open Tue–Fri, 10am–5pm, Sat, 9am–5pm. Shaun Matthews, 76 Bohemia Road.
NEWSAGENTS High Spirits Newsagents, confectioners, tobacconists & off-licence. Mr Thivakaran. Tel: 460996. High Spirits, 255 London Road.
Munday’s Newsagents Newsagents, confectioners, tobacconists, greetings cards, newspaper delivery. Credit Union meets here on Mondays, 9 to 10am. Shop open Mon–Sat: 5am to 6pm, Sun: 6.30am to 1pm. Terry Foord. 437233. 54 Bohemia Rd.
Wood’s Newsagents Newspaper deliveries, tobacco, c o n f e c t i o n e r y , greengrocer’s.Open seven days a week from 5am to 6pm. Dorothy Wood and Keith A. Wood. Tel: 443340. Wood’s Newsagents, 86–8 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RN.
Woods
Newsagents Tel: 443340. 86–88 Bohemia Road
Page 26
Bohemia Village Voice PETS
Hassan Pet Supplies Pet foods and supplies. Mr & Mrs Terry and Anne Adams. Tel: 421358. Hassan Pet Supplies, 105 Bohemia Road.
PHARMACIES Bloom’s Pharmacy Healthcare products, homeopathic products, toiletries, incontinence preparations for the elderly and disabled, baby products. Mr Stan Steadman, pharmacist. Dispensary tel: 421072; Shop tel: 200255. 55–7 Bohemia Road.
PHOTOGRAPHY Fairytale Photos Tel: 420588. 68–70, Sedlescombe Road South, St Leonards, TN38 0TJ.
PLUMBING
spokesperson for the Lib Dems. Tel: 781026. Address (for correspondence): Richard Stevens, The Town Hall, Queen’s Road, Hastings. Home: 11 Bayeux Court, TN37 6RZ.
POLITICIANS Bond, Vivienne Lib Dem councillor for Gensing ward since 2004. She is a member of the Planning and Traffic Management Committees, and the Youth Forum. She is also on the boards of the YMCA, Horntye Park Sports Complex and the Hastings Community Housing Association. Vivienne is also on the Gensing & Central St Leonards Community Forum. Her term lasts until 2008. Tel: 720096 and 781035. 13 Aldborough Road, TN37 6SE. cllr.vivienne.bond@hastings.gov.uk
Foster, Michael MP’s office for Michael Foster, Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye. Tel: 460070. Fax: 460072. Michael Foster, DL, MP, 84 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RN. mp@1066.net www.michaelfoster.labour.co.uk
Labour Party Constituency offices for the Hastings & Rye Labour Party. Voluntary organisation. Estab. at Bohemia Road in 1994. Tel: 424125. Hastings & Rye Labour Party, 84 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RN.
Stevens, Richard Lib Dem leader on Hastings Borough Council. Ward representative for Old Hastings and Clive Vale and parliamentary
Arko Property Property-management company. Tel: 439786. Mob: 07974 444112. 123 Bohemia Road. arkoproperty@aol.com
POLICE
SCHOOLS Christchurch School Church of England primary school. Mrs Anne Hannay, headteacher. Tel: 422953. Christchurch C of E School, 34 Woodland Vale Road, TN37 6JJ.
Hastings Police Station
St Mary’s School
This is run by Sussex Police. The police station itself is open seven days a week from 8am to midnight. Tel: dial 999 in an emergency, or for non-urgent calls dial 0845 60 70 999. To give information anonymously call 0800 555 111. Hastings Police Station, Bohemia Road, TN34 1JJ. www.sussex.police.uk
Roman Catholic primary school. Mrs Jane Smith, headteacher. Tel: 427801. St Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Primary School, Magdalen Road, TN37 6EU.
Andy Hubbard To contact our local street bobby direct, call 0845 60 70 999 and dial extension 21185. This takes you straight through to Andy. If he’s busy, he’ll ring you back as soon as he’s free.
Leeves, Simon Plumbing & heating engineer. Corgi-registered. Tel: 444362. Mob: 07940 791116. Fax: 426731. 11 Aldborough Road.
May 2007
POST OFFICES Bohemia PO Bohemia Post Office closed in 2004. The nearest post offices are located at Silverhill and in Springfield Road.
Hercules PO Post office counter, groceries and lottery. Tel: 712272. 45 Springfield Road.
Property-management company managing blocks of flats for freeholders and lessees who want to take over the maintenance of their building by setting up ‘right-to-manage’ companies. Tel: 439786 Mob: 07974 444112 123 Bohemia Road TN37 6RL arkoproperty@aol.com
St Paul’s School Church of England primary school. Office hours: Mon–Fri: 8.30am to 4pm. Children’s school hours: 9am to 3pm. Estab. 1870. Mrs Pat Lock. Tel: 424530. Fax: 717350. St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, Horntye Road, TN37 6RT. office@st-paulscofe-pri.e-sussex.sch.uk
PUBS & CLUBS Conservative Club Billiards, darts, shove ha’penny, cribbage. Open Mon, Tue and Sat from 6.30pm. Vic Chalcraft. Tel: 439827. Upper South Road.
Dripping Spring A CAMRA-award-winning public house. Terry, manager. Tel: 434055. The Dripping Spring, Tower Road.
SECOND-HAND Anthony’s Furniture Second-hand furniture. Anthony. Tel: 200650. Anthony’s Furniture Shop, 269 London Road.
Cargo Second-hand clothes and knickknacks. Open Mon–Sat, 9.30am–5pm. Tina Johnson, 65 Bohemia Road.
North Star Inn
Hercules (Premier) Post Office Groceries - Lottery Off-licence Tel: 712272 45, Springfield Road Silverhill PO Post office. Sedlescombe Road North, Silverhill.
Public house. Food served. Tel: 436576. North Star Inn, Clarence Road, TN37 6SD.
Tower Hotel Public house. The Tower Hotel, Tower Road.
Wheatsheaf Public house. Duncan, manager. The Wheatsheaf, 172 Bohemia Road.
RESIDENTIAL HOMES PROPERTY The Park Lane Group Residential lettings and property development. Mon–Fri: 8.30am to 5.30pm. Estab. 1988. R.B. Beswick, managing director. Residential letting enquiries: 0870 752 2540. New homes: 08707 522542. The Park Lane Group, 141–5 Bohemia Road.
Streatfield House Residential home for adults with learning difficulties or disabilities. Incorporating the Evelyn Juden Day Care Centre. Estab. 1982. Mr & Mrs T. Mahoney, owners, and Mrs G. Clusker, manager. Tel: 439103. Streatfield House, Cornfield Terrace, TN37 6JD. gillclusker@hotmail.com
SOLICITORS Body, Richard Take on criminal defence cases funded by legal aid. Tel: 201301. 66 Bohemia Road.
SPORTS CENTRES Horntye Park Sports Centre Sports centre, banqueting, conferences, meeting rooms, wedding receptions, parties. seven days a week, from 8.30am to 11.00pm. Tel (reception): 716666. Bohemia Road. kevinmiller@horntyepark.org www.horntyepark.org
Summerfields Sports Centre Swimming. Squash. Badminton. Tel: 781777. Summerfields Sports Centre, Bohemia Road.
YMCA Sports Centre Sports centre & youth club. Roller skating, badminton court, afterschool clubs, activity clubs, chess club, senior-citizens’ sports, judo, warhammer club, skate-hockey club, after-school football, roller disco. Karen Manning, Dennis Richards. Tel: 429677. St Paul’s Road. hastingsymca@hastingsymca.plus.com
May 2007 STREET WARDENS To contact our local street wardens or the Anti-Social Behaviour Service, ring Amanda, the coordinator on 0800 085 4500 during office hours, or 0845 274 1099 after 5pm.
SWIMMING POOLS The only local public swimming pool is at Summerfields Sports Centre. See under ‘Sports Centres’, above.
Chris Thayre Swimming pools. Tel: 439831. Shornden Passage, Upper Park Road.
Bohemia Village Voice TAXIS
Crown Taxis Small local family firm offering a good honest personal service. Sun–Wed: 8am to 12 midnight, Thu–Sat: 8am to 3am. 4-seater saloon cars. Any journey within a 200-mile range, incl all London airports.
07900 333829
SALES SPARES REPAIRS
TILES
Base Pizza Pizzas, pastas and tortilla wraps, salads. Open: 3pm to 11.30pm, seven days a week. Free delivery after 5pm. Tel: 201120. Base Pizza, 99 Bohemia Road.
Ceramic wall and floor tiles and suspended-ceiling specialists. Free measuring and estimating service, plus a tiling fixing service by professional tilers. The showroom is open Mon–Fri: 9am to 5pm, Sat: 9am to 3.30pm. Estab. 1982. Mr Barrie Pitman. Tel: 446613. Mob: 07973 176554. Tile Design, 2 Upper Park Road, TN37 6SJ.
Healthy Chinese food to take away. Free delivery on local orders over £13.50. Open 7 days per week. 435279.
Curry Hut Takeaway curry food. Tel: 200451. The Curry Hut, 51 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RE.
Delight Express Fast-food takeaway. Contact: Ali. Tel: 435328. 87 Bohemia Road.
Frydays Traditional fish & chips. Tel: 461391. 53 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RE. [See advertisement]
Pizza Hut Pizza delivery and takeaway in the Hastings & St Leonards area. Tel: 728866. Fax: 422806. Pizza Hut, 172A Bohemia Rd. www.pizzahut.co.uk
Silver River Family-run Chinese takeaway food business. Tue–Thu: 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Fri, Sat: 5.30pm to 11pm, Sun: 5.30pm to 10.30pm. Tel: 433439. 56 Bohemia Road.
Save £££££
855855
Tile Design
China Kitchen
RECONDITIONED APPLIANCES WASHING MACHINES COOKERS FRIDGE/FREEZERS
TAKEAWAY FOOD See also Cafés & Restaurants
Page 27
Need a spare or a one-off repair or just good honest advice, then ring Matt today
APPLIANCE MASTER
TEL:
01424 424282
TYPESETTING 1066 Typesetting Typesetting service. Paul Baker. Tel: 441390. 11 Cloudesley Rd. shepherdmaster@aol.com
UPHOLSTERY Gooch Upholstery
Power chairs Stairlifts Furniture Electric beds
Re-covering antique and modern furniture. Workshop: 200301. Home: 717129.
VIDEO & DVD Visual Magic DVD and game rental and sales. Open seven days a week from 2pm to 10pm. Estab. 1981. Mr Matt Carter. Tel: 445578. Visual Magic, 81–3 Bohemia Road, TN37 6RJ. visual-magic@hotmail.co.uk www.visual-magic.biz
WOOL Karina’s Wool Shop Tel: 712226. 131, Bohemia Road.
Karina’s Wool Shop Stockist of Sirdar & Stylecraft wools, as well as cottons, needles and knitted baby clothes. Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri: 9am to 5pm, Wed, Sat: 9am to 1pm. Tel: 712226. 131 Bohemia Road
35 Tower Road, St Leonards on Sea Tel: 01424 438300 Fax: 01424 433301
Lady Gardener Looking for part-time work. Flexible days/hours. Experienced. References available. £7 per hour. Please phone Nicola on:
01424 443748 07940 374756
South East Entertainment DISCO - KARAOKE SHOW BANDS - TRIBUTE ACTS CLOWN - PA & LIGHTING SYSTEMS WEDDINGS - BIRTHDAYS KIDS’ PARTIES - THEME NIGHTS PRIVATE & CORPORATE FULL INS & PUBLIC LIABILITY Anything to do with entertainment S.E.E. what we can do first
01424 446691 07859 023638 www.seents.co.uk
Page 28
Bohemia Village Voice
May 2007
New Systems, Upgrades, Components, Inks and CD Media www.kccomputers.co.uk 261 London Road St Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 6NB
.............. Phone: 08717 500202 Fax: 01424 437131 Email: sales @kccomputers.co.uk VAT No. 753 0530 56 Visa, Delta, Mastercard & Switch
Car Repairs & Servicing 01424 421205 07956 308213