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Bohemia Village Voice No. 34. Saturday 26 August 2006.
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STREET LITTER
RON BEAUCHAMP
When will the back streets see a street cleaner?
Art show in preparation
Concerned by the sight of our unswept streets, Local Councillor Vivienne Bond has been asking the Council when our back streets will see a cleaner. On Tuesday of this week, Vivienne contacted Richard Homewood at Hastings Borough Council to protest: “Once again I feel I must ask when the back streets of Bohemia will see a street cleaner? I have been at home for the last 4 weeks and every time the rubbish is collected some of the bags split. The men do pick up what they can quickly but the streets really do now need a good sweep. I go out and clear up the mess in my street but we cannot expect the general public to do this. Bohemia Road is reported to me as being cleaned most days by a machine but as I drive along it I am aware that there is litter all over the place. Can I possibly meet or have the name of the Supervisor for this area so as I can get some reassurances about what is happening in the Gensing ward?” The next day, Richard Homewood
replied, revealing that, so concerned is he about the problem, he’s been photographing the evidence. He said “I can personally concur with your views. I regularly use the Bohemia area every morning and lunchtime. I have got into the habit of routinely photographing problems with torn open sacks, litter etc. in the area and yesterday I sent in five reports to the refuse and recycling line which were passed on to the contractor. Today I have followed up three of these where the level of response has been unsatisfactory, particularly in relation to clearing up spillages after collecting refuse which is specifically mentioned in the new contract.” On Thursday, Vivienne says: “I am about to put the flags out. There are two men in my street clearing up the rubbish , how's that for a response. I trust they are doing all of the area.” Richard Homewood, Executive Director, Environment & Safety, HBC, 01424 783200. Vivienne Bond, Lib Dem Councillor for Gensing Ward. 01424 781035.
CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL
School floods After heavy rains on Thursday morning and afternoon, the playground at Christchurch School in Woodland Vale Road, Bohemia, became flooded. The low lying play area looked more like a shallow lake
than a playground. What a shame the school children are on holiday they’d have found a hundred ways of enjoying the water. Christchurch School, Woodland Vale Road. Tel. 01424 422953.
An art exhibition is being put togeth- seven days. A full colour catalogue er for Ron will be available at Beauchamp, who the exhibition. died five years ago, The coloured pasaged 70 in St tel picture, shown Leonards. Ron had above, is titled moved down from ‘Hic!’ and is dated London just three March 1989, size years previously and 42 by 30cm. All left a number of the paintings will paintings, photobe available for graphs and drawings sale, and all profits which are only now will go to one of being collected, sortRon’s favourite cat ed and catalogued charities. ready for the exhibi- Coloured pastel work by the John Humphries tion. The show is late Ron Beauchamp 01424 446759. expected to take place in the autumn, at 79, Bohemia Road and will run for BOHEMIA VILLAGE VOICE
Vic asks “What’s it for?” Long term Bohemia resident, Vic Chalcraft, 80, of Aldborough Road, asks “What’s the Bohemia Village Voice for? What’s it achieve? Who gets to read it? Only people on the internet.” In answer, publisher and editor John Humphries replies: “The Bohemia Village Voice is a local newsletter, containing local news about the people, businesses , organisations and events of Bohemia. It is not trying to compete with the Hastings Observer, but is attempting to be a useful and interesting aspect of life in this part of town. I am very keen to see the people behind the stories to have their say and to appear as real people, not just names. These are early days, and the format of the newsletter hasn’t yet had time to settle down. It is still evolving.” “What has it achieved?” Vic asks. “I’d like to think that the stories covered so far, do have an interest for
people living in Bohemia. It’s nice to know what’s going on in one’s locality, and I think the Voice carries stories which wouldn’t be covered by the Observer for instance.” And who gets to read it? “Well, it has to be said that not many people at present. The current circulation is less than 100, including the printed version. I am looking at ways of increasing the readership, and the obvious way is to print off copies and deliver them directly to people’s homes. At present, I am trying to find people who would be prepared to deliver copies in their street or area. Once we have a respectable circulation, it should be easier to obtain advertising. And with advertising revenue, the whole project becomes a more realistic venture.” Do you have views about Bohemia Village Voice? We’d love to hear. Contact details: page 4.
HISTORY OF BOHEMIA
Gipsy teas and syllabub
Christchurch School playground is flooded on Thursday this week
Attempted burglary There was an attempted burglary on Thursday the 17th August between 9:50pm and 10:20pm. A window was broken at a premises in Upper Clarence Road , Bohemia, and an attempt was made to gain entry.
If anyone was in this area and heard or saw anything suspicious please can they contact Sussex Police on 08456 070 999 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111. Please quote reference number SH1/9867/06.
[From a ‘Hastings Observer, February 1966, article entitled ‘Bohemia For Gipsy Teas And Syllabub’, which explores the possibilities of how Bohemia got its name.] Miss Mary Redmayne, of 34, Marine Court, St Leonards, has written, “If there is one thoroughfare in Hastings which fascinates me, it is Bohemia Road. Was it, I wonder, named after the former kingdom of Bohemia, famous for its crystal chandeliers, delicately coloured table glass, and snow-storm letter weights, or in honour of Princess Anne, daughter of King Charles IV of Bohemia, who came to England in 1383 to marry King
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Richard II? I should be very pleased if any of your readers could answer this question.” Inquiry at the Hastings Museum brought the view that neither suggestion was really likely as Hastings had no real link with either. Mr J. Mainwaring Baines, the curator, writes: “The first thing one does in trying to find the origin of a placename, is to try to find the earliest mentions of it, and also to trace the different spellings, for this may sometimes provide a valuable clue. The best known reference to Bohemia is in the first Hastings Guide, published by John Stell in 1794, for the benefit of visitors that