006_LS492_newsphil-Council_editorial 10/09/2010 12:18 Page 2
06
LATEST NEWS
L7 News
7
Daren, who owns Lotus Styling in Bognor, said the views were awesome while his client Danielle thought the experience was hairraising. Mmm.
days of headlines with Phil Mills
Remains found on golf course, uni achieves CO2 breakthrough, plus local hairdresser’s cut above
T
he week was dominated by the gruesome and the gory. The burned remains of a young man were discovered between the 17th and 18th greens at the Dyke Golf Club just outside Brighton. Det Chief Insp Trevor Bowles revealed the victim probably died from a blow to the head. The inquiry chief has since been appearing on TV, radio and in print appealing for information to catch the killer.
The crime has added to the notoriety of the Devil's Dyke area where there have been numerous vile incidents over the years. One of the worst was that perpetrated by Russell Bishop, who is serving life for the abduction, molestation and attempted murder of a seven-yearold girl at the beauty spot in1990. Bishop was jailed for life and is now one of the longest serving prisoners in Britain not to be serving a sentence for murder. Just hours before the Dyke Club discovery, the name Richard Tampin was added to the list of child abusers. Tampin was jailed for 12 years for holding his three-year daughter’s hand under a hot tap, causing third-degree burns and leaving her scarred for life. Enough gore. A breakthrough in ways to neutralise greenhouse gas
Michael Chowen, Prof Toru Maekawaa, Dr Ray Whitby
is a step closer thanks to a £150,000 donation from a retired businessman. British Bookshops and Sussex Stationers founder, Michael Chowen, a friend of the University of Brighton, read an article about the research and immediately telephoned the university to commit his support. Dr Ray Whitby, from the university’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, and Prof Toru Maekawa from the Bio-Nano Electronic Research Centre at Toyo University, Japan, collaboratively developed a system of breaking apart pressurised CO2 so that at its critical point, firing a laser at the gas separates it into its harmless components of oxygen and carbon. He hopes to see large-scale trials within the next five years. Madcap hairdresser Daren Terry took his art to new heights when he became the first to do some snipping in a hot air balloon.
L
ast week saw a very special occasion celebrated at Brighton & Hove’s Volks Railway – the centenary of the famous ‘train number 9’! The railway itself is a special piece of Brighton history. Founded by Magnus Volk and opened in 1883, it is the world’s oldest operating electric railway. The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Geoff Wells, unveiled a plaque which was donated by the Volks Electric Railway Association – the excellent voluntary organisation who play a crucial role in the restoration, promotion and operation of the line. It was also a pleasure to welcome Graham Volk, Magnus’ great grandson, who brought along
If you had £150,000 to donate to science, what would you research?
comment@thelatest.co.uk follow me on twitter
some unique memorabilia which belonged to Magnus himself, including a geometry set which he used for his technical drawings! The Volks Railway is a unique asset for our city and as a council we must do everything we can to preserve and enhance it. It is used by residents and visitors alike in their thousands every year and is especially popular with young children. For those of you who haven’t taken the trip from the Aquarium to Black Rock, I would thoroughly recommend it, and you can get much more information on the history of the railway at www.volkselectricrailway.co.uk. While we are on the subject of tourism, I have been delighted at just how busy Brighton and Hove has been this summer. The city's official tourism website – www.visitbrighton.com – had a record breaking month in July with more than 140,000
comment@thelatest.co.uk [Re Alex Cornish review at www.thelatest.co.uk/7] I was there too and had a great night, despite certain sections of the audience doing their best to drown out the main man. Why do people go to gigs to talk – discuss. Anyway, Alex and band were very good indeed. Such a superb songwriter, can’t believe he’s still playing small venues. Deserves a big break. The support was ok – very ‘drama school’ though, bit like watching an episode of Glee. Arkwright, via www.thelatest.co.uk/7 Dear Latest 7. as you may or may not know, Pink Fringe is Brighton’s new arts organisation supporting Queer and LGBT arts projects. Does Brighton need this in these austere times? We would argue, now more than ever, a forceful yes. We launched during Brighton Festival Fringe at the Marlborough Theatre and are back for autumn with some great events. Lady Day, at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, is Pink Fringe’s first full production. It’s a brilliant play about Billie Holiday, which is being tackled for the first time by a very talented male performer, Anthony Leatham. We have also been commissioned by White Night to produce Marlborough Lights, on 30 October (9pm-2am). Lastly, Brighton’s only lesbian theatre company the Marlborough Madams will be performing Its Christmas Carole. To take part in this production contact the Drill Hall (020 7307 5060) – the Madams are always looking for new members. We would love to know if you have any opinions about what we’re doing – so if you feel so inclined email david@pinkfringe.org.uk. David Sheppeard, The Pink Fringe, www.pinkfringe.org.uk You can also write to: Letters, Latest Homes Ltd, Unit 1, Level 5 North, New England House, New England Street, Brighton BN1 4GH
latest7news
unique visitors, up from 88,000 in 2009. This online interest has transferred to strong visitor numbers in the city. In the last three months alone, Brighton Visitor Information centre in Pavilion Gardens has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors. There has also been a 21 per cent increase in accommodation bookings made through VisitBrighton, Brighton & Hove City Council's tourism service, during the first seven months of the year compared with 2009. I cannot emphasize enough just how important tourism is to the continued prosperity of the city. The eight million or so people who visit us every year spend an estimated £693million in the various shops, restaurants, bars and tourist attractions and this supports almost 13,000 local jobs. Here’s hoping for an Indian summer to make it an even more successful year! Pic:Tony Mould
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears on the Volks Railway
The city council has come up with an offer to encourage recycling – home composters for £5 for a 220 litre and £11 for a 330 litre container. The Compost Converter is supplied by Straight plc which offers discounts to councils. Go to http://www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444. The Roberts family, who lost their little son Spencer, are holding a talent show to raise money for cancer charities and research. They have teamed up with The Paul Nicholas School of Acting to host The Shining Star Talent Competition for any talented young people between seven and 17 at The Peacehaven Meridian Centre. Auditions will be on October 23 at The Friendship Centre, Mayfield Ave, Peacehaven. For an application form, email: remember.spencer@live.co.uk Finally, Age Concern Brighton Hove & Portslade is planning Will Writing Week in partnership with local solicitors across the city starting October 18 to highlight the need for the over 50s to have one. Call them on 01273 720603 to find out more.
latest inbox