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Prestonville THE COMMUNITY NEWS & SERVICES || www.prestonvillefriend.co.uk NEWS - BUSINESS LISTINGS - EVENTS - LOCAL HISTORY SEPTEMBER 2012 || Issue 5 THIS MONTH INSIDE The Hall Get Involved LET’S SHARE IT! WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER Vineyard tours in Sussex iend

The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

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Issue 5 of The Prestonville Friend. This month we feature two new local Brighton businesses alongside the latest from Exeter Street Hall.

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Page 1: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

PrestonvilleTHE

COMMUNITY NEWS & SERVICES || www.prestonvillefriend.co.uk

NEWS - BUSINESS LISTINGS - EVENTS - LOCAL HISTORY

SEPTEMBER 2012 || Issue 5

THIS MONTH INSIDE

The Hall Get Involved LET’S SHARE IT!

WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER

Vineyard toursin Sussex

friend

Page 2: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

Do you own or run a business that you want local residents to hear about? Do you have a local story that you want to share? To advertise or contribute to next month’s issue contact: Gill Hasson on 01273 272 911

Page 3: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

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Welcome // EDITOR’S LETTER

33

From The Editors.

Welcome to issue 5 of The Prestonville Friend. With many of us returning from our annual holiday break, and the kid’s holidays

drawing to a close - autumn is not too far away.

But because we can’t bear to hang up our summer adventure shoes just yet, this month we have taken a look at things to do before the nights draw in. Check out our our What’s On section (pg 13) for some amazing vineyard tours around Sussex.

As always, this month’s issue brings you all the latest from the Prestonville Community Association (PCA) alongside a very exciting update from The Hall Get Involved Group - will you join us in sharing The Hall?

Don’t miss this month’s It’s My Business double bill - where we look at a combination of the creative and the conscientious...

We’d also like to thank illustrators and retailers Brighton Originals once again for their contribution to the front cover of September’s Prestonville Friend. Do you recognise the building???

If you have any news, stories or ideas, that you would like to be featured in future issues please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!

- Gill and Sarah

SEPTEMBER 2012 ISSUE 5

Hove Villa & Lashmar’s Mill 4

St. Luke’s Advice Service 5

It’s My Business;Brighton & HoveWebsites 6

It’s My Business;Mosaic Classes 7

Prestonville Post 8

The Hall Get Involved 9

Can You Help AGuide Dog? 10

What’s On 13

Kid’s Corner 14

Advertise With Us. d it’s TARGETED

d it’s CHEAP

d it’s COMMUNITY FOCUSED

List your local business within targeted editorial content, creating a truly captive audience.

It’s great value and easily affordable forsmall businesses wanting to reach out to their local customers.

We believe in supporting local businesses within the Prestonville area and alsobelieve that lasting relationships between residents and local services should be nurtured.

WHAT’S INSIDETHIS MONTH

Page 4: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

LOCAL HISTORY / By David Southey

Hove Villa & Lashmar’s Mill.

Prestonville Court and Cadogan Court blocks of flats stand on land on the West side of Dyke Road where there was once a large house called Hove Villa.

Hove Villa was set in the middle of a triangular piece of land bounded by Dyke Road, Old Shoreham Road and what is now the back gardens of Prestonville Road and Russell Court. Until 1928 the boundary for Hove ran along the back gardens of Prestonville Road and down the Old Shoreham Road towards the junction with Dyke Road.

Built around 1840, probably at the same time as the Prestonville railway tunnel was cut through beneath it, Hove Villa was originally the residence of a Mr A. Bright Smith. At this time the only other house in Dyke Road, West of Seven Dials was Port Hall, further to the northwest. By the 1860s it was a school for young ladies.

In 1899 a hospital was located there and the house became known as the Camberwell House Private Mental Hospital (Convalescent Branch).

After the Second World War the building was taken over by Prestonville School for Boys. Some local people remember the school; when Pam Morris was a child, her mother, Ada Vickers, was the school cook.

Pam grew up in Coventry Street. “I would go into the school garden through the gate opposite St Lukes church. The gardener grew all the vegetables for the school – in fact he

taught me how to grow things from seed. I ate in the kitchen where Mum worked. The secretary taught me how to type and how to play croquet on the lawn.”

The school closed after the end of the summer term in 1969.This house was demolished in 1970 and all that remains of Hove Villa is the old flint garden walls, large sections of which are now hidden by the shrubbery.

The flats were built in 1972. Naming the flats Prestonville Court may not seem historically accurate but the property developers were possibly influenced by the fact that Hove Villa had been used by Prestonville School for Boys.

When Hove Villa was built it had a very interesting neighbour – a windmill. We know from Tim Carder’s Encyclopaedia of Brighton (1990) that a windmill called Lashmar’s Mill stood on the site where Belmont now stands. In 1852 the mill was taken to the Downs above Clayton on a sledge pulled by horses and oxen. Many of you will have visited the Jack and Jill windmills and Jill is the one that came from here. Belmont was built in the 1850s and, unlike Hove Villa, survives to this day.

You can find photographs of Hove Villa taken in 1969 in the James Gray collection on The Regency Society website. http://www.regencysociety-jamesgray.com. (See Volume 26, images 130 - 143)

PRESTONVILLE COURT RESIDENT - DAVE SOUTHEY, SHARES THE HISTORY. by David Southey

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Welcome // EDITOR’S LETTER

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Right in the heart of Prestonville is a tiny organisation that has a huge effect on the lives of many

people across Brighton and Hove; the St. Luke’s Advice Service.

Known to many as SLAS, and described by some of its clients as “Literally life saving,” this little charity provides benefits and debt advice, free of charge, to anyone in our city who is struggling to work their way through our challenging benefits system, or who has somehow found themselves in a difficult financial position.

Operating out of 18 Exeter Street, SLAS relies on a team of approximately twenty-five volunteers to do a great deal of the work. It also employs a service manager who runs the charity and a solicitor to help clients with benefit tribunals and appeals. Anyone who lives in Brighton and Hove can come to the service for help. One of the things that make SLAS different from other organisations that provide this sort of help, is that it works with its clients until their issue is sorted out,

giving advice and support continually throughout their time of difficulty.

Worrying about money is one of the most stressful aspects of modern life and we have all been put under increased pressure because of the economic climate. For many people in Brighton and Hove their worries go beyond the everyday concerns we all feel about the cost of living and our ability to earn.

SLAS provides much-needed help to the 40,000 or so residents in Brighton and Hove with a disability, who have been put under enormous stress as the government changes the ben-efits system, with the accompanying uncertainty and insecurity for so many of them who rely on these benefits to live an ordinary life. At the same time, according to Money Advice Direct, the number of people in Brighton and Hove applying to go bankrupt or trying to set up a debt payment plan is on the increase, with people running up debts of between £20,000 and £110,000 (not including a mortgage).

It’s great to know that a little charity based in our neighbourhood is doing such good work across the city to help those in need.

‘Worrying about money is one of the most stressful aspects of modern life...’

The whole service runs on a small grant from the council, donations from local churches and trust funds, but in the current economic climate it is having some financial difficulty of its own. If you would like to donate to the work of SLAS or know of an organisation that might be able to provide us with some funding please let us know on [email protected].

As part of our efforts to keep SLAS providing its valuable service we will be running a fundraising fashion show at the church on Friday 12th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5, available by calling SLAS on 549203 or Revd. Martin Poole on 557772.

St. Luke’s Church / LOCAL HISTORY

5

St. Luke’s Advice Service.WE CATCH UP WITH REVEREND MARTIN POOLE ON THE LATEST FROM ST. LUKE’S by Reverend Martin Poole

facebook: ‘prestonvillefriend’ twitter: @prestonvillemag // www.prestonvillefriend.co.uk

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WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

News // PRESTONVILLE POST

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IT’S MY BUSINESS // Brighton & Hove Websites

It’s My BusinessWE CATCH UP WITH STEVE COUNSELL ON WHY A WEBSITE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Why do businesses fail? The answer is quite straightforward: they don’t make enough money. Outgoings exceed income and there you are,

kaput. And if you don’t have a well-designed, optimised website all those potential customers won’t even know you exist in the first place, let alone be able to buy from you.

A website is an absolute necessity in the modern business world and has almost completely replaced the printed corporate brochure. A website can be accessed from anywhere, it’s easily updated with details of new products and services and pricing can be changed whenever necessary. Consider the following, too:

It’s Cost EffectiveNo other medium reaches so many people with such immediacy and although you’ll get what you pay for in terms of the quality of design, management and hosting, there really is no cheaper way to promote your business

Your Customers Expect ItIf you have no web presence then your business credibility is diminished and your customers may doubt you. Don’t forget too, that the use of an associated email address is much more impressive than your personal one.

All Day Every DayYou may have put your feet up after a hard day but your website really is open all hours, constantly providing information about your services and showing a way to contact you. You never know, your best customer may email you at 3.30am...

Your Competitors Have OneIf you’re not online, then you can be certain that your competitors are and, more to the point, they’re being found and contacted by people who should be buying from you. Having a share of the market necessitates a robust web presence; in straitened economic times, it’s like having a time disadvantage in a race if you don’t.

Sell Your Products OnlineWith a site enabled for e-commerce, it can process card payments to enable customers to buy your products online and to have them delivered (almost) anywhere in the world!

So don’t get left behind. Have your website designed, managed and hosted by people who really know what they’re doing and make sure you get the success you deserve.

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

by Steve Counsell

Page 7: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

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Clare Rose Mosaics // IT’S MY BUSINESS

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It’s My Business.CLARE ROSE TALKS TO US ABOUT HERMOSAIC CLASSES by Clare Rose

Local mosaic artist Clare Rose has been designing and making mosaics for the past 16 years.

She works from The Pink Bird House Studio; a large airy studio in Southdown Avenue with window boxes covered

with bright flowers.

The studio is a large rambling Victorian house. The number plate, the path and bench and chairs are all covered in mosaic and mosaic stars

hang from the trees. And that’s just the front garden!

Clare’s classes are small and great fun. Clare says, “New students are sometimes worried that they’re not ‘arty’ enough but, really, anyone can do it. Whatever your level, everyone can make something wonderful!”

Clare welcomes everyone whether you are a beginner or have advanced to the type of mosaic taught in ‘Pique Assiette’, a style of mosaic that incorporates pieces of broken ceramics into the design.

“new students are sometimes worried that they’re not ‘arty’ enough

but, really, anyone can do it.”

The classes are an opportunity to be both creative and sociable - people often comment to her about the sounds of laughing coming down from the studio onto the street.

Clare invites you to come along and have a go - you will experience a huge sense of accomplishment and have a lot of fun!

Page 8: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

NEWS // Prestonville Post

Prestonville Community AssociationSupporting community activities in the Prestonville area

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

Friends of Dyke Road ParkFinding ways of improving the environment and facilities within our park

COMMUNITY PICNIC & HARVEST CELEBRATIONSaturday 15 September, 12.00 – 4.00pm

Come and join us in the community garden for an afternoon of fun, games, and a celebration of the wonderful home-grown food available locally.

Bring a picnic and anything home-grown to share skills and knowledge and delicious food with your neighbours. We will have a

cake stall, lucky dip, raffle and more.We will also be celebrating the nationwide project The Big Dig which aims to

engage people in community food-growing projects across England. We are delighted that the Dyke Road Community Garden can be a part of this

fantastic project www.bigdig.org.ukIf you are keen to get involved from donating cakes or raffle prizes to helping on a

stall on the day, get in touch with Abi on 07708 546925 or [email protected]

REGULAR EVENTSOPEN MEETINGSFirst Tuesday of the monthCafé in the Park GARDEN WORK PARTIESThird Saturday of month @10.30amMeet at Café in the Park Contact: Jannet King Tel: 509653 To garden during week: Steve Golds 07771 389 427

DATES FOR YOUR DIARYFILM CLUB2 September: Tokyo JoeCafé in the Park. £2.50 on the night. Keep up to date via: www.dykeroadpark.wordpress.com

JOHN LOVATT – PRESTONVILLE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

This is the inscription on the bench newly located outside Exeter St Hall. John was a hugely valued member of the PCA, who worked tirelessly for it and many other local organizations from the time he moved to Brighton in 1987 until his recent death. His official post on the PCA, almost from its inception, was as Planning Advisor, a position to which he could bring unparalleled skill and experience. He was a long-serving and much-respected member of the Brighton Society Committee, and a frequent visitor to the Council Planning Department. In addition to his formal roles, he would frequently assist any resident who had problems with planning applications.

John was active in local politics and served as treasurer for the Lib Dems for many years. He stood as a candidate in local elections and often helped others get elected, recommending leaflet delivery as a good form of exercise.The House Project, a charity based in Peacehaven to support the local community, benefited from John’s voluntary work too. One organization he could not join was the Brighton Womens Centre, but John helped them move three times, and was their ‘odd job man’.

In addition, John would always step forward to help in any situation (the examples are too numerous to list, but include setting the questions for the popular PCA Quiz Nights) and never looked for acknowledgment.When, in conjunction with Rosemary and the Council, we discussed the location of a commemorative bench she chose to have it placed in Exeter Street, where it could be used by members of the community he served so exhaustively. Next time you stop to rest on the new bench by the Hall, spare a moment to remember John who, quietly and selflessly, gave so much to this community.

Martin Moore

If you would like to join the PCA committee or just come along to a meeting, get in touch. Chair: Richard Denyer-BewickTel: 07859 [email protected]/Prestonville PostJannet King Tel: [email protected] Committee Meeting: Thursday, 27 September8.00, The Vicarage, Old Shoreham Rd

BOOK CLUB IN THE PUBThe Chimney House (upstairs)

20 September, 8.00pmJane Gardam’s: Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat

For more information, contact: Jeremy Cartland Tel: 882933 [email protected]

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The Hall Get Involved / NEWS

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Dear resident,

Within our area of Brighton we are lucky to have the Exeter Street Hall - a valuable community space . It’s now up for sale and we, as local residents, have been given the opportunity to buy the hall so that it remains in the community for now and generations to come.

For the past 128 years it has been used by people of all ages for Brownies to wedding receptions, coffee mornings to polling stations and a pre-school to Zumba. We want to ensure that it continues to offer these activities and more; indoor markets, exhibitions, badminton, children’s activities and so on.

But we need your help to raise £300,000 (£200,000 to buy the Hall and £100,000 for essential repairs). During September and October we are offering shares (at £50 a share) for people to buy, in order to ensure the hall is owned and managed by the community. You can buy a share or you can make a donation.

We have one chance to succeed. At a time of increasing pressure on public space and in a densely populated area of the city, we have a unique opportunity to safeguard this community hall. If you’ve never visited or even heard of the hall, come along to one of our events and see this community asset for yourself. Go

to www.exeterstreethall.org or phone 01273 252934 for a full list of up and coming events and to find out how you can help.

“Please help us keep this hall as part of the community”

TheHallGetInvolved LtdAn Industrial & Provident SocietyRegistration No: 31628R

Exeter Street Hall. Let’s share it!THE MONHTLY UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2012A letter from The Hall Get Involved Group

Page 10: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

Guide Dogs, formerly known as the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, together with the

Blatchington Court Trust is working to transform the lives of blind and partially sighted people in this area.

Advanced training dogs are now based in the Trust’s offices on Dyke Road – you may see them out and about with Guide Dogs Mobility Instructors. Could you help by responding to the advert below?

Becoming a volunteer boarder is a fan-tastic opportunity to have the benefits of caring for a dog without the full-time responsibility. It’s also very enjoyable and rewarding to be involved in the

rearing and training of a guide dog, which will go on to provide freedom and inde-pendence to a blind or partially-sighted person.

The charity supplies basic equipment and covers all veterinary and feeding expenses. Training, advice and support is provided by a friendly team of specialist Guide Dogs staff, regarding handling skills, basic first aid and the general care and welfare of the dog.

As well as seeking more volunteer boarders, Guide Dogs wants local people to step forward and volunteer to help in both local fund-raising branches: Peacehaven and Brighton and Hove.

Bryan Mackie, who volunteers as a Recruitment Am-bassador for Guide Dogs says “Volun-teering has been an amazingly fun experience. You’re warmly welcomed every time you arrive at an event and truly feel appreciated by the team. The response by the public is fantastic too – I’ve

found that they appreciate the work that Guide Dogs are doing here, especially when they can meet the dogs and owners. Rain or shine I’ve had a laugh along the way and there’s usually someone doing a tea run to keep you going.”

“Becoming a volunteer boarder is a fantastic

opportunity to have the benefits of caring for a

dog without the full-time responsibility”

So, if you want to use your skills, meet lots of new people from many different backgrounds and be valued for your contribution, please get in touch. You won’t be pressured to attend every event - a couple of hours on the day or in the earlier planning will be gratefully appreciated. Find out more about volunteering for Guide Dogs at

www.facebook.com/guidedogsvolunteers www.twitter.com/guidedogs. 0845 371 7771 (National Volunteer Office) [email protected]

A Message From Guide Dogs

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Can you help a Guide Dog?Brighton & Hove Trainee Guide Dogs SeekTemporary Accommodation

ORGANISATIONS // Guide Dogs

Page 11: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

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by Gill Hasson

11 facebook: ‘prestonvillefriend’ twitter: @prestonvillemag // www.prestonvillefriend.co.uk

If you are a patient at Beaconsfield Medical Practice in Preston Road,whatever the time of day or night, if you need to see a doctor you can go online and see which

appointment slots are available.

Not everyone can access their GP surgery during its normal opening hours, especially when the phone lines are busy, so SystemOnline helps by putting YOU in control; letting you manage your appointments and repeat medication over the internet.

All you have to do is bring in photo ID, speak to a receptionist to get your user name, password, and an information leaflet, and you are ready to start.

With this service you may view existing appointments, book a new appointment - up to four weeks in advance, cancel and rebook an appointment; view your medication; request repeat medication (still allow 2 full working days) and change your contact details.

SystemOnline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All personal information used by SystemOnline is secure and protected. It is only available to staff at your practice who have the appropriate security controls, those managing appointments and repeat prescribing.

Beaconsfield Medical Practice.Phone: 552212 www.beaconsfieldmedicalpractice.co.uk

Charter Medical Centre in Davigdor Road offer a similar on line service called ‘Patient Access’. Phone: 770555 www.chartermedicalcentre.co.uk

Seven Dials Medical Centre intend to offer this soon. Phone: 773089 www.thesevendialsmedicalcentre.co.uk

Stanford Medical Centre do not have an online service. Phone; 01273 557411 www.stanfordmedicalcentre.co.uk

Doctors Appointments Online // SERVICES

Online Doctors Appointments.Brighton & Hove Doctors’ Surgeries Become More Accessible

Page 12: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

THIS MONTH’S EVENTS

NICKY’S QUIZ NIGHTSunday 7th September 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC Tom and guests

Sun 30th Sep

Do you own or run a business born out of your passion? Do you have a local story that you want to share with the Prestonville Residents? To contribute to next month’s issue contact: Gill Hasson on 01273 272 911

Page 13: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

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SEPTEMBER // What’s On

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We are lucky enough to have several vineyards

and wine estates in Sussex. We’ve picked four that are less than a half hour drive from Brighton. A super way to spend an afternoon!

Court Garden VineyardOrchard Lane, Ditchling

This tour starts with tea and home-made cake! You’ll have a short talk about the history of English Wine, a walk around the vineyard, an inspection of the bottles maturing in the cellar and finish with a comparativetasting between Court Garden Sparkling Wine and a well known Champagne.

£8.00 per person. The tour lasts about an hour and a half. Sunday 2nd, 16th and 30th September at 3.00pm – 4.30pmPhone: 01273 844 479 / www.courtgarden.com

Ridgeview Wine Estate Fragbarrow Lane, Ditchling Common

Included in this tour is a tour of the vineyard and winery, a visit to the cellars and tasting of all Ridgeview’s current releases.General tours are available or you may wish to book a private tour for you and your family, friends or work colleagues. Phone for details.

£10 per personPhone: 0845 345 7292

http://www.ridgeview.co.uk/

The Bolney EstateFoxhole Lane, Bolney

You will be taken on a tour of the vineyard and winery and finish with a tutored tasting of three of the estate’s wines. There is a café on site which you can also visit before or after your tour.

Tours take place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year. Tour start times are 10am, 12.00pm and 2.30pm Tour is one and a half hours.

£16 per personPhone: 01444 881 575http://www.bookersvine-yard.co.uk/

Breaky Bottom VineyardRodmell , Lewes

Breaky Bottom lies in a fold in the South Downs, about 5 miles from Lewes. It’s rather a bumpy ride down a long farm track, but you will eventually reach the vineyard in a picturesque valley. Come and see for yourself, and you will be rewarded with a free wine tasting!

Phone 01273 476 427 to ar-range your visit.http://www.breakybottom.co.uk/Minimum group size 4 people. Rides are suitable for most ages. £25 per person

What’s OnVINEYARD TOURS IN SUSSEX

Page 14: The Prestonville Friend - September 2012

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US? T: 01273 272 911 E: [email protected]

KIDS CORNER // Complete the puzzles!

KIDS CORNER

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KIDS CORNER

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