Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has congratulated the mobile phone operator Three for leading a change that will save consumers millions of pounds on call charges.
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade
Mike has previously raised with his ministerial colleagues the issue of how expensive telephone calls to 0800 and 0870 numbers can be when made from mobile phones. Many people now do not have access to a landline and end up with huge charges for calling numbers which could otherwise be called for free.
It is estimated that calls to 0800, 0845 and 0870 numbers cost UK consumers over £600 million a year. Three have launched new talk plans with free calls to 0800 numbers and cheap (5p/minute) calls to 084/087 numbers.
Mike said:“I am pleased to see that Three is taking the lead in addressing the high costs associated with phone numbers that many believe are free to call. While this is a step in the right direction, and I commend Three for making these changes, I hope that all mobile phone operators will address this matter and adapt their tariffs for both new and existing customers on monthly contracts as well as pay-as-you-go.”
A tour of Brighton’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender history.
Piers & Queers offer a tour of Brighton from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer perspective, taking in over 200 years of history in a colourful 80-minute walk along the beach and historic centre of one of Europe’s queerest cities.
The tour follows in the footsteps of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde and Dusty Springfield, visits the place where England’s first Civil Partnerships were celebrated, and reveals some extraordinary unsung heroes, including a pioneering doctor who passed as a man decades before women were allowed to practice medicine, a 19th-century lesbian diarist, and a same-sex marriage – back in 1923!
Piers and Queers is titled after Noel Coward’s quote: ‘Ah, dear Brighton: piers, queers and racketeers’
What:Piers & Queers
Where: Around the Streets of Brighton: Meet opposite West Pier, by the War Memorial Statue in Regency Square
When: Every Saturday and Sunday during Brighton Fringe: May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 June 1
Monthly Friday night with funny females serving up stand-up, musical comedy and improvisation.
A Mixture of new + established acts, hosted by Short & Girlie Show, at the Caroline of Brunswick (upstairs) in Brighton. Eight women present improvised comedy sketches and silly songs using audience suggestions.
What: Funny Girls: The Old Spice Girls, Jane Postlethwaite and Anna Morris
Where: Caroline of Brunswick, The Level/Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB
Exeter Pride to host its largest rainbow flag parade on Saturday May 10.
More than 2,000 people are planning to take part in the event with a parade down Exeter’s High Street, followed by a programme of activities held at Exeter Phoenix in Gandy Street.
The parade will include a Street Heat Samba band, a decorated double decker bus and volunteers carrying a 50-metre rainbow flag.
Everyone is welcome to take part and support the South West’s LGBT communities.
Activities kick off with the parade at noon starting at Exeter City Football Ground’s Fountain Centre Car Park. Family friendly, and child inclusive events are also being arranged at Exeter Phoenix.
A full programme of events continuing into the evening include a family zone, a Victorian Fair, a Market Place, a new Health Zone and the return of the popular drumming workshop, ceilidh and panel debates.
There will be information from local and national organisations, demonstrations, as well as fun activities.
Evening events include live music and DJs through till 2am.
Admission to some evening activities will be by wristband only, costing £3. For details, CLICK HERE:
Tom Grigor, chairman of Exeter Pride committee, said:“Exeter Pride is a celebration of the the city and county’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.
“It is about us having pride in our contributions to not just a vibrant and diverse city, but all of Devon and the city and county having pride in us.”
“Exeter Pride would not be possible with generous donations from local businesses, organisations and individuals and the fundraising efforts of many volunteers.
“Together with generous sponsorship from our partners, we are able to keep all our daytime events, free-of-charge.”
“Volunteers are an important part of helping to make things run smoothly and more volunteers are still needed to help steward the parade as well as helping to set up at Exeter Phoenix.
“Anyone who could spare some time to help can make contact through the Exeter Pride website.
Shaun Sawyer
Devon and Cornwall Police chief constable, Shaun Sawyer, said: “Devon and Cornwall Police are proud to support Exeter Pride as part of our commitment to service the LGB and T communities across Devon and Cornwall.
“We would also like to congratulate Exeter Pride on establishing this as a successful annual event.”
In addition to organising the Pride event, the committee organise a wide range of events and entertainment throughout the year to promote inclusivity, self-confidence and a sense of community in a supportive environment.
For further information about Exeter Pride on May 10 and other pride committee-organised events, to sign up as a volunteer or to find out about sponsorship, CLICK HERE:
The Brighton Bear Weekender (BBWE) Merchandise Store is now open to Bears and there admirers alike.
On line you will find the hoodies and new t-shirts for this years Brighton Bear Weekender on June 20-22.
To view and purchase the mechanised on offer, CLICK HERE:
Also in the shop you can purchase this years wristband for just £5 which gives you the following great deals.
• 15% off in-store purchases at Prowler‘s Brighton store. Also get double paws (reward stamp) on all purchases over £15 made on Friday 20 June in the Brighton store
• 10% off alcoholic drinks all weekend at the Royal Oak pub
• Free entry to Bear Shaft at Legends Basement club (Saturday 8-11pm)
• Drinks deals at Bear Shaft at Legends basement club (Saturday 8-11pm) and main bar (Sunday 8-10pm): £2.50 bottled beers, selected alcopops, house single spirit and mixer, and Carling pints
• £5 off one-day entry or weekend pass to Brighton Sauna
• 10% off pints of Fosters all weekend at the Camelford Arms
• £2 off entry to Come to Daddy, £7 without wristband and £5 with BBWE Wristband (Club Envy, Saturday 10pm-3am)
Try this great combo deal: Buy a t-shirt and a hoodie in the same order, and get a free wristband!”
Brighton Bear Weekender 2014, Programme of events:
Friday 20 June
8-11pm: meet and greet at the Welcome Night and Cabaret at the Royal Oak.
Come and meet your hosts, and enjoy the cabaret and games with your hostess Mysterry.
Collect your wristband and other preordered items.
Free entry for everyone!
11pm-late: Bear Cave at Subline.
Dance to the tunes of our very own DJ Bozzy Bear.
Saturday 21 June
From 11am: Re-energise with Breakfast Bears. Venue to be announced.
2-4pm: Head to the Brighton Bear Weekender Picnic in Queen’s Park.
Eat at Lunch Positive’s wonderful pop-up cafe, or bring your own picnic and graze in the park.
(Sorry, but the park rules mean that dogs will not be allowed at this event.)
8-11pm: Boogie on down with the bears at Bear Shaft at Legends basement club.
Drinks deals and free entry (otherwise £2) with wristband.
11pm-3am: Carry on dancing at Come to Daddy at Envy.
Discounted entry with wristband.
Sunday 22 June
12-3pm: Mark and Jay’s Sunday Roast at the Camelford Arms.
10pm-late: Fur Foam Party at Subline.
Back by popular demand! Get frothy with the bears and dance to the tunes of our very own DJ Bozzy Bear.
It’s advisable to wear old shoes or flip-flops, and trunks or undies.
Ever found yourself looking for the right tea, the right hat, the right shoes, the right Martini, or even The Right Man or Miss?
Paul Gunn & WORSTED
Look no further! The Glitz of The Jazz Age and the buffoonery and wit of The Ealing Comedies collide and collude in this bang up to date setting!
Presenting their English Tea Room meets Latin Dance style; the musical DNA of Paul Gunn & WORSTED reaches back to 19th century musical hall. They channel Noel Coward, Edith Sitwell, Tom Lehrer, Fascinating Aida and Ian Dury with infectious rhythms, patter lyrics and virtuoso playing, featuring their original songs such as The Arts of Seduction and Hat Doffing and ‘Trouser Browser’.
What: Paul Gunn & WORSTED:
Where: The Verdict, 159 Edward Street, BN2 0JB (opposite The Law Courts & up the hill 30 yards)
When: Thursday May 1
Time: Doors 7pm, show 8.30pm
Price: £10 (£6 Students): Tickets on the door or Telephone: 01273 674847
A woman who breached a noise abatement notice after she allowed rap music and shouting to disturb the neighbours was fined just over £1,000 by Brighton magistrates last week.
Cllr Pete West, chair of environment
Tammie Lee Lindsay, 23, of 67 Langley Crescent, Woodingdean, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the abatement notice after police were called out twice and witnessed booming rap music, shouting and banging of doors during the night and into the early hours.
The neighbour of the end of terrace house first reported a noise nuisance in December 2013 and although the tenant was sent a warning letter by the landlord, neighbours continued to be disturbed in the new year.
Ms Lindsay was fined £130 for each offence, plus £750 costs and £20 victim surcharge (£1,030 in total).
Brighton & Hove’s noise patrol officers served a noise abatement notice on January 17, which was breached three days later. Despite visits from the police and council officers the notice was breached again on January 28 at 1.40am.
When the police visited on January 20 they could hear the thud of bass music as soon as they got out of their car and when they arrived at the house it was so loud the windows and doors vibrated and the officers could feel the vibrations under their feet in the garden. The singer was rapping about how bad his life was. After the police intervened the music was turned down to a reasonable level.
On January 28, there were several people in the house shouting, in particular Ms Lindsay and her sister who were screaming at each other. Despite repeated requests from the police, none of the occupants lowered their voices.
Councillor Pete West, chair of the city’s environment committee, said:“Our officers gave Ms Lindsay every opportunity to be responsible for controlling the noise in the property, offering advice to her on more than one occasion.
“The effect of repeated late night noise on people’s quality of life can be extremely damaging, and this is an area where there are families with children. The council had no option but to take the matter to court on behalf of neighbours.”
Conservatives have criticised the Green and Labour Parties for refusing to back a proposal that would have required officials to rethink the location of the March for England and associated counter-protest on April 27.
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, Leader of the Conservative Group
At last weeks (March 27) Full Council meeting the Conservative Group Leader, Geoffrey Theobald, and Deputy Leader, Dee Simson, tabled a Notice of Motion asking the authorities to reconsider allowing the march and counter-protest to take place on the seafront and city centre, where it does so much damage to local businesses.
Both Green and Labour Groups failed to support the motion and so the march and counter-protest will proceed as originally planned on the seafront causing chaos and damage to many businesses.
Cllr. Theobald said:“I am completely baffled as to why the Green and Labour Parties are not even prepared to ask the authorities to consider a less damaging location for this event. I had an e-mail yesterday from a seafront hotel owner who was in despair about the prospect of once again losing thousands of pounds in takings, as he did last year, as a result of having to close due to the march. There will be thousands of visitors in the city that weekend for the Jaguar Car Rally and the Homes and Gardens Exhibition at the Brighton Centre. What an embarrassment for this city that they will undoubtedly have to witness the ugly scenes that have marred this event in previous years. Frankly I wouldn’t blame them if they decided to go elsewhere.”
Cllr. Simson added:“We tried to get a cross-party consensus on this extremely sensitive issue so it is very unfortunate that the Green and Labour Groups don’t feel it is worth trying to go that extra mile to get this dreadful event moved from our shop window. We have simply been pointing out that the counter-demonstrations just exacerbate the situation and encourage the nationalist marchers to keep coming back every year. If the march were moved to a less high profile location it would take away a lot of the attraction for them and I’m sure they would soon find somewhere else to go.”
Labour claim there was supposed to be a cross-party motion on this but the Greens and Tories couldn’t agree on the wording.
Cllr Gill Mitchell, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, said:“We were disappointed that instead of uniting with the other two political parties on the council to send a strong message that this march is not wanted in the city, the Tories have chosen instead to get political capital from it.
“We are clear that the EDL is not welcome in our city and deplore the disruption to businesses, residents and visitors that their march always brings.”
Saltire Thistle FC wins Gay Football Supporters Nework League Division 1 at first attempt.
Glasgow and the West of Scotland’s LGBT friendly side Saltire Thistle FC were this weekend crowned national champions of the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) League – the world’s only permanent national LGBT football league.
After beating local rivals HotScots FC 5-3 on Saturday, last year’s champions London Falcons needed a win over Yorkshire Terriers at home to be in with a chance of catching Saltire Thistle, they lost 1-0. The result meant that Saltire Thistle FC were champions, becoming the first Scottish team to win the league in its 12-year history.
This is Saltire Thistle’s third title in 3 seasons, winning both the third and second divisions en route to their maiden first division title. Having only been established 4 years ago, it has been a meteoric rise to the top of the GFSN for a team that started out with 10 strangers meeting up for a game of 5-a-side. The club now boasts a membership of over 40 with that number continuing to rise.
Saltire Thistle chairman Iain Sharkey, said: “Today more than usual I am a very proud chairman of Saltire Thistle Football Club. By progressing through the divisions of the GFSN and by winning three consecutive titles our vision and planning has paid off allowing us to become the club we are today. As well as our players, manager, committee and loyal supporters we would not have been as successful as we are without the support of the local LGBT community, in particular our sponsors Underground Bar. Their commitment to Saltire Thistle has been invaluable and I’d like to thank them for their continued support. Our success is only the beginning, the foundations are set to allow us to continue to grow and we are already planning for the future. Today however we can celebrate and enjoy our success as the first Scottish club to win the GFSN league division 1.”
GFSN Spokesperson Simon Smith, added: “It’s great to see Saltire Thistle going from strength to strength, winning the GFSN’s top league and strongly supporting LGBT sport in Scotland. We congratulate them in their progress up the leagues and wish them well in the future.”
In May Saltire Thistle will be marking the 25th Anniversary of the GFSN by participating in the annual GFSN Get together with over 20 other LGBT friendly teams from around the UK. The weekend will also feature a one-off Home Nations Tournament, with members of different clubs representing their country to see who will be crowned champions.
About Saltire Thistle FC:
Saltire Thistle FC were formed in March 2010 and currently have over 25 playing members and over 40 members in total.
Activities kick off with the parade at noon starting at Exeter City Football Ground’s Fountain Centre Car Park. Family friendly, and child inclusive events are also being arranged at Exeter Phoenix.
Also in the shop you can purchase this years wristband for just £5 which gives you the following great deals.
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