Simon Kirby, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven welcomes manifesto committment to provide pardons to men who were convicted of gross indecency but where no crime would have been committed today.
Simon Kirby: Conservative candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven
THE Conservative Manifesto, makes reference to the steps taken by the Government to enhance equality in the UK with, for example, the introduction of same-sex marriage. However, many men both living and who have passed away, have convictions for acts which would today draw no penalty at all. The Manifesto states steps will be taken to provide pardons.
Simon said: ‘The World has moved on in many ways from the outdated attitudes that were reflected in the law, decades ago. I am delighted that the Conservative Party has made clear its commitment to provide pardons in this regard. If returned to Parliament, I will be wholeheartedly supporting this legislation.”
I never imagined I would be sitting here writing about the life and death of my friend Brian Ralph a.k.a. Vera.
IT came as an awful shock receiving a phone call asking for the name of Brian’s next of kin. It was unreal. Vera was dead!
I thought, it can’t be true that the outgoing, larger-than-life, sometimes outrageous pain in the arse and irascible camp old queen who at times drove me round the bend was gone, dead, no… never!
Of course, as I and the many people who shared his life now know it was true.
Brian was found dead in his hotel while on holiday in Hurghada, Egypt on the morning of March 10. He died from a heart attack.
Brian, one of six children was immensely proud of being Brighton born and bred. His father was a rag and bone man and his mother worked for a fish monger.
During his seventy years, Brian worked as an impresario, and was famous for promoting Dorothy Squires’ last show ever at the Brighton Dome on March 17, 1990.
He served on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, HMS Engadine during the Falklands conflict in 1982 and supplied munitions during the first Gulf War.
He promoted cabaret all over the South of England, was a sandwich shop owner, a popular taxi driver and somehow found time to stand as a councillor at local elections for both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. He stood as an Independent at the last local elections in 2010. At different times he also sat on the Brighton Pride committee.
I hadn’t seen him for a number of years when 14 years ago I had a phone call from him asking me if I would write direct and appear in the Adult Panto here in Brighton at the Pavilion Theatre. I thought about it for three seconds before saying yes. The rest as they say is history.
I wrote the first show Carry on Dick Whittington featuring an unknown Miss Jason, the fabulous Phil Star, David Raven, Lola Lasagne, Pooh la May, Paul McCarthy and myself. We played for six performances, this year we played 22 performances firmly establishing the Brian Ralfe Adult Panto as an essential part of the annual Brighton performing arts scene.
You would find Brian most days holding court at Topolinos Restaurant in Hove
Brian had a big heart and raised tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities with the help of his many showbiz friends including June Brown and Chris Ellison who both attended his funeral, Polly Perkins, Laila Morse, Michael Jayston and of course the cast past and present of the Adult Panto.
Brian will be sorely missed by his brothers and sisters Phyllis, Rodney, Alan and Julie, his wider gay family and friends and for us, his panto family the show will go on.
In 2012 he paid an emotional visit back to the Falklands, 30 years after the conflict to remember those who lost their lives serving Queen and country.
Have you got the X factor? Auditions for next series will be held at Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre.
IF you fancy yourself as the new One Direction, Little Mix, Olly Murs or last year’s winner Ben Haenow, now is your chance!
Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton will be holding auditions for the next series of The X Factor on Sunday, May 17 from 11.00am – 5.00pm.
The UK’s favourite singing show will be visiting towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the auditions directly to the public this year. The audition at Churchill Square is one of only two taking place in the South East and the only one taking place in Sussex and Surrey.
Anyone over the age of 16 can go to the mobile audition pod in Churchill Square Shopping Centre and sing for The X Factor casting team. If The X Factor team are impressed with your vocals, you will then be in with a chance of auditioning in front of the X Factor judges, when the judges’ auditions take place in summer.
Auditions are held on a first come, first served basis – so be sure to turn up early to grab a slot!
Simon Cowell
X Factor creator Simon Cowell, said:‘“The X Factor is coming back and, if you think you have the potential to be a world-class star, this is your chance to prove it. You really could be the next pop superstar.”
Kaye Walker, Marketing Director at Churchill Square said:“It’s a great coup for Churchill Square to be able to bring the X Factor team to Brighton. This will be one of only two auditions held in the South East and we can’t wait to see the many talented people who live in this region come and perform to their best ability. Who knows, maybe this year’s winner will be found at Churchill Square!”
For anyone who isn’t able to make it to Churchill Square or any of the other audition cities, you can also send in your own video audition to their website.
For full details on the mobile auditions, click here:
People ‘enter politics’ through many doors. Always interested by this, Christopher says he was galvanised by the campaign to prevent the imposition of a directly-elected Mayor on Hove and Brighton – and by running a nationally resonant campaign to prevent Hove Library being closed down.
Christopher Hawtree: Green Party Parlimentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade
He says:“As somebody who built up a business by dint of using words, I regard this political quest as one of fostering that vital and sometimes scarce human quality of confidence in one’s talent and abilities – upon an Earth where the need to prevent climate change means that we have to encourage diverse talents.
“I hope I am the opposite of Evelyn Waugh’s remark: “politicians are not people who seek power in order to implement policies they think necessary. They are people who seek policies in order to attain power.”
Christopher’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: It is so often heartening that young people are unfazed by LGBT issues, accepting of this as a way of life. Of course, in Hove and Brighton there is likely to be greater tolerance than elsewhere, but one should not be complacent – adolescence, and earlier, is so turbulent a time that understanding and support is as vital as ever.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime: The reporting of Crime, in all its forms, is essential – and it has to be taken seriously. In his 1924 diary Evelyn Waugh described being told “Mr Justice Phillimore was trying a sodomy case and brooded greatly whether his judgement had been right. He went to consult Birkenhead. “Excuse me, my lord, but could you tell me – What do you think one ought to give to a man who allows himself to be buggered?” “Oh, 30s or £2 – anything you happen to have on you.” Very funny, it also illustrates that one understanding prevailed in some levels of society while others were punished. Even the post-war Attlee government did not address homosexual issues. This took decades of brave campaigning, a social rather than political force.
International Aid: Great progress has been made here but the situation in Russia, India and much of Africa is horrifying: imprisonment, the death sentence. Without support for LGBT issues internationally the progress here will not achieve its full effect.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people: I am very pleased that Hove and Brighton Council produced recently a Report on this very issue – and, as it happens, I spoke about this at four Committees in one week. An excellent work, it received widespread support: I should like to see it repeated across the country.
Christopher’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“The NHS needs to be brought back to its founding principles. Crucial is the addressing of the £80 billion PFI debt racked up by the Labour government. To subsume that as .045% of the national debt would reduce repayments and prevent the bankruptcy of some 30 hospitals. We also need to halt TTIP tout court. Otherwise all public services, including the NHS , will be diminished – and support of the Sussex Beacon placed in peril.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
Dan and Adam found love last year while on a research trip (Club Revenge) and turned an eight year friendship into a perfect partnership that sees dreams of making their joint passions into a cottage industry.
HERE to prove that a love for making isn’t only for middle-aged women (they’re looking at you Kirstie Allsopp) knitting groups or the Women’s Institute, they have creatively arranged their bohemian apartment at 11 Rugby Road in Brighton to ‘flip-flop’ as a studio and living space.
Every room is filled to the brim with crafted objects, curio items and projects on the go – be it a 12 inch painting or a driftwood sculpture the boys are happy to come home after a hard days work and get down to business.
From opening their flat in the May and Christmas Artist Open Houses – as part of the Brighton Festivals – Dan and Adam have branched out into textiles and jewelry too.
Adam has a degree in blowing glass and uses his talent to sandwich iridescent diachronic glass (which he heats to 800+ degrees) to make one-off pendants. IN A KILN, IN THE KITCHEN! They make ceramics here too which I can’t help but think of that Ghost pottery scenario. These boys are ambitious and don’t mind getting down and dirty to get what they want!
The climax of Dan and Adams labours has seen them launch their new website 11RugbyRoad.com this year, where you can view their rings and see a pearl necklace or two.
They even do a few tongue in cheek gift cards if your feeling racy.
Favourites include Victorian Shade prints, celebrating some of Ru’s best queens, and Perfect Match marriage cards for Grooms that like Grooms and Brides who like Brides.
Speaking about what is next for the pair, Dan said:“We are looking into being more involved with Brighton Pride this year. Getting the opportunity to make something to help people remember an awesome day would be brilliant! Also I always have my fingers crossed that a pug will one day join me and Adam at 11 Rugby Road!”
If you don’t get a chance to see the pair at their Open House during May, they will be popping up all over Brighton and beyond with their stylised goodies.
Give them a hello on Twitter or Facebook on @11RugbyRoad and keep up to date with what this ambitious duo are doing this summer.
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