tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258732992024-03-14T01:10:46.493+00:00Oliver's Poetry Garret<b>The Life of Ollie of Brighton & Hove</b>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-10719265680908838902023-11-26T16:41:00.624+00:002023-12-29T22:48:51.985+00:0053 Photos<p><b>My life as a keen photographer started some 53 years ago - in 1970. And so it seems apposite to feature 53 of the favourite photographs I have taken over this period of more than half a century.</b></p><p>I have picked out pictures I like for their composition or feel, taking into account various considerations and where possible giving details of when and where they were taken, and, for photography buffs, any information I have about camera, film, aperture, shutter speed and so on. (All images are my copyright.)</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNGPs2My3UexgLsYaCW1g3PVRGpPmrRMDZNzJr_RHft8FaSU16y29noQx6G1vDpNo-Tnv2V7rB054wahVZffasx-2NHt6UWTcb0XpFtVg8ryhubPdSxOhT55ngwl-Sk_RzDeCJ0yXxo_XfcYFIGIS9UVJIwnzXnvNzX95-8e2iu4fVBAcARHd/s1955/01-Nic-with-football-September-1970.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1891" data-original-width="1955" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNGPs2My3UexgLsYaCW1g3PVRGpPmrRMDZNzJr_RHft8FaSU16y29noQx6G1vDpNo-Tnv2V7rB054wahVZffasx-2NHt6UWTcb0XpFtVg8ryhubPdSxOhT55ngwl-Sk_RzDeCJ0yXxo_XfcYFIGIS9UVJIwnzXnvNzX95-8e2iu4fVBAcARHd/w400-h388/01-Nic-with-football-September-1970.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>1. <b>1970. Little Brother. </b>This picture is from the very first film I ever took. I persuaded my mum to help me get a Kodak Instamatic 25 camera through an offer on the back of a cereal packet. I recall excitedly collecting the tokens and the delight I felt when this very simple camera arrived. The Instamatic 25 had two settings, sunny or cloudy, which presumably changed the shutter speed from slow to even slower. It had a small, wide-angle lens and was clunky to use. I was upset that quite a few of this debut film came out blurred. I really had no idea what I was doing and my dear parents, who did not own a camera, had no tips to give me. My first film was a 20-exposure Kodak 126 cartridge black and white negative film. This picture, of my younger brother Nic in a woolly hat with a football, was the seventh picture I took. It is the back garden of our home in Hurst Lane, Cumnor, Oxfordshire. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqraO6jNnOp3fxjZ_8FTnunUtRkDUhNgJAeUElaSdI5LlRcU90vdeY8Gz8hFldB7gSfpQOzMYc3EO-SvoF7pxNKURu5Cv46-Hi1TXB1oqnlFzDEPidiKv3Vu32DdRcCrGVpzogUpsTbvvSWqMjnWkw7KHTQ71xEnWgduLZLjk2VdHOJpFjRkT/s1844/02-Nic-on-bicycle-1971.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="1786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqraO6jNnOp3fxjZ_8FTnunUtRkDUhNgJAeUElaSdI5LlRcU90vdeY8Gz8hFldB7gSfpQOzMYc3EO-SvoF7pxNKURu5Cv46-Hi1TXB1oqnlFzDEPidiKv3Vu32DdRcCrGVpzogUpsTbvvSWqMjnWkw7KHTQ71xEnWgduLZLjk2VdHOJpFjRkT/w388-h400/02-Nic-on-bicycle-1971.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>2. 1<b>971. First Bike. </b>Nic on his first bicycle, doing a hand signal to turn right. I assume he was preparing for a cycling proficiency test of some sort. I think I took it in the front garden of our house in Hurst Lane, Cumnor, Oxfordshire. The focus is not very sharp. I used my Kodak Instamatic 25, probably on sunny setting. The film was a 20-exposure Kodak 126 black and white cartridge. This picture was the third image on the film. In 1971, I also completed a school project entitled <i>Photography My Hobby</i>. It contained photographs, drawings of cameras and sections on cameras, how they work and what to watch out for when you take a photograph. In Diagram B of the project, I drew and wrote about my Kodak Instamatic 25 camera: "It has 6 instruments : the <b>film wind </b>is to turn on to the next photograph, the accessory shoe is to put a FLASH CUBE on for indoor pictures, the <b>viewfinder </b>is to look at the thing you are photographing, the lens to let in light when necessary and of course the shutter release. When you are ready, click, you have taken one of your photographs."<b> </b><p></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvATlMPsbjw4-9hY_8xilSf0dvvXRFuNc28eEigpM9WMcX-AH4vDiyfUTfeKT_TIBQ1KR-9-VDm5x5gbGNhv6p_1RBbbf3BITMDoHEZSxi308FaWI1IEc-NumsSacB17mpGxuYp0cnOCvME8xtfaKTtyvFDCGqussV8b1PeXCeGaBUw5ahXth/s1588/03-recreation-ground.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="1588" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvATlMPsbjw4-9hY_8xilSf0dvvXRFuNc28eEigpM9WMcX-AH4vDiyfUTfeKT_TIBQ1KR-9-VDm5x5gbGNhv6p_1RBbbf3BITMDoHEZSxi308FaWI1IEc-NumsSacB17mpGxuYp0cnOCvME8xtfaKTtyvFDCGqussV8b1PeXCeGaBUw5ahXth/w400-h380/03-recreation-ground.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>3. <b>1972. The Heath. </b>Even in the early days I wanted to capture what I perceived as being beautiful - such as the heathland beside the recreation ground at the end of our road in Broadstone. This is not a great shot but I still recall wanting to photograph the pine tree, the solo house in the distance and the lovely terrain in the sunshine that day. The picture is a bit blurry and was taken with my Kodak Instamatic 25, presumably on sunny setting, on black and white Kodak 126 cartridge negative film. It was the first photograph on the film.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PlCiWMX5TrLTFo_Zhr6KVzl9wkitCL0P2C89OPc8QWbD5b5PZNwyf3eKacwC8ylGQdiq31sUmOHgOZIp9sY_8yIAGtQJbwq9SnowCsxsKoF2vxVocD_Ydbf_Vr3xWW_bC76Ua6hI7kUUwnJ2_8Ydxs-E-sP9Crh4DflUzXjfwt1oQb4CJN1a/s2144/04-Dad-catching-ball-1973.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2144" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PlCiWMX5TrLTFo_Zhr6KVzl9wkitCL0P2C89OPc8QWbD5b5PZNwyf3eKacwC8ylGQdiq31sUmOHgOZIp9sY_8yIAGtQJbwq9SnowCsxsKoF2vxVocD_Ydbf_Vr3xWW_bC76Ua6hI7kUUwnJ2_8Ydxs-E-sP9Crh4DflUzXjfwt1oQb4CJN1a/w400-h391/04-Dad-catching-ball-1973.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />4.<b> 1973. Good Catch. </b>My dad, the late Robin Wilson, catching a ball in the back garden of our then house in Charborough Road, Broadstone, Poole, Dorset. I recall being pleased the picture was not more blurred, because it was taken with my basic Kodak Instamatic 25, which must have had slow shutter speeds. I used a 12-exposure Kodak 126 cartridge colour negative film. I believe I took it in September 1973. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. <b>1974. Three Wheeler. </b>A rather strange image from a year in which I only took 12 photographs, on a 12-exposure Kodak 126 cartridge using my Kodak Instamatic 25 camera. I noted at the time that I took this picture of a three-wheeled car, at Sandbanks, Poole, although I cannot remember the exact location. It is beside a cafe. The car is an odd little vehicle, possibly Eastern European. It would have been a rare sight. Sadly, the print has not survived so I have taken this image, the last one I took in 1974, from the colour negative, partly explaining its poor quality. It's not great but I find it interesting - like a fuzzy peek into a forgotten, bygone era. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7IImBZNGdRsTq89C_x7oycMOrx0qCb7U3DgXs6mcvlmW-eWFGS6UBjTkHRKKxRqWLDFU8Ue5Q7DE63J2inFu9yCg2p9CpuyqUWxuJmphlB5Skx5ZecYqTjF0gQWYUkReArIDw0IE5nnxsow0YDCoo_ffeWrKaEZJJDTlpQlMTom0a9tjC6WF/s905/Three-wheeled%20car-1974-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="905" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7IImBZNGdRsTq89C_x7oycMOrx0qCb7U3DgXs6mcvlmW-eWFGS6UBjTkHRKKxRqWLDFU8Ue5Q7DE63J2inFu9yCg2p9CpuyqUWxuJmphlB5Skx5ZecYqTjF0gQWYUkReArIDw0IE5nnxsow0YDCoo_ffeWrKaEZJJDTlpQlMTom0a9tjC6WF/w400-h375/Three-wheeled%20car-1974-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3xePk9zV-6Mg5DO91bVv-udz4A2v5a3mUgZFclq4j1ABkVMoIkmzbcN3ImUb6R7gcP0WxcuszpyoSd6xJ6n5pTqMHySPLeFWWVujzjA7QDNAM4gYRbMUElK6ceG4LRBOS-2vDb8jBrE_PsLPIvCAw6E7EQ2yZl1-ya7HUYSiVU9Lj-gsa2G6/s3013/Beating-The-Bounds-Poole-1975-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="3013" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3xePk9zV-6Mg5DO91bVv-udz4A2v5a3mUgZFclq4j1ABkVMoIkmzbcN3ImUb6R7gcP0WxcuszpyoSd6xJ6n5pTqMHySPLeFWWVujzjA7QDNAM4gYRbMUElK6ceG4LRBOS-2vDb8jBrE_PsLPIvCAw6E7EQ2yZl1-ya7HUYSiVU9Lj-gsa2G6/w640-h438/Beating-The-Bounds-Poole-1975-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>6. <b>1975. Beating The Bounds. </b>My photography took a massive step forward in 1975 when I saved enough Green Shield Stamps to buy a Halina 3000 camera from the Green Shield Stamp shop in Christchurch, Bournemouth. Although it would be considered basic now, I could not believe my good fortune in taking possession of what I considered to be "a proper camera". The Halina 3000 featured shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/250 of a second plus B (for long exposures, which I never used), apertures from f/2.8 to f/16 and a 45mm, 1:2.8 lens. This picture was on the first film that I took with my new camera and also the first on 35mm film. I used Orwo colour transparency film (speed unknown), which I am sure I bought for its cheapness and the fact the processing was included in the purchase price. Incidentally, it wasn't my first foray into slides - my previous film had been a 126 cartridge Kodachrome colour transparency one on which I had recorded a school trip in 1975 to Stonehenge, using my faithful Kodak Instamatic 25. This picture, however, is of the Beating of the Bounds - an old tradition of the town's folk and fishermen sailing round the harbour boundary in Poole in Dorset before returning to Poole Quay for some additional alcoholic drinks. I remember being in the crush of the crowd, feeling and loving the excitement and sheer joy of the event. I believe that comes across in this photograph. That day I felt like a real photographer!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpsPgbUyVl2oGttIK-fJpzjpDz1zCR0d8M0fNXNu1EG6eZyh_rnzmgVglmsSUy3msWoxdADfBC5acyXqOHX1frlvS9V4JpIFiKLa_4z9FO24ZdJ-Qx_LFMW5Vq944R1agNZZav9OI2IQDM0tT_L0GfW6d5-dQSD4muT7PsGeDG7bPTjvht2rU/s1935/Edgar-and-Nic-1976.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1935" data-original-width="1300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpsPgbUyVl2oGttIK-fJpzjpDz1zCR0d8M0fNXNu1EG6eZyh_rnzmgVglmsSUy3msWoxdADfBC5acyXqOHX1frlvS9V4JpIFiKLa_4z9FO24ZdJ-Qx_LFMW5Vq944R1agNZZav9OI2IQDM0tT_L0GfW6d5-dQSD4muT7PsGeDG7bPTjvht2rU/w269-h400/Edgar-and-Nic-1976.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>7. <b>1976. Rembrandt Strasse. </b>This was taken at Easter 1976 in Bremen, West Germany, on the balcony of 11a Rembrandt Strasse, the home of our German grandmother. It is of my brothers Edgar and Nic, looking very happy. I was always trying to capture more than one thing in a photograph. I wanted a picture of my older brother and younger brother but also one of the houses and foliage behind which I found appealing. It was taken on my Halina 3000 camera on 35mm colour transparency Kodachrome film, probably 25ASA (otherwise, 64ASA) - slow film. It is slightly blurry but doesn't suffer for that, in my view. It was the 15th picure on a 20-exposure film, although I squeezed 21 pictures out of it. <b> </b><br /><div><br /><div>8. <b>1977. The Bench. </b>It was in this year that I started processing my own films and printing, developing and fixing my own prints, in the school darkroom at Poole Grammar School. As a member of the Photographic Society I was allowed to book the surprisingly well-equipped darkroom. I jumped at the chance. I felt a calling to darkroom work - and also wanted to avoid the bullies at lunchtimes! In truth, I was pretty terrible at developing and processing. Trying to develop a film, I would end up double-loading the film on the spool, destroying most of the negatives. For instance on this film, which was 125ASA 35mm black and white Ilford FP4, I ruined 24 out of the 36 pictures on the negatives during developing. Even some of the survivors were badly blemished. Nevertheless, I love this picture of an empty bench at Evening Hill, Poole, Dorset, which was one of my first prints (my dad had not been pleased when I took a bus to Westbourne to buy the photographic paper that I used). It was taken with my Halina 3000 camera. I don't know why I like this picture so much. I suppose it speaks to me of an almost lost time when standing on a hill and enjoying a sunset was magical to me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SHg_V5u1VwrmMOENcoNdszEZvQ3BUQpzzZ_H-_SmRur-RwxjjCRN0iA8IsVbuwORUmJVtfwItMF86-vsLQGndIkKC_D-sZ2TRMSskrki6HEcKuuTQrlwSTyUFkRQU4XrG1OEq-ulchd6c-Sl3q6R1bcOmIgt6OgoxXan-GyS8YKH4IlETRnY/s2356/Bench-at-Evening-Hill-Poole-1977-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2356" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SHg_V5u1VwrmMOENcoNdszEZvQ3BUQpzzZ_H-_SmRur-RwxjjCRN0iA8IsVbuwORUmJVtfwItMF86-vsLQGndIkKC_D-sZ2TRMSskrki6HEcKuuTQrlwSTyUFkRQU4XrG1OEq-ulchd6c-Sl3q6R1bcOmIgt6OgoxXan-GyS8YKH4IlETRnY/w640-h368/Bench-at-Evening-Hill-Poole-1977-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopexuFjYBD6Ui7Ruq9a6qoPUXXA9bIEz9RAh0VC3mr-OJ_XQF_PBKqUoF2J1jY6-XKyBdPeWx4-TDLW2qI4XPegfIiaeKObpAQNWTrbd8f1br9WXyMu2GCz8yfcYdbe1qG_atklEPTmdRfUReK8-QZ94uoGaUdqGUFj0WqbUfuhc6m1XrdIJB/s1294/Wind-break-1978.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1294" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopexuFjYBD6Ui7Ruq9a6qoPUXXA9bIEz9RAh0VC3mr-OJ_XQF_PBKqUoF2J1jY6-XKyBdPeWx4-TDLW2qI4XPegfIiaeKObpAQNWTrbd8f1br9WXyMu2GCz8yfcYdbe1qG_atklEPTmdRfUReK8-QZ94uoGaUdqGUFj0WqbUfuhc6m1XrdIJB/w400-h336/Wind-break-1978.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>9. <b>1978. Sandbanks Windbreak. </b>I took only two films in 1978 - both sets of transparencies. There is an interesting picture of a sailing boat in collision with the Sandbanks chain ferry, with a motor launch struggling to rescue it, but I have chosen this one of my parents behind our windbreak. One doesn't see windbreaks a great deal on beaches these days but in the 1970s your windbreak was essential piece of beach equipment, not only for protecting you from the wind but also for changing in privacy. It was taken with my Halina 3000 camera on 35mm colour slide film of unknown make. I think I must have bought the film cheaply from an Amateur Photographer advertisement and processed it myself with the help of a friend of my older brother. I certainly put it into the mounting myself (not very well!) It was taken at Sandbanks beach, Poole, a favourite spot of the Wilson family in the late afternoons and early evenings during the glorious summer months. I have cropped the picture a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBpYBQKMfn0ip0yAxsnT5QBy_fp4dYwqrmzF7XimJtYwbAutI0U40I4nfyxKmgNcpztqjNR1LAeNfc8CgQuXLq_QJ8UXYVX6Nc-c125RtOyGoDQXA3zUlx5h6ui6pKL1nL4HrCIaiK3fSCweZfih9-qgGi6Or8cvbkbWW1pUiw0-JTq4xm6DK/s2224/Osterwieser-Bremen-1979-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2224" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBpYBQKMfn0ip0yAxsnT5QBy_fp4dYwqrmzF7XimJtYwbAutI0U40I4nfyxKmgNcpztqjNR1LAeNfc8CgQuXLq_QJ8UXYVX6Nc-c125RtOyGoDQXA3zUlx5h6ui6pKL1nL4HrCIaiK3fSCweZfih9-qgGi6Or8cvbkbWW1pUiw0-JTq4xm6DK/w640-h430/Osterwieser-Bremen-1979-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>10. <b>1979. Bremen Osterwiese. </b>Visiting the Osterwiese (the Easter Fair) in Bremen, West Germany, was a highlight of our annual holidays. Although we were not allowed by our parents to go on many of the rides, we enjoyed the excitement and atmosphere of the massive fairground, built in the car park of the city's sports stadium, the Stadthalle. I have chosen this picture - taken on Fuji slide film - because it captures the spirit of the Osterwiese: the bustling stalls, a thrilling ride, the throng of people in the shadow of the iconic Stadthalle. I also like the way that one man is walking towards the cameras while almost everyone else is walking away from it. It was taken with my Halina 3000 camera, probably at 1/250 second, and was the 11th picture on a 36-exposure slide film out of which I squeezed 37 photos. That concludes the 1970s - a decade in which I took 33 films - 12 of them black and white. Colour transparency was my preferred medium. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WsRnZqfZlva2Hz3S6nzsQMZm9keGUF8L8h5avj2fhbPfgyAkM6dNq7Lo9ktAkaU0qmgBA_AtGYahMFHbFzHa-yuCZsu2wLXiP3qSbRzqHlch78VkVuC6dAte27IsNJtysgg2SLeiX8Ad9Mpw8ovxHz7Kjq5791S0lN2TxYS-ssocZSlJaF8W/s2028/Climber-1980-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="1282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WsRnZqfZlva2Hz3S6nzsQMZm9keGUF8L8h5avj2fhbPfgyAkM6dNq7Lo9ktAkaU0qmgBA_AtGYahMFHbFzHa-yuCZsu2wLXiP3qSbRzqHlch78VkVuC6dAte27IsNJtysgg2SLeiX8Ad9Mpw8ovxHz7Kjq5791S0lN2TxYS-ssocZSlJaF8W/w405-h640/Climber-1980-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="405" /></a></div>11. <b>1980. Student Climber. </b>At the Freshers' Fair at Hull University, I had joined the Mountaineering Society and embarked on the first trip of the academic year, to the Lake District. I don't recall taking this picture or the boy in it but I do find it slightly disturbing. He seems boggle-eyed and blurriness contributes to its weird nature. Unusually, I took this picture on black and white transparency film, made by Agfa-Gevaert, probably 200ASA Agfa Scala 200x. This was the fourth slide from the film of the 30 that have survived. Looking at other pictures, I can see we were a long way up at the time, and it strikes me I must also have been climbing to have taken the picture - which probably means I took it one-handed! The camera was my new Nikon EM, a Single Lens Reflex camera with a standard Series E 35mm 1:2.5 lens. It was my first acquisition when I received my student grant and a big step up from the Halina 3000. It is an automatic with shutter speeds up to 1/1000th of a second and boasted an aperture range from f/2.5 to f/22. I loved it and still use it to this day. I wonder what happened to the boy in the photograph. Was he scared at the time or just pulling a face at the camera?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnB0mK_YKkcafrKj4GCSWrfPmH1Zkr86aVgBmKAieAXJQS4xXCwAASHpZEXRYvsMWqXRpLg58GekrDzia995rg8YEB7tK2B6H86lWmoX-6GRBXXfVcMG9SqFkHnM-3fGXEBhxnqx-FEu-6xjBgmlFTGuyHNW8DgM4kzklOTFs6UznpfH7fe-X/s2134/Humber%20Ferry-1981-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2134" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnB0mK_YKkcafrKj4GCSWrfPmH1Zkr86aVgBmKAieAXJQS4xXCwAASHpZEXRYvsMWqXRpLg58GekrDzia995rg8YEB7tK2B6H86lWmoX-6GRBXXfVcMG9SqFkHnM-3fGXEBhxnqx-FEu-6xjBgmlFTGuyHNW8DgM4kzklOTFs6UznpfH7fe-X/w640-h413/Humber%20Ferry-1981-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>12. <b>1981. Humber Ferry. </b>This photograph is special to me for various reasons. I was born in Scunthorpe and my parents told me they had taken me to Hull on the Barton-on-Humber Ferry when I was a baby. So, when I was in my first year at the University of Hull, one winter's afternoon I cycled from my hall of residence in Cottingham to Hull Pierhead to take the Humber Ferry to Barton. It was still running because the Humber Bridge was not quite complete (it opened a few months later in June 1981, at which juncture the Fferry retired). I recall the day I sailed on her was bitterly cold, light and dark. At Barton, I took some photographs of a chapel and returned to Hull. It was getting late. I love this picture of the ferry arriving at Hull Pierhead. I used inexpensive transparency film which I processed and mounted myself. I like it because the clouds are very vivid and the sea and darkened ferry are just as I remember them. I used my Nikon EM with its 35mm f/2.5 lens. Looking through my 1981 pictures, they were mainly slides and I took quite a lot of good, interesting photographs of life as a student at Hull University. An exciting time for me!<b> </b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZoYZU70cG7LMxGht7GnuKJw7F5WrTngzILYdliEXzOBHMGS3Y4m6Sx3FQWhyphenhyphenKyv9FrNI5If7XAyvyDz6098tApwoxlAi6FAGm6K0eP4fWX9aSXR9l3ma3HqHLeBiEHTUwnh_SzPmoW12o6X7O1iw2QkZePgTNRyrXSeJsXAQR3HI9PAUDsjJ/s2281/Punch%20'n'%20Judy%20Man.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="2281" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZoYZU70cG7LMxGht7GnuKJw7F5WrTngzILYdliEXzOBHMGS3Y4m6Sx3FQWhyphenhyphenKyv9FrNI5If7XAyvyDz6098tApwoxlAi6FAGm6K0eP4fWX9aSXR9l3ma3HqHLeBiEHTUwnh_SzPmoW12o6X7O1iw2QkZePgTNRyrXSeJsXAQR3HI9PAUDsjJ/w640-h470/Punch%20'n'%20Judy%20Man.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>13. <b>1982. Punch 'n' Judy Man. </b>Visiting London with a friend, I captured this delightful sight at the Piazza, Covent Garden. I love the fascination the children had for the Punch 'n' Judy Man's show and the way he had moved it outside of the traditional stripy tent. I took the picture on Kodak colour negative film (probably 200ASA) with my Nikon EM with its 35mm standard lens.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahQTi02zFCR_MA7fEjvD_EMHqcqIOnycH6cRbEr9SMzJfQ8ERr6F0JsLFPIJtAJZnpgnabvEc3h5OJGItpxNqUBXsc15-YuRl0NqpvPJPEM0r2NTM-JwxLMT4xFjPml3zi6nIGWnLWbYmYTJEyg9alLmz9W9BgMqe2xhXY83HLrOjeDa08BqH/s2548/Squat-Kreutsburg-West%20Berlin-1982-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2548" data-original-width="1732" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahQTi02zFCR_MA7fEjvD_EMHqcqIOnycH6cRbEr9SMzJfQ8ERr6F0JsLFPIJtAJZnpgnabvEc3h5OJGItpxNqUBXsc15-YuRl0NqpvPJPEM0r2NTM-JwxLMT4xFjPml3zi6nIGWnLWbYmYTJEyg9alLmz9W9BgMqe2xhXY83HLrOjeDa08BqH/w437-h640/Squat-Kreutsburg-West%20Berlin-1982-Copyright-Ollie-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="437" /></a></div>14. <b>1983. Berlin Squat. </b>In the summer of 1983, I went hitch-hiking in Holland and Germany, taking in West Berlin. This picture is of a squat in Kreuzberg, very near to the Berlin Wall. I recall it was quite scary hitching through communist East Germany, particularly with a passport that showed me as a 10-year-old boy! In West Berlin, I slept rough in a playground and hurt my arm. Still, I found it exhilarating and I particularly liked Kreuzberg squats like this one which overlooked the Berlin Wall. The spirited graffiti and old, battered cars add so much to the shot. I used colour negative "Kodak Safety Film 5075" and my Nikon EM with its 35mm standard lens.</div><div><br /></div><div>15. <b>1984. Party Sleeper. </b>The young reporters of the Hull Daily Mail threw some pretty wild and drunken house parties. This picture is of a reveller mate who crashed out after one party and probably awoke with the mother of all hangovers. This was my first foray into using high-speed film. I splashed out on a roll of Fuji colour negative 1,600ASA stock, and used my usual Nikon EM and standard 35mm f/2.5 lens.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MkL1Gs7bumkRq65NsFUfvFZ4EAxxMdN6_Acd6BLZjwaOSZuDSgL939Z59joIRsQ4_QuJ28UM3U_McqV5-aL8cpUvGbb5aOtuB4vmexYYrnggHfT-_AS9gi8JxXc0Cgh0-LhjTlA4mlb9UDVlWjrIthF-9-TC2liARkjRxL1zzVf1Uq5wGKbt/s2008/Sleeper-1984.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="2008" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MkL1Gs7bumkRq65NsFUfvFZ4EAxxMdN6_Acd6BLZjwaOSZuDSgL939Z59joIRsQ4_QuJ28UM3U_McqV5-aL8cpUvGbb5aOtuB4vmexYYrnggHfT-_AS9gi8JxXc0Cgh0-LhjTlA4mlb9UDVlWjrIthF-9-TC2liARkjRxL1zzVf1Uq5wGKbt/w640-h408/Sleeper-1984.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>16. <b>1985.</b> <b>Last Night at the Hull Zoological. </b>The famous Zoological pub, at the top of Beverley Road, was being demolished to make way for a new Hull Daily Mail building. I loved that pub, which had been there as the Zoological since the 1840s and as a public house under other names since at least 1815, and wanted to capture its sad demise. Unsurprisingly, the Zoological was packed on its last ever night (2 March 1985) and I took quite a few pictures of my friends from the newspaper and some pub regulars, but I particularly liked this photograph of the barmaids. They were rushed off their feet that night which, of course, ended with a lock-in. I used 1,600ASA Fuji film and my Nikon EM with its standard 35mm f/2.5<b> </b>lens. I still hadn't found the money to buy any other lenses.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQNec2tSbMcLzFrmlZatSwSUP-X9aztRoJKndF4lB7LoV1nGeplbic091va8OGGFKNIje_K91bQfZOfzv5BUHG0YL6i6-VcFiWic9YCeHDXPdDNIz53EXCj0nKUHsOn21LeAHcA5VDCvEMuwfnKC711eyvS2owgXOasXYoMIRTDyW2sEqZ1Zh/s2512/Last%20Night%20at%20the%20Zoological%20Hull%201985%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1770" data-original-width="2512" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQNec2tSbMcLzFrmlZatSwSUP-X9aztRoJKndF4lB7LoV1nGeplbic091va8OGGFKNIje_K91bQfZOfzv5BUHG0YL6i6-VcFiWic9YCeHDXPdDNIz53EXCj0nKUHsOn21LeAHcA5VDCvEMuwfnKC711eyvS2owgXOasXYoMIRTDyW2sEqZ1Zh/w640-h450/Last%20Night%20at%20the%20Zoological%20Hull%201985%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rd9wZeD5kzyffaxauY3aoz1YzfGIS4BhpgFmt34zr0KofroG2RQkPJwiE_y3wUEnrsTreUTy12706X3UEGsr4TVBVh18wULJkEZ00AJLPlSQLNEUAs-xwvLQB_r4yB-AlNQMrUH8mXTtjzoFYUCLUjqdpiBGT3I5dFQixCyz5tHHUnoDSjvB/s2677/Young%20Love.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="2677" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rd9wZeD5kzyffaxauY3aoz1YzfGIS4BhpgFmt34zr0KofroG2RQkPJwiE_y3wUEnrsTreUTy12706X3UEGsr4TVBVh18wULJkEZ00AJLPlSQLNEUAs-xwvLQB_r4yB-AlNQMrUH8mXTtjzoFYUCLUjqdpiBGT3I5dFQixCyz5tHHUnoDSjvB/w640-h453/Young%20Love.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>17. <b>1986. Young Love. </b>As a reporter at the Hull Daily Mail I was asked to cover a week-long charity sailing trip, from Hull to Great Yarmouth, with a group of young people from Hull, on a 75 -foot-long yacht. I jumped at the chance. One young man on board stood out. He was charming and funny - and the girls loved him, as you can see from this portrait that he invited me to take. I have fond memories of that trip, although I was asked to be a crew member on account of a yachtsman not turning up. I recall having to get out of my berth at 4am to do a four-hour watch in freezing, foggy conditions in the North Sea. I enjoyed it though. For this picture, I used 400ASA Fuji colour negative film, and my trusty Nikon EM with 35mm lens.<div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28-BV1vrFU4LCa4StLbCGKmlD6WFMfZooDmIEsMDqwqQPMtadh2so0NwRR06Uf18jDXqW9q5I-QaRPAdX8XC-Hsyb6UIDFdQUiaIvAtgNZHAMMAq6QSSb9Wh8GGavumMhSMU_32ekgOTerQAXG460krb1RjzvuyTVRuR6cLbtpp4s6oUoh0p_/s1876/Coventrian%20Celebrating%201987%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="1509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28-BV1vrFU4LCa4StLbCGKmlD6WFMfZooDmIEsMDqwqQPMtadh2so0NwRR06Uf18jDXqW9q5I-QaRPAdX8XC-Hsyb6UIDFdQUiaIvAtgNZHAMMAq6QSSb9Wh8GGavumMhSMU_32ekgOTerQAXG460krb1RjzvuyTVRuR6cLbtpp4s6oUoh0p_/w514-h640/Coventrian%20Celebrating%201987%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="514" /></a></div>18. <b>1987. Sky Blue Heaven. </b>When Coventry City Football Club won the FA Cup in May 1987, the whole city united in a spontaneous street party. I took quite a lot of pictures that day, but I particularly like this one because it reflects the multi-culturalism of Coventry and the mutual joy felt by all on that great occasion. I used Fuji colour negative 400ASA film and my Nikon EM with 35mm lens.</div><div><br /></div><div>19. <b>1988. Two Pints of Guinness. </b>Working for the Coventry Evening Telegraph in the late 1980s, I wrote the Street Talk pop column, and my dear friend Jason Tilley took the photographs for it. This is a picture I snatched of Jason emerging into the garden of a Coventry pub (I believe it is the Black Horse, Spon End - sadly later demolished) with two pints of Guinness for us. I used his camera, a Nikon FM which he had left with me, and whatever black and white negative film he had in it. Jason, a great photographer who went on to do brilliant work in India as well as amazing pop concert photography, processed and printed the picture. I like his impish smile when he realised I was about to snatch his picture, while he maintains his concentration on not spilling a drop of our Guinness. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCNCeng7z3YDTwqxlvrUDSQGz3ryQulHR9DClpDEmxawfhVhPX4VBQc0SPP_3GBIJoOUlrqcUcd_DAlEv2b6Jx1kp2vimqCc3l2E80ZDeG9NXhDHwazMe7p3b1dLsNp2YvFPabwcrohcH1y9pssN-4ZHtgtb-H2Pcvxr4Q5OlQz2C_az8-0up/s1954/Jason-Coventry-1988.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="1954" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCNCeng7z3YDTwqxlvrUDSQGz3ryQulHR9DClpDEmxawfhVhPX4VBQc0SPP_3GBIJoOUlrqcUcd_DAlEv2b6Jx1kp2vimqCc3l2E80ZDeG9NXhDHwazMe7p3b1dLsNp2YvFPabwcrohcH1y9pssN-4ZHtgtb-H2Pcvxr4Q5OlQz2C_az8-0up/w640-h576/Jason-Coventry-1988.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>20. <b>1989. Doggy Island. </b>On holiday on the idyllic island of Levanzo, Sicily, I came across this lovely dog. He would hang around on the harbour wall, glancing back at you as if to say: "Come on! Follow me! I want to show you something." He was brilliant at it - like an unpaid tourist guide. I took the picture with an Olympus AF-1 - a sureshot camera with an automatic film winder. I liked using this camera, although, with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that with many of the images I took with it, the automatic flash didn't help! No such problem with this picture, however, which was taken in bright sunlight, on colour negative film.<div><br /></div><div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo3Cc_uz50xt44uMvKJJfUQuGXiXT-d0w3-itUNCm_0NH6sVSdi6Np54WsjE2QbuqwSTzK7QI13XTCdKlsUv92QtSfgOrY-1k-sx9sEDrDgcrJ3Iu_VJXAxWvzFcBEaldI2UP9mUZsKzcmsogqiZF2DkF3SNJAqPt2fPAss5LUk7g9BGYKWaP/s2317/Doggy%20Island%201989.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="2317" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo3Cc_uz50xt44uMvKJJfUQuGXiXT-d0w3-itUNCm_0NH6sVSdi6Np54WsjE2QbuqwSTzK7QI13XTCdKlsUv92QtSfgOrY-1k-sx9sEDrDgcrJ3Iu_VJXAxWvzFcBEaldI2UP9mUZsKzcmsogqiZF2DkF3SNJAqPt2fPAss5LUk7g9BGYKWaP/w640-h406/Doggy%20Island%201989.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rPLssT1BpRFVxmmt4V10HTDKpciUEgoEJaI0inhf8rQgc3FTiurkJtbci-rCQcmVj7Pn-3V3VC8uVoqslORrMM200uagS9tngBmAbrvD6_gp0t_LK8674_Eqbc80WCuvu0GRY8x3DyfmkFCiuppCGiS2lGbS-fQhqs32lUIgaAQvgkWyhxz8/s770/Belinda-1990.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rPLssT1BpRFVxmmt4V10HTDKpciUEgoEJaI0inhf8rQgc3FTiurkJtbci-rCQcmVj7Pn-3V3VC8uVoqslORrMM200uagS9tngBmAbrvD6_gp0t_LK8674_Eqbc80WCuvu0GRY8x3DyfmkFCiuppCGiS2lGbS-fQhqs32lUIgaAQvgkWyhxz8/w273-h400/Belinda-1990.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>21. <b>1990. Sunlit Girl. </b>This year is a bit lean for my pictures as many are lost or otherwise unavailable. However, I like this one of my university friend Belinda basking in strong sunlight from behind her, into which she seems to melt. She looks so joyful. I took it with my Olympus AF-1 camera using colour negative film but prefer it in black and white.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppLKZNVc4shFz9WzELOYmS88yhVsSOjS4cO8zT20cinZ0vSfKsuby4jx_HKRSrJy2Zo_Q6GRrQWjAHYRuPkWVkRnhYl33Hwoan6OSYiOFwiHcrfSBUJCcmYPNnqz2txh2NpKKFxD-a1nOaSt2ts6xsY4XW0MZb6BT2D8DaMq_c2VhPSbSnQoS/s2638/Hungary-1991-Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2638" data-original-width="1722" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppLKZNVc4shFz9WzELOYmS88yhVsSOjS4cO8zT20cinZ0vSfKsuby4jx_HKRSrJy2Zo_Q6GRrQWjAHYRuPkWVkRnhYl33Hwoan6OSYiOFwiHcrfSBUJCcmYPNnqz2txh2NpKKFxD-a1nOaSt2ts6xsY4XW0MZb6BT2D8DaMq_c2VhPSbSnQoS/w418-h640/Hungary-1991-Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>22. <b>1991. Budapest Decay. </b>I visited Budapest, Hungary, to write a travel article and found much to like about it - friendly people, punk clubs and great bath houses. However, the air was hugely polluted and many of the buildings were falling apart after decades of neglect under communism. This was a typical scene, featuring a couple of super-polluting Trabants and a block of flats that has seen better days. I used my Olympus AF-1 camera and colour negative film, although I like it in this black and white version.</div><div><br /></div><div>23. <b>1992. Red Snow. </b>I love it when something goes wrong in photography and as a result you get an interesting effect. Getting more photos than you are supposed to out of a roll has always been an interest of mine. Sometimes it leads to a partially exposed first picture - as with this gloriously red, yellow and orange photograph of a snowy day on Clissold Crescent, London N16. I used colour negative film and my Nikon EM with 35mm standard lens.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyQZd6UeUKsoJilYkBTGSPbeiz8Yuz8RHsmxnlE_xKh81U4rSZKhQQQPmKjUf2t92kGEYTr729doW-NJVIb1hBzYRmBo0Wz54Aw9ALGMHirmhYf1X-1eDJ9XS0siN6SW9mVV4STguIFe4RcmGzPA681gW4tQyn07GjQkhUv910wY2BlfJmPeQ/s2638/Hungary-1991-Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR83FKr32GkrNZzTiyQ2AxzHftPNFQmOKjl-ojOf7pmTw5hVnistxLom56bOfFSUDKvsqaVWhtrQCqQvyZvxWD_ybdqrzBeznCPeVxdLrIA3SSzzsMQ92iPg9nvQF6AKOyE9vF6pxzto7aGsPbTZxGNWpKvSeG8oqCP5IVil-N0W8UTn3oupYd/s2242/Clissold%20Crescent%20in%20Snow%201992.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2242" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR83FKr32GkrNZzTiyQ2AxzHftPNFQmOKjl-ojOf7pmTw5hVnistxLom56bOfFSUDKvsqaVWhtrQCqQvyZvxWD_ybdqrzBeznCPeVxdLrIA3SSzzsMQ92iPg9nvQF6AKOyE9vF6pxzto7aGsPbTZxGNWpKvSeG8oqCP5IVil-N0W8UTn3oupYd/w640-h429/Clissold%20Crescent%20in%20Snow%201992.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>24. <b>1993. Nellies. </b>The White Horse Inn, in Beverley, East Yorkshire, is a gas-lit 16th Century public house known to all as Nellies. I always found it very atmospheric and great for low-light photography, in which I was developing a keen interest. This picture is of a university mate having a pint of ale, and was taken on black and white film with my Nikon EM with 35mm lens.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-G924HsS6Jf5lvyI_x1LZpLabUJ-PRt9nm6h48jg2JYA0lk-bS809NU7mKEdgUffJ69Y3oO_zbD6DiDLTOd2fIqY373lJDHSJU6AO16wpHK7d7GX5WWOHgowa8_SxGhV1ckCwXf2rIp-XzNgeOF3fcBBeEYwmMf7-G7u_b3g-rasAPAzGj2_/s2698/Nellies%20Beverley%201993.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2698" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-G924HsS6Jf5lvyI_x1LZpLabUJ-PRt9nm6h48jg2JYA0lk-bS809NU7mKEdgUffJ69Y3oO_zbD6DiDLTOd2fIqY373lJDHSJU6AO16wpHK7d7GX5WWOHgowa8_SxGhV1ckCwXf2rIp-XzNgeOF3fcBBeEYwmMf7-G7u_b3g-rasAPAzGj2_/w640-h421/Nellies%20Beverley%201993.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>25. <b>1994. Stoke Newington Kurds. </b>In this year I became more serious about photography, took a night-school photography course and started making my own prints again. Living in Foulden Road in Stoke Newington, London N16, I would wander around my patch in early mornings, evenings and at weekends, taking pictures of the diverse population. This one is of a demonstration by Kurdish people, with whom I had become friendly, near to my home. I liked the way the shop signage blended in with the placards and that just one guy is looking into the lens. I had finally bought some alternative lenses to my Nikon EM's 35mm standard lens, and started writing down technical details in a little blue book (although that habit did not last long!) This picture I took with my Nikon EM with a 135mm lens, 1/60 second and f/22, on black and white negative film. During the year I also took black and white sets in Florida, USA, and Montreux, Switzerland.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmO3wcPZipfJEXYzs-Q6WIhdVXDAg-ZkLh99qhDRixR8WmsVusFRfcMtLd5lAc4tgWku6upz03-JTuYN3aMubufESgWJY6qbjYwqEtoGLUAhyl-UuOJCaDOjfJSzSA8MHJGSq_EV0a4h0L8PR2uWab8LW_lKutTiaxZSlDx6ywyvFpw12U9se/s2611/Demonstration%20Stoke%20Newington%201994.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="2611" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmO3wcPZipfJEXYzs-Q6WIhdVXDAg-ZkLh99qhDRixR8WmsVusFRfcMtLd5lAc4tgWku6upz03-JTuYN3aMubufESgWJY6qbjYwqEtoGLUAhyl-UuOJCaDOjfJSzSA8MHJGSq_EV0a4h0L8PR2uWab8LW_lKutTiaxZSlDx6ywyvFpw12U9se/w640-h502/Demonstration%20Stoke%20Newington%201994.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>26. <b>1995. Quito. </b>In early 1995 I visited Ecuador and absolutely loved it. Travelling by bus or hitchhiking, I went various areas of the country - so varied and beautiful. I often wonder why I have never gone back! This photograph was taken in the capital Quito and sums up for me the hustle and bustle, vibrancy and thrill of that great city. It was taken with my Nikon EM but I am not sure of the lens, possibly 135mm. I used colour negative film. In the same year I took sets of pictures in New York and Florida, USA, Cannes, France, and London squats.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCcMlcK2exmoP1ScE1KcZlD5i5XSO82CabcDT7RZA_KOtWe9IRHd1lv-ZdM47xYZQoJ_LhujctMdWGJfhGtLirerdZ9ciGq2vRq1BKuMFMamYzsxASAjBlpgmHLvvXBQlTiehswkT89__A4cF1lhhQiXXoJzkUAGy683ZRJJYqPa_YbQlz_hs/s2854/Quito%20Ecuador%201995%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1926" data-original-width="2854" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCcMlcK2exmoP1ScE1KcZlD5i5XSO82CabcDT7RZA_KOtWe9IRHd1lv-ZdM47xYZQoJ_LhujctMdWGJfhGtLirerdZ9ciGq2vRq1BKuMFMamYzsxASAjBlpgmHLvvXBQlTiehswkT89__A4cF1lhhQiXXoJzkUAGy683ZRJJYqPa_YbQlz_hs/w640-h432/Quito%20Ecuador%201995%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>27. <b>1996. Swing Time. </b>I love it when you can catch a special moment - as in this picture of a dad and his son on the swing at a playground in Highgate, London. I had bought a Nikon FM body, from the London Camera Exchange shop in Bournemouth, and probably used a 135mm lens. I took it on colour transparency film. In the same year, I took pictures in the Black Forest, Germany, Florida, USA, and in Stratford-upon-Avon, Hackney and Brixton in London, and at the Green Gathering festival in Wiltshire.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DOemqIna2_yEdMHFxAh09J_S9248sQSRxCZdGAcx-X9BYqE2brGzt5z9BfSoBRT5-bLYQH0_LDvWmDfIxyZ9VVkVrnFxknwA8QUoM9NFc9T5J26uBhnC25PT7B31pNdgARTTc2YiIn7sJXJWErIoqSHW8QwBnECIwVLD86jmSZQi5NgR5s6q/s2440/Swing%20Time%201996%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2440" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DOemqIna2_yEdMHFxAh09J_S9248sQSRxCZdGAcx-X9BYqE2brGzt5z9BfSoBRT5-bLYQH0_LDvWmDfIxyZ9VVkVrnFxknwA8QUoM9NFc9T5J26uBhnC25PT7B31pNdgARTTc2YiIn7sJXJWErIoqSHW8QwBnECIwVLD86jmSZQi5NgR5s6q/w640-h435/Swing%20Time%201996%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>28. <b>1997.</b> <b>The Pub Landlord. </b>I took this picture of the great comedian Al Murray, a.k.a. The Pub Landlord, at the legendary Comedy Cafe, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London. It was before he was properly famous but was headlining on the club circuit. I recall Al telling me: "I'm making hay while the sun shines." I used my Nikon FM and, I think, my recently acquired 50mm, 1:1.2 lens - a fantastic fast lens that I still use. The film was 800ASA Fuji HP stock.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8GqftEw4veki_2UuQ7ozpgQVvFOXOj8OuaOEU5XY4agANwisPYEOVI2vOCIfUcHwaDt2fW7Z6agDMXZS6dVF9gf0SYXUlC0nZZgaDilUmJgGtZukHulWRinYkLcoox5jNJDxKvN2vXaVS1b0GYSqPZoM8JkJvvxPchfDLVt-y4Up9EwwZy2G/s2881/Al%20Murray%20Comedy%20Cafe%201997%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2881" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8GqftEw4veki_2UuQ7ozpgQVvFOXOj8OuaOEU5XY4agANwisPYEOVI2vOCIfUcHwaDt2fW7Z6agDMXZS6dVF9gf0SYXUlC0nZZgaDilUmJgGtZukHulWRinYkLcoox5jNJDxKvN2vXaVS1b0GYSqPZoM8JkJvvxPchfDLVt-y4Up9EwwZy2G/w640-h408/Al%20Murray%20Comedy%20Cafe%201997%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>29. <b>1998. Victorious Gooners. </b>Driving home through Islington in 1998, the path of my Fiat Uno was blocked by jubilant Arsenal FC fans - "Gooners" - who were celebrating winning the football league, after beating Everton 4-0 at their Highbury ground on the afternoon of 3 May. I wasn't in a rush and didn't mind that the celebrants had stopped the traffic. Indeed, I got out my camera and took some pictures. I used my Nikon FM, 50mm 1:1.2 lens, and Ilford HP5 Plus black and white negative film.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqWX0mJgYTQmbPHSKj3slQ6nl3FtsTz0trltnPmpWlVanNEdDLrwYzAK7m-EYuFOyDPiG654HBsJQMTEQV1sakGZkQi9LIeflHtomLq1RStnKj1SDcdVuy-2iFAIWO3EAMWoj2auG0zQBEyzpOgT3847uxsea76aCJRLhQpOBM67CESOcCR7R/s2131/Victorious%20Gooners%201998%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="2131" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqWX0mJgYTQmbPHSKj3slQ6nl3FtsTz0trltnPmpWlVanNEdDLrwYzAK7m-EYuFOyDPiG654HBsJQMTEQV1sakGZkQi9LIeflHtomLq1RStnKj1SDcdVuy-2iFAIWO3EAMWoj2auG0zQBEyzpOgT3847uxsea76aCJRLhQpOBM67CESOcCR7R/w640-h429/Victorious%20Gooners%201998%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>30. <b>1999. The Comedy Referee. </b>I took this as part of a set of photographs of my comedian and window cleaner friend Ivan Steward, a.k.a. The Comedy Referee, to help him promote his comedy career. I loved his act and often put him on at my comedy club, Joe's Comedy Madhouse, in Stoke Newington, London N16. This picture was taken in East London with my Nikon FM, and, I think, 135mm lens, on colour negative film.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeZ8aYY0hcxZaAuufUdlFSEvqy6J5Id-EW42EPqwV-eW-GlOJr-Rya0zOUQq5H9eIO2uyLgmMLOy_BvsAMGUW6_1IAkDa1CvQxoniGTmdO_iRCXzTwFP06oZhdgyQ-33McP75ZCh11ePVa6aYhZeflzojpUG6rBstGVJ-UIxJGBJVo4ev068b/s2368/The%20Comedy%20Ref%201999%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="2368" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeZ8aYY0hcxZaAuufUdlFSEvqy6J5Id-EW42EPqwV-eW-GlOJr-Rya0zOUQq5H9eIO2uyLgmMLOy_BvsAMGUW6_1IAkDa1CvQxoniGTmdO_iRCXzTwFP06oZhdgyQ-33McP75ZCh11ePVa6aYhZeflzojpUG6rBstGVJ-UIxJGBJVo4ev068b/w640-h462/The%20Comedy%20Ref%201999%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>31. <b>2000. Log Fire. </b>For a couple of years I lived in the countryside in south Leicestershire. Log fires were very important to us, but I have sometimes found it is hard to capture their significance and loveliness in a photograph. I like this picture because of the beauty of the fire and the interesting beam of light coming down the chimney. It was taken with my Nikon EM, probably using the 50mm 1:1.2 lens, on Agfachrome colour transparency film.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ9LXnCb3TEEU94v0R4RDvScC2BmWPfUFDk7mtHRmc7lCdoQOzbmNWIvOSN9fQ7em3CS__t6yBa6supAPuW58jeYOEFd_XwCMLy5ugXToCdA3jCFTeNfrAZiFdU9oRcUwVaG_go3ieKBMftZZnM9YKFjUtod6guF_PxNA__u__g5UUBKhV8L4/s1632/Fire%20Cotesbach%202000.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1111" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ9LXnCb3TEEU94v0R4RDvScC2BmWPfUFDk7mtHRmc7lCdoQOzbmNWIvOSN9fQ7em3CS__t6yBa6supAPuW58jeYOEFd_XwCMLy5ugXToCdA3jCFTeNfrAZiFdU9oRcUwVaG_go3ieKBMftZZnM9YKFjUtod6guF_PxNA__u__g5UUBKhV8L4/w436-h640/Fire%20Cotesbach%202000.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div><br /></div>32. <b>2001. Henna Here! </b>Morocco is a wonderful, exhilarating country - and great for photography. I took this photograph in the marketplace in Marrakesh, with my Nikon FM and, I think, a 35mm 1:1.2.8 lens, using 200ASA Kodak colour negative film. I recall that I was about to take another picture when she assertively thrust her wares, a henna tattoo kit, towards my face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVYBQeqbQIKkftkFuitwjgEjLEmX70AQPyfKnExJP8AFfkK5DR2vITXYiXWKNQqqS2E_LxwwgS9taJZMfE97NEYlaAZ3omBEjGxyqmsRY7mjzLcKxiCzkJdzmRtgl1frpTodRfewQk2MRjIysMs3eEDM5u7VTkeBqB5SD7pbz1lUcK3xpmbJJ/s2839/Marrakesh%20trader%202001%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1899" data-original-width="2839" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVYBQeqbQIKkftkFuitwjgEjLEmX70AQPyfKnExJP8AFfkK5DR2vITXYiXWKNQqqS2E_LxwwgS9taJZMfE97NEYlaAZ3omBEjGxyqmsRY7mjzLcKxiCzkJdzmRtgl1frpTodRfewQk2MRjIysMs3eEDM5u7VTkeBqB5SD7pbz1lUcK3xpmbJJ/w640-h429/Marrakesh%20trader%202001%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>33. <b>2002. Dancing Nun. </b>This picture was taken on a visit to a Catholic centre in Celje, Slovenia, and is of a nun dancing with a visitor in a cave bar. I like the way it captures a moment of her bashful enjoyment in this social activity. I took it with an Olympus Mju point and shoot 35mm film camera, using 400ASA Kodak colour negative film. I have turned it black and white because I prefer in that way. In this year, I also took some good pictures of country life in South Leicestershire, Bonfire celebrations in Lewes, East Sussex, and a friend's wedding in Wapping, East London. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTClsQJHpqxN_UfJyQH94cwjSGfqEC-lk_nUQnSB69Vp8S2qx1kA3Kf01AnadsTWpcb6ORfIujNyrN_D0cYoCsDIJ9IN9z0kYSn-gCZearC0Dcz6hjqO-7GuWrJSdujvrgt-ktCiBvK708Xl8r-9vbKaK8rVfJcCaKzJWo3mahyphenhyphenGPRoWcS-tiU/s2053/Dancing%20Nun%20Slovenia%202002%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2053" data-original-width="1437" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTClsQJHpqxN_UfJyQH94cwjSGfqEC-lk_nUQnSB69Vp8S2qx1kA3Kf01AnadsTWpcb6ORfIujNyrN_D0cYoCsDIJ9IN9z0kYSn-gCZearC0Dcz6hjqO-7GuWrJSdujvrgt-ktCiBvK708Xl8r-9vbKaK8rVfJcCaKzJWo3mahyphenhyphenGPRoWcS-tiU/w448-h640/Dancing%20Nun%20Slovenia%202002%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>34. <b>2003. Yasser Arafat. </b>I was fortunate to be able to accompany a group of Catholic bishops on a visit to the Holy Land. While there, we visited the Israeli President and also the President of the State of Palestine, Yasser Arafat. We had a long meeting with Yasser in his compound in Ramallah, central West Bank, and afterwards he walked outside with us to say goodbye, in the rain. I took this picture on 200ASA Kodak colour negative film with my Nikon FM, 50mm 1:1.2 lens, getting as close as I could to Arafat. I recall I moved a few inches nearer afterwards and immediately his security guards pushed me back! A memorable occasion - and Yasser Arafat was very hospitable. The following year, he died, aged 75.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPrW-KAxiIcMe7qCEat02acuo2k7e-VQCuooOT8bg-jAtJmaTxPClH5oedPwn59DaZ88TsB1NQ38lHz8znPcWFTSq_43xLPWR7LxlK1erjJStbA_CiQ32iYw8uIsYlEMtoQva58o838cVaZBBAIHiuFkdsZikwRqBVh9KkPkLjAtBbcjnp0Il/s2740/Arafat%202003%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2740" data-original-width="1833" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPrW-KAxiIcMe7qCEat02acuo2k7e-VQCuooOT8bg-jAtJmaTxPClH5oedPwn59DaZ88TsB1NQ38lHz8znPcWFTSq_43xLPWR7LxlK1erjJStbA_CiQ32iYw8uIsYlEMtoQva58o838cVaZBBAIHiuFkdsZikwRqBVh9KkPkLjAtBbcjnp0Il/w429-h640/Arafat%202003%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="429" /></a></div>35. <b>2004. Archbishop Peter Smith. </b>The picture below I took of my one of favourite Catholic bishops, Peter Smith, who in 2004 was Archbishop of Cardiff. I took it on my little Olympus Mju point and shoot camera, using 200ASA Kodak colour negative film. (I have turned into a black and white picture.) I had helped to organise a Catholic book launch inside Brixton Prison and Peter was one of the speakers. He was an enthusiastic smoker and, before, event I found him enjoying a quick fag on the iron stairs to the Prison Chapel. Peter was a great guy, a down-to-earth, no-nonsense Londoner. Sadly, he died in 2020, aged 76.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcVGmqBgoA4bpiwcZ8jJ2j0wd7LsYCC7Jl7mZpkfmV1BJiyIpLwIUP0WRzqxlvOEP-jhlaoIrD_CtL87J-8Ccz1RcUL_UpCkGyXPl8oEECAlJI4lbfBno8sINtzG8De8OD3QuPLYrEuINKghYTZ49GHobsO-Qs4LnfQfGQyHVcX8xN3a8jAoZ/s2233/Archbishop%20Peter%20Smith%202004%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcVGmqBgoA4bpiwcZ8jJ2j0wd7LsYCC7Jl7mZpkfmV1BJiyIpLwIUP0WRzqxlvOEP-jhlaoIrD_CtL87J-8Ccz1RcUL_UpCkGyXPl8oEECAlJI4lbfBno8sINtzG8De8OD3QuPLYrEuINKghYTZ49GHobsO-Qs4LnfQfGQyHVcX8xN3a8jAoZ/w432-h640/Archbishop%20Peter%20Smith%202004%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>36. <b>2005. Phil Nichol. </b>One of my favourite stand-up comedians, I booked Phil Nichol to headline at the last ever night of my comedy club, Joe's Comedy Madhouse, in London. He was brilliant, as always. What I love about this picture is that he seems to be spotlit not by a theatre lamp but by a beam of light streaming in through a small window. I used my Nikon EM with, I think, the 50mm, 1:1.2 lens, and 1,600ASA Fuji S colour negative film.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5fLKDPVoecp8BcuconRdFE0hzD9L3plWfDPPN1mt2himBFnL8gn-RTqSm6trMRml8phh0bf2hMXbUGJY7bak-Ug3F-N3DDDEOgzfrIejUEWiqOfJVeaYeFKgDMrQQzFh-bvKgMNOR4TUyUy_U6pHm2ya0_Z4HIISyODaqUDs-_UiVXHKoTJV/s2278/Phil%20Nichol%202005%20Joe's%20Comedy%20Madhouse%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2278" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5fLKDPVoecp8BcuconRdFE0hzD9L3plWfDPPN1mt2himBFnL8gn-RTqSm6trMRml8phh0bf2hMXbUGJY7bak-Ug3F-N3DDDEOgzfrIejUEWiqOfJVeaYeFKgDMrQQzFh-bvKgMNOR4TUyUy_U6pHm2ya0_Z4HIISyODaqUDs-_UiVXHKoTJV/w640-h435/Phil%20Nichol%202005%20Joe's%20Comedy%20Madhouse%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>37. <b>2006. Seven Seven. </b>This picture was taken on the first anniversary of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005. I happened to be passing through London and stopped off at King's Cross to see what was happening. It's a digital image. I had started playing around with digital photography in 2003 but still preferred film cameras. For this photograph, I used a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera with an AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-1:5.6 lens. ASA (ISO) was 1,600, zoom was at 82mm, f/22, 1/30 second.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fZb3NfxF8C7YdJ8fPXdXtbVO0SzOhDpI_sRnprcnxzuO1OmTR-JQnjc7VXDeEg_Wnsz1_l8DPUldg6buuAZcTZdqHEmBj1CMl4aSUaCxy1cuYgYMzMyncjLdns1ZYVNo34874EW64pPmuHfdokJ_EkIdr1HQl6vUVemWxoRlT4r4zAD0DzwY/s2984/7:7%20Tribute%202006%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="2984" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fZb3NfxF8C7YdJ8fPXdXtbVO0SzOhDpI_sRnprcnxzuO1OmTR-JQnjc7VXDeEg_Wnsz1_l8DPUldg6buuAZcTZdqHEmBj1CMl4aSUaCxy1cuYgYMzMyncjLdns1ZYVNo34874EW64pPmuHfdokJ_EkIdr1HQl6vUVemWxoRlT4r4zAD0DzwY/w640-h424/7:7%20Tribute%202006%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>38. <b>2007. Hove Silhouette. </b>For me living by the coast is all about relaxation. And this picture, which I took during a break while on jury service at Hove Crown Court, sums it up. Basking in the sunshine, staring out to sea, not a care in the world! I took it with my Nikon FM (not sure which lens) and on 200ASA Kodak colour negative film. It was almost monochrome and I have turned it fully black and white. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Iq6Q-qw4asVr7hfVXsgIQDc1J9nSo7mYnocEUza47MMZAtql1C7tX2TpgOsdvI-aWg9_kbeclXRV8dY1J5Ue1-WrKUXavs6z9mjjaOTrvsqcUDSwVfTig1-p4g-bdAjGm78k4vP6uXkKh54k7RyXKF76UISCRy7iHLsMNMAsM1mZm9K5bU-x/s2671/Hove%20Silhouette%202007%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2671" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Iq6Q-qw4asVr7hfVXsgIQDc1J9nSo7mYnocEUza47MMZAtql1C7tX2TpgOsdvI-aWg9_kbeclXRV8dY1J5Ue1-WrKUXavs6z9mjjaOTrvsqcUDSwVfTig1-p4g-bdAjGm78k4vP6uXkKh54k7RyXKF76UISCRy7iHLsMNMAsM1mZm9K5bU-x/w640-h414/Hove%20Silhouette%202007%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>39. <b>2008. Flower Men. </b>I took this picture of market traders and their wares at East London's Columbia Road Flower Market, using my Nikon FM and either an 85mm or 135mm lens, on 400ASA colour negative film. Usually, the traders are putting on a show for the Sunday morning crowds but this picture shows them in repose, waiting for something to happen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Or_9FC_ZT64J9Moje-w6Y-h3eJRm5uwQk21Ln5joP0zveJTarXAHiWX_6Gs1gtNVuIMkp0B2vS8lCHNAgEMMifdHrn2kxaGJponDWzZHOz0f0HcZ6Fsms_2g7wPJQzRHHQHrlBxI9c_QxyQiLwRITdSi2uaowTbCEHaTgZoPwmEbaLwbKlB/s2446/Flower%20Men%202008%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="2446" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Or_9FC_ZT64J9Moje-w6Y-h3eJRm5uwQk21Ln5joP0zveJTarXAHiWX_6Gs1gtNVuIMkp0B2vS8lCHNAgEMMifdHrn2kxaGJponDWzZHOz0f0HcZ6Fsms_2g7wPJQzRHHQHrlBxI9c_QxyQiLwRITdSi2uaowTbCEHaTgZoPwmEbaLwbKlB/w640-h416/Flower%20Men%202008%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>40. <b>2009. John Agard. </b>A great poet and a good friend, John Agard played my poetry club, Lewes Poetry, in this year. The room had never been so packed, people were standing all the way down the corridor, hoping to hear him, and some even stood outside the pub, beneath the open windows. I took this picture with a Panasonic DMC TZ4 digital camera, a little camera that I grew to love, 1,600ASA, 28mm, f/3.3, 1/30 second.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXawqT21vJnqN5AffDhTNPlzO8inT2CQVllbGYrDG7-PWCgJc1aBKBptpHsVwt0EyvoD4OZ9oW16vyAWC605sKpDE3ti-9FMD_T1F4osspNf3dN63dpszSzR3EFqZnC6wz-wQJrCGpOEZ6vfa2FZcVHN0rHBQ_nUTPE0MMDGDdbyR7ihbZk_hY/s2778/John%20Agard%20at%20Lewes%20Poetry%202009%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2130" data-original-width="2778" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXawqT21vJnqN5AffDhTNPlzO8inT2CQVllbGYrDG7-PWCgJc1aBKBptpHsVwt0EyvoD4OZ9oW16vyAWC605sKpDE3ti-9FMD_T1F4osspNf3dN63dpszSzR3EFqZnC6wz-wQJrCGpOEZ6vfa2FZcVHN0rHBQ_nUTPE0MMDGDdbyR7ihbZk_hY/w640-h490/John%20Agard%20at%20Lewes%20Poetry%202009%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>41. <b>2010. Lisa Stansfield. </b>Back in the 1990s, I joined the infamous Colony Room Club, Soho, London. The singer Lisa Stansfield was also a member and I found her a thoroughly good egg. By 2010, sadly, the Colony Room had closed and its final proprietor, Michael Wojas, had died. Hundreds of Colony Room folk came to his funeral and his wake, which was held in the adjacent Groucho Club, with a giant print of the Colony Room bar as a backdrop. Lisa Stansfield sang. I captured this picture of her at close range - about two feet away - with my Panasonic DMC TZ4 digital camera, set to sepia, 800ASA, 24mm, f/4.8, 1/5 second.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaK7JPpHKMS-xjt1LrKkOg1Q-jBw8BAJt4RBl-l-B42e3jTYwIoYcC3dh8Xj9_OtE_fMC162o_VovcgiE-Cd8wUPiF9evDAJ-J6mtJ6KppmNR_lce_VRMRC2zSXIptWwb9iBzxhTgHJ3zZSmDeqhCyUQ-ys00pFWYATBY4lDiKmOKXjoxyCT9/s3264/Lisa%20Stansfield%202010%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaK7JPpHKMS-xjt1LrKkOg1Q-jBw8BAJt4RBl-l-B42e3jTYwIoYcC3dh8Xj9_OtE_fMC162o_VovcgiE-Cd8wUPiF9evDAJ-J6mtJ6KppmNR_lce_VRMRC2zSXIptWwb9iBzxhTgHJ3zZSmDeqhCyUQ-ys00pFWYATBY4lDiKmOKXjoxyCT9/w474-h640/Lisa%20Stansfield%202010%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>42. <b>2011. Sun </b><b>Caburn</b><b>. </b>Boxing Day in the beautiful cold on Mount Caburn, near Lewes, East Sussex. I took this picture with the Panasonic DMC TZ4, 1,600ASA, 280mm, f/11, 1/1,600th second. It was 4.42pm.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRysqSI2dAv_K7WbIl1rRmIHRNJqVMyoN5F-AD6ncJ1_sEALE8qvbe2VsAUiEwFYu4iKakeZ79kBFMCm6HV8rhRYIiuHGV-FcpPPUtqyoj_5PMT7lsXxLF1-80NRZIybiHdS7aD_uZF46E1IDYp4ZU4y0AqBMfsbVPBRWIJHX0JV0pm2uNpDCP/s3210/Caburn%20Sun%202011%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="3210" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRysqSI2dAv_K7WbIl1rRmIHRNJqVMyoN5F-AD6ncJ1_sEALE8qvbe2VsAUiEwFYu4iKakeZ79kBFMCm6HV8rhRYIiuHGV-FcpPPUtqyoj_5PMT7lsXxLF1-80NRZIybiHdS7aD_uZF46E1IDYp4ZU4y0AqBMfsbVPBRWIJHX0JV0pm2uNpDCP/w640-h470/Caburn%20Sun%202011%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>43. <b>2012. Victory Parade. </b>The London celebration for Britain's Olympic medallists was tremendous. I took a lot of pictures with a Lomography fisheye lens camera but the one I like was this grainy photo taken from a very packed crowd with my Nikon FM with a telephoto lens and Kodak colour negative film, on The Strand, London.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQS6aJtXNZTqAjV71lgyepGyI00rNaaqqRavtjrolMP5A-ba3rW6jn8GoglOohC8rw5LXHhjdMCWVjDD9jN9jh2rRZpSbVrWZ7pFELJU2PqYICCQTACmJIecx4GW2oYKbHGx600KZqPc022OfG-2B22wxhVDbLCKAWlL0FtG7byvytP8M9uVm/s1200/Victory%20Parade.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1200" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQS6aJtXNZTqAjV71lgyepGyI00rNaaqqRavtjrolMP5A-ba3rW6jn8GoglOohC8rw5LXHhjdMCWVjDD9jN9jh2rRZpSbVrWZ7pFELJU2PqYICCQTACmJIecx4GW2oYKbHGx600KZqPc022OfG-2B22wxhVDbLCKAWlL0FtG7byvytP8M9uVm/w640-h498/Victory%20Parade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>44. <b>2013. On The Brink. </b>It was a heatwave and kids at Port Meadow, Oxford, were jumping from the bridge into the river. This girl was on the brink of jumping. The next shot I have of her is of her feet hitting the water, with her hands covering her eyes. I prefer this picture because you can see the determination and apprehension on her face. I took it with my Panasonic DMC TZ4 digital camera, 100ASA, 96mm, f/4.7, 1/80 second. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwqSYhhJ_23TgCOBksa_6FAucvZ4-vOy6qdr9Lzhu6stT9hD4N_dR9n73gpuV3DyjgcZam9onSfStlDjkkLxkAwURJda5l0dSSn-1YGNmIu4t43x_wvfr4Nd4F5sCWwREUMNHoImEgQOoCqa9VYBURRJoD06o3rPAbfglEgIA01XI5mVLUfW9/s3068/Oxford%20Jumper%202013.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="2344" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwqSYhhJ_23TgCOBksa_6FAucvZ4-vOy6qdr9Lzhu6stT9hD4N_dR9n73gpuV3DyjgcZam9onSfStlDjkkLxkAwURJda5l0dSSn-1YGNmIu4t43x_wvfr4Nd4F5sCWwREUMNHoImEgQOoCqa9VYBURRJoD06o3rPAbfglEgIA01XI5mVLUfW9/w488-h640/Oxford%20Jumper%202013.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>45. <b>2014. Bob Crow. </b>I took this picture at what turned out to be trade union leader Bob Crow's final public appearance. He was invited to Brighton by the trades' council, of which I was a member and part of the executive committee, to mark a significant anniversary of the great miners' strike. I recall chatting to him at the event and he asked about my NUM badge, which had been given to me in 1984 by a kind miner because I'd helped out collecting money to pay for food parcels for miners' families in west Yorkshire. RMT leader Bob Crow spoke passionately to a small audience at this meeting in one of our regular venues in central Brighton. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see he didn't look well. I believe he was taken ill later that day, 8 March, and he died on 11 March, aged just 52. (Technical details: Panasonic DMC TZ4, 400ASA, 28mm, f/3.3, 1/15 second.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqFJ7zi6ZbTlEIwD-yh8YUsVbrrum2twEglMPLbg3gctr6TR9T0iCtKrFdRfJ4ISSUdeQFDpqAIzmIUW7wypgmlQy-CaX48iP1eb633UJuZESPRdNpAhyphenhyphenlDl9u223X0Uz7kkwTKp0QGdCQ3Q4xURcGnOe4DU3xnBs8om4mLE10YxQi69OsWdB/s3000/Bob%20Crow%202014%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="3000" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqFJ7zi6ZbTlEIwD-yh8YUsVbrrum2twEglMPLbg3gctr6TR9T0iCtKrFdRfJ4ISSUdeQFDpqAIzmIUW7wypgmlQy-CaX48iP1eb633UJuZESPRdNpAhyphenhyphenlDl9u223X0Uz7kkwTKp0QGdCQ3Q4xURcGnOe4DU3xnBs8om4mLE10YxQi69OsWdB/w640-h389/Bob%20Crow%202014%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>46. <b>2015. Feline Friends. </b>Our cats<b> </b>Django and Mr Cheeky - the best of friends - outside the local pub they loved to visit together. I don't recall when they were staring at - possible Mighty Whitey, a bruiser of a tom cat who lived across the road. Mr Cheeky, sadly, died the following year and Django has never been quite the same since. I took this picture with my Panasonic DMC TZ4 digital, as I did with all the photographs of 2015. I believe the technical details were: 250ASA, 280mm, f/4.9, 1/125 second.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYR55h7TRoXTvmK5SWhrUsDty69ChCaBnHiIimLZ3UQGllYb6rE210FFXVy-zkgRZW6Jf6RE9eL0pN9-EHqRgr_cJ9sQSikfHlFzlikbqh34XWxXbj0KID-j5eisZMkt_cFXK7HtRaycaBR80nFP8luYprVN3wajYinzYjy5Cq97-bVLDjZmU/s2949/Django%20and%20Mr%20Cheeky%202015.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="2949" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYR55h7TRoXTvmK5SWhrUsDty69ChCaBnHiIimLZ3UQGllYb6rE210FFXVy-zkgRZW6Jf6RE9eL0pN9-EHqRgr_cJ9sQSikfHlFzlikbqh34XWxXbj0KID-j5eisZMkt_cFXK7HtRaycaBR80nFP8luYprVN3wajYinzYjy5Cq97-bVLDjZmU/w640-h464/Django%20and%20Mr%20Cheeky%202015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>47. <b>2016. Pisa Party. </b>A bachelor party playing around on Vespas beside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy, on the morning of the wedding. They were very friendly and amused and delighted when I told them I am a Mod and own a Vespa PX125. This year I had been experimenting with a Lomography Sardinia 35mm camera - ingeniously made out of a sardine tin - but I did not get on with it, so it was just as well I took this picture with my trusty Panasonic DMC TZ4 digital camera, 100ASA, 28mm, f/3.3, 1/1,000th second. It was taken in colour but I prefer it in black and white.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZekkihKFfwjrB_WEqyRzNA3YC714oNJh5Wz-FcsivOdBseKG1o_juuf4yp2Wx0hH_eDXW6WtXwCBYvvJp5Jsp5SLw_zBhpRa5vKyECaXQZp1Qygguh4qnkZV3zXHY2pI1o-qNAS7FJAADQnvbkPG6x5_bAqIR5yzF3xwPHy815DIKQcixeJa/s2811/Pisa%20Party%202016%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2412" data-original-width="2811" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZekkihKFfwjrB_WEqyRzNA3YC714oNJh5Wz-FcsivOdBseKG1o_juuf4yp2Wx0hH_eDXW6WtXwCBYvvJp5Jsp5SLw_zBhpRa5vKyECaXQZp1Qygguh4qnkZV3zXHY2pI1o-qNAS7FJAADQnvbkPG6x5_bAqIR5yzF3xwPHy815DIKQcixeJa/w640-h550/Pisa%20Party%202016%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>48. <b>2017. Peter Kyle. </b>During the 2017 UK General Election, I was one of a small army of volunteers who walked around Hove and Portslade to canvass for our local MP Peter Kyle, a gentle, affable and genuine man. I took this picture on Election Night in Peter Kyle's office and campaign headquarters in Hove. He is with a supporter whose name I forget. I believe the clock behind them had been counting down to the Election for years! I used a newish camera, a compact Leica D-Lux 5, which eventually became my work-a-day camera when my Panasonic broke. The picture was taken at 400ASA, 35mm, f/2.3, 1/20 second. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E2H379e9KAW7vqoA8C9RACII54TYsL5jKktcoMBR879J1O_Gyqz0z0z0ycaHt7QJjjp34SjgSgBNlPRntwq00IkXQ_-xnVM6LFftVhcaUVNfACT4bJhzno73XfFu5Vol_GvZwJ2oR16oG8K4I7PzXt5nhKJr7JzQjB5ia4vyx6O4Twyc1iMC/s3232/Peter%20Kyle%202017%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2476" data-original-width="3232" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E2H379e9KAW7vqoA8C9RACII54TYsL5jKktcoMBR879J1O_Gyqz0z0z0ycaHt7QJjjp34SjgSgBNlPRntwq00IkXQ_-xnVM6LFftVhcaUVNfACT4bJhzno73XfFu5Vol_GvZwJ2oR16oG8K4I7PzXt5nhKJr7JzQjB5ia4vyx6O4Twyc1iMC/w640-h490/Peter%20Kyle%202017%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>49. <b>2018. Murmuration. </b>An occasional and exhilarating sight in winter on Brighton and Hove seafront is a flock of starlings returning to their winter roost in a swirl after feeding, a murmuration. I was pleased to capture this murmuration from above while standing on Brighton's Palace Pier, in February 2018. I used my Leica D-Lux 5 digital camera, 1,600ASA, 32mm, f/2.8, 1/160 second. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MzMinU_qeWYWVCILpeA-0DeuYZ-Bt12IaphdR1MXvHs1qZfPiaKnDYB5fgoKWzdUxVfCuPu4acgwNg8UeB2wOY8RI-h-8t7zrU7_rWNQMmX3SsDhMpgVzVhNE2geGmUKbCBD9RF1KTZx3JVXsuC_AxLwyXUhBj0iJ8W_XUtjX6_7QmgFjsEc/s3512/Murmuration%20Brighton%202018%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2180" data-original-width="3512" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MzMinU_qeWYWVCILpeA-0DeuYZ-Bt12IaphdR1MXvHs1qZfPiaKnDYB5fgoKWzdUxVfCuPu4acgwNg8UeB2wOY8RI-h-8t7zrU7_rWNQMmX3SsDhMpgVzVhNE2geGmUKbCBD9RF1KTZx3JVXsuC_AxLwyXUhBj0iJ8W_XUtjX6_7QmgFjsEc/w640-h398/Murmuration%20Brighton%202018%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>50. <b>2019. Rag'n'Bone Man. </b>Working at a charity event at London's Trafalgar Square, in the green room I introduced baritone-voiced pop star Rag'n'Bone Man to a talented aspiring singer who wanted to meet him. It was a good day. I found Rag'n'Bone Man (a.k.a. Rory Graham) good company and he treated everyone with great courtesy and respect - as well as singing beautifully to raise money for people experiencing homelessness. I took the picture with my Leica D-Lux 5, 1,000ASA, 32mm, f/2.2, 1/15 second.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB8ElQWP4fcfQFtsFuiWxAT8vj_jRMUgQJJbRpAx2-nMbTk5iczzZfikifV-8OZWGHK3kSFwOUV3-YuUff7xPvDJaOech4OBRNiTQp68eqhXff5YzQvPZskFZ2BYZ74nN3XKYeKoRRHkcxk7BnyZHXJFq8vBK74POUTU88uBH8SzEcc0Xs9Vy/s3512/Rag'n'%20Bone%20Man%202019%20London%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3512" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB8ElQWP4fcfQFtsFuiWxAT8vj_jRMUgQJJbRpAx2-nMbTk5iczzZfikifV-8OZWGHK3kSFwOUV3-YuUff7xPvDJaOech4OBRNiTQp68eqhXff5YzQvPZskFZ2BYZ74nN3XKYeKoRRHkcxk7BnyZHXJFq8vBK74POUTU88uBH8SzEcc0Xs9Vy/w640-h453/Rag'n'%20Bone%20Man%202019%20London%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>51. <b>2020. Lockdown Beach. </b>Of all the many lockdown pictures I could have chosen, I liked this one because it sums up why on a gorgeous day close to mid-Summer the beach at Bognor Regis was completely deserted. Not a soul in sight and nary a store open in the town. I took it with my Leica D-Lux 5, 80ASA, 24mm, 3/4, 1/800 second, and have turned it black and white. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpLyaIQCeYruRIE_qAGDgj9tl3OlS5tQ2_4cDEZr1jhtBlmXBBrfuxPcLn_Y1F4UlbIyhbsP2wC6n-QRXaSqBrO_9jHyLA-bCIqSnhV-99f7hx57TdoOE4wOJc_5KIr0ZVGhGyLi7o1yXDiBDlk6CNasZUv0dzeHP18u8B5YkLpAYE6tm5CKM/s3671/Lockdown%20Beach%20Bognor%20Regis%202020%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="3671" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpLyaIQCeYruRIE_qAGDgj9tl3OlS5tQ2_4cDEZr1jhtBlmXBBrfuxPcLn_Y1F4UlbIyhbsP2wC6n-QRXaSqBrO_9jHyLA-bCIqSnhV-99f7hx57TdoOE4wOJc_5KIr0ZVGhGyLi7o1yXDiBDlk6CNasZUv0dzeHP18u8B5YkLpAYE6tm5CKM/w640-h421/Lockdown%20Beach%20Bognor%20Regis%202020%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>51. <b>2021. Remeece. </b>Purely out of interest, I decided to photograph a demonstration in Brighton and Hove. I was struck by the sheer magnetism of this young man, a rapper called Remeece with a catchy number entitled <i>Dont Tek Di Vaccine</i>. Whatever your views on this contentious topic, you could not help but be impressed by his talent and charisma. I took the picture with my second Panasonic DMC-TZ4 digital camera, which I bought for a few quid from a pawn shop, 100ASA, 32mm, f/3.5, 1/400th second. I turned it black and white. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnpOvQ9CDvoxD5sxHdhIVVwXJYfZ_RlwUSrYJIO7io5UCwpkLoPH4rsdLAzWTM6HuxK3gR8IRf8_SY8zRZjRCdt9O5dW97-QtyguvwB55Q0I-gmf0cvGB_t7WWzvxmvAsgyVNpanDUDcI4Gz6YlAjoIWvoYXWsHPNy_zA_6zjeG-m3d4bh6oK/s3213/Remeece%20Hove%202021%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2424" data-original-width="3213" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnpOvQ9CDvoxD5sxHdhIVVwXJYfZ_RlwUSrYJIO7io5UCwpkLoPH4rsdLAzWTM6HuxK3gR8IRf8_SY8zRZjRCdt9O5dW97-QtyguvwB55Q0I-gmf0cvGB_t7WWzvxmvAsgyVNpanDUDcI4Gz6YlAjoIWvoYXWsHPNy_zA_6zjeG-m3d4bh6oK/w640-h482/Remeece%20Hove%202021%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>52. <b>2022. Her Majesty's Funeral. </b>Naturally, I was very sad about HM Queen Elizabeth II's death. I travelled to London to watch the funeral and could just about glimpse the cortege going past. It was just great to be in the crowds on that historic day. Very moving! I took this picture with my Leica D-Lux 5, 1,600ASA, 90mm, f/7.1, 1/800th second. I turned it black and white.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqkYQQpxZqBsZtB_1Wr-Y9eL1I8MA85W4hovxdzpmh0D-wz1zXuAlE2_sWWitOXb5MXnzjWc3VIPc3RKWF8ZqmaxC4I53Fy7eLCsw6QMJaXdlnnurYjrRl4XXwU7669xX0RkSBTNZdOQwFGOeE-I9nMartOeflp4bszK_swtMHONA4k1dact2/s1058/HMTheQueen'sHearse%20%202022%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson-vs2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1058" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqkYQQpxZqBsZtB_1Wr-Y9eL1I8MA85W4hovxdzpmh0D-wz1zXuAlE2_sWWitOXb5MXnzjWc3VIPc3RKWF8ZqmaxC4I53Fy7eLCsw6QMJaXdlnnurYjrRl4XXwU7669xX0RkSBTNZdOQwFGOeE-I9nMartOeflp4bszK_swtMHONA4k1dact2/w640-h354/HMTheQueen'sHearse%20%202022%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson-vs2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFkKhKJFHJqcgpmsvGYcC2XZBNik6u_TMzF3-L9RT-Q1gEU9EriWJGx0alNmEEofliEeUzdG0CFEyg-KgnTRgMuNVlAmgpCiyiyBrHJXs4M339lp1FcXQMXNu8kp6OiBrX3QwHijErHA6LuaQesA3HpKc9FsocmhpYWSmRCLBB67DFHcSnDBU/s1076/HMTheQueen'sHearse%20%202022%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFkKhKJFHJqcgpmsvGYcC2XZBNik6u_TMzF3-L9RT-Q1gEU9EriWJGx0alNmEEofliEeUzdG0CFEyg-KgnTRgMuNVlAmgpCiyiyBrHJXs4M339lp1FcXQMXNu8kp6OiBrX3QwHijErHA6LuaQesA3HpKc9FsocmhpYWSmRCLBB67DFHcSnDBU/s1076/HMTheQueen'sHearse%20%202022%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>53. <b>2023. Hove Skies. </b>In early 2023 I found myself for quite a lot of time on my hands. I dusted down my old but largely unused tripod and spent the late afternoons and early evenings in freezing conditions on the seafront taking low-light photographs. I like this one, which I took with my Leica D-Lux 5 on a tripod, 80ASA, 26mm, f/8, 30 seconds. It was taken at 7.58pm on 1 March.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVgQa7HGZ6rkj8N-_GP0nMEY5osi7eNTISarP6GzA9umk9DBgQZwKVGRe0KQx1XYpc5O9RhfTt6Cnqbj-7-1vw5gxiRe1J6pW9DLltBtyJN3BnN9a3kVWKajCKRkk19Prb8Ud4GZuI57PoZAbCDjECziWy47TL6Xz9N2hx-1NRAkFvSOnw0NA/s3852/Hove%20Skies%202023%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="3852" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVgQa7HGZ6rkj8N-_GP0nMEY5osi7eNTISarP6GzA9umk9DBgQZwKVGRe0KQx1XYpc5O9RhfTt6Cnqbj-7-1vw5gxiRe1J6pW9DLltBtyJN3BnN9a3kVWKajCKRkk19Prb8Ud4GZuI57PoZAbCDjECziWy47TL6Xz9N2hx-1NRAkFvSOnw0NA/w640-h357/Hove%20Skies%202023%20Copyright%20Ollie%20J%20C%20Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So, that's it! Fifty-three photographs, one for each of 53 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have really enjoyed the evenings and weekends I have spent on the project. It has been like putting together an online exhibition of my work - my first.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of things strike me: I didn't end up using many of the images I'd thought I would. The depth of my collection of photographs was deeply than I realised.</div><div><br /></div><div>And although I have taken a lot of images on iPhone cameras in recent years, none of them made the final cut. Interesting!</div><div><br /></div><div>What does the future hold for photography and me? Well, I will continue to read and learn photography and take pictures. As film photography has become prohibitively expensive of late, I may invest in a Nikon Digital SLR body, so I can use my lenses with a digital back. </div><div><br /></div><div>It strikes me that I have spent a lot of time taking pictures with compact cameras, which is fine, but you rarely get quite the same image quality as you would with a SLR format camera or a larger format one. </div><div><br /></div><div>But whatever hardware I am using, I will always focus on composition. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, if you have got this far, you've done well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I truly hope you've enjoyed my photographic journey, which I may update with a picture from each future year I am active as a photographer, and, of course, please remember that all these images are copyright of Ollie J C Wilson.</div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-23804314167149264382022-08-18T15:51:00.008+00:002022-08-19T08:12:45.173+00:00Tim Cornwell RIP<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4OCKG0crTR2qQQ1A6SiFsA67yGwlbm9S7b-fvXu-GDHFlczeDZtaFzJzguvNPjZrXDEmrC6QzSIa2fIJ9ZxSYVQoxAaFQIqpWCPEzAC4UmXPwPBJNfoNOvehUdZu1f58rtHTvKOu0i_KGz91jUl-P08oYGJBnKu9O4hmKfvpTvOE86JwqA/s874/Tim-Cornwell-5-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4OCKG0crTR2qQQ1A6SiFsA67yGwlbm9S7b-fvXu-GDHFlczeDZtaFzJzguvNPjZrXDEmrC6QzSIa2fIJ9ZxSYVQoxAaFQIqpWCPEzAC4UmXPwPBJNfoNOvehUdZu1f58rtHTvKOu0i_KGz91jUl-P08oYGJBnKu9O4hmKfvpTvOE86JwqA/w229-h400/Tim-Cornwell-5-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Devastated to hear of the death of my old friend Tim Cornwell, a fellow trainee reporter at the Hull Daily Mail from 1984-86.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am not going to repeat Tim's <a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituaries-tim-cornwell-respected-scotsman-arts-correspondent-3722744">obituary</a> - The Scotsman, where he later worked for many years, has done him proud. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, I would like to pay a personal tribute to a good-natured, kind and entertaining man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Tim Cornwell I knew was flush with merriment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He laughed a lot, although sometimes I wondered if it was the yarns of journalism and life that he found so amusing or the people telling them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOqR7XfhENpS2wU4ErcqqRAxJWIOCwXCsny8V2cBiatgwTPHWOBvaookbEKMEFMu8IyzfdEvLoULg_i-ZW-AaJxWrt1Vjo5lzwgNhxF6c3YTmWkeR9xDDprjw3J-IPTIoXiZnpciXKKP8RlfpA88RMJhhVv9j3IHYV-pDd_gYcw62ziJSlQ/s791/Tim-Cornwell-6-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOqR7XfhENpS2wU4ErcqqRAxJWIOCwXCsny8V2cBiatgwTPHWOBvaookbEKMEFMu8IyzfdEvLoULg_i-ZW-AaJxWrt1Vjo5lzwgNhxF6c3YTmWkeR9xDDprjw3J-IPTIoXiZnpciXKKP8RlfpA88RMJhhVv9j3IHYV-pDd_gYcw62ziJSlQ/w252-h400/Tim-Cornwell-6-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">Back in the 1980s, when we were cub reporters together in Hull, East Yorkshire, the social life passed in an alcoholic haze.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I recall a riotous all-night party at Tim's rented flat, and a similarly uproariously drunken gathering at mine (image left). The properties were left in a sorry state!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Many years later, when we renewed our acquaintance at the Edinburgh Fringe, which he was covering for the Scotsman and I was for The Stage newspaper, we reflected more soberly on our lives and travails.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I remember Tim's immense kindness. </p><p style="text-align: left;">When I told him my long narrative poem was being published in book form, he was full of enthusiasm for this modest effort and interviewed me and engineered a contrived hook to pen a piece about it for The Scotsman.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On another occasion, he told me of his mental health issues, but did not fail to smile and laugh about what he had been through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1VCog4Xzj9DEzEi4faGrKS3rMWwqDqFEc_25zKb2ysi1bScp8KJreXW8uWevQNLvIp76yIDbvkjYBJDL6LiPjt_rqNoCCwXZEDf5rh-liZF_WV2sTqMU6yEJaPPg3DQh9HUq5OojOjX5GK6thzOEkhUEi-XPrqWWh2PXUkZNLa98mzpuQQ/s732/Tim-Cornwell-4-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1VCog4Xzj9DEzEi4faGrKS3rMWwqDqFEc_25zKb2ysi1bScp8KJreXW8uWevQNLvIp76yIDbvkjYBJDL6LiPjt_rqNoCCwXZEDf5rh-liZF_WV2sTqMU6yEJaPPg3DQh9HUq5OojOjX5GK6thzOEkhUEi-XPrqWWh2PXUkZNLa98mzpuQQ/w274-h400/Tim-Cornwell-4-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>You could not but admire his courage, laughing in the face of adversity.<div><br /></div><div>And although I suspected he did not like being photographed, he happily posed for my pictures.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was also a mischievous side to him. </div><div><br /></div><div>I once received a text message from Tim saying that he could not meet up in Edinburgh city centre because he had to lie low for fear of a ferocious Australian funnyman who was after him because he had exposed an act of sharp practice in the comic's publicity material! </div><div><br /></div><div>There was a trenchant side to Tim who was willing to speak up when others were falling short, pushing their luck or acting pretentiously. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last I heard from Tim was earlier this year when he got in touch to apologise for not coming to my 60th birthday party. How astonished I would have been to know he would never reach that age. He seemed happy and mentioned he had been working on a book involving his late father.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tim was a one-off, affable and a tad shy, sometimes laughing at what I said while quizzically looking at me like he didn't really believe a word!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll miss you, Tim.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC4ANwItx8omGB65o6Q1zj3_Q3So_ct_xqWRb-1bNmHpXfctQ1U36ZSPoh368UH4tPEgteMilDj4ShkPfl305zhreHukLaOFoSUL1qKx25n8dVnJy4jO_S2-H1Kd8H6UjM0rSsn_q_uq1E1GBNWdVjyS9cV-wInytAQ30WVJhbh48nlXDkA/s708/Tim-Cornwell-1-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC4ANwItx8omGB65o6Q1zj3_Q3So_ct_xqWRb-1bNmHpXfctQ1U36ZSPoh368UH4tPEgteMilDj4ShkPfl305zhreHukLaOFoSUL1qKx25n8dVnJy4jO_S2-H1Kd8H6UjM0rSsn_q_uq1E1GBNWdVjyS9cV-wInytAQ30WVJhbh48nlXDkA/w454-h640/Tim-Cornwell-1-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKELx21UV2JtmI4bfXyre2ZrX6v7GKM4PCQ_0TFr7ZyR-XmfG4Sh6t0Vymy8hIWaTb93TPYqsXeYg017rcrX-vXYia3fwzygCMBcXGASTpLzlyvfLC30-cDpjQ2IsOnmN-1l3E_rEZ3oe39BvczerxHGMIUm_1HEVpyV_q2MCMudvvdNPyw/s709/Tim-Cornwell-3-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKELx21UV2JtmI4bfXyre2ZrX6v7GKM4PCQ_0TFr7ZyR-XmfG4Sh6t0Vymy8hIWaTb93TPYqsXeYg017rcrX-vXYia3fwzygCMBcXGASTpLzlyvfLC30-cDpjQ2IsOnmN-1l3E_rEZ3oe39BvczerxHGMIUm_1HEVpyV_q2MCMudvvdNPyw/w451-h640/Tim-Cornwell-3-Pic-by-J-C-Wilson.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-44757406510296910092022-06-29T21:21:00.011+00:002022-08-19T10:11:09.159+00:00Sun Sets<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvNij_SjprpXKwVb7foiAfNETtZk_2ptxpZb5OiMOVk1Vc1-R6qpnrTOFk-Fi2eBLluYCifO84L0mvSYysFBasGgF74a8M92zpBkk68xKTfDqYBD9sRLxDweW2AKCktFKJGqZRlLRKtNkVzIgqfdAqeov6j3gY9C4ZzteS-sO5NFLuR4CPQ/s3264/P1110550.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="3264" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvNij_SjprpXKwVb7foiAfNETtZk_2ptxpZb5OiMOVk1Vc1-R6qpnrTOFk-Fi2eBLluYCifO84L0mvSYysFBasGgF74a8M92zpBkk68xKTfDqYBD9sRLxDweW2AKCktFKJGqZRlLRKtNkVzIgqfdAqeov6j3gY9C4ZzteS-sO5NFLuR4CPQ/w640-h360/P1110550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"> </h2><p></p>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-56501433473108979632021-12-31T10:40:00.127+00:002022-01-02T10:02:51.660+00:00The Fight Against 'Cashism'<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheOH7_c7RODAeYIe2WS5WtV5CuaAYs1Db75cF8KBfyrzYCbfytr8G7e4cHPVSWOFKFCCK3u1mJLleBgdIqx0NhxA78QMz1guv-jIjzVc7oSFEzAtHhaXPHUuvU_oiUZa_k4xqBepoG4sIryW2G31H_ieQajlkzz5140j16_87pVsZcXKlugA=s250" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="250" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheOH7_c7RODAeYIe2WS5WtV5CuaAYs1Db75cF8KBfyrzYCbfytr8G7e4cHPVSWOFKFCCK3u1mJLleBgdIqx0NhxA78QMz1guv-jIjzVc7oSFEzAtHhaXPHUuvU_oiUZa_k4xqBepoG4sIryW2G31H_ieQajlkzz5140j16_87pVsZcXKlugA" width="250" /></a></div><p><b>Over the torrid past 21 months, Britain has changed almost beyond recognition - and not really for the better.</b></p><p>One of these horrid Covid trends is what I call "cashism" - the refusal by some retailers to accept The Queen's coinage.</p><p>To be fair, this little bit of political correctness started before coronavirus had been heard of by most people. </p><p>I recall a trendy coffee shop in Bermondsey Street, London, refusing to take cash in 2019.</p><p>It is interesting that it is the right-on establishments that seem to think that banishing real money is a good thing to do. </p><p>I well remember the look of shock on the waitress's face when I told her that refusing to accept cash was discrimination against the poorest of the poor - adults without bank accounts. </p><p>As well as children.</p><p>Yet, when retailers get it into their heads that something is fashionable, politically correct and "worthy", all logic goes out of the window. </p><p>You see the same happening with bags. Some charity shops are now charging 10p for a paper bag, even though the Government's tax on <i>plastic</i> bags does not ask them to do this. It's a scam, plain and simple. The charity shop is profiteering on the back of political correctness, charging many times the cost of the paper bag and defenestrating good customer service.</p><p>But to get back to cash, it is painful that something that is so important to many people - and vital to the vulnerable - is being discarded under the slippery cloak of Covid. </p><p>Caffe Nero, for instance, will not accept cash in most of its branches. Neither will Starbucks - and many the other so-called hospitality businesses. </p><p>Often the lame excuse offered by staff is that cash spreads Covid-19, even though that is not the guidance from the World Health Organisation or the Bank of England, which points out the risk is no greater than touching any other surface. </p><p>Newspapers have been inundated by complaints from their readers about this nefarious practice, another disgusting milestone on the decline of Britain's retail sector. </p><p>Parents have had to make dashes to restaurants to pay the bill for their teenage kids when the restaurateur has refused to take cash for birthday parties et cetera.</p><p>Many others are being excluded entirely because of this blatant discrimination. </p><p>For me, it indicates once again how political correctness is being used for corporate greed and the pandemic is being taken as a reason to attack freedom and push discriminatory political agendas.</p><p>It just goes to show how selfish society has become.</p><p>I am tempted to form the Anti-Cashist League (ACL) to fight cashism. </p><p>It is important that when you are refused your right to use cash in an outlet, you make a complaint. </p><p>In Northern Ireland, for instance, coffee shop chains have been forced into a U-turn by the people - and take cash again.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_v6clEEN_2gKPdVW9BZtnp3TFPAntJgJcVOZO1zGitWtl9L0HVBC1CRPvdLmIFC_e9GGXELKZXLwF4Zl_sHZKMxHpdFrETpKoSgMsp9v_NrOCN3EBsHCxX8En_Hogh_b1ESRcZD4dX7WW4Qcg5cJBUn691Qo6sXOSwQJQq8FvimtXCdHWvA=s667" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_v6clEEN_2gKPdVW9BZtnp3TFPAntJgJcVOZO1zGitWtl9L0HVBC1CRPvdLmIFC_e9GGXELKZXLwF4Zl_sHZKMxHpdFrETpKoSgMsp9v_NrOCN3EBsHCxX8En_Hogh_b1ESRcZD4dX7WW4Qcg5cJBUn691Qo6sXOSwQJQq8FvimtXCdHWvA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />And it is great to see a bit of spirit occasionally, with right-minded shops refusing to take debit and credit cards.<p></p><p><b><i><u>Good for you!</u></i></b></p>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-89267897639046019512021-01-08T21:37:00.026+00:002021-01-08T21:52:07.840+00:00Dorian van Braam the Elder RIP<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUg2vC3Hf4dhLrfvBgehuSD8HJs83upXW90lrAqhI28umDeUEQzAQsdN-imqD7lLzVQJq9jEArdoGiWwNBRs4TMVrf_AVF5H9kiCAljywAbj20PJD3BnHhrd_dUqYWPzlsnkC/s1000/Dorian-van-Braam-the-Elder-RIP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1000" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUg2vC3Hf4dhLrfvBgehuSD8HJs83upXW90lrAqhI28umDeUEQzAQsdN-imqD7lLzVQJq9jEArdoGiWwNBRs4TMVrf_AVF5H9kiCAljywAbj20PJD3BnHhrd_dUqYWPzlsnkC/w400-h364/Dorian-van-Braam-the-Elder-RIP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>This is not an easy one to write. After all the terrible things that have happened this year - to me and to millions of others - it was most pleasant to visit my dear friend Dorian van Braam the Elder at his apartment near Hove seafront a few days before Christmas. </b><p></p><div>My partner Laura and I spent a wonderful evening with him - Dorian was so full of life, talking about his plans: to make a film of one of his colourful novels, to buy another plane (he once crashed a plane into a helicopter), to sue the AA (one of their vans had knocked him off his bicycle in London) and many, many others. We could hardly keep up. It was an invigorating evening after a hellish couple of months.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dorian was intending to drive to his estate in Ireland for Christmas, but it was not to be. The following day, he emerged from a cafe in Hove, collapsed and died. Nothing could have been more unexpected.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since then, Laura has written a brilliant <a href="http://thepoetlaura-eate.blogspot.com/2020/12/rip-dorian-van-braam.html">obituary of Dorian van Braam the Elder</a>, using some of the photographs I have taken of him over the years. I won't attempt to reprise the story of his life - Laura has penned it so well. All I can say is that I thought Dorian to be a true one-off, a unique character from another era who still rode a powerful motorbike, wrote thousands of words a day - and had the balls to stand up to The Man! It was an honour and a privilege to have known him and been his friend.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are my pictures of Dorian van Braam the Elder, ending with what I believe to be the last picture taken of him before his untimely departure from our screwed-up planet:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC098tN7_UaqvKg-AQ8G_m0mf89ulXP1uF8OhGN2knI3rx_XoHr93JEzjmvWRJksjfvdhBCCO6sS__zAGsZ7UWs98_PF9DVrSDoWmzo0zTg7C-ipvd9F3H5ov-V783Glis_FM/s2048/Dorian-18-12-20-Image-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="2048" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC098tN7_UaqvKg-AQ8G_m0mf89ulXP1uF8OhGN2knI3rx_XoHr93JEzjmvWRJksjfvdhBCCO6sS__zAGsZ7UWs98_PF9DVrSDoWmzo0zTg7C-ipvd9F3H5ov-V783Glis_FM/w400-h303/Dorian-18-12-20-Image-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4P-AgPDt-HtwuMkoAh9mtUEsfWKbzmEGNPDkPS2W17g4M354OA1roEA1FKRd2lyhbuGSAH14VjtGCpZ6CoyUmjxb34j5g1zCjx1sjuZ19NyJiTxk9YvMLu95-NdXhybtMvk5/s1283/Dorian-18-12-20-Image-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4P-AgPDt-HtwuMkoAh9mtUEsfWKbzmEGNPDkPS2W17g4M354OA1roEA1FKRd2lyhbuGSAH14VjtGCpZ6CoyUmjxb34j5g1zCjx1sjuZ19NyJiTxk9YvMLu95-NdXhybtMvk5/w311-h400/Dorian-18-12-20-Image-2.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKfAdG33f70Zb9m8mHWW4jxz4jbunjKdl4WFOTll9ApYOv3kqtpOZ-J8BMBmdWG_IrAyMepPWDh6_YZ3yEfew5guMaXGwbcfi5H0i8ZRcruAFxTUUyuNZmV0mmwO5z3MG_cou/s1066/Dorian-Scribbler.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKfAdG33f70Zb9m8mHWW4jxz4jbunjKdl4WFOTll9ApYOv3kqtpOZ-J8BMBmdWG_IrAyMepPWDh6_YZ3yEfew5guMaXGwbcfi5H0i8ZRcruAFxTUUyuNZmV0mmwO5z3MG_cou/w375-h400/Dorian-Scribbler.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP6VLX5Xyf42jqQrTcEAtu242I7xtP-iOYZt4nJ_8RIM3myEhijiQa6tXluga-tYZazvy2ABNku7u68yDbwq19NDERImce3XlW5KNxMZINiYMPTc-BKppGpI0_OXvMiMAxsIQ/s1000/Dorian-18-12-20-The-Last-Photo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1000" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP6VLX5Xyf42jqQrTcEAtu242I7xtP-iOYZt4nJ_8RIM3myEhijiQa6tXluga-tYZazvy2ABNku7u68yDbwq19NDERImce3XlW5KNxMZINiYMPTc-BKppGpI0_OXvMiMAxsIQ/w400-h270/Dorian-18-12-20-The-Last-Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-90138709864374009092020-09-30T17:12:00.023+00:002021-01-18T23:49:27.545+00:00Victory in the Battle of Madeira Drive<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="983" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLiCy84fbljKwkINh7wt5d7PcPafqW3iIx3M45amAxG5eDq2g4aV28I-Jjpf-pKw_7ra3o9DCqQ0OAOjDEePmKMwoHIitb62AjMB2ULOBEaf59jTmHLMCY8e5CIovycYudsyQ/w400-h248/Madeira-Drive-Protest-Ride-Down-09-08-20.jpg" width="400" /></b></div><b>The Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign - launched in early June by myself and my partner Laura King - has been victorious! Brighton & Hove City Council last night (Tuesday, 29 September 2020) voted to </b><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18758739.madeira-drive-reopen-one-way-traffic-council-rule/" style="font-weight: bold;">reopen the iconic seafront road</a><b> in the way we proposed. . . in a wondrous U-turn and victory for common sense.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We started the Campaign after Madeira Drive was closed on the sly by the then Momentum-Labour-controlled Council with the support of the fanatical Green Party. </div><div><br /></div><div>I now understand that a group of senior Council officials, who are crazy about cycling, unscrupulously drove this agenda behind the scenes and persuaded lame-brained councillors to go along with it. If that is the case, it was a disgraceful abuse of their position as Council senior staff and public servants - and also speaks volumes about the gullibility and unsuitability of councillors in leadership positions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, Madeira Drive is a very long, very wide and very quiet road, and it seemed to me that closing it because of the Covid-19 crisis was unjustified. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv_ZYC2TuUkDJ1IYflPiY3pAfpK_mHiLoOwDpsVCoPgzRQJROyBoAPy4ZW4bel54oqmBrJenVn8kudKZvDo6d3yneyScoLULIgIXNK_usDZF9cSsYrJZr4Q_PR8cC_dM1xSNU/s2048/WP_20200629_13_10_39_Rich.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv_ZYC2TuUkDJ1IYflPiY3pAfpK_mHiLoOwDpsVCoPgzRQJROyBoAPy4ZW4bel54oqmBrJenVn8kudKZvDo6d3yneyScoLULIgIXNK_usDZF9cSsYrJZr4Q_PR8cC_dM1xSNU/w400-h225/WP_20200629_13_10_39_Rich.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There was plenty of room for walking, running and cycling as it was. Why shouldn't motorcyclists, scooterists and car drivers also use and enjoy the facilities? </div><div><br /></div><div>And, anyway, very few cyclists, runners and walkers chose to exercise there.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Laura King's help, I started a petition on Brighton & Hove City Council's website, assuming - very naively - that Madeira Drive would be reopened fairly easily. </div><div><br /></div><div>How wrong I was! It quickly became apparent that the closure was not about Covid-19 at all, but was a symbolic gesture by the Hard Left to take out a road as a first step to making Brighton completely vehicle free. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErg4TZzg-RTBtU6BG4OTWddvT_VZDatVPYzXIPGsBoy-bdNKrterPRaDc_J_c6x8HD4_qiFEl5Wi8lS5eO0a5S-MqLrUkDDwStnCIUzloa7r1rv4pLiCCEYNXhHtUo4rNvztc/s640/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="640" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErg4TZzg-RTBtU6BG4OTWddvT_VZDatVPYzXIPGsBoy-bdNKrterPRaDc_J_c6x8HD4_qiFEl5Wi8lS5eO0a5S-MqLrUkDDwStnCIUzloa7r1rv4pLiCCEYNXhHtUo4rNvztc/w400-h318/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For four months, Laura and I have battled away. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our petition achieved nearly 11,000 signatures; four successful demonstrations were staged at Madeira Drive, uniting the Mods and the Rockers for the first time in half a century and attracting regional, national and international press coverage and even support from cyclists, and a war of words was waged in the Brighton Argus and on social media. </div><div><br /></div><div>And Laura's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/300153914693483/?multi_permalinks=369123371129870&notif_id=1601481801942958&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic_tagged&ref=notif" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive to All</a> Facebook group, moderated with the help of the tireless Tony Brighton, attracted more than 1,400 members and thousands of updates.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moreover, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Shail" target="_blank">Quadrophenia star Gary Shail</a> even made a video backing the Campaign - and Specials star Neville Staple backed us online! Thanks, guys!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>At last night's meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council's Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee (ETS), the decision to reopen it one way from Brighton Pier to the Mound was ratified, after being trumpeted well in advance by the Green Party's local leaders.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLNmTge79AQr1XTfJcqpBRPKVfFqi7qHFGF9FwddzE8qJYARAJbWQzX7v3LSICV3a9P4D3JLcl3mKZwzBKXJ6O7sHMuhjWPciTOkSACaGjgIkgR4dZzWz_zajZSdRUatR3IsO/s347/Gary-Shail-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-August-2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLNmTge79AQr1XTfJcqpBRPKVfFqi7qHFGF9FwddzE8qJYARAJbWQzX7v3LSICV3a9P4D3JLcl3mKZwzBKXJ6O7sHMuhjWPciTOkSACaGjgIkgR4dZzWz_zajZSdRUatR3IsO/w275-h320/Gary-Shail-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-August-2020.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>It is great that the Greens have changed their minds - and performed a neat U-turn. Listening to their spurious arguments at the previous ETS meeting and at a Special Full Council, to which Laura and I spoke and presented our petition, were thoroughly disturbing experiences. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I always knew that if we kept up the pressure, reality must eventually bite. With justice and the public on our side, we had to win eventually!</div><div><br /></div><div>Throughout this Campaign, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southcoastmods/" target="_blank">South Coast Mods</a>, of which I am proud to be a member, were amazing. </div><div><br /></div><div>In wind, rain and sun, they supported the four protests we organised, riding their beautiful classic Vespas and Lambrettas onto Madeira Drive despite the presence of Council stewards, and making some great speeches. </div><div><br /></div><div>The heroic Carl Bonner, who attracted BBC and ITV regional TV news crews, Diggers, Ralph and all the Mods were incredible! As were the Rockers, the cyclists and pedestrians who turned up to join the crusade.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK8h-Cx58RhCGRIWX7aICdL5jUCXTFeYYoZHeJ9dlMcLA8_OIDeV89sU9qM4LeE1ZW9fmQAli-unexRLGDbUIXURAjnMd7VQz3CUM-258v4tdIoP0dDokM5GqMu3vDPtu-okp/s701/109987362_1584831355022486_7950848257697809108_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK8h-Cx58RhCGRIWX7aICdL5jUCXTFeYYoZHeJ9dlMcLA8_OIDeV89sU9qM4LeE1ZW9fmQAli-unexRLGDbUIXURAjnMd7VQz3CUM-258v4tdIoP0dDokM5GqMu3vDPtu-okp/s320/109987362_1584831355022486_7950848257697809108_n.jpg" /></a></div>And supporter Rob Arbery also did an incredible job at making the argument for disabled groups, who had been cut off from the disabled toilets by the changes, and bringing Brighton Palace Pier on side. The attack on the closure by the Pier's CEO was particularly good to see.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Madeira Drive traders also gave us moral support with Trevor at the fish and chip shop also doing some spot-on media interviews, and <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14517781.killer-broke-down-in-tears-when-he-saw-tarot-card-of-the-devil/" target="_blank">Tarot card reader JJ Braiden</a> making a cracking speech at one of the early rallies.</div><div><br /></div><div>My partner Laura pushed the heritage angle - with the Madeira Terraces urgently needing restoration, which had been delayed by the closure. </div><div><br /></div><div>And the affable <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=49704" target="_blank">Councillor Lee Wares</a> quickly understood the Madeira Drive issue and made some memorable speeches in Council meetings - against the hostile backdrop of tone-deaf Greens and Labour members.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in the end, the compromise that we and Lee were backing has been accepted by the Greens, who had seized power halfway through this crisis and initially doubled down on Labour's unreasonable policy, but now, amusingly, are claiming credit for the idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't give a jot about that. What's important is that Council Leader <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=10290">Phelim Mac Cafferty</a> has seen sense and found a way to persuade his zealot colleagues to reopen Madeira Drive.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsV_5t_yglGr4fmdIunoNQXGXU0wonWaJKHtWcPMDNzj3noJX7SwSVpzYGXfhEBUXXODYwJ8c4yx4gQNTSMi5B3zMejVRCURlehDrbSYg1SWIMtw6eCEJ2G32vuOFDk2OLRqW/s612/107801307_10223272560031721_3779413069671601429_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsV_5t_yglGr4fmdIunoNQXGXU0wonWaJKHtWcPMDNzj3noJX7SwSVpzYGXfhEBUXXODYwJ8c4yx4gQNTSMi5B3zMejVRCURlehDrbSYg1SWIMtw6eCEJ2G32vuOFDk2OLRqW/w400-h266/107801307_10223272560031721_3779413069671601429_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Russell-Moyle" target="_blank">Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle</a> also, thankfully, started singing a different tune. </div><div><br /></div><div>Initially, shoot-from-the-lip Lloyd wanted a permanent closure for Madeira Drive, but later he conceded that a compromise was needed and motorcyclists and scooterists should be allowed to use it! </div><div><br /></div><div>Fair play! I admire anyone who has the guts and honesty to admit they were wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Madeira Drive is a cultural gem, the spiritual home of Mods and Rockers, and a place for all to enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div>We chipped away at the Red-Green Wall, first winning a pledge to reopen Madeira Drive for events, then getting it reopened from the Mound to the Marina, then reopening the other half for the Mod Weekender on the August Bank Holiday. And Laura managed to place an excellent piece in <a href="https://www.private-eye.co.uk/" target="_blank">Private Eye</a> magazine about how the closure was affecting the restoration of Madeira Terraces. After all that, perhaps it was inevitable that Madeira Drive would be permanently reopened.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5iwr0AQVCXs3Dm2N3mJu6pbNabmHcdm5EW8ISemmw8HxF2LboWLkskcmpfMd3k-GmQE_uM2Qw7DGnQGNYrk9M2oNrONjZlqkrn6l84udx25od4RbF32JZ3-Ak1M4e8Mma6wl/s3776/L1140765.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3776" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5iwr0AQVCXs3Dm2N3mJu6pbNabmHcdm5EW8ISemmw8HxF2LboWLkskcmpfMd3k-GmQE_uM2Qw7DGnQGNYrk9M2oNrONjZlqkrn6l84udx25od4RbF32JZ3-Ak1M4e8Mma6wl/w400-h268/L1140765.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Looking back on the past four months, doing media interviews about them and reviewing the <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-scandal-of-closure-of-brightons.html" target="_blank">blog posts</a> I <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/08/reopen-madeira-drive-campaign-part-2.html" target="_blank">kept up</a>, I can see how many people helped me develop the Campaign - and get a successful outcome for Brighton & Hove.</div><div><br /></div><div>Initially, I focused on the most outrageous aspects of what the Council had done - the discrimination against disabled people and the damage that it was doing the businesses of the traders on the Madeira Drive parade at a time when they were most vulnerable.</div><div><br /></div><div>But my cyclist friend Gordon, who owns the magnificent <a href="https://g-whizzcycles.co.uk/">G-Whizz Cycles</a> on the street I live, made me see that I should not only be fighting other people's battles for them while downplaying my own particular interest.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCOeZxi02H777_03JMBb3CL3POomxizjsXQSAV4xY8CErfoI1K9LhApky4CEzfRH2N9jqX6gaVyLGd-v9kYxEwHtRQ3hI6lCVEYRoUVDcwzY_xzxwF9Z7qWA2bhxKcV4HtZkp/s444/Ollie-the-Mod-Tunes-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="444" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCOeZxi02H777_03JMBb3CL3POomxizjsXQSAV4xY8CErfoI1K9LhApky4CEzfRH2N9jqX6gaVyLGd-v9kYxEwHtRQ3hI6lCVEYRoUVDcwzY_xzxwF9Z7qWA2bhxKcV4HtZkp/w400-h270/Ollie-the-Mod-Tunes-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Supporter Rob Arbery took up the cudgels for the disabled groups and the traders did what they could, considering that the Council is their belligerent and uncaring landlord, and I focused on the Mods and motorcyclists being deprived of their right to gather at Madeira Drive. It worked! The media loved the story, and both regional ITV and BBC TV, covered it, interviewing me, other Mods and Rockers, and the traders who rely on their business.</div><div><br /></div><div>Broadly, I have always been a supporter of environmental aims - but this Campaign made me realise just how out of touch and unecological the current generation of Green politicians has become.</div><div><br /></div><div>It did not bother them that the closure of Madeira Drive and the subsequent draconian cycle lane on the seafront road going up from Brighton Palace Pier were causing congestion and pollution - and actually damaging the environment far more than the previous arrangements.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw_Mzx78YyGDohU3CqhlQsr3X_RZ3G4Bxh1Pb9ATxLWaZggKDcxbWcDYSgHotOBYWe8KzjBZwaQd7_neMCFkrTopcf0Wds6lPcZLzGQDVkkyYjLpjSyQHBlWnw4CIC6E6BcWC/s640/Madeira-Drive-Protest-BBC-South-East-09-08-20-4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="640" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw_Mzx78YyGDohU3CqhlQsr3X_RZ3G4Bxh1Pb9ATxLWaZggKDcxbWcDYSgHotOBYWe8KzjBZwaQd7_neMCFkrTopcf0Wds6lPcZLzGQDVkkyYjLpjSyQHBlWnw4CIC6E6BcWC/w400-h303/Madeira-Drive-Protest-BBC-South-East-09-08-20-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><i>Science simply did not come into it. The ideology of closing a road, and the symbolism of this unplanned act of rebellion, was the goal in itself - worth damaging the environment for, as far as the Brighton & Hove Greens and local far-left Momentum Labour parties were concerned.</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>They also appeared to play down discrimination against the disabled, when they were asked about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the Council leadership, it was as if combating racism is enough, and the other -isms, no longer mattered to them. Strange! And this attitude to those most in need has now resulted in <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18752604.call-investigation-brighton-council-cycle-lanes/">Brighton & Hove City Council being investigated by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission</a>. I hope they throw the book at them!</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Once again, Momentum-Labour and the Green Party have brought shame onto the great city of Brighton & Hove.</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRgd8TnLbTZzGnF22r5AmLIvR7iseUwqnrOV274hrJdOMDExQxgcvFmZZ1ozVBHVZtQOujSg1LyaF1eiH0f83zhimJf3w-Kf1UEFv70I1eGEFZr3lmaskPc_sUCLViukQqAVd/s400/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Ollie-Wilson-Speaks-04-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="400" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRgd8TnLbTZzGnF22r5AmLIvR7iseUwqnrOV274hrJdOMDExQxgcvFmZZ1ozVBHVZtQOujSg1LyaF1eiH0f83zhimJf3w-Kf1UEFv70I1eGEFZr3lmaskPc_sUCLViukQqAVd/w400-h328/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Ollie-Wilson-Speaks-04-07-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I hope that Green and Labour leaders in Brighton & Hove will reflect seriously on the Madeira Drive debacle and realise that they do not always know best - and that genuine consultation with all user groups is vital before making any major road changes.</div><div><br /></div><div>In particular, they need to consider if the councillors put in charge of the important areas of transport, environment and sustainability have the experience and competence for the job. </div><div><br /></div><div>For instance, someone with an obsession about one form of transport and a strong dislike of other forms is unlikely to do a good job for all the people of Brighton & Hove.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f-KDKhLolY7v9fYx8FwHhGA1S2od1AhvOb9qC8fkR4zSjk0SwkxnV6HnMV5y4izS5TgQswXVvg1m7TdGGxbAcNi-fgA7IkL-7qS-7i_ljQxEMJ5hA3trhkq-8oXJG3qpyCzc/s500/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Angry-Mods-Splash-in-Brighton-Argus.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="500" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f-KDKhLolY7v9fYx8FwHhGA1S2od1AhvOb9qC8fkR4zSjk0SwkxnV6HnMV5y4izS5TgQswXVvg1m7TdGGxbAcNi-fgA7IkL-7qS-7i_ljQxEMJ5hA3trhkq-8oXJG3qpyCzc/w400-h233/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Angry-Mods-Splash-in-Brighton-Argus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In truth, there was never any need to close Madeira Drive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even during full lockdown, few cars were using it and there was plenty of room for cycling, running and walking. There always is. Madeira Drive has been a great source of parking revenue for Brighton & Hove City Council over the years but, ironically, it has never been a busy road. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, closing it achieved nothing, except costing the Council, which has a gaping hole in its finances of more than £20million, more than £1million in lost revenue, unpaid rents of traders and the totally unwarranted £12,000-a-month cost of Madeira Drive stewards (next time Phelim calls for a Council Tax increase, he needs to be reminded of this wanton waste of our money!)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mmyfqaBVgVaPPMEarBKKe4En0V2FGYJVt0Q8uallLrE8sO8o2fwVXXz337LyLgixREwiIofZHLOm78MOd6F-qNVTcLrrU9MAf49N-nG3VunHwlFRnnp3JMejEaFAohEMMVqS/s3776/L1140960.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3776" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mmyfqaBVgVaPPMEarBKKe4En0V2FGYJVt0Q8uallLrE8sO8o2fwVXXz337LyLgixREwiIofZHLOm78MOd6F-qNVTcLrrU9MAf49N-nG3VunHwlFRnnp3JMejEaFAohEMMVqS/w400-h268/L1140960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And dividing the people of Brighton & Hove, pitting Mod & motorcyclist against cyclist, when they are all natural friends on two wheels, and causing additional upset and angst at a time when elected officials and leaders like <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=4471" target="_blank">Nancy Platts</a> and Phelim Mac Cafferty should have been trying to unite the people of their fair city, already struggling from the economic impact and stress of the prolonged Covid-19 crisis.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>For too long they put their ideology before the common good. . . and it was a disaster! Let that be a lesson for iterations of Brighton & Hove City Council going forward!</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>* <a href="https://youtu.be/1ORUvPb6i8E" target="_blank">Latest TV Special on the Victory of Madeira Drive</a>.</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpMyu3vUAGF86cNTSzhx0YEQUKjaI5JXX_FwapnUznRIZ_HPgeg27nztUFJz7bUXptTGrsBWO-HA_QeUN6HeT_ppxkBPfZxm_4qEFCFJq9EFbFn3jJIQwCrQ0_WXJVrTc8w5V/s500/Mods-and-cyclists-Madeira-Drive-29-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="500" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpMyu3vUAGF86cNTSzhx0YEQUKjaI5JXX_FwapnUznRIZ_HPgeg27nztUFJz7bUXptTGrsBWO-HA_QeUN6HeT_ppxkBPfZxm_4qEFCFJq9EFbFn3jJIQwCrQ0_WXJVrTc8w5V/w640-h450/Mods-and-cyclists-Madeira-Drive-29-08-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKFtBTMeTgp68RbU6daPQ5dgA24ins5fIkWW0CW3gWig6GPQ3BvNTUYPcRj9EX8IAwZdzwIKP7FBf6DqqNDBNKoPlCBYj5EeX3Zt-fBePpy1-GqhTlJ9bINuN-f8EdbYOC5tW/s777/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+10.02.20.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKFtBTMeTgp68RbU6daPQ5dgA24ins5fIkWW0CW3gWig6GPQ3BvNTUYPcRj9EX8IAwZdzwIKP7FBf6DqqNDBNKoPlCBYj5EeX3Zt-fBePpy1-GqhTlJ9bINuN-f8EdbYOC5tW/w554-h640/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+10.02.20.png" width="554" /></a></div><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOzLif_Flw9TIbmjwIh04ejPuQNHbLDtc1S62lQQhBzo817iiiW6m1Ly0cee5cr1eCq8-BJn8KSc6HrR2MzgKeEPsVzgAo4Xvv2UMNY-Z-7pR_QUxYFkmqAxPPwl4WEtqrB3r/s326/Screenshot+2020-09-30+at+22.13.01.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOzLif_Flw9TIbmjwIh04ejPuQNHbLDtc1S62lQQhBzo817iiiW6m1Ly0cee5cr1eCq8-BJn8KSc6HrR2MzgKeEPsVzgAo4Xvv2UMNY-Z-7pR_QUxYFkmqAxPPwl4WEtqrB3r/s326/Screenshot+2020-09-30+at+22.13.01.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="323" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOzLif_Flw9TIbmjwIh04ejPuQNHbLDtc1S62lQQhBzo817iiiW6m1Ly0cee5cr1eCq8-BJn8KSc6HrR2MzgKeEPsVzgAo4Xvv2UMNY-Z-7pR_QUxYFkmqAxPPwl4WEtqrB3r/w396-h400/Screenshot+2020-09-30+at+22.13.01.png" width="396" /></a></div><i><br /></i></b></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-80884301168921464232020-08-17T15:26:00.011+00:002020-09-25T06:52:06.251+00:00150 Consecutive Days of Motorcycling: How I Passed My DAS Motorcycle Test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELAMYqlhUfjQx9Gm4mJqadJyH3xesRVS4byEyB7Ks_TZUPPQNChhLOio3hvnV_z2E6W0shOLZiIIVT0r4NFcc23hLbzjN_vUMQaFe9rgSzSTGR7AEmr7txFBNlajd4P3XiWgv/s1679/150-Days-Motorcycle-Test-Pass.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELAMYqlhUfjQx9Gm4mJqadJyH3xesRVS4byEyB7Ks_TZUPPQNChhLOio3hvnV_z2E6W0shOLZiIIVT0r4NFcc23hLbzjN_vUMQaFe9rgSzSTGR7AEmr7txFBNlajd4P3XiWgv/w305-h512/150-Days-Motorcycle-Test-Pass.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><b>For more than three years I have been trying to pass my motorcycle test, and when lockdown started I saw it as a golden opportunity to get the experience I needed.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Back in the 1970s and 1980s, when my mates in the sixth form and at university were passing their motorbike tests, it was a piece of cake - a ride around the block examined by an official who wasn't even on a motorbike. </div><div><br /></div><div>At one point in the test he would jump out in front of the student who had to perform an emergency stop. Not many candidates failed.</div><div><br /></div><div>My road safety-conscious father was wisely very agin motorcycling. It took my mum some persuading for him to agree to me riding my push-bike on the main road! </div><div><br /></div><div>And when I finally took up motorcycling, some 35 years later, the law has moved on and the full motorcycle test had become very difficult.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2014, I took up motorcycling at the age of 53. To be accurate, <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2014/10/i-am-mod.html" target="_blank">I bought a Vespa PX125 and became a Mod</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took my CBT - a one-day course that everyone has to take to wear an L Plate and ride a machine of up to 125cc engine capacity on the public highways - with a nice guy in Eastbourne who went on to become a fridge repairman. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were two students that day, me and an 18-year-old lad, and we were both rubbish. I couldn't get the hang of the gears and rarely got the motorbike above 15 mph; the lad had no road sense and kept charging through junctions without looking first. </div><div><br /></div><div>It seemed like a miracle that at the end of the day we were both given certificates.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzs3z-ZAt9lQsHWvJNvSFFu_fZ1EqDJ7_1_8SwJ-otRzpMvHxNUM5rW6surYGUg7ZMUjIeyFc6gr6ddnaAMCbLxEd78sRDb2oyrjV3wRf7wUhBnyOumEcrkA0aHwmCbImlbEG/s1000/150-Days-Vespa-Scooter-Madeira-Drive.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1000" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzs3z-ZAt9lQsHWvJNvSFFu_fZ1EqDJ7_1_8SwJ-otRzpMvHxNUM5rW6surYGUg7ZMUjIeyFc6gr6ddnaAMCbLxEd78sRDb2oyrjV3wRf7wUhBnyOumEcrkA0aHwmCbImlbEG/w410-h314/150-Days-Vespa-Scooter-Madeira-Drive.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>It took me a long time to get used to riding the Vespa, with her beautiful little wheels and handlebar gear shift. For the first three months, I rode round the block in first gear. </div><div><br /></div><div>Through my cat, the late Mr Cheeky, I met another motorcyclist, Nick, who was young and confident. We started riding out together, although I was still too slow and hesitant.</div><div><br /></div><div>In November 2016, after redoing my CBT (you have to retake every two years if you haven't passed the full test), I decided I needed to move up in the motorised two-wheeled world. I plumped for a feisty firm of motorcycle tutors in Worthing, paid a substantial sum and booked onto a course to take the full Direct Access licence, allowing me to ride a motorbike or scooter of any size. </div><div><br /></div><div>At that point, I had ridden about 1,500 miles on my Vespa, mainly up and down the Brighton & Hove seafront, to and from <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-scandal-of-closure-of-brightons.html">Madeira Drive</a>, a place that would come to be a major part of my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, I was being vastly over-optimistic. I had no motorcycling experience - riding a scooter is very different - and the gung-ho company I'd chosen was not the one for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had three different instructors over the four or five days of the course and was left traumatised by the experience - scared witless by the experience of riding on fast roads like the M23 and M27 - and struggling to control the bike, a 650cc. Kawasaki, which anyway seemed to have developed malfunctioning gears. </div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, Test Day was a nightmare. I scraped through the "Mod 1" exercises - emergency stop, swerve, U-turn etc. done on a big courtyard at the Burgess Hill test centre - to the evident disgust of my instructor, who had developed a dislike of me, but then made numerous errors on the 40-minute "Mod 2" ride around. I left the test centre shaking and did not try again for two years, by which time the written test I'd taken had expired as had the Mod 1 pass!</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, I repeated my CBT day - for the third time - but with a new motorcycling school, <a href="https://www.saferiders.co.uk/">Saferide</a>, which near Brighton & Hove at Southwick Football Ground, Southwick. They seemed a lot gentler than their Worthing rivals and more willing to work with my fear of motorcycling and other anxieties. Indeed, they seemed to specialist in fearful students!</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a day toying with the idea of my taking the motorcycle test on my Vespa PX125, which would have meant, if I passed, I could only ride motorbikes up to 125cc, although without an L plate and with a pillion passenger. I had an enjoyable day riding my PX125 on Sussex countryside roads. Unfortunately, I failed to get it up to the 62mph required for the motorbike test - with its current set-up it just wasn't fast or powerful enough.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIhyphenhyphenu6qXT3kpoF7dudvAMWUYi6TCWVRdJwCI14bNrxx8ATy1TXv9Nt0wyw3E635EzQ5DsJHzOSCBuBNyOItL0S_oLcL_-VddViYTrW9BAPHSS-vL5_UYGAw63FayvldYPyVmd/s1000/150-Days-Second-Motorbike-Test.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1000" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIhyphenhyphenu6qXT3kpoF7dudvAMWUYi6TCWVRdJwCI14bNrxx8ATy1TXv9Nt0wyw3E635EzQ5DsJHzOSCBuBNyOItL0S_oLcL_-VddViYTrW9BAPHSS-vL5_UYGAw63FayvldYPyVmd/w410-h408/150-Days-Second-Motorbike-Test.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Once again, it was late in the year - November - but I embarked another attempt my motorcycle test. This time I had Saferide's Chief Instructor and Owner, Tony Iles, a very pleasant and jovial guy (with a stock of terrible jokes, puns and Spoonerisms). </div><div><br /></div><div>This time I was on a 650cc Yahama MT07 motorcycle which was massively powerful with incredible torque. It has a maximum speed of around 130mph and the ability to accelerate at, for me, a shockingly great rate.</div><div><br /></div><div>The worst part of learning to motorcycle is the lessons. Regardless of the skills of the tutor, if you are of a nervous disposition, you always end up frit. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think three days of tuition, losing about half a stone in weight. On the final day, Tony and another instructor, Alex, took me out for a 100-mile ride going through Petersfield, on the way to Winchester, and ending at a biker's cafe. It was a beautiful day and I finally started to enjoy it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had already retaken the written exam (and passed with flying colours again) and now had to retake Mod 2, which I had passed just over two years before. This time, I excelled myself - and managed to fail, by one kilometre per hour on one exercise. I could not believe it!</div><div><br /></div><div>I left the Burgess Hill test centre feeling despondent but, luckily, Sue, Saferide's very capable administrator, had another date lined up for me. This time, with the same examiner, I passed Mod 1 and went on to Mod 2 - the 40-minute <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnM__nyl0GkfhsfbcOmMY74vDHT1UPV9tH_iiJ9YtF0WTMgc-95DBb8qZYDVgfWBmirP57R8n8akbC18kGG62kJ8JcFsdlSrDxxHrZCG4M_wHvTCSKvjZwkW61tnzcVEOO8Wh/s1000/150-Days-Lowen-and-YS125.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1000" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnM__nyl0GkfhsfbcOmMY74vDHT1UPV9tH_iiJ9YtF0WTMgc-95DBb8qZYDVgfWBmirP57R8n8akbC18kGG62kJ8JcFsdlSrDxxHrZCG4M_wHvTCSKvjZwkW61tnzcVEOO8Wh/w410-h350/150-Days-Lowen-and-YS125.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>ride around. I was a bag of nerves and somehow got on and started up the wrong motorbike - another motor-riding school's Yamaha MT07! </div><div><br /></div><div>As the examiner was telling me through the radio to move off , I realised that the motorbike was a different colour from the one I'd arrived on. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hugely embarrassed, I switched off the engine, put it back on the side-stand and dismounted, to go in search of my MT07. Totally flustered, I cut the corner coming out of the test centre - a serious fault - and had failed before I'd even reached the road!</div><div><br /></div><div>With my great dislike of riding in the wind and the rain, I decided to retire from motorcycling for the year, and pick it up again the following spring. I planned to have another crack at taking Mod 2 in April or May 2020. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tony Iles advised to buy a 125cc motorcycle - as opposed to a scooter - to get some proper experience with foot gears, which I had always struggled with. </div><div><br /></div><div>I raided my savings to buy a slightly used Yamaha YS125 from the <a href="https://www.onthewheel.co.uk/">On The Wheel</a>, an excellent motorbike superstore at Fishersgate, near Brighton & Hove. It had been previously owned by a female police officer who, remarkably, had only done 122 miles before she sold it back to the store. I guess she was a very fast learner! It was as new and surprisingly like the MT07 without the high power and speed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I vowed to teach myself to motorcycle by the spring. I took it out once on the A22 and got it up to 62 mph. The monsoon season then started. It seemed to rain continually for all of January and February this year. The YS125 was undercover in my yard - I did not ride it once. </div><div><br /></div><div>In early March I went on a couple fo rides, and then, as the sun came out, you-know-what happened. The world went into freeze-frame. Death stalked the streets. An no prizes for guessing my test date was cancelled.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k6qyEBz-5wYa2Egx6S1ZZQE9KjcanmFHwu9G1Dtzz-lLz4jWL_3hWsgDiXnTsDTQfDcSjgMYZIu2OMx2x7K8mWSt_xJ-xgL26a28oZUw9k-RUIX30h3VoFU5bR6gRRMslZD8/s1000/150-Days-YS125-in-Ditchling.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k6qyEBz-5wYa2Egx6S1ZZQE9KjcanmFHwu9G1Dtzz-lLz4jWL_3hWsgDiXnTsDTQfDcSjgMYZIu2OMx2x7K8mWSt_xJ-xgL26a28oZUw9k-RUIX30h3VoFU5bR6gRRMslZD8/w410-h264/150-Days-YS125-in-Ditchling.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Like everybody else I found myself stuck at home with an uncertain future as Government-fuelled paranoia swept the country like wildfire. I thought to myself: 'This is my time. It's my golden opportunity to overcome my fear of motorcycling!' On 13 March 2020, I embarked on my motorcycle odyssey, vowing to ride every day until I passed my DAS motorcycle test.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rain or shine, I would go out, morning, noon or night. When the weather was all right, I'd ride to Seaford, Eastbourne, Shoreham or Worthing. If it was really horrendous, I'd go to George Street, Hove, or the Lanes, Brighton, braving high winds and horizontal rain. I forced myself to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone I know was very supportive of my efforts. My lovely neighbours, in particular, often asked me where I'd been that day, how many days of riding I'd done now and how many miles. Their son, Lowen, liked to sit on my motorbike and wanted to set off with me on his wooden bicycle (pictured earlier). </div><div><br /></div><div>At first, I was a bit worried about the vague guidelines around lockdown - exactly what they meant. I always had shopping bags in my rucksack and usually bought something essential if I stopped. I was totally socially distanced, with a helmet rather than a mask on. It was my daily exercise.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzvvI5THz0Tbx0eHH0e4YnQ27sSPm0RMImxk1mjw93OuptwkP4MjLAvYMOH0LIkbmmbpsWzTC6WduZeJ2sQHZGHNBIQ2WBJL1N3sPSoqLTFOwL2QUZmM16vYPSTAk4QlmsP7c/s1000/150-days-Far-side-of-Bognor-Regis.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1000" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzvvI5THz0Tbx0eHH0e4YnQ27sSPm0RMImxk1mjw93OuptwkP4MjLAvYMOH0LIkbmmbpsWzTC6WduZeJ2sQHZGHNBIQ2WBJL1N3sPSoqLTFOwL2QUZmM16vYPSTAk4QlmsP7c/w410-h310/150-days-Far-side-of-Bognor-Regis.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>In the early days, it was perfect. The weather was generally good and the roads almost empty. I encountered police vehicles but, as I stuck strictly to the speed limit, they didn't trouble me at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, my fear of motorcycling started to dissipate. I was still cautious but it became routine. The foot gears were no longer a problem - gear changes became second nature, as they are for me as a car driver.</div><div><br /></div><div>The worst moment during lockdown came when someone tried to steal my Vespa, but <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-goodness-of-mod-kind.html">the Mod and motorcyclist communities came to the rescue in a big way</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the working week, I had to stay fairly close to Brighton & Hove while at weekends and on holiday I was able to head off to Littlehampton or Bognor Regis. However, I was sticking to the B-roads and avoiding fast roads like the A23 and A27. I had not entirely conquered my fears.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came to cherish my daily excursion. It was a way to escape the madness - and the less one stopped the better. Day-trips can be tough without open cafes, so I took to taking a flask or a bottle of water in my rucksack. Wherever I went I witnessed almost empty streets - a nation in hiding.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came to really admire that the shopkeepers who had stayed open for essentials or takeaways. I liked the trader in Madeira Drive, Brighton, who stayed open for customers during lockdown, although very soon Brighton & Hove City Council closed the road to make life doubly tough for him and other traders who later joined him. And I would often ride to Worthing to buy steaks at the superb discount butcher, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Guildbourne-Meats-587047114762699">Guildbourne Meats</a>, in the otherwise deserted shopping precinct.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were places like Worthing and Shoreham that became second homes to me. More welcoming to motorcyclists than Brighton & Hove has become under its extremist city council, it was always a pleasure to scoot off to Shoreham for a cup of tea, overlooking the River Adur. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also discovered how lovely Shoreham beach is and the nature reserve and enormous lake beside it. I also liked Shoreham Airport.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i0smZ1ba5OAp5gDrNW0S6B2So5MNIHwgesfdW50OTDWZIkpshI4HcDmZ7O-HFWXYY1RrFVctXzRsrCEf14sKKHRhdQNae83LXuyCFZWIStpNSS-6ZMsIMF68XRm9SyI6jM3O/s1000/150-Days-Littlehampton.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i0smZ1ba5OAp5gDrNW0S6B2So5MNIHwgesfdW50OTDWZIkpshI4HcDmZ7O-HFWXYY1RrFVctXzRsrCEf14sKKHRhdQNae83LXuyCFZWIStpNSS-6ZMsIMF68XRm9SyI6jM3O/w513-h343/150-Days-Littlehampton.jpg" width="513" /></a></div>Over the 150 consecutive days of motorcycling, I rode around 2,100 miles. At weekends, I would ride to Eastbourne, almost totally deserted in lockdown, or Littlehampton, which is beautiful around the river, or Bognor Regis, which has a fast and quite scary road leading to it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Such peacefulness and tranquility I found in these locations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seaford, I also liked, Newhaven less so. The road to Birling Gap and through to Eastbourne is wonderful, beautiful landscapes and seascapes, winding roads, a feeling of being on top of the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also loved riding over Ditchling Beacon to Lewes and visiting my allotment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually, after months of practising, lockdown started to lift - and the motorcycle test centre at Burgess Hill came back on tap.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yXHsJEeJa5MghD4cnAdVnoOz-jZp_slIk6VBIXlGJOcdddL3QkDhhxpYEbYm2STpWwVkbNepaclHpSJviYuCao3HfCMZNebSc-5cociD3siQiuRLms-IByJFkPCPdT13qrBI/s1000/150-Days-Lewes-FC.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1000" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yXHsJEeJa5MghD4cnAdVnoOz-jZp_slIk6VBIXlGJOcdddL3QkDhhxpYEbYm2STpWwVkbNepaclHpSJviYuCao3HfCMZNebSc-5cociD3siQiuRLms-IByJFkPCPdT13qrBI/w410-h302/150-Days-Lewes-FC.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Sue got me a test date - 16 July 2020 at 11.06am (the Government is very precise on this, if nothing else) - and informed me of a draconian set of rules introduced to combat the Bulls*it). So, I braced myself to go into battle again. I insisted on having only one day of prep on the MT07 - I felt any more would leave me too traumatised for the test - and was assigned a new instructor by Saferide, Graham, a gentle giant and former marine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Graham did a lot of good, sitting me down for a couple of hours to talk about roundabouts, signalling and lifesaver checks. I have to admit I learnt a lot. Even though I have been driving a car for 40 years, there was plenty I didn't know. He was also very good on how to avoid "serious faults" - which automatically cause you to fail the motorcycle test. I realised my strategy had to be avoiding "serious faults" while accepting that, at my level of competence, I was going to pick quite a new minor faults.</div><div><br /></div><div>As with all my instructors, he was fairly shocked at my unwillingness to ride fast on roads such as the M23 and M27 or to overtake other vehicles. In fact, Graham found enormous numbers of faults with my riding and bombarded with new techniques and tips.</div><div><br /></div><div>After my day of tuition, I was feeling considerably less confident than I had done before. I realised that my 124 consecutive days of motorcycling had only taken me so far. I was far from guaranteed from passing. I could tell that Graham probably thought I wouldn't make it. But I kept thinking that there must be a big backlog of tests, which surely would make examiners a little more tolerant on borderline candidates.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH3R4gME6qokg5Z_Irg9_s93LPLdguKV7S8N3qGVaEUWSHUB2GaCXYXYR6R10dqkAkuRWHAua8iN0OvCh9xZu3MbB2GlzNPDdHJaieGNmH0Vr0ljv74ndNdc7PlQfYUqq2Jz3/s1000/150-Days-Shoreham-Airport.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="1000" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH3R4gME6qokg5Z_Irg9_s93LPLdguKV7S8N3qGVaEUWSHUB2GaCXYXYR6R10dqkAkuRWHAua8iN0OvCh9xZu3MbB2GlzNPDdHJaieGNmH0Vr0ljv74ndNdc7PlQfYUqq2Jz3/w512-h236/150-Days-Shoreham-Airport.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>However, I did not sleep at all well. I must have dropped off at midnight and woken up at 4am. Even with copious amounts of coffee, I was dog-tired and struggling to hold it together. </div><div><br /></div><div>I asked Graham to lead me the scenic route to Burgess Hill from Southwick, avoiding the M23. 'My nerves can't take it this morning," I said. So, we went over the Beacon and for two hours rode around country roads, with me stubbornly refusing to get up to speed in my half-comatose state. 'You'll fail for not going fast enough,' Graham warned. I replied: 'I'll lay on the speed for the test.' But I did learn a lot about tackling slow junctions super-cautiously.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXbxaNdwCfGZZp637FECr1xkOgMzAenqx-E7BqM00YE5MPY6FG1pv0l81e59fpYZxywl-t0Xm5eiWX1HV4G27S8uQxeUuD7qWMLZsRhIz7tT_HABa7U6gIUHVIf687BpxiKaq/s1000/150-Days-Snack-Bar-Bognor-Regis.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXbxaNdwCfGZZp637FECr1xkOgMzAenqx-E7BqM00YE5MPY6FG1pv0l81e59fpYZxywl-t0Xm5eiWX1HV4G27S8uQxeUuD7qWMLZsRhIz7tT_HABa7U6gIUHVIf687BpxiKaq/w410-h286/150-Days-Snack-Bar-Bognor-Regis.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>More coffee at a cafe, and it was time to go. At the test centre there was no longer a waiting room. You lingered outside, in a mask, or my case a snood, until the examiner introduced himself. Because of his mask, I didn't recognise him at first as the examiner who'd failed on the previous occasion. At least this time there was less chance of me getting on the wrong motorbike!</div><div><br /></div><div>Courtesy of Her Majesty's Government, I was led to a cave in the side of the building where I had to lay out my driving documents and withdraw while the examiner, Niall, checked them. There was then a lot of messing around to sort out the radio apparatus - all done socially distanced through masks. I was striving to stay awake and alert.</div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't start well. For the "show and tell", I struggled to find the front brake fluid container, although I chanced upon it in the nick of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Off we went on the ride. I was extra careful not to cut the corner again coming out of the test centre, and tried to bear in mind everything Graham had taught me. In my earlier tests, I had been in hurry and reluctant to stop for fear of stalling.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time I took a different approach, stopping at most junctions, before moving off and accelerating fast up to the speed limit. I was aware that I was making mistakes but focused on not making any "serious" or "dangerous" errors, which bring with them an automatic fail.</div><div><br /></div><div>The radio kept cutting out and the examiner asked me pull up on the M23 slip road so he could fix it. We had a bit of a chat and then I had quite a long wait for a break in the traffic. When it came I accelerated up to 70mph in second gear and was doing the speed limit when I entered the M23 - a first for me!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDHNi2KsGIcM5JcFdOJ0E21g_chXNIQGadCKJDbGce1g9m10OeEPZii12yrQWEczhxAZ3QPgn4euqblgPMAPtcTn0l9HCZYpBARkpV-lF9cS2mcL500g4Bl2aSRo_PV1mdzdd/s1000/150-Days-Chris-in-Lewes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDHNi2KsGIcM5JcFdOJ0E21g_chXNIQGadCKJDbGce1g9m10OeEPZii12yrQWEczhxAZ3QPgn4euqblgPMAPtcTn0l9HCZYpBARkpV-lF9cS2mcL500g4Bl2aSRo_PV1mdzdd/w410-h264/150-Days-Chris-in-Lewes.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Most of the test was a blur. I was painfully aware of my riding limitations, but just about holding it together. The weekend before, my biker friend and neighbour Chris had led me round some of the test routes. There was one with a long winding stretch on a country lane at national speed limit (60mph) that I particularly disliked. Even in my car, I wouldn't drive it faster than 45mph.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sod's Law dictated that my test took me down this lane. I accelerated up to 60mph, following a speedy car, and threw that MT07 round the bends, hanging on for dear life. That may sound like fun but I hated every second of it! But it was soon over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back at the test centre, I was pretty shaken by the whole experience and bracing myself for the inevitable words signifying my failure.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmr7F4PILhQtUCVZHzxZ97FqdLUpTG7IKqECuDh0X5XJnO_2Pe4YRZz-Sf6UPbVSzutjObyAOilEzmB2o5crny6nnZocgK6rwOArNwLU3Bn_r8kdXU43YAKuOXQEFYfd0h0ok/s1000/150-Days-Ollie-Wilson-on-Harley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmr7F4PILhQtUCVZHzxZ97FqdLUpTG7IKqECuDh0X5XJnO_2Pe4YRZz-Sf6UPbVSzutjObyAOilEzmB2o5crny6nnZocgK6rwOArNwLU3Bn_r8kdXU43YAKuOXQEFYfd0h0ok/w512-h414/150-Days-Ollie-Wilson-on-Harley.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>When the examiner said I had passed, I literally could not believe my ears. However, then he reeled off a seemingly endless list of minor riding faults. 'You are getting what we call a PWB,' he said. I asked: 'What does PWB stand for?'</div><div><br /></div><div>'Pass With Bollocking!' he replied. I said that was fine - I was totally delighted to pass under any circumstances. I knew full well that without the coronavirus crisis, I wouldn't have been good enough to even scrape thorough.</div><div><br /></div><div>My therapist had also helped, persuading me that there was no earthly reason why I should not pass. To my surprise, she said that as a young model and actress, she'd passed her motorbike test - before, unfortunately, crashing into London's Parliament Square!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ydCp3MR2l-u1gEySqMMgka1NsOhbEfbcX2K5-vSDupV3G2kRswfuyU-MF1QGw0gV9EOzdm6lD83U9Qszua5wq4NUwp6zWQjQFfe0tsZV95JHPt55PbKN9480t20iVeXpw8Gv/s1000/150-Days-Motorbikes-in-Lewes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1000" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ydCp3MR2l-u1gEySqMMgka1NsOhbEfbcX2K5-vSDupV3G2kRswfuyU-MF1QGw0gV9EOzdm6lD83U9Qszua5wq4NUwp6zWQjQFfe0tsZV95JHPt55PbKN9480t20iVeXpw8Gv/w410-h279/150-Days-Motorbikes-in-Lewes.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>The day I passed - 16 July - was my 126th consecutive day of motorcycling. Why didn't I stop there? Partly because I wanted to show off my motorbike and my scooter without L plates on, partly due to the yearning to end on a nice round number.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once I had the test pass, I started riding the Vespa more than the Yamaha, joining the original Mods who don't ride around with L plates on.</div><div><br /></div><div>By that time, the Campaign to Reopen Madeira Drive was getting into full swing and, it was appropriate, that I completed the 150 days of riding with a rally at Madeira Drive, well supported by the Mods and the Rockers. Since then, I have taken a bit of break from motorcycling epics! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv01PBqwwTCSaOTZDDuACYg-6YbBiQZPJeXjrK3fISP83QLjLZt0YkC5GVc6-1nr0xNhRpmZx0z95AGjR2WxFMvwqDEGRCRawXJZvIO8q4JnkAk_PqaVbENHlCjs2_GXyswxBb/s1000/150-Days-Ollie-and-Tony-Iles.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1000" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv01PBqwwTCSaOTZDDuACYg-6YbBiQZPJeXjrK3fISP83QLjLZt0YkC5GVc6-1nr0xNhRpmZx0z95AGjR2WxFMvwqDEGRCRawXJZvIO8q4JnkAk_PqaVbENHlCjs2_GXyswxBb/w512-h376/150-Days-Ollie-and-Tony-Iles.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>Finally, I can thoroughly recommend <a href="https://www.saferiders.co.uk/">Saferide</a> as a motorcycle riding school - no matter how hard you find motorcycling!</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>When I have found a suitable bigger bike to tackle the fast roads on, I will be back for more lessons - to get my big motorbike riding career off to a good start!</i></b></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-13956005323564577732020-08-09T14:51:00.037+00:002020-08-28T20:18:22.429+00:00Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign, Part 2<p><i><b>[PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST UPDATE]</b></i></p><p><b>Sunday, 9 August Update:</b></p><p><b>Great protest today by Mods and Rockers at Madeira Drive!</b></p><p>Large numbers of Mods and other scooterists and Rockers and other bikers gathered from 10am - and were interviewed and filmed by BBC South East TV.</p><p>Helen, the charming presenter, and her cameraman Graham did a smashing job on covering the all angles. Thanks, guys!</p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000lr43/south-east-today-evening-news-09082020">Here is their excellent report</a>.</p><p>And here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkN3uVqarAc&feature=youtu.be">fantastic video of the day</a> by Rob Henderson. Thanks, Rob! And <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100004869094638/videos/pcb.326641822044692/1603043079867980/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100004869094638/videos/pcb.326641822044692/1603043196534635/">here</a> are more videos.</p><p>The police were very helpful, particularly WPCs Sarah and Lucy, who somehow helped to negotiate for us to ride down Madeira Drive for the cameras. </p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1000" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY914JbX_qCpsVCzSg9CZTx4vDIoJ4QH5_bb6d3ALpS6YC9uXc4-CRDzDS-gr2RyCjHixVbbtiNWfaDcSjQwmE-H5Yd-6U83pZF9236Ul4XT-VAP1aMsHeJhBLgvxNtn67IcmP/w410-h305/Madeira-Drive-Protest-09-08-2020.jpg" width="410" /></p><p>It was fabulous - Rockers and Mods in the same convoy, fighting for the same cause.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYYoisOHPSDk9I0DqTrP3rSfb6IgpJ7HTlvJIFbkspdeBALsOwzGgeTm8DQhf0rCPCe_P-MyL0zRgY0gfemcWZtFHinlV_i_DUEn2Kk23zN251SBSJwEs5Q7MXMrW9BaW-kzr/s1200/Screenshot+2020-08-09+at+20.37.39.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1200" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYYoisOHPSDk9I0DqTrP3rSfb6IgpJ7HTlvJIFbkspdeBALsOwzGgeTm8DQhf0rCPCe_P-MyL0zRgY0gfemcWZtFHinlV_i_DUEn2Kk23zN251SBSJwEs5Q7MXMrW9BaW-kzr/w410-h224/Screenshot+2020-08-09+at+20.37.39.png" width="410" /></a></div>When we were parked up, I made <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1516187936/videos/10223535839173535">a speech, as did leading South Coast Mod Diggers</a>, my partner Laura King and biker Brian. In my speech, also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=341322633551248&notif_id=1597040782962948&notif_t=watch_follower_video&ref=notif">here</a>, I stressed out how we had come in the Campaign and said we were winning the argument.<p></p><p>Quadrophenia star Gary Shail, who played Spider in the cult Mods and Rockers film, sent a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thecommuterstale.olivergozzard/videos/3366676003390956">message of support</a> to the assembled Rockers and Mods, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18639311.quadrophenia-star-backs-campaign-reopen-madeira-drive/">also reported in the Brighton Argus</a>.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSQCTGOAWnS36RYgel8wAthHKKPv85uTMFuVq-iF73GQFOJSC50CgUhBUIH-s3f9oFW6hCgQWSnfnZdy6817iEPi1cW1lgcI7rffFPB71F8CI4tcfo1Rj3sxLaArgMZ3DbEvp/s542/Gary-Shail-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-August-2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="466" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSQCTGOAWnS36RYgel8wAthHKKPv85uTMFuVq-iF73GQFOJSC50CgUhBUIH-s3f9oFW6hCgQWSnfnZdy6817iEPi1cW1lgcI7rffFPB71F8CI4tcfo1Rj3sxLaArgMZ3DbEvp/w298-h347/Gary-Shail-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-August-2020.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gary said: "Sorry I can’t be with you this Sunday for the protest to keep Madeira Drive open. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Madeira Drive was, of course, one of the key locations for the film Quadrophenia in which I played the character of Spider.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Madeira Drive is an incredibly significant place for Mods and bikers alike, who have been regular visitors to the shops, the restaurants, the bars and all the other places since the early Sixties. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And I think it’s incredibly sad that all these businesses will suffer, definitely, and, perhaps, even have to close if the planned road closure goes ahead. I believe this is a misguided and terrible decision to restrict this fantastic destination to specific interest groups at the expense of others.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht53JDL7D1Rq0hzhM-4oaSZujUz90upn9okSq5WXQN79EU4nQNNzUXm1oSFzi0w32_V_jMbU4I1gbBpq9eUwnXfbmaM_wJcQ-oM1x0YwW8z9azEolqV47tEVD-udeemXG6ebvR/s1000/Gary-Shail-Article-Brighton-Argus-10-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1000" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht53JDL7D1Rq0hzhM-4oaSZujUz90upn9okSq5WXQN79EU4nQNNzUXm1oSFzi0w32_V_jMbU4I1gbBpq9eUwnXfbmaM_wJcQ-oM1x0YwW8z9azEolqV47tEVD-udeemXG6ebvR/w328-h198/Gary-Shail-Article-Brighton-Argus-10-08-20.jpg" width="328" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">He added: “I really hope that this Sunday protest is well supported by Mods and Rockers alike, who with all the other supporters now have a petition with nearly 11,000 people.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlCtFIKSoj4X451UHGbRu6BmJCzKPwarpvSOIiexoOyFsvTYi1UXSEc8STopBjYqm4gp3jHSg719l-sQ8YyT91uGgG0xazrp52f0j-cbwQwNV6wI-GcClLlUJbtQGa00Pu1UP/s648/Screenshot+2020-08-10+at+17.34.20.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlCtFIKSoj4X451UHGbRu6BmJCzKPwarpvSOIiexoOyFsvTYi1UXSEc8STopBjYqm4gp3jHSg719l-sQ8YyT91uGgG0xazrp52f0j-cbwQwNV6wI-GcClLlUJbtQGa00Pu1UP/w410-h360/Screenshot+2020-08-10+at+17.34.20.png" width="410" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">“So let’s just hope that they might open the eyes of Brighton & Hove City Council and convince them that Madeira Drive is a cultural gem that must be reopened for all visitors."<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many thanks, Gary, for your support and to the South Coast Mods, of which I am proud to be a member, and to everyone else who attended or helped. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3JkxewHZTeVpBGmsg4FtIz9EKRzlUtyZ9pHIlBN0qdgjQlOnJOEGw84YPfK1w0hhG4VnQzoPllMdV-vyxeoZhvy3001Z-Mrz6eQQ3xo9lmgkiIXV08j-yoGX2E2K8CrcsBTC/s1123/Screenshot+2020-08-09+at+21.04.14.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1123" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3JkxewHZTeVpBGmsg4FtIz9EKRzlUtyZ9pHIlBN0qdgjQlOnJOEGw84YPfK1w0hhG4VnQzoPllMdV-vyxeoZhvy3001Z-Mrz6eQQ3xo9lmgkiIXV08j-yoGX2E2K8CrcsBTC/w410-h238/Screenshot+2020-08-09+at+21.04.14.png" width="410" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1404525966283848/videos/617126032535157">nice video of the event</a> made by South Coast Mod Diggers.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>I will update this blog post with images and any other video clips as they come in.</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-jVemeJwQkiZXtK4DbeTVB-lsb3j0JApeep8V35MGPi_LsJT5Uup7gjBRd-fWRnB5SYJmi0KhFdiSgHzUxUdUiuNjv63FeEQutAjK0K4usigHZ89oxGecJ263H9H7Qm4yM3T/s1860/Madeira-Drive-Protest-09-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="1469" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-jVemeJwQkiZXtK4DbeTVB-lsb3j0JApeep8V35MGPi_LsJT5Uup7gjBRd-fWRnB5SYJmi0KhFdiSgHzUxUdUiuNjv63FeEQutAjK0K4usigHZ89oxGecJ263H9H7Qm4yM3T/w404-h513/Madeira-Drive-Protest-09-08-20.jpg" width="404" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi478jnStLlK252uVwZtEL6WqO8-uLBeF4WNqqEomQO1l4Y-xb9xJ5-3Bv6HPfRW-qiUm8fSmaw4lhC8SiQOvKuMu5mFVDF_XE4qvZpbIpK-BI6YHo3fyd6B8PRjAw_dKoXFygV/s1025/Rockers-on-Madeira-Drive-for-Protest-09-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1000" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi478jnStLlK252uVwZtEL6WqO8-uLBeF4WNqqEomQO1l4Y-xb9xJ5-3Bv6HPfRW-qiUm8fSmaw4lhC8SiQOvKuMu5mFVDF_XE4qvZpbIpK-BI6YHo3fyd6B8PRjAw_dKoXFygV/w399-h410/Rockers-on-Madeira-Drive-for-Protest-09-08-20.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFTLrNeHngffsfmvyAepduoj34YXN-yJDC22iYv7d_rveEyqBofQ2Ch24qrYYQ_Qh6iq3LQ-S2w92rLRW36fwPyfLurIURQmE2q9U96ikLLHnmTUefRWe-hs22LBPGRh08ddl/s1000/BBC-South-East-Disability-Interview-Madeira-Drive-09-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPN01zknF2KdraHY4A_5ZGpT-fnrw5yE4u-fZzzU9F8kim7WJbYl4C8ttiiTKFd0nvh-T_O5E9LXJ7Lkx3SqLBjSIv_ofvPogrpo4IVuEe_Kwsni8jEgHDxyZ9G-jKPV7G0S1/s640/Micky-Lambretta-BBC-South-East-09-08-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpClHXBe3xgqJtZPkEPLy47PpK09jjYP-fTD-UDdTYbC3ZKogLg_Db2Fn8HaTHIoXXwP3D8fXWen0eDmCN_0L0eX7TL12-DsQ-hbKMB6R8e3VBsJ1W2cGB0V7vBWJsW9eg-xN/s800/Mad-Pete-BBC-South-East-09-08-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpClHXBe3xgqJtZPkEPLy47PpK09jjYP-fTD-UDdTYbC3ZKogLg_Db2Fn8HaTHIoXXwP3D8fXWen0eDmCN_0L0eX7TL12-DsQ-hbKMB6R8e3VBsJ1W2cGB0V7vBWJsW9eg-xN/s640/Mad-Pete-BBC-South-East-09-08-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXZunKPvC2aIxqzX_JgNv1NLYBhtgwzuzwpHRnAf4dFvZEN7yajIodcB2fkyydu_bcxFqPy2qxc-rA6ssqiIz58D3EYy8KybFyEd8WdgFVoLIPa9wFVQZ4D2OfAsCmQxVOdop/s983/Madeira-Drive-Protest-Ride-Down-09-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="983" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXZunKPvC2aIxqzX_JgNv1NLYBhtgwzuzwpHRnAf4dFvZEN7yajIodcB2fkyydu_bcxFqPy2qxc-rA6ssqiIz58D3EYy8KybFyEd8WdgFVoLIPa9wFVQZ4D2OfAsCmQxVOdop/w640-h396/Madeira-Drive-Protest-Ride-Down-09-08-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">* Black Friday, 14 August 2020:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXStDRrrjm7CjjCa1n9sZotM255oYOOwqw6vhnRZTW3WqbXt9PZknT6FUigxDHLQHhoq6xmxLyDH8JqWqfHXskFhkTJME_TzijxJRJFOTe-72q4Aouwm_CoS4XowbTSIGZ5byT/s638/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+13.53.11.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="638" height="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXStDRrrjm7CjjCa1n9sZotM255oYOOwqw6vhnRZTW3WqbXt9PZknT6FUigxDHLQHhoq6xmxLyDH8JqWqfHXskFhkTJME_TzijxJRJFOTe-72q4Aouwm_CoS4XowbTSIGZ5byT/w798-h760/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+13.53.11.png" width="798" /></a></div>Still reeling from the Green and Red wall that we hit last night - at the Special Meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Greens and Labour made it abundantly clear that they have no interest in saving the traders' season by reopening Madeira Drive or, indeed, ever doing so, and between them told just about every fib in the book to justify their prejudiced decision.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">It became clear during the Madeira Drive petitions debate that Phelim Mac Cafferty and his Green group and Labour leader Nancy Platts and her colleagues do not really care about local jobs, the views of local people including the disabled, the history and traditions of the city - or the Council's finances. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Between them, they could well end up leaving Brighton & Hove morally and financially bankrupt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">It was a real shock to realise just what a blinkered and extremist set-up we are up against.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Later in the meeting, every one of the Green and Labour councillors voted against Councllor Wares' very generous compromise motion to reopen Madeira Drive one way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, the only votes in support of the motion came from Tory councillors and one independent councillor, Bridget Fishleigh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">The only possible solution I can see now is for the Madeira Drive traders in the parade, who have been despicably betrayed by the Labour and Green councillors, to take legal action against the Council for the breach of their leases. (Yes, the Council is THEIR landlord - you couldn't make it up!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sadly, we haven't been able to make Phelim (who I am ashamed to say is my local councillor), and Nancy (whose decision makes me ashamed to be a Labour Party member) and their colleagues see reason.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><i>This is the statement we put out after the painful debate on the Petitions last night:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ollie Wilson and Laura King, the founders of the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign, said: "The petitions' debate by Brighton & Hove City Council on the reopening of Madeira Drive has made a mockery of democracy.</span><div style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></div><div>"Green and Labour councillors were totally partisan, favouring the minority view and accepting statements that are simply untrue, such as the nonsense that Madeira Drive has been busy with cyclists and pedestrians or still needs to be closed because of the Covid-19 crisis. Our 1,360-strong Facebook group, Reopen Madeira Drive To All, has been uploading daily photographs of Madeira Drive at peak times which show this to be patently untrue.</div><div><br /></div><div>"While hypocritically claiming to support local businesses, they have thrown Madeira Drive's traders under a bus, refusing to have an early decision on this issue at Committee or even commission a report, as Councillor Bridget Fishleigh sensibly proposed, to establish the true facts on the impacts - environmental and others - of the closure.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Our Petition to reopen Madeira Drive has been supported by more than 10,600 people - yet Councillor Pete West gleefully cited the rival petition, with a paltry one third of the number of signatures, as evidence for keeping Madeira Drive closed, without making any reference to our much larger petition."</div><div><br /></div><div>Ollie and Laura added: "The views of the motorcyclist and Mod community were entirely ignored by Green and Labour councillors - not even mentioned, despite the four successful protests that have taken place to reopen the Drive.</div><div><br /></div><div>"And Council Leader Phelim Mac Cafferty revealed the Greens' real intention - to keep Madeira Drive closed while seeking investment by private developers, while at the same turning away millions of pounds of income in parking revenue, rent from traders and visitor income.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Presenting this petition left us feeling completely disrespected and disenfranchised by Brighton & Hove City Council. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Only the Conservative group and two independent councillors listened to the voice of the people. It has made a travesty of justice on this issue for all those who work on Madeira Drive and may now lose their jobs, and the ordinary people of Brighton & Hove and visitors, who believe in equality, diversity and inclusivity and in sharing Madeira Drive with all user groups."</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>And this is the very reasonable Speech that Laura and I made, despite the Council's cranky technology and the Mayor rudely preventing me from reading the final paragraph (although, later, he allowed Phelim Mac Cafferty to go way over his allotted time):</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[OLLIE]</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> <b>We speak to you today as representatives of more than 10,600 people who have signed our Petition to Reopen Madeira Drive to all users. We started it because we’d become aware there were no plans to reopen Madeira Drive, which was closed to motorcyclists and cars as a supposedly “temporary” measure to provide exercise space. When lockdown restrictions were lifted, it became apparent Madeira Drive would stay closed, impacting the enjoyment of the mods and bikers who meet there. It’s also badly hurting Madeira Drive’s traders, as trader Trevor Archard has made clear.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[LAURA]</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> It’s clear a few individuals want a permanent closure of Madeira Drive as a stepping stone to making Brighton and Hove car free - <b>without</b> a city-wide public consultation. Despite the great length and width of Madeira Drive, it’s been deemed suitable for exclusive use by cyclists and pedestrians, many of whom prefer to use the existing cycle path and pavement. This is not inclusivity. And it is not busy as daily photographs from our 1,350-strong Facebook group evidenced.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[OLLIE]</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> The Mods and Rockers are now united in the Battle to reopen Madeira Drive, where they have met at the parade of cafes and shops toward the Pier end of the Drive since the early Sixties. Four protests by Mods and Rockers have been held, attracting local, regional, national and, indeed, international media coverage. We welcome the Council’s decision last month to continue to allow official motoring events. However, the ongoing closure casts doubt on the less-official August Bank Holiday Mod Weekender, which attracts thousands of Mods, and over the years has brought in millions of pounds to our city and given pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people – locals and visitors. Madeira Drive is not purely the property of Brighton and Hove people. It’s a national and international destination – the spiritual home of Mods and Rockers and, of course, the setting for the iconic film Quadrophenia, a star of which, Gary Shail, has backed our campaign, describing the decision to keep Madeira Drive closed as ‘misguided and terrible’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[LAURA] Our more than 10,600 supporters don’t want to consign our traditions and culture to the dustbin of history. Disabled people have also said the closure makes it hard for them to enjoy Madeira Drive and use the facilities provided for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">Moreover, I work for the city’s heritage and believe the continued closure of Madeira Drive is detrimental to the prospects of restoring Madeira Terraces, which would reopen substantial pedestrian space and provide commercial opportunities. We welcome the Council’s decision to give all revenue from Madeira Drive parking toward the cost of restoring the Terraces and urge you to maximise that income.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[OLLIE] We endorse the Compromise Motion that Councillor Lee Wares is putting to your meeting today: to reopen Madeira Drive one way from the Aquarium Roundabout to Duke’s Mound, allowing a new cycle lane on the south-side of the road and between Duke’s Mound and Black Rock. It would allow access for mods and bikers and help the traders. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[LAURA] The Motion is a fair solution to a highly controversial issue at a time when the Council should be trying to unite the people of Brighton & Hove and those who visit us. Our Petition has received almost three times the number of signatures of its rival cited by Councillor West with no reference to ours, and done so through the passion of stakeholders who use and visit Madeira Drive – not those who do not know where Madeira Drive is.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[OLLIE] Finally, when you vote on the Motion, we ask you to set aside party politics. Please think of <b>all</b> of the people you serve. Think about the local economy and local jobs. Think about our history, culture and traditions - and what makes people visit our fine city. Madeira Drive is a treasure. All the people who love it should be allowed to enjoy it <b>equally. Tonight, YOU can make that happen.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333px;">[LAURA] <b>We present our Petition of well over 10,600 signatures to Reopen Madeira Drive to all users. </b>[LAURA AND OLLIE] <b>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has helped in the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign and Petition. Things will one day surprise us and come good again. </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>What goes around comes around!</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawxwHo_RW6gZb1yZ0Dd9iOU8RACHTGtelJQDzszn8NUtOEgX3ivBOgat3UaJhInpV_qwcdTmejUdcfaZ-Y70rP4Y8y5nTuGK_m-Vy-uBO-vNAnir_6EBrJjV06auItGF3E30W/s777/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+10.02.20.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="672" height="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawxwHo_RW6gZb1yZ0Dd9iOU8RACHTGtelJQDzszn8NUtOEgX3ivBOgat3UaJhInpV_qwcdTmejUdcfaZ-Y70rP4Y8y5nTuGK_m-Vy-uBO-vNAnir_6EBrJjV06auItGF3E30W/w554-h641/Screenshot+2020-08-14+at+10.02.20.png" width="554" /></a></div><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>* Friday, 28 August:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Private Eye magazine has written a good article about the closure of Madeira Drive and the heritage implication (below).</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Meanwhile, Mods are arriving for the Bank Holiday Weekender - and Madeira Drive is still shut!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Shame on you, Green/Labour Brighton & Hove City Council!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGxNNh7uNEC6bwmBhH8VUf1k1KsoWjoj0UieK8uL-wza19GHh8oPgKobiENTKo770u5irroKg5ObxFJPg8nYPsrZs8jX0fboHrIYzEwnWyth7R0Wq9JXOgK1ZZrHddBchcMAa/s1946/Madeira-Drive-article-Private-Eye-28-08-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="1000" height="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGxNNh7uNEC6bwmBhH8VUf1k1KsoWjoj0UieK8uL-wza19GHh8oPgKobiENTKo770u5irroKg5ObxFJPg8nYPsrZs8jX0fboHrIYzEwnWyth7R0Wq9JXOgK1ZZrHddBchcMAa/w514-h1000/Madeira-Drive-article-Private-Eye-28-08-20.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /></div></span></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-90162424386546851572020-08-04T16:54:00.005+00:002020-08-05T15:34:18.301+00:00Brighton & Hove Comes Out of Lockdown<h4>
<b>In May, I wrote the blog post <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/05/atgets-paris-and-ollies-brighton.html" target="_blank">Atget's Paris and Ollie's Brighton</a>, in which I likened photographs of empty streets during Lockdown to photographer <span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.moma.org/artists/229" target="_blank">Eugène Atget</a>'s work in Paris in the late 19th Century.</span></span></b></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">It feels like an age ago. Since then, we have put up with unimaginable bullshit and somehow managed to keep our sanity.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE1Mq2wpNbhdvgsbcnXQkEMom-uyOtg826AY71ELDQ91P8amgPGoXmGCo8TcaRiePUI7CIqg4SEjiNsud5oI7YAZyg6w5v4qj1panqMRVN4pwwCA7AC-1NcCwLl9aASR0f15i/s1600/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="500" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE1Mq2wpNbhdvgsbcnXQkEMom-uyOtg826AY71ELDQ91P8amgPGoXmGCo8TcaRiePUI7CIqg4SEjiNsud5oI7YAZyg6w5v4qj1panqMRVN4pwwCA7AC-1NcCwLl9aASR0f15i/s400/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-1.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">But I have strived to carry on and record Brighton & Hove, and other parts of Sussex, gradually creeping out of Lockdown, despite the best efforts of the Government and its all-too-willing comrades in local government. </span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Here are a number of those images.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">One has to admire the ability of Sussex people to ignore all the brainwashing propaganda, all the crazy, contradictory statements by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, all the nonsense spouted by so-called experts and all the self-serving actions of local politicians and their apparatchiks - to just get on with their lives.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Id7Gmf49rAGODd3yyySdsNiQhcwonwqAeMAhRvWCAtYdEm16fvZmzASbcLoAJne2HmZc9-nxuTSWEATC3-8DWzM8wZIb3Fb4kMWN6a33myr5bXI7GvYv4pcD89S9ba2Z_K9f/s1600/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Id7Gmf49rAGODd3yyySdsNiQhcwonwqAeMAhRvWCAtYdEm16fvZmzASbcLoAJne2HmZc9-nxuTSWEATC3-8DWzM8wZIb3Fb4kMWN6a33myr5bXI7GvYv4pcD89S9ba2Z_K9f/s400/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Gradually, the people have come out of hiding, and started to live again.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">A few are wearing masks, despite the confusing Government guidance, others just pretending to.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Many are making full use of the summer sun and the gorgeous beaches of Brighton and Hove, despite the City Council's best efforts to control everybody and everything, with a vanishingly small amount of knowledge and intelligence.</span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkHXxKW8E0n1W8RnEba6U8hmXt5Mha3yJCSVJRO6unX23yhEOKzN5yE45ToIZMDNAkLXGtCa4hi0WkPJU9newNzQCBuV6Bdx20xvVXSrYVGfxGCEUxl7eAp6b0Ae2VplPalP-/s1600/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="500" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkHXxKW8E0n1W8RnEba6U8hmXt5Mha3yJCSVJRO6unX23yhEOKzN5yE45ToIZMDNAkLXGtCa4hi0WkPJU9newNzQCBuV6Bdx20xvVXSrYVGfxGCEUxl7eAp6b0Ae2VplPalP-/s400/Out-of-Lockdown-Image-3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Laura and I have been engaged in a battle to <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-scandal-of-closure-of-brightons.html" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive</a> - an iconic Brighton destination for Mods, rockers and visitors that the Council is assaying to close permanently under the cloak of Covid-19, to pursue its own bigoted, discriminatory agenda.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">To date, more than 10,500 people have signed our Petition - and three successful protests have been staged, attracting local, regional, national and international publicity.</span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">In this situation, you either fight the forces of chaos and evil - or you lie down and die.</span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Fortunately, most of the people of Brighton and Hove have more spunk and character than their feckless Council, extreme leftists punch-drunk on dosh from a right-wing Government. Oh, the irony! </span></h4>
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<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b><i>Enjoy my pictures of Brighton & Hove and surrounding Sussex proudly saying "No!" to The Bullshit - and coming out of Lockdown:</i></b></span></h4>
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Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-19775646391707089352020-06-07T16:14:00.009+00:002020-08-15T07:46:30.855+00:00The Scandal of the Closure of Brighton's Madeira Drive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>[Scroll down for Daily Campaign update] <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Sign Petition.</a></i></b><br />
<b>Do <a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" target="_blank">Brighton & Hove City Council's Madeira Drive Survey</a>!</b><br />
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<b>Brighton's iconic Madeira Drive faces a PERMANENT ban on access by all motorcyclists, scooterists and other motor vehicles - causing enormous damage to 35 seafront businesses, discriminating against the disabled and favouring some leisure activities over others.</b></h3>
In an extraordinary example of undemocratic decision-making, Brighton & Hove City Council appears to be using the coronavirus crisis to push its own political agenda, without consultation with most of the key affected groups or a care for the livelihoods of the cafe and restaurant owners and other traders who rely on visitors arriving in cars or on motorbikes and scooters. For me, as a scooterist, cyclist, pedestrian and sometime motorist, this is a scandal!<br />
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<b><i>After the economic hardship of the past few months, it is a real kick in the teeth for the business people of Madeira Drive and their loyal customers. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Therefore, today (Monday, 8 June) a Campaign is being launched to reopen Brighton's Madeira Drive to ALL users. Please sign the petition <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694&fbclid=IwAR2dL4wjqkoHk3pPu09pYgyve4cw_M0HD3teooCx_p4sqCcpr8saX3gmBgE" target="_blank">here</a>. And also share it as widely as you can!</i></b></div>
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Madeira Drive was first closed on 20 April 2020 to motor vehicles. At the time, I was told it was because of late-night car racing on the Drive which was troubling police. I always found this an unlikely explanation, and Brighton & Hove City Council quickly chose to spin it very differently.</div>
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Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chairperson of the City's Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, is quoted in a Council <a href="https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2020/madeira-drive-first-road-be-allocated-walkers-and-cyclists" target="_blank">press release</a> as saying that 'Madeira Drive is a long, wide road right by the seafront and will create an extra safe space for local people in the area to use for their daily walk or bike ride' and that 'it will provide a traffic-free place for the many residents in that area who do not have access to a garden'.</div>
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No one is saying that Madeira Drive should not be open to cyclists and runners.<br />
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Indeed, they have always used this facility, generally in greater numbers than recently during lockdown. But, please, let's live and let live!</div>
<div>
<br />
As Cllr. Pissaridou concedes, it is very wide road. There is plenty of room for motorcyclists, scooterists, runners and cyclists, all of whom have their own areas. There are also 363 parking spaces bringing in valuable council revenue and trade, probably hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Excluding one group to favour others is simply not necessary!</i></b></div>
<div>
<br />
Moreover, in early June (2020), Brighton & Hove Council's real agenda started to emerge when it 'hinted' to the <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18489634.madeira-drive-car-ban-continue-lockdown-success/" target="_blank">Brighton Argus</a> that the closure would be permanent.</div>
<div>
<br />
On this occasion, Cllr. Pissaridou claimed that 'short-term transport measures brought in to support more walking and cycling during the Covid crisis have been popular with many residents' and, therefore, an 'expansion of these schemes' will be considered.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzZWe87-AvBCBmJH18AhwSqRTptpU9VnV549xCN942jH7u7coPjtWDm1Yxo7ua9iudeJN4eGCG2LVQnrbqFv4VQsOB8Qs0C_2I_TQcmPbpVwH8giId1GtSaIYqo9T_E6FVa3C/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-2-June-2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1000" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzZWe87-AvBCBmJH18AhwSqRTptpU9VnV549xCN942jH7u7coPjtWDm1Yxo7ua9iudeJN4eGCG2LVQnrbqFv4VQsOB8Qs0C_2I_TQcmPbpVwH8giId1GtSaIYqo9T_E6FVa3C/s400/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-2-June-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Many comments on this story favoured reopening Madeira Drive.</div>
<div>
<br />
'Sussex Jim' said that Madeira Drive is '<b>wide enough to accommodate two lanes of normal traffic, two cycle lanes and the existing wide promenade for pedestrians. And much needed parking for visitors in normal times'. </b></div>
<div>
<br />
An anonymous Argus reader commented: '<b>This is a horrendous move for Brighton. Look at the revenue that parking brings in along with the tourism and business issue</b>.'</div>
<div>
<br />
Indeed, the traders on Madeira Drive, already severely hit by loss of income during the coronavirus crisis, are very upset at the cack-handed way that they are being treated by Brighton & Hove City Council, from which, incidentally, they lease their premises, and to which they pay substantial business rates.</div>
<div>
<br />
One businessman told me that the traders were to have a crucial meeting with the Council about the crisis on 16 June (2020).</div>
<div>
<br />
Another trader said that cyclists and joggers spend very little money at the cafes and shops compared with motorcyclists, Mods, other scooterists and car-driving tourists and that, if the ban became permanent, it would be 'disastrous' for his business.</div>
<div>
<br />
My partner and I have painstakingly trawled the minutes of Brighton & Hove City Council committee meetings on its website and can find absolutely no mention of this important issue ever being discussed in relevant committee meetings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div>
As well as possibly being the last nail in the coffin for Madeira Drive businesses, this shortsighted plan would also kill Brighton & Hove City Council's substantial income from the 363 parking bays on Madeira Drive - and at a time when the Council desperately need every penny it can get as recession from the coronavirus crisis starts to bite. </div>
<div>
<br />
And it could slash the chances of Madeira Arches ever being restored - to the grave concern of the city's heritage campaigners. </div>
<div>
<br />
Then there is the needless cost of putting stewards at the entrance to Madeira Drive at weekends to police this absurd decision. The cons go on and on. . . </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Just how removed from reality are the people behind this closure? </i></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>They haven't even thought of the plight of disabled or elderly people who need their cars or taxis to use Madeira Drive!</b></div>
<div>
<br />
And what will happen at future August Bank Holidays, when thousands of Mods from around the country and abroad, descend on Madeira Drive - or at Brightona 2021 or the many other motor vehicle-based events that have made Brighton's Madeira Drive world famous. </div>
<div>
<br />
What about the tradition? What about the heritage? All slyly being thrown away!</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>That is why we have started a petition on the Brighton & Hove City Council website, calling for the immediate reopening of Madeira Drive to ALL users. </b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Please sign this <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694&fbclid=IwAR2dL4wjqkoHk3pPu09pYgyve4cw_M0HD3teooCx_p4sqCcpr8saX3gmBgE" target="_blank">petition</a> - and spread the word. Thank you.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b>* Tuesday, 9 June update: It has been a crazy first day of the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So many Mods, other scooterists, motorcyclists and other supporters tried to add their names to the Petition that Brighton & Hove Council's Petitions Website crashed last night! It wasn't repaired till this morning.<br />
<br />
Despite that, as I write, an amazing 790 people have lent their support to the petition, and this blog post has been visited at least 850 times! Support and anger at the Council's decision is rising! And understandably so.<br />
<br />
Of the many comments, I was struck by one which said how 'ableist' Brighton & Hove Council has become - meaning that they discriminate against the disabled in favour of the able-bodied. Another writer suggested that trying to sneak through the permanent closure of Madeira Drive would help them abolish the Pier Roundabout. Interesting!<br />
<br />
Everywhere I go, Brighton and Hove citizens offer their support. I am confident that we will win - and persuade Brighton & Hove Council to reopen Madeira Drive to ALL users!<br />
<br />
If you haven't signed the Petition so far, please do so. And watch this blog page. I plan to regularly update it with Campaign news. Thank you, my friends!<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b>* Wednesday, 10 June update: Another remarkable day in the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Now more than 1,700 people have signed the <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition on the Brighton & Hove City Council website</a>, making it easily the most popular petition.<br />
<br />
By mid-afternoon, it had passed the 1,250 signatures threshold, meaning I will be able to speak to the Full Council when it is delivered to them in July.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, we have the opposition rattled. One gentleman has started his own 'Keep Madeira Drive Closed To Traffic' Petition which, in its first day, has picked up a mere 58 names!<br />
<br />
It puts the lie to the local newspaper's suggestion that 60 percent of people support the closure.<br />
<br />
On current figures from the two petitions, around 97 percent support reopening Madeira Drive, with only three percent wanting to keep it closed.<br />
<br />
Moreover, the minority who want to keep it closed has started some rather nasty or naive attacks on us.<br />
<br />
As part of a long, illogical rant one anonymous person insultingly commented: 'all it's about is some fellas in bad fitting union flag suits, brand new Loake loafers and a couple of fishtail parkas wanting to pop-pop up and down Madeira Drive beeping their little horns before having a pose-up'. He clearly just hates Mods!<br />
<span face="" style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""><span style="background-color: white;">Another pro-closure person, also anonymous, clearly did not care a fig about the local economy when naively arguing 'it is time to reduce parking availability' and claiming that, regardless of what the Council does, the businesses on Madeira Drive will '</span></span>prosper' after lockdown.<br />
<span face=""><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Tell that to the traders!</i></span></span><br />
<span face=""><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""><span style="background-color: white;">A third anonymous commentator suggested, madly and absurdly, that the annual loss of parking income </span></span>for Brighton & Hove City Council of closing more than 360 busy parking bays could be as low as '£100' , and added: 'Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.'<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Nice! </i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Meanwhile, we have heard back from John Peel, Democratic Services Officer at Brighton & Hove City Council, who wrote: 'The decision was taken using emergency powers as a response to the Covid-19 epidemic to provide space for people to exercise safely once a day.'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>So, when lockdown ends, so Madeira Drive should reopen to all users.</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>My friends, we will fight on till this has occurred!</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I was told by Madeira Drive traders today (10 June 2020) that they are meeting Council representatives to try to find a solution on Monday morning (15 June 2020). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I will keep you updated!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>* Thursday, 11 June update: Another brilliant day for the Reopen Madeira Drive Petition. Since I wrote last night, it has put on more than 600 signatures to go over the 2,300 mark!</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Incidentally, in the same period, the Keep Madeira Drive Closed petition has risen to 371 signatures, meaning that our Campaign is beating it six to one!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Feeling the pressure of public opinion, Brighton & Hove City Council gave the <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18512174.brighton-council-update-madeira-drive-lockdown-car-ban/" target="_blank">Brighton Argus an update,</a> claiming that the closure of Madeira Drive had been well received by the 'majority of residents' while adding that it would continue 'to be monitored as government restrictions change'.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The story repeated the previous suggestion that 60 percent of people were in favour of the closure, but this met with furious comment by readers of the story.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">One wrote asked if Brighton & Hove City Council had 'lost the plot', adding: 'Two petitions [are] currently on the Council website - one to keep the road closed [which has] 330 signatures (more people want to remove the planter in Rottingdean) and one to reopen it [which has] 2,200+. Brighton has spoken and we need Madeira Drive reopened for everyone. Madeira Drive worked perfectly well before lockdown so let's get this city back on its feet. Get this road reopened.'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Another reader commented on <a href="https://www.carolinelucas.com/" target="_blank">Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas</a>'s blinkered backing of the closure, writing: 'Perhaps Caroline would like personally reimburse all the independent traders whose livelihoods she (and others) are so casually dismissive of. As a trader friend remarked the other day, "Cyclists aren't big spenders".</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">'Someone also needs to challenge the "ableist" policies of this council as well in clearly assuming everyone is fit enough to walk or cycle. And also live locally. Hardly inclusive!'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by a charming Argus reporter today - and am hopeful that our side of the story will soon be getting a better run in its pages.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Meanwhile, offers of support continue to arrive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Please spread the word - and watch this space! Thank you again, my friends!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>* Friday, 12 June Update: As it is a rainy day, I have decided to write my update in my lunch hour today! </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>T</b>here is plenty to report. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The lovely and talented Argus reporter Rose Lock did a great story in the <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18512147.brighton-residents-launch-opposite-campaigns-madeira-drive-car-ban/" target="_blank">Brighton Argus</a> which was front page lead on its website all morning!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">It is fair and accurate and well written. You did a great job on it, Rose! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I was slightly bemused by the comments by my opponent, Ian Ross, who has set up a petition in favour of keeping Madeira Drive closed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Mr Ross is managing director of a business and it seems surprisingly to me that he cares so little about the fate of other local businesses. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">It is an interesting point which made me wonder why <a href="https://www.brightonchamber.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brighton Chamber</a> (of Commerce) has not spoken out in support of the traders. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Remarkably, Mr Ross even took a pop at his fellow local business people, saying: 'Sometimes I think small businesses are very quick to blame the Government or the council for their problem.'</span><br />
<br />
He also suggested that removing 360 seafront parking spaces would be good for visitors to the city, forgetting that many need to travel by car to be able to afford to come to Brighton and then like to park on Madeira Drive, and also that there is no public transport along the Drive.<br />
<br />
Mr Ross said that Madeira Drive should be closed because some young people supposedly speed there at night.<br />
<br />
Well, that's a police matter. When was the last time a road was closed because of motorists breaking the speed limit? And, another commentator, pointed out the traffic calming measures already in place.<br />
<br />
Worst of all, he seemed to suggest that disabled users could park on the top road - on the cliff above Madeira Drive.<br />
<br />
Without a lift for disabled acccess, how then do they get down to Madeira Drive, Mr Ross?<br />
<br />
The vast majority of the more than 90 comments to the online Brighton Argus story were in favour of reopening Madeira Drive, including one from a person experiencing disability.<br />
<br />
Dirk Von Roden wrote: '<b>Yet another attack on Disabled people. I used to love just driving slowly along Madeira Drive, stop outside the chippy. They would take my order without me getting out of the car. I'd drive to the bottom carpark and enjoy my fish and chips!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'Due to suffering from agoraphobia (it's actually chronic anxiety resulting in panic attacks, which stops me going out now), I and many other Disabled will no longer be able to enjoy doing this any more!'</b><br />
<br />
Mr Von Roden added: <b>'This is yet again removing the option for those with Disabilities to enjoy one of the best spots in Brighton. It saddens me that Brighton and Hove Council show Complete Disregard for the Disabled!</b><br />
<br />
'What happened to the Disability Tzar Stephanie Powell? She was known by many of the Disabled people in Brighton and Hove as the Council's Disability Champion because she was able to get the Council to see things from Disabled people's perspective!<br />
<br />
'Soon all of Brighton will be pedestrian only - it's already started! What are we supposed to do? I don't know.'<br />
<br />
Beautifully put, it is hard to follow this eloquent and heartfelt plea from Dirk Von Roden on behalf of those in our community here in Brighton and Hove who experience disability.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx" target="_blank">Our Petition</a> now has more than 2,600 signatures against a paltry 691 for Mr Ross's petition.<br />
<br />
If you haven't already signed our petition, please do so!<br />
<b><br /></b>
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Thanks you as always, my friends!<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b>* Saturday, 12 June Update: Just a quick one, as it is Saturday night! The Reopen Madeira Drive Petition has reached an amazing 3,000 signatures today and, as I write, stands at 3,063!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I was intrigued by a line in a Brighton Argus story about <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18511967.black-rock-plan-brighton-seafront-approved/" target="_blank">Brighton & Hove City Council giving approval to the Black Rock development</a>. In it, Councillor Bridget Fishleigh was quoted as saying that thousands of new flats had been proposed for the Marian, a new development is coming forward at the former gasworks site and that <b>Madeira Drive was likely to close to cars for the long term</b>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Is closing Madeira Drive permanently an act that Brighton & Hove City councillors have been secretly planning?</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
I am still receiving amazing support for the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign.<br />
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<b>Here are some of the supportive comments from writers who have big hearts and sometimes colourful noms de plume on the Brighton Argus website or social media.</b><br />
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<b>Triumph of Hope Over Experience </b>wrote: 'Good luck, Ollie! There is an agenda here which needs to be challenged and which is being sneaked through using Covid-19 as an excuse. . . they [people who want to close it] seem to have zero consideration for those who need to earn a living in this city and for the disabled who are somehow meant to park at the top of the cliff and make their way down with no working lift and most of the Terrace ramps and walkways closed off.'<br />
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<b>Hovebat </b>wrote: '360 essential parking spaces for tourists and many of these are the only blue badge bays on Brighton seafront. We need Madeira Drive reopened!'<br />
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<b>Brightonmatters </b>wrote: 'Obviously a permanent closure would be used as an excuse to neglect the Terraces until they can be condemned as "dangerous" and torn down.<br />
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'All those of us who contributed to the restoration fund are not stupid. And we won't forget that the city lost West Pier, the finest Victorian pier in England.'<br />
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<b>Sheppardmeg3 </b>wrote: 'Well done! Totally agree this council seems to do whatever they want without any consultation from council tax payers who keep this city going. Time to start making this council accountable for their actions.'<br />
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<b>BBB1969 mk2</b> wrote: 'Plenty of room. There are barriers in the actual road that stop boy racers travelling at excessive speeds. . . there is plenty of space in the existing path for people and cyclists, being a cyclist myself.'<br />
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<b><i>Thank you, my friends, keep it up!</i></b><br />
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<b>* Monday, 15 June Update: <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">The Reopen Madeira Drive Petition</a> today went through the 3,400 signatures barrier, which is absolutely fantastic. And still it grows!</b><br />
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Yesterday, we had a warm, sunny Sunday morning on Madeira Drive. But thanks to Brighton & Hove City Council, it was virtually deserted - as these images illustrate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckrqj5zVTVGx2_4ZXE5BdyBVaGwSfMFTnbItusquIhPPhg9UpU3Crb3aFj3BHhEuJNN2dPrDW985iQ9EXdhHQeFhav937hy1tiVX1QE3DzHij5qDCkKBFYegKUmlbZen4mImX/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-14-06-20-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1000" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckrqj5zVTVGx2_4ZXE5BdyBVaGwSfMFTnbItusquIhPPhg9UpU3Crb3aFj3BHhEuJNN2dPrDW985iQ9EXdhHQeFhav937hy1tiVX1QE3DzHij5qDCkKBFYegKUmlbZen4mImX/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-14-06-20-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFa-wkdg84gptkW-ZAL-VWDt_RDqSp5VoPaQeYkq5yziMQdcgvn64zmrO0O_YaO9MCojpYyx9XMYXHmPhbmExm8yYG3DyMYjL0RH6X5z-D1WvWnZDag3KajbTRsAzkFOd-rCd/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-14-06-20-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFa-wkdg84gptkW-ZAL-VWDt_RDqSp5VoPaQeYkq5yziMQdcgvn64zmrO0O_YaO9MCojpYyx9XMYXHmPhbmExm8yYG3DyMYjL0RH6X5z-D1WvWnZDag3KajbTRsAzkFOd-rCd/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-14-06-20-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Only one of the traders had bothered to open because the scarcity of people - but I heard an amazing story from him.<br />
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It turns out that, in most of the traders' lease agreements, Brighton & Hove City Council is only allowed to close Madeira Drive 21 days a year.<br />
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Therefore, its planned permanent closure of Madeira Drive would result in the Council breaching the terms of these legally binding contracts.<br />
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The trader said he would be demanding £1million in compensation from Brighton & Hove City Council for loss of business, and he estimated that the total bill for the Council for all the traders on the Drive would be between £10million and £20million!<br />
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Meanwhile, <a href="https://london.acecafe.com/" target="_blank">the Ace Cafe London</a> has alerted its biker brotherhood to Brighton & Hove City Council's planned permanent closure of Madeira Drive - and has offered its support.<br />
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And I have talked to a number of bikers who are all too happy to join with scooterists - to fight for Madeira Drive to be freed for all to use once again.<br />
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<b><i>I will keep you informed, my friends. Keep spreading the word about the Campaign and <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a>!</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZpp_JXXreJO6RduEhu9Ai3Scz5FKvZxBbHu8br_UD-j1l6JtxpAZUaEWjEpZisqyRzU34tR-A-kkUaZN_drf_yIwCP7lQhHuMorwsTfGN7gUj0Wl9KQNvdiiAf2v7zIvSWL/s1600/Brightona2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZpp_JXXreJO6RduEhu9Ai3Scz5FKvZxBbHu8br_UD-j1l6JtxpAZUaEWjEpZisqyRzU34tR-A-kkUaZN_drf_yIwCP7lQhHuMorwsTfGN7gUj0Wl9KQNvdiiAf2v7zIvSWL/s400/Brightona2.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>* Tuesday, 16 June update: Another amazing day for the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign!</b><br />
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I heard from traders about their meeting with the Council yesterday (Monday, 15 June) - and it is dynamite!<br />
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According to one trader, the Madeira Drive business men and woman are <b>all staging a rent strike</b> - meaning that the Council is losing a small fortune in income from them every month.<br />
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<b>The traders are refusing to pay rent until Madeira Drive is reopened to ALL users!</b><br />
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One trader told me: 'I've discovered nobody has paid rent since March. And [they all] intend to withhold [it] until the road is fully open.'<br />
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Thirty-five traders attended the meeting with Brighton & Hove City Councillors and officials and strongly made the point that lockdown has '<b>ended and people can go to parks and so the road must be opened' </b>again.<br />
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The councillors told the traders that they were meeting to discuss the issue on Tuesday, 23 June - and the traders reiterated that <b>'the road must be reopened ASAP'. </b></div>
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<b><i>The meeting was attended by Labour Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Labour & Co-oerative Councillor Carmen Appich and Green Councillor Steve Davies as well as Highways Officer Andrew Westward and Seafront Estates Officer Jane Pinnock.</i></b></div>
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Key points made at the meeting included:</div>
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* Emergency need for exercise space has now passed. People can travel to a variety of areas to exercise as happened before lockdown. <b>Traders want the Council to urgently reopen the road to allow their businesses to bounce back.</b></div>
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* <b>Madeira Drive businesses serve a huge variety of users and tourists and not just Kemp Town residents.</b></div>
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* <b>Madeira Drive is not in the Cumulative Impact or Special Stress Areas of the seafront. Therefore, it </b><b>makes sense to allow the road to take the pressure off the area between the piers and Hove </b><b>beaches. </b>Unless visitors are being turned around at the M23 roundabout, <b>visitors are </b><b>simply driving round more and creating additional parking pressure on multi-storey parking, Hove </b><b>seafront spaces and Kemp Town roads.</b></div>
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* <b>The closed road is currently unsafe. There have been serious cycle crashes including </b><b>hospitalised incidents. </b>Cyclists speed along the road in and out of pedestrians. <b>There have </b><b>been hundreds of near-misses between pedestrians and cyclists.</b></div>
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* <b>Families and tourists are still driving to the beach but are congregating in a smaller </b><b>area between the piers and in Hove as they have been told by the Government to travel by </b><b>car and not use public transport.</b></div>
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* Access to Madeira Drive can only be made at either end or down 84 steep steps. <b>There is no </b><b>disabled access.</b> <b>The Madeira Lift is closed.</b></div>
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* If the road [Madeira Drive] remains closed, t<b>raders will have to close in winter, reduce opening hours and require reduced or zero rent.</b></div>
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* <b>Where are arriving coaches and school groups going to park?</b></div>
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* <b>Businesses need to know when the road will be reopened as a matter of urgency. If it is to </b><b>remain closed, they need to plan their autumn-winter closures and likely redundancies.</b></div>
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<b>In other Campaign news, <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx" target="_blank">our Petition</a> is at the 3,500 signature mark.</b></div>
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The Brighton Argus printed two letters today calling for Madeira Drive to be reopened.</div>
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Yesterday's letter from Ann Tyndale, of the snappily named Socialist Environment Resources Association Labour Party Environment Campaign, received an angry response from Argus readers. </div>
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<b>'Stand Up & Be Counted' wrote:</b> 'This is not supported by the community! Why is the Council not listening to public opinion? Two petitions are running - the one to reopen Madeira Drive has three times as many signatures. Stop damaging the local economy with these unsupported changes at a time when we need tourism back in our city!'</div>
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And <b>Dirk Von Roden - who is disabled - wrote</b>: '<b>Sick and tired of this Council! It rides roughshod over the Brighton & Hove residents, never taking into account what the residents want. I think someone in the Council is paid to sit in an office all day to think up ideas on how to cause Disabled and Elderly more inconvenience and harm!'</b></div>
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Finally, to be my utter astonishment, I have just received an email from the Chair and Secretary of the Labour Party's Local Campaign Forum for Brighton and Hove, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/15707288.corbyns-backers-take-over-brighton-and-hove-labours-selection-panel/" target="_blank">Jon Rogers</a> and <a href="https://medium.com/@GregHadfield/sixteen-months-on-hove-agm-citywide-fundraiser-fc394f6ff471" target="_blank">Jo Viner</a>, saying: 'The current experimental, temporary closure of Madeira Drive is going well - but if we want evidence which will enable us to secure popular support for the wider measures to reduce car use that will obviously be required, it must continue.</div>
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'There is already a backlash against the Council's positive, progressive step in closing Madeira Drive. If this reactionary backlash is successful, it will deal a deadly blow to our hopes of achieving carbon-neutrality by 2030.'</div>
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<i><b>There is, of course, no mention of the cost to the livelihoods of the workers - the traders on Madeira Drive - or the discrimination against people with disability and other minority groups!</b></i></div>
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The email - which, incidentally, says it has been sent out on behalf of the Labour Party not from Brighton or Hove but from a Victoria Street, London address - has a headline which reads: <b>'Support Labour Party Policy - CONTINUE THE CLOSURE OF MADEIRA DRIVE TO TRAFFIC'. The email title line simply says: 'Support Labour Party Policy.'</b></div>
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<b><i>I have to admit that I was unaware that, nationally, the Labour Party has a policy on Brighton's Madeira Drive! </i></b></div>
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<b>You couldn't make it up!</b><br />
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<b>* Wednesday, 17 June update: Relatively peaceful - compared with yesterday.</b><br />
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As I write, we are up to <b>3,632 </b>signatures on our Reopen Madeira Drive Petition, which is great!<br />
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I have discovered that the people behind yesterday's national Labour Party email are from the far-left Momentum group.<br />
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Surprise, surprise!<br />
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It also seems that the Brighton Kemptown MP <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Russell-Moyle" target="_blank">Lloyd Cameron Russell-Moyle</a> has been wading in on social media, having a bit of a go at Brighton and Hove voters supporting the <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive Petition.</a><br />
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I was sent a couple of screengrabs of his updates on Facebook.<br />
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In one, he responded to a Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign supporter by saying: '<b>haha - wanting the arches to rot as a backdrop to a long car park is not pro-brighton [sic] and for democracy that statement is a joke. Asking people who live in brighton [sic] to take a view is democracy. Happy to send a dictionary if you need.'</b><br />
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<b><i>The supporter pointed out that Madeira Arches were about to be restored.</i></b><br />
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Lloyd's comment did seem a bit rude to me, and I would have thought that Members of Parliament would have better things to do with their time during this period of national crisis than make comments of this ilk on social media.<br />
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There is no excuse for rudeness - particularly at this time.<br />
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As the Brighton Argus said in its sage editorial today (17 June 2020): 'We've been up against it. And we still are. What we must remember. . . is to remain polite and civil.'<br />
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In another comment on Facebook (of which I also have a screenshot), <a href="https://members.parliament.uk/member/4615/contact" target="_blank">Lloyd Russell-Moyle</a> told another Brighton voter supporting the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign: 'have a different assesment [sic] - fine. Then sign your petition and I'll promote <b>mine</b> to Brighton residents.'<br />
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<b><i>Suddenly, the Keep Madeira Drive Closed petition appears to be owned and promoted by the Brighton Kemptown Member of Parliament. </i></b><br />
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<b>It is an interesting intervention in local-authority politics by an MP! </b><br />
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<b><i>Remember, Lloyd, you represent ALL of your constituents - not just a few of them!</i></b><br />
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Meanwhile, I hear that Brighton & Hove Council is planning a full public consultation on the future of Madeira Drive.<br />
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<b><i>I will endeavour to keep you informed, my friends! Keep the faith!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
P.S. Great lead letter in today's Brighton Argus, from <b>Marilyn Russell</b>, of Hove, who wrote: <b>'Bad move Brighton Council! Why continue the closure of Madeira Drive and threaten the existence of local businesses there?'</b><br />
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I won't type out the entire letter (it doesn't seem to be online yet), but it is superbly argued and concludes: <b>'Please come to your senses, Brighton Council, and open Madeira Drive now.'</b><br />
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<b><i>Well said, Marilyn!</i></b><br />
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<b>* Thursday, 18 June update: Late-night updating. Have been pretty tired today, so will keep it fairly short.</b><br />
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I was delighted to have my letter to the Brighton Argus published today, although, sadly, it not also in the online version. Here's a screenshot:<br />
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The point I am making is that many Labour Party supporters will want Madeira Drive reopened - to protect jobs and defend the rights of disabled people and other minority groups.<br />
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On Page Two of the Brighton Argus was another story about the battle of Madeira Drive, which, particularly in the <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18526447.traders-call-changes-car-ban-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">online version</a>, gave the impression that the traders would like it pedestrianised with a few caveats.<br />
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In fact, the minutes of the traders' meeting on Monday (15 June 2020) with Brighton and Hove City Council made it clear that most of them simply want Madeira Drive reopened to all users without delay.<br />
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All the same, the Argus report is clear that no traders want it to be kept closed on the back of the coronavirus crisis.<br />
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Tarot reader J J Braiden, who has worked on Madeira Drive for decades, said: '<b>To simply close the road means we are businesses are being closed down.</b>'<br />
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And J J, whose supernatural skills, I am told, once helped to apprehend a murderer, knows a thing or two about foreseeing the future.<br />
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Another writer to the Brighton Argus complained about the Council's entire anti-car agenda, saying that '<a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18524144.letter-motorists-brighton-deserve-break-right-now/" target="_blank">motorists in Brighton deserve a break right now</a>' and that 'co-existence of all modes of transport is the answer'.<br />
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And Neil Shaw, a constituent of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Russell-Moyle" target="_blank">Lloyd Russell-Moyles MP</a> in Brighton Kemptown who is powering the campaign to keep Madeira Drive closed, wrote: <b>'The Council can [needs to] come up with 600 or so additional parking spaces for exclusive use of residents in Zone C, if they close Madeira [Drive], as then all those vehicles will pile up in the shared-use bays in Zone C, making it impossible for residents to go out in the day with any hope of being able to return home again.</b><br />
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<b>'It's already bad on a Sunday where most of us can't use our cars as we end up with literally nowhere to park on our return as the council dish out permits at a higher rate than actual spaces, and we can't park elsewhere as we're surrounded by other parking zones.'</b><br />
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Neil added: '<b>If they [permanently] close Madeira Drive, us residents will respond with a go-slow protest every Saturday and Sunday through main routes of the city until they undo it.</b>'<br />
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<b><i>Lloyd Russell-Moyle please take note: this is how some of the constituents you represent feel about the Madeira Drive closure.</i></b><br />
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As I write, our petition to Reopen Madeira Drive stands at 3,760 signatures.<br />
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Finally, one Madeira Drive trader contacted me to say that <b>'to be legal, a temporary closure process should not impact people from minorities or any kind of disabilities in any way'.</b><br />
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He said the equalities implications of this for Brighton & Hove City Council are that any plan is '<b>subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA), and engagement with representative/community groups will help to mitigate any potential adverse effects on people with protected characteristics, no matter how sustainable'</b>.<br />
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The trader added: '<b>The public sector equality duty still applies, and in making any changes to road networks, the council must consider the needs of disabled people and those with other protected characteristics. Accessibility requirements apply to temporary measures as they do to permanent ones.'</b><br />
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<b><i>It seems to me that Brighton & Hove City Council has abjectly failed to do this in respect of the closure of Madeira Drive - badly letting down its citizens who are disabled.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Watch this space!</i></b><br />
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<b>* Friday, 19 June update: Just a quick one today! </b><br />
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<b>This morning, I cycled down to Madeira Drive to see just how busy it would be with cyclists, runners and walkers - all getting in their exercise! </b><br />
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<b>This is what I found: </b><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>We now have around 3,800 Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign Petition signatures - yet tone-deaf Brighton & Hove City Council is still not listening to us, my friends.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I have been interviewed by Brighton's community TV channel Latest TV for a news piece to be broadcast early next week.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Tomorrow is Saturday - and I have feeling it will be a big day for our Campaign!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>* Saturday, 20 June update: Rockers and Mods united today in the battle to reopen Madeira Drive!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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At 2pm, bikers and scooter riders, many from the Brighton & Hove-based South Coast Mods, met up at the Brighton Pier entrance to Madeira Drive - for a Campaign photocall.<br />
<br />
I made a short speech, which went: '<b>Friends, we are here today to protest against the continued closure of Madeira Drive - and to demand it is reopened to ALL users without further delay.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'Mods and bikers, traders and customers, disabled people and the able-bodied - we are united in our condemnation of Brighton & Hove City Council's bid to keep this iconic destination restricted to one or two user groups.</b><br />
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'<b>We have no beef with cyclists, walkers and runners. Indeed, many of the more than 3,850 people who've signed our Petition on the Council's website also cycle, run and walk.</b><br />
<br />
<b>'But Madeira Drive is a place for ALL.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'It is a SHARED space for everyone.</b><br />
<br />
<b>'Cyclist, runner, walker, disabled person, motorcyclist, Mod, visiting driver, coach or school trip - we all have a right to use Madeira Drive.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'And make no mistake, my friends, without all of us the businesses here on Madeira Drive will die.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'Please ask everyone to support our Campaign and sign the Petition to Reopen Madeira Drive, on the Council's e-petitions web page.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'Remember: Our Cause is Just! The People Support Us! And together we will Keep Madeira Drive Alive!'</b><br />
<br />
The speech was rounded off with me asking the crowd: <b>'What do we want open?'</b><br />
<br />
The supporters replied: <b>'MADEIRA DRIVE!</b><br />
<br />
'<b>When do we want it open?'</b><br />
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'<b>NOW.'</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>This was repeated thrice before we moved off the entrance of Madeira Drive and had a good chat and an ice cream in the mouth to Brighton Pier!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i><b>Many people promised to join our Campaign today!</b></i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My heartfelt thanks to the bikers and Mods and others who took part! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And also to the police who were commendably laidback about our protest. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Great community policing, guys!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Thanks to the fine videography of Carl (thanks, mate!), here's a link to a video of the speech!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=285901655869346&notif_id=1592679838820008&notif_t=watch_follower_video&ref=notif">https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=285901655869346&notif_id=1592679838820008&notif_t=watch_follower_video&ref=notif</a><br />
<br />
<b>* Sunday, 21 June Summer Solstice update: </b>We went through the 3,900 barrier today on the <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive Petition</a>, which, as I write, stands at 3,927!<br />
<br />
Well done, everybody, and if you know anyone who hasn't signed, please ask them!<br />
<br />
Moreover, this Campaign Blog has been read by an incredible 3,060 people!<br />
<br />
<b>I was reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Lucas" target="_blank">Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas</a>'s comment piece in yesterday's edition of the Brighton Argus - and was struck by how illogical her viewpoint is.</b><br />
<br />
She wrote, touchingly, about the 'shutdown of so many businesses which are vital to the local economy', during lockdown. Yet, through supporting the continued closure of Madeira Drive, Caroline Lucas is doing nothing to help 37 businesses there, many of which are facing financial disaster because their core customers - motorcylists, Mods and driver - can no longer reach them.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Methinks Caroline Lucas is trying to have her cake and eat it!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
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<b>* Monday, 22 June: It is always worth picking up a copy of the Brighton Argus (just 75p) - if only to see what additional support the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign has picked up.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In today's edition, Paul Stacey, of Brighton, wrote: 'In recent days there has been a lot of attention taken with regards to closing Madeira Drive to traffic from both the public and Brighton and Hove City Council, but hang on, wasn't it this same Council that included Madeira Drive as part of the Phase 3 Valley Gardens scheme?<br />
<br />
'<b>It was going to be one-way from the Palace Pier to Duke's Mound, so after the Aquarium roundabout is taken away and the area made a T-junction, tell me where are the cars and coaches (which provide Brighton with tourist trade) going to go?</b><br />
<br />
<b>'So, please think again about closing Madeira Drive to traffic.'</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And, on social media, Rob Arbury wrote: </b>'I would remind all that we have just been through a lengthy consultation on Valley Gardens Phase 3 and the removal of the Pier Roundabout.<br />
<br />
'Traffic up Madeira Drive will be one way, in at the Pier and out at Duke's Mound.<br />
<br />
<b>'At no stage in this process was closing Madeira Drive even mooted, because it simply wouldn't fly. </b><b>This temporary closure is an underhand way of doing things.'</b><br />
<br />
Finally, for today, <b>Simon Sykes</b>, who says he is helping to run the Mod [Modern World] cafe at Madeira Drive, wrote on Facebook that a '<b>permanent road closure without any attractions to draw people in would cause damage to all the small businesses on Madeira Drive.</b><br />
<br />
<b>'Our main custom comes from passing traffic and people walking to and from their cars. Coaches also drop off on the road and that can bring trade.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'Can you honestly say that you would walk from one end of Madeira Drive and back again just for something to do?'</b><br />
<br />
Our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> is nearly at 3,950. Please encourage everyone who hasn't already signed it to do so asap.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Thank you, my friends. See you tomorrow!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>* Tuesday, 23 June: A rollercoaster day in the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b>Our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> went through 4,000 signatures and, as I write, stands at: 4,154!</b><br />
<br />
Nevertheless, Brighton & Hove City Council's Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee met this afternoon and tonight and decided, after a pretty feeble and poorly informed debate, to continue the closure, at least until September this year.<br />
<br />
<b>And the financial impact of this decision has not even been costed! It beggars belief!</b><br />
<br />
<b>The only sensible voice was that of Councillor Lee Wares who pointed out that the vast majority of traders' businesses were suffering </b><b>badly</b><b>, were refusing to pay their rent - and that the Labour Party and Green Party members were using the Covid-19 crisis to drive their own car-free agenda without the usual democratic consultation and due diligence processes.</b><br />
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<b><i>The advice the councillors received was very poor. </i></b><br />
<br />
When Coun. Wares asked a Council Officer why Madeira Drive was being not reopened if traders and residents objected in large numbers to it being closed, the Officer first dodged the question.<br />
<br />
When Coun. Wares repeated it, the Officer claimed, risibly, that it is 'difficult to get views on that at the moment' and, therefore, it was recommended to 'keep it closed just for the moment'.<br />
<br />
It was very disappointing that Momentum Labour and Green councillors have ignored the plight of disabled people who can no longer use the cafes and restaurants of Madeira Drive and the traders who are cut off from their customer base of motorcyclists, scooter riders and car drivers and will end up making redundancies or closing completely.<br />
<br />
And it is also a shame that the Chairperson of the Committee, Councillor Anne Pissaridou, ignored our submission - the letter below:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 June 2020 </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From Ollie Wilson and Laura King</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chairperson, Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, Brighon & Hove City Council</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By email </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Councillor Pissaridou, </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ahead of this week's Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, we are writing to explain in detail why Madeira Drive should be reopened to all users now that lockdown is easing.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As you know Madeira Drive was closed to traffic during the coronavirus crisis to allow citizens more space to exercise, partly in response to a council-website petition of 731 signatures requesting more exercise space during lockdown.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">However, now the need for this exercise space has gone and Brighton & Hove is reopening and getting back to normal, the pressure to keep Madeira Drive closed to traffic has come from another source - the desire to make the city car-free by 2030.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Again, most people understand the need to cut global carbon emissions and the role that our city can play in this. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">However, it needs to be done in a scientific, logical and strategic way. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We need to look at the level of pollution and carbon emissions caused by the many different roads in Brighton & Hove to discern the best way to reduce the overall level of carbon emissions while causing minimal damage to the local economy and tourism.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The unilateral, politically opportunistic and non-strategic act of extending the closure of Madeira Drive will have serious unintended consequences: the businesses of Madeira Drive traders will collapse, the Council will lose substantial levels of revenue from 363 prime visitor parking spaces and from rents and business rates, the rights of disabled people will be restricted - and the quality of recreation for many Brighton & Hove citizens and visitors will decline. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The wages for the stewards guarding all three entrances and exits to Madeira Drive will also add to the cost.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">From an environmental perspective, you may find that, overall, carbon emissions in the city are, in reality, increased by the closure because traffic has been forced into more congested and polluted areas such as Kemptown. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Proper and professional emissions research needs to be undertaken before any traffic closure of Madeira Drive for environmental reasons. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To take a holistic view of the situation, we believe you should first consult with all the relevant stakeholders:</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* Disabled people who use the facilities on Madeira Drive</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* All Madeira Drive traders</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* Motorcyclists and Mods/scooter riders and other motorists who visit Madeira Drive to frequent the cafes and restaurants</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* Tourists who use Madeira Drive for parking</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* Coach and tour companies who use Madeira Drive</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">* Cyclists, walkers and runners who use Madeira Drive</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* Brighton & Hove residents including those in Kemptown affected by parking</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">You would also need to calculate the loss in revenue to the Council from parking revenue, business rates and rents and assess the risk of compensation claims from traders whose leases may be breached by an extended closure of Madeira Drive. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And you should also take into account the cost of the salaries of the stewards paid to guard Madeira Drive seven days a week.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Moreover, for any further closure to occur, we understand that an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) needs to take place with engagement with representative/community groups to help to mitigate any potential adverse effects on people with protected characteristics, no matter how sustainable. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">In respect of this, the public sector equality duty still applies, and in making any changes to road networks, the Council must consider the needs of disabled people and those with other protected characteristics. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Accessibility requirements apply to temporary measures as they do to permanent ones.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Furthermore, where would closure of Madeira Drive leave the Madeira Terraces restoration? </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Local heritage groups will shortly be joining our Campaign if there is not a commitment from the Council that the restoration work will commence in the very near future. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As each batch of arches is restored, those covered pedestrian walkways and access stairs/ramps can be reopened providing more genuine pedestrian and retail space.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Last Monday (15 June 2020), around 35 traders made it abundantly clear to you and your colleagues that they want Madeira Drive reopened to all users without further delay and that any pedestrianisation plans can only be considered after public consultation, major landscaping of, and investment in, Madeira Drive. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">As we write, around 3,900 people, including those with disability, have signed our petition to reopen Madeira Drive for all users, on the Council's e-petitions website page. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This indicates substantial public support for reopening Madeira Drive.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We understand that this week a recommendation is to be put before the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, of which you are chairperson, to keep Madeira Drive closed from the Aquarium roundabout to the bottom of Duke's Mound while further engagement takes place on future arrangements.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">We are afraid to say that this is not acceptable as it would keep the cafes and restaurants on Madeira Drive cut off from their core customers - motorcycles, Mods and other scooter riders. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Without access for motorcyclists and scooter riders, these businesses will not survive. Already a public demonstration demanding that Madeira Drive be reopened has been held by the biker and scooter fraternity. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Continued closure of this section of Madeira Drive would also prevent car-driving disabled people from using these businesses.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Let's be clear, the traders have suffered very badly during the coronavirus crisis. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">This is absolutely not the right time to introduce an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to extend the closure. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It will cause further damage to traders' businesses, prove deeply unpopular with motorcyclists and scooter riders, and prevent disabled access by car to the cafes and restaurants.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Instead, you have the power to take the heat out of this controversial and divisive situation by reopening Madeira Drive to all users while a full consultation of all stakeholder groups takes place on what is best for local people, visitors, businesses - and for our precious environment.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Everyone in Brighton and Hove has suffered during lockdown. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">You have the golden opportunity this week to help heal divisions by returning to the status quo of a Madeira Drive with access for all while starting a proper and credible process to determine the environmental, economic and recreational future of Madeira Drive. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We urge you to take it.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We look forward to your response.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yours sincerely,</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman";">Ollie Wilson and </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman";">Laura King</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On behalf of the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign</span></h4>
<br />
<b><i>More tomorrow my friends! We live to fight another day!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9EYpSRrJt0w4KnJJXDlmgHhtp246E7SgXwdbJvKBQwQhLIML9gnN1lZHhCiivD6g2CaLesw1qZ4GOAgl3aOJlSpiekLaBpZ6z0yzUujgx0zNCyMeudywUCDlcht9PvTpOioQ/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-24-06-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="619" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9EYpSRrJt0w4KnJJXDlmgHhtp246E7SgXwdbJvKBQwQhLIML9gnN1lZHhCiivD6g2CaLesw1qZ4GOAgl3aOJlSpiekLaBpZ6z0yzUujgx0zNCyMeudywUCDlcht9PvTpOioQ/s400/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-24-06-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>* Wednesday, 24 June: Today started at 8.15am with a couple of minutes on the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d777" target="_blank">BBC Radio Sussex Breakfast Show</a> explaining why closing Madeira Drive has discriminated against disabled people, damaged traders and destroyed the pleasure of motorcyclists and Mods.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18537856.brighton-bike-lane-approved-along-a259-seafront-road/" target="_blank">top story</a> of the day was Brighton & Hove City Council's unbelievable decision - also at last night's extraordinary Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee - to half-close the Brighton seafront to traffic, handing over two lanes to cyclists.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Having ridden up and down this road in the Summer for the past six years on my Vespa, I can tell you that this decision is <b>BONKERS</b>.<br />
<br />
Our Campaign is purely about Madeira Drive, but it is staggering to perceive how little the Council understands the traffic on its own roads. A car dropping off passengers causes a tailback on this road. Roadworks reducing the span to a single lane pretty well halts the traffic.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Turning it from a road to a lane in the Summer is going to result in daytime gridlock, more pollution and a larger carbon footprint for Brighton & Hove. It is batshit crazy! But, as I say, you have to pick your fights, and ours is Madeira Drive.<br />
<br />
I could not help reflecting on the tenor of the Committee meeting I witnessed last night - and the fact that our submission was ignored while the opposition was allowed its say.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWTRz7dAyOFa4CJeGWEKYN9DFCLeGw0RycKCODiib_Euy9lnMbawnu0UNRMFsBLGZpSOsB-jYG7tkWeHL0DSPfJJEFcV9X2x4V3dG9E8K73VghpKV7WCMoyeHeFxAm_gnZHma/s1600/Councillor-Anne-Pissaridou.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="100" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWTRz7dAyOFa4CJeGWEKYN9DFCLeGw0RycKCODiib_Euy9lnMbawnu0UNRMFsBLGZpSOsB-jYG7tkWeHL0DSPfJJEFcV9X2x4V3dG9E8K73VghpKV7WCMoyeHeFxAm_gnZHma/s200/Councillor-Anne-Pissaridou.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
So, Laura King and I wrote another letter to Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chairperson of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, in the hope receiving a reply.<br />
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This one reads:<br />
<span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Dear Councillor Pissaridou,</b></span></span><br />
<div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; padding: 20px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We watched the Environment, Transport and Sustainability meeting online last night and were absolutely appalled that our submission (below) was completely ignored. </span></div>
<div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; padding: 20px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You did not raise any of the excellent points we put to you for this committee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brighton & Hove City Council appears to be using the Covid-19 crisis to push through its ableist agenda, discriminating against disabled people (at least until September), destroying the businesses of traders (despite them making it clear to you on 15 June that they need to have Madeira Drive reopened urgently to allow their businesses to recover), and also preventing the pleasure of local motorcyclists and scooter riders who regularly meet at Madeira Drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your uncosted decision to keep Madeira Drive closed is, in reality, set to cost the Council thousands of pounds, possibly tens of thousands of pounds <b>[since we sent this, it has come out that the cost will be hundreds of thousands of pounds, possibly millions of pound over time]</b>, in lost revenue, and seriously damage the local economy including the City's income from tourism.</span></div>
<div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; padding: 20px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Moreover, you have considered no scientific evidence on carbon emissions at Madeira Drive and surrounding areas. </span></div>
<div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; padding: 20px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By banning visiting traffic from Madeira Drive, you are moving it in land to more polluted and congested areas, which is likely to increase, not decrease, the area's overall carbon footprint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If this is not the case, let us see the scientific research and evidence, rather than the anecdotal claims of blinkered, ableist campaigners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You have totally ignored our point of view, despite the fact we have the support of 4,200 citizens who have signed our petition - which we understand is a record for the Council e-petitions site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One disabled person, Dirk Von Roden, who needed to drive to the chip shop on Madeira Drive, asked:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">"Why are the Council trying to make Brighton and Hove so inaccessible to the disabled and elderly?'</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Veteran Madeira Drive trader JJ Braiden said: "</span><b style="font-family: inherit;">To simply close the road means we as businesses are being closed down."</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please reconsider. </span></div>
<div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; padding: 20px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The shocking debate we witnessed last night is not the way to do local government.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ollie Wilson and Laura King</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hove BN3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>We are still awaiting a reply from Councillor </b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">Pissaridou.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></b></i>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i>The other person on my mind was Brighton Kemptown </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i>MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">I did not have time to write about it last night - but I was staggered by </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18534661.labour-members-urged-back-closure-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">Lloyd's interview in </a></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18534661.labour-members-urged-back-closure-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">yesterday's </a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18534661.labour-members-urged-back-closure-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">Brighton Argus</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">The revealing article conflated two separate stories, although both involved </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">the support of far-left Labour '</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">party within a party' Momentum. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">It highlighted the disingenuous email - first mentioned in this blog - to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">Labour Party </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">members, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">claiming falsely that continued closure of Madeira </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">Drive is official Labour </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">Party policy. It is in fact </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">supposed to be a temporary </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">measure for the Covid-19 crisis.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">Amusingly, the article said: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>'T</b></span></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">he email did not appear to have been sent </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to Councillor Daniel Yates, the Labour Council’s Deputy Chairman of the </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Policy and Resources Committee. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">He was left stumped after originally telling </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">residents online that no such email existed.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;">'</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;">But the real meat is in the quotations from Lloyd Russell-Moyle.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;">It read: '</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;">Asked about the concerns of businesses in the road, who say the closure is creating immense financial pressure, <b>Mr Russell-Moyle said: “Quite frankly, for businesses to say they’re struggling – every</b></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"> business i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;">s struggling.</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">“Get real if you think you’re struggling because the road is shut.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">“We’re struggling because we’re in the middle of a pandemic.”'</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">You could have knocked me down with a feather when I read this. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>I guess I have always considered Lloyd to be a bit of a pantomime politician, what with his running off with the Mace, tugging at the Speaker's trousers or pretending to be a chicken, but most MPs have a very sensible cardinal rule: 'Never attack your constituents!'</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yet, here is Mr How To Make Friends and Influence People, telling working men and women in his constituency, who through no fault of their own have been separated from their customers by the local authority, to '<b>get real!'</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;">It is beyond parody.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I thought I would give you a round-up of how the Labour & Cooperative MP's remarks have played with the Brighton public:</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b>Thedavie </b>wrote: <b>'</b></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you remember when Labour had some MPs with brains and the Co-Op had sensible prices and supported Labour. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today's situation, no one could make it up.'</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0cm;">Darcy de F'arcy</span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b> </b>wrote: <b>'</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, you got what you voted for. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't make the same mistake again.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0cm;">Brightonmatters</span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: grey; font-weight: bold;"> </span>wrote:<span style="color: grey; font-weight: bold;"> '</span></span></span>Morning LRM, you worm! Just because you don't need a proper job, doesn't mean no one else does or can survive on thin air. Get real!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b>Mark by the sea</b></span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"> wrote that Lloyd is an '</span></span><b>out of touch MP who has never run a business talking idealist ideas'.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">l</span>niguu</b></span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b> </b>wrote: '</span></span>To say that every business is struggling due to this pandemic is true but the businesses on Madeira Drive are now also having to deal with idiots like this who want to shut the road down permanently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'What about the Concorde and Yellow Wave and the Volks?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You [Lloyd] just keep collecting your gold-plated wage packet and your pension contributions and your subsidised meals and drinks and all the other perks you get. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'You think shutting this road down will deter people from coming to Brighton in their cars? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'It just means they will be driving around for longer looking for a space somewhere else. Whoever voted for this fool should hang their heads!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0cm;">Threepennybit</span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b> </b>wrote:<b> '</b></span></span>So, removing all those parking spaces will bump up parking prices all over the city including residential permits, because of lost revenue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-text"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">'Less traffic will no doubt lead to less tourism and people will no doubt visit places that cater for their needs outside of the city, like Worthing, Crawley and Eastbourne.</span></span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="comment-text"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Slow clap Labour, no wonder businesses were closing before the pandemic. . .'</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-username"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">BtonBlues</span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"> wrote: '</span></b></span>This is the first time for decades that I believe Brighton & Hove will actually vote against Labour and the Green parties at next year's local election. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>'The way in which this Labour MP has spoken to these local businesses along Madeira Drive is just incredible. Exceptionally rude and disingenuous to those who bring business and tourism to the city.'</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Finally, </b><span class="comment-username"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0cm;">Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign</span><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><b> </b>- we had to have our say - wrote:<b> '</b></span></span>I believe that this is one of the most disgraceful comments I have ever heard from a Labour MP. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'It makes me ashamed to be a member of the same party as Lloyd Russell-Moyle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>'Make no mistake, jobs will be lost at Madeira Drive businesses if it is not reopened and, yet, Mr Russell-Moyle is telling the working men and women there to 'Get real!'</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="comment-text"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">'What socialist would turn a deaf ear to workers about to lose their jobs and their businesses, when there is something that can be done about it?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span><span class="comment-text"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">'Shame on you, Lloyd! You will lose a lot of Labour support in your constituency over this!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span><span class="comment-text"><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">'Perhaps, the true socialists should rise up to deselect you unless you withdraw these unconscionable remarks - and start supporting the workers who you are supposed to represent!'</span></span></span><br />
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<b>On a brighter note, our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">petition</a> now stands at an amazing 4,243!</b><br />
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<b><i>Goodnight, friends! See you tomorrow!</i></b><br />
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<b>* Thursday, 25 June Update: Mods and Rockers will gather at the Pier entrance to Madeira Drive on Saturday, 4 July, for a mass protest, from 2pm.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I seem to have spent a lot of time in the past week or two talking to the local media about the plight of the traders and discrimination against disabled people - all of which is true and accurate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9rcCxbdPgupyoHSGNaWP-_BUpNKmR8zFwH_1gj1ES5e7GHw9scvQT-gMMWIPRdXjqNAUyEFdcxAtzuIkFwfq19VAdHLG6qWZu6-z3ihymasqCa3vKPsD7zb3_E0-0Aeohk_N/s1600/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9rcCxbdPgupyoHSGNaWP-_BUpNKmR8zFwH_1gj1ES5e7GHw9scvQT-gMMWIPRdXjqNAUyEFdcxAtzuIkFwfq19VAdHLG6qWZu6-z3ihymasqCa3vKPsD7zb3_E0-0Aeohk_N/s400/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>But, to be frank, one of the main reasons I started the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign is because I used to enjoy riding my Vespa down to the cafes at Madeira Drive - and I have been prevented from doing that by the closure.</b><br />
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<b>I am a Mod and proud to be a Mod. </b><br />
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This morning I was talking to a dear friend, who owns and runs a bicycle shop in Hove. He reminded me of the great motoring heritage of Madeira Drive, with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_Speed_Trials" target="_blank">Brighton Speed Trials</a>, for instance, being held there since 1905. He said this is something we should cherish.<br />
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My cycle-shop friend is so right. It is the same with the Mods and Rockers. They have been meeting at Madeira Drive for decades for a cup of tea or coffee and a burger and chips.<br />
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And annual events like the August Bank Holiday Mod Weekender, the <a href="https://london.acecafe.com/event/ace-cafe-reunion-weekend-sunday-brighton-burn-up-2018-2/" target="_blank">Ace Cafe Reunion Weekend</a> and <a href="http://brightona.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brightona</a> bring tens of thousands of Mods, other scooter riders and motorcyclists to Brighton and Hove.<br />
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It is an important part of our great city's motoring heritage - and, perhaps, in media interviews, I have been too reticent to defend that.<br />
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<b>There is no shame in being a Mod. There is no shame in being a Rocker. There is no shame in demanding that we can meet when we like at Madeira Drive, Brighton.</b><br />
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<b>At the bare minimum, Mods, bikers and car drivers need ALL-year access to Madeira Drive between the Aquarium Roundabout and Duke's Mound. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Many of 4,300 people who have signed our Petition are bikers or Mods who expect that!</b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>That's why we will protest on Saturday, 4 July, 2pm, to demand that Brighton & Hove City Council reopens Madeira Drive - and doesn't turn its back on its great Mod and biker traditions.</b><br />
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<b><br /></b><b>* Saturday, 27 June Update: It is REALLY important that everyone fills in the Brighton & Hove City Council's Survey on the Closure of Madeira Drive: </b><a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/">https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/</a><br />
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It takes about 10 minutes.<br />
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Below, for your reference, is the overview page that comes up and then copies of the main questions and, just for your information, how I answered them:<br />
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The screen-grabs may not be exactly in the right order but I am sure you get the general idea.<br />
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There are a few more questions about your location and email address which are equally straight forward.<br />
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Brighton & Hove City Council is putting a lot of stock on the results of this Survey, so it is essential we all fill in out.<br />
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<b>Thank you, my friends!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Here is the Survey link again: </b><a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/">https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/</a><br />
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<b>* Sunday, 28 June Update: Lovely sunny, windy day - just back from a quick scoot out. Fun in the gale! My main update is the wonderful graphic that my partner Laura has created - to promote next Saturday's Big Mods and Rockers Protest at Madeira Drive:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFvOchlDJYC6o7BJnnIziUcqQxPL-FVq1Oz38RBd9fEE8NAHjkiK3-XLUtQ7WatZKv858T2hQpWdzHw1D7h3yagq66MxXvKbL8Tw4HnBhmg4SFxb7N9dfp2FeVyVeeg4f-KRe/s1600/Reooen-Madeira-Drive-protest-Facebook.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFvOchlDJYC6o7BJnnIziUcqQxPL-FVq1Oz38RBd9fEE8NAHjkiK3-XLUtQ7WatZKv858T2hQpWdzHw1D7h3yagq66MxXvKbL8Tw4HnBhmg4SFxb7N9dfp2FeVyVeeg4f-KRe/s640/Reooen-Madeira-Drive-protest-Facebook.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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Today, our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> has reached an amazing 4,446 signatures!<br />
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Now it is vital we try to get as many of these supporters as possible to fill out Brighton & Hove City Council's <a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" target="_blank">Survey on Madeira Drive</a>. It takes a few minutes and the update above this one gives easy-to-follow tips to make it a piece of cake!<br />
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<b>* A very daft article in yesterday's Brighton Argus, claiming that the closure of Madeira Drive had been 'very well received' before setting out the familiar Green/Momentum ableist agenda for Brighton and Hove. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Let's look at just half a dozen of the many angry responses from readers.</b><br />
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<b>Twonk</b> wrote: <b>'What a blinkered article!'</b><br />
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<b>Sussex23 </b>wrote: <b>'We must get the economy going!'</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Hovebat</b> wrote: '<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;">Let's just tackle the first paragraph, "Closing Madeira Drive is very popular." Whilst that may or may not [have been] true at first, it certainly is not now with the two e-petitions running - <b>the Reopen one is almost 2,000 votes ahead and that's without backing from the likes of XR [Extinction Rebellion] and [Momentum] Labour. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;">'<b>It is indisputable that [the majority of] Brightonians want Madeira Drive open.'</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Triumph of Hope over Experience </b>wrote:<b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">'</span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>TWO whopping lies in the first paragraph. Madeira Drive closure is NOT popular or a success for most people and the Council has now admitted it intends to make it permanent, so NOT temporary!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>'As for the bizarre use of the word "grumpy", I think seafront traders (and all city traders) facing financial ruin as a result of this Council's stealthy anti-visitor and anti-disabled moves dressed up as virtue signalling, post-lockdown losses are entitled to feel "grumpy" (and worse), not least when this country is facing the WORST depression since 1929 and their Council is not only refusing to HELP them, but is actively signing their death warrants in some mass "experiment" no one consented to. . .' </b></span></span><br />
<span face="" style="color: #212529; font-family: "fira sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;">lniguu </span><span style="color: #212529;">wrote: </span><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;">'Brighton is a busy place that attracts visitors - get used to it!'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;">And GOrwell </span><span style="color: #212529;">wrote</span><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;">: 'A contemptuous piece from an ableist who shows no concern at all for those who are physically unable to cycle, and rely on their cars for social interaction, exercise and shopping.'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;">Meanwhile, a more sensible Brighton Argus article, reported part of last week's Brighton & Hove Council Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee in which Assistant Director for City Transport Mark Prior admitted that motoring events 'will not be the focus' of Madeira Drive if the road remains closed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #212529;">He was confirming that well-attended, economically important and much-loved Madeira Drive events The Speed Trials, VW Brighton Breeze, Ace Cafe Burn Up, Pioneer Motorcycle Run, Veteran Car Run and Brightona might never happen again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b>Mr Prior said: 'If it remains closed, then events will not be the focus and not the main consideration.'</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;">The article, tucked away on page 18 of the Saturday, 27 June edition and apparently not online, also spelt out <b>FOUR</b> 'future proposals [for Madeira Drive] under investigation' by Council officials:</span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b>* Keep the stretch from Palace Pier to Duke's Mound closed but allow</b></span><b style="color: #212529;"> traffic to come down the slope at Duke's Mound to access Black Rock</b><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b>* One-way access from the Aquarium Roundabout to Duke's Mound, with more walking and cycling space and parking on the southern side</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b>* Close the road at the Aquarium end but still allow two-way traffic</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b>* Return the road to its original state with two-way traffic in both directions</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><i>That's it for today's Campaign Update, my friends. I hope to see you all at next Saturday's demo and please find time to do the <a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" target="_blank">Survey</a>. It is vital!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;">* Tuesday, 30 June Update: Today, as I write, our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive Petition</a> stands an incredible 4,675 signatures - more than 2,000 more than the rival petition despite their national Momentum/Extinction Rebellion promotion!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;">And Brighton's Latest TV last night screened its interview with me about the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign - it was good, although I looked sweatier under the studio lights than I would have liked!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;">And Laura King has written a great new blog post on the <a href="http://thepoetlaura-eate.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-battle-for-madeira-drive.html" target="_blank">Battle for Madeira Drive</a>.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;">Here are half a dozen pictures I have taken on my dog and bone during the past couple of weeks, illustrating just how busy Madeira Drive is with people exercising!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGcb0vESYvRUav_8WvdRx6aNGmMzrvDJiMipAAvwHB80su6ykTTWa5U9_e4wP6ar_l722FlNgh9pXcpGVZ7pYHv8wsiMRTsqxsLKYQcViAXuA0yin1N0At6e_kqiCdbTgUfU_/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-June-2020-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="500" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGcb0vESYvRUav_8WvdRx6aNGmMzrvDJiMipAAvwHB80su6ykTTWa5U9_e4wP6ar_l722FlNgh9pXcpGVZ7pYHv8wsiMRTsqxsLKYQcViAXuA0yin1N0At6e_kqiCdbTgUfU_/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-June-2020-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswhRFL7XAFm3Q2liuJuT7LVWaM_ERZudEcYDKwDFmszBUtPX5RIBh1MA-VN1-rTrVrBRJEqT_znmDGStdPXjtN1_mYqOuMG0ZJw_6_nJh8GycAYlRvY1uWAH5ovRo-DXenzMn/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-June-2020-4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="500" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswhRFL7XAFm3Q2liuJuT7LVWaM_ERZudEcYDKwDFmszBUtPX5RIBh1MA-VN1-rTrVrBRJEqT_znmDGStdPXjtN1_mYqOuMG0ZJw_6_nJh8GycAYlRvY1uWAH5ovRo-DXenzMn/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-June-2020-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #212529;"><b style="color: black;">Please don't forget to do the Council's <a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" target="_blank">Madeira Drive Survey</a> - and I hope to see you all for the Protest on Saturday:</b></span><br />
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<b style="color: black;">Wednesday, 1 July Update: </b><br />
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<b style="color: black;">* Our Petition now stands at 4,846 signatures. Incredible!</b><br />
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<span style="color: black;">* We have been trying to get star cyclist and Mod Sir Bradley Wiggins to sign up - after he was spotted on Madeira Drive. Come on, Sir Wiggo! Show us your Mod credentials!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">* <b>This morning I spoke to a Madeira Drive trader, whose business was said to be flourishing under the conditions, by the Keep Madeira Drive Closed lobby. He told me it is simply not true. 'An overcast day is like a rainy day now,' he said. The trader </b></span><b>wants Madeira Drive reopened but said the councillors who met the traders didn't seem to be listening to their concerns. He added that traders' business rates DOUBLED this year - and that the traders are still on rent strike over the closure of Madeira Drive.</b><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><b>* </b>Labour/Momentum councillors wrote to the Brighton Argus giving a very one-sided view of the issue and urging people to complete their consultation. Yes, do the <a href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" target="_blank">Survey</a>, but remember the traders, remember the Mods, remember the bikers, remember the disabled, remember the tourists! Madeira Drive is for ALL!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><b><i>See you at the Protest on Saturday (4 July), 2pm, my friends!</i></b></span><br />
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<b style="color: black;">Thursday, 2 July Update: Hurray! Our Petition is on fire! It went through 5,000 signatures this afternoon and is going up at a phenomenal rate! As I write, 8.30pm, it stands at: 5,240!</b><br />
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<b style="color: black;">It was a great day for the Campaign in other ways:</b><br />
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<b style="color: black;">* The Brighton Argus published the letter I wrote yesterday in response to the Momentum Councillors' one-sided letter promoting the Council's Survey on Madeira Drive (when, as its promoters, the Councillors should have been impartial, of course).</b><br />
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<b style="color: black;">Here it is:</b><br />
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<b style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">COUNCILLORS Anne Pissaridou and Gary Wilkinson's letter only gives one side of the argument on transport changes at Madeira Drive, Brighton.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It fails to mention the impact that preventing Mods and motorcyclists from using the Drive has had on these citizens' enjoyment of this wonderful part of the city or the enormous damage it is doing to the livelihoods of the cafe owners there who rely on mod and biker trade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">People should indeed fill out the Council's survey on Madeira Drive - <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/&source=gmail&ust=1593805771801000&usg=AFQjCNFoA2d2hVzkQ1Mx98nePZ5ZCJJnoA" href="https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/71da2cee/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://consultations.<wbr></wbr>brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/<wbr></wbr>71da2cee/</a> - but please do so with all stakeholders in mind, so that a solution can be found for the traders' businesses to survive and thrive and for everyone to be allowed to access the Drive again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ollie Wilson</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was another excellent letter in the Argus, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18554585.letter-time-invest-heavily-madeira-drive-area/" target="_blank">It is time to invest heavily in the Madeira Drive area,</a> in which Rob Heale, of Chatham Place, Brighton, argued beautifully that 'bringing the Madeira Arches back into use would improve the environment, provide quality space for walkers/cyclists and hopefully bring more visitors into the city'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr Heale continued: '</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">This council needs to consider whether the decision to close Madeira Drive to traffic is beneficial, given that there will be a loss of parking income amounting to more than £100,000 per month and there could be issues for many of the annual events that are held here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">'A total of £1.25million per year in parking revenue would be lost to the council with this decision, funds that could be used to improve the walkways at Madeira Drive and provide a safe cycling route.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">'Madeira Drive could become one of the most attractive parts of the national </span><span style="color: #212529;">coastal path network that is being developed by Natural England</span><span style="color: #212529;">.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">He added: '</span><span style="color: #212529;">And since the Arch Walkway, Madeira Terrace and numerous London-to-Brighton </span><span style="color: #212529;">events all bring in revenue from visitors, why can’t Coast to Capital, the Local Enterprise Agency, chip in with funds as well?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212529; font-family: inherit;"><b>'By hindering the annual events here at Madeira Drive, including the cycle run, the marathon, the vintage car rally, motorcycle events and the mod convention, the council is depriving this city of resources from tourists and restricting the choices available to local residents.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">'Let’s aim to bring the Madeira Arches and Terrace back into use and help boost revenue from visitors, something this city needs more than ever following the recent health </span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">crisis.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212529;"><b><i>Well said, Rob Heale!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The reaction to the letter was substantial and positive.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On reader wrote: <b>'<span style="color: #212529;">Yes, the council are just killing trade down there and creating chaos parking everywhere else.'</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">Another added: '</span><b><span style="color: #212529;">The campaign for the closure of Madeira Drive is being led by. . . some Little Lenin [who] declares the efforts to regenerate the Drive and keep it open are a "reactionary backlash"! </span><span style="color: #212529;">It seems no childish Trot exaggeration is too great for [the] Comrade.'</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529;">A third reader wrote: '</span><span style="color: #212529;">We are Brighton and Hove City Council. </span><span style="color: #212529;">We don't listen to taxpayers. </span><span style="color: #212529;">We don't care about local businesses. </span><span style="color: #212529;">Bye bye!'</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>That's it for today's update, my friends. I hope to see you all at Saturday's Protest!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Friday, 3 July Update: It has been a long week of campaigning - and it is not over yet!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Since yesterday, the Petition has been crazy - and has gone through 6,000 signatures! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It is now more than TWICE the size of the opposing Petition, despite them having sent out a national email to Momentum supporters claiming, mendaciously, that closure of Madeira Drive was Labour Party Policy.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>One baffled citizen, who naively thought that Madeira Drive belongs only to Kemptown, rather than being a Brighton & Hove asset and regional and national destination for Mods and bikers, wrote to the Brighton Argus: 'What is going on?'</b></span></div>
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<b>Meanwhile, Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle turned out at the i360 attraction (basically, a lift) in Brighton today to do interviews in support of sacked British Airways workers. Fair enough, but why is the Momentum-supported MP still promoting the closure of Madeira Drive which will see other workers LOSE their jobs. </b><i><b>Get a grip, Lloyd!</b></i></div>
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<b>* A Mod friend sent me a link to my interview about Madeira Drive, on Latest TV: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Act5kSpCA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1IXQVXtRt7sL09a_uMdDRbwDAe8KEjz9iS4BnR6iVlnC7Pla6f8WJElx8" style="color: purple; font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Act5kSpCA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1IXQVXtRt7sL09a_uMdDRbwDAe8KEjz9iS4BnR6iVlnC7Pla6f8WJElx8</a></b></div>
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<b>* People at Brighton Marina and in Kemptown and Hove have all been complaining about the additional traffic, pollution and vehicles trying park caused by the closure of Madeira Drive. </b></div>
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One Brighton Argus reader, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18557432.letter-driving-brighton-absolute-nightmare-experience/" target="_blank">frustrated at the congestion</a> caused by the closure of Madeira Drive and other traffic changes, wrote: '<b>What is happening to Brighton brings tears to my eyes.'</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A sympathetic commentator responded: '<span style="color: #212529;"><b>That's because visitors are now fighting zone C and H permit residents for the shared use bays - thanks to the closure of the 300-odd spaces on Madeira Drive. It's getting really bad now. I can't go out anywhere in my car, even for food shopping.'</b></span></span></div>
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<b><i>* JUST IN: I hear travellers have just moved their vehicles into the deserted Madeira Drive! Another outcome of Brighton & Hove City Council turning Madeira Drive into a ghost town!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>SEE you all, my friends, at tomorrow's Protest at Madeira Drive, 2pm, Pier Entrance.</i></b></div>
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<b>Sunday, 5 July Update: What a marvellous, emotional, wondrous day for the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign yesterday was!</b></div>
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With the weather forecast indicating it would be wet and very windy, I was naturally concerned about how practical the demonstration would prove to be.</div>
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But I had, in a one-sentence communique, informed the local media about it - and had little choice but to go ahead.</div>
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In the morning, I was astonished to find that my one line of copy, with a poster attached, had been developed by the Brighton Argus into its front-page splash under a banner headline: <b>ANGRY MODS: Call made for rockers to join them in Madeira Drive protest</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ETxG4Gv7c_IowpETjS0RNElLDX7S7Y4LJ8XAha7oVkM03YX9LYlE6iuUIdB15_DFBMIdBTBZF-I8u-wIcqlhr88JtIR1OarDfbZ3sk4P5cNC8X-oRtXx03OHEGCO9wdXOdZt/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Angry-Mods-Splash-in-Brighton-Argus.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="500" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ETxG4Gv7c_IowpETjS0RNElLDX7S7Y4LJ8XAha7oVkM03YX9LYlE6iuUIdB15_DFBMIdBTBZF-I8u-wIcqlhr88JtIR1OarDfbZ3sk4P5cNC8X-oRtXx03OHEGCO9wdXOdZt/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Angry-Mods-Splash-in-Brighton-Argus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Inside was a marvellous piece of journalism by reporter Laurie Churchman, with I understand some support from his newsdesk to make it a splash!</div>
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As a former national red-top journalist, I admired the way t<a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18561160.angry-mods-descend-brighton-battle-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">he story</a> had been built up!</div>
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When I arrived at Madeira Drive shortly before 2pm yesterday, the South Coast Mods were all there - and looking good.</div>
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Moreover, the local media were there, photographing, filming and interviewing. There was a carnival atmosphere - despite the wind and the rain.</div>
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Laurie Churchman, a very pleasant young man, interviewed me to <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18561718.mods-protest-brighton-seafront-madeira-drive-closure/" target="_blank">update the story online</a> and Madeira Drive's veteran fortune teller JJ Braiden did a great job corralling the Mods, bikers and a supporter cyclist, and the Press, for a photocall on the steps beside the Volks cafe.</div>
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I spoke <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=505873206831752&notif_id=1593941144932088&notif_t=watch_follower_video&ref=notif" target="_blank">unscripted and from the heart</a> for about five minutes about the battle we face, the injustice of what is happening and our determination to carry on till we win the reopening of Madeira Drive, ending a new twist on John 4:23: 'Cometh the hour, cometh the Mod! Cometh the hour, cometh the Motorcyclist!'</div>
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JJ, who has been working at Madeira Drive for 33 years, spoke very well, saying that Brighton Pier, Brighton Marina, The Sealife Centre and local Bed and Breakfast businesses were all supporting the Campaign to Reopen Madeira Drive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JbRwZeYRytiYY6ak-2-08CO3LptV7tktu_bpKbDp0RUWriNeVNJKgW_ebuerMyEzjl5yp8iHVZrNvsKVU_OjJYsIlqzbzmjHa-ZOfy6uhcsnckSNecfYqHIRUeWdQUvp0ldy/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Ollie-Wilson-Speaks-04-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="400" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JbRwZeYRytiYY6ak-2-08CO3LptV7tktu_bpKbDp0RUWriNeVNJKgW_ebuerMyEzjl5yp8iHVZrNvsKVU_OjJYsIlqzbzmjHa-ZOfy6uhcsnckSNecfYqHIRUeWdQUvp0ldy/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Ollie-Wilson-Speaks-04-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Photographer Andrew Gardner took some <a href="https://andrewgardner.pixieset.com/modsmadeira/" target="_blank">fantastic pictures of the Protest</a>.</div>
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As has <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132287586@N06/albums/72157714982460837?fbclid=IwAR342dh1Of0aJc9JeiEHOEFMVtXWjON0QqJmfJ7E3BGJQBGGbwG-XUzMCY0" target="_blank">Gavin Brewis</a>.</div>
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I was proud of the South Coast Mods yesterday - and my heartfelt thanks goes to them, the bikers, traders and everyone who turned up to support us - plus the police officers and Council stewards who were great!</div>
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Yesterday, also, there was a major development.</div>
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Councillor Lee Wares and his colleagues released their <a href="https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/07/04/madeira-drive-compromise-put-forward-by-conservatives/" target="_blank">compromise proposal</a> for reopening Madeira Drive during the remainder of the current coronavirus situation.</div>
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It is a very sensible proposal which would reopen Madeira Drive one way from the Aquarium Roundabout to Duke's Mound, so that Mods, bikers and other motorists can use the cafe and restaurants (keeping them in business), while allowing cyclists and pedestrians space on the other side of the road and from Duke's Mound to the Marina.</div>
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I support this as a progmatic solution for reopening Madeira Drive and I believe the traders, Brighton Pier, Brighton Marina, The Sealife Centre will also back it.</div>
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I hope, with the local economy and objecting constituents in mind, sufficient Green and Labour councillors will also get behind the compromise.</div>
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<b><i>Let common sense prevail! We shall see!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>P.S. My partner Laura King has started a Reopen Madeira Drive to All group on Facebook. Please join: </i></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/300153914693483">https://www.facebook.com/groups/300153914693483</a></div>
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<b>Tuesday, 7 July Update: It is my late mother Heide Wilson's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mum! I have no doubt she would appreciate the work we are doing in this campaign in defence of freedom and inclusivity.</b></div>
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It was a gorgeous morning today, so I cycled down to Madeira Drive to check out the exercisers:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJu1FJsc_Y5H-CkUh5xJ4WPbztpZuoqDj28cRm7PGyjIEFKiFVMcvQl2X1k5PHSUPb7jgXe2DcmprxCmCZAro7ghNWDOennoBrO6waAaNFBYzNBNt01AJ9J69v-QasPVg8PsH/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJu1FJsc_Y5H-CkUh5xJ4WPbztpZuoqDj28cRm7PGyjIEFKiFVMcvQl2X1k5PHSUPb7jgXe2DcmprxCmCZAro7ghNWDOennoBrO6waAaNFBYzNBNt01AJ9J69v-QasPVg8PsH/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FH4o5999xeqZbWeDt8CZu8DJt4bHDvFsfgGPWz6qJ5PdhTRsajqFzFqP54cdhF_Cg4GJMAQzmCIthhv8vS8iS3dVLdoGFZDkIscM6G8lPTa3x4I39b1ECjIg4bhRhW3pcvc5/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FH4o5999xeqZbWeDt8CZu8DJt4bHDvFsfgGPWz6qJ5PdhTRsajqFzFqP54cdhF_Cg4GJMAQzmCIthhv8vS8iS3dVLdoGFZDkIscM6G8lPTa3x4I39b1ECjIg4bhRhW3pcvc5/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSXuqIbPiAGecoAdpOIIZDF44gj5K1ylnIEoCy2nBF2iNne-iuMv4v6WWWcqx6Gmd5135w8HvuLEW_XlNRFnXNZ9auD60bNvt5FHxYcEslyHR0VJPyrNQfm9CuO2nVoPYCIkj/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSXuqIbPiAGecoAdpOIIZDF44gj5K1ylnIEoCy2nBF2iNne-iuMv4v6WWWcqx6Gmd5135w8HvuLEW_XlNRFnXNZ9auD60bNvt5FHxYcEslyHR0VJPyrNQfm9CuO2nVoPYCIkj/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-7-7-20-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Yes, it was the urban wasteland that Brighton and Hove City Council has made it!</i></b></div>
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I am trying to write this Campaign update every second day - but there is no much to report.</div>
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Yesterday, my partner Laura King had a fantastic letter, Don't Be So Selfish (or in the online version <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18562671.letter-live-seaside-resort-belongs-everyone/" target="_blank">When you live in a seaside resort it belongs to everyone</a>', in the Brighton Argus, in which she said Brighton & Hove City Council had forgotten that the city is a seaside resort that should welcome visitors, and called on the Council not to waste central Government but spend it on improving the seafront toilets!</div>
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No fewer than four other letters on the same page attacked the Council's Momentum and Green members for not listening to the public, neglecting Madeira Drive and behaving like 'lunatics taking over the asylum'. Great stuff!</div>
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The Argus also ran a full-page feature on Saturday's Mod Protest at Madeira Drive, hilariously suggesting that in the wind and rain, we might have stripped naked!</div>
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<b><i>Never joke to a journalist!</i></b></div>
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All the same, it was a good report - and I loved the picture they ran large of me on my Vespa PX125 and the succinct quote that the closure was <b>'killing businesses who rely on motorcyclists and mods' trade'.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGevWn3gibikpfrvG1KKp9rt-bCax-zUXdFARWveEHFRTah82woSG5j43pjPB8Y9u32Ku03Vh0MOTE9lKbNEjcPKlcvugP61wm9nUHxyM1AvefuiaJh7D9nwCSLO5khjhd8czy/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Argus-Feature-06-07-20-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1000" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGevWn3gibikpfrvG1KKp9rt-bCax-zUXdFARWveEHFRTah82woSG5j43pjPB8Y9u32Ku03Vh0MOTE9lKbNEjcPKlcvugP61wm9nUHxyM1AvefuiaJh7D9nwCSLO5khjhd8czy/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-Argus-Feature-06-07-20-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4X-CmAhD1KHcogJojRAoNO6KzQ2fS-U8G9PVZJoUnV_2nET7ZYOSgCvhUtARzKaeOfy6IhmVhMIrPZiCHTgIpS4h-T84Jv2atZVmgKkht2FBQOjdTl6ByzzsbunqV4vh6NaD/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-06-07-20-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4X-CmAhD1KHcogJojRAoNO6KzQ2fS-U8G9PVZJoUnV_2nET7ZYOSgCvhUtARzKaeOfy6IhmVhMIrPZiCHTgIpS4h-T84Jv2atZVmgKkht2FBQOjdTl6ByzzsbunqV4vh6NaD/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-06-07-20-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Moreover, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/300153914693483" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive Facebook group</a> that Laura started less than two days already has 540 members.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsW3KATT7wfMJ-uTJ1AOOOzlD7wd_bdDYT2vl41kz-ksFDaTYKf80fB0u2FQES8VkKFRfj0xmT9rPrhlfo60KgMukUZxaCa-mReG8YXETEoooRZujUJGw9Ntc5MeCdgmslzQs/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-07+at+18.35.24.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="876" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsW3KATT7wfMJ-uTJ1AOOOzlD7wd_bdDYT2vl41kz-ksFDaTYKf80fB0u2FQES8VkKFRfj0xmT9rPrhlfo60KgMukUZxaCa-mReG8YXETEoooRZujUJGw9Ntc5MeCdgmslzQs/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-07+at+18.35.24.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>And, as I write, our Reopen Madeira Drive petition has an incredible 7,410 signatures!</i></b></div>
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Yet, the bad news from Brighton and Hove keeps coming.</div>
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Today, in the Argus, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18564835.coronavirus-cars-banned-brighton-streets/" target="_blank">new road closure plans</a> were revealed which will prevent Mods from riding their Vespas and Lambrettas to Brighton's iconic Quadrophenia Alley.</div>
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Once again, there has been absolutely no consultation, no democracy.</div>
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It feels like the <i>Momenteens </i>(Momentum+Greens) have declared war on the Mods - and on the Rockers as well!</div>
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Their behaviour brings shame on the Council.</div>
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But they won't get away with these totalitarian tactics. This is not Stalinist Russia!</div>
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Wherever I go, ordinary members of the public stop to say they support the Campaign - and often add that the Council is crazy.</div>
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One new supporter, Derek Healey wrote to me:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Ollie,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a few lines to say I wish you luck with the petition to get Madeira Drive reopened,and overturn the council's underhand and frankly downright devious activities to keep it shut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I come from Brighton and remember the great place it was in the 60's, left school 1965, got first scooter (Lambretta Li 150 series 2), followed by various other models up till 1969, including a couple of Vespa's, but I always loved Lambretta's (still do and wish i'd kept at least one, but hey,hindsight and all that eh)?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Madeira Drive is iconic to Brighton, with the Mod/Rocker connection and all the other historic events, such as the Speed Trials (of which i've attended many, the highlight being the dragsters around 1972/3)w hich of course the council tried to get rid of I believe, but failed thankfully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I live in Lancing now, and don't get into Brighton too often, but when I do I'm frankly appalled at what your absolute disgrace of a council has inflicted upon the place, and seem hell bent on continuing to do so with one crazy scheme after another, with it seems total disregard for the views and wishes of the majority of the residents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, rant over, keep up the good work with the petition (I signed earlier today, by the way)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Good Luck,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the best,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Derek</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thank you, Derek. Your words mean a lot to me. </b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Cometh the hour, cometh the Mod!</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbE9o2h79wVEiQFkHOvBgj9dWJeaDCQNrJCU-BAfSqM291cVtyX-XaBLZ1ZnnVJXLkIui72ra1vN7IAuH-smcg_WY-xts2hEh965C5WJroQvC5Yus5Sa6uDkeGpkGpghQ1iQN/s1600/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbE9o2h79wVEiQFkHOvBgj9dWJeaDCQNrJCU-BAfSqM291cVtyX-XaBLZ1ZnnVJXLkIui72ra1vN7IAuH-smcg_WY-xts2hEh965C5WJroQvC5Yus5Sa6uDkeGpkGpghQ1iQN/s400/103943971_10219710968857776_4747769262977887864_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>* Thursday, 9 July 2020: I have been working for 36 years today! I remember my first day as a junior reporter at the Hull Daily Mail, 9 July 1984, like it was yesterday. And 36 years on, I still using those journalistic skills for a good cause.</b></div>
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<b>The Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign has gone absolutely bananas|! As I write, our Petition has 8,232 names - that's around 5,500 more than the Keep it Closed Petition, whose sponsors were so cocky when they launched it! They've been left in the dust!</b></div>
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On the Council's e-Petitions page, they are now in <b>fourth </b>place!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXQDSMavZe3dNS58aFXKRy8cDsNr895PorA7GoQjzYiK1AiWuc-Kqxd2s_21WwAt-2M8HcOl6rJJlrK7EinjJqI3nxSotoV2aohly-J3ZrtGL_Nf2DNhslP1eC-1jtMZVfxtY/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+17.14.37.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="692" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXQDSMavZe3dNS58aFXKRy8cDsNr895PorA7GoQjzYiK1AiWuc-Kqxd2s_21WwAt-2M8HcOl6rJJlrK7EinjJqI3nxSotoV2aohly-J3ZrtGL_Nf2DNhslP1eC-1jtMZVfxtY/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+17.14.37.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>And the Reopen Madeira Drive Facebook group - started by my wonderful partner Laura King - now has more than 900 members which it has acquired it just three days!</b></div>
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<b>In the Brighton Argus, Sage of Sussex Adam Trimingham - a fine veteran journalist - wrote some wise words, which, sadly, don't seem to have made it into the online edition.</b></div>
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Adam observed that the closure of Madeira Drive <b>'will cause immense grief to the organisers of many events held there and to local traders'.</b></div>
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He added: '<b>It would have been far better to have kept the recreation area but narrowed it, leaving room for limited traffic and bikes.</b></div>
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<b>'The council has now gone much further by proposing a cycle lane in the road between Palace Pier and King Alfred leisure centre. This is simply stupid. . . The council has a mad glint in its civic eye. It calls these schemes temporary but everyone knows they will be permanent.'</b></div>
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<b><i>Well said, Adam! The man who covered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_van_Hoogstraten" target="_blank">Nicholas van Hoogstraten</a> back in the day isn't afraid to tell the Council what's what!</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One Madeira Drive events organiser, <b>the Vintage Motor Cycle Club</b>, has started a <a href="https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-madeira-drive-case/?fbclid=IwAR2ewX3RP6TFI05vGHMVsytbwXkOBYQMYPnUGfOY4HZSSGaytVxD6EeTnYM" target="_blank">crowd-funder</a>. It is to help finance legal action against Brighton & Hove City Council over the Madeira Drive closure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Brighton Argus' letters page has been on fire with letters supporting our Campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul Johnston, of Hove, wrote that <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18565058.letter-mods-madeira-drive-protest-totally-justified/" target="_blank">our Mods' protest last Saturday was entirely justified</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He said: <b>'<span style="color: #212529;">As it appears that Brighton </span><span style="color: #212529;">Council are following their own political agenda, regardless of the wishes of the majority of Brighton residents, I wholeheartedly support the “mods protest” regarding the proposed Madeira Drive closure.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212529; font-family: inherit;">'Our council leader clearly has no knowledge or interest in Brighton’s heritage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212529; font-style: inherit;">'The closure of Madeira Drive is another nail in the coffin to the many events </span><span style="color: #212529; font-style: inherit;">that have taken place since I was born here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">'The various car rallies, speed trials and music </span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">events are part of what Brighton is about, but our politically correct-obsessed council is intent on rail-roading the closure of Madeira Drive, on the pretence of protecting the “environment” and for the benefit of cyclists and walkers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'At present there is a perfectly adequate sized pavement and cycle lane, but like the Old Shoreham Road fiasco, the addition of more bike lanes will only increase traffic levels, cause disruption and cancel the events traditionally held there, all for the benefit of (as in the case of Old Shoreham), the one cyclist per hour who uses it.'</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFKn3G50bcNuzmtCykccHHNxSmIelwk7JpVp7fzofqVqXVCHsQtkh4PjPtagqG_lC-1RYUizVjE1zAmCrL0LDhmOuXVACxietAYS9ZNFpCcOYOmY77S9awrts5Qay4cCSrPcu/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+12.05.17.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="671" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFKn3G50bcNuzmtCykccHHNxSmIelwk7JpVp7fzofqVqXVCHsQtkh4PjPtagqG_lC-1RYUizVjE1zAmCrL0LDhmOuXVACxietAYS9ZNFpCcOYOmY77S9awrts5Qay4cCSrPcu/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+12.05.17.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There have been many other supportive letters. Here are links to two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18566966.letter-brightons-wonderful-madeira-drive-left-rot/" target="_blank">Former Woodingdean Ward city councilor Honorary Alderman Geoff Wells wrote</a> that <b>'the Green and Labour coalition administration trying to run Brighton and Hove City Council really won’t ever give a toss when any traders or their businesses anywhere in the city go to the wall, let alone those struggling along the Madeira Drive'.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>And Eric Waters, of Lancing, pointed out the undemocratic nature of the way Brighton and Hove City Council is behaving, <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18569916.letter-public-must-consulted-brighton-street-changes/" target="_blank">'putting the cart before the horse'</a> by implementing closures without first consulting with citizens. </b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Too right!</b></div>
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<b>More direct action is called for.</b></div>
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We are planning to stage the next protest at Madeira Drive <b>at 1pm on Sunday, 19 July 2020. </b>The weather forecast is excellent! I'd love to see as many bikers and Mods there as possible!</div>
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<b><i>Thanks you, my friends, we have everything to play for!</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbQiGKhVcymA2U3wSrNUbrLm9MhyphenhyphenItBUXurBGc3Dg6mTrHC9F5EYvTggoSmWr7qGGUmc5bXetAyXOSLjNN3idq5FtP10iUBa0wR4Um5uXR77g3fVNMNRi5fo1W5YJ3c9k1HhI/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+13.43.06.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="347" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbQiGKhVcymA2U3wSrNUbrLm9MhyphenhyphenItBUXurBGc3Dg6mTrHC9F5EYvTggoSmWr7qGGUmc5bXetAyXOSLjNN3idq5FtP10iUBa0wR4Um5uXR77g3fVNMNRi5fo1W5YJ3c9k1HhI/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-09+at+13.43.06.png" width="576" /></a></div>
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<b>* Friday, 10 July Campaign Update: A quick one today! </b></div>
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<b>I got a nice letter in the Brighton Argus, basically asking if Brighton & Hove City Council really intended to declare war on the Mods:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHRLgsgq2Sz4aGCndj75stMl4kJ89zNXQ5NwZsKKkxrG5j_6P6K2sPXZICHzf2_1B_Vq-oxBl08zuojWxf6L8qMLBYp9iDMJuZLcXmzfx6qh-i5D0k5n3UC0oRTd71rMEGMVC/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-July-2020-Mod-letter-Argus-10-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="400" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHRLgsgq2Sz4aGCndj75stMl4kJ89zNXQ5NwZsKKkxrG5j_6P6K2sPXZICHzf2_1B_Vq-oxBl08zuojWxf6L8qMLBYp9iDMJuZLcXmzfx6qh-i5D0k5n3UC0oRTd71rMEGMVC/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-July-2020-Mod-letter-Argus-10-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74huTABWPTmlIg0yz-wNs-hhyphenhyphenJXB9Nc-RecCONmsCgOHHKsXuuwrNJUTDH18Mn-YcvxhtFxlvbxnPre3jwE-m0i5ocHGxMQdgkclJ1kn2G5492qszJKBL4aH0a_-CeKzxMexG/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-July-2020-Mod-Letter-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74huTABWPTmlIg0yz-wNs-hhyphenhyphenJXB9Nc-RecCONmsCgOHHKsXuuwrNJUTDH18Mn-YcvxhtFxlvbxnPre3jwE-m0i5ocHGxMQdgkclJ1kn2G5492qszJKBL4aH0a_-CeKzxMexG/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-July-2020-Mod-Letter-2.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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<b>There was a good letter in today's Argus, from David Patrick, of Olive Road, Hove, talking about the 'underhandedness' of Brighton & Hove City Council in the way it has gone about making road changes.</b></div>
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<b>Our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx" target="_blank">Petition</a>, as I write, now has 8,666 signatures - that's 5,837 ahead of the petition to keep Madeira Drive closed!</b></div>
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<b>And the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/300153914693483" target="_blank">Reopen Madeira Drive Facebook Group</a> now has more than 1,000 members.</b></div>
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<b>Please also sign the Petition to <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=696&RPID=36073963&HPID=36073963" target="_blank">Remove the Old Shoreham Road Cycle Lane Extension</a> as it is causing congestion and </b><b>pollution - and, also, the opposing petition impacts on the Madeira Drive situation.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0KC_T90ckuZi1S_DeCpWLrO_8BQGJVkNnV-VE-Rb2LZvai0ltOmuPj0Tj7-1UoH0CyfPChkP81GgtYN67p7qP57DZ6GNo3sca-jNmcdk-SNXqQTOKGLX2J3v7p_mUb35MzRY/s1600/Bikers-and-Mods-19-July-meme.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="604" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0KC_T90ckuZi1S_DeCpWLrO_8BQGJVkNnV-VE-Rb2LZvai0ltOmuPj0Tj7-1UoH0CyfPChkP81GgtYN67p7qP57DZ6GNo3sca-jNmcdk-SNXqQTOKGLX2J3v7p_mUb35MzRY/s400/Bikers-and-Mods-19-July-meme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>And spread the word about the Madeira Drive Protest on Sunday, 19 July, 1pm. We want this to be a national event with as many noisy protesters as possible.</b></div>
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<i><b>Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!</b></i></div>
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<b><i>P.S. I hear the Council has decided to use any future revenue from parking on Madeira Drive to pay for the restoration of Madeira Arches. Well done, guys! </i><i>All the more reason to let the motorists back in!</i></b></div>
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<b>* Saturday, 11 July Update: Our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> has reached more than 9,000 signatures!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QezyNoVlPrRlkoRbpGKWGcnnHuXVm6AnOUPA4HWk7bIkoKswLC6_JkicZQIBLusYH_ZNKgS51tk50gNtzEi8Didkla5LZeFx5ZIPq_yaQp_Cr2WBX2DbNxe_0ToF8Rib_DEV/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Petition-9000.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="500" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QezyNoVlPrRlkoRbpGKWGcnnHuXVm6AnOUPA4HWk7bIkoKswLC6_JkicZQIBLusYH_ZNKgS51tk50gNtzEi8Didkla5LZeFx5ZIPq_yaQp_Cr2WBX2DbNxe_0ToF8Rib_DEV/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Petition-9000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Please keep spreading the word about the Big Protest next Sunday (19 July)!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKIasVPhjqll5S0bpApOisZfkxOagbfFgdEWPuayeAeGCQPCZmyUi-W5KgAYbWhyEJ7x_AhmzwNb09Qeg7YvjIvCEzkfnzQYMt7JlJ0U89MJhLpJSEns9rwVgHaHJ5JyTUKtE/s1600/Bikers-and-Mods-19-July-meme-small.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKIasVPhjqll5S0bpApOisZfkxOagbfFgdEWPuayeAeGCQPCZmyUi-W5KgAYbWhyEJ7x_AhmzwNb09Qeg7YvjIvCEzkfnzQYMt7JlJ0U89MJhLpJSEns9rwVgHaHJ5JyTUKtE/s640/Bikers-and-Mods-19-July-meme-small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>* Monday, 13 July Campaign Update: </b></div>
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<b>It was another gorgeous morning at Madeira Drive - and another almost totally deserted waste of space. . . thanks to Brighton & Hove City Council:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh3Cb3oE4WTuvnWDOUXqxlsIpu8t76rQwRjgdTO4i4iu20qqJQ4urcrxfxj4sZIn2DZOHyOi3e4qt_G2VaITyLpuL3-tbehohd5l-hBWdSHlHkdBs-cP42rJmQgEvxk9DLYfr/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-13-July-2020-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="500" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh3Cb3oE4WTuvnWDOUXqxlsIpu8t76rQwRjgdTO4i4iu20qqJQ4urcrxfxj4sZIn2DZOHyOi3e4qt_G2VaITyLpuL3-tbehohd5l-hBWdSHlHkdBs-cP42rJmQgEvxk9DLYfr/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Campaign-13-July-2020-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>But this was at 9am. What about Monday lunchtime? Friend Neal Banister sent this video: </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/neal.bannister/videos/2851889991590015" style="color: purple; font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/neal.bannister/videos/2851889991590015</a></div>
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<o:p><b>Yes, it was as quiet!</b></o:p></div>
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<o:p>Other Campaign News: Carl has sent this video </o:p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/carl.bonbon/videos/2597124270617169" style="color: purple; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/carl.bonbon/videos/2597124270617169</a> - in which a visiting cyclist at Madeira Drive over the weekend backed our Campaign to reopen it, saying that the closure to motorcyclists and scooterists was <b>'silly'</b> and that 'it would be better if it was open'.</div>
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<b><i>Thanks, Carl. A fine piece of journalism!</i></b></div>
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And I taken aback by a piece in the Brighton Argus which said that <b>'increased spending and lost income' during the coronavirus pandemic has left a £<a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18577902.brighton-hove-city-council-finances-hit-covid-19/" target="_blank">49million hole in Brighton & Hove City Council's finances</a>, with an urgent need to make up £23million for this year's budget!</b></div>
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<b><i>So, why on Earth is Brighton & Hove City Council prepared to lose further millions of pounds over the next two years on keeping Madeira Drive closed? It beggars belief and makes one seriously question the sanity of the people making these bonkers decisions!</i></b></div>
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<b>Today, our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> stands at more than 9,400. </b></div>
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<b>That's 9,400 ordinary people prepared to stand up to this Momentum/Green lunacy and say: 'No, we pay our Council Tax. We pay our Road Tax. Enough is enough - Reopen Madeira Drive!'</b></div>
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<b>See you on Sunday, my friend, 1pm! Don't be late!</b></div>
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<b>* Thursday, 16 July Update: Today's big news for me is that, after four years of trying and three attempts, I have finally passed my Direct Access motorcycle test! I cannot tell you how elated and relieved I am! </b></div>
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<b>It was a tough one to pass for me as a Mod. I couldn't take it on my Vespa PX125 because it is simply not fast or powerful enough (maximum speed: 55mph). Instead, I took it on a 700cc Japanese motorbike (a Yamaha MT07) , hanging on for dear life doing 60mph on winding roads in Burgess Hill or 70mph on the M23. I am hugely relieved to have passed (third time lucky) but also not to have perished in the process. </b></div>
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<b>My particular thanks go to my brilliant instructors Graham and Tony, of the excellent <a href="https://www.saferiders.co.uk/" target="_blank">Saferide motorcycle and scooter tuition school</a> (pictured with me after my pass today) and to the school's Sue and Alex, and also to the wise and understanding examiner Nathan!</b></div>
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<b>My thanks also go to my friend, neighbour and Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign supporter Chris (pictured below), who rides a big Indian motorbike and also a massive BMW bike and who kindly took me out to practise the test routes last weekend.</b></div>
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<b>On the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign, the big news is that <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18587195.madeira-drive-motoring-events-return-despite-closure/" target="_blank">Brighton & Hove City Council has caved in</a> on its plan to ban all future motoring events at Madeira Drive. </b></div>
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<b>But this makes it all the more vital that we protest on Sunday to secure a reopening of Madeira Drive to all scooter and motorbike riders. It will help Laura and me when we speak to Full Council a week today (Thursday, 23 July) to argue for the immediate reopening of Madeira Drive and present our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> which has almost 10,000 signatures - an army of supporters!</b></div>
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<b><i>See you at Brighton Pier/Madeira Drive entrance on Sunday, my friends - remember: Mods and Rockers United can Never be Defeated!</i></b></div>
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<b>* Friday, 17 July Campaign Update: A glorious </b><b style="font-size: 12pt;">weekend dawns and what a big one it is for the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign! </b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">As I write, our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> is edging towards the 10,000 signatures barrier! </b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Chuffing Incredible! </i></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">Excitement is building among Mods and Rockers for our Big Protest on Sunday morning and lunchtime - and probably afternoon as well!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSq-M8X4jSsXgKIl_ZbmzCpkL8qpiVaHYDxooBTkeEzptfTx233oyYa24OHaS7-Dy6MUjXMTRp6ZiXQF5C6yxSteJt37br8cjbmwCTq5ymfeH3SpbhQSqfxem5sW2fAczkzpM/s1600/Argus-P2-17-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="500" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSq-M8X4jSsXgKIl_ZbmzCpkL8qpiVaHYDxooBTkeEzptfTx233oyYa24OHaS7-Dy6MUjXMTRp6ZiXQF5C6yxSteJt37br8cjbmwCTq5ymfeH3SpbhQSqfxem5sW2fAczkzpM/s640/Argus-P2-17-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">Moreover, the Brighton Argus's front-page splash and page two lead today were all about our Campaign - and our stage-one victory in getting Brighton & Hove City Council to do a U-turn to allow events to carry on at Madeira Drive.</b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">Just through this semi-victory, my friends, we have saved the city from losing hundreds of millions of pounds in income, protected hundreds of jobs and prevented our great motoring history from being binned.</b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">Now let's finish the job - and get Madeira Drive reopened for good - for all to enjoy! </b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">I will be there at the Big Protest from around 11am this Sunday. </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>I trust I will see you all there! The weather is perfect! Our cause is just! Now is our time, my friends! </b></i></span></div>
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<b>* Sunday, 19 July Update: What an amazing day! The Reopen Madeira Drive today was brilliant. . . and the media coverage sublime.</b></div>
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<b>I loved the ITV Meridian package: </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media?thread_id=2277901865593395&attachment_id=871275703400070&message_id=mid.%24gAAgXvVuIKjN5mYskllzaEKPxPqna" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media?thread_id=2277901865593395&attachment_id=871275703400070&message_id=mid.%24gAAgXvVuIKjN5mYskllzaEKPxPqna</a></div>
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<b>The Brighton Argus excelled itself: </b><a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18593043.mods-rockers-meet-keep-madeira-drive-open/?action=success#comments-feedback-anchor" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18593043.mods-rockers-meet-keep-madeira-drive-open/?action=success#comments-feedback-anchor</a></div>
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<b>Brighton & Hove's Latest TV also did an excellent report: </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelatest.tv/videos/331059717907133" style="color: purple; font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/thelatest.tv/videos/331059717907133</a></div>
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<b>The brilliant police officer on duty, Jamie, even allowed us Mods down to the Volks on our scooters - and, afterwards, we rode to, and hung out at, Quadrophenia Alleyway - another special place for Mods, to which Brighton & Hove City Council is striving to prevent Mod access to.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNAoCOAOI3bQ9yaBdAoghHPpEq-ZQMVwg-Yxd5pB38mrL2aj8OnFhtZ-_u-Jdw0CLq2cd-qjRNIo82mxZo1kiul_Gysbs1SwlxVchxIeadJiN2XOQgZhR3i-QwCOy6W5QH9Rr/s1600/Rockers-Join-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNAoCOAOI3bQ9yaBdAoghHPpEq-ZQMVwg-Yxd5pB38mrL2aj8OnFhtZ-_u-Jdw0CLq2cd-qjRNIo82mxZo1kiul_Gysbs1SwlxVchxIeadJiN2XOQgZhR3i-QwCOy6W5QH9Rr/s640/Rockers-Join-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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<b>Throughout the peaceful protest, the Mods and Rockers got on like a house on fire. </b></div>
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<b>And even dedicated cyclists, such as the couple pictured below, turned up to support the Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign.</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Shail" target="_blank">Quadrophenia star Gary Shail</a> - who played Spider - texted his support and his apologies for not being able to be there in person.</b></div>
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<b>And Quadrophenia author Simon Wells - who wrote <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quadrophenia-Inside-Making-Britains-Greatest/dp/0992830443" target="_blank">Quadrophenia A Way of Life</a> - attended.</b></div>
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<b>It was just what we needed in the run-up to Thursday (23 July) - when we will be asking Brighton & Hove's Full Council meeting to reopen Madeira Drive.</b></div>
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<b>Here are some more pictures from the day:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOLTRN3UeSENc01xYX7gxKD4TFvvWkng1H7KBiHVP6DF7dUcV4UHS7Qc-VplVvtF3gVGcA0FZk27DHLaapu4wyJYfj2Ge3HVSAylhQCvQIB6UKZ4DS-f-vkBJijRP78IoNofN/s1600/Mods-Outside-Volks-Club-on-Madeira-Drive-at-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOLTRN3UeSENc01xYX7gxKD4TFvvWkng1H7KBiHVP6DF7dUcV4UHS7Qc-VplVvtF3gVGcA0FZk27DHLaapu4wyJYfj2Ge3HVSAylhQCvQIB6UKZ4DS-f-vkBJijRP78IoNofN/s640/Mods-Outside-Volks-Club-on-Madeira-Drive-at-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW10tcK-w7HAOB0EWwG-rOGtqOLN4xjThQlhEkdjsl_v-oSXbL4IRwdsJWSmfvVBKPVAjW_IEHH1AetCYkg2rRpHA3CGYK6a7VDqVZKJaRzViGwXkSjvIaDOP_MJUHyMFivXSz/s1600/Ollie-Wilson-Interviewed-by-ITV-News-before-start-of-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW10tcK-w7HAOB0EWwG-rOGtqOLN4xjThQlhEkdjsl_v-oSXbL4IRwdsJWSmfvVBKPVAjW_IEHH1AetCYkg2rRpHA3CGYK6a7VDqVZKJaRzViGwXkSjvIaDOP_MJUHyMFivXSz/s640/Ollie-Wilson-Interviewed-by-ITV-News-before-start-of-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sUiT8nDzdrODSnlj2NMi1nlObPPc82NsrVqjt1lo10vt3zjPLBMAJrr5EdvT8BoM1fZetBmdzCUlI1Ab4grUoN6hY3eMcDHFa7h1ze6bqlTM7-_GB0_PVB_l0hySxQ9mPv_D/s1600/Quadrophenia-Book-Writer-Simon-Wells-at-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1446" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sUiT8nDzdrODSnlj2NMi1nlObPPc82NsrVqjt1lo10vt3zjPLBMAJrr5EdvT8BoM1fZetBmdzCUlI1Ab4grUoN6hY3eMcDHFa7h1ze6bqlTM7-_GB0_PVB_l0hySxQ9mPv_D/s640/Quadrophenia-Book-Writer-Simon-Wells-at-Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" width="578" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1rqiYT5LChlE9jBWXNysDC5wkmIttyNTdxyjQxRbvSJmCCFZ8_6N_Tb0NUhXxxFC9D6UNHBNNXR7fV3e8eq0l8Dc1m8oLZ4qLrGzOU5C9EaMBXg9SPdHoBEycz97_ERe-1Rm/s1600/Young-Mod-Couple-Support-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1rqiYT5LChlE9jBWXNysDC5wkmIttyNTdxyjQxRbvSJmCCFZ8_6N_Tb0NUhXxxFC9D6UNHBNNXR7fV3e8eq0l8Dc1m8oLZ4qLrGzOU5C9EaMBXg9SPdHoBEycz97_ERe-1Rm/s640/Young-Mod-Couple-Support-Madeira-Drive-Protest-19-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVVpoMfcZo6Voyw1ipIyh-e_orui30RyORZwKeHBmjtUyN929jpy7hEt8WC4qBD8VnrAUSpn6v6rvRb01XDo0vwICC_wXzWOhxBGn5qmSrCGo_AmqcRIYujbpDYvguR0rmHtl/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVVpoMfcZo6Voyw1ipIyh-e_orui30RyORZwKeHBmjtUyN929jpy7hEt8WC4qBD8VnrAUSpn6v6rvRb01XDo0vwICC_wXzWOhxBGn5qmSrCGo_AmqcRIYujbpDYvguR0rmHtl/s640/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-8.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMit5gdtbl6BU08VjFPxu0AsxiBtkAakwhKdAJy7-MC5rNEqxV62r2ZT2sFCeL1-yuYiSx591enbns2Scc8RvdDHxVlbs9Cngr_qR0uJNvGBA44Tj8aIxrcrXPly5TEvg1mp4f/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="360" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMit5gdtbl6BU08VjFPxu0AsxiBtkAakwhKdAJy7-MC5rNEqxV62r2ZT2sFCeL1-yuYiSx591enbns2Scc8RvdDHxVlbs9Cngr_qR0uJNvGBA44Tj8aIxrcrXPly5TEvg1mp4f/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6J27vrP9rhLkJfnjpnzYheHBcRfhgvH0ah3fPPLrmdHH1PFWnK0PkcDR779bXF6i0R8oB8DOQ46eMFC3Tnx1IQ7HwCtCXQB2DSumFO7cbvss8V_rTL_a3E2hQt5aCcXh5jVG/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="360" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6J27vrP9rhLkJfnjpnzYheHBcRfhgvH0ah3fPPLrmdHH1PFWnK0PkcDR779bXF6i0R8oB8DOQ46eMFC3Tnx1IQ7HwCtCXQB2DSumFO7cbvss8V_rTL_a3E2hQt5aCcXh5jVG/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicurin6XEvhNwZejjYsxlacR_zRuMAer6bJXTIxaNU4ZWKeULKQxFIj7sOj981aU-ABRyIH478NHMTsz_7ZhJ6aqMLmqFrENaTbKtr2VeTfKIK0nBeuMY4YpZgXI9kWzY0D6iH/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicurin6XEvhNwZejjYsxlacR_zRuMAer6bJXTIxaNU4ZWKeULKQxFIj7sOj981aU-ABRyIH478NHMTsz_7ZhJ6aqMLmqFrENaTbKtr2VeTfKIK0nBeuMY4YpZgXI9kWzY0D6iH/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbG1WJjLqYh_CxwNWkiIrhk6jC36xB1rMMYC27P_TFNpWn46hYThV4cu8R_hXuBnWMWTt3LDR8q8ivEILDijgvOn5SWrW3o5zqfBIWrLV_MLnf8r4keKCiAqZDvM89bXhNJzy/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbG1WJjLqYh_CxwNWkiIrhk6jC36xB1rMMYC27P_TFNpWn46hYThV4cu8R_hXuBnWMWTt3LDR8q8ivEILDijgvOn5SWrW3o5zqfBIWrLV_MLnf8r4keKCiAqZDvM89bXhNJzy/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbKgjYEqjXXfml76dve4t3WTaoufS4l53oU5RCewGbuVZNRYXzP65wqadIelV5KqS5aPE9xQFWN-5U-Xs2F2eGLSHn8hRsIL3TLJLMVrq8LAOSLMiIfIXUsbi7r_lQNkDKHr8/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="360" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbKgjYEqjXXfml76dve4t3WTaoufS4l53oU5RCewGbuVZNRYXzP65wqadIelV5KqS5aPE9xQFWN-5U-Xs2F2eGLSHn8hRsIL3TLJLMVrq8LAOSLMiIfIXUsbi7r_lQNkDKHr8/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wrHUX0jwO5C2L7DIzBlsknFwd4_G3XpdEYRANo0uVT7v1TPLfWTTTJLsFe1bWdxBUmqud5inAD7_g3xox7mcaJhlDfq7iUH3a0G8Qcv98RLBVWoiBpVC9SlecOftzpiQagIY/s1600/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="360" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wrHUX0jwO5C2L7DIzBlsknFwd4_G3XpdEYRANo0uVT7v1TPLfWTTTJLsFe1bWdxBUmqud5inAD7_g3xox7mcaJhlDfq7iUH3a0G8Qcv98RLBVWoiBpVC9SlecOftzpiQagIY/s400/Madeira-Drive-19-07-20-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbYEUAHPyuOJVVff2ENkEdHtrntFcXl3daPPAt1rpepaE8CVdmkGU3sCuYiqqLhtpU-3i7DN0TcwfrIV-3d7_9AHU71BnFOwZjKOxVf-yMtxoQEfixAtUU9hIuamW67qp6M1C/s1600/MadeiraDrive-19-07-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbYEUAHPyuOJVVff2ENkEdHtrntFcXl3daPPAt1rpepaE8CVdmkGU3sCuYiqqLhtpU-3i7DN0TcwfrIV-3d7_9AHU71BnFOwZjKOxVf-yMtxoQEfixAtUU9hIuamW67qp6M1C/s400/MadeiraDrive-19-07-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>* Monday, 20 July Update: Incredible media coverage today! Our Campaign has gone national and international.</b></div>
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<b>Here is our <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/19/mods-rockers-unite-protest-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">piece in the Daily Telegraph</a>. Fantasic! In the printed paper, we were on Page 2, with a massive image of a Mod scooter.</b></div>
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<b>We also went global. Here's an <a href="https://news-24.fr/mods-et-rockers-sunissent-pour-protester-contre-la-fermeture-de-la-route-du-front-de-mer-de-brighton/" target="_blank">article about yesterday Mods and Rockers Protest from a French publication</a> and a sample from it below:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8N7_Wtc8uU1psluV0ggVhoaM-mc_BY6L8rZ__p6fd6nz6w5aqdrG2VfuDxZjrzM_pgA-KJzgzv6DNankXqAQvZOvH37Qi-ScI84zlYK6QesY0HhApLshRryftjyYEQMVQukR/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-20+at+21.55.01.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="1115" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8N7_Wtc8uU1psluV0ggVhoaM-mc_BY6L8rZ__p6fd6nz6w5aqdrG2VfuDxZjrzM_pgA-KJzgzv6DNankXqAQvZOvH37Qi-ScI84zlYK6QesY0HhApLshRryftjyYEQMVQukR/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-20+at+21.55.01.png" width="640" /></a><b><br /></b>
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<b>The story was running on the Press Association newswire, and was picked up by publications the length and breadth of Britain.</b></div>
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<b>Here are the versions of the story in the <a href="https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/mods-and-rockers-unite-to-fight-closure-of-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Aberdeen Evening Express</a>, <a href="https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">the Bradford Telegraph</a>, <a href="https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">the London Globe</a>, the <a href="https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/07/19/mods-and-rockers-unite-to-fight-closure-of-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Wolverhampton Express and Star</a>, the <a href="https://mhv.dailyecho.co.uk/news/national/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Southern Daily Echo</a>, the <a href="https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/viralnews/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Glasgow Evening Times</a>, <a href="https://www.salfordcitynews.co.uk/news/national-news/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Salford City News,</a> the <a href="https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/07/19/mods-and-rockers-unite-to-fight-closure-of-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Shropshire Star</a>, the <a href="https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/national/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Bolton News</a>, the <a href="https://www.carrickherald.com/news/national-news/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Carrick Herald</a>, the <a href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/mods-and-rockers-unite-to-fight-closure-of-brighton-seafront-road-39379804.html" target="_blank">Belfast Telegraph</a>, and the <a href="https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/national/18592944.mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-brighton-seafront-road/" target="_blank">Dorset Echo</a>.</b></div>
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<b>Someone even made a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUZEKJ8p1g" target="_blank">YouTube video of the coverage</a>. <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mods-rockers-unite-fight-closure-145849671.html" target="_blank">Yahoo</a> and <a href="https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2020/07/19/mods-and-rockers-unite-to-fight-closure-of-brighton-seafront-roa/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly91ay5zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABj4bgZ86AYez3eutd1jCbb5te0NsZrd19RpZUiaXS8FZDOhzWCNptfn0bwzWZpXaYAp1ZOobz8j4h8HOFt99gfbQ94UFcJ-IRX41cYaYX1oSkPgo-bvXuOE1_W55YzhGA_Ns-iuug3Ext6zjrfu7IEnTKaySWjXdjtxXiFA6kHX" target="_blank">AOL</a> covered it. </b></div>
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<b>The Brighton Argus did a great picture spread. Thanks, guys!</b></div>
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<b><br /></b><b>Thanks to Carl for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carl.bonbon/videos/2603705986625664" target="_blank">this video of my speech yesterday.</a></b></div>
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<b>And here is a l<a href="https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media/?thread_id=2277901865593395&attachment_id=2674109096136584&message_id=mid.%24gAAgXvVuIKjN5oWwtLlzcCbjDj-C8" target="_blank">ovely video of the Mods and Rockers retaking Madeira Drive</a>. . . with the blessing of the police and Council stewards, of course!</b></div>
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Finally, here is our fortune teller friend J J who can see the future - and has read in her Tarot cards that we will win at Full Council this Thursday (23 July 2020).<br />
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<i>Good night, my friends!</i></div>
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<span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>* Tuesday, 21 July Campaign Update: The quiet before the storm! There is a real sense that this Campaign is coming to a head! </b></span></span><span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><b>Good coverage again in the Brighton Argus with <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18595964.brighton-hoves-madeira-drive-sees-petition-battle/" target="_blank">a double-page spread headlined: 'Open or closed, it's showdown'.</a></b></span><span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><b>It is indeed. I just hope that at the Full Council meeting on Thursday afternoon/evening, councillors will see sense - and serve the people of Brighton and Hove rather than their personal ideologies. </b></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b>As I write, our Petition has 10,236 names - that's 7,026 MORE than the rival Petition on 3,210.</b></span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="647" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHleMtURuaRv1aqmVL36ElTjmQv3Mnyetm61Rt1Pmp7ysqtcfSZLNdfRctstr0XnwaLKLb9h33y1Ea1BsMosNTJpbnf7cKBInaLt6ZPYCKQC3F4DSipZCPuXcvmB0LrSFz92o/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-21+at+22.45.07.png" width="640" /></span><b><br /></b><b style="font-size: 12pt;">There was also a great letter in the printed version of the Brighton Argus (always worth 75p!):</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well done, people!</span></b></h3>
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<b>It is well done to the Mods and R</b><b style="font-size: 12pt;">ockers for joining together to demonstrate and call for the reopening of Madeira Drive.</b></div>
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The Labour council don't know what they are doing. One minute they say yes to opening the north side to traffic from Palace Pier to Duke's Mound, then they say we open only to major events but nothing about opening north side.</div>
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Do the cyclists and keep-fit enthusiasts want all of Madeira Drive now as lockdown is gradually easing?</div>
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What about the poor people whose lives and businesses are in shreds because of the closure of Madeira Drive? People aren't going to walk down 84 steps to the shops and food places in Madeira Drive.</div>
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The council is not doing a favour by opening Madeira Drive west to east as it was in their plans to do this in the Phase Three plans for the Aquarium roundabout.</div>
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<b>Paul Stacey</b></div>
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<b>And Brighton's Latest TV has run <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carl.bonbon/videos/2604274213235508" target="_blank">another news piece on our Campaign.</a> Thanks, guys!</b><br />
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<b><i>As I said in my speech on Sunday, we have justice on our side, we have the people on our side. Keep the faith, my friends!</i></b></div>
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<b>* Wednesday, 22 July Update: Another lovely warm, sunny morning at Madeira Drive! Just look at how busy it is with cyclists and pedestrians:</b></div>
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<b>Today was also the last for the Reopen Madeira Drive Petition, which has achieved more than 10,400 supporters - over 7,000 MORE than the rival petition. Brilliant! </b></div>
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<b>Take a bow, guys!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>* Friday, 24 July Update: It was a bit disappointing that yesterday's Petition Presentation and Speech of Full Council of Brighton & Hove was postponed - because the Momentum Labour Council has collapsed.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">But when you consider the way that these extreme lefties have acted over Madeira Drive, it is perhaps not surprising that that administration could not survive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">Putting personal ideology ahead of the wishes and jobs of working people was always hopelessly blinkered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">I had taken the day off work to do the Presentation with my partner Laura but spent it working on my allotment instead, so the time was well spent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">Now we have to wait for a special Council meeting - on either 6 or 13 August, according to a <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18604538.special-meeting-will-decide-future-madeira-drive/" target="_blank">Brighton Argus report</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">Depending on the date, we may stage another big protest before that happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">I feel there is a good chance that a new Council leadership, eager to sort out the horrendous mess left by Momentum and get the Brighton & Hove economy working again, will agree that the Compromise Motion we back is a pragmatic and equitable solution to the Madeira Drive Problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">This city is in such a state that pursuing an endless fight with Mods and Rockers and Madeira Drive traders should be the last things on their minds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0ivoM-XgyLH5D2TeZWCuxXvk5lKASeVqaJOwmXri4msyAl451Jz2WDetDackZRtjkOxJoBJjqu-sy86oijbsPZqZBcXVvbcvaYld2CZ_gNQLkqHtkCib9go-jNa_7eKzLu6Z/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-24+at+12.43.43.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="970" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0ivoM-XgyLH5D2TeZWCuxXvk5lKASeVqaJOwmXri4msyAl451Jz2WDetDackZRtjkOxJoBJjqu-sy86oijbsPZqZBcXVvbcvaYld2CZ_gNQLkqHtkCib9go-jNa_7eKzLu6Z/s640/Screenshot+2020-07-24+at+12.43.43.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">Our Petition closed with 14,417 supporters - which was 7,075 ahead of the opposing petition, on just 3,342 signatures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">And, as my hairdresser Franco pointed out today when I finally dropped by for a trim to my long locks, almost no cyclists or pedestrians are using Madeira Drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">And those who do generally prefer the cycle lane and pavement. 'Keeping it closed would be stupid and ridiculous,' he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;">The Crimper speaketh the truth!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b><i>Keep the faith, friends. Madeira Drive will be free!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>* Tuesday, 28 July Campaign Update: </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Brighton & Hove City Council has asked me and Laura to present the Reopen Madeira Drive Petition and speak to a special Full Council meeting on Thursday, 13 August.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>We are planning another big Mods and Rockers Protest on the Sunday before that meeting - 9 August - at Madeira Drive, of course. </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo604IoCNzq8sXDDKL2i3JFrdnntrFTzay0m1tMZhHxiXoZjDeRDjD2VtXF10g7CPaiesci6AgnFPbQG_ZtEU9T5yJl4K0ASdgD8-nuGGTDLVCMCRh_yGt0sXXOGYMjXnWbzO/s1600/Madeira-Drive-Paragraph.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="745" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo604IoCNzq8sXDDKL2i3JFrdnntrFTzay0m1tMZhHxiXoZjDeRDjD2VtXF10g7CPaiesci6AgnFPbQG_ZtEU9T5yJl4K0ASdgD8-nuGGTDLVCMCRh_yGt0sXXOGYMjXnWbzO/s320/Madeira-Drive-Paragraph.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>I was struck by an article in The Brightonian magazine's July edition in which Brighton & Hove City Council wrote that 'we were the first local authority in the country to close a road to motor vehicles to free up space for cyclists and pedestrians'.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCzlePXkBJXttbiubaHgoQpsF25vr7QeHBOaoilqE2xnC_nBHNY68t4589VOjH1kXLhtIJTVwQ3e-aVYCwCW8v4JjI2hsSCL_AsQHdLr9_nKMhZdeaJQFlliqnLMB2D5G92p7/s1600/Madeira-Drive-Postcard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCzlePXkBJXttbiubaHgoQpsF25vr7QeHBOaoilqE2xnC_nBHNY68t4589VOjH1kXLhtIJTVwQ3e-aVYCwCW8v4JjI2hsSCL_AsQHdLr9_nKMhZdeaJQFlliqnLMB2D5G92p7/s320/Madeira-Drive-Postcard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>In other words, no other council in the UK deemed it necessary! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Brighton & Hove City Council - or, at least, the extremist Momentum former iteration of it - has hoisted itself with its own petard!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Tonight, I picked up a good postcard showing how things were at our lovely Madeira Drive before all this madness started.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45bvPOE-pER6IoAlnXTkocIE6tjydHXKFcMzsOC307MT9AeONPT1fablMNbIOcepGneQwIReec6SuJKu_OhCHp4tmjX2QZxFgRNH2s8sNjeoizhoY22EfFUdbKW0OihPx_DIo/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-28+at+16.10.31.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="607" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45bvPOE-pER6IoAlnXTkocIE6tjydHXKFcMzsOC307MT9AeONPT1fablMNbIOcepGneQwIReec6SuJKu_OhCHp4tmjX2QZxFgRNH2s8sNjeoizhoY22EfFUdbKW0OihPx_DIo/s400/Screenshot+2020-07-28+at+16.10.31.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Finally, the great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Staple" target="_blank">Neville Staple</a>, of top band The Specials, has backed our Campaign, on Twitter. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Thanks, Neville!</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: cambria;"><i>Keep the faith, guys! Sanity will resume at some point soon - and Madeira Drive will no longer be a Ghost Town!</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>* Thursday, 30 August Update:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Well, it is a strange time. Brighton & Hove City Council has restarted our Reopen Madeira Drive Petition - as well as its rival.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLbHCtgfo4RAwRWBw3awzdCZ4iuPyX4aCH7osb5fEsfYAS2-vLPIfEswy6WIa8ocIl71ZvhUmri5OK5jG3JQC70caKFYaAkDbeHZqXfRTgqcQfsi1KxqmMlwmObaR-fDT06AK/s1600/Screenshot+2020-07-30+at+21.06.49.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="673" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLbHCtgfo4RAwRWBw3awzdCZ4iuPyX4aCH7osb5fEsfYAS2-vLPIfEswy6WIa8ocIl71ZvhUmri5OK5jG3JQC70caKFYaAkDbeHZqXfRTgqcQfsi1KxqmMlwmObaR-fDT06AK/s400/Screenshot+2020-07-30+at+21.06.49.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>So, it is vital we continue to put on supporters . Today we stood at 10,436 signatures.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>I would like to be at more than 11,000 signatures by 13 August.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Meanwhile, the weather forecast for our next Protest - at 1pm, Sunday, 9 August at Madeira Drive - is looking very good.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Today in Brighton, it was about 27C and the town was very busy. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>So, I went down to Madeira Drive to see what it was like there. It was remarkable. It was really, really quiet - the only part of the seafront to be eschewed by crowds of sun seekers.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Below are two images of Madeira Drive - the first taken at around 9am and the second at around 2pm:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzktaLmrGoc5IBHmTk44fi7W94SC_1HvEWkyqvv6vd8_zxC12mPUJttC5EooQiYvww6chj39zO3lYwkVcZVqJxI6QxnYcSKPSXD3JESBJIHLToOYGE_Aa5Ge4oqPSyB7ZnNj8/s1600/Madeira-Drive-9am-30-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="500" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzktaLmrGoc5IBHmTk44fi7W94SC_1HvEWkyqvv6vd8_zxC12mPUJttC5EooQiYvww6chj39zO3lYwkVcZVqJxI6QxnYcSKPSXD3JESBJIHLToOYGE_Aa5Ge4oqPSyB7ZnNj8/s640/Madeira-Drive-9am-30-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaFJUsdIJguFLurJtDyRIt1Sd8yYwIk5lo3ZYzF3zNMjQrhN1cPUWGRfzPT5y6wzPZ3AMPmgAOBEVdj9lOnJvicdwhAtCFsCw0Zo9PHgsOG3LPyvPuu4EsSzJXt3Y0GdFmIP/s1600/Madeira-Drive-2pm-30-07-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="500" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iaFJUsdIJguFLurJtDyRIt1Sd8yYwIk5lo3ZYzF3zNMjQrhN1cPUWGRfzPT5y6wzPZ3AMPmgAOBEVdj9lOnJvicdwhAtCFsCw0Zo9PHgsOG3LPyvPuu4EsSzJXt3Y0GdFmIP/s640/Madeira-Drive-2pm-30-07-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Among the traders, the talk was of taking legal action - on top of the rent strike - if the Council does not plump for the Compromise Motion on 13 August.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>When the Council is already talking of seeking Government permission to put up Council Tax by more than the usual amount, when it is wilfully turning down millions of pounds of Madeira Drive revenue - who could blame them?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b><i>But, surely, before that sanity must prevail!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>* Saturday, 1 August: Just a short one tonight because I am cream-crackered and need to go bed!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>I have somehow managed to produce a meme to promote our big protest on Sunday, 9 August. It is below. Please spread the word far and wide. The meme works on Twitter!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCrAjJoheuthttSoGywre3BM08IkGdOpRHIjzh47XpoCxhQuw2LFHxN7JUAT2IoJIIh-aWI9QP_bV_bYDGq5i4aEEAs2X6gwV-k94bRjzEOmwCz5rDgVQKXSaz0hm3wjMYcGl/s1600/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-9.August-2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCrAjJoheuthttSoGywre3BM08IkGdOpRHIjzh47XpoCxhQuw2LFHxN7JUAT2IoJIIh-aWI9QP_bV_bYDGq5i4aEEAs2X6gwV-k94bRjzEOmwCz5rDgVQKXSaz0hm3wjMYcGl/s640/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Protest-9.August-2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>The Brighton Argus wrote a <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18621479.mods-rockers-hold-day-long-madeira-drive-protest/" target="_blank">nice piece about the Protest</a>, which will come a few days before the crucial meeting on Thursday, 13 August when we present our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694" target="_blank">Petition</a> - currently with more than 10,500 signatures - to Brighton Council and set out our case.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Meanwhile, the ear-blind people on the Council have published their intention to close Madeira Drive on an experimental basis for 18 months.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10qKlyJO0QaLVRCfByY_nRRjLfhe0inLPV9Zqev9YBYz9frm2RuGs_U8RRDNtjBdAUQmxe7xnK4XD-knDHDnoItLQcqf5QbvBsYJ5w2S82BYWeqJGg5mH8iWpXAyYoA4bU8Yn/s1600/Experimental-Order-29-07-20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="428" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10qKlyJO0QaLVRCfByY_nRRjLfhe0inLPV9Zqev9YBYz9frm2RuGs_U8RRDNtjBdAUQmxe7xnK4XD-knDHDnoItLQcqf5QbvBsYJ5w2S82BYWeqJGg5mH8iWpXAyYoA4bU8Yn/s640/Experimental-Order-29-07-20.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>We will see about that, my friends!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><b>Goodnight!</b></span><br />
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<b>* Tuesday, 4 August Update:</b><br />
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<b>Meet Tim! Tim is a registered-disabled man and mobility scooter user who came up to me on Madeira Drive today to say he fully supports our Campaign to Reopen Madeira Drive.</b><br />
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He said that the closure by Brighton & Hove City Council had made his life more difficult - and he really misses seeing the motorbikes and scooters.<br />
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Tim has promised to come to our Mass Protest on Sunday (9 August) to reopen the Drive.<br />
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<b><i>Thanks, mate!</i></b><br />
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Another mobility scooter user contacted me to join the Campaign.<br />
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<b>Viv Meeson wrote: <span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">'<span style="color: #222222;">I am a mobility scooter driver and also a car driver with a blue badge. When they initially closed Madeira Drive, l was led to believe it was to help keep people off the beach during lockdown. </span></span></b><br />
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>'Every year we lose a little more of Brighton's architectural beauty. With the closure of the Drive not only are we losing disabled and coach parking, but the lack of trade for the business owners will force [their[ closure. </b></span></span><br />
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>'The terraces will go and we will end up looking like a Spanish Costa del Mar. A seafront full of hotels and little else. We have a beautiful city. Get the Drive open! And let's keep welcoming everyone and hosting the events Brighton and Hove have become so famous for.'</b></span></span><br />
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Thank, Viv, for your wise words!</i></b></span></span><br />
<span face="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span>
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove City Council workers have started building a barrier across the Drive beside the Concorde 2 venue ahead of an Experimental Order coming into effect on 7 August!</b></span><br />
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>This is despite the fact that a Special Full Council Meeting on 13 August will be debating and voting on this issue six days LATER - on 13 August!</b></span><br />
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<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Either the Council has no regard for democratic process or the Council officials and its Leadership have suffered a total communication breakdown.</b></span><br />
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i><b>It is like the Marx Brothers are running our city!</b></i></span><br />
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span face="" style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I have responded to the Council's consultation on its premature Experimental Order:</span><br />
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<b>This order is being brought in BEFORE a special meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council has had the opportunity to debate the closure of Madeira Drive on 13 August. </b></div>
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<b>It should, at the very least, not be considered until that debate, which may well order the reopening of Madeira Drive, has taken place.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Moreover, there is no justification for a continued closure of Madeira Drive. It is a destination of huge significance to Mods and Rockers, who need access to it on their motorised scooters and motorbikes.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Moreover, the traders on Madeira Drive need their business and are currently on rent strike because of the closure. </b></div>
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<b>The Experimental Order would also breach the terms of their leases, leading to legal action by the traders against the Council. </b></div>
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<b>If Madeira Drive remains closed, many of these traders would go out of business, at a time when, ironically, the Council is pledging to help local businesses.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Tourists need the parking on Madeira Drive which brings in around £1.25million a year in revenue to the Council. The Council cannot afford to lose this revenue and the income from the traders, pay for stewards and pointless legal fees combating legal action by traders.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Furthermore, the Council recently decided that revenue from parking on Madeira Drive would go towards the cost of restoring Madeira Terraces. </b></div>
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<b>This revenue stream needs to start flowing, and the Terraces, which are crumbling before our very eyes, must be restored without further delay.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Disabled people also say that the closure has made their lives more difficult. </b></div>
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<b>And Madeira Drive is not even being well used by cyclists and runners, most of whom prefer the pavement and cycle path they had use of before the closure.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Much of the time, Madeira Drive looks pretty empty.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>In conclusion, the Council would be showing a wanton failure to wisely manage its resources if the Experimental Order was made. </b></div>
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<b>It would lose millions of pounds in revenue, cost jobs on Madeira Drive, discriminate against some interest groups such as Mods and motorcyclists in favour of others - and discard the objections of more than 10,500 people who have signed a petition to immediately reopen Madeira Drive.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>This Experimental Order is undemocratic and a waste of public resource. It must not take place.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>And look how busy Madeira Drive was today in the heat and the bright sunshine of high-season August, the city centre flush with tourists:</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s2kmnoCMsDi_nHsYCNpm_rOGZHagceCLOKqfg7dbiGE_ahtczK1lnj7II3hLZJ98qvg0Mv5xboCvpG7YVr-FQ8LknU77TWc1ZHbuUDd8P2SQ3ps5AUsaq9QFcYJAriN3oDRp/s1600/Lunchtime-Madeira-Drive-04-08-20-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1000" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s2kmnoCMsDi_nHsYCNpm_rOGZHagceCLOKqfg7dbiGE_ahtczK1lnj7II3hLZJ98qvg0Mv5xboCvpG7YVr-FQ8LknU77TWc1ZHbuUDd8P2SQ3ps5AUsaq9QFcYJAriN3oDRp/w512-h333/Lunchtime-Madeira-Drive-04-08-20-1.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>See you on Sunday, guys!</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b>* Wednesday, 5 August Update:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I<b>t was great to hang out at lunchtime with the South Coast Mods at the shooting of a new film about Mods, outside Brighton Dome. We might even be in it!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzgPwp_wmtyttuLggO4_REfNui-7_7OtW930VODMfMCjyJmH4ztJkUg9kaFW0ccUZV3lgOi82j0DROoz2KrpnUVIiT7iSjKjRqGelaxm7a2jUBKn55IjajWo0viVvdzTz9Fv7/s1368/Coming-out-of-Lockdown-Image-33.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1000" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzgPwp_wmtyttuLggO4_REfNui-7_7OtW930VODMfMCjyJmH4ztJkUg9kaFW0ccUZV3lgOi82j0DROoz2KrpnUVIiT7iSjKjRqGelaxm7a2jUBKn55IjajWo0viVvdzTz9Fv7/w585-h800/Coming-out-of-Lockdown-Image-33.jpg" width="585" /></a>Sunday's big Mods and Rockers seems to be gathering pace - with lots of offers of support. And the weather forecast is excellent. Should be an amazing day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this message:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv3kWpyRn30PLIWzZg91GMd58hiKQ-GdvdwKy_hu3TDSA6tB0jAEBXVINKYeqDsUmTzAaex5CkxsXyDFK15jyhrr69W5hJ5lQhMbtQCXUsjgEafXqOSTaYJrIuVxs036nZsfm/s583/Screenshot+2020-08-05+at+21.14.39.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv3kWpyRn30PLIWzZg91GMd58hiKQ-GdvdwKy_hu3TDSA6tB0jAEBXVINKYeqDsUmTzAaex5CkxsXyDFK15jyhrr69W5hJ5lQhMbtQCXUsjgEafXqOSTaYJrIuVxs036nZsfm/s0/Screenshot+2020-08-05+at+21.14.39.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Naturally, Madeira Drive was deserted again today. Our <a href="https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=694">Petition</a> is now at 10,567!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wB1vhOtv-fIG_P7kvN0G_fXuVN7hMMDTTDsrm2i6rzo1OOxATVaRiiApW3enwRNSRq1eQa0XpidgDuQ1SqqcMDya9JSe7oBiTdmVi6llgSNEWnknH0I1sOFx7bXcJSuh7PEj/s1000/Deserted-Madeira-Drive-05-08-20.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wB1vhOtv-fIG_P7kvN0G_fXuVN7hMMDTTDsrm2i6rzo1OOxATVaRiiApW3enwRNSRq1eQa0XpidgDuQ1SqqcMDya9JSe7oBiTdmVi6llgSNEWnknH0I1sOFx7bXcJSuh7PEj/w641-h429/Deserted-Madeira-Drive-05-08-20.jpg" width="641" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxw-ZctiLAxv5KRMyndGJIOUhp9yaf_wr1W1TjIby6dQhOKvRu0PscnrCNBlnh8Yjx3ICkQWm-LsfTIA_r2MivCDas0KMBqJMFRWaI1F1hiD58haZUx60LPH4-XdX6frb9Tni/s750/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Meme-09-08-2020.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxw-ZctiLAxv5KRMyndGJIOUhp9yaf_wr1W1TjIby6dQhOKvRu0PscnrCNBlnh8Yjx3ICkQWm-LsfTIA_r2MivCDas0KMBqJMFRWaI1F1hiD58haZUx60LPH4-XdX6frb9Tni/w800-h450/Reopen-Madeira-Drive-Meme-09-08-2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>*<b> Thursday, 6 August Update:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>I am enthused by the quite brilliant, brutal savaging that Brighton Palace Pier chief Anne Ackoyd has given Brighton & Hove City Council over the closure of Madeira Drive. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>In the <a href="https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18632079.brighton-palace-pier-boss-calls-madeira-drive-reopening/">Argus today</a>, Anne totally destroyed the Green-led Council, accusing them of sabotaging Madeira Drive traders, killing their business in high-season August, discriminating against disabled people, damaging the Pier's trade, and hampering emergency services through their "tragic" closure of Madeira Drive.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>You are my heroine, Anne! </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>If the Greens do not listen to you and reopen Madeira Drive, they are simply not fit to govern in Brighton & Hove!</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>* This page has become too long, after two months and 5,000 visits, to work properly and so continues <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/08/reopen-madeira-drive-campaign-part-2.html">here</a>.<br /></b></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhuLgyPDrGiQmpKA01GVGEIExYf-o_lnivYT4IHu2RjVH2jDiR96QsNUhrid-dHzECf6PDpgbmoaVjF26lNdJwgpOOptB4pZ0ZNIigrc5dzPlThfrMe8zKtfIug1sJdO-Gfj/s1000/Pier-boss-attacks-Council-06-08-20.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1000" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhuLgyPDrGiQmpKA01GVGEIExYf-o_lnivYT4IHu2RjVH2jDiR96QsNUhrid-dHzECf6PDpgbmoaVjF26lNdJwgpOOptB4pZ0ZNIigrc5dzPlThfrMe8zKtfIug1sJdO-Gfj/w512-h386/Pier-boss-attacks-Council-06-08-20.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></div>
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Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-58819241071812102742020-05-20T20:39:00.002+00:002020-08-04T16:34:08.566+00:00Atget's Paris and Ollie's Brighton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOWUmGt9N7-uJxUVqdCgMWNssdc8iyb_I_AZLG_mjosMZFGvD920JzUMMZWWzm0PQYHS9_b0900qeQBCb8oowkrwNYPYq99xV8H1WMXJlSHkPJHVAXKl51vNas__GgmUFNF4M/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Wilson-Oliver%2527s-Poetry-Garret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOWUmGt9N7-uJxUVqdCgMWNssdc8iyb_I_AZLG_mjosMZFGvD920JzUMMZWWzm0PQYHS9_b0900qeQBCb8oowkrwNYPYq99xV8H1WMXJlSHkPJHVAXKl51vNas__GgmUFNF4M/s320/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Wilson-Oliver%2527s-Poetry-Garret.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>One of my photographer heroes is <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.moma.org/artists/229" target="_blank">Eugène Atget</a> who in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century methodically captured old Paris, photographing it street by street. I have a treasured book, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atgets-Paris-Eugene-Atget/dp/050027746X" target="_blank">Atget's Paris</a>, containing some 800 images, most of which were taken in the early morning light suggesting a 'mysteriously deserted city', yet with a 'haunting, poetic quality', as the foreword described it.</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nVWKqRFhkDEPGkVUu4gpwoH0FDiWhI_8tkydZCg-KpIgIISe1W9LCNGxUh0sIQuWVCZddhAVQWwXka_dmNBsNPuU_Q5c0AJEycu5pmU-hOyD59buphvHq0WObJgLAgLhGfLS/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-English%2527s-April-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nVWKqRFhkDEPGkVUu4gpwoH0FDiWhI_8tkydZCg-KpIgIISe1W9LCNGxUh0sIQuWVCZddhAVQWwXka_dmNBsNPuU_Q5c0AJEycu5pmU-hOyD59buphvHq0WObJgLAgLhGfLS/s400/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-English%2527s-April-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">During this current extraordinary time, I felt the need to occupy myself by trying to capture some of the same solitude that </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Eugène Atget found on the streets of his beloved city - on the deserted streets of mine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am not an early morning person, but I went out when I could during the day and evening to photograph the remarkable emptiness of Brighton & Hove's streets and open spaces, which would usually be thronging with visitors and revellers, particularly in fine, summer weather.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3a_xzNmnRdaEfJJANys1WEKmtG94-1gTOcx6s1EWtQMPHj3Plsz7EPMUs1LxXp7cqBtgVuCTVV5bHqEXa93Poz7lXZqe9rz4nue2lsw8vXR_p3KS0bGcEiVp_9s5bs6KFmz8/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Station-April-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3a_xzNmnRdaEfJJANys1WEKmtG94-1gTOcx6s1EWtQMPHj3Plsz7EPMUs1LxXp7cqBtgVuCTVV5bHqEXa93Poz7lXZqe9rz4nue2lsw8vXR_p3KS0bGcEiVp_9s5bs6KFmz8/s400/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Station-April-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Amid the trauma of the news, my daily outings have proved a solace, knowing that I am recording Brighton & Hove in a situation that may never occur again in my lifetime.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eugène Atget's photographs were not entirely devoid of life; sometimes some shadowy citizens, a cat or a horse-drawn carriage would appear. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also found the occasional visitor entering my pictures, escaping, like me, from the misery of lockdown for some exercise.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-jy9T9CeXvIWlm28LLkJ8xO6tT1hLFcXddhGQwwqP_0g2Cdq5iKpAA_Mj1k3fnE8aCQKBucmhrrg9UR7iFKldpzMS9Eu6HJ_zv-cTHQUaggDsVLLy4rY00yjlSAD24jnHjBi/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Waterloo-Street-April-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1000" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-jy9T9CeXvIWlm28LLkJ8xO6tT1hLFcXddhGQwwqP_0g2Cdq5iKpAA_Mj1k3fnE8aCQKBucmhrrg9UR7iFKldpzMS9Eu6HJ_zv-cTHQUaggDsVLLy4rY00yjlSAD24jnHjBi/s400/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Waterloo-Street-April-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a commuter, Brighton Station, devoid of passengers with just a couple of staff on the spotless concourse, struck me as particularly strange.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On my daily traipses, I encountered little acts of kindness and signs of love, as well as misery and despair.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It helped me. This has not been an easy time for anyone. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of us are shocked by the inept handling of the crisis by a government that seemed to get off to a fair start. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The daily news updates have scared half the population witless, while the police seem to have lost the plot, virtually giving up on crime busting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw_uc_UViCsJnOCCCaKfk6RNhLwrBUZ3SvgSWv9L6nPAKIVypONmWOy8ASN6q8tgCdrruqnEkyw9SDOaAx50ZWuUosIQGPmDnCFZ83jIr26XnXjfWR7t_7KK6iVrypMjonHcF/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Ann-Summers-Western-Road-May-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpmDPylfb0f13hcXlRnf6T2jlqsm25Xuyk_UZBtIkvxpYqTpk1fuFUNOak1_0xK2LZCl0ztxuQ2vxIGP8VBCvFNqNLSmBSiKLVhNbIvkDGofJ5qTiU9F9uGkPcSexbNxlD5dI/s1600/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Beach-Ollie-Wilson-April-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpmDPylfb0f13hcXlRnf6T2jlqsm25Xuyk_UZBtIkvxpYqTpk1fuFUNOak1_0xK2LZCl0ztxuQ2vxIGP8VBCvFNqNLSmBSiKLVhNbIvkDGofJ5qTiU9F9uGkPcSexbNxlD5dI/s400/Atget%2527s-Paris-Ollie%2527s-Brighton-Beach-Ollie-Wilson-April-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One hell of an independent inquiry is needed into how Britain got it so wrong.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Meanwhile, runners and cyclists have gone feral, taking over the roads and streets; the air has been cleaner, and the birds have been audible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Everyone has a viewpoint. Almost no one agrees. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eugène Atget, I have simply tried to observe and record.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I haven't enjoyed lockdown. But I have tried to accept the situation, stay positive and make the most of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">One day, perhaps, schoolchildren will study this most strange period in our history - and I hope these 35 pictures of mine will give them an inkling of just how surreal life truly was in the Summer of 2020 in Brighton & Hove.</span></span><br />
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Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-82792902195562420902020-05-03T18:03:00.004+00:002020-09-29T21:40:10.765+00:00The Goodness of Mod-kind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It has been a traumatic time. On Tuesday night (28 April 2020), I slept very badly, racked with anxiety about various matters, and awoke at 7am on Wednesday morning feeling terrible. I looked out of the hall window and could not believe my eyes. My beloved Vespa PX125 scooter was gone - stolen during the night.</b><br />
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It seemed a thief or thieves had taken it, abandoning the cover (after weeing on it) and also, bizarrely, leaving another scooter, a Honda. It was one of those occasions in life (sadly, there have been a few) when what was happening was too appalling for me to comprehend fully.<br />
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I tried to stop shaking and phoned 101 to speak to the <a href="https://www.sussex.police.uk/" target="_blank">Sussex Police</a> call centre, where an assistant took the details and gave me a crime reference number. I mentioned the abandoned Honda scooter but, after doing a quick computer check, she told me it was not "marked" as stolen and was, therefore, not a vehicle of interest.<br />
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"Not yet," I said. "The owner may not have noticed it gone." <div><br />After notifying my insurance company of the theft, despite being dog tired I embarked on an investigation.<br />
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First, I posted the picture my Vespa - called Amy, after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Winehouse" target="_blank">Amy Winehouse</a> - on Facebook, particularly a a page dedicated to Mods and scooters.<br />
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I was overwhelmed by the response. My first posting informing people of the theft and describing the scooter, its location and other pertinent details went on to be shared 1,300 times!<br />
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<b>That is incredible! I want to say a heartfelt thankyou to all the Mods, other scooterists, friends and wellwishers who helped me in my hour of need. </b><br />
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I phoned my neighbours Chris and Anna, who live opposite. Chris is a biker with a big Indian [brand not nationality] motorbike. They immediately asked me round to look at their CCTV footage, which caught the crime very precisely.<br />
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The two crooks arrived on the Honda scooter, abandoned it in my courtyard and then wandered up and down the tunnel opposite, checking the coast was clear.<br />
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They then ripped the cover from my Vespa, managed to break the steering lock and wheeled the scooter out of my courtyard and through the tunnel to get it to a place where they could hotwire and start it without being seen. I took a clip, showing the thieves' faces, and put it out on Facebook.<br />
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My other neighbours were also on the case. Alex, who lives opposite us, found a receipt from a garage under the seat of the abandoned Honda scooter. On it was the owner's name. There was also a <a href="https://deliveroo.co.uk/" target="_blank">Deliveroo</a> vest.<br />
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He called Deliveroo but said they didn't seem interested in helping unite one of their riders with his scooter. Luckily, the garage called back, however, and gave us the owner's number. He turned up later, with ID, and was delighted to reclaim his bike. No thanks to the cops or his employers!<br />
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I was also very lucky. The video showed the thieves struggling to start Amy the Vespa. Obviously, they did not have the key and, therefore, kickstarting would not work.<br />
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So, I went looking for it - and, to my enormous relief, found it abandoned in the doorway of a block of flats. God, I was so relieved. My Vespa, with the windshield bought by my late mum as a birthday present for me years ago and its other additions, was irreplaceable to me.<br />
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It was slightly damaged. The thieves had tried to push in an indicator light to get to the wiring, but was basically all right.<br />
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I updated Facebook and received more supportive comments and shares. The reaction, from all over Britain, shows what a wonderful fraternity the scooter world is.<br />
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Since then I have been upping up security. Gordon, who runs <a href="https://g-whizzcycles.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gee-Whizz Cycles</a>, got in touch on Facebook to say he had a "ground hook", which he later sold me at trade price, and my neighbour Chris bolted it to the courtyard wall.<br />
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So, my Vespa is now chained to something solid. I also upgraded my lock and chain at <a href="https://www.diy.com/store/b-q-shoreham-by-sea/BQ_SRM462" target="_blank">B & Q in Shoreham</a> where the check-out guy, a biker, said he had had the picture of my scooter on his phone and been looking out for it.<br />
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The kindness of so many people is awe-inspiring.<br /><b><i><br /></i></b><div><b><i>By Thursday, I had recovered enough to Clap the NHS. I think this is important. Nurses, carers, doctors and paramedics are heroically putting their lives at risk during the Covid-19 crisis.</i></b><br />
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<b>More than that, though, I feel we need to acknowledge all the other plucky public-facing workers at this time, whether they be cleaners, bus drivers, postal workers, funeral directors, prisons staff, homelessness frontline staff and other out-facing charity workers, delivery riders, supermarket and newsagent staff and the many, many other unsung heroes of our lockdown times.</b><br />
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It seems strange to me how few restaurants, cafes and coffee shops are open at this time when they have not been forced to close for takeaway sales.<br />
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This makes the staff of those who have stayed open for their customers all the more special.<br />
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Why have all the major coffee shop chains fecklessly closed when they could do takeaways? <a href="https://caffenero.com/uk/" target="_blank">Caffe Nero</a> could have been Caffe <b>Hero</b> instead of Caffe <b>Zero</b>!<br />
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Why are McDonald's and Subway (a takeaway, for goodness sake) closed while KFC bravely manages to stay open for take outs?<br />
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<b>People like my friend Trevor at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186273-d12293713-Reviews-Oh_My_Cod-Brighton_East_Sussex_England.html" target="_blank">Oh My Cod</a> on Brighton seafront - or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theworldfamouspumproom/" target="_blank">Mark at the Pump Room</a>, who have kept their cafes open as takeaways, with suitable social distancing in effect in the queue, deserve a clap of appreciation!</b><br />
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<b>That's why, this Thursday, I encourage you all to clap not just for the NHS but for ALL out-facing workers - whatever they do!</b><br />
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<br /></div></div>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-44990041433058609502020-04-20T16:32:00.002+00:002020-04-20T16:36:02.238+00:00Mum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Today (20 April 2020) is the second anniversary of my Mum <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-2018.html" target="_blank">Heide Wilson</a>'s death.</b><br />
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<b>I miss her enormously - every day!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-70005264329964417792020-04-19T12:26:00.003+00:002020-09-22T21:01:04.097+00:00Coronavirus Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>During these dark days, at least we have books.</b><br />
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I have been filling my time with a catholic array of reading matter, which is seeing me through the Coronavirus Crisis.</div>
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As we went into the crisis, I was enjoying <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Vinyl-White-Powder-Napier-Bell/dp/0091880920" target="_blank">Black Vinyl, White Powder by Simon Napier-Bell</a>. </div>
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I learnt about this book from a social media update by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Chapman" target="_blank">Patsy Chapman</a>, a former Fleet Street editor, for whom I did some shifts back in the late 1980s.</div>
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Chapman mentioned it in an oblique way in a comment about TV presenter Caroline Flack's tragic end, and I was intrigued.</div>
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Having ordered and read it, however, I couldn't see much connection between the two things - but thoroughly enjoyed the book.<br />
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While ostensibly writing about drug use by musicians, former Wham! and Yardbirds manager <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Napier-Bell" target="_blank">Napier-Bell</a> has penned a riveting first-hand history of the pop and rock industry. I would highly recommend it!</div>
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Next up was an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Comes_as_the_End" target="_blank">Agatha Christie novel, Death Comes as the End</a>, the only one of the best-selling writer's novels not to be set in the 20th Century - but 4,000 earlier in ancient Egypt. </div>
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Courageous, maybe, but not one of her best efforts.<br />
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For most of the whodunnit, it is hard to tell who the detective is, and, by its conclusion, almost all the suspects were dead. I reached the end but it was a struggle.<br />
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I then went on a motorbike ride to Seaford, just before official lockdown, and felt sorry for the assistant in an empty British Bookshop and purchased, for a fiver, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Storm-C-Cup-My-Autobiography/dp/1471154386" target="_blank">Storm in a C Cup: My Autobiography by Caroline Flack</a>.<br />
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Even as I walked away from the store, I suspected I wasn't going to enjoy this book, although I was fascinated to see if it would shed any light on her early demise.<br />
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In fact, it was not well written and, I must admit, a tedious read in parts. It also only went up to five or six years ago. Only the blurb page mentioned her death in 2020.<br />
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Caroline Flack came across as a decent person who had split her time working and partying. She loved hanging out with rocks musicians and DJs and, unlike in Napier-Bell's book, there was little mention of drink and drugs.<br />
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I wondered if a good ghost-writer might have made a better and fuller job of this.<br />
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However, Flack did seem prone to episodes of depression, often linked to intrusive media interest in her and love life.<br />
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She seemed to go for volatile relationships, with blokes who were obviously going to mess her around. But there was little clue that her life would end so sadly and tragically.<br />
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Afterwards, I felt I needed to pick up something better written. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Ayrton-Senna-Richard-Williams/dp/0241950120" target="_blank">The Death of Ayrton Senna by Richard Williams</a> was certainly a page-turner.<br />
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Williams, a quality newspaper sports writer, is a wordsmith and the whole book read like a good piece of long-form journalism, very descriptive and detailed.<br />
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Formula One ace <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayrton_Senna" target="_blank">Ayrton Senna</a> - who died racing in 1994 - came across in the book as a great racing driver, a huge patriot - and a bit of a shit to the other drivers. His talent was only exceeded by his self-confidence, as if God was looking after him.<br />
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After racing through these modern books, something more traditional appeared in order.<br />
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In <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/03/our-war-with-coronavirus.html" target="_blank">Our War with Coronavirus</a>, I mentioned riding to Littlehampton just before lockdown and finding a benevolent bookseller who was giving away books to keep people entertained.<br />
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I picked up an 1892 edition of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranford_(novel)" target="_blank">Cranford by Mrs Gaskell</a> which was previously given to Dollie by her mother, who signed it on August 23, 1894.<br />
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Elizabeth Gaskell wrote it in eight instalments between December 1851 and May 1853 for Charles Dickens' magazine, Household Words.<br />
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I had heard of Cranford but knew nothing about it. I enjoyed the richness of the 19th Century language and the description of small-town society, although I did wonder if anything was ever going to happen.<br />
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When it did, I was hooked. I also loved the regular illustrations and reading from thick, rough-cut paper stock.<br />
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Not just an excellent read but a reading experience as well!<br />
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My latest reading has been harder.<br />
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On a motorcycle ride over Ditchling Beacon to Lewes before lockdown, I got talking to a veteran rider who recommended <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-roadcraft-police-riders-handbook/dp/0117081884" target="_blank">Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook</a>.<br />
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It is good but challenging for me as is <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008112517/ref=sspa_dk_detail_7?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUzZQRzY4WllJVkI2JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODk1ODA1REFZQ1hIR05GTjFTJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1Mzc2MDQ3Tkg4UEtNR1YxQjUmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl" target="_blank">Edexcel GCSE 9-1 Maths Foundation</a> which I am reading because I have volunteered to help mentor a young person through their Maths GCSE.<br />
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Other than all this reading and Spectator magazine, I have been catching up with old friends, phoning one every day, which has been wonderful.<br /></div>
Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-9127289445637273722020-03-30T21:29:00.001+00:002020-03-31T21:07:46.595+00:00Lockdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Life in Brighton & Hove, life in Britain, life almost everywhere is surreal in Covid Lockdown.</b><br />
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In my exercise hour, I have taken some pictures of what it looks like where we live: the beautiful scenery, the empty spaces, the sense of desolation.</div>
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An iconic holiday resort in excellent weather with no people, a Marie Celeste city - something straight out of a science fiction movie.<br />
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The drip-drip-drip of terrible news from around the world, with many thousands of deaths, makeshift mortuaries and unconscionable suffering is hard to comprehend in the context of the empty beach, the passing joggers, the relentless sunshine.<br />
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Sometimes it seems unbearable, the tidings too painful to absorb.</div>
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Yet there is no doubting the immense spirit of the people of the UK, and of every country stricken by this terrible virus.<br />
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Yesterday (Sunday, 29 March 2020) I spoke on the phone to a friend who was celebrating his 90th birthday.<br />
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He said he was reminded of 1940 with the 'general feeling to pull together'.<br />
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I have noticed that too. People are often kinder and more generous than they usually are.<br />
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Hundreds of thousands of good-hearted citizens in Britain have volunteered to help, possibly putting their own safety at risk.<br />
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People who are fortunate enough to be still working are making a huge effort to keep their organisations, companies and charities going.<br />
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Sometimes, of course, signs of public discontentment bubble to the surface.<br />
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Food hoarding in particular has been insane, an animal reaction against the forces of reason.<br />
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But on the whole, people have understood the need for social distancing and the stay-at-home-where-possible policy, and are acting responsibly.<br />
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They understand the colossal battle the National Health Service faces to keep the unfortunate alive - a fight that, sadly, all too often it will lose to the hearses and bodybags.<br />
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Everywhere life is different.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-VW34R8hZ57_ZZH9dm6PR07xdfmd6YHQjx4322YqzS71nTCQU6nyax1lD_YDV3hp5ty3PaCmTWTzAZs_Uy-PRx7lMX3mury7pPMHM6GCCrgl-cCFBQhMF7Cf9F4ZsVTsP9JS/s1600/Marrocco%2527s-Hove-during-Covid-19-crisis-March-2020-Picture-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-VW34R8hZ57_ZZH9dm6PR07xdfmd6YHQjx4322YqzS71nTCQU6nyax1lD_YDV3hp5ty3PaCmTWTzAZs_Uy-PRx7lMX3mury7pPMHM6GCCrgl-cCFBQhMF7Cf9F4ZsVTsP9JS/s400/Marrocco%2527s-Hove-during-Covid-19-crisis-March-2020-Picture-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" width="268" /></a><br />
Marrocco's restaurant and cafe, where habitually I enjoy my early morning cup of tea, has closed for the first time in more than half a century, although, strangely, work is allowed to continue at pace next door where a pop star is building a modern mansion for himself on the site of the former far-smaller bathhouse.<br />
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In Brighton and Hove, almost everything else is closed: only supermarkets, corner shops and pharmacies remain open to customers - and takeaways deliver, scooterists the unsung heroes.<br />
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A police officer told me that most people in Brighton & Hove are being sensible and social distancing - only a few teenagers clumping in groups.<br />
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Rough sleepers are being given hotel rooms to self-isolate in, he added, many of them staying in.<br />
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The people out are exercising alone or in couples and, maybe, enjoying a few rays of sunshine at the same time.<br />
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It is the strangest time in my life, stranger than the Falklands War, stranger than the Miners' Strike, stranger than the time of the Three Day Week, with its delightful power cuts.<br />
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<b><i>But every day I count myself lucky to have what I have. I count my blessings.</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6Uq3NePv_Kpb0Y1l16qynhFCsxA1o-IVprSh1Bh8DN-EEk4dlL3xSEiSiUZSIIAfUd84p-HU1CyzGwxBoEJute4iuG2rcwAJHTqQ3_rX_T6gZSsMKgfYXYyoh_g6CSJAMWS5/s1600/Covid-couple-Brighton-March-2020-Picture-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6Uq3NePv_Kpb0Y1l16qynhFCsxA1o-IVprSh1Bh8DN-EEk4dlL3xSEiSiUZSIIAfUd84p-HU1CyzGwxBoEJute4iuG2rcwAJHTqQ3_rX_T6gZSsMKgfYXYyoh_g6CSJAMWS5/s640/Covid-couple-Brighton-March-2020-Picture-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-49668795978687473742020-03-22T22:45:00.001+00:002020-04-15T19:59:27.622+00:00Our War With Coronavirus<b>We live in extraordinary, almost incredible times. In my lifetime, I cannot recall a stranger situation: Britain in lockdown; cafes, pubs, clubs and restaurants closed; no live sport; the Government pulling the plug on the economy and then attaching it to a massive life support system - and tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands</b><b>, set to die in the UK.</b><br />
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Like everyone else, I have found the past week tough. By Friday night, after days of mainlining the news on the dreaded Coronavirus (Cv), I felt deeply depressed.<br />
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I have been toiling away all week at home, on Cv-related things for the homelessness charity for which I work. I find the whole situation upsetting and find myself in tears listening to news updates from the UK and overseas.<br />
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Today (Saturday, 21 March 2020), I tried to listen to less news and get out for a long motorcycle ride, between Hove and Littlehampton.<br />
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Greggs was still open but only for takeaways, which was great.<br />
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The few customers kept well away from each other, and I was able purchase a vegan sausage roll and large hot chocolate for next to nothing - and enjoy them sitting on my own on a bench outside in the precinct.<br />
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A little way down the street, in an attractive old-style arcade, a lone man looked at Mothers' Day flowers.<br />
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Further down still, a lovely bookshop was closed to customers but had left out a good selection of its wares on a couple of trestle tables - for people to take for no charge.<br />
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A message from the bookseller included the words: 'Sorry we are closed but please help yourself to the books on this table for free!<br />
If you are anticipating being stuck at home, hopefully a good book will help you through.'<br />
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So well done to <a href="http://firesidebookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fireside Bookshop</a> of Littlehampton. You should be proud of yourself!<br />
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It made me think of something the Chancellor of the Exchequer said about the little acts of kindness that people would remember when this time is over.<br />
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I am impressed by Rishi Sunak, his substance and presentation. He is a great talent who one day, I suspect, will become the UK's first Prime Minister from a BAME background.<br />
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Overall, the Government's response to the crisis has been fairly good, although there is more they could do for the most vulnerable in society, such as people experiencing homelessness, and for the self-employed.<br />
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Things are moving very quickly, however, and I hope more will be done to help these groups this coming week.<br />
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson sees this crisis as a wartime scenario - and he is right.<br />
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In terms of demanding that people behave in particular ways contrary to their financial interests and basic freedom, nothing like it has happened since World War Two.<br />
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We are all in this together.<br />
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Sadly, the hoarding that has occurred through panic buying in the supermarkets is damaging the food chain, hitting key workers and hurting national morale.<br />
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It is ridiculous, selfish and pointless - there is plenty to go round.<br />
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My partner Laura and I have been strict with ourselves in buying food just as normal and also to spend just as usual in general.<br />
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To spend all your money on food, depriving others, and save otherwise is crazy.<br />
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This is a time when self-control and consideration for others is vital - to keep food on everyone's plates and, with non-food items, keep consumer money going into the economy, as far as possible.<br />
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And we all have a moral duty to keep away from others as much as possible to slow the spread of Cv and save lives.<br />
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Stopping in Worthing, I was shocked to see how people were happy to rub against each other, when there was no need.<br />
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It seems to me that people are still struggling to grasp the immensity of the risk that our nation faces from Cv. I can understand that.<br />
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Putting your life on hold is tough, separation is very tough.<br />
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But we need to show a bit of love for each other by washing our hands and keeping our distance.<br />
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* I have left and picked up writing this post again. It is Mothers' Day - Sunday, 22 March - and I have been thinking of my Mum who died in April 2018.<br />
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On the last visit Mum made to Brighton, in 2017, I took her to Birling Gap, a Sussex beauty spot, and today, on a motorcycle ride, I went there again, on the way to Eastbourne.<br />
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The weather was beautiful today but it took me an hour and 15 minutes to ride from Hove to Eastbourne, partly because of a diversion and partly because of my cautiousness in quite strong winds.<br />
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Separation in Eastbourne was not a problem - it was almost deserted. Virtually everything was closed.<br />
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However, the Emporium store had stayed open, with hardly any customers.<br />
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Keeping a sensible distance, I chatted with the owner who said he expected to be ordered to close at any time under a 'non-essential trader' order. 'But I believe music is essential,' he added with a grin. I bought a couple of singles.<br />
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Across the road, a bar was interpreting the 'take-away' rule with its own 'Beer Drive-Through', selling pints through a window for a sole punter to drink in the street.<br />
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I saw similar thing later in Brighton, with drinkers standing outside a pub, surely being creative with the 'take-away' definition, which I'd have thought would apply only sealed drinks which customers took away to consume in other locations.<br />
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I hope people are generally sensible and the Government doesn't have to move to a curfew scenario with the majority of citizens confined to their homes.<br />
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How can we all get through this?<br />
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We have been taking our minds off it by watching the excellent series <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Call_Saul" target="_blank">Better Call Saul</a>, a prequel to the extraordinary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_Bad" target="_blank">Breaking Bad</a>.<br />
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I also appreciate the BBC's effort to get into the wartime spirit, showing old episodes of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dad%27s_Army" target="_blank">Dad's Army</a> and classic football matches in the place of the live equivalent. Watching the latter made me think how much more earthy and fun soccer used to be before the Premier League days.<br />
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Laura took part in Virtually Funny, an online comedy gig staged by a friend of ours in the place of a live comedy show. A fine idea, although hard to do using teleconferencing technology.<br />
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How ever tough it becomes, I know that Britons will get through this with a determined smile on our faces, whether working or at home. And that our national institutions - the NHS, the Government, our representatives at all levels and of all political hues - won't let us down.<br />
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Most of all at this time I think of my family and particularly my daughters, Edlyn and Frances who I miss.<br />
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<i>I will leave you with an image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Dyke,_Sussex" target="_blank">Devil's Dyke</a> taken at dusk tonight. Have a good week, everyone!</i><br />
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<b><br /></b>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-44877901491854420602020-03-02T19:45:00.000+00:002020-03-04T07:56:52.751+00:00Labour Leadership and Deputy Leadership Contest Part II<b>On the 120th Birthday of the Labour Party, a small group of activists gathered in the slightly faded glory of <a href="http://www.thehoveclub.com/" target="_blank">The Hove Club</a> where, beneath old portraits of Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Hove and Portslade MP <a href="https://www.peterkyle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peter Kyle</a> was in conversation with his friend <a href="https://www.ianmurraymp.com/" target="_blank">Ian Murray</a>, Scotland's only Labour MP and a candidate for Deputy Leader of the Party.</b><br />
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It was a very interesting, informative and entertaining evening.<br />
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When I had embarked on finding out something about the candidates for Labour Party Leader and Deputy Leader, I had not expected it to be quite so much fun.<br />
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But it has surprised me. Ian Murray was as straight as a die in his views but also witty and amusing, while Peter Kyle, with his gentle humour, proved an excellent interviewer and complemented him perfectly.<br />
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They had become fast friends during the time when Peter had been the only Labour MP in the South of England, excluding London, and Ian was the only Labour MP in Scotland, as he is once again. Between them, they epitomised how good, campaigning, sensible Labour MPs can buck the trend and be a speck of red in a sea of blue or yellow.<br />
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As I wrote last month in my blog <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2020/02/why-i-am-backing-keir-starmer-for.html" target="_blank">Why I Am Backing Keir Starmer for Labour Leader,</a> I have made up my mind on the candidate to support for the Leadership. But I was less sure about the Deputy Leader - a mysterious role.</div>
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I was impressed by the way in which Ian Murray spoke about the urgency to get Labour back into a shape in which we can win a General Election again, which means winning back Scotland. A council estate boy, brought up by his mum after his dad died suddenly aged just 39, he has already pulled himself up by his bootstraps and has a no-nonsense approach to the problems that have beset the Party during the Corbyn years.<br />
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With Ian as Deputy Labour, there would be zero tolerance of anti-Semitism. And when I asked him about dealing with a "party within a party" [Momentum], he simply said it would have to stop.</div>
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One of his funniest stories was about bumping into the Labour Party Chairperson in the tunnel between buildings at Westminster and baiting him about the failure of General Election leaflets to arrive, only to be angrily told that he [Ian Murray] had only won his seat because "you get Tories and Liberal Democrats to vote for you!"<br />
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Fuelled by the free wine, the Labour faithful at the Hove Club clearly enjoyed the evening, literally getting behind Ian Murray in the selfie above.<br />
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The following day, the whole Labour Leadership and Deputy Leadership circus was in town. Initially, I'd heard that the hustings were not venturing south of London, so the surprise chance to see all the candidates speak just a few hundred yards from my apartment proved irresistible.<br />
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I had expected a lot of argy bargy between the factions of the party but, once again, I was wrong. Arriving at Brighton's Grand Hotel, I bumped into an old mate from my years on Brighton Trades' Council who was outside handing out leaflets for Leadership Contender <a href="https://labour.org.uk/people/leadership-elections-hub-2020/rebecca-long-bailey/" target="_blank">Rebecca Long-Bailey</a> - the "unity candidate", or so he said.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZvtHPQVhbZuClKGzwtUccAGlDmDaMKZfhEVPjJApApApZsncSuM0nShK-mpc3WakdAyurXetTi9qKQSlFmy24oNx5j5ZDdF7JvFL33dJWkKo9sBytNpBdhHhdfdXOooUVpbd/s1600/Rebecca-Long-Bailey-Rallying-Supporters-Feb-2020-Brighton-Grand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="500" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZvtHPQVhbZuClKGzwtUccAGlDmDaMKZfhEVPjJApApApZsncSuM0nShK-mpc3WakdAyurXetTi9qKQSlFmy24oNx5j5ZDdF7JvFL33dJWkKo9sBytNpBdhHhdfdXOooUVpbd/s320/Rebecca-Long-Bailey-Rallying-Supporters-Feb-2020-Brighton-Grand.jpg" width="320" /></a>Inside, I registered, filed a couple of questions and found a seat in the front row next to a chatty former punk rocker called Peter. It appeared that people had come from far and wide for the hustings and, although it was blowing a gale outside, they were determined to enjoy their day out at the seaside.<br />
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I espied "Becky" Long-Bailey by the windows and walked over to say hi.<br />
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"Hello, My Lovey!" she responded with a grin. You certainly couldn't fault her on her friendliness. Her supporters clearly adored her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdjUGqXdcV-PgAM9Rg9ti8GSjfua6ybzObBQXkiiKmk8PL9y0ly9fddHcg2TksDrT5O_vL0N_01CnJASm1JFdHCLCCxJpU6UhHxIdYgKAshM0WLsQRbES_u0zDcw64fQBrkyP/s1600/Labour-Leadership-Hustings-Brighton-Grand-Feb-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="500" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdjUGqXdcV-PgAM9Rg9ti8GSjfua6ybzObBQXkiiKmk8PL9y0ly9fddHcg2TksDrT5O_vL0N_01CnJASm1JFdHCLCCxJpU6UhHxIdYgKAshM0WLsQRbES_u0zDcw64fQBrkyP/s320/Labour-Leadership-Hustings-Brighton-Grand-Feb-2020.jpg" width="320" /></a>When the hustings started in the packed banqueting suite, I was struck by how much respect the three remaining candidates - <a href="https://keirstarmer.com/" target="_blank">Keir Starmer,</a> Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey - appear to have for each other, and how the 500-strong audience applauded almost every answer.<br />
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Keir Starmer said: "Divided parties don't win elections. I think and I hope that the way the three of us have modelled the election bodes well for the future."<br />
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There is not space here to report 90 minutes of debate, but I will say I found myself agreeing with most of the things that Keir Starmer and <a href="https://labour.org.uk/people/leadership-elections-hub-2020/lisa-nandy/" target="_blank">Lisa Nandy</a> said. </div>
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I am still backing Keir but I like Lisa. It was great the way she applauded points made by her rivals that she agreed with.<br />
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And she is clearly very clever and gutsy. Even if she doesn't win this contest, there must surely be a big job for her in a future Labour Government.<br />
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Rebecca Long-Bailey came over much better in the flesh than she does on TV. She is affable and almost charismatic but I had my doubts over some of the things she said, such as abolishing the House of Lords - it's been pretty useful at times over the years - and statements such as: "If we just want to win, we might as well join the Conservative Party!"<br />
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But it was a good-natured hustings - and an example of party unity in action.</div>
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At lunchtime, I chatted to another former Trades' Council comrade, a member of the Socialist Workers Party, who was demonstrating outside in support of Rebecca Long-Bailey.<br />
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In the afternoon, Deputy Leadership hustings were held. I had nipped home for a pizza and was slightly late.<br />
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I have to confess that once I'd found the one spare seat in the front row, I surveyed the five candidates and realised I didn't recognise them all.</div>
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<i><b>Who was the incredibly passionate and confident woman in the yellow dress?</b></i><br />
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I racked my brain and realised, to my shame, I hadn't a clue.<br />
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As the debate continued, I could see it had a different tenor from the morning's session. Becky, Keir and Lisa had been the grown-ups. Together, this lot were more like slightly delinquent teenagers!</div>
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The Lady in Yellow turned out to be called Rosena Allin-Khan, a hospital doctor. She impressed me with her flamboyant performance - there was a bit of showbiz about her. At one point, she even belted out <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8062411/Rosena-Allin-Khan-stuns-Labour-hustings-belting-CHER-hit-Turn-Time.html" target="_blank">a verse of a pop song in a fine X-Factor voice</a>. I liked Rosena, although I am not sure she is experienced enough to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.<br />
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Angela Rayner, to whom I recall I gave a vote at the recent Hove Constituency Labour Party gathering on the recommendation of some comrades sitting behind me, put me off a little at the hustings.<br />
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Describing herself as a "Ninja Ginger Warrrior", she did a good deal of ranting. When the microphone failed, it didn't really trouble her. I liked quite a lot of what she said but am not convinced she would make a great Deputy Leader.<br />
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Ian Murray came over very well again, arguing that Labour should not be "trashing its record" from when it has been in Government.<br />
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"If we do not listen to the public," he added, "we will never get back into Government."<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Burgon" target="_blank">Richard Burgon</a> - who has described himself as a Continuity Corbyn candidate - I found a slightly scary, although I certainly concur with his dislike of the Liberal Democrats who "enabled austerity by putting the Tories into power".<br />
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Dawn Butler was the most experienced and instantly likeable candidate. She didn't seem to take herself as seriously as the others, banging on about her "Plan for Power" in a strangely self-deprecatory way.<br />
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I wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad thing and, when I asked her about it afterwards, was none the wiser.<br />
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Still, I did what she probably least expected anyone at the hustings to do - picked up a copy of her 24-page publication and read it cover to cover.<br />
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It is pretty good. Much better than I'd thought it would be when she said in the hustings she'd started writing it after waking up on the day after the Election in bed with a bottle of vodka and no glass!<br />
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I like its digital campaigning content and the pledge to "reduce gatekeeping". She, and Labour in general, could do with a bit of a lift in their understanding of the national media, particularly the newspapers, but, with the right leadership in place, I am sure that will come.<br />
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Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my day and evening of Labour leadership and deputy leadership events. Allowing a long period for reflection in the Party after December's devastating defeat is perhaps the smartest move Jeremy Corbyn has made as Labour Leader. I have no issues with the length of the process - it only seems to be doing good. <i>The tide it is a-turning.</i><br />
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<b>So, who am I backing for Labour Deputy Leader? Ian Murray - because I trust him and believe he can win back Scotland for Labour, which is absolutely vital. But also because he has pledged that, if he wins, he will ask for a second Deputy Leader for the female candidate who gets the highest number of votes. My second-preference vote is going to Dawn Butler.</b></div>
Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-68507263846969472392020-02-08T19:54:00.000+00:002020-02-12T20:05:30.169+00:00Why I Am Backing Keir Starmer for Labour Leader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Labour leadership contest is in full swing - and I have made up my mind, supporting <a href="https://keirstarmer.com/" target="_blank">Keir Starmer</a> as the candidate most likely to put the party back on track.</b><br />
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There is much campaigning to go before the final decision by the full Labour Party membership is announced in April, and developments so far have been interesting.<br />
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Initially, I was struck by some of the extraordinary things that candidates said, particularly coming off the back of a disastrous General Election result in December.<br />
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Rebecca Long-Bailey, in an interview with ITV, gave Jeremy Corbyn "10 out of 10" for his leadership - an astonishing assessment considering the Election result, the failure to stamp out anti-Semitism and the incessant in-fighting between Labour factions during his leadership.<br />
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Even worse, candidate Clive Lewis, now eliminated from the contest, called for a referendum on the abolition of the Monarchy, after the Harry and Meghan story broke. If you think Brexit is divisive, it would be as nothing compared to a referendum on the Royal Family! One of the craziest ideas I have ever heard!<br />
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Jess Philips was a stronger candidate but did herself no favours by suggesting that, under her leadership, the Party might campaign to reverse Brexit at some future point. Although she subsequently rowed back on this position, she struck me as someone who was unlikely to unite the party or get the country behind her. I suspect Jess could make a good minister but would need more experience to go for the top job. She was wise to drop out of the race.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-0o7Ki3PJ63ba0n7DYYurYWGyteELpO2I_4sJkqClVt_WoHxY_weFFQrHb-qfeQyYh6Pbmr8K20lrlsb0pa-t6dHAR3fC79pqodCYM3Zd3Nw4nyPAXpWBGQcMHiWAcfa3H7w/s1600/Peter-Kyle-Hove-General-Election-Campaign-December-2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="500" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-0o7Ki3PJ63ba0n7DYYurYWGyteELpO2I_4sJkqClVt_WoHxY_weFFQrHb-qfeQyYh6Pbmr8K20lrlsb0pa-t6dHAR3fC79pqodCYM3Zd3Nw4nyPAXpWBGQcMHiWAcfa3H7w/s400/Peter-Kyle-Hove-General-Election-Campaign-December-2019.jpg" width="400" /></a>Looking back to the damp and dark of December, it was an honour to do a bit of traipsing around the constituency of Hove and Portslade, canvassing in support of our fine candidate, Peter Kyle, who was re-elected as MP with a large majority.<br />
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On the doorstep, I was struck by how moderate and sensible many voters are.<br />
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I started to think of the yawning gap, nationally, between Labour activists and the far larger group of potential Labour voters.<br />
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Although <a href="https://www.peterkyle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peter Kyle</a> and his supporters were doing well in Hove and Portslade, I could see the overall Tory landslide coming like a runaway juggernaut.<br />
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The Labour position on Brexit was a hopeless fudge, the massive Manifesto baffled voters and many did not like Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn or Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell - or the stench of anti-Semitism clinging to Labour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo6HJWQ_ohRQ3_QQmS-FqFnsY1gIkTfJMOgQzlPSLK_KC_qCzKVd5xwdvozzyGTmzduSVeEJ1Cdd7QpHtIRNo2GRs5POZaYH2T5cI3PSVBnwwLQ-AMkdSJ5ReHaV80O15_yYV/s1600/Peter-Kyle-Hove-General-Election-Campaign-December-2019-Canvasser-in-the-Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo6HJWQ_ohRQ3_QQmS-FqFnsY1gIkTfJMOgQzlPSLK_KC_qCzKVd5xwdvozzyGTmzduSVeEJ1Cdd7QpHtIRNo2GRs5POZaYH2T5cI3PSVBnwwLQ-AMkdSJ5ReHaV80O15_yYV/s320/Peter-Kyle-Hove-General-Election-Campaign-December-2019-Canvasser-in-the-Rain.jpg" width="236" /></a>In the torrential rain in Hove, we were doing all right. But watching the national news, the signs were all too apparent that Labour had lost touch with its working-class roots, and that the Corbyn/McDonnell/Momentum experiment would end in abject failure nationally. And so it proved.<br />
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Having lost 59 seats, as well as four consecutive general elections, the scene was set for the most important Labour leadership contest in a generation.<br />
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<b><i>At stake is the very future of the Labour Party. If Labour members and MPs get it wrong once again, there may not be a Labour Party in five years' time.</i></b><br />
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With this in mind, what has surprised me is that so many people are still talking about the Labour Party as if it is a campaign group, as if winning power and forming the Government is irrelevant, that the battle is within the Labour Party and not with the other parties.<br />
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<b><i>It is vital to remember that we are not just trying to choose a Labour leader but a future Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.</i></b><br />
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This week, I went to see Keir Starmer speak at All Saints Church, Hove, and was hugely impressed by him.<br />
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Without notes, Keir spoke fluently, persuasively and credibly for an hour before taking questions, some of them tough ones, from the large audience. He was brilliant - and I agreed with almost everything he said.<br />
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He said the electorate had lost trust in Labour as a force for good and that the party needed to unite and stop fighting itself. He pointed out that divided parties don't win elections, and vowed personally to stamp out anti-Semitism within the Party, with the proof being the return of those who have quit Labour because of this disgraceful issue.<br />
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Moreover, his remarkable career as a human rights barrister, and clear intelligence and humility make him ideal to lead.<br />
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<b><i>Through and through, Keir Starmer is Prime Ministerial material.</i></b><br />
<br />
Afterwards, I approached and talked to him about homelessness - and he pledged his whole-hearted commitment to ending homelessness.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYOe63qFofRHd_JSdNCLtdO57nuzdGhvx_v_hUZ5jEq3aBx34N34MCLJ8aTJ7yGBVKoG7VMYKcgvW_0lDi8XDq1MQN6mwxgf1pNvyb9FZ59wIWRe7yjOpPTP9fYcYgmlJHtKm/s1600/Keir-Starmer-Hove-Feb-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="500" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYOe63qFofRHd_JSdNCLtdO57nuzdGhvx_v_hUZ5jEq3aBx34N34MCLJ8aTJ7yGBVKoG7VMYKcgvW_0lDi8XDq1MQN6mwxgf1pNvyb9FZ59wIWRe7yjOpPTP9fYcYgmlJHtKm/s400/Keir-Starmer-Hove-Feb-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a>Of the other remaining candidates, I have been impressed by Lisa Nandy, who is very bright and an excellent media interviewee. She could lead the Labour Party but I feel this is not her time. However, I would like to see her in a big Cabinet role in a future Labour Government.<br />
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Emily Thornberry, I have to admit, troubles me. When the Labour Party was licking its wounds after its General Election defeat, I was shocked that she threatened to sue former colleague Caroline Flint in an unpleasant little dispute.<br />
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Moreover, Thornberry does not seem to come over humbly in interviews. Recently, I saw her complaining that people were backing other candidates rather than voting for the best candidate (her!). I just couldn't imagine Emily Thornberry leading Labour to victory in a general election.<br />
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Which leaves Rebecca Long-Bailey - the Momentum-backed so-called Continuity Candidate. What puzzles me is why you would want to continue something so disastrous for the party.<br />
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From what I have seen of her interviews and speeches, I am not sure if she can win the Labour leadership election. But I am sure that, if she does, she will never be Prime Minister. Indeed, an Ipsos MORI of ordinary voters placed her last of the four remaining candidates. Just 14 percent the public, in the poll, said she had the makings of a prime minister.<br />
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I have heard stories of members of the Socialist Workers Party joining Labour to vote for Momentum candidates - and even Tories joining to vote for Rebecca Long-Bailey, as the most damaging candidate to Labour. None of this is good.<br />
<br />
Today (Saturday, 8 February 2020), I attended the ballot by the branches in the Hove and Portslade constituency.<br />
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More than 300 party members from Hove and Portslade sat a large hospitality suite at Hove Cricket Ground and heard some excellent, rousing speeches, in support of Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Rebecca Long-Bailey and party unity (tellingly, I don't think anyone spoke up for Emily Thornberry).<br />
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We then voted. As the votes were counted, our MP Peter Kyle told me he is backing Keir Starmer (he'd vigorously supported Jess Philips until she dropped out).<br />
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A preferential voting system was used and, when transfers had been made, the final result for the top two was: <b>Keir Starmer, 159; Rebecca Long-Bailey, 83. (Incidentally, before they were eliminated, in the first round Lisa Nandy got 62 votes, not far behind Long-Bailey with 69, and Emily Thornberry polled just four votes.) </b><br />
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<b>So, Keir Starmer won our backing!</b><br />
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<b><i>Hooray! I just hope that when the big national members' vote - the one that counts most - takes place, sense again prevails.</i></b>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-84723590586470411422020-02-06T21:40:00.003+00:002020-03-20T17:36:52.694+00:00Graham Groucutt RIP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QEVK56cwHZaogePeO_rFes38mHsstyyfCzR18bAK5RqBgCuZWBNa12o7xoY4p1moVRJvElUvjbJXxqkgnJwPEvn-YEa7tgWMZL9ehjB-9MQcCGbOn6tml3uiRBlD_3dQoHHK/s1600/Graham-Groucutt-Lewes-Allotment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QEVK56cwHZaogePeO_rFes38mHsstyyfCzR18bAK5RqBgCuZWBNa12o7xoY4p1moVRJvElUvjbJXxqkgnJwPEvn-YEa7tgWMZL9ehjB-9MQcCGbOn6tml3uiRBlD_3dQoHHK/s400/Graham-Groucutt-Lewes-Allotment.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>Most sadly, my friend and allotment neighbour Graham Groucutt has died.</b><br />
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Although I knew he had been ill, news of Graham's death still came as a shock. Until a few months ago, he had been a vigorous man - brimful of life.<br />
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I had kept an <a href="https://earwigcorner.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">allotment at Earwig Corner</a>, Lewes, for a dozen years now and, after Graham and his friend and former son-in-law Chris joined the allotment society some nine years ago, you were always guaranteed a friendly welcome.<br />
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Almost every time I visited my plot, Graham was there near the gate, eager to chat and gossip.<br />
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Moreover, he was incredibly generous, constantly making cups of tea for his fellow allotment holders, mowing the communal pathways and helping in myriad other ways.<br />
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After I struggled with my Flymo, Graeme took to cutting the grass fringes on my plot, shrugging off my thanks whenever we talked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOokhQ4PtxOOXM_ey-3l4XB5XNe-_Bgct-kmjyQMxR6Xpk4N3kt06Dh3181258D8-KsDx4DXeDFjomaGWUqauBh8yPNt9oo3pfRddqVT6FZqM_DjP0H8Y3lH-m5nvzkT2Ize_/s1600/Graham-Groucutt-Allotment-Earwig-Corner-Lewes-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOokhQ4PtxOOXM_ey-3l4XB5XNe-_Bgct-kmjyQMxR6Xpk4N3kt06Dh3181258D8-KsDx4DXeDFjomaGWUqauBh8yPNt9oo3pfRddqVT6FZqM_DjP0H8Y3lH-m5nvzkT2Ize_/s400/Graham-Groucutt-Allotment-Earwig-Corner-Lewes-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A couple of years back, my then allotment neighbour's wife sadly died.<br />
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Graham immediately offered to tend the plot for the man concerned until he was ready to come back to it.<br />
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In the event, my neighbour decided to give up his plot and Graham took it over, keeping it immaculately.<br />
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Graham became Chairman of the allotment society and fulfilled the role with great skill, diplomacy and dignity.<br />
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But as I look over Graham's empty plot now, I am embarrassed by how little I knew about him.<br />
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We talked about everything except his life. I don't know about his past or even his age.<br />
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At first I didn't think I even had a picture of him, although I photographed his former son-in-law Chris several times. Weeks later, I found just one.<br />
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Graham was an unassuming gentleman who was quietly always there. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVVs-A24zmW7WCIOCw_d3Gl-tgcHjnwzkhTUGYiSFTJ8YUnX8m3mjhgy9hR7s1n_nBUidKiPxFYaQSE8z4t691tkO8byiMNTOmRURVUKAhP_ERQsaPE91JXrj28NMtvFSYzzg/s1600/Graham-Groucutt-Allotment-Earwig-Corner-Lewes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVVs-A24zmW7WCIOCw_d3Gl-tgcHjnwzkhTUGYiSFTJ8YUnX8m3mjhgy9hR7s1n_nBUidKiPxFYaQSE8z4t691tkO8byiMNTOmRURVUKAhP_ERQsaPE91JXrj28NMtvFSYzzg/s400/Graham-Groucutt-Allotment-Earwig-Corner-Lewes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looking through my messages, I can see the last one he sent me was in September last year when I thanked him for cutting my grass and he said simply: "My pleasure!"<br />
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When I saw him in recent months, he said he had lost his energy, but the doctors did not know what was wrong with him.<br />
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By December, we were told he was too weak to come to the allotment.<br />
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He loved those allotments. A true son of the soil, he loved every clump of earth, every blade of grass, every root vegetable there.<br />
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But most of all, Graham loved the allotment people at Earwig Corner - and we loved Graham.<br />
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Graham's family plan to bury him in the West Midlands, I hear, but his fellow allotment holders are planning their own wake at <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2010/04/earwig-corner.html" target="_blank">Earwig Corner</a>, with trees planted in his memory. What could be more appropriate.<br />
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<i><b>We'll all miss Graham </b></i><i><b>more than words can say. </b></i> </div>
Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-87180949526936399922020-01-21T20:56:00.002+00:002020-02-12T20:09:26.987+00:00Graduation 36 Years On<b>Thirty-six years on since my first graduation, I graduated again yesterday (Monday, 20 January 2020) with an MSc. in Voluntary Sector Management from <a href="https://www.city.ac.uk/" target="_blank">City University of London</a>.</b><br />
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It was a wonderful day, meeting friends from the two-year course and my favourite tutors and lecturers - and it brought the memories flooding back.<br />
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In 1983, as a fresh-faced youngster (pictured below), I received a Pass Degree in Physics Studies at <a href="https://www.hull.ac.uk/faculties/subjects/physics-and-astrophysics" target="_blank">Hull University</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGQMWwT7tO6gC97WsXnXBVzzk5ly8P1OsRYiIKHCFD99b18QT_ba19Fi6gcEDo3LilQrkICuiqxP95ZEJ33N89xMk6c3kvemGNpW9Zw0Fq6vVwJrtQJAKh_HbslkkivpDfI5l/s1600/Ollie-Wilson-First-Graduation-Hull-University.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGQMWwT7tO6gC97WsXnXBVzzk5ly8P1OsRYiIKHCFD99b18QT_ba19Fi6gcEDo3LilQrkICuiqxP95ZEJ33N89xMk6c3kvemGNpW9Zw0Fq6vVwJrtQJAKh_HbslkkivpDfI5l/s400/Ollie-Wilson-First-Graduation-Hull-University.jpg" width="247" /></a>Later in life, my daughters used to tease me about my lowly degree, and they were right to do so.</div>
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I didn't apply myself at Hull University and, in truth, had little interest in Physics as a subject.</div>
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My varsity life was devoted to running the students' newspaper, DJ-ing and putting on stage lighting shows for visiting pop bands.</div>
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However, I remember how great a fuss my mum and dad made of me when I graduated.<br />
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At great expense, they and my three brothers all travelled up from Poole, Dorset to see me collect my BSc.</div>
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We spent the days before eating and drinking in the Berni Inn (a great '80s institution).<br />
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And my graduation day 36 years ago was a most happy one, despite my desperate dash across town on my Rudge Pathfinder bicycle to get there on time, my gown - or Batman cape as I called it - fluttering in my wake.</div>
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Yesterday's "Degree Congregation" had a surprising amount in common with its ancient predecessor.</div>
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My brother Nic was there again, accompanying my partner Laura as my guests (you were only allowed two). </div>
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There was a great atmosphere at the Barbican Centre (which, it occurred to me I had previously visited 20 years before to interview the Godfather of Soul James Brown); we legged it across town (this time from Farringdon Station) to get there on time, and I hugely enjoyed seeing my university friends again.<br />
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The academic hood was different this time - the crimson and gold of a Master had usurped the black and white of a Bachelor - but the main change was in me.<br />
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For the first time, I had worked hard academically, putting more than 2,200 hours into the City course - and been rewarded with a Distinction, as well as a lot of vocationally useful knowledge.<br />
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From 1980-83, I was a very occasional visitor to Hull University's Physics Department. I was more likely to be found editing copy in the students' union newspaper office, or rigging up theatre lamps or flogging my own magazines on the campus.<br />
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By night, I would be at the decks of student discos or propping up the bar at any number of possible hostelries.<br />
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How strange that I should have managed, from 2017-19, to put in three hours a day of work, seven days a week, and remain teetotal. I loved spending time in the City University libraries, poring over the books, hoovering up the knowledge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K0Q401roxIrOfmVqpePSmD8BOAJoK4NMFKxh-ysypCI-KopBXwwM7uHeAktggF6hkIXBg2gV9Ce5ej6RgrrHljuc1gZhxKEUmTCUBRRgfDjI8SO_8-Bg951Bimbo684yurog/s1600/Ollie-Wilson-Graduation-2-Cass-Business-School-City-University-20-Jan-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="500" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K0Q401roxIrOfmVqpePSmD8BOAJoK4NMFKxh-ysypCI-KopBXwwM7uHeAktggF6hkIXBg2gV9Ce5ej6RgrrHljuc1gZhxKEUmTCUBRRgfDjI8SO_8-Bg951Bimbo684yurog/s400/Ollie-Wilson-Graduation-2-Cass-Business-School-City-University-20-Jan-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
So later in life, I felt the need to prove myself, to better myself, to be a different person.<br />
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Still, it was tough being a Post-Graduate Student at City, while working full-time for a charity.<br />
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My week was at least 60 hours, sometimes more.<br />
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The Voluntary Sector Management course was also demanding, covering every aspect of charity management and accountancy, most of it outside my comfort zone.<br />
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That I managed to achieve 11 distinctions and two merits, in the 13 assignments or exams, still amazes me. I was going <a href="https://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2017/10/back-to-school.html" target="_blank">back to school</a> and surprised myself.<br />
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On the other hand, from my first degree I can hardly remember any Physics - only funny things that happened to me doing discos or starting out in student journalism.<br />
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I found a contact sheet of photographs that I took outside Hull City Hall on that day 36 years ago.<br />
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There am I with fellow students whose names I no longer recall.<br />
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<b>There, too, are my three dear brothers and my parents, Robin and Heide, who are, sadly, now gone and who would have loved to see me graduate again.</b></div>
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Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-11849945499882223632019-10-31T17:44:00.001+00:002020-02-12T20:38:01.203+00:00My 1970s Images<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcoZV4raSZV9f5HWFIOjd_9WU-7PzD-XNsG-x1_pOcRcS6IFAhvImZnM6oALROazS7XiTB5FZjvmufb7yg-flz-8D5HWhNWux1RindG5AoHkxH_nmZJAqKwiOrzJZ3mqfsa0u/s1600/1970s-Set-03-Image-02-Nic-Wilson-on-Bicycle-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcoZV4raSZV9f5HWFIOjd_9WU-7PzD-XNsG-x1_pOcRcS6IFAhvImZnM6oALROazS7XiTB5FZjvmufb7yg-flz-8D5HWhNWux1RindG5AoHkxH_nmZJAqKwiOrzJZ3mqfsa0u/s320/1970s-Set-03-Image-02-Nic-Wilson-on-Bicycle-edit.jpg" width="280" /></a><b>I have realised that next year - 2020 - I will have been taking photographs for half a century.</b><br />
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I started in late 1970, after persuading my mother to buy a Kodak Instamatic Camera from an offer on the back of a Rice Krispies packet. I cannot remember how much this bargain cost us, but, aged eight or just nine, I was elated when it arrived.<br />
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I can't recall much about taking the pictures but I do remember getting them processed at Boots and, especially, the excitement of picking them up, tearing open the packaging, desperately eager to see the fruits of my labour.<br />
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The <a href="https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Kodak_Instamatic_25_Camera" target="_blank">Kodak Instamatic 25</a> wasn't a sophisticated camera range, and I believe that mine, the Instamatic 25, was the cheapest and simplest of the lot.<br />
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It boasted fixed aperture and fixed focusing. But I understand that there were two shutter speeds, indicated by a sun symbol (1/90th second) and a half-sun symbol (1/40th second).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qVG55cee1MiztW_eh_LY8UDNdKzBjQY42IJYujiW6kQU9l5w5nguPyo7GdVPFlYVXEhR-sD5M3Rq8XP0dr-5YnbbF2LyOJjJJNTw20BBQF44_Qk9wq3TJftH4Zrsq-2yBaN6/s1600/1970s-Set-2-Image-16-Younger-Bullpit-Boy-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="500" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qVG55cee1MiztW_eh_LY8UDNdKzBjQY42IJYujiW6kQU9l5w5nguPyo7GdVPFlYVXEhR-sD5M3Rq8XP0dr-5YnbbF2LyOJjJJNTw20BBQF44_Qk9wq3TJftH4Zrsq-2yBaN6/s320/1970s-Set-2-Image-16-Younger-Bullpit-Boy-edit.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Instamatic 25 took 126 "Kodapak" film cartridges which, I guess, must have all have been the same speed. Certainly, there was no ASA/ISO setting. It was not fast film, maybe 100 ASA or even slower.<br />
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There was no other camera or photographer in the family, so my pictures of us are unique, excepting a few professional or school photographs.<br />
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I embarked on photography with childish enthusiasm but no skill or knowledge.<br />
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However, from the start, I made an effort to pose my subjects, such as my younger brother Nic on his bicycle, or one of the Bullpit boys from down the lane posing on his bike in front of his front door.<br />
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At first, everything was taken in black and white. In those days, black and white photography was still cheaper to do than colour photography, which was considered quite extravagant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCoFoT2F1s5u5Q8gD1gDu630tp62RMbuEjmQNws8okr1haihKoCxxk9hOeTLnf9B1zILBlRpWOhMQhsaK2Xs3It_15qGRocXqwsePccmbl10SrtNvXAb3IbEd1ZHapWzqnmgt/s1600/1970s-Set-1a-Chris-Wilson-Class-Photo-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="1000" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCoFoT2F1s5u5Q8gD1gDu630tp62RMbuEjmQNws8okr1haihKoCxxk9hOeTLnf9B1zILBlRpWOhMQhsaK2Xs3It_15qGRocXqwsePccmbl10SrtNvXAb3IbEd1ZHapWzqnmgt/s400/1970s-Set-1a-Chris-Wilson-Class-Photo-edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cataloguing my images recently, I realised that I have very few prints left.<br />
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I wonder what happened to them. I don't currently have a negative scanner. I also took quite a lot of colour slides, which are pretty good, but, again, I cannot scan at the moment. I loved them particularly because the cost of processing was included in the price of the film.<br />
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Looking back, the 1970s was an innocent time. When I started taking pictures, we lived at 15 Hurst Lane, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumnor" target="_blank">Cumnor</a>, Oxfordshire.<br />
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The lane was more like a track in those days, without tarmac. My brothers and I spent a lot of time playing in the field and shrubbery - 'The Passages' - the other side of the lane from the bungalow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7d0FrpmyunuQvpN8Q7FCmgboRWKMLybhjHzjLJaY9sJ_O4GJJhuhIIB1L_s9OCohWy5EEraW7TeYb1KOjVL2Ow3I0Awl4ELekp9IrJPdcpwfmXGuATRvbwVrVY0DRUE_CiMz/s1600/1970s-Set-01-Image-01-Robin-Wilson-Digging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7d0FrpmyunuQvpN8Q7FCmgboRWKMLybhjHzjLJaY9sJ_O4GJJhuhIIB1L_s9OCohWy5EEraW7TeYb1KOjVL2Ow3I0Awl4ELekp9IrJPdcpwfmXGuATRvbwVrVY0DRUE_CiMz/s320/1970s-Set-01-Image-01-Robin-Wilson-Digging.jpg" width="307" /></a>They were strange times. I recall coming home from school one day to find the lane sealed off by police officers. A farmer had been shot dead by a burglar, an event so rare that it was reported on the national BBC Nine O'Clock News.<br />
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My brothers and I attended <a href="https://cumnorprimaryschool.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cumnor Village School</a> where they had gathered us into the hall to watch on television Charles invested as Prince of Wales, at Caernarfon Castle, Wales, now half a century ago.<br />
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On the school photograph above, I believe I am the boy bottom second from the left.<br />
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At home, the house was small - we three brothers shared the same bedroom, but the garden was large.<br />
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Our Dad, Robin Wilson who sadly died in 2015, was a vegetable gardener. I recall being fascinated by watching him digging - and the sheer size of the carrots coming out of the ground. To this day on my allotment, I have never managed to grow carrots of that size.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg0ZjiovV4cwa_vDowhbtqI_EI62m3KgXR0BGvY7CvB6xMMWCzL5aQvHSsgAHJjUTB40VCPR2eZ4IIFaKNQURS0wif3ENaZ92ovGWBxnHMeH7C528m14c-8afDCG2GX19fAj-/s1600/1970s-Set-02-Image-15-1970-The-Bullpit-Boys-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg0ZjiovV4cwa_vDowhbtqI_EI62m3KgXR0BGvY7CvB6xMMWCzL5aQvHSsgAHJjUTB40VCPR2eZ4IIFaKNQURS0wif3ENaZ92ovGWBxnHMeH7C528m14c-8afDCG2GX19fAj-/s320/1970s-Set-02-Image-15-1970-The-Bullpit-Boys-edit.jpg" width="224" /></a>Considering my age, lack of photographic experience and very basic camera, some of these photos are not bad.<br />
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Although, of course, some of them were pretty bad!<br />
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When I took this picture of the Bullpit brothers, I clearly didn't notice that a branch was in front of one of the boys' face.<br />
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Incidentally, the elder Bullpit, Christopher, is carrying a camera. It looks like a Kodak Brownie.<br />
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I wonder what became of the Bullpits. They would be in their late fifties now.<br />
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I also often think of my Cumnor Village School pal Basil Harris, although I cannot find any print or negative with his image on. Perhaps, we were only friends before I owned the camera.<br />
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Basil was the son of an academic who had a large house at the bottom of Cumnor Hill. I suspect he does not even remember "Chris Wilson", as I was known then, but if he does, it would be lovely to hear from him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8baJkOSzCqd2YS-iwtsvs2ztR2McLe6oCVRppuf-gW142N5hRaXlvKQpwF_PNiyxFaq4BQzEC0c1NlKqJHDIQ1QWA7nVR005qOYQLAfU4TpgAZb13tWdgYGIvaQHxThdq_Sjm/s1600/1970s-Set-03-Image-06-Dad-and-Edgar-and-Tent-Cumnor-1971-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8baJkOSzCqd2YS-iwtsvs2ztR2McLe6oCVRppuf-gW142N5hRaXlvKQpwF_PNiyxFaq4BQzEC0c1NlKqJHDIQ1QWA7nVR005qOYQLAfU4TpgAZb13tWdgYGIvaQHxThdq_Sjm/s320/1970s-Set-03-Image-06-Dad-and-Edgar-and-Tent-Cumnor-1971-edit.jpg" width="235" /></a><br />
At home in those days, something as simple as putting up a little tent in the garden seemed like an adventure.<br />
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young family, without a lot of money, we made the most of our
surroundings, enjoyed the open countryside and the things that life
brought us for little or nothing.<br />
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I am unsure about how happy these days were, though. I certainly enjoyed the freedom of living in the Oxfordshire countryside, but, being quite dyslexic, I was a misundertsood and troubled child who spent a lot of time at school in tears.<br />
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My memories of the decade are very patchy, and often the recollections that come to mind are not the happiest ones.<br />
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I never seemed to get my act together. I remember telling my mother late one night that there was a school trip the following day for which I would need sandwiches, precipitating a dreadful panic because there was no bread in the house and it needed to be borrowed from the neighbours.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhdMOxIfE8mY0_vtV5p0c6S2QC5ND-2GMy81sXPegsdaP8YEtlf5wsHosCr7GWLSP7Kop5mMj9ukC56IUOWeNYyOKEG6hyE3NuAqwALaXzLg92Uo4PDVa_iIiS2Fz-XmxlbAB/s1600/1970s-Set-28-Image-16-Edgar-Wilson-on-Triangulation-Point-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="549" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhdMOxIfE8mY0_vtV5p0c6S2QC5ND-2GMy81sXPegsdaP8YEtlf5wsHosCr7GWLSP7Kop5mMj9ukC56IUOWeNYyOKEG6hyE3NuAqwALaXzLg92Uo4PDVa_iIiS2Fz-XmxlbAB/s400/1970s-Set-28-Image-16-Edgar-Wilson-on-Triangulation-Point-edit.jpg" width="255" /></a> On another occasion, I was very upset because of my desire to enter a wild flowers competition and our subsequent collective failure to find any wild flowers!<br />
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Worse still, I remember being told off by my mum for misbehaving at my birthday party, trying to shoot all the guests with a toy gun.<br />
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In 1971, we moved from Oxfordshire to Dorset. Dad had got a new job with Southern Gas and we relocated to 6 Charborough Road, Broadstone, Poole.<br />
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The house was much larger than the Cumnor one and the garden also a good size. Houses were far more affordable in those days.<br />
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My interest in photography continued. I went on taking picutres with the Kodak 25, not graduating to a Halina camera, bought with Green Shield Stamps, until the age of 14.<br />
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My brothers were still my primary subjects, although occasionally Mum would use the camera to take a group shot of the four of us (as in the one below taken in the 6 Charborough Road garden).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5c2aq8JkPvm9hVsWjOt-j4jXDI5Fb4wkGUIjSkKbA42LlbnXBLSuDN0_k5vBMa_qHoWY_PLl8l_tVOErMfaWnnwt6ozZvS7QJN215Pgul10vQ08kO1onVoKdjeiyE17Bizfu/s1600/1970s-Set-07-Image-20-Edgar-Chris-Nic-Edmund-Broadstone-Dorset-1973-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5c2aq8JkPvm9hVsWjOt-j4jXDI5Fb4wkGUIjSkKbA42LlbnXBLSuDN0_k5vBMa_qHoWY_PLl8l_tVOErMfaWnnwt6ozZvS7QJN215Pgul10vQ08kO1onVoKdjeiyE17Bizfu/s320/1970s-Set-07-Image-20-Edgar-Chris-Nic-Edmund-Broadstone-Dorset-1973-edit.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
In colour, I started taking shore and sea scenes at Sandbanks and Brownsea Island, which I may scan when I have the equipment, and show at a later date.<br />
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Generally, I became more interested in photography of inanimate objects - to the puzzlement of family and friends.<br />
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I don't know why this is. Even now, I find myself drawn to taking landscapes, seascapes and pictures of buildings. Anything without people in!<br />
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We lived at one end of Charborough Road and at the end was the Recreation Ground a.k.a. "The Rec", which bordered Canford Heath.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE2bNpRkTTQJfe15Ojtp_LipCTG2tUk3NHXg4r3IXcDvgmK7DkOl-LdFDtmU4Mmi3EHgVhyphenhyphenCIke0HFczwoVESUvGfymhPOEoV-agT4ILjgZVjJjGNp-rnoOdDVV1SaEfw894P/s1600/1970s-Set-06-Image-01-Heath-Broadstone-Dorset-1972-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="826" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE2bNpRkTTQJfe15Ojtp_LipCTG2tUk3NHXg4r3IXcDvgmK7DkOl-LdFDtmU4Mmi3EHgVhyphenhyphenCIke0HFczwoVESUvGfymhPOEoV-agT4ILjgZVjJjGNp-rnoOdDVV1SaEfw894P/s320/1970s-Set-06-Image-01-Heath-Broadstone-Dorset-1972-edit.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I liked nothing more than heading off on my little bicycle to take some black-and-white, somewhat out-of-focus pictures of heathland!<br />
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For some reason, the pines, the heather, the rhodedendra appeared exotic to me.<br />
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Once I saw an adder, but I failed to capture it on film, possibly because I was running away.<br />
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In truth, I think I spent much of my time alone. I did not have a lot of friends as a child growing up in Broadstone.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE2bNpRkTTQJfe15Ojtp_LipCTG2tUk3NHXg4r3IXcDvgmK7DkOl-LdFDtmU4Mmi3EHgVhyphenhyphenCIke0HFczwoVESUvGfymhPOEoV-agT4ILjgZVjJjGNp-rnoOdDVV1SaEfw894P/s1600/1970s-Set-06-Image-01-Heath-Broadstone-Dorset-1972-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Yllj4NwO0DYRvCd0QT6PkccjR-y3gthJnXXU-H_nQVIDgihj0xZb-dn5WL1GPoYMEpAlEWn7FOSuRdhaQjX4jJQtWkPJevsBE32Bft9HGmpSTjotWUKbbUK6g8hlrtNumqOF/s1600/1970s-Set-28-Image-08-Bench-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Yllj4NwO0DYRvCd0QT6PkccjR-y3gthJnXXU-H_nQVIDgihj0xZb-dn5WL1GPoYMEpAlEWn7FOSuRdhaQjX4jJQtWkPJevsBE32Bft9HGmpSTjotWUKbbUK6g8hlrtNumqOF/s400/1970s-Set-28-Image-08-Bench-edit.jpg" width="250" /></a>When I eventually reached Poole Grammar School, I started printing up my black-and-white pictures in the school darkroom.<br />
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I would take a photo a seaside bench, perceiving great beauty in its deteriorating paintwork.<br />
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I have gone through all my 1970s pictures, categorising them and pressing labels onto the Boots wallets and Kodak slide boxes that the negatives or transparencies are kept in.<br />
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I'm not sure if I have memories of what is pictured from having looked at the photographs in years and decades past or from my original recollections of those times, if you get my drift.<br />
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A statistical analysis indicates that from 1970 to 1979, I took 34 films (they were all purchased from meagre pocket money) with a total of 525 images.<br />
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To my surprise, just 11 of the films were black and white. The colour ones will have to wait for another day!Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-13922729122986823572018-12-31T19:58:00.005+00:002020-09-22T16:14:58.386+00:00My 2018<b>It is New Year's Eve 2018 and so a natural time to look back over the year.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZxXbpW3p69AUv1_XizsA-6rD4spA67eDkyRTv_FnMXuqCQknL_Fbu8qRqtAWLfFZSRg4m_gHMFTytccAHXgGXvy7OdV0RBADMJau39CBXluWgGRRg2T4tPykkqUA-WwYXi4E/s1600/Heide-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZxXbpW3p69AUv1_XizsA-6rD4spA67eDkyRTv_FnMXuqCQknL_Fbu8qRqtAWLfFZSRg4m_gHMFTytccAHXgGXvy7OdV0RBADMJau39CBXluWgGRRg2T4tPykkqUA-WwYXi4E/s400/Heide-Wilson.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
This year has been dominated by the death of my dear mother, Heide Wilson (nee Loblich).<br />
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Mum (pictured left at my allotment) had appeared in excellent health for most of last year.<br />
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Her diagnosis with intestinal cancer, about a year ago, was a great shock. The speed at which the disease took hold was horrifying.<br />
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She died in a <a href="https://www.sobellhouse.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1hac1DBiolb9aNWvgkxXBZr8xE3LiRO_tDa4VjRDhQWrOONe2SrTk3rBoC3AUQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">hospice in Oxford</a> on 20 April 2018 with me and my three brothers at her bedside.<br />
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Even now it is hard to write about. I could go on about her life, growing up in war-torn Germany, meeting <a href="http://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2015/09/memories-of-dad-walter-robin-balmer.html" target="_blank">Dad</a> (who died three years ago), settling in England, her remarkable career in mathematics and her Catholicism.<br />
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But it is her unconditional love and great kindness I remember.<br />
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I still find it hard to believe she has gone.<br />
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It is more than 14 months since I have written a blog; the shock of her loss has something to do with that. I have just not felt like putting fingers to keyboard to write about my life; it's too raw.<br />
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I have been working - for a homelessness charity - and that has gone well.<br />
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And I've been studying for a Master's in Voluntary Sector Management at a <a href="https://www.cass.city.ac.uk/" target="_blank">business school in London</a>.<br />
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When I last wrote, in <a href="http://oliverspoetrygarret.blogspot.com/2017/10/back-to-school.html" target="_blank">Back To School</a>, I indicated I intended to put a lot more effort into my university studies this time round than I did back in the 1980s.<br />
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I managed it. It is a tough course but I put my nose to the grindstone and gave it my all, or as close to my all as I could. Mum encouraged me.<br />
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Over the academic year, from October 2017-September 2018, I put in 1,360 hours of study - reading text books, writing assignments, attending lectures and action learning sets.<br />
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The course is very vocational and useful, covering everything from strategy, diversity and governance to resource management and managing people and quality to organisations, leadership and change, and much, much more.<br />
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Oftentimes I found it challenging but managed to get a distinction for the year and, indeed, a distinction in every assignment and exam, except one essay for which I got a merit.<br />
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I surprised myself and have decided to do the second year, starting in a couple of weeks from now, to complete the Master's.<br />
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Some of my fellow students were just as hardworking as me and even more successful.<br />
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Others took my old approach to study and put in far fewer hours. For my part, I was glad I made myself work so hard, filling 13 large notebooks, not just because of my scores, but because I learnt a lot that will help me, and is already helping me, in life.<br />
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I am sure Mum would have been proud of my efforts. When I was young I lacked the maturity for study. Now I can do it and have a taste for it.<br />
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The year otherwise has been a bit of a blur.<br />
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And since the first year of my course finished in September, I have been catching up, sorting out issues and life admin.<br />
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I have taken a few photographs during the year, some of which are featured in this blog post.<br />
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By October, I felt pretty drained. I was fortunate to be able to work for a week in Bratislava, Slovakia.<br />
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A change is as good as a rest, as they say.<br />
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Two years ago tonight, I gave up alcohol - the best decision I have ever made.<br />
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Somehow it has worked for me. I don't miss drinking at all; it made me foolish.<br />
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Yet some friends have fallen away as a result of me not drinking alcohol, others I see less often.<br />
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I have taken responsibility for my life.<br />
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There is so much to do, so much to live for. I get more done now and am generally happier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb3i8ikSmSKo1umjno35pC065UUZqYUbr9hYpOjRYsegSCgSMcKT_I0Pt4zcsmBuoCZlRZvui2ZhIDLQIUxY2bO9F4NIuaYOtolkYOgym4erD0AfbLPYqVXY77rwszuf2pzPM/s1600/Emily-Wilson-grave-2018-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb3i8ikSmSKo1umjno35pC065UUZqYUbr9hYpOjRYsegSCgSMcKT_I0Pt4zcsmBuoCZlRZvui2ZhIDLQIUxY2bO9F4NIuaYOtolkYOgym4erD0AfbLPYqVXY77rwszuf2pzPM/s400/Emily-Wilson-grave-2018-Ollie-Wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><i>Of course the sadness never leaves me: the sadness of losing my parents; the deep sadness of losing my niece, Emily Wilson.</i></b><br />Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-65963870999683484952017-10-26T21:54:00.006+00:002020-02-12T20:47:39.332+00:00Back to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It is some 33 years since I last did any academic study but, suddenly, I am a student again!</b><br />
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A strange feeling. From 1980-83, I was an undergraduate at the <a href="https://www.hull.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Hull</a> where I was reading, or rather ignoring, Physics Studies.<br />
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A disastrous student, lazy, inattentive, uninterested, I crashed through my three years at Hull, ducking out of lectures and avoiding other contact with my tutors. It was a miracle I emerged a BSc. at all, and it was by the skin of my teeth.<br />
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I spent my time at Hull University pursuing a raft of extracurricular interests: cycling and climbing in my first year, then DJing, doing lighting for rock bands, student journalism, and, of course, drinking and seeking the company of women (not very successfully).<br />
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My undergraduate years passed in a haze, a blaze and a blur. My postgraduate year of <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/journalism-media-and-culture" target="_blank">Journalism Studies at University College, Cardiff</a>, was not hugely different.<br />
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I tried a bit harder but could not concentrate, spent my time listening to jazz bands, dancing in reggae clubs, with all that that entailed, and drinking. I flunked my local government exam, before, eventually, getting a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism Studies.<br />
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Now in a different epoch I am back in the corridors of academia, studying a Master's (MSc.) in Voluntary Sector Management at a <a href="https://www.cass.city.ac.uk/" target="_blank">prestigious University of London business school</a>.<br />
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Since the course officially started on 6 October, I have somehow put in around 65 hours of private study - averaging more than 20 hours a week.<br />
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I'm part-time but 20-plus hours' study a week is vastly more than I ever did when I was full-time in Hull or Cardiff back in the day.<br />
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Zero hours of private study would have been close to the mark then.<br />
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Admittedly, it has not been easy. I am working full-time as well, so I study while commuting morn and night, and at lunchtime, and at weekends.<br />
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I have never written essays before or used references, critical thinking or reflective practice. I am brand new! I am trying my best but I do get tired.<br />
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My first assignment is due in on 1 November, the second on 8 November, swiftly followed by another intensive weekend of lectures on campus.<br />
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My current assignment is an historical one, set by a history don. A baptism of fire for an ancient physicist!<b> </b>Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-40758721581969576012017-08-15T21:29:00.003+00:002020-02-12T20:52:47.517+00:00Cooking Delia: 2, Bread<b>When I began "Bread", the second chapter in Delia Smith's Cookery Course, I felt a little nervous but really had no idea of the horrors and humiliations that awaited me. Soon I truly understood why bread is pain in French.</b><br />
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The chapter started with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delia_Smith" target="_blank">Delia Smith</a> quoting <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/LCL194/1926/volume.xml" target="_blank">Horace's Epistles</a> - "You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, but she will ever hurry back, to triumph in stealth over your foolish contempt<b>" </b>- before embarking on a lecture on the milling of flour and commercial baking of bread: "Nature has indeed been driven out, not by a pitchfork but by a mountain of machinery". She was writing in the late 1970s.<br />
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She went on to explain the anatomy of a grain of wheat, milling old and new, and flour: wholewheat (wholemeal), 80-90 per cent extraction, strong white, plain. and how to store flour.<br />
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Delia then came to the substance that, although I did not know it at the time, would be my nemesis: <b>YEAST</b>. When she wrote that it is "possible to buy a duff batch", I should have taken her more seriously. I forgot that crucial comment in all her talk about liquid, salt, sugar, fats, how a loaf of bread is made and storing bread. Let's fast forward to my so-called baking.<br />
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<b>1. Quick and Easy Wholewheat Bread. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5QP2RL29XdcjqUpsQ_9jGeZ4dTtCN3AC_mAhvRW-A_BHGagx_VBdy2K6HVmn9cGRD4-eYxhHGZ7JTAAPje_198AIWhzYXM3_1J9Q7qaQbHmY5KODRtyrVDCqCU6O7qfxvuuV/s1600/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Quick-and-Easy-Wholewheat-Bread-Flop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5QP2RL29XdcjqUpsQ_9jGeZ4dTtCN3AC_mAhvRW-A_BHGagx_VBdy2K6HVmn9cGRD4-eYxhHGZ7JTAAPje_198AIWhzYXM3_1J9Q7qaQbHmY5KODRtyrVDCqCU6O7qfxvuuV/s320/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Quick-and-Easy-Wholewheat-Bread-Flop.jpg" width="320" /></a>I followed the recipe to a "t", weighing out a pound of stoneground wholewheat flour, mixing two teaspoons of salt and then warming in the oven for 10 minutes.<b> </b>But I should have known I was in trouble when I prepared the dried yeast by stirring into 13 fluid ounces of hand-hot water, stirring in a teaspoon sugar. I waiting for a froth to form, and waited, and waited. . . Nothing happened. I should have known it was "game over" but, slightly disconcerted, pressed on with the rest of recipe, kneading and proving etc. when there was no point. I was working with dud yeast. Like an idiot I baked it with sh*t yeast.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DlovcOPUkzAyv8ds23oI6TPj5NKMeBFhZZsXG8ib5FR2Z7bSwlarhMm-Mr2iOqV4hHxQ9r7RT7V1HqrhqX-HWp2y_k4trq6Vnq6om2JjN57tjssV3n8i8TXLjvWyvFKmbyw5/s1600/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Quick-and-Easy-Wholewheat-Bread-Successful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DlovcOPUkzAyv8ds23oI6TPj5NKMeBFhZZsXG8ib5FR2Z7bSwlarhMm-Mr2iOqV4hHxQ9r7RT7V1HqrhqX-HWp2y_k4trq6Vnq6om2JjN57tjssV3n8i8TXLjvWyvFKmbyw5/s320/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Quick-and-Easy-Wholewheat-Bread-Successful.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
On inspection, the dried yeast was three years past its sell-by date, so I bought some fresh yeast the next day, and repeated the long process all over again.<br />
Not bad at all. I found I had to bake it for longer than the recipe recommended, leaving it in for an hour and even then it was a little moist. But it was edible - and my first baking success (sort of).<br />
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<b>2. Victoria Sponge Cake.</b><br />
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I had intended to just plough through the baking chapter after my partial success, on second attempt, with the Victoria Sponge Cake. But Mother's Day dawned and I skipped ahead to Part Two of Delia Smith's Cookery Course to attempt a Victoria Sponge Cake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZTYF4LhbVwdBk1KpDrwK4YOdPjpOgJ-9ZYg2UwEEtvfHNDSkNirXhx3m2Uq8VDHLEOplN4EU00LjyXf8_11UH6f_F-Uv2qoIGE5R3mr6gPIpxs23wRRjljhQmPYpqMKbBgbp/s1600/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Classic-Victoria-Sponge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZTYF4LhbVwdBk1KpDrwK4YOdPjpOgJ-9ZYg2UwEEtvfHNDSkNirXhx3m2Uq8VDHLEOplN4EU00LjyXf8_11UH6f_F-Uv2qoIGE5R3mr6gPIpxs23wRRjljhQmPYpqMKbBgbp/s400/Delia-Smith-Teaches-Ollie-Wilson-to-Cook-Classic-Victoria-Sponge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The result was a bit thinner than Delia's - but not at all bad.<b> </b><br />
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<b>I then went on to cock up Oakmeal Bread, Soured Cream Soda Bread, Quick Wheatmeal Rolls, Poppyseed Rolls, Breakfast Baps, Chapattis and Hot Cross Buns. I had intended to describe in excruciating details how each of these culinary disasters occurred - I even wrote it out in my copybook - but now I can't face it. I started this chapter of Delia's cookery course and this blog posting in March and it is now mid-August. Baking, and particularly yeast, has stopped me baking and given my writer's block. So I am conceding defeat. . .</b><br />
<br />Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17334117174803599416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25873299.post-16728324036257334892017-03-20T21:52:00.001+00:002020-02-12T20:58:06.110+00:00Cooking Delia: 1, Eggs<br />
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<b>At the tender age of 55 I have decided to take up cookery. Why? A few reasons really. Firstly, I feel bad at having spent most of my adult life relying on others to cook for me. When I was married, my lack of cookery skills was a bit of a family joke. And when I occasionally gave it a go, I arrogantly rarely bothered with recipes and, like a typical lazy dad, made a hell of a mess.</b><br />
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Secondly, since I gave up drinking, I have become more interested in food, and, finding myself at home a great deal, started following <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MasterChef_Australia" target="_blank">Masterchef Australia</a>, a vastly superior TV show compared to the UK version. It inspired me.<br />
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Thirdly, I have a shelf of cookery books that I never read or use. They include one of the few cookery course I have come across, or at least the first
two volumes of it: Delia Smith's Cookery Course, Part One and Part Two.
They are 1979 paperback editions of the books published to accompany the BBC Television series Delia Smith's Cookery Course, broadcast on BBC2 from November 1978.<br />
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I honestly cannot when or where I acquired them. I believe it was in the past four years for a couple of quid at a car boot sale. Anyway, if I am to cook, I need to learn. There is no way I could afford to hire the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delia_Smith" target="_blank">Queen of Cookery Delia Smith</a> to teach me personally, so I might as well let her do it through her books.<br />
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One thing I have noticed about modern cookery books is that most are like coffee table books, full of glossy pictures and far too large and swanky to be practical to easily used in a small kitchen. They contain recipes but don't really teach you to cook at all. They are designed to be bought, not used.<br />
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On the other hand, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delias-Complete-Cookery-Course-Classic/dp/0563362499" target="_blank">Delia Smith's Cookery Course</a> is a convenient A5-or-so size, not expensively produced and leaves no stone unturned. As a systematic bloke, I took it page by page, reading the Contents, studying the Conversion tables and the Introduction, which enthused me with the line: "The whole idea is that an absolute beginner to cooking can start here." That's me!<br />
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The next chapter, Equipment, was also very useful, full of tips about saucepans, tins, casseroles, baking utensils, whisks, slices, spatulas, knives et cetera.<br />
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A perusal of my kitchen cupboards informed me that I possess quite a bit of useful kitchen equipment but would need to purchase more in due course to get anywhere near a full Delia Smith set. No matter.<br />
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On to the cooking.
I decided to cook every dish in the course - in order. Every dish that is not involving a lot of booze which is most of them.<br />
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The first cooking chapter is Eggs, starting with What's in an egg?, followed by a 1970s guide to buying eggs: "If there's one thing we can thank our membership of the EEC for, it's the compulsory date-stamp on egg-boxes. . ."<br />
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After also ploughing through Free-range eggs, Brown or white?, How fresh are they?, Storing eggs and Beating egg whites, I was grateful to get on to the practical cooking:
<b> </b><br />
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<b>1. Boiling an Egg: </b>
I have to confess I have boiled an egg before but in an inaccurate, untimed fashion. But I found Delia Smith's tips and timing produced a superior result: "Simmer for exactly one minute, then remove the saucepan from the heat, put a lid on and leave the eggs for a further five minutes (size 4) or six minutes (size 2)."
Perfecto! Onward and upward.<br />
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<b>2. Hard-boiled Eggs</b>:
Again, I had attempted this before, but following Delia Smith's approach made for better hard-boiled eggs.<br />
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<b>3. Poached Eggs:</b>
I am partial to a poached egg but have never really cracked it (excuse the pun). Without Delia, I would never have thought of poaching eggs in four centimetres of barely simmering water in a small FRYING pan! Yet, it worked so much better than anything I had tried before. Now I am a convert to the Delia way of poaching eggs.<br />
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<b>4. Scrambled Eggs: </b>
Believe or not, although I love scrambled eggs I had never previously tried to make them. Delia Smith recommended the "Escoffier Method" - essentially cooking beaten and seasoned egg in foaming butter - and it was yum! I ate it with smoked salmon.
<b> </b><br />
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<b>5. Fried Eggs: </b>
Now, fried eggs is a dish I have made a lot over the years. But I have been doing in butter or olive oil. Delia's technique of using lard and basting the top of the egg was an improvement.<br />
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<b>6. Baked Eggs (eggs en cocotte):</b>
To make this, I had to go out to buy something called "ramekins", which are little porcelain pots. I broke an egg in each, added salt and pepper and a knob of butter above each yolk. The strange thing was you then put the remekins in a meat-roasting tin, pour in enough hot water to go halfway up the sides of the pots and then cook in the oven. Who would have imagined that? Delicious!
I felt quite proud of myself, having completed the basic egg-cooking tasks. But then a greater challenge. . .
<b> </b><br />
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<b>7. The Basic Omelette:</b>
I am shame-faced to admit that, although I like omelette, I cannot recall ever making one myself. I tried to follow Delia's recipe precisely but cannot have been successful because my first omelette was a bit burnt and not very tasty - the result, I suspect, of using too much butter and heat.
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<b>8. Omelette Savoyard:</b>
This, my second omelette ever, went better. It combined the egg with cubed potatoes, chopped bacon and onion.<br />
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And I used the new technique (well, new to me) of putting the frying pan under the grill - to melt Gruyere cheese on top. My Omelette Savoyard did not look as pretty as the picture of Delia's in the book, but it was still tasty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7j-P88rQDO6eFE8KtN96f1iKtWKJbvoPm8sTns9MUR7KWQKm3exqITEYQEUeXErcB-gx85GuQkd5FwN3da2Kb4UqdUIewPYWSeNHK6fT2wlEcJjw70mN_yfHDKT4ZakXdc2B/s1600/Egg-and-Lentil-Curry-Delia-Smith-Teaches-Oliver-Wilson-To-Cook-March-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7j-P88rQDO6eFE8KtN96f1iKtWKJbvoPm8sTns9MUR7KWQKm3exqITEYQEUeXErcB-gx85GuQkd5FwN3da2Kb4UqdUIewPYWSeNHK6fT2wlEcJjw70mN_yfHDKT4ZakXdc2B/s320/Egg-and-Lentil-Curry-Delia-Smith-Teaches-Oliver-Wilson-To-Cook-March-2017.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>9. Egg and Lentil Curry: </b>I love a curry but tend not to use recipes when making them, and I had never used eggs in one before. I followed this recipe almost to a "t" - frying onion in a pan, adding celery, carrot, peppers, and then stirring in lentils and garlic.<br />
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You then sprinkle in flour, Madras curry powder, ground ginger and turmeric. For precise details, see Delia's course or website. I then added boiling water and simmering until the lentils were soft.<br />
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<b> </b><br />
Separately, I boiled the eggs, peeled and halved them, before adding to the curry with yoghurt just before serving. It went well. I used cinnamon instead of ginger, which I had forgotten to buy, and served with chopped parsley and raw onion slices. You can also serve with chutney.<br />
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It looked no oil painting but tasted good. I learnt that you should read the whole recipe before going out to buy the ingredients.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wkeiin0KJW79azQ4VNUWS8ESmZnm2oVLGV5-ofJabevY-kjZydrbGePHav77qMGFRM_W_jZWio8Bz_w0oQqnMiJ5sHy2c81RcgJqL1p338ShDxg7un6KTmfhvXoYIuehoE-o/s1600/Poached-Eggs-with-Cream-and-Watercress-Delia-Smith-Teaches-Oliver-Wilson-to-Cook-March-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wkeiin0KJW79azQ4VNUWS8ESmZnm2oVLGV5-ofJabevY-kjZydrbGePHav77qMGFRM_W_jZWio8Bz_w0oQqnMiJ5sHy2c81RcgJqL1p338ShDxg7un6KTmfhvXoYIuehoE-o/s400/Poached-Eggs-with-Cream-and-Watercress-Delia-Smith-Teaches-Oliver-Wilson-to-Cook-March-2017.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>10. Poached Eggs with Cream and Watercress: </b>I liked the sound of this one. First, I made a white sauce out of butter, flour and milk, cooking for seven minutes. I then "collapsed" - a new cooking concept for me - watercress leaves with butter in a saucepan, before adding to the sauce and stirring in grated mild Cheddar and Parmesan cheese.<br />
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You were supposed to whizz it then in a liquidiser but I don't have one, so I went crazy with a whisk. The sauce went back into the pan, cream and lemon juice were added with salt and pepper. I poached eggs in a frying pan and poured the sauce over and sprinkled on some more Parmesan. A nice dish! You were supposed to serve with rice which I put on too late.<br />
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The key to cookery is. . . . . . . . . . . timing! Below are some more images of my efforts. Enjoy!<br />
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