Valley Gardens - one year on.

All Saints, Patcham; the work begins

In addition to the substantial grant already received from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the cost of the restoration project, the church has recently been awarded a grant by Allchurches Trust.

To complete the project funds will still be needed. Donations can be made through https://www.allsaintspatcham.org.uk/building-project           

Previous post: All Saints, Patcham, to get a facelift.

A Plaque to Margaret Bondfield MP

Britain's first female cabinet minister was commemorated today with a plaque at 14 Church Road, Hove. This follows a successful campaign by the Hove MP Peter Kyle aided by the Women's History Group and the Commemorative Plaque Panel. Unveiling was performed by Rachel Reeves MP, the author of "Women of Westminster". 

Peter was eloquent on Margaret's personal qualities which drove her from the humblest of beginnings to achieve a seat of power to alter society for the better.

Peter Kyle and Rachel Reeves

The unveiling

Margaret experienced the appalling conditions for 'living-in' shop staff at various stores in Brighton and was driven to become a member of the shop-workers' union.

She was elected to the TUC Council in 1918 and became its Chairman and an MP in 1923 and a parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Labour from 1929 to 1931.

The ceremony was closed by the Deputy Mayor Cllr. Alan Robins

The Circus Street development

On the Circus Street side the work is still mainly covered in scaffolding but elsewhere something of the completed development can be seen.

Looking north from Carlton Hill

Looking north along what was once Carlton Row

In Morley Street looking west

In Morley Street looking south west.

A Plaque to Clementina Black

This plaque to Clementina was unveiled today at 51 Ship Street by Ms Frances O'Grady and Mrs Juliet Smith JP. Frances is the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and Juliet is the Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex.

The unveiling

Addresses were given by Dr. Gerry Holloway of the Brighton and Hove Women's History group, which proposed and progressed the plaque; Dr. Caroline Lucas; Cllr. Nancy Platts, Leader of BHCC;  and Ms Frances O'Grady.

The unveiling was proceeded and concluded by the choir 'Women of Note' singing suffrage songs.

Clementina was, in fact, born a few doors away at 45 Ship Street which was replaced in the 1930s by the listed Post office building. For aesthetic reasons the planning department was unwilling to allow a plaque on the Post Office building. However the site finally chosen does have the advantage of high visibility.