This week, we’re looking at how you can help an emergency vehicle reach the scene of an urgent situation quickly and safely. Here’s IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding Richard Gladman, to guide you through.
Whenever you hear the sound of an emergency siren mute your music so you can work out where the noise is coming from. Be prepared to plan your next manoeuvre if the emergency vehicle requires your help to get past.
Be sure to pull over and stop where it is safe to do so, giving the emergency vehicle a wide enough berth. Make your intentions clear and certainly avoid blocking any major junctions or stopping in the middle of the road, on the brow of a hill or before a bend.
Avoid stopping on kerbs, pavements and verges as they may mask hazards, damage your vehicle or put pedestrians at risk.
The vehicle trying to pass may be a plain looking car with emergency warning equipment such as lights fitted to it – be prepared to assist in the same way.
Going through a red light or using a bus lane to make way for an emergency vehicle is in fact breaking the law and cameras have no discretion. Avoid this at all costs and be sure to stop only where it is legal and safe to do so.
Richard said: “Emergency lights are not always easily visible and the sirens can be heard from different directions so be as vigilant as possible. Motorcycles are also used by all emergency services and they may be hard to see – be prepared to respond and plan your route before acting.
Driver error cited in 117,000+ road accident casualties,
IAM calls for drivers to take responsibility.
Analysis by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has found that human
factors continue to significantly outweigh other reasons for crashes on British
roads, and have called again for drivers to look on improving driving skills as
part of their lifelong personal development.
The figures from the Department
of Transport show that in 2014 driver/rider error or reaction were cited as
contributory factors in 74% of accidents, involving more than 117,000
casualties. Some 20,830 of these were in London alone.
Police can cite up to
six factors for the cause of each accident they report.
The second highest
factor was ‘behaviour or inexperience’ which was cited as a contributory factor
in 26% of accidents, accounting for more than 40,000 casualties. In London the
number was 9,508.
The main contributory factors were (reference
1):
Contributory factor reported in accident/Number of casualties/Percentage
of accidents cited in
Driver-rider error or reaction/117,524/74%
Behaviour
or inexperience/40,778/26%
Injudicious action/39,354/25%
Impairment or
distraction/21,916/14%
Road environment contributed/20,253/13%
Vehicle
defects/3,230/2%
Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research, said:
“People often blame their car, the road, or the other driver for the accidents
and near misses that they have. These figures show that in the vast majority of
cases, it’s the driver or rider themselves who is to blame.
“Changing
attitudes is the key factor when it comes to reducing the numbers of casualties
on our roads. People must accept responsibility for enhancing their own skills
and recognising their limitations. The first step towards that is to think
about advanced training and the right now you can get a free IAM taster session
at
www.iam.org.uk/lovedriving
He added: “It is not enough to leave people
to their own devices once they have passed their test. Like so many other areas
of life extra coaching pays dividends – and for a driver or rider, that means
keeping their skills fresh by continuous assessment.”
F-TYPE Gains All-Wheel Drive and Manual Transmission Options as the Range Grows from Six to 14 Derivatives
F-TYPE, Jaguar’s definitive full-size sports car, receives new powertrain and driveline options to broaden the range from six to 14 models
Torque on demand all-wheel drive (AWD) extends the F-TYPE’s performance and dynamic capability on all road surfaces and in all conditions
In AWD form, the 550PS F-TYPE R Coupé will accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, with a limited top speed of 186mph
Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) control strategy developed in-house to exploit maximum performance potential of AWD traction while retaining rear-wheel drive character
AWD F-TYPE models gain a unique bonnet design featuring a deeper power bulge and distinctive new vents
Six-speed manual transmission option for rear-wheel drive supercharged V6 models delivers the purest sports car driving experience
Jaguar’s 550PS supercharged V8 comes to the F-TYPE R Convertible – available in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations
Electric Power Assisted Steering enables even greater precision and feel and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 4g/km on the EU combined cycle
Torque Vectoring by Braking improves agility and – standard on R derivatives – is now available on V6 models
Sport Design Packs for Coupé and Convertible models enhance exterior styling and enable greater personalisation
New InControl Touch and InControl Touch Plus infotainment systems feature fast, intuitive operation and support Apple and Android smartphone connectivity – and even remote engine starts
The new 2016 model year F-TYPE range goes on sale from Spring 2015
Brits prove their generosity over the Christmas period, as almost a third of the British have donated food to vulnerable people in need.
Despite the chaos and excitement of the festive period, almost a third (32%) of the British public have remembered vulnerable people in need by generously donating food to those in need across the country, according to a new survey published today.
The survey also reveals the generosity across the Britain, as the North West comes out on top as the most generous region (39%), ahead of Wales (38%), South East (37%) and Scotland (37%).
The survey goes on to show that more females (38%) have donated than their male counterparts (26%), while the youngest 18-24 age group is the most generous (38%) when it comes to food donations in the lead up to Christmas.
Food poverty continues to be a serious issue across the UK despite the economic recovery, as figures published by the Trussell Trust last week showed the number of people helped by food banks in the first half of the 2014-15 financial year is 38% higher than numbers helped during the same period last year.
The survey of 2,030 people, by YouGov*, commissioned by Tesco, comes as the latest Neighbourhood Food Collection is launched, where customers are encouraged to donate food to those in need at Tesco stores right across the country. This is the fifth Neighbourhood Food Collection since 2012.
Food donations to the Neighbourhood Food Collection benefit a range of people across the country, with donations going to either FareShare, a food redistribution charity, or food banks charity The Trussell Trust. Tesco provides a 30% top up to the charities based on the collective weight of donated goods.
To date, the campaign has collected 15.3million meals for people in need since 2012, and the target this year is to provide more than 20million meals. The 15.3 million meals includes the 30% top-up, permanent & local collections, plus surplus food provisions. Neighbourhood Food Collection relies on and is bolstered by volunteers.
Tesco is calling for customers to go instore to donate food to designated food collection points. Follow @Tesco for the latest news and use #everycanhelps to find out more about the initiative. Tesco will also be raising money for the FareShare and the Trussell Trust through the sale of special Christmas hats and cards this year.
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said: “Sadly food poverty affects a large number of people across the UK and we are now providing food to 32% more charities than we did six months ago. From homeless hostels to breakfast clubs, women’s refuges to luncheon clubs for older people, these frontline organisations need food more than ever, so we’re thrilled to partner with Tesco on the Neighbourhood Food Collection again this year. This campaign enables us all to help in a simple practical way, as every item of food donated will make a difference to vulnerable people in our community”
David McAuley, Trussell Trust Chief Executive, says: “In just six months Trussell Trust foodbanks have given 3 days’ food to almost 500,000 people, including over 175,000 children. Redundancy, illness, benefit problems and family breakdown are some of the reasons why people go hungry. Increasingly, people on low-incomes are living on a financial knife edge where even a small crisis can lead families to face hunger. As winter begins to bite, many will be forced to make tough choices between eating and heating, and thousands will struggle to put any food on the table on Christmas Day. Foodbanks are gearing up to meet the growing need over the festive season and we’re excited to team up with Tesco once again to work on Neighbourhood Food Collection for a fifth time. Over 90 percent of food given out by foodbanks is donated by the public, so we’re reliant on people’s generosity. It’s incredible to see over a third of the UK now supporting their local food charity, and we’d urge people to keep giving.”
Greg Sage, Community Director at Tesco, commented: “It’s encouraging that people still think food poverty is a serious issue that needs to be tackled, and so many have donated to food banks as a result. This our fifth Neighbourhood Food Collection, and it’s hugely important that we dig deep and do what we can to help people who are in need this Christmas.
“This year we want to break records and provide more meals for people in need than ever before. Our customers can donate food at Tesco stores right across the UK all this week and weekend.”
David Beckham Attends British Brand Belstaff’s Flagship Store Opening
Leather Clad Beckham & Celebrity Guests Celebrate Belstaff Bond Street Flagship Store
David Beckham, David Gandy, Jemma Kidd (Mortington), Jodie Kidd and Pixie Lott, celebrated global British luxury lifestyle brand Belstaff’s newest flagship store in London, at 131-135 New Bond Street. In line with the brand’s heritage and spirit of adventure, the launch was marked with a motorcycle parade down New Bond Street,
The night also celebrated the announcement of David Beckham as the face of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign.
The 3,500 square foot boutique opens on the first floor of the 26,000 square foot historical building, appropriately called Belstaff House. Drawing inspiration from Belstaff’s unique motorcycle inspired legacy, the décor of the New Bond Street interior is greatly influenced by England’s rich architectural and decorative history, including the Georgian, Gothic and Deco periods. With a colour palette consisting of the palest linen grey, slate, black, off-white and silver, the interior entryway will feature original marble columns and antique bronze cage chandeliers.
I read that a child laughs 400 times a day on the average, while an adult laughs only 15 times. Which puzzles me – what do you think the children are laughing at?
During one particularly dark period of my life I didn’t laugh even 15 times a day. Not nearly. For a variety of reasons, ranging from anxiety in my personal life to overwork and exhaustion, I was depressed. I may not yet have recognized it as depression (later I did), but now I can see that the signs were there.
My self-loathing surfaced once when I found myself driving alone on a cold Spring afternoon to spend a couple of days with colleagues on a work-related planning session. “I don’t have time for this!” I said out loud, and berated myself for not saying no. I was leaving my spouse to contend with children by herself while my daily work piled up in my absence. I felt submerged by an ocean of problems, professional and personal, with no chance of finding any way out. Everything looked bleak.
I met my colleagues for supper the first evening. To my surprise, we sat around the dinner table telling funny stories. We related real-life incidents that had happened to each of us. I had to admit, even in my despondency, that it was good to laugh. And those turned out to be some of the funniest stories I had ever heard! My anxiety melted as I relaxed and I found myself laughing hard – harder than I’d laughed for years.
The next day we worked, but we also played. We invented games using whatever recreational equipment we could lay our hands on. The sheer fun of playing, something else I hadn’t done for far too long, awakened something within me I thought I might never feel again.
The following day I returned home and I felt better than I had in months. Though it eventually took a lifestyle change to lift the depression for good, laughter became a key ingredient of that change. I determined then and there that a therapy of laughter would become a permanent part of my life. I’ve held to it, and have found that regular and hearty laughter is essential if I want to maintain inner peace and good health.
I had discovered a great truth about laughter – it is good for the body, the mind and the spirit. It’s a natural stress reliever. Have you ever laughed so hard that you doubled over, fell off your chair, spit out your food or wet your pants? (Yes, I’m not proud to say, I have.) You just cannot maintain muscle tension when you are laughing.
Author Norman Cousins used to say that laughter is so beneficial for your body that it is like “inner jogging.” Numerous studies have shown that laughter is good for your heart, it boosts your immune system and promotes overall good health.
The good news is that you are not limited to 15 laughs a day. You’re allowed hundreds of laughs. What might happen if you doubled the usual adult rate and tried to laugh 30 times today? Can you do it? You’ll probably notice an immediate difference in how you feel.
Then try to laugh 50 times a day. By this time you will begin to notice an improvement in your relationships.
But don’t stop there. What if you could find 100 reasons to laugh every day? You can do it by surrounding yourself with people you feel good around, looking for humor in daily life, taking a minute to remember what’s funny and even keeping a journal of whatever makes you happy.
Find 100 reasons to laugh. You are bound to feel better, you will cope with problems more effectively and people will enjoy being around you.
Did you know that Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four years old and did not read until he was seven? His parents and teachers worried about his mental ability.
Or that Beethoven’s music teacher said about him, “As a composer he is hopeless”? What if young Ludwig believed it?
When Thomas Edison was a young boy, his teachers said he was so stupid he could never learn anything. He once said, “I remember I used to never be able to get along at school. I was always at the foot of my class…my father thought I was stupid, and I almost decided that I was a dunce.” What if young Thomas believed what they said about him?
When F. W. Woolworth was 21, he got a job in a store, but was not allowed to wait on customers because, according to his boss, he “didn’t have enough sense.” I wonder if the boss was around when Woolworth became one of the most successful retailers of his day.
When the sculptor Auguste Rodin was young he had difficulty learning to read and write. Today, we may say he had a learning disability, but his father said of him, “I have an idiot for a son.” His uncle agreed. “He’s uneducable,” he said. What if the boy had doubted his ability to excel?
A newspaper editor once fired Walt Disney because he was thought to have no “good ideas.” The great Italian tenor Enrico Caruso was told by one music teacher, “You can’t sing. You have no voice at all.” And an editor told Louisa May Alcott, just a few years before she wrote the classic novel Little Women, that she was incapable of writing anything that would have popular appeal.
History will long praise each of these famous people, but what became of their critics? Nobody even remembers some of their names, which is all that need be said.
But what if these young people had listened to those critical voices and became discouraged? Where would our world be without the music of Beethoven and Caruso, the art of Rodin, the ideas of Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, the imagination of Walt Disney or the literary contributions of Louisa May Alcott? As it was so accurately put, “It’s not what you are, it’s what you don’t become that hurts.” (That from Oscar Levant.) What if these people had not become what they were capable becoming, had not done what they actually could have accomplished, just because they were discouraged by people who couldn’t see them for what they were?
We all have potential and, whether you realize it or not, your desire to do or be more than you are is your best indicator of future success. Others may discourage you, but the most important voice to listen to is your own. Do you believe in you?
Still the voices of your critics. Listen intently to your own voice, to the person who knows you best. Then answer these questions: Do you think you should move ahead? How will you feel if you quit pursuing this thing you want to do? And what does your best self advise?
A wonderful concert by well known singers from Singing for Pleasure with specially invited guest performers.
An exciting programme of favourite songs from West End & Broadway Shows and popular classical songs.
One performance only!
at 2.30pm – Tickets £10
Includes delicious cream cakes and refreshments. Discounts for groups, children and senior citizens.
Songs from my Fair Lady inc; With a little bit of luck, Get me to the church on time, I could have danced all night. Andrew LLoyd Webber songs inc; music of the night. And a huge variety inc; Who wants to be a millionaire, No business like show Business, over 30 songs for your enjoyment!
Fundraising on the day supporting the Martlets Hospice
We are proud to announce a Classical Spectacular which will take place on Sunday 9th March at All Saints Church in Hove in support of the Martlets Hospice.
Inspired by the world famous Dutch musician Andre Rieu, this concert features some of the most popular classical orchestral and vocal pieces with music by Johann Strauss, Elgar, Bizet, Puccini, Sullivan, Lehar and Verdi.
The audience is invited to sway, hum, sing-a-long, clap their hands, stamp their feet in the glorious, fun-packed, joyous atmosphere that this music radiates.
The programme includes Strauss’ The Blue Danube Waltz, the Trisch-Trasch Polka, the Radetzky March, Elgar’s Chanson du Matin, the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, arias and choruses from Carmen, Tosca, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, the celebrated duet from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers, the Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly and many more, finishing with a “Last Night of the Proms” finale.
The wonderful line up of soloists includes soprano Jacquelyn Fugelle who has sung as a soloist at the Royal Opera and with all the major British opera companies as well as extensively across Europe. She is a regular soloist on Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio Two. Hyacinth Nicholls (mezzo soprano) is from Trinidad but is based in London. She has performed as a soloist with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, The Royal Opera and English National Opera. Gavin Sayers (tenor) has sung with Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera; Darren Jones (baritone) has sung with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Opera North and with the Cologne City Opera.
Soprano Karen Orchin has sung with Regency Opera and English Festival Opera and is regular performer with MT2000. Also taking part is special guest singer Andrey Ganchuk from the Ukraine.
The chorus of some 50 plus singers is made up from the combined choruses of MT2000 and Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and the large orchestra consists of players from the English Festival Opera conducted by Brighton based musician Simon Gray.
The concert, sponsored by Streamline Taxis, starts at 7.00pm on Sunday 9th March and tickets from £12.50 are available from the Box Office on 01273 555089
More information and press tickets available from SIMON GRAY (see below for contact details)
Music Theatre 2000
72 Balsdean Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 6PF
Tel. (01273) 301220 Mobile 07885 833579
email: [email protected]
The Caribbean is voted the UK’s number one dream destination
Celebrity Tom Daley goes head to head with World Champions in first ever Caribbean Cup Challenge
Tom Daley sharpens his competitive edge in his latest high adrenaline conquest, The Caribbean Cup Challenge. Pitting his skills against other renowned World Champions, fans of Tom get to see him like never before in an online trailer for The Caribbean Cup Challenge which premieres online today. Research also unveiled today that The Caribbean Cup Challenge takes place in the destination Brits have voted as their number one dream destination.
The Caribbean Cup Challenge puts three world champions through their paces and comprises ten challenges, each demanding a different skill from the gold medal winners. From kayaking to sushi making, water polo and rockclimbing, the Caribbean Cup Challenge is set against the stunning backdrop of the Caribbean seas and islands.
The diving champion and TV presenter explains “I never thought I’d be competing against two other legends of sport. It was so cool to be alongside them. Anything dangerous or has got heights or is scary excites me. It was quite an experience.”
Tom Daley’s participation in the Caribbean Cup Challenge coincides with Brits nominating Tom as one of the top three men they would most like to be stranded with on a Caribbean island. The Caribbean also emerged as a popular dream destination choice for weather weary Brits, beating many other sunny destinations, including Mexico and India. The scenery, climate and food all contribute to the Caribbean’s popularity according to research released by Royal Caribbean International. The survey also reveals:
1 in seven Brits are planning to holiday in the Caribbean in 2014
38% of Brits said the purpose for a trip to the Caribbean was a family holiday, whilst 36% said romantic getaway.
A quarter of Brits aged 35-60 would prefer to get to experience the Caribbean by cruise ship
The top three items women would take to their dream destination would be a camera, bikini and mascara whilst men declare the radio a must have item
Escapism, Luxury accommodation and music were other reasons why the Caribbean makes people happy.
61% of woman aged 35-60 said the climate is the most appealing about the Caribbean, whilst 57% of men aged 35-60 said it is the scenery
The Caribbean is voted the number one ‘dream destination’ by women in the UK aged 35-60
The Caribbean Cup Challenge takes place on the Allure of the Seas. This is the most innovative and newest ship in the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis fleet which features a host of activities on board to keep families entertained, including the zip line, aqua theatre, ice skating rink and a rock climbing wall which – at three stories tall – is the biggest climbing wall at sea. For adults seeking a different vibe there are also plenty of opportunities to relax in the solarium or spacious rooms and indulge in a massage or facial at the Vitality at Sea Spa.
Press release: How to solve the crisis in A&E, and reduce health inequalities 3.6.13
Summary
Since 1.4.13, when the Health and Social Care Act 2012 took effect, the responsibility for the NHS passed from central to local government. The present crisis in A&E is therefore the responsibility of every elected councillor of every Local Authority. They should act through the new committees created for that purpose, namely their Health and Wellbeing Boards.
The chairmen of the new Clinical Commissioning Boards (CCGs) sit on this committee ex officio, and they have the power to do this, as they control about 2/3 of the NHS budget (£65 bn pa nationally, and £400 mpa locally in the city of Brighton and Hove) Councillors can solve the crisis in A&E by telling their CCGs to do what Prince Charles told the World Health Organisation conference 8 years ago (in May 2005) and integrate into the NHS the best of complementary therapy.
Polls show 3 out of 4 patients want complementary therapy (such as yoga classes) free on the NHS, and 1 out of 2 GPs suggest they try it. However, the patient has to pay, which most cannot afford. This is the cause of health inequalities. The rich get complementary therapy, and learn how to live healthily, but the poor cannot afford it, so on average suffer long term conditions 18 years before the rich, and die 9 years earlier, as found by the Marmot report in 2010.
This paper proposes a scheme in which the GPs can prescribe training courses (such as the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) 8 week course, which is NICE-recommended for depression) in the form of a voucher. Patients can trade it for a free course where it is now provided by the third sector, and the facilitator can claim the value from the commissioners in arrears, (as pharmacists now do for drugs.)
Problem. The NHS system is broke
Aneurin Bevan’s promise that the state would look after everyone from the cradle to the grave by giving away free treatment (mainly drugs) has not worked, as public health has declined, as 1 in 4 of us (15 million) now have at least one long term condition. Last year, GPs wrote a billion monthly prescriptions, which implies that half the population are on 3 drugs continuously, the second to counteract the side effects of the first, and the third to counteract the side effects of the second. Unless in emergency patients have to wait a fortnight for an appointment to see their GP, and patients now have to wait 12 hour at A&E.
Solution. Allow GPs to prescribe courses which give patients self help tools to prevent, heal and cure their conditions.
The solution lies in the word ‘doctor’, which comes from the latin verb ‘doctare’, meaning ‘to teach.’ Doctors’ original function in society was to teach people how to live healthily, but this was hijacked by the drug companies, for whom they have become pill pushers. GPs should revert to their original function as teachers, by prescribing NICE-recommended courses which teach self help techniques to prevent, heal and cure dis-eases and long term conditions.
The Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) 8 week course is NICE-recommended for depression (CG232004, and CG123 May 2011) This is clinically indicated for one in three patients presenting with anxiety. Transport for London provide it for their sick staff, and have thereby reduced their staff absence rate by 73%. It is provided free on the NHS, but unless you are suicidal, the waiting time is excessive, so GPs cannot readily prescribe it.
Under the NHS constitution, patients have the statutory right to NICE-recommended treatments (including the MBCT course) if their doctor says it is clinically appropriate. Theoretically, the MBCT course is clinically appropriate for the 160,000 patients in Sussex who are depressed. However, the old Primary Care Trust (PCT) only commissioned about 8,000 patient places pa of MBCT courses, which means that the waiting time for a course for depressed patients s 160,000/8,000= 20 years.
To enable GPs to prescribe a MBCT course as easily as Prozac, and for the patient to obtain a course within a few weeks, the CCG should create a voucher system by which the patient could cash the prescription with and private provider of the MBCT course. There are many of these in every town, and they are providing them like evening classes for between £150 and £370 per client.
I have created a company called Social Enterprise Complementary Therapy Company (SECTCo) to provide this voucher scheme in Brighton and Hove. For further details, see www.sectco.org.uk, and www.rteginaldkapop.org sections 9.56,9.57, and 9.59, or contact John Kapp, 22, Saxon Rd Hove BN3 4LE, 01273 417997, [email protected], after 10.6.13.
Short Film Tells The Story Of The Bacardi Family’s Role In Cuba’s Turbulent Political History
Cuba’s fight for independence during the 1890s is well documented, but now a new film tells the story from the perspective of one of Cuba’s most influential families – the Bacardí family – who played a significant role in the revolution.
Emilio Bacardí, the eldest son of Bacardí rum founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, was a fearless advocate of freedom in Cuba. On numerous occasions, he narrowly escaped the sharp end of Spanish rule.
With Emilio’s political stance and Bacardi family prominence during this complex and critical war, the stakes were always high.
On one occasion Emilio’s life was saved, due to the quick thinking of his dependable maid.
She ensured that secret letters thought to contain evidence of Emilio’s involvement with the Cuban rebel army were kept from the Spanish Governors, thus enabling Emilio to continue his campaign.
This exclusive behind the scenes video is one of three movies, providing a window into some of the true stories of the Bacardí family’s rich past in Cuba.
Containing expert historical commentary and footage from the making of the film, this video tells the story of the Bacardí family and its fascinating Cuban heritage
Click here to view the series of films www.youtube.com/bacardi. Please note this film is a fictional romanced re-interpretation of an episode of the life of Emilio Bacardí who participated to the struggle for Cuba’s independence in the late 1800’s and was imprisoned and exiled for that.
Sir Elton John & David Furnish Look Ahead to the Grey Goose Winter Ball To Benefit The Elton John Aids Foundation
The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is one of the foremost independent AIDS charities in the world. The mission is to provide focused and sustainable funding to frontline programmes that help to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial hardship of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS, and to continue the fight against this worldwide pandemic.
Following the loss of many close friends to AIDS in the early 90s, including Freddie Mercury and American teenager Ryan White, and seeing the lack of understanding and stigma attached to the disease at that time, Sir Elton John established EJAF in the US in 1992, and subsequently EJAF in the UK the following year (1993). While functioning as separate organisations, both EJAF UK and EJAF US pursue the common goals of empowering people infected, affected and at risk of HIV/AIDS;alleviating their physical, emotional and financial hardship; and improving their quality of life, enabling them to live with dignity and exercise self determination.
This Saturday 10 November, GREY GOOSE, the World’s Best Tasting Vodka, will host its annual GREY GOOSE Winter Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation ejaf.com
100% of the funds raised from the event including ticket sales are donated directly to the Elton John AIDS Foundation (charity registration no. 1017336).
To date, the GREY GOOSE Winter Ball has raised more than £2.3M for the foundation and is becoming one of the charity’s biggest fundraisers.
Singing for Pleasure has 4 venues in the Brighton area.
Forget all your Troubles and Sing! Sing! Sing!
For more info about Singing for Pleasure Click Here:
[contentbox headline=”SPECIAL OFFER.” type=”normal”] When you take out a term membership for 6/8 weeks you can sing at all 4 venues WITHOUT any extra charge. That works out at £1.25 for each singing session.[/contentbox]
Venues
Tuesday daytime sessions take place at St Phillip’s Church Hall,
New Church road,
Hove, BN3 4BB. View Google Map
Wednesday daytime sessions take place at the Methodist Church Hall,
Southwick Street,
Southwick, BN42 2NA. View Google Map
Wednesday evening sessions are at St Leonard’s Church Hall,
Glebe Villas,
Hove, BN3 5SN. View Google Map
Thursday afternoon sessions are at the Methodist Church Hall,
Ladies Mile Road,
Patcham, BN1 8QE. View Google Map
Open to all aged 15 or over.
Times
Tuesday afternoons at St Phillip’s Church Hall.
Doors open 2.00pm
Singing from 2.20pm to 3.20pm
Wednesday afternoons at Southwick Methodist Church Hall.
Doors open 2.00pm
Singing from 2.45pm to 4.00pm
Wednesday evenings at St Leonard’s Church Hall.
Doors open 5.30pm
Singing from 5.50pm to 6.50pm
NEW! Classical section will follow the main singing session.
NEW! Thursday afternoons at Patcham Methodist Church Hall.
From 18th October 2012
Doors open 1.45pm
Singing from 2.00pm
Prices
Trial session just £3.50.
Course of 10 classes for only £5 each.
Regular single session fee £7.00.
[mappress mapid=”11″]
Terms and Conditions
Singing for Pleasure is divided into 10 week terms with the addition of some odd weeks. Fees are payable for the 10 week term at the founders’ price of £50.00. Weekly only fees are £7.00 per weekly session. It is not possible for roll-overs or refunds of any term fees paid for. Payment can be made by cheque payable to Showtime Productions and sent to 122 Nevill Road Hove BN3 7BT or paid for on the singing night.
Please note it is very difficult to precisely time each session because the halls are very popular and are usually booked back to back but they should be for approx 1 hour duration.
With so many people joining times may vary slightly – please be understanding.
What you can look forward to subject to confirmation.
Social to invite your friends at the end of each term.
Appear on stage twice a year at Hove Centre for the Martlets Musical Spectaculars in front of up to 900 people.
For more information call Robert or Corinne on 01273 555089
Or use the form below to Send Us a Message
or Request a Call Back.
Following the success of their other 3 singing groups Simon, Robert and Corinne opened their 4th Singing group in Patcham Brighton on 18th oct 2012
Everyone of all ages and singing abilities are welcome to join Singing for Pleasure.
Singing for pleasure has now opened in Patcham providing another great opportunity to sing your hearts out for pleasure for health & for charity. Just come along and join us every Thursday at the Methodist Church Hall Ladies Mile Road. No need to read music, no auditions and don’t worry if you think you can’t sing, as part of the sessions Simon gets everyone in tune with some easy and fun singing exercises. Sing for Pleasure is a very sociable and friendly group. Come along from 2pm-3pm each Thursday. Call Corinne or Robert on 01273 555089 for More Information
What exactly is “Singing for Pleasure”?
It’s just that, “Singing for Pleasure” everyone comes a long and has fun, once Simon gets playing there’s not a long face in the room. No one is listening or looking at anyone else, so there’s no need to be shy, just let rip and sing to your hearts content.
Singing for pleasure has now opened in Patcham providing another great
opportunity to sing your hearts out for pleasure for health & for charity come
along and join us every Thursday at the Methodist Church Hall Ladies Mile Road
no need to read music no auditions don’t worry if you can’t sing we are a very
sociable and friendly group from 2pm-3pm tel for Information Corinne or Robert
01273 555089
Fantastic Health benefits as well!
Apart from making everyone feel great, there are even more health benefits with Singing for Pleasure.
Reduce stress and improve mood
Lower blood pressure
Boost the immune system
Improve breathing
Reduce perceived pain
Improve a sense of rhythm
Promote learning in children
Forge comforting memories
Promote communal bonding
Provide comfort
Motivate and empower
Simon the Conductor and Musical director of
“Singing for Pleasure”.
Your in great hands with Simon!
Simon Gray, conductor and musical director of Singing for Pleasure, studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and enjoys a varied musical career encompassing a wide range of musical styles from pantomime and children’s shows to opera and the concert platform.
He was principal conductor for both Regency Opera and English Festival Opera and has made guest appearances with European Chamber Opera, and English Country Garden Opera as well as many smaller companies.
He has conducted concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and St John’s Smith Square as well as many other venues around the UK. He has conducted opera and major touring musicals, as well as West End shows and has musically directed pantomimes with a host of stars.
In 2007 year he had the honour to conduct the 200th anniversary celebration of The Theatre Royal, Brighton.
In 2008 & 2009 Simon was invited to Norway where he took up a position as Choir Master on board the MS Midnatsol as she cruised the Norwegian coastline. Performing beneath the Northern Lights is a wonderful experience!
Robert and Corinne have been involved in show groups for over 30 years having produced big Musical shows in Brighton over the last 10 years raising over £150 000 for local charities.
They both organise all the Singing for Pleasure events, joining in with the singing as well as assisting all the members of the four groups.
Where to find Singing for Pleasure.
You can find the Singing Groups at the following venues:
Venues
Tuesday daytime sessions take place at
St Phillip’s Church Hall,
New Church road,
Hove, BN3 4BB. View Google Map
Wednesday daytime sessions take place at the
Methodist Church Hall,
Southwick Street,
Southwick, BN42 2NA. View Google Map
Wednesday evening sessions are at
St Leonard’s Church Hall,
Glebe Villas,
Hove, BN3 5SN. View Google Map
Thursday afternoon sessions are at the
Methodist Church Hall,
Ladies Mile Road,
Patcham, BN1 8QE. View Google Map
Open to all aged 15 or over.
[mappress mapid=”11″]
Times
Tuesday afternoons at St Phillip’s Church Hall.
Doors open 2.00pm
Singing from 2.20pm to 3.20pm
Wednesday afternoons at Southwick Methodist Church Hall.
Doors open 2.00pm
Singing from 2.45pm to 4.00pm
Wednesday evenings at St Leonard’s Church Hall.
Doors open 5.30pm
Singing from 5.50pm to 6.50pm
NEW! Classical section will follow the main singing session.
NEW! Thursday afternoons at Patcham Methodist Church Hall.
From 18th October 2012
Doors open 1.45pm
Singing from 2.00pm
Prices
Trial session just £3.50.
Course of 10 classes for only £5 each.
Regular single session fee £7.00.
For more information call Robert or Corinne on 01273 555089
Or use the form below to Send us a Message
or Request a Call Back.
Felix Baumgartner Completes Record “Jump From The Edge Of Space”
BREAKING NEWS: Austrian BASE jumper breaks record for highest ever freefall
SUNDAY 14th OCTOBER 2012 – ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO: After flying to an altitude of 39,044 meters (128,097 feet) in a helium-filled balloon, Felix Baumgartner completed a record breaking jump for the ages from the edge of space, exactly 65 years after Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier flying in an experimental rocket-powered airplane. The 43-year-old Austrian skydiving expert also broke two other world records (highest freefall, highest manned balloon flight), leaving the longest freefall record to project mentor Col. Joe Kittinger.
Baumgartner landed safely in the desert of New Mexico after jumping out of his space capsule at 39,044 meters and plunging back towards earth, hitting a maximum of speed of 1,137 km/h through the near vacuum of the stratosphere before being slowed by the atmosphere later during his 4:19-minute long freefall. Baumgartner’s jump lasted a total of 9:03 minutes. Countless millions of people around the world watched his ascent and jump live on television broadcasts and live stream on the internet. At one point during his freefall Baumgartner appeared to spin rapidly, but he quickly re-gained control and moments later opened his parachute as members of the ground crew cheered and viewers around the world heaved a sigh of relief.
“It was an incredible up and down today, just like it’s been with the whole project,” a relieved Baumgartner said. “First we got off with a beautiful launch and then we had a bit of drama with a power supply issue to my visor. The exit was perfect but then I started spinning slowly. I thought I’d just spin a few times and that would be that, but then I started to speed up. It was really brutal at times. I thought for a few seconds that I’d lose consciousness. I didn’t feel a sonic boom because I was so busy just trying to stabilize myself. We’ll have to wait and see if we really broke the sound barrier. It was really a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.”
Baumgartner and his team spent five years training and preparing for the mission that is designed to improve our scientific understanding of how the body copes with the extreme conditions at the edge of space.
Baumgartner had endured several weather-related delays before finally lifting off under bright blue skies and calm winds on Sunday morning. The Red Bull Stratos crew, watching from Mission Control, broke out into spontaneous applause when the balloon lifted off.
Exceptional Character Cocktails Designed for the GREY GOOSE® Winter Ball to Benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation
GREY GOOSE vodka unveils its bespoke collection of cocktails designed especially for the GREY GOOSE Winter Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, in collaboration with this year’s character partners Emeli Sandé, Labrinth, Gareth Pugh, Ellen von Unwerth and Karim Rashid.
The internationally acclaimed and star studded event, now in its sixth year, will be taking place at Battersea Power Station on Saturday 10 November, with a theme of 1950’s Cote D’Azur. Guests will be transported from a chilly autumn evening in London to a scene reminiscent of the Riviera in its heyday, where poolside glamour, palm trees and pastel colour schemes abound.
The GREY GOOSE Winter Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation will begin with a glittering reception, where guests will be invited to sip bespoke cocktails created by each of the evening’s incredible partners. GREY GOOSE ambassador Joe McCanta has worked with each of them to construct a cocktail that either perfectly encapsulates their individual character and style, or that pays homage to the evening’s theme.
As well as designing their own bespoke cocktails for the evening, Ellen Von Unwerth, Gareth Pugh and Karim Rashid will also be donating a portable cocktail bar for auction that they have designed especially. Labrinth and Emeli Sandé will treat guests to a dazzling musical performance following a spectacular Mediterranean dinner, courtesy of The Connaught’s two Michelinstarred Head Chef Hélène Darroze.
Using pioneering techniques in mixology, some of the cocktails will invoke guests’ senses to immerse them completely in their surroundings. Labrinth’s Une Journée A La Plage is a sensory drink that combines GREY GOOSE and banana liqueur with notes of coconut, pineapple and lime, topped with a parasol infused with the scent of summer.
The evening’s guests will also be able to sip Emeli Sandé’s Poolside Martini. Elegant, calm and sophisticated, this azure blue cocktail captures the essence of a 1950’s poolside scene with a stylish combination of GREY GOOSE Le Citron, vanilla and thyme, accessorised with a white beach towel.
Gareth Pugh’sGrey Goose La Boite Poire is served in an iconic black box that is inspired by the designer’s collections. Sweet and salty, this drink features GREY GOOSE La Poire, French tarragon syrup and fresh lime, served over ice with a coriander-black-salt rim.
Ellen Von Unwerth‘s cocktail, the GREY GOOSE Golden Angel, is a rich, glamorous drink inspired by 1920’s French Cabaret and the burnished gold and orange shades of the photographer’s cocktail bar. GREY GOOSE L’Orange and traditional French flavours are given a distinctive twist with a rare liqueur made from Pyrenean herbs and a decadent sprinkling of gold leaf.
Designer Karim Rashid’s cocktail, Grey Goose L’Avenir, is inspired by his minimalist bar design and his signature futuristic aesthetic. Intended as ‘the martini of the future’, this is a seductively tart and slightly bitter mix of GREY GOOSE and a host of super foods including pomegranate, milk thistle and quinine wine, housed in a metallic goblet and garnished with a glistening ice orb.
Tickets are available to purchase by contacting the charity on 020 7603 9996 or online at ejaf.com. 100% of the ticket price is donated directly to the Elton John AIDS Foundation (charity registration no 1017336).
GREY GOOSE Winter Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation Cocktail Recipes
GREY GOOSE UNE JOURNÉE A LA PLAGE
INSPIRED BY LABRINTH
Recipe:
– 35ml GREY GOOSE vodka
– 10ml Gabriel Boudier crème de bananes
– 15ml Bahida coco de clement
– 10ml fresh lime juice
– 100ml fresh pineapple juice
Glass: Highball
Method: Shake and strain over crushed ice
Garnish: A pineapple leaf and a scented parasol
POOLSIDE MARTINI
‘INSPIRED BY’ EMELI SANDÉ
Recipe:
– 45ml GREY GOOSE Le Citron
– 15ml MARTINI Bianco
– 5ml French thyme liqueur
– 7.5ml French blue curaçao
– 1 dash French asparagus eaux-de-vie
Glass: GREY GOOSE coupette
Method: Stir and strain
Garnish: Lemon zest (discarded) and a miniature rolled
up towel
GREY GOOSE LA BOITE POIRE
INSPIRED BY GARETH PUGH
Recipe:
– 35ml GREY GOOSE La Poire
– 20ml French tarragon syrup
– 25ml fresh lime juice
Glass: Black box
Method: Shake and strain over perfect cubed Hoshizaki ice
Garnish: Rim the box with coriander-black salt
GREY GOOSE GOLDEN ANGEL
INSPIRED BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH
Recipe:
– 35ml GREY GOOSE L’Orange
– 5ml Green Chartreuse
– 15ml French liqueur de coscoll
– 25ml pink grapefruit juice
– 60ml French apricot juice
Glass: Rocks
Method: Shake and strain over cubed ice
Garnish: A gold straw and fresh apricot sprinkled with
gold dust
GREY GOOSE L’AVENIR
INSPIRED BY KARIM RASHID
Recipe:
– 35ml GREY GOOSE vodka
– 20ml fresh lemon
– 15ml rosehip cordial
– 10ml Americano Cocchi
– 35ml superberry juice (tart cherry,
pomegranate, goji and aronia)
Glass: Metal goblet
Method: Shake and strain over an ice orb
Garnish: Ice orb
GREY GOOSE LE FIZZ
An elegant and refreshing combination of GREY GOOSE vodka, fresh lime juice and elderflower, served in a flute topped with chilled soda.
Ingredients:
35ml GREY GOOSE vodka
15ml Elderflower cordial
15ml Freshly squeezed lime juice
75ml Chilled soda water
Glass: GREY GOOSE flute
Method: Shake GREY GOOSE, lime and elderflower,
double strain into a flute glass and top with chilled
soda water.
Red Bull Stratos Project Update: Launch Aborted Due To Winds
Felix Baumgartner’s Record Breaking Jump From 120,000ft Delayed Due To Wind Gusts
Tuesday 9th October 2012 – Roswell, New Mexico – Felix Baumgartner’s attempt to jump from the edge of space had to be aborted at the last minute (11.42hrs MDT local time) due to wind gusts that made it impossible to safely inflate the 30 million cubic feet / 834,497 cubic meters balloon. Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos team had waited for five hours in vain for the winds to calm down for the launch.
The Austrian athlete is attempting to undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to an altitude of 120,000 feet / 36,576 meters to become the first person to break the speed of sound in freefall. The findings from the mission will also help to improve our scientific understanding of the stratosphere and how the body copes with the extreme conditions at the edge of space.
At this stage the mission team is closely monitoring possible new launch days before approval is given for another countdown. Progress will be communicated as it happens.
Footage of the successful pre-flights tests, alongside updated interviews with Felix Baumgartner and the wider Red Bull Stratos team can be accessed at: www.redbullstratosnewsroom.com
Final preparations underway for Red Bull Stratos mission with Tuesday 9th October looking positive subject to weather conditions
The mission team have conducted a step by step dress rehearsal of the final hours before the Red Bull Stratos launch
Today, October 8th, 2012, ROSWELL, New Mexico (USA) – As the mission grows closer Felix’s family and friends are also making their final preparations for his 120,000 feet record breaking jump, supporting him along the way alongside the mission team.
The mission team have conducted a step by step dress rehearsal of the final hours before the Red Bull Stratos launch. A successful result, with the addition of a favourable weather report, has heightened the team’s anticipation for a lift off on Tuesday, October 9. The entire crew assembled to practice the 58 steps that will take the mission from a preparatory weather briefing all the way through to a dawn launch of the 55-story high balloon. The rehearsal is a vital component of preparation for every jump as it enables the teams from all four areas of responsibility to consolidate their checklists into one seamless process.
“Rehearsal is critical,” said high performance director Andy Walshe. “Everything went wonderfully well and the crew was on their game. A couple of times we were ahead of schedule, which is really reassuring. It gives us a sense of confidence.”
Understanding the need to coordinate his activities with those of other crew members, Baumgartner participated too, undergoing a medical check, getting suited up and entering the capsule using the same activation plan that will be implemented at the final launch. “You cannot do this without a team to support you,” the Austrian noted.
Equally reassuring was the news from meteorologist Don Day, who had studied forecast data throughout the night in Mission Control. After a 24-hour postponement due to an unfavourable weather forecast, Tuesday October 9 continues to look promising for the launch. In the days leading up, the team will make minor adjustments to the rundown, even refining the language in which checklists are written to ensure that all crews are absolutely synchronized.
Baumgartner will launch with the largest manned balloon in history: 550 feet/ 168 meters high at the start with a volume of 30 million cubic feet/ 850.000 cubic meters.
“The good news is that we usually have a day or two after this type of cold front moves through where the weather can be favorable for a balloon launch“, Don Day says.
Red Bull Stratos
Red Bull Stratos, created by Red Bull and Felix Baumgartner, is a mission to the edge of space that will try to surpass human limits that have existed for more than 50 years. Supported by a team of experts, Felix Baumgartner will undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to more than 120,000 feet / 36,576 meters and make a record-breaking freefall jump in the attempt to become the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall (an estimated 690 miles / 1,110 kilometres per hour), while delivering valuable data for medical and scientific advancement.
FC Barcelona partner with European Commission to help fans kick smoking habit
The European Commission and four-time European Champions FC Barcelona today announce an unprecedented partnership aimed at improving the health of millions of people across Europe.
‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ will harness the success of the European Commission’s “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” campaign and the support of Barça’s worldwide fan-base to help 28 million European smokers* kick the habit forever. The unique partnership will see one of the world’s most prestigious sports clubs partner with a pan- European institution to support a public health campaign on a never before seen scale.
‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ is the latest initiative of the award-winning “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” campaign and the partnership with FC Barcelona marks the first time the European Commission has collaborated with a sporting partner that reaches the hearts of millions of people to make a real difference to the health of Europe.
The programme aims not to judge smokers, but instead underlines the many benefits of quitting smoking, combining these positive messages with the proven tools of the “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” campaign. ‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ offers supporters of Barça, football and sport in general, a personalised health training programme with daily quit smoking tips and encouragement direct from key figures at the Catalan club.
The campaign will be powered by iCoach (www.exsmokers.eu), a free, proven digital health tool already helping almost a quarter of a million people across Europe (equivalent to 1 in every 500 smokers) in their quest to give up smoking for good. More information can be found at www.quitsmokingwithbarca.eu
The Dome in Brighton is known for many things. Which one stands out the most? Perhaps it’s ABBA winning the 1974 Eurovision song contest and then going on to become one of the world’s greatest ever bands. It was also where Pink Floyd first performed Dark Side of the Moon and Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, The Smiths and Led Zeppelin, have all played there.
There’s no limit to the events that can be staged at Brighton Dome from a large conference, an intimate meeting, impressive exhibition, exclusive banquet, gala dinner, awards ceremony, formal seminar or corporate party. All five venues within the complex can be used individually or combined and there are also three additional external break-out facilities, all situated within 100 metres. Corporate clients include Microsoft, American Express, L’Oreal, BBC and Barclays and organisations return time and again because of the flexibility of the spaces and the expertise of in-house production services team.
AVT Connect feels honoured to be a preferred supplier at the Dome and is no stranger to producing events in each of their five venues and in the numerous breakout rooms and spaces that are also available. From mid June to the end of July, AVT produced six events for a variety of different and interesting organisations which couldn’t be more different to the rock star heritage spoken about above.
As a preferred supplier, AVT has a wealth of experience integrating successfully with the in-house facilities and technical team. All of these events required flown screens, great connectivity, presentation slides, layers of lighting and sound. They required AV Technicians on hand to stage manage and co-ordinate all the different elements to ensure a flawless delivery and each of the events had their own unique story to tell.
EPIZONE European Research Group (ERG) / Institute for Animal Health – Annual Meeting at Brighton Dome (13th-14th June)
The theme of the 6th annual meeting was “Viruses on the move” and reflects the ever changing virus landscape. This poses continuing and new threats to animal and human health and food security and provides challenges for control of animal diseases. The meeting addressed the latest developments aimed at monitoring and understanding the evolution, emergence, transmission and spread of epizootic viruses. AVT received the following feedback, “The high standard of the audio visual equipment and expert, helpful and friendly technical assistance was a major factor in making our EPIZONE meeting a great success. We have received a lot of very positive feedback about the meeting and we will have no hesitation in recommending AVT to others.”
Ampersand: The Web Typography Conference – organised by Clearleft (15th June)
Typography can be described as “the mechanical arrangement of language”. With over 10 different speakers on the subject, including Professor Phil Baines, the Senior Typographic Lecturer at Central St Martin’s College, this conference represents all the latest developments in web typography. Neil Harrison, AVTs Head Technician said of the conference, “ I never imagined so much work went into designing a web font , the alphabet has to be designed for upper case, lowercase, superscript, postscript and then there’s symbols, numbers and punctuation. Furthermore, I didn’t realise the passion that exists for fonts, there are some real font nerds out there which is great!”
BASHH / ASTDA (Joint Spring Meeting) British Association for Sexual Health and HIV / American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (27th-29th June)
BASHH is the lead representative body for those practicing sexual health including management of STIs and HIV in the UK. Whilst the nature of some of the subject matter could be considered to be somewhat sensitive, this was the first time that AVT had used Wi-Fi to send all presentations from speaker preview to technical operations, instead of the usual hard wired network. This saved the client money and was a seamless delivery of audio visual slides.
Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness: ASSC16 – hosted & organised by Brighton & Sussex Medical School: A partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex with the NHS (02nd-06th July)
The ASSC is an academic society that promotes rigorous research directed toward understanding the nature, function, and underlying mechanisms of consciousness. Their 16th annual meeting took place in the Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Pavilion Theatre and the Corn Exchange was also used for presentations and display. There was talk of having real live tissue from Einstein’s brain on display for people to view, which didn’t happen at the last moment, much to the disappointment of several people!
Arts Marketing Association (10th-12th July)
The Arts Marketing Association (AMA) is the professional development organisation for arts marketers and audience development professionals. There are around 2,000 AMA members, mainly arts professionals who attended the three day event which at various times occupied the Dome Concert Hall, the Pavilion Theatre and various break out spaces such as the Dome mezzanine and Pavilion bar. It was a highly successful conference as underlined by their glowing testimonial, “We were 100% delighted with the delivery of services from AVT Connect at our conference in Brighton. All the services were delivered as promised and we would definitely look to use AVT Connect again, if the opportunity arose. Thank you so much!”
Graduation Ceremony for the University of Sussex (03rd- 06th July) & Graduation Ceremony for the University of Brighton (23rd-27th July)
It gave AVT immense pride to produce the University of Brighton and University of Sussex graduations. Spread over four days, the University of Sussex graduations hosted a total of 2,225 students – the biggest number ever to attend the summer ceremonies. They were awarded their degrees by the University of Sussex Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, at Brighton Dome, watched by 6,000 guests, family and friends. Hundreds more were watching around the world as the ceremonies were broadcast live online, for which AVT provided the feed.
The record number of 5,000 University of Brighton graduating students at this year’s summer award ceremonies shared the stage with nine honorary graduates including Jonny Ball (Doctor of Science), the man who taught millions to ‘think of a number’, and Harvey Goldsmith CBE (Doctor of Arts), the legendary rock impresario.
I just signed up for this great event which is taking place on Sunday 30th from Plumpton Racecourse. Its a cycling sportive for Macmillan Cancer Care.
It should be a great fun ride for women of all abilities, so why not sign up too and join the hundreds taking part in a fun day out on the quiet Sussex country lanes and raise money for a great cause (or any cause of your own!).
Entries close this coming Thursday and you can register online here at www.cycletta.co.uk
Women’s health, women’s voices is supported nationally by the Women’s
Health and Equality Consortium (WHEC), is your chance to say what girls
and women need from your local NHS and to find out how to influence
services. Speakers include: Zoe Palmer (WHEC), Christa Beesley (Clinical
Commissioning Group), Rob Jarrett (Chair of the Shadow Health and Well
Being Board) and Michelle Pooley (Healthwatch Commissioner).
Lisa Dando (Director of Brighton Women’s Centre) said,
“The NHS is currently undergoing a period of substantial reform which
will have implications for women’s organisations in Brighton and Hove
working on health-related issues. It will be important for all those
affected to understand just what these reforms are likely to mean in
practice and to be aware of how to engage and influence the new
agencies.”
The meeting will update local women’s groups on the current
restructuring of health and care services and provide a chance to talk
about the opportunities and challenges these reforms create. Women will
be able to share experiences of engaging with local health bodies and
build a strong network to campaign for local NHS services to take the
needs of girls and women into account.
“WHEC is creating women-only spaces around the country to ensure that
the experiences and needs of women and girls’ are reflected in health
and social care policy. We will take all the key issues to government
and present a picture that reflects what girls and women tell us they
need from the NHS.”
Brighton-based AVT Connect was delighted to produce the prestigious STEP Private Client Awards at The London Hilton on Park Lane’s Wellington Ballroom on Wednesday 19th September.
Celebrated television reporter, journalist and author Kate Adie OBE was invited to host the glittering occasion and announce the winners, from over 80 UK and international firms and four industry luminaries, who made this year’s shortlist.
Looking glamorous in sequins, Kate, who is a former Chief News Correspondent for the BBC and known for covering conflicts such as the Gulf War, added a highly entertaining element to the celebration – and received rapturous applause from the guests.
Attended by a prominent guest list and audience of nearly 700 financiers, the awards are the only international competition to highlight excellence across the private wealth sector and include categories for private client solicitors/attorneys, lawyers, barristers, accountants, private bankers, financial advisors and trust managers.
STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) was founded in 1991 and is the leading worldwide professional body for practitionersin the fields of trusts, estates and related issues. The Private Client Awards offer an unrivalled opportunity for these professionals to demonstrate excellence in their field and to their peer group.
This was the seventh annual STEP awards and AVT Connect again took great pleasure in producing this celebratory occasion, not least because it offers the opportunity to use a whole range of technical, digital and events expertise for which they are renowned.
AVT designed and installed the elaborate stage set and a dynamic lighting display combined with a looped presentation on arrival which showed pictures of the guests as they arrived and displayed sponsors’ logos.
In addition, they designed a 120 second upbeat graphic with “dancing” spotlights lights to open the awards. To go with the awards themselves, AVT produced a dynamic presentation in PowerPoint™.
On the night, a team of technicians were on hand to manage the audio visual and dual screen set up with music and video relay. The music was well chosen and on several occasions, the audience clapped in time to the beat.
AVT’s camera team filmed the entire event, including interviews with judges, sponsors and winners. Together this footage will be edited to produce an essence video of the occasion for use on the STEP awards web site.
For the second year STEP’s award charity was Feed the Minds who deliver innovative education projects to help save lives, reduce poverty and transform communities in developing countries. This year’s STEP PCA raised £56,623 for Feed the Minds through contributions by awards entrants. There is no fee for entering the awards.
View the full list of winners and photos at www.step.org/awards.All winners will be profiled in STEP’s membership magazine, the STEP Journal, which will be online at www.stepjournal.org in November.
[contentbox headline=”Brighton and Hove Seafront” type=”info”]Brighton and Hove beaches stretch for about 7 miles, from Hove Lagoon in the West to Rottingdean in the East. The seafront has bars, restaurants, nightclubs and amusement arcades, principally between the piers. Being less than an hour from London by train has made the city a popular destination, especially with big party groups. Brighton beach has a nudist area (by Kemptown near the easterly edge of the promenade). Brighton’s beach, which is a shingle beach up to the mean low tide mark, has been awarded a blue flag. The Monarch’s Way long-distance footpath heads west along the seafront above the beach.
Since the 1978 demolition of the open-air lido at Black Rock, the most easterly part of Brighton’s seafront, the area has been developed and now features one of Europe’s largest marinas. However, the site of the pool itself remains empty except for a skate park and graffiti wall, and further development is planned including a high-rise hotel which has aroused debate, mirroring proposals for the King Alfred leisure centre in Hove, which were pulled in 2008. In addition, part of the eastern side of the beach has been redeveloped into a sports complex, which has courts for anything from beach volleyball to ultimate Frisbee, and opened to the public in March 2007.[/contentbox]
How important is it to offer our love, especially to those closest
to us, with no strings attached?
Ernest Hemingway wrote a poignant short story called “The Capital of
the World.” In it he tells about a Spanish father who wants to
reconcile with his son who has run away to Madrid. In order to
locate the boy he takes out this ad in the El Liberal newspaper:
“Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is
forgiven. Love, Papa.”
Paco is a common name in Spain, and when the father goes to the
square he finds 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers.
What drew them to the hotel? As Hemingway tells it, it was the words
“All is forgiven.” I notice that the father did not say, “All WILL
BE forgiven IF you do this or that.” Not, “All WILL BE forgiven WHEN
you do such and such.” He simply says, “All is forgiven.” No strings
attached.
And that’s the hard part – un-attaching the strings. Wiktionary
tells us that the origin of the expression “no strings attached” may
go back to ancient times when documents were written on parchment
that were rolled up and secured with a string. The Babylonian Talmud
in Tractate Bava Metzi’a tells of a man who gives his wife a bill of
divorce on such a parchment, but holds onto the string so that he
can snatch it back, should he choose to do so. The divorce,
therefore, is not considered valid since he will not give it freely.
Similarly, love, forgiveness or friendship that is given with
strings and conditions attached are a sham and not valid, since they
can be snatched back at any time.
An unknown author beautifully portrays the possibilities of
no-strings-attached love in this heartfelt story titled “The Rock.”
“As she grew older her teenage daughter became increasingly
rebellious. It culminated late one night when the police arrested
her daughter for drunk driving. Mom had to go to the police
station to pick her up.
They didn’t speak until the next afternoon.
Mom broke the tension by giving her a small gift- wrapped box.
Her daughter nonchalantly opened it and found a little rock
inside.
She rolled her eyes and said, ‘Cute, Mom, what’s this for?’
‘Read the card,’ Mom instructed.
Her daughter took the card out of the envelope and read it. Tears
started to trickle down her cheeks. She got up and lovingly
hugged her mom as the card fell to the floor.
On the card were these words: ‘This rock is more than 200,000,000
years old. That is how long it will take before I give up on
you.'”
This mother is not saying, “I will love you IF.” Instead she says
that she will love her daughter forever and nothing can change
that. No strings attached.
When we learn to love like that, I think we’ll understand the words
of Emmett Fox, who said, “If you could only love enough, you could
be the most powerful person in the world.”
As an airport skycap checked through a customer at curbside, he
accidentally knocked over the man’s luggage. He quickly collected
the fallen bags and apologized for the mishap. Unappeased, the
traveler burst into an angry tirade, raging and swearing at the
skycap for his clumsiness.
Throughout the traveler’s rant, the baggage handler calmly
apologized and smiled. The livid customer continued to berate the
man, even as he turned away and headed for his gate. Through it all
the baggage handler smiled and remained calm.
The next customer in line witnessed the incident and marveled at the
skycap’s professionalism and self control. “I have never seen such
restraint and humility,” he said. “How do you keep your cool when
somebody is attacking you so viciously?”
“It’s easy,” the skycap answered. “He’s going to London, but his
bags are going to Tokyo.”
I won’t recommend that we use revenge to relieve stress. But let me
tell you about someone who has found a way to go through most of his
life unfazed by the turbulence that affects most people.
He is one of the calmest people I’ve ever known and he describes how
he keeps his cool no matter how turbulent a situation becomes. He
says, “I look at it this way. A traffic jam has no power to make me
angry. It just stops my car. And that’s the way I try to look at
most of what happens to me.” With that philosophy, this guy goes
through life with a serenity I can only envy.
My friend likes to say things like, “A rude customer has no power to
make me angry; he just fusses.” And, “A mistake I made has no power
to make me upset; it’s just a chance to do better.” He shows how we
can truly find calmness in the midst of chaos.
Eminent 20th Century American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a
short prayer that has been reprinted countless times. Bill Wilson,
co-founder of the support group Alcoholics Anonymous, became
familiar with the prayer about 1941. He edited and adapted it, and
then circulated it with the title “Serenity Prayer.” You are likely
familiar with his version:
* “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”*
The prayer has been a great help to many hundreds of thousands,
perhaps millions, of people over the years. And the truth of the
matter is that there is much which cannot be changed. We can’t do
anything about this evening’s traffic. Another person’s reaction is
not something we can control. Furthermore, we may have made any
number of mistakes that we probably regret, but they are in the past
and that is something we cannot change. Reliving the past does not
help us change the future.
There’s a certain power in calmness. And those who learn to accept
with serenity that which they cannot change will find power to
change those things they can.
Resilient Leaders Learn from Everyone-including DOLPHINS!
Who can resist the constantly “smiling” face of a dolphin whose =
intelligence and acrobatic skill have delighted humans for centuries? =
Whether through the legends of sailors rescued by these marine mammals =
or through frescoes found on the walls of ancient Minoan palaces, humans =
continue to be intrigued by dolphins.=20
I am no exception. Nor is my 13 year-old granddaughter Siena. Together, =
we showed up at the Dolphin Research Center (DRC) where a colony of =
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins call the lagoons of the Gulf of Mexico =
home. Here, DRC researchers and trainers care for dolphins who have to =
come to them because of injuries or because prior captivity deemed them =
“non-releasable.” The Center is a not-for-profit education and research =
facility dedicated to promoting the coexistence between marine mammals =
and humans and the environment we share. Through research and education, =
we begin to understand the world of the dolphin and can study cognition, =
physiology and husbandry.=20
As a management consultant, I became fascinated with the corollary =
between engagement for high performance in order to create a resilient =
organizational life and engagement and high performance in the watery =
world of the dolphin.
To gain the trust and performance of dolphins as well as people, here =
are five lessons we might all do well to remember:
* Know everyone’s name and something unique about each one.
* Set everyone up for success.
* Build skill levels.
* Provide more stimulation for top performers.
* Allow for fun and individuality.
Lesson #1: Know everyone’s name and something unique about each one. At =
DRC, researchers tell dolphins apart by their coloring, their movements, =
and call each by their name. A special shape on a stick is lowered in =
the water and every dolphin knows which one belongs to him or her. =20
In organizations, I’ve observed managers who do not know the names of =
their employees, can’t tell you one thing unique about them, and send =
group messages that don’t take individuality into account. This =
anonymity is compounded in a virtual world. Sadly, that virtual world =
becomes the fallback way of communicating even if the person is sitting =
in the next cubicle.=20
A great manager/leader knows that every virtual team must at least start =
with a face-to-face meeting (or video face-to-face) and a personal =
sharing of more than resume data. A great manager/leader finds ways to =
highlight each person so they feel singularly recognized.
Lesson #2: Set everyone up for success. At DRC, researchers and =
trainers make sure that before asking a dolphin to do something “more”, =
they have allowed the dolphin to be successful in a current task. When =
the new “request” is made, the trainer makes sure that not every element =
is strange and so there’s a modicum of comfort.
In organizations, goals are sometimes changed before employees have a =
chance to experience and celebrate success. The bouncing ball is never =
caught. Frustration results. Likewise, when responding to the demands =
of a changing business world, a great manager/leader makes sure that at =
least some element of prior success is brought into play. For example, =
Apple used the technology of the I-Phone to create and expand into the =
world of the I-Pad.=20
Lessons #3: Build skill levels. At DRC, researchers and trainers break =
apart a task or a research project into smaller components and observe =
dolphins while adding the next step only after seeing successful =
completion of the first. Different dolphins also learn at different =
rates.
In organizations, great managers/leaders don’t expect 100% proficiency =
from the starting gate. Instead, they watch for building blocks of =
performance. By observing and listening for such blocks, a =
manager/leader also knows whether an employee can, in fact, do the =
assigned task. That manager/leader must also know what is the time =
frame for accomplishment. Not everyone is suited for specific tasks. =
Pulling the plug too late can be as dangerous as pulling the plug too =
soon!
Lessons #4: Provide more stimulation for top performers. At DRC, some =
of the dolphins were stronger and quicker than others. Dolphin Tanner =
would become bored if not offered enough stimulation. He loves the =
cognitive challenge of imitating while blindfolded with soft latex cups. =
(International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 23,671-688). Without =
stimulation and challenge, Tanner “checks out” of his work.
Organizationally, humans are no different. Skilled performers become =
bored and apathetic if not invited to explore what might be the next =
growth opportunity. A great manager/leader watches for performers who =
have “checked out”. Increased stimulation might be just the answer.
Lesson #5: Allow for fun and individuality. Dolphin Talon is a =
grandchild of Flipper, one of the stars from the television show by the =
same time. Talon literally squeals with excitement every time he makes =
an incredibly high jump and puts an extra rotation into his flip. =
Dolphin Calusa is a jokester, hiding the target poles so trainers have =
to ask her to go find them. And Molly is my special “dolfriend.” Yes, I =
adopted this 50 year-old older marine mammal with scars from a former =
life under her flippers. She is into accessorizing and has a collection =
of colored scarves that people have brought her!=20
When Siena gave Molly the command to “Bring me a gift,” Molly came back =
with an orange and red silk scarf over her snout. Siena was thrilled. =
We learned this does not happen often. Molly has been known to suddenly =
appear with a scarf over her dorsal, one on her nose, and another on her =
flipper. And to this day, divers who inspect the lagoon have NO idea =
where she hides her accessories!
We are all like the dolphins, wanting to add some color, fun and =
personality into our workday. A great manager/leader makes space for =
humor, laughter, and originality of expression. In fact, it is the =
laughter and spontaneity that keep researchers, trainers, and the many =
volunteers at Dolphin Research Center coming back for more.=20
As we drove back to Miami and our long flight back to California, Siena =
and I realized we had laughed and learned. We watched with wonder. And =
we knew that places like the Dolphin Research Center allowed us to also =
embrace our own humanity.=20
“The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to =
be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of humanity.”=20
– George Bernard Shaw
=A9 2012, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to all =
venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links =
are made live.
Eileen McDargh is a Hall of Fame professional speaker, management =
consultant, resiliency expert and top thought-leader in leadership. =
Visit The Resilient Spirit at http://www.eileenmcdargh.com to get her =
free quarterly e-zine, read her blog and articles. Read the =
testimonials from hundreds of satisfied clients from all over the globe =
and hire her to keynote at your next meeting or facilitate your next =
retreat.
Wood is good when it comes to interior design. It’s a look that most of us love and you can’t really go too far wrong with – whatever you choose.
An increasing number of interior designers are going for the all-wood look to create a ski cabin type of feel. But wood is a lot more versatile than many of us think. Of course, it’s just about the most traditional interior design material there is. But it can also look stunningly modern if it’s carefully engineered. And there are an increasing number of companies doing just that all around the world – and doing so from sustainable sources.
Solid oak which has been stored and kiln-dried and is from reputable suppliers and furniture manufactures can look as contemporary as any other material when it’s carefully engineered with clean lines to a contemporary style. And there are many ranges that achieve exactly that kind of look.
If you have a look, for example, at some of the oak desks from Furnishing Homes, you’ll soon see just how modern a material oak can be. It’s the mix of the traditional material with the most contemporary design that gives some of the more modern ranges that unique feel.
It’s also easy to coordinate the look throughout your entire home – no matter how big or small it is. From dining suites to coffee tables, office furniture to bedroom furniture, occasional items and kitchen furnishings – a similar theme throughout your entire home really brings a wonderful feeling of design continuity achieving whatever overall look you’re trying to.
It’s the theme that has overriding importance here. If it’s a theme that complements your home setting – so much the better. But if you love all things modern and contemporary and have mentally written off an all-wooden theme or a motif which includes a lot of wooden furniture, then this may be an oversight; wood is good!
When you’re setting up a guest bedroom it can be really great to make it a perfect room so that your guests feel pampered and spoiled when staying at your home. And as well as making it nice for other people, revamping a guest bedroom is a nice project as you can usually take the time over the redecorating and furnishing because you won’t need to displace anyone while you do it.
As the guest bedroom is used by a range of different visitors, you should try and pick a theme for the room that suits all tastes – as well as your own. Examples of things to avoid would be decorating the whole room in flowery pinks or with very bold colour choices. Choosing a neutral base for the walls and adding some touches of colour with the curtains and bed linen is a much safer approach – so the guest room is as suitable for your mother in law as it is for a work colleague to stay in.
You can buy furniture from one of the many bedroom furniture collections that retailers now offer. Start off by deciding what kind of style furniture you like. Do you prefer metal bed frames or wooden ones? There’s such a range to choose from that you need to narrow your choices before you start looking. For example, it’s really easy to buy cheap oak beds online, but they don’t all look the same. Some are painted cream or white, with wooden ends, others are waxed and some are stained to a dark rich colour.
A nice touch for a guest room is to have a dressing table. Some bedrooms don’t have room for dressing tables, but in a guest room, wardrobe space is not quite as essential as in your own bedroom, so you could make space for a dressing table and provide a smaller wardrobe instead. A dressing table can be a really nice feature in a room, especially if you choose one that has intricate carving on it, or an interesting mirror on the top. It also adds a touch of luxury to a room, making sure that your guests will have that pampered feeling while they’re staying in your home.
Finishing touches in a guest room are really comfortable bedding and pillows, and a set of towels which coordinate well with the bedroom. The only trouble with making a guest room too nice is that you might find your guests never want to leave! Do you have any tips for the other readers on how to create the perfect guest room?
The ideal living room should really live up to its name and be a living room. After all, this is the only room in most of our houses where the room’s designated purpose is leisure and relaxation. All the other room we use have a purpose which is largely functional. The most functional of all the rooms in the modern house is, of course, the kitchen where we prepare food, wash and clean up after ourselves and usually do a whole lot more like eat, store food and drink, and maybe even entertain occasional guests etc.
Obviously, our bedrooms are highly important as we spend more time here than anywhere else in the house – though most of the time we’re unconscious of course.
Other rooms are generally used for storage and, of course, we eat in our dining rooms. So for most of us in this day and age – we’re left with the appropriately-named living room or lounge to , well…, live and lounge around!
The problem comes when the room isn’t much of a living space but, instead, is rigidly formal and a little boring. Often, the living room furniture people choose is designed to make a room look smart rather than to have fun and relax in. But we can still achieve both these goals with the right furniture choices which are also good fun.
Take the recliner chair, for instance, which is great fun to sit and relax on, but also looks neat and tidy immediately in its non-reclined position. There are many other choices that achieve the same purpose like a smart pouf that fits into the corner of a corner sofa looking perfect when not in use – but affording the whole family the chance to lie down together in front of a good film on a cold winter’s night. The ideal living room is really about living!
Sainsbury’s TU Clothing
Introduce ‘Dear Zoo’
Babywear this Autumn
23 Aug 12
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic children’s book, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, a range of gorgeous babywear products will be available in TU at Sainsbury’s this autumn.
The cosy cream coloured neutral babywear features characters from the classic Lift the Flap children’s book and will be in stores from 16th September.
The range, which is completely new for 2012, includes a Sleepsuit and Matching hat set with mini ears detail, £8.50 [aged newborn to 12 months]. There is also a pack of two short sleeved Bodysuits [aged newborn to 12 months] featuring the puppy character from the story, £8.00.
There is a gorgeous 3-piece gift set which includes a pair of booties featuring the monkey character, as well as mitts and cute little hat. All three items come in a cream gift bag [aged newborn to 6 months] £8.00.
To compliment any baby’s nursery, there is a stylish and neutral coloured cream sleeping bag featuring the monkey from the Dear Zoo book as well as a gorgeous repeat-pattern of all the characters from the story. The Sleeping Bag is 2.5 Tog which is perfect for Autumn/Winter nights and is £15.00 [aged newborn to 12 months].
To complete the range there is a pack of two bibs featuring the puppy and other Dear Zoo characters, £5.00.
All products are available from TU at Sainsbury’s from 16th September 2012.
Careers4u.tv Helping Students
Make Post-16 Decisions 23 Aug 12
Whatever the GCSE results – good or bad – for the first time thousands of 16 year-olds across the country will be making choices that will influence the rest of their lives. All this is happening at a time when jobs are harder than ever to come by, working lives are likely to be longer, university fees are increasing and one-to-one careers advice is no longer freely available. Whether youngsters chose to stay at school, go to college, get an apprenticeship or find work, their success will depend largely on their attitude.
Celia Middleton, founder of Careers4u.tv, has interviewed hundreds of people in the early stages of their working life and is in no doubt that people who start thinking about their career early have a significant advantage. ‘Once someone has an idea of what they want to do, they are able to work towards that goal. Even if they change direction later on, they will still have gained skills and experience. Motivation is a powerful tool and respected by employers.’ The Careers4u.tv website offers students inspiration and information via videos of young employees, entrepreneurs and apprentices. They volunteer their time because they remember how difficult it can be to find first-hand information and want to help the next generation.
According to Dr Deirdre Hughes, OBE, Chair of the National Careers Council, ‘Young people with better career exploration skills are more positive about their post-16 and post-18 choices. Having access to good quality careers information and advice, especially around exam results time, is crucial.
Tippitoes is delighted to announce the launch of its brand new 3-in-1travel system, Toto which is now available to purchase at www.tippitoes.com with an RRP of £385.
Suitable for use from birth and designed to adapt to parent’s needs as baby grows, the Toto 3-in-1 is the first travel system from leading nursery brand Tippitoes. It has everything you need to ensure getting around with your baby is as hassle-free as possible. Incorporating pushchair, carrycot and car seat functions each option is designed with your baby’s comfort in mind.
Available to buy individually the car sear, carrycot and pushchair are easily converted without the need for adapters. The carrycot and pushchair options are parent facing to encourage development through talking, laughing and interacting. The pushchair can also be used forward facing to allow baby to take in the world around them.
The Toto car seat is a group 0+ baby seat suitable for babies from birth until they reach a maximum weight of 13kg/29lbs (approx 12-15 months). It features an impact absorbing shell with side impact protection to ensure your baby’s safety in the event of a side on collision. The lightweight car seat also features an adjustable five point safety harness, with chest pads and head hugger.
When not in use the complete travel system folds compactly for storage. The Toto travel system features front swivel pneumatic tyres complete with front and back suspension, linked rear brakes and an ergonomic sponge grip handle which ensure a secure and smooth journey for both baby and parent. Other added extras include adjustable hoods and spacious shopping basket.
Available in a stylish black finish complemented by silver piping, the Toto 3-in-1 combines style, safety and quality at an affordable price.
Stoop and Drink
There are some things I think I do pretty well. There are others that need improvement and still others that are probably beyond anything I can help. I picked up golf for a while. How hard could it be, I wondered? I soon learned. It didn’t take long before I was consistently shooting in the lower seventies. Pretty much every hole.
Two people actually gave up working with me to improve my game. Which is okay – I have more time now for doing things less frustrating, like solving the problem of world peace.
I heard of a hotel that has a water fountain in the lobby that is operated by an infra-red beam of light. When a thirsty person wants a drink, she simply bends down and the water automatically turns on. There is a sign above the water cooler that reads, “Stoop and drink.”
What a marvelous parable for a life attitude. Stoop and drink. Especially when we have something to learn, when we want to drink from the fountain of knowledge, we may need to stoop and drink.
Like Albert Einstein. He once arrived in London carrying his violin case. After greeting him, an old friend asked, “You still play the violin, Albert?”
The mathematical genius nodded and said, “Yes, but not very well. My teacher says, ‘The trouble with you, Mr. Einstein, is that you can’t count.’”
He knew that he had much to learn if he were to play the violin well. And he was wise enough to know that he would learn better if could approach it with a sense of humility; he had to stoop in order to drink.
Have you ever skied? Even if you’re an adult, if you’ve never attempted downhill skiing you would do well to begin by taking a lesson on the beginner’s slope. Yes, you may be the only person in the group over four feet tall, and you may also be the only one to slide down the slope backward while little people are whizzing by. Believe me, I know. But you’ll never get the hang of it unless you learn the fundamentals. If you stoop to take a lesson or two, you can leave the bunny slope behind forever.
Author Barbara Sher says something interesting about this approach to learning new things. She says that you “can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.”
I think she’s right. I takes some stooping to approach something new like a beginner. But that is the way we learn best — at any age.
Over the years I’ve come to realize that anybody can teach me, if I let them. Young people and old people, the uneducated and the learned — anyone can be a teacher. But not anyone can be a learner. It takes the right kind of attitude to learn. But if I’m able to stoop, I’ll have plenty to drink.
[contentbox headline=”The Royal Pavillion” type=”info”]The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence located in Brighton UK. It was built in three campaigns, beginning in 1787, as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, from 1811 Prince Regent. It is often referred to as the Brighton Pavilion. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century, with the most extravagant chinoiserie interiors ever executed in the British Isles.
The Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV, first visited Brighton in 1783, at the age of 21. The seaside town had become fashionable through the residence of George’s uncle, the Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, whose tastes for cuisine, gaming, the theatre and fast living the young prince shared, and with whom he lodged in Brighton at Grove House. In addition, his physician advised him that the seawater would be beneficial for his gout. In 1786, under a financial cloud that had been examined in Parliament for the extravagances incurred in building Carlton House, London, he rented a modest erstwhile farmhouse facing the Steine, a grassy area of Brighton used as a promenade by visitors. Being remote from the Royal Court in London, the Pavilion was also a discreet location for the Prince to enjoy liaisons with his long-time companion, Mrs Fitzherbert. The Prince had wished to marry her, and did so in secrecy, as her Roman Catholicism ruled out marriage under the Royal Marriages Act.
In 1787 the designer of Carlton House, Henry Holland, was employed to enlarge the existing building, which became one wing of the Marine Pavilion, flanking a central rotunda, which contained only three main rooms, a breakfast room, dining room and library, fitted out in Holland’s French-influenced neoclassical style, with decorative paintings by Biagio Rebecca. In 1801-02 the Pavilion was enlarged with a new dining room and conservatory, to designs of Peter Frederick Robinson, in Holland’s office. The Prince also purchased land surrounding the property, on which a grand riding school and stables were built in an Indian style in 1803-08, to designs by William Porden that dwarfed the Marine Pavilion, in providing stabling for sixty horses.[1]
Between 1815 and 1822 the designer John Nash redesigned and greatly extended the Pavilion, and it is the work of Nash which can be seen today. The palace looks rather striking in the middle of Brighton, having a very Indian appearance on the outside. However, the fanciful interior design, primarily by Frederick Crace and the little-known decorative painter Robert Jones, is heavily influenced by both Chinese and Indian fashion (with Mughal and Islamic architectural elements). It is a prime example of the exoticism that was an alternative to more classicising mainstream taste in the Regency style.
[contentbox headline=”Your headline” type=”info”]Brighton Marina is an artificial marina situated in Brighton, England. The construction of the marina itself took place between 1971 and 1979, although developments within it have continued ever since. The marina covers an area of approximately 127 acres (0.51 km2). It is owned and managed by Premier Marinas.
The land within the marina has been developed in several stages and now accommodates a large Asda supermarket and two groups of boutique shops, restaurants and bars, plus a hotel, a bowling alley, a health club, a casino, and a multiplex cinema with a multi-storey car-park built over and around it. On the east side of the marina there are several gated communities consisting of townhouses and apartments, some of which come with their own moorings, alongside public moorings and facilities for boats and their users, ranging from boat sales and service companies through to a floating launderette at the main moorings. Both harbour arms are popular locations for local fishermen; the east breakwater is often packed to capacity during summer weekends, and there are regular sightseeing and fishing boat trips from the marina.
A SeaJet service ran from the Marina to Dieppe in France between 1979 and 1980. Two Boeing Jetfoils were used, with three “flights” per day. The service suffered from poor reliability of the Jetfoils in the early stages, was restricted due to mid-channel wave height, and suffered during the French fishermen’s blockade of channel ports.
Ferry to Fécamp, 1992
In 1992 there was a trial of summer-season passenger services to Fécamp, France, using a small catamaran ferry.
Immediately to the west of the marina is Black Rock, wasteground which was once a lido and is to be redeveloped into an arena.
Yacht sailing, powerboating, and dinghy sailing training and charter is offered by a number of operators within Brighton Marina.
Ongoing developments
Work was due to begin in spring 2007 on a new district of the marina to contain 853 new apartments, cafés, bars and restaurants. The development was planned for the south-western part of the marina and would partly sit on stilts over the sea. The centrepiece building was to be a skyscraper dubbed The Roaring Forties which would stand at 40 storeys tall and include a public viewing platform on the top floor. Two new pedestrian bridges were to be included in the scheme, one retractable to link the marina arms and the second to link the western beach with the new scheme. The developers are local firm Brunswick, and the architects are Wilkinson Eyre, noted for Gateshead Millennium Bridge. CABE have highlighted the development as one of four national developments demonstrating best practice in design and planning. No significant building work has started and the whole project has now been put on hold in view of the current financial climate.
A planning application to redevelop much of the west side of the marina was submitted in October 2007. The plans include several tall apartment blocks (the tallest would be Marina Point which would be 28 storeys high and Quayside which was to be 16 storeys), various new retail provisions including small shops, a new central square (where the current roundabout stands) and an “eco park”, connected to the Undercliff Walk. The supermarket would be demolished and rebuilt to a larger size with car parking underground and apartments above, freeing up the considerable space presently used for its open-air car park, allowing for further development. The petrol station and McDonalds would also be demolished and rebuilt under this scheme. Around five new apartment blocks would be added to the marina in total. The developers are Explore Living, a division of Laing O’Rourke, and the architects are Allies and Morrison. Planning permission for this scheme was refused on 12 December 2008 when the six Conservative and three Green members of the planning committee voted against it, with only the three Labour members voting in favour.
There has been considerable local opposition to both the above developments, which have been accused of being inappropriate, too dense, damaging to the Brighton skyline and to cliff and sea views, and in breach of the provision of the Brighton Marina Act 1968 that no building should exceed cliff height (approximately seven storeys). The main campaigning organisation is save brighton which is coordinating opposition from individual residents, residents’ organisations and amenity groups. The campaign was launched in November 2007. The founder of save brighton, Brian Simpson, has called for the “gross over development of Brighton Marina” to be stopped.
In the Domesday Book, Brighton was called Bristelmestune and a rent of 4,000 herring was established. In June 1514 Brighthelmstone was burnt to the ground by French raiders during a war between England and France. Only part of the St Nicholas Church and the street pattern of the area now known as “The Lanes” survived. The first drawing of Brighthelmstone was made in 1545 and depicts what is believed to be the raid of 1514. During the 1740s and 1750s, Dr Richard Russell of Lewes began prescribing seawater at Brighton.
From 1780, development of the Georgian terraces had started and the fishing village became the fashionable resort of Brighton. Growth of the town was further encouraged by the patronage of the Prince Regent (later King George IV) after his first visit in 1783. He spent much of his leisure time in the town and constructed the Royal Pavilion during the early part of his Regency. Although contracted forms of the name are attested since the 15th Century, it was not until this period that the modern form of the name came into common use.
The arrival of the London and Brighton Railway in 1841 brought Brighton within the reach of day-trippers from London and population growth from around 7,000 in 1801 to over 120,000 by 1901. The Victorian era saw the building of many major attractions including the Grand Hotel (1864), the West Pier (1866) and the Palace Pier (1899). Prior to either of these structures the famous Chain Pier was built, to the designs of Captain Samuel Brown. It lasted from 1823 to 1896, and featured in paintings by both Turner and Constable.
After boundary changes between 1873 and 1952, the land area of Brighton increased from 1,640 acres (7 km2) in 1854 to 14,347 acres (58 km2) in 1952. New housing estates were established in the acquired areas including Moulsecoomb, Bevendean, Coldean and Whitehawk. The major expansion of 1928 also incorporated the villages of Patcham, Ovingdean and Rottingdean, and much council housing was built in parts of Woodingdean after the Second World War.
More recently, gentrification of much of Brighton has seen a return of the fashionable image which characterised the growth of the Regency period. Recent housing in the North Laine, for instance, has been designed in keeping with the area.
In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium celebrations in 2000.
Brighton is sometimes referred to as London-by-the-sea[/contentbox]
[contentbox headline=”Brighton Fishing Museum” type=”info”]Come take a journey with us into the rich history of Brighton’s Fishing Community. Discover a Brighton of the past: a bustling little fishing village on the south coast which was transformed into a fashionable seaside resort.
Brighton Fishing Museum traces the unique story of the fishing community in Brighton, captured in a wealth of film, photography, paintings and memorabilia of Brighton seafront life.
Let us guide you through the Brighthelmstone of the 1700s, when patients were first prescribed the seawater at Brighton for its medicinal benefits. You’ll discover how Brighton soon developed into a fashionable resort town, a retreat for the rich, following the patronage of the Prince Regent – all with mixed reception from Brighton’s fishing community at the time.
By the mid 1800s, with the arrival of the railway, Brighton had become a haven for day-trippers. Discover how many of the fishermen began scrubbing down their punts each day after fishing and turn them into pleasure boats. Fishermen became boatmen, showmen of the sea and the water a funfair.
With the arrival of the piers, you’ll see how Brighton became the town we know today.
Brighton Fishing Museum offers a truly intriguing look at the history of this famous town and it’s community. You’ll find hundreds of pictures and artefacts and if that wasn’t enough, we’ve managed to squeeze in a 27 foot clinker built punt boat – the traditional Sussex fishing boat – as the museum’s centre piece.
Beautiful and truly unique, Brighton Bandstand is located on Brighton’s vibrant seafront. It was restored to its original specification and reopened in 2009. The bandstand is now available as a venue for weddings and ceremonies. The ornate architecture is magnificently detailed offering the perfect choice for couples wanting an elegant beachside experience.
History
Designed by Phillip Lockwood, Brighton Borough Surveyor, and completed in 1884 the Bandstand is considered to be one of the finest examples of a Victorian bandstand still surviving in England today. The original design featured a bridge linking the upper promenade with the Bandstand which was removed in the late 1970s. The ground floor was used as public conveniences until 2003 when vandalism forced their closure.
Aston Martin is lifting the lid on an extreme new sports car with the global debut of the V12 Vantage Roadster.
The new sports car, available as a limited edition in selected markets worldwide, immediately becomes the most potent example of the open-top Vantage range and mixes the breath-taking power of Aston Martin’s naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine with the established thrills of Vantage Roadster driving for what is an unforgettable sports car experience.
The V12 Vantage Roadster’s 6.0-litre engine, mated as in the Coupe to a six-speed manual gearbox, generates 517 PS at 6,500 rpm and a muscular 570 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm. It has been intelligently packaged into the Vantage Roadster’s compact form to fully exploit the sports-orientated model’s ample natural agility.
The naturally-aspirated V12 provides high levels of power and torque yet it delivers a flexible, refined driving experience illuminated with the potential for truly electrifying performance. The 0-62 mph sprint is dispatched in just 4.5 seconds* while this most potent Aston Martin Roadster is capable of 190 mph*.
While the Roadster naturally shares much of the technical and specification features of the V12 Vantage Coupe, some elements are redesigned to take account of the Roadster’s neat packaging and engaging dynamics.
The V12 Vantage Roadster features a redesigned rear boot lid and lower front air intake to maintain a level of dynamic performance that’s fully in keeping with the V12 Coupe, while there are also a number of unique chassis revisions. These include a modified rear damper set-up, front and rear damper valve tuning and a new rear spring design.
These changes, in conjunction with Aston Martin’s use of Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, ensure the sports car delivers dramatic straight-line performance as well as outstanding handling.
Styled to be as beautiful as it is potent, the new Roadster boasts a number of eye-catching additions that underline its sporty characteristics. Carbon fibre side strakes; a carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser; carbon fibre mirror caps and carbon fibre rear lamp infills – plus the new forged alloy wheel design – should leave the sports car cognoscenti in no doubt that this is a truly exclusive Aston Martin.
At the rear, the boot lid on the V12 Vantage Roadster incorporates a more pronounced ‘flip’ to reduce rear lift and improve stability at high speeds. The V12’s diffuser houses a large, centre-mounted oil cooler and two large tail-pipe finishers.
As with the front splitter, the carbon fibre rear diffuser is hand-made to ensure the direction and consistency of the weave and ensure the best possible finish.
Inside, there are other distinguishing features that make the new car stand out from its illustrious siblings in the sought-after Aston Martin V8 Vantage and V12 Vantage line-up. Subtle additions such as the use of glass switches in the lower centre stack elevate yet further the luxurious ambience in the V12 Vantage Roadster cabin.
While for those seeking the ultimate in V12 Vantage Roadster personalisation, a package of interior trim comprising carbon fibre facia and carbon fibre gearshift surround is available.
Unique to the V12 Vantage and new V12 Vantage Roadster is the engine’s “Sport” mode button, which enables the driver to select between two different powertrain modes.
Normal mode is the default from start-up and provides not only a more relaxed throttle response but also a quieter, more refined exhaust note. This creates a more progressive throttle response, suited to ‘everyday’ situations such as when driving in heavy traffic.
Sport mode, meanwhile, is designed for use in more dynamic driving situations where sharper responses are required. It has a number of tangible effects on the powertrain including a sharper throttle response, with the engine delivering more torque during the early stages of throttle pedal travel. Exhaust system bypass valves are also kept open for longer to create a particularly sporty exhaust note.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The V12 Vantage models are, first and foremost, driver’s cars – inviting and fully rewarding the driver’s full involvement.
“The addition to our range of this exceptional new Roadster allows the driver and passenger to experience full ‘sensory overload’ thanks to its outstanding performance.”
He added: “I believe no other car in this class offers the combination of the V12 Vantage Roadster’s prestige, six-speed manual gearbox and the unique enjoyment that driving a high performance convertible can deliver.”
Available to order in selected markets now, the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is priced at £150,000 RRP in the UK.
Specification
Body
– Two-door, two-seat layout
– VH bonded aluminium structure
– Aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body
– Extruded aluminium door side impact beams
– High Intensity Discharge headlamps (dipped beam)
– Halogen projector headlamps (main beam)
– LED rear lamps
Engine
– All-alloy quad overhead cam 48 valve 5,935cc V12
– Compression ratio 10.7:1
– Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
– Fully-catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
– 517 PS at 6,500 rpm
– 570 Nm at 5,750 rpm
– 0-62 mph (100 km/h): 4.5 seconds***
– Maximum speed: 190 mph*** (305 km/h***)
Transmission
– Rear mid-mounted six-speed manual gearbox
– Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre prop shaft
– Limited-slip differential
– Final drive ratio 3.71:1
Steering
– Rack and pinion
– Column tilt and reach adjustment
– Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
– Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, dual-rate coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
Wheels and tyres
– Front: 9J x 19” Pirelli P Zero Corsa 255/35 ZR19
– Rear: 11J x 19” Pirelli P Zero Corsa 295/30 ZR19
– Tyre repair kit
Brakes
– Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs – 398 mm diameter with six-piston calipers
– Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs – 360 mm diameter with four-piston calipers
– Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
– Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
– Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
– Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
– Traction Control
Standard equipment
– Glass switches
– Carbon fibre door pulls
– Leather trimmed steering wheel
– Memory seats and exterior mirrors (three positions)
– Sports seats with 10-way electric adjustment, including height, tilt and lumbar adjustment
– Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
– Side Airbags (Sports seats only)
– Heated rear screen
– Automatic temperature control
– Trip computer
– Cruise control
– Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system*
– Bluetooth telephone preparation*
– Powerfold exterior mirrors
– Rain-sensing wipers
– Rear parking sensors
– Automatic headlamps
– Auto-dimming interior rear view mirror
– Tyre pressure monitoring*
– Alarm and immobiliser
– Remote-control central door locking
– Battery disconnect switch
– Tracking device (UK only)
– 160W Aston Martin Audio System
– MP3 player connectivity
Optional equipment
– Carbon Fibre Interior Pack (comprising carbon fibre facia and gearshift surround)
– Lightweight seats with six-way adjustment, including front and rear height adjust (does not include side airbags or passenger airbag cut-off switch)
– 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
– Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 1000W Audio System
– Black Bang & Olufsen speaker grilles and acoustic lens towers
– Black finish grille
– Bright finish grille
– Black exhaust tailpipes
– Black bonnet and side strake meshes
– Personalised sill plaques
– Garage door opener (Europe only)
– Tracking device**
– First aid kit
– Ashtray and cigar lighter
– Boot-mounted umbrella
– Front parking sensors
– Reversing camera
– Heated seats (Sports seats only)
– ISOFIX and fixed-height passenger seat (Sports seat only)
– Battery conditioner
*Not available in all markets
**Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK
Current world champion and Links of London Ambassador Keri-anne Payne will take to the water on Thursday as the favourite in the 10k open water event at the Serpentine, Hyde Park.
In her final moments of preparation before she comes under the spotlight, Keri-anne takes the time to reflect on her journey to London 2012.
Aside from the gruelling training and competition schedule that has honed Keri-anne’s talent in the open water event, the swimmer also acknowledges that the road to the Games couldn’t have happened without the support and inspiration from key figures in her life.
The video sees Keri-anne reveal her biggest supporters and the contribution they have made to her journey, including her mum, fiancé and fellow swimmer David Carry and her swimming team.
The nation can show their Genuine Belief in Keri-anne and other members of Team GB by wearing their Links of London Team GB Bands. Available in stores and online at www.linksoflondon.com
Brighton’s AVT discovers there’s something about Berlin…
Germany is synonymous with technical excellence and it’s where the beloved, slightly overused phrase Vorsprung durch Technik originates, which depending on its context means “advancement through technology” or, as Audi’s highly recognised slogan since the 80s would have you believe, “competitive edge”.
No surprise then that Berlin, the cool, cultural capital of Germany, should be up there as an epicentre for digital media activity, especially for the 8 days when their “Berlin / Web / Week” sees thousands of digital professionals descend on the city. This event alone propels Berlin to the top of the European festival landscape for the digital scene.
Last month, AVT Connect carried out no less than 3 webcasts in Berlin. All for the pharmaceutical industry and all were handling really sensitive information that needed to be shared as far as possible between their members, doctors and other medical professionals.
Firstly, there was ISHAM (International Society for Human & Animal Mycology) a worldwide organisation that represents all clinical scientists and fundamental researchers with an interest in fungal diseases. The aims of the organisation are to facilitate on an international basis the exchange of ideas and information including the publishing of journals and research.
The actual event was held at the Berlin Congress Centre, a state-of-the-art environment with ultra-modern equipment right down to the robotic video recording facilities. Eager to get their hands on this equipment AVT’s technicians liaised with the Centre’s technical team whose thorough knowledge and attention to detail made them a pleasure to work with. The content was captured seamlessly and successfully and will be delivered to a select audience via an on-demand webcast.
The next webcast was from EULAR, the European League Against Rheumatism. This is a massive congress attended by over 10,000 people and is sponsored by Abbott and GE Healthcare. Held in the ICC Berlin, this congress tackles all the issues and latest developments regarding rheumatism. AVT Connect were on hand to film various talks and webcast them to a wider audience. The webcasts were then put on GE Healthcare’s website for on-demand viewing.
Finally, there was TREG, The Rheumatology Education Group which is a think tank of key opinion leaders in the world of rheumatology who get together once a year to discuss the latest developments. This happens after the EULAR congress so the attendees can disseminate what they learnt there. Here AVT filmed the various discussions which took place in large groups and in smaller one-to-one sessions as well. Some of the discussions were live webcast to encourage participation from interested parties that were unable to attend.
For each webcast AVT Connect built a VMP (Virtual Meeting Platform) within which video and slide content as well as functions such as interactive Q&A, audience polling and multiple choice testing are combined in a single client branded console. This enabled virtual participants to benefit from many of the advantages that a physical attendee would enjoy, from the comfort of their own PC or mobile device at a time to suit them. Here are case studies and examples of recent webcasts.
Felix Baumgartner completes final Red Bull Stratos test jump from 96,640 ft. in Roswell, New Mexico
Final test jump sees Baumgartner execute a 3 minute, 48 second freefall jump reaching speeds of 536 mph / 862 kmh
Felix Baumgartner completed the final milestone remaining before he attempts to achieve his dream of becoming the first person to break the speed of sound in freefall. According to preliminary data, his test jump from a 5.3 million cubic-foot / 150,079 cubic-meter balloon achieved an altitude of over 96,640 feet / 29,455 meters, seeing Baumgartner execute a 3 minute, 48 second freefall jump reaching speeds of 536 mph / 862 kmh.
Baumgartner landed in a desert area of the U.S. state of New Mexico, just about 15 minutes by helicopter from his launch site at Roswell International Air Center. As the ecstatic team gathered in Mission Control to welcome his return, technical project director Art Thompson commented: “It’s hard not to get emotional about today. We are just so glad to have Felix back on the ground after a long week with significant weather challenges. The crew did a great job.”
The test launch was twice delayed due to thunderstorms, wind and rain. But the team of aerospace experts was never discouraged, well aware that even Space Shuttle launches sometimes faced several days of postponement. Baumgartner’s successful test is proof that patience pays off.
The balloon for Baumgartner’s final ascent will rise as tall as a skyscraper – requiring surface winds of no more than 4 miles / 6.5 kilometers per hour to avoid endangering its delicate plastic envelope. The date for the record jump is now subject to favourable weather conditions and critical post-jump assessments on the capsule and equipment.
Today’s successful test, with a balloon over four times as large as the one that carried the pilot at the first test flight in March, delivered new insights for the progress of the project and also new research data for the benefit of aerospace research.
Pending official data review and confirmation, the leap from over 96,640 feet / 29,455 meters takes Baumgartner past Russia’s Yevgeny Andreyev (83,523 feet / 25,458 meters) to make him only the second man to have successfully completed a jump from such an altitude. His planned freefall from 120,000 feet / 36,576 meters would finally break the record of 102,800 feet set 52 years ago by the only man who has jumped from a higher altitude, Baumgartner’s mentor Joe Kittinger.
Tim Birkin’s 4 ½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’ Bentley single seater sets new world best for a Bentley at Bonhams Goodwood auction
Beautiful Brooklands racing machine underlines enduring appeal of the ‘Bentley Boy’ racing spirit
(Crewe and Goodwood, 29 June 2012) Just 35 miles away from the fabled Brooklands race circuit where it astonished thousands of spectators eight decades ago by sprinting its way into the record books, Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin’s dramatic 4 ½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’ single seat racing machine returned to record-breaking form by reaching a sale price of £4.5 million when auctioned by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today.
This new world-best for Birkin’s striking 240bhp supercharged red racer now outstrips the previous record by a Bentley at auction when the Speed Six known as ‘Old No 2’ achieved £2.8 million at the Le Mans Classic in 2004.
At its racing zenith and with the famously fearless and dashing ex-fighter pilot and Le Mans winner Birkin behind the wheel, this unique Bentley was one of the undoubted stars of the high-risk Outer Circuit at Brooklands.
In March 1932 Birkin set a record 137.96mph (219.93kmh) at Brooklands, a feat even a man renowned for pushing back the limits in motor sport would describe as hair-raising: “there are bumps which jolt the driver up and down in his seat and make the car leave the road and travel through the air,” said Birkin.
Commenting on the exploits of Birkin and his 4 ½ litre at Brooklands, Richard Charlesworth, Bentley’s Director of VIP and Royal Relations comments:
“Birkin along with his Bentley racing friends like Woolf Barnato, Dudley Benjafield and Glen Kidston were true sporting superstars, renowned not only for their driving ability and courage but living life to the full and in some considerable style. They would create the enduring legend of the Bentley Boy racer at Brooklands and Le Mans and this new record price for a Bentley achieved by Bonhams reflects the enduring respect and admiration for their story and their cars.”
