Brighton Marina Security Manager becomes Special Constable

Brighton Marina’s security manager, Colin Tribe, has become a special constable, helping make the centre even safer for residents and visitors, with support from the Brighton Marina Estate Management Company.

The 45-year-old has worked in Brighton Marina for ten years and has undergone 150 hours of training and gained 20 accreditations from Sussex Police in the past year to gain his status of ‘independent control’, meaning that he is competent to patrol with police authority and equipment.

“This has been a great opportunity for me to increase my own professionalism and to further improve public safety in Brighton Marina,” said Colin Tribe.

“It has been hard work and I’ve had to put in a lot of my own personal time toward this at weekends, but it has been worth it and I’m particularly grateful to my employers for their support, which has included at least one paid working day per week to undergo training.”

Colin Tribe, who manages a security team of 12 officers and additional staff at weekends during busy times, is assigned to the East Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Team and trained under the Employer Supported Policing scheme. His office is open 24 hours a day, with CCTV to help ensure that customers in Brighton Marina have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Said John Davey, Estates Manager at Brighton Marina: “Colin has worked really hard for this and his skills offer us greater resources for increasing public safety and confidence in the marina.”        

Said Inspector Bill Whitehead, of Sussex Police: “The employee supported policing scheme is a fantastic way for business to have a positive impact on community safety. We are pleased that Brighton Marina is willing to support Colin who has already become a valued member of the local neighbourhood policing team.”

TOP PR STUDENT WINS NATURAL PR PRIZE

Susannah Fox (right) at the University of Brighton Business School Prize Ceremony 2012 yesterday [July 27] winning The Natural PR Ltd Prize for Best PR Student. 

Susannah who also graduated from the Brighton Business School on the same day, said: “I am really inspired by PR and the media and hope very much to pursue a career in this field.”

Said Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR, who sponsors the award: “It’s great to see such talent coming out of the Brighton Business School – the business courses are fantastically flexible for students to find the area of business that is best for them and I’m delighted that so many bright young things are taking an interest in PR as a career avenue, as I’ve always loved this profession.” 

www.naturalpr.biz

Brighton Foodie Leaders July 2012

July is truly a fabulous time for all things foodie!  This is the month when hot dogs, ice cream and even the humble baked bean are celebrated nationally.  July 25^th sees the start of National Salad Week closely followed by the British Food Fortnight from 27^th July.

So will any of these events help the leaders in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards and who is on the July leaderboard? 

Terre à Terre in East Street has held on to first place in the Best Restaurant category.  Food for Friends in Prince Albert Street has regained second place and Chilli Pickle is back on the leaderboard and in third place.

Leading the way in the Best Food Pub category is the Ginger Pig in Hove Street, the Basketmakers in Cheltenham Place has dropped back to third place and the Foragers in Stirling Place continues to battle for the lead from the number two spot.  Never has a competition been so fiercely fought between local rivals, with fourth and fifth places rapidly closing in. Will it all change in the last two months of voting? 

There’s no change either in the Best Café category; last year’s winners Iydea in Kensington Gardens remain in first place, Moksha Caffe in York Place is still there in second and Mange Tout in Trafalgar Street maintains in third place.  But voting numbers for other city favourites are on the increase and it could be a very different picture next month!

For Best Food Shop, Infinity Food is in first place, Boho Gelato in Pool Valley is in second place  and the Brighton Sausage Company in Gloucester Street holds onto third place.

Said Paula Seager, Managing Director of Natural PR, the Awards’ organisers: “This is the third year we have run the Foodies and this year is quite unlike any other.  It seems like the same names keep appearing but in fact  fourth, fifth and even sixth places in each categories are so close to edging their way on to the leaderboard and very able to spring some last minute surprises.”

“With two months to go until voting closes our leaders should not yet feel safe and those taking part who have not yet seen their name on the leaderboard should know that the outcome is far from resolved.  So if your favourite has not yet appeared, get involved and have your say, it could make a very big difference to next month’s positions.”

Find out more and place your vote at www.brightonfoodawards.com – everyone has one vote per category.

Sussex Foodie News July 2012

Read the latest Sussex Foodie News by clicking here

Sussex High Sheriffs' verdict on local food and drink

Refreshing, heart warming, tangy, lively, robust and – in one case – squidgy was the verdict of Sussex High Sheriffs about Sussex food and drink at an event bringing together the finalists in the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2012/13, held at the newly re-furbished Norfolk Pavilion at Ardingly Showground.

High Sheriff of East Sussex David Allam and High Sheriff of West Sussex, Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke from the Borde Hill Estate, joined awards director Paula Seager on stage in front of 120 leading lights in the local food industry to sample the superb produce available in the county, including sparkling wine, sausages, cheese, apple juice, pies and brownies.

They were given the opportunity to provide just one word to describe each product’s taste and thereby characterise the produce of the county of Sussex as a whole.

“Public voting for our 75 finalists in this year’s awards is already under way and well up on last year, not just because we have improved our online voting system and introduced text voting for the first time, but because the growing trend is to buy local,” said Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR.

“The awards is all about boosting the market for Sussex produce and letting people in the county know about the fantastic food and drink grown and made in the county, as well as the great restaurants, pubs, cafes and food shops where it can be bought and enjoyed.

“Everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to food and drink and we urge people to try out the produce on our finalists list and vote for their favourites at www. sussexfoodawards.biz now – there are some real hidden treasures to be found!”

The award categories include:

Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by The Southern Co-operative

Best Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Knill James

Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys

Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Cheese Please and Gram UK Ltd

Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Natural Farms

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Natural PR

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop, sponsored by Sussex Food & Drink Network

Voting is now open for the public to choose their favourites, with all details at  www.sussexfoodawards.biz. Voting closes at midnight on October 14 and winners will be revealed at a stunning seven-course Sussex banquet, to be held at the Amex Stadium in January 2013.

Sally Gunnell launches Sussex Food & Drink Awards

Former Olympian Sally Gunnell OBE launched the Sussex Food & Drink Awards at the South of England Show VIP opening breakfast on 7th June 2012, revealing the 75 finalists in this year’s awards and declaring public voting open.

She posed with Sussex children representing local sporting achievement and highlighted how important it is to eat fresh, locally-grown food to achieve the best health and physical performance.

 

Said Clive Beddall OBE, chairman of the judges for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards: “We can justifiably boast that we have some of the country’s best food and drink producers here in Sussex and our farmers, producers and sellers work hard to provide and promote high quality local produce to their local communities.”

Over a hundred leading lights in the agricultural, food and farming community enjoyed ‘Eggs Jubilee’, specially created by Paul Peach of the Horse Guards Inn at Tillington, who is the reigning Sussex Young Chef of the Year, followed by interesting debate around the topic of food sustainability and sport.

Speakers on the panel included Sally Gunnell OBE; Clive Beddall OBE; Nick Hempleman, the current winner of Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop; and Gwyn Jones, former VP of the NFU, chaired by David Allam, High Sherriff of East Sussex and Member of the South of England Agricultural Society.  

Voting is now open for the public to choose their favourites from the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2012/13 finalists list, either online or through SMS text voting, with all details at www.sussexfoodawards.biz. Voting closes at midnight on October 14 and winners will be revealed at the awards dinner in January 2013.

The finalists are:

Sussex Farmer of the Year Award sponsored by Knill James:

Sir Sebastian Anstruther, the Barlavington Estate, Petworth

Michael Browing and Sarah Wareham, Tottingworth Farm, Heathfield

John & Alison Ford, Priors Byne Farm, Partridge Green

Harry Goring, the Wiston Estate, Steyning

Tim and Charles Harrison, R Harrisons & Sons, Rudgwick

Chris, Caroline and Robert Hodgkins, Locks Farm, Washington

Martin and Gundrada Hole, Montague Farm, Pevensey

Phil and Steve Hook, Longleys Farm, Hailsham (last year’s winners)

John Robinson, J & H Robinson (Iford Farms), Iford

Tom Tupper, Bignor Farm, Bignor

Best Sussex Food Producer sponsored by The Southern Co-operative

Bangers Galore, Horsham

Besmoke, Arundel

Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham

Chocoholly, Brighton

Ginger’s Kitchen, Partridge Green

Goodwood Home Farm, Goodwood

High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes

Just Brownies, Partridge Green

Piglets Pantry, Worthing

Prosperity Brownies, Lancing

Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

The Cat, West Hoathly

The Coach and Horses, Danehill

The Foragers, Hove

Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield

The Ram Inn, Firle

Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis

Stanmer House, Brighton

Tottington Manor, Edburton

Wabi, Horsham

Wessons Café, Horam

Best Sussex Farmers Market sponsored by Harveys

Arundel Farmers Market

Chichester Farmers Market

Lewes Farmers Market

Rye Farmers Market

Shoreham Farmers Market

Steyning Farmers Market

Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Natural Farms

Archers, Westfield

Bramptons Butchers, Brighton

Canham and Sons, Hove

Clive Miller, Hurstpierpoint

John Murray, Loxwood

Meads Village Butchers, Eastbourne

New Street Butchers, Horsham

Frank Richards & Sons, Lewes

S K Hutchings, Partridge Green

Westdene Butchers, Brighton

Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Gram (UK) Ltd and Cheese Please

Blake Chrysanthou, Sam’s of Brighton

Charlie Miles, The Gingerman, Brighton

Charlie Tayler, South Lodge Hotel, Horsham

Jimmy Gray, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill

Jonathon Wheatland, Ardington Hotel, Worthing

Paul Peach, The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington 

Ryan Hunter, Wingrove House, Alfriston

Steven Pelling, Felbridge Hotel, East Grinstead

Tom Goodchild, The Crabtree Inn, Lower Beeding  

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by Natural PR

Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney

Court Garden Vineyard, Ditchling

Dark Star Brewery, Partridge Green

Gran Stead’s, Brighton 

Hepworths Brewery, Horsham

Ridgeview Wine Estate, Ditchling

Ringden Farm Apple Juice, Etchingham

Stopham Vineyard, Pulborough

W J King Brewery, Horsham

Wobblegate, Bolney

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network

Cowdray Farm Shop, Midhurst

Holmansbridge Farm Shop, Barcombe

The Hungry Guest, Petworth Lodsworth Larder, Lodsworth

Plaw Hatch Farm Shop, Sharpthorne

Rushfields Farm Shop, Poynings Sharnfold Farm Shop, Pevensey

The Sussex Produce Company, Steyning Veasey & Sons Fishmongers, Forest Row

The Village Larder, Washington

Well Done Chestnut Tree House Midnight Walkers

Well done to all the 700 women who walked 10 miles from midnight last night [May 19] in Eastbourne, raising over £71,000 for Chestnut Tree House - the only children's hospice in Sussex. It was an amazing event with such positive excitement and energy and so well organised. Click here to see the Midnight walkers set off

I met several incredible mums who have benefited from Chestnut Tree House's help, including a very brave young woman called Gemma Croucher whose baby lived for just 24 days and died exactly three months ago from a heart condition. She and 30 friends and family were walking in baby Finlay's memory and his dad, Kevin, was also volunteering as a marshal on the night.

Gemma said: "Chestnut Tree House helped us so much - they organised Finlay's funeral and they had so much love and support for us, it was amazing. Doing the walk tonight is our way of giving back to them."

Other Chestnut Tree House mums included Jackie Hoadley, whose son Matthew is in hospital in London right now and support workers from the hospice are even helping there. Marie Baker's six-year-old daughter Amy has Dravet syndrome and regularly uses the hospice, allowing her mum to get some sleep and relax in the knowledge that she is safe and enjoying herself.

Marie said: "We're so grateful for all the help and support we get from Chestnut Tree House, we do this walk every year to say thank you and do our bit."

Tandy Hearne's five-year-old Sasha has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and feeding difficulties and she says the hospice gives her a chance to be something other than be a nurse sometimes and to just be a mum to her other three children, Jake, Jodie and Kiaran, aged six to 16.

Zoe Gilbert was there with a group of friends dressed up in wild purple gear as 'Connor's Angels' in memory of her son Connor, who died aged seven six years ago. She said: "I don't know what I'd have done without Chestnut Tree House."

Stacey Leigh was there doing the walk for the second time and said that her 11-year-old Aimee loves it at the hospice and that it is 'absolutely brilliant'.

And of course, there were hundreds of other fantastic women there, including the Natural PR team led by Kat Ratcliffe, who just wanted to raise funds for this important cause, which any one of us might need one day. Find out more at www.nighttoremember.org.uk