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She’s involved with Spectrum, Pride in Brighton and Hove, and is a senior lecturer in Human Geographies at Brighton University. Paul Disney caught up with Dr Kath Browne

Describe yourself in three words.
Inquisitive, sensitive and fun.

Where are you from?
I was born in Cork City, County Cork, in Ireland.

Why Brighton and Hove?
I came to Brighton about five and a half years ago to take up my post at Brighton University. I can remember the first day I came to Brighton for my interview; it was a really cold and rainy winter’s day. I sat on the beach and just fell in love with the place.

Can you explain to me what are ‘human geographies’?
It’s the study of people and places. It’s a branch of geography that focuses on the study of the patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the environment. The are lots of different types of human geography. I look at geographies of sexualities, how LGBT spaces – and even cities – are created and used.

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BRAG (British Rock Artists Group) play host to the Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company from San Francisco on the Brighton leg of their incendiary UK Rock Poster Explosion Tour. This exhibition features some of the finest screenprinted poster work coming out of the UK, by some of the UK’s most talented and prolific artists alongside posters from some of the legends of the American poster art scene.

The UK has been experiencing an explosion of rock poster art hitting the streets from screen printing studios that seem to be springing up in all sorts of various garages, warehouses and basements.

UK Rock Poster Explosion Tour with BRAG, 20–22 June
The Basement, 24 Kensington Street, Brighton.

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Planning a dinner, a party, a wedding or a feast? Then call Plum Catering and talk to Kim Ryan

Plum Catering is the brainchild of food lover and accomplished cook Kim Ryan. Kim started cooking 25 years ago with basic chef training but was disheartened by the discrimination she found back then against women in professional kitchens. That was in the late 70s and 80s. She followed that with a Cordon Bleu course where she honed her classic French cooking skills, skills that she sees as the basis of everything she now does. Since then she has worked in many kitchens, written about food and raised a family, her toughest critics.

Now Kim runs Plum Catering, a food business that is grounded in the three key factors that most discerning chefs apply today: quality produce, local produce and seasonal produce. It’s a passion with Kim and one that will find her scouring the local countryside in search of just-picked asparagus or freshly landed seafood and fish. In her search for perfect produce she has also built up many strong relationships with local food suppliers.

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A third of the population will one day have cancer. If you become one of them, who will help? Rachel Pegg reports

Being diagnosed with cancer is something we all dread. Sadly it is happening to more and more of us. The good news is that there is more research going on and more specialist care available than ever before – but not all of that is part of the health service. Macmillan Cancer Support provides nurses, doctors, information, counsellors and financial help, all funded by donations. Their care can be invaluable for somebody going through the difficult process of a cancer diagnosis, treatment or illness.

When Michael Horabin was diagnosed with tonsil and neck cancer, he didn’t know where to turn. Mr Horabin, 70, had led a healthy life and was enjoying his retirement with his wife Susan in their beautiful home and garden in Hangleton.

The couple have two sons and were looking forward to seeing their grandson, now aged 17, and their granddaughter, four, grow up. Then, a year ago, Mr Horabin got sick.

He said: “It first started with a lump in my throat. I went to the doctor and he didn’t like the look of it. He sent me to see a consultant in Worthing. I had a sneaking suspicion it was cancer.”

Doctors used cameras to investigate Mr Horabin’s condition. After diagnosing cancer, they booked him in for a tonsillectomy and a radical neck dissection, taking out 27 lymph nodes and putting him back together with 32 stitches.

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