7 Days of News With Phil Mills
The Albion draw Liverpool, expansion of the Royal Sussex Hospital and a Turner painting arrives
The Albion has again dominated the news. The club’s FA cup draw away to Liverpool on 18 February brings back memories of 1983 when Brighton won at Anfield on their way to the brave but ill-fated Wembley final and replay with Manchester United.
With no room in the Albion end, I stood among the heaving swell of Liverpudlians in the Kop and had to muffle my joy at the win and keep my southern accent to myself throughout the whole 90 minutes. It’s been a fairytale first season for the Albion at their new Falmer ground – let’s hope it continues with a win over the Reds.
There was good news for all those fed up with crumbling ‘Florence Nightingale’ hospital facilities in Brighton. The city council has given approval for a £420m redevelopment which will bring a new 12-storey block, helicopter pad and underground car parking at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Improvements will mean the hospital treating hundreds more patients who would otherwise be sent to London hospitals.
The downside is that it means massive disruption during construction and more traffic jams. What do you think? Email comment@thelatest.co.uk
Be warned: Counterfeit cigarettes being sold in Sussex contain abnormally high levels of cancer-causing chemicals, according to a BBC South East investigation. And six men have been arrested after fake and smuggled cigarettes were seized in police raids on shops in East Sussex.
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man suffered critical injuries after falling 30ft from railings in Kings Road on Brighton seafront. The Londoner climbed over the railings during a night out with friends.
Comet presented aspiring tennis star Julian Cash from Fulking with a £1,000 cheque to support his training. As part of Comet’s charity partnership with SportsAid, the electrical specialist will back 20 young talented sportspeople around the UK with training grants to help during the early years of their careers. Julian, 15, has been selected to play for Great Britain at the 16U Winter Cup this month.
Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, was at Brighton’s Grand Hotel to give 500 business people a pep talk. He said: “There is no reason to despair…all crises come to an end.” What he didn’t say was…when.
Meanwhile, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery is celebrating winning a £100,000 grant from the Department of Culture to create interactive exhibition space. And there are spooky plans afoot – a life-sized metal silhouette of an early steam locomotive is to be installed on a redundant railway bridge in New England Road, Brighton. The ‘Ghost Train’ by local metalworker Jon Mills (no relation) is a nostalgic feature in the redevelopment of the city’s former railway works. It will be a two-dimensional replica of the locomotive Jenny Lind and special lighting will make the train appear and disappear, creating a “ghostly presence”.
Finally – what a coup for Brighton. A Turner painting of the city seafront and old chain pier will go on display for the first time in more than a century after being bought for £225,000 at Christie’s, New York, by the Royal Pavilion and Museums with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund, and a donation from the Royal Pavilion & Museums Foundation. The 1824 watercolour which has been in private hands will go on show at the Royal Pavilion soon after it arrives in the city and will be the star attraction of a new exhibition at the palace next year.
