Latest TV: Prime time
Behind the scenes of Latest TV news with Tim Ridgway
It’s not every day that the Prime Minister praises what you do. But last week, a team from Latest TV received a full thumbs up from David Cameron when he visited Peacehaven. Apparently, according to our mate Dave, local TV is great for communities and great for showing off everything good about our areas.
Well, we certainly agree and can’t wait to get showing programmes on freeview Channel 8 come summertime.
Whether or not Dave and SamCam will be joining us though had not yet been confirmed. The PM’s trip was just days after another government big shot, Ian “the quiet man” Duncan Smith visited Hove for a tour around the job centre. No, the Tory frontbencher had not been given his P45 from Dave. It was all part of his role as work and pensions secretary – and to boost the re-election campaign of Hove MP Mike Weatherley.
Thankfully, in interview the minister was a little more vocal than his nickname suggested – and even provided our man Frank Le Duc with a scoop about back-to-work contractors Atos.
Away from Westminster, there was much relief for the Sewell family, who have run the Pavilion Gardens Cafe in Brighton since 1941.
After months of fears that the building would be demolished as part of wider plans to sauce up the royal park, the Sewell’s have received confirmation that they will be allowed to keep the lease for the foreseeable future.
This commentator is one of those who is much relieved – if only because the rock cakes on sale there are divine. Across the city, there was further celebration as the turf was cut for the building of the new Sussex Macmillan Cancer Support Centre.
After years of fundraising, enough money has been secured to ensure work can start on the new building in Bristol Gate, Brighton. It means that thousands of people will be able to receive the support that they need after being diagnosed with the disease.
Hundreds attended a celebration for the work starting at the American Express Community Stadium. And those who were there were reminded that another £1.2 million is required for the full building work to be completed.
After a quick interview with Dr George Deutsch, the man who has spent his life caring for and raising money to help those with cancer, it was time for a dash across town.
The reason was the Latest TV team were the guests of honour – sort of – at the Whitehawk FC game against Eastleigh.
For those of you unfamiliar with non-league football: it’s not pretty but it’s still very much the beautiful game. (Anywhere that sells Bovril in a mug will always win praise from me…)
In about five years, a group of local businessmen have taken over a county league team and turned it into one of the best clubs in Sussex. Among the couple of hundreds watching was a barmy army of about six, an opera singer and the local MP. With a name change in the offing, it seems those at the helm do not want to settle for the Conference South.
I urge anyone who has not yet ventured to the Enclosed Ground in East Brighton Park to check it out. The football is good, banter excellent and did I mention the Bovril? If you can’t, then expect to see plenty of the Whitehawk team’s players, directors and fans on Channel 8 in just a few month’s time.
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