The historic Astoria cinema, Gloucester Place, could be restored by the Astoria Moving Picture Company. The Art Deco cinema would be a large, single screen venue, a fantastic resource to have on the border of Hanover.

Peregrine Falcons are back again nesting at Sussex heights on the seafront. You can check the webcam ... www.regencybrighton.com/birds/
The chicks have now hatched. There are photos and a link to the webcam (broadband or dialup versions) further down the page.

There is a meeting all about TETRA MASTS at 7:30pm
this Friday, May 14 2004 at Citygate Centre, London Rd, Brighton (above Blockbusters). We are lucky to have John O'Brien of Protect Sussex from Tetra as guest speaker. Tetra is the new telecommunication system for the emergency services, and masts are now springing up in Brighton. Other communities who already have Tetra are already reporting adverse health impacts and we ask "are they safe?"Find out the truth behind Tetra, and judge for yourself if there is cause for concern.
PLEASE COME, AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBOURS!
PDF flyer available on request from Keith Taylor.
Organised and promoted by Keith Taylor on behalf of
the Brighton & Hove Green Party, The Eco Centre, 39-41
Surrey Street, Brighton BN13PB

Local History - can you help? These two emails arrived this week from Hanovernet users:

"I have just found your extremely interesting web site. I wish that I had found it earlier as last week we brought my mother-in-law to Brighton from Gloucester to see some of the sights we had discovered which were linked with her family history. Her father's family lived on Carlyle Street, where her father (George Snow) died in 1948, sadly estranged from his wife and children.
Two of George's sisters married at St Lukes Church, one in 1905 to a Henry John Coles and the other in 1902 to a Walter Histed. A third sister married John Bonwick at the registry office in 1909. He also lived on Carlysle Street and was a Master Chimney Sweep. We believe that one of the younger sisters married an Arthur Wren.
We have made contact with the families of George's two brothers, Luke and William (which no longer have links with Brighton) but sadly found that they too had lost contact with the seven Brighton Snow sisters. Until now I haven't really tried to find them but seeing your web site makes me wonder if some of their families are still living in the area. If they are, and should they be interested in family history, we have traced the Snow family male line back to the late 1700's and seen how it was affected by the Industrial Revolution. I see that your site mention's a book part authored by Jacqueline Pollard who has been a great help to us in tracing that family. If anyone can and might like to enlighten us about what happened to the Snow sisters of Carlyle Street and the families they married into (COLE, HISTED, BONWICK & WREN) we would be very interested to hear about them. Many thanks." Elaine Griffiths e-mail address -
"Hello, My name is Judy Fleming ( nee Mist). My maternal grandparents, Alfred Edward "Tom" Atkins, and his wife, Lily Phillips, lived in the Hanover area of Brighton in the late 1800's, from about 1870. Both lived in a number of different houses on Quebec Street, Washington Street, and Hanover Terrace. My grandparents were married At The Church of the Annunciation on Washington Street in 1899. Many family events in the Atkins and Phillips families had taken place at St. Peter's Church. The Atkins family ancestors had come from London to Brighton around 1824.
Lily and "Tom", my grandparents, emigrated to Canada in 1907. Two of my grandmother's sisters, Mabel and Maud Phillips, never came to Canada, but stayed in Brighton. One, Mabel Phillips, married William Legendre. Willie worked at the Brewery Shades Pub on Black Lion Street in Brighton, around 1928. Mabel worked at a tea room at 24 Market Street around that time. Then she ran "MABS" fruiterer's on St. George's Road in the late '20's.
There were other Atkins and Phillips family members who lived and worked in Brighton. My great grandfather, Alfred Alphonse Atkins and his father and grandfather had been shoemakers in Brighton. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows the Hanover area of Brighton. Also, I wonder if anyone remebers these families. Perhaps someone remebers the brewery Shades Pub, the tea room on Market Street or "MABS" fruiterer's. I look forward to hearing from someone in this interesting area.
best wishes, Judy Fleming, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada"
email:
New Plans for the West Pier - after two fires and the collapse of part of the West Pier the current plans have been rushed through to save the structure, it is hoped that an agreement can be made to save the pier with one of the proposals offered.
Hanover Day - Sunday 17th August 2003 - this year's theme is 'The Sound of Music'. If you would like to find out more or offer help, please call Fr David Hawthorn on 681341. Booking forms for street stalls will be available from the Hanover Community Centre, 33 Southover Street, from mid-June onwards. e-mail - .
Crime figures - have improved since July when 40% of the crime in the city happened in the Hanover, Queens Park, London Road, the Level and Lewes Road areas. The figure is now down to 22%. Brighton is second only to Manchester in recent crime figures, with more crime than London, according to some sources. Hanovernet is promoting local business and trying to avoid urban decay in the area which can only make things worse, so support local enterprises, find them on Hanovernet.
A new creche at the Phoenix Community Centre - on Saturdays - at the Phoeneix Brewery Creche, Phoenix Place. The creche is non-profit and funded by a National Lottery Grant for parents who are shift workers or in training.
New Plans for the Marina - over 100 letters have been written by the Brighton Marina Yacht Club protesting about a £100 million development plan as the new bars, shops and houses will make it more difficult for yacht owners to use the marina.
The Sussex Smoke Free Guide - is now available from council help points, libraries, tourist information centres and other information shops. A new Children's Hospital will be built in the grounds of the Royal Sussex County Hospital to replace the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital. The Nigel Porter Unit should also stay at the RSCH it was announced.
Crime-Busters - Hanover ward councillors have sponsored a leaflet with contact numbers for the police. If you see a crime in progress always dial 999, for less urgent calls, 0845 6070999.
Peregrine Falcons at Sussex heights on the seafront flew away, and the webcam has been turned off for now, but reports last week that they had returned and are nesting on the West pier. You can check at www.peregrinefalcons.co.uk
A gang of youths have been causing problems outside the video shop in Queens Park Road. When the police were called, they did not come, despite a second call from the shop owners. The police say they are looking into the problem.
The Aquarium Terraces on Madiera Drive are to house a new amusement arcade despite opposition from local conservation groups and the police. City Council planners have granted permission for two of the unlet units to be made into one huge arcade where upmarket restaurants were originally planned. The Grade II listed terraces that housed the old Concorde Club have already been altered beyond recognition, and how house a Jim Thompsons pub-restaurant and a Burger King.
The Reservoir pub in Howard Road has reopened. By email from Andy Hunt ..."This will be one business in Hanover not converted to flats and houses and should not contribute to the awful parking problems in the area. Good luck to the owners and can all it's future customers please walk to this establishment and not add to the parking problems in Hanover. Have other people noticed how double parking is now becoming the norm in the area?"
The Jazz Club is now at the Sussex Arts Club on Fridays from 7-11pm, for more details, see the Events page.
New Bus Route 177 - running until April 2002, stopping at the Pier, Station, Dyke Road, Devils Dyke - up to 4 kids free with an adult - more info. (01273) 890477 and www.vic.org.uk
Chris Sculthorpe from Hanover is one of nine local people who have completed the lifechanging 'ninelives challenge' - www.ninelives.tv
The Burning of the Clocks parade will not take place this year due to lack of funding. Same Sky do not expect to raise the £18,000 needed to organise the event, involving preparatory clock-making workshops for schools and families. Shame. Last year's photos - click here
The Lift in Queens Road, is to close on December 8th, due to lack of support. It will open on December 14th for one last Brighton Jazz Club event. We hope the excellent bands that have played at The Lift will find other local venues to entertain our local audience. The Brighton Jazz Club will be moving to the Sussex Arts Club.
The Hanover Beer Festival
October 19th & 20th held at the Hanover Community Centre,made £4000 for the running of the centre.
No. 47 Bus has a new route
The 47 now has a more direct route into town from Hanover, but the route going east from Hanover is unchanged.
Hanover Family find old well in basement
Local resident Tim Crouch was digging in his cellar to make a playroom for his children when he was amazed to find a 150 ft deep well under his basement in Cobden Road. "I was digging out the chalk when I hit this structure, which turned out to be a conical cap covering the shaft, I kept going and we knocked the top off to discover a very deep hole. I don't know quite how old it is but it was obviously there before the house and we think it must be at least 300 years old." The water was chalky at first but when the sediment settled it was delicious. The family would like to find out more about the origins of the well, which is in an area of former farmland, and near the site of old chalk mines. Please contact us at if you have any information about the well.
Hanover Day
Sunday 12th August - our annual street festival. Father David Wolstenholme initiated the festival in 1994, and is leaving Hanover, so this year's festival Mass at 10.30am will be his farewell to the area. Photos online soon.
Bee invasion
A swarm of bees frightened residents in the Islingword Road area. Thousands of bees buzzing around prevented people leaving their homes. Brighton and Hove Highways Officers have contacted a bee keeper, but will not move the bees unless they become a danger to the public.
Brighton in Bloom
Once again the annual Brighton & Hove in Bloom competition is on. This year's competition has a range of categories including hanging baskets and window boxes, well kept allotments, and tallest sunflowers. There is also a new category for the most amusing front garden! Competition forms are available from council information and advice centres such as libraries, tourist information centres, town halls etc. For more information or to request a form call 292217.
Hanover Community Association - are appealing for help from local businesses and individuals to raise money for a new heating system as the current system has been condemned.
Please contact if you are able to help.
Icy Conditions
We got this mail about slippery slopes from a resident ...
  " I live on Richmond Street, one of Brighton's steepest hills along with Albion Hill and Southover Street. Every year we have the problem of dangerously icy pavements that are very difficult to walk down. I've contacted the Council Highway's department and Cllr Joyce Edmond-Smith to request gritting of pavements during icy conditions. However, I accept that Council resources are limited and their priorities are to grit bus routes.
   It's a problem we can easily solve for ourselves by simply sweeping and gritting the pavement in front of our own houses. If everybody did this it would make the area far safer for us all.
   Happy New Year, Ray Ager "
This reminds us of a local urban myth - an elderly woman who lived at the top of Albion Hill struggled in the snow to London Road to get her Xmas turkey. She then struggled back up the hill with the heavy bird, reaching her doorstep, she put the turkey down to get her key out. The bird then launched itself off the icy doorstep and back down the icy hill right to the bottom ...
If all residents take up Ray's suggestion, this would definitely never have happened!
Burning of the Clocks - The lantern parade was on New Year's Eve this year, not the shortest day. Click here to see the online photos ...
Undercliff walk unsafe -70 tons of chalk have crashed onto the undercliff walk just behind Asda. It is thought it will be unsafe for some time due to the heavy rain, and freezing conditions will make it more dangerous.
City Status - Brighton & Hove have been awarded city status this month.
Ward Boundary changes update - The plans to change the boundaries of Hanover ward may not be resolved for another year. Recommendations were put to the council on 2nd August which would make the northern boundary Elm Grove, the eastern boundary Queens Park Road, but would extend the southern boundary down to the sea. This would include St James' Street and Edward Street, and from the Palace Pier along to Grafton Street. The western boundary would remain the Steine and Grand Parade, but we would lose part of the Albion Hill Estate. Watch this space for more news, as the Boundary Commission have the final say.
St Luke's Infant School - have won second prize for 'Most Florally Attractive School' in the Brighton & Hove in Bloom Competition. Well done!

Bus Service
Comments we have recieved at Hanovernet so far:-

• The 81 bus service should be more frequent - at least every 10 minutes.
• The current service (4 per hour) is often overcrowded to bursting point.
• The 59 bus up Southover street is only once an hour, which means it will  be rather a long wait if you miss one or it is cancelled.
•  There is no bus service at all from the area going east - to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in particular.

Any further comments about the bus services in Hanover? Contact the Hanover Labour Party Action Team - (01273) 680705/700736/687319/507814