The best place to live, Hove and Portslade (obviously!) gets even better in the summer. I’ve been zipping around over the last week to some of our community events. From the West Hove Infant School Fair to WishFest, people are flocking into our community spaces to have some fun.
The thing that strikes me is just how much talent there is around us. Local bands, choirs, and student groups are playing at all of them and they’re great.
I stumbled on the Stoneham Bakehouse stall at one fair. Please check them out as the bread is amazing but so is the ethos behind the Community Interest Company. It was set up by a former teacher who left the profession, like so many, due to stress and turned his hand to baking which has transformed his life. All the bread is now made by groups of dedicated bakers who come together for similar reasons. More details here: www.stonehambakehouse.org.uk
And at the St Peter’s school fair I learned that there is a fully preserved WWII air raid shelter. They opened it for the occasion and had volunteers on hand to examine what it was like all that time ago when 2,000 people sat there nervously as the Battle of Britain raged overhead.
Over 200 people have joined The Labour Party in Hove and Portslade since the election which is fantastic. I wanted to get to know them and what better way than drinks on Hove Lawns? Enticed by a few boxes of wine and crisps (no expense spared!) several dozen turned up and we had a great time getting to know each other and talk about the issues we face as a community and country. I hope you had a lovely weekend too, Peter