More than 65 low-emission vehicles – some not seen on UK roads before – completed the second annual Brighton to London RAC Future Car Challenge this weekend. The challenge put to the entrants was who could use the least amount of energy whilst travelling the sixty mile route.
The vehicles:
Those taking part ranged from enthusiasts driving their own vehicles to major car manufacturers including BMW, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Renault, smart, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Land Rover. Many of the vehicles, such as the Land Rover Range_e, BMW Active-e and Volkswagen Golf Blue e-motion will not be on sale for two or more years and had rarely been seen on UK roads. As well as low-emission conventional (internal combustion) engined cars, the entry list included electric vehicles, hybrid models and cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The entrants and the route:
The entrants started this morning from Madeira Drive, Brighton at 7.30am each were flagged off by the Mayor of Brighton Cllr Anne Meadows. Many of those who took part are wellknown motoring celebrities – including British Formula One legend and 1996 World Champion, Damon Hill OBE, Quentin Willson (TV presenter and magazine columnist), Gordon Murray (former F1 designer), Mark Goodier (Smooth Radio DJ) and Kevin McCloud (Grand Designs TV programme presenter).
Source: www.futurecarchallenge.com
Shelley popped down to see what all the noise was about and found there was no noise whatsoever! In fact, the cars were so quiet the risk of being run over by several of these amazing vehicles was a high risk Shelley got to meet some wonderful people at the event including our very own Mayor Carol Eade and Youth Mayor Pravin Sanasy. Along side the two Mayors, Shelley got to speak to the delightful Damon Hill, Robert Llewelyn and Mark Goodier.
A couple of weeks ago we were asked by the BBC to give an interview about the council and their ‘large amount of money’ they had put away. They then went on to interview Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council.
Unfortunately, true to the usual ‘negativity’ of the average news publications or TV news, the BBC had made up their minds this was to be a negative story and therefore only used a small section of our interview which made it all sound negative, putting our council in a bad light, although the rest of the interview was very supportive. So in response to this we requested an interview with Councillor Bob Lanzer to get the more positive side of this story. You can hear what Councillor Lanzer had to say and the questions Shelley put to him in the interview below. Shelley also asked about the snow and how the Council are dealing with this situation. If you would like to comment, please feel free to do so below.
We would like to thank Councillor Lanzer for his time. If you wish to write to the council please send your correspondence to: -
Crawley Borough Council,
Amenities Department,
Town Hall,
The Boulevard,
Crawley,
West Sussex, RH10 1UZ
Today, Shelley of Crawley Happy Times was invited to Crawley Police Station to hear from Chief Inspector District Commander Steve Curry about the alleged abduction attempts in Crawley. Chief Inspector District Commander Steve Curry told us the crime rate in Crawley has fallen by just over ten percent in the last year which is a great achievement and he felt this would improve year on year. We then went onto discuss the rumours of the attempted abductions.
A new film is about to be produced in Crawley called Crossed Paths.
Written with the help of genius Callum Andrew Johnston the film is already set to be a massive success. Filming is due to start in the October school holidays with a release date yet to be confirmed.
About the film:
From the director of RH11. Produced by Compulsive Productions in connection with Crawley Borough Council!
“A thrilling drama about two young men. Cutch and Yussif.
Cutch has just woke up from a coma after a serious attack, no respect, no job and from a broken home.
Yussif the attacker, has just been released from Prison, a changed man, a man on a mission… Finding the right path in life can sometimes be difficult. Will Cutch be able to forgive his attacker, and will Yussif be able to find his faith?”
Some may remember the success of RH11 which was shown to an eager crowd back in January 2010 at the Hawth Theatre on a big screen. The film went on to sell out as a DVD and is still spoken about in high regard today. The film was produced by Jonty Egginton and written by Callum Andrew Johnston with tweeks from Jonty and the main cast members during filming. Callum told us “the new film is about extremism and how it can exploit others, and be exploited by others. We want to show how this can be avoided. Crawley Borough Council approached us to help show the young children via schools.”
Crawley Happy Times were invited to the auditions to sit in and get a feel for the new film and it’s direction. After what we have already seen and knowing the brains behnd this new film, we have no doubt it will be just as, if not more successful than RH11 and we would like to wish all involved (CBC, Ali, Adi, Arris) the best of luck. We are sure we will have more to tell you as time goes on.
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Callum Andrew Johnston all the best for his new adventure to New York where he has secured a two year placement in NYFA, which is a massive achievement for anyone. We are certain we will be seeing this young mans name up in lights very soon
Billy Delaney aka Young-B is about to follow in the steps of others by re-instating Crawley on the map.
Billy Delaney's Music Award Certificate, Nov '09
Billy became known to most of us last year when he won the Laserhub Music Award at the Youth Awards 2008.
Andrew Snowden presents Billy with his award
We asked Billy what incited him to become a singer. Billy told us his influence mainly came from his family who were always playing music around the house. His Mum and Dad influenced him with various flavours of artists. Billy’s Mum likes to listen to George Michael, Usher, 50 Cent and Akon whereas his Dad is into his Scar music such as Madness, The Specials and Bad Manners. “My Nan was also a massive influence on me and encouraged me to get involved with music at an early age. Nan was also the one who put me forward for the award, which I am eternally grateful for” said Billy, adding that his Nan passed away shortly after.
Billy went on to say he originally attended Thomas Bennett school in Tilgate but after a bullying incident which involved a sharp object he moved to Ifield Community College where the Head Master, Dr. Lind, was a tremendous help to him and his future. Billy said “Dr. Lind is a great Head who was always there for me. He was always encouraging and extremely supportive”. Billy said drama played a massive part in building his confidence, teaching him how to express himself. “I liked the happy positive side of drama and even played Fat Sam in the Bugsy Malone school production”.
Billy left school in 2007 and decided to apply for a place at Northbrook Music College. After successfully achieving BTEC first diploma in music in July 2008, Billy then went on to take his music career very seriously. Along with some college friends Billy performed at several gigs. By January they had all gone their seperate ways. Billy then met Chris Foster aka Mr Rampz who assisted Billy in preparing for his future. By the end of January, ’09 they had set down three tracks and are in the process of working on more.
In November, ’09 Billy won the LaserHub Music Award for his musical talents. Billy’s music passed on a positive message and vibes about knife crime prevention to the youth of Crawley. Billy told us knife crime was starting to become a prominent problem within Crawley at that time, so he felt compelled to do something positive through his music.
Young-B making his mark
We asked Billy what his plans for the future are now. Billy said “I have lots of plans for the future, but am taking it slowly. We here at Crawley Happy Times, would like to wish Billy all the best in his career. We will keep an eye on Billy’s progress and keep you up-to-date. Good luck Billy!
Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council, was kind enough to talk to the Crawley Happy Times on Monday.
Please see the video below for his interview (which took place in the Henshall Suite, mentioned below).
A first impression
Henry met us outside the brand new registry office (which opened in December 2008) and talked to us about the different facilities that the council provide in this prestigious building.
Wonderful Stairs to the Registry Offices
As we walked up the opulent red carpet, I could imagine the excitement of a bride-to-be going to meet her groom.
Henry then introduced us to Dorothy, the registrar, and Dorothy showed us around the waiting area and the two function rooms.
The facilities
The first room, with a capacity of 30, is for registry office weddings and ceremonies.
The second room, capacity 80, is used for Registry Office Weddings, Civil Partnerships and Citizenship Ceremonies. With the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ balcony, surrounded by various plants and bushes, the Henshall Suite is perfect for your special occasion.
The Henshall Suite
The Romeo and Juliet Balcony
Citizenship Ceremonies, originally performed in Chichester, are a regular occurrence in Crawley and light refreshments are available from Squires, the local catering company.
Being kind to the planet
The building, less than a year old, is one of the most environmentally friendly in the county. Built with a reduced carbon footprint in mind, the roof is made from Sedem Moss, providing nourishment for the local avian community and adequate insulation for the building. The building’s water supply is heated by the sun and locally sourced, renewable wood-chip powers the boiler.
The smaller of the two Marital rooms
Crawley Happy Times says:
Shelley and I were impressed by the glorious colour schemes (which included green and purple sofas in the waiting room and regal-gold in the Henshall Suite) and the responsible building construction.
If you’re looking for a lovely Reception Office Wedding, Civil Partnership Ceremony or Citizenship Celebration, just pop down to Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG, or call 01243 642122 for more information.
Crawley Library
The Teen Area
On entering the library, you’re hit with the silent buzz of the Crawley community gently strolling around the ground floor, searching for a book of their choice. Henry Smith walked me through the different sections with a quiet pride at the success and vibrant decoration of this splendid building.
How it all works
At the front entrance you’ll find an easy-to-use self-service scanning machine. This is used by the public to borrow and return books (which works a little like the tills at your local supermarket). I spoke to a library user: Mr. Davis of Crawley, who said “the system is quick and easy to use. If you have any problems or queries the staff are always friendly and willing to help”.
The whole building is sign-posted for easy navigation and there is access for disabled users.
Décor and atmosphere
The bright, wonderful décor of the building makes it a relaxing place to be. I noticed a lot of people sitting in dedicated areas reading, revising, without a care in the world. The relaxed ambiance is almost tangible. There are various wooden pillars throughout the building with quotations by famous
Great wooden poles with famous poetic quotes
Authors etched in scripted calligraphy, giving each room a literary feel. The exuberant colours of the chairs and sofas give the building a modern look, juxtaposing the new with the old of the writing and the history of the literature and poetry within.
Sections and rooms
Spacious computer work areas
There are so many areas and sections to the library. It’s hard to know where to start. For any avid reader, it is like being a child in a sweet shop. The ground floor houses the Children’s Library, Teen Area, Foreign Library, Large Print & Audio for people with hearing or sight difficulties and a Sound & Vision section for the music lovers.
On the first floor you are welcomed by many computers with internet access. They are all up-to-date systems, with plenty of room between stations, so you can work comfortably. This is an essential form of communication for some community members who do not have access to the internet at home. Speaking to family or friends abroad is a lifeline for some and is welcomed with open arms.
Statue of Mr Longley
This floor also offers spacious meeting rooms for any occasion. Henry Smith informed me the Council often use them for their committee meetings and they are also used by many charities and local companies. The names of each room are in honour of some of Crawley’s greatest contributors;
There are so many positive things about this magnificent building: I would encourage anyone to visit to see for
Fantastic children's play and learning area
themselves. Not only have they established a section called ‘Keep West Sussex Working’, consisting of helpful books on trades and professions, but (children and pensioners) can use the library completely FREE!
Our thanks go to the staff and, of course, Henry Smith for showing us around.
~ Shelley
Correction: – Everyone can use the library for FREE!
Saturday evening, myself and a couple of the Crawley Happy Times crew popped down the Half Moon for a few drinks and to see The Analysir mix it up on the decks. As the night went on, The Analysir belted out some great tunes, some old, some new. There were some old faces there too and we enjoyed a great night of toe tapping, body-grooving beats.
The Analysir, AKA Merv Thorne, has been DJ-ing for over twenty years and does a lot of work with the youth of today in Crawley, helping them find their path in the music industry. Merv’s ambition would be to get a little place in Crawley town centre where he can hold ‘Open DJ’ nights, which I think would be a great asset to the town: the community will be able to share others’ knowledge and have a great night at the same time!
Merv explained to me that his friend, local lad Chris (Lil Chris), would be mixing it up later on in the evening, with some light house and garage tunes. Well, let me tell you, Lil Chris was well worth the wait!
My knowledge of DJs may not be completely universal, but I would definitely say Lil Chris has a brilliant future in the world of music and DJing. I guess he has had a great tutor in The Analysir (who he promptly ‘bigs up’ in his interview). Great set Lil Chris!
If you missed Saturday night, then I would suggest keeping an eye out on Facebook or on here for the next event featuring The Analysir.
We spoke to the bar staff at The Half Moon (Toni Green and Chloe Riche) who told us they loved working behind the bar and enjoyed the atmosphere, specially when The Analysir was in the house!
The Half Moon has a nice atmosphere and reasonable costs for drinks. I can personally recommend their BBQ Chicken Pizza.
On Saturday, 18th July, Crawley Happy Times had the pleasure of attending the Emergency Services Open Day held at the Fire Station in Crawley. And what an amazing day it was! We were greeted by young police cadets who all volunteered for the day’s supervision of the visitors. Then into the main hub, (which usually holds the Fire Engines), neatly laid out with happy smiling members of each emergency services eager to give advice, freebies and just have a chat.
First we encountered the two lovely ladies from Crawley Borough Council who were giving advice on crime prevention and giving away some wonderful tools such as UV Pens and Bicycle Identity Tags. The ladies were also promoting some fantastic events happening in Crawley over the coming months (please see events page for further info). Our thanks go to Beverly Loxton from the Community and Promotion Services and Trish Emmans, Community Safety Support Officer, for the goodies and information they provided.
Then it was off to gawp at the large, vibrant ambulance which dominated the corner, looked after by Nigel Martin, Ambulance Technician and Seamus Higgins, First Responder from the South East Coast Ambulance Service. I asked Nigel what advice he could give me should I be sitting at traffic lights when an ambulance with flashing lights approaches from behind. Nigel said “the best thing to do is to move safely to the side of the road, not to panic, and let the ambulance guide you if you are unsure”. I also asked what a driver should do if they are traveling on a usual roadway. Nigel said “indicate, pull over to the side of the road and stay stationary until the ambulance has passed, then indicate back on to the road and continue your journey safely”.
Nigel mentioned the worst thing a driver could do is slow down, rather than stop, as this may hinder them from tackling obstacles up ahead.
Next we had the greatest pleasure of speaking to Tracy Stocke, Senior Crime Scene Investigator, who was helping visitors with their questions alongside her colleague Stephanie Griffiths. It was very exciting to speak to Tracy (I am a great fan of CSI). Tracy explained how the job is not quite as ‘romantic’ as depicted in the series and it was in fact really hard work, although I definitely got the impression from Tracy and Stephanie they thoroughly enjoyed their roles and performed then extremely well.
The event was blessed with sunshine (even though it rained much later in the day) and everyone had a great time. We spoke to Gary & Michelle who were there with their son Jake, who was approaching his second birthday. Both Gary & Michelle said they had enjoyed the day immensely and Jake was having a great time. Their only gripe was the lack of seating for young Jake to eat his chips. We agree with this statement and approached Sergeant Darren Taylor about this later in the day.
Sergeant Taylor said “we are considering moving the event to the old bowling alley car park next year, which should help with this problem”. Sgt Taylor (of seven years’ service), is the brains behind the whole event and deserves a massive pat on the back for his efforts (with a little help from his colleagues and the other services of course). Sgt Taylor proudly looked on the festivities alongside Sgt Jen Miller (eight and a half years service), who was slightly confused about her name as this was her first offical day as a married woman! Congratulations Sergeant Miller.
Below you will see the interviews from Firefighter Tim Taylor, who is the newest recruit to Crawley (4/5 months’ service), Firefighter Tim Schwaiger who was kitted up to show the weighty outfits our firefighters endure, and last but not least, Pete Martin, District Commander Crawley.
There was so much noise and excitement generated by the visitors that our camera may not have picked up the sound very well on the interviews. We are about to invest into a more up-to-date system, so this will not happen in the future. It’s all about learning as we go
Shelley got to meet some wonderful people at the event including our very own Mayor Carol Eade and Youth Mayor Pravin Sanasy. Along side the two Mayors, Shelley got to speak to the delightful Damon Hill, Robert Llewelyn and Mark Goodier.
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