The Catholaity Fair 2014

 

Brighton and Hove’s premier Catholic charity event, the 56^th annual Catholaity Fair, took place today – for the last time - in Hove Town Hall.

Due to renovations of the Town Hall, future Fairs will be held elsewhere, with next year’s Fair rumoured to be located at the Brighton Racecourse.

Normally, I do my bit for the Fair, helping construct and staff the Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) stall, selling mainly books and bric a bac. This year, due to a dodgy back and arm, plus family commitments, I couldn’t help out.

 

However, I was able to offer some stock for sale. After a long-overdue cleanout of my music CDs, I was able to provide about 450 CDs for sale. My taste is quite eclectic and there was a varied selection of classical, jazz, spiritual (especially early black gospel), bluegrass and other country, popular and mainstream. The CDs (below) were offered at only 50p each and seemed to be selling well when I popped in for five minutes to take some pictures.

There were 40 stalls and, as usual, dozens of keen shoppers queued in the chilly morning for the 10.30am opening.  The stalls were set up by seven parishes, a variety of Catholic charity groups including HCPT, Mary’s Meals, the Breast Cancer Support Group, and one of my favourites, the Arundel & Brighton Deaf Service, where the smiling faces and busy hands convey a big ‘welcome’ to approaching shoppers (below).         

There were books, DVDs, games, bric a brac, tombola, plants, Christmas cards, bottles, cakes, clothing, shoes, handbags, wooden gifts, groceries, lucky dips, sweets and candy floss. Parishioner Gerard Eaton from Sacred Heart Church’s bottle stall was delighted with the day’s results. “We sold all our bottles” he beamed. Knowing that Gerard and Imelda started the day with several dozen bottles, I felt happy for them.  

 

The Fair raises money for worthy causes, showcases the good work that caring people do, provides an opportunity for meeting and networking, and is evidence for a city-wide community of believers who also reach out to others. 

All Souls Day at Hove Cemerery

Today, 2^nd November, is All Souls Day and for the first time I attended the Blessing of the Graves at Hove Cemetery. There were four Catholic priests in attendance; Fr Kevin Dring and Fr Francis, Sacred Heart; Fr Jerry O’Brien, St Peter’s and Fr Alistair Simmons, St Theresa’s with St George’s and the Mass Centre.

 

For Western Christianity – and particularly for Catholics - All Souls Day commemorates the faithful departed. According to Catholic doctrine, the souls of those faithful who, at death, have not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection may be helped to attain the beatific vision in heaven through prayers and the sacrifice of the Mass. Indeed, prayer for the dead has roots in Judaism and early Christianity, prayer for both named individuals and classes of deceased, while the memorial feast itself originated in the 11^th century.

This occasion is popularly known as the Feast of All Souls in the UK, but has different names overseas - for Spanish speakers it is El Dia de los Muertos ‘the Day of the Dead’ – and there are varying national traditions and beliefs. For example, many believe the souls from Purgatory are allowed to return to earth on All Souls Day: Austrians believe they wander the forests, praying for release; Poles hold that the dead visit their parish church at midnight and then visit their families ( - so a door or window is left open for them and sometimes an extra place is set at the table!).

Throughout November we remember the Faithful Departed. At Sacred Heart Church we celebrate a special Mass for all deceased parishioners, a book of remembrance is kept by the altar and, as individuals, we pray for our deceased relatives and friends (and for those with no one else to pray for them), and may take advantage of indulgences particular to this time.

And, of course, we also visit the graves of our deceased, spruce them up, sprinkle some holy water, leave a votive candle or two and some flowers - especially chrysanthemums and marigolds that symbolise the beauty of the paradise that we lost and can now regain through the sacrifice of Jesus.  

Another Great Idea

Brighton Railway Station is a suitably impressive entrance to the town. Opened in 1840, it did its bit to cater for the crowds of Londoners who turned Brighton into a popular seaside resort. Now Grade II listed, the Station has in recent years benefitted from a couple of million pounds spent on renovations, to the delight of Brightonians using it.

Sometimes the best ideas are simple ones. Someone placed a piano on the concourse and, as you can see, it's popular.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

Today was the 118th London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

The Run commemorates a law that was passed in November 1896 that permitted motor vehicles to operate without requiring a man to walk in front of them. It also increased the allowable speed from 4mph to 14mph. (The requirement for the man walking in front to carry a red flag had already been dropped in an Act passed in 1878).



So, up to 500 ancient cars manufactured before 1905 set out from Hyde Park in central London this morning to drive the 60 miles to Brighton seafront.

It was a cold morning with a strong breeze coming in off the Channel and leaden clouds threatening to dump rain. Most of the old cars were open-topped and the passengers were wrapped in warm and waterproof clothing, like the folks below..

Many seemed to be enjoying the experience, like the lady in this yellow car..

And, although they weren't going terribly fast, this lady was hanging on to her hat...

I was thinking to myself that these put-putting cars are so old and fragile, they could hardly be accused of breaking the speed limit. Then I saw the police pull over one of them (below) - surely it wasn't for speeding? "But officer, I can't do more than 30mph, even with a following breeze - honest!"

To be sure, even cyclists were overtaking the cars...

Mind you, some of the cycles were rather high-tech, including this one sporting a Welsh red dragon flag.

There was one car carrying a full complement of passengers. It looked like Mum was driving and there were four or five kids in the car - plus a dog.

 And still the cars came...

It was starting to rain now, in a rather determined manner, an increasing splatter of large drops, so, shielding my camera lens, I headed down to the seafront, the official end point of the race. The wind was getting up, long lines of dirty grey rollers were breaking on the beach and a sudden squall meant the visibility dropped to a few hundred meters.

The occasional car squelched past the Palace Pier, past the Brighton Eye, the streets glistening under grey clouds.

At the official end point in Madeira Drive there were welcoming marshals in yellow tops, video and still photographers (their long lens shielded in plastic bags), a loudspeaker announcement of the details of the arriving cars, and clumps of damp spectators. Each driver was briefly interviewed before they were waved on to parking.

It was now after midday, and with the rain still falling and everywhere sodden, more cars began to arrive, the passengers probably desperate for a hot drink and a change into warm clothing.

I must admit my own thoughts were also turning to dry clothes. I'd forgotten a brolly or hat and my head was soaked, my wet jeans stuck to my legs and trickles of cold water were working their way down from the neck. Time to go home.

Street Art - Brighton Style

Recently I noticed that street art had spread from brash Brighton town to the refined streets of 'Hove Actually' and I thought that, in this post, I would share some of the street art of Brighton.

First, what is graffiti and what is street art?

I suspect this tag is graffiti:

And this is street art:

 Then there is the ubiquitous Cassette Lord, a street artist who transforms the green BT junction boxes into...well, cassettes.

Although he has competition, as this brightly illustrated junction box testifies.

Some of the street art is large, representational and beautifully painted; here's a couple from the city centre.

Right in the city centre, adjoining the Churchill Square Shopping Centre, is this advertising sign for pies parachuting down. Sadly, the last time I looked, the Pie Society shop had closed.

However, the Bluer Dragon Tattoo Shop still seems to be in business, one of many such parlours in the city; Brighton folk love their body art.

Sometimes the art has a political message, as with this one promoting a recent conference in the city.



Some of the street art is spectacular in terms of scale. Entire ends of houses are covered, whole buildings are transformed, bare fences become the artists' canvas.

One recurring theme is 'creatures of the imagination' whether they are from outer space, ancient legends or fertile imaginations...

 

 

Some of my favourites are the swirling 'word art' pieces and the hypnotically-complex and incredibly detailed abstract pieces. Check these out:

(Standing close to it, you can't make out the message; distance lends understanding).

Finally, a mixed selection to conclude. I hope you enjoyed this little introduction to the  the street art of Brighton!