On Sunday I discovered the nature of Worthing. The sun not only shone but contrasted with the cold winds of Saturday and Monday. It was warm enough to sit in the open air in comfort. It was the day of Shenanigans and Rioja.
It had been excessively hot in the room during the night. The room heater had been switched on before my arrival and the single room become claustrophobic and I was too tired to work out how to open a window. Nevertheless, tired, I was asleep before midnight
Waking, getting myself up, and writing, I had to stand on the bed to open one window and allow the fresh air into the room. It was welcome and the outside looked inviting
I had planned to go out around 9.45 believing that no much would open before 10 when the first objective was find Wilkinson‘s for black display folder with 40 pockets. But it looked so good after the freezing day before that I decided to test the temperature by going to the car , taking some stuff no longer required down and bringing other items back. I could not find the key.
I remembered that on arrival I was so pleased at finding a free space nearby that I had fitted the vehicle in and removed the essential luggage and crossed the road with the intention of returning to ensure the vehicle was secure, but then had become caught up with problems getting into the room after checking in that I had forgotten the security check.
Until the budget the car was scrap without trade in value. Now is was worth £2000 and a good thief would have access to false documentation to comply with the entitlement regulations.
Great News, The car was there and the keys were on the front seat. Either that was where I had put them or some caring passer by had seen them and placed them on the seat. What a relief. I wanted the carry bag and the haversack as in addition to the Wilkinson visit I needed food for the next three days.
After getting the carry bag and returning to my room for the haversack, and telling two other residents about the escape, I went out by the back door of the hotel and the short walk into the shopping street, Rowlands Road which seems to run for a quarter to half a mile, parallel to the sea front of West Parade and Marine Parade. I did not get far before finding a café reminiscent of the 1950’s milk bars in décor but what a bonus in addition to a warmed up pan au chocolate and coffee laced with plain hot milk there was a stool seat at the window and free copies of the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday to read and a nice female assistant to chat with who appreciated the early morning company. What a good start.
It was after ten and opening time when I made my way further in search of Wilkinson’s and came to British Home Stores offering breakfast for £2.99. That might provide and early lunch later. Wilkinson’s is located within a small under cover shopping centre with and large open space outside and a North South Road leading to the front open at this point only to buses and emergency vehicles. Two fire engines with warning alarms sounding heading down towards when Debenhams is located, passing the other large store called Beales on its way. A band was setting up in the open space and at that point there were several unoccupied benches. I would do the shop and find a space to sit, write and listen. I had the premonition they would be good, unaware that I had heard the group before.
There were three black display books, par for previous visits to Jarrow, Gateshead as well as Shield’s and Sunderland. I also bought some notebooks and pens.
The space outside Wilkinson’s cannot be described as a square or even a circle although half a dozen benches were situation in a circle. Nor can be described as a Piazza as there are no café’s with outside tables. It is therefore an open spaces with benches where once there was roadway. All the benches were now occupied except one, tucked away to one side close to some street workings. I stayed for at least an hour in warm sun writing about my experience to Brighton and the cricket. This was not the first time I had encountered the group who I remembered briefly seeing perform at Shoreham Market on a visit last year. They announced they would be appearing at Shoreham, the airport, I think was said, in June. Simon Buck 01903 813960 www.sheanigan.co.uk.
It was quickly evident that group are professional standard musicians who have adapted into a party entertaining band and can transform into a pure Irish band, a country and western band, as well as pop rock and I suspect some bluesy jazz if there is demand. They started off with the volume lowered for sleepy Sunday midmorning but soon livened up the space although the number of people coming and going, some stopping for a short while, including those who like me found a seat but did not stay for more than a number of two, one mother sat on the stones of the square, most stood, but encouragingly most also donated 50 pence or a pound.
One of the first numbers took me back to 1961/1963 at Ruskin College Oxford where Jay Blumner, an American who was my political theory tutor in the first term of the first year setting essay assignments on Hobbs and Locke, formed a choir creating a extend play record with on one side Dirty Old Town, the group called themselves Jay’s Rooks. First year students lived at the college premises at Headington Hall, Headington Village and where sixteen of us had cubicle rooms in the former stable building called the Rookery. Another number, also on the disk is 500 miles. The coincidence confirmed the circular nature of self aware experience.
The party sing song mood was created by Aint got a barrel of Money, Side by Side and You are my Sunshine. A new number for them was Rocking all over the World which opened Live Aid, (I was there man) together with Shake Rattle and Roll with my favourite Dancing the night Away. Such was the entertainment from them and from those listening or passing by that it was difficult to concentrate writing about two days before. I stayed an hour as food called and the Spanish Grand Prix but regretted doing so for an experience never likely to be repeated. When I went up to make a contribution a member of the band asked what I had been writing about so feverishly, and I wish I could have said the Brighton Argus or the Melody Maker but confessed to my Blog and to having a handful of readers, mostly in the USA. I will send them a copy of my note nevertheless.
The government is keen to raise morale of the people during the recession and one idea is that money should be used to sponsor Shenanigans and similar bands to entertain shoppers, those picnicking in parks or on the sea fronts through the summer. In South Shields we have local bands playing twice a week on the sea front and then the free concerts on Sundays in Bents Park with mainline entertainers, and there is now the new bandstand in recreated original South Marine Park. There are also buskers and street musicians in the town centre, including at Christmas. Problem is that the politicians are too busy fiddling their expenses to care too much about the hundreds of thousands made unemployed because of the greed of the bankers and financial speculators.
I am impressed by Worthing. Everything about it is rapidly disappearing elsewhere if not already vanished. Miles of beaches, shingle but sandish when the tide goes out, acres of whitewashed or pastel coloured housing, Pubs, Inn, bars, posh, hotels and apartment blocks but all adding to a relaxed spread out feel and lots and lots of shopping, no sign of recession closures on my walks. There are also facilities for the family. The Lido encloses a small amusement park for the young; there is a good pier walk with the theatres at the entrance and another show place, the assembly rooms with a concert that evening. The cinema alas is now a large restaurant, tea room with banqueting facilities. There is beachside pool and a bowling alley. I was not sure if the night club disco at the end of the pier was still functioning but those frustrating machines which are about to tip silver and pound, notes, gaudy watches but never do, the contemporary gambling one armed bandits and the high priced digital games were there but with a few customers and a sign saying the management will exercise the right to ask you to leave if you misbehave or appear to be spending too long.
It is difficult to know where Workings begins and ends Just as between Brighton and Hove. The end of Hove beachside is marked by the beginning of the extraordinary Shoreham Port although it extends for at least a mile with Portslade, and Southwick with its annual beer festival before Shoreham town centre and the bridge over the river Adur. The waterway is wide enough for large ocean going vessels to tie up on either banking. The seaward end of the waterway is an artificial creation although wide enough for works, storage and plant.
There is several miles of open shingle beach between Shoreham and Worthing and this includes lancing. There is no parking on either side of the road with a narrow pavement before the shingle beach and pleasant villas and family housing on the other.
At one point before entering the west side of Worthing there is a row of properties beachside. These have no front gardens to speak off and part of the house fronts are below the beach level such is the banking.
In this part of Hove it is possible to take the car to the beachside but the road is one way. There is open air pool and gardens spied between the main road and the beach side road. On my way to the hotel I turned left into the Steyne which is a two way system with gardens, kick about play area at the end of which there is a war memorial. One now reaches Marine drive which commenced near the Pier, with the former cinema on the right and the Lido a little way along
The beach is a high bank of shingle so that it is not possible to immediately see the sea. When the tide is out as it was later in the evening there is the appearance of sand as the tide goes out some distance. Over recent years there has been improvements to the lighting and the planting of palm trees.
Disappointed that I was too late for the brunch breakfast and finding nothing at the M and S café I opted for the Food hall where I bought to 3 for £5 offers. One comprising smoked trout, smoked peppered mackerel and poached salmon flakes and the other Ham, grilled chicken and chicken breast sliced, together with two half baguettes, two cartons of Black grapes, tradition coleslaw, some reduced butter croissants, two large apple turnovers and a pint of semi skilled milk. This was all much more expensive than I been used to over the past make do week but the bill was still under £20. Only missing was the wine.
Had I not wanted to watch the Grand prix which Jenson won, I would have gone to Rioja wine and champagne bar a short distance from the hotel on the sea front. Here I would have found it difficult to chose between scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and French Bread with a glass of champagne for £9.75 or a Mediterranean meats and cheese platter with the champagne for £11.95 although with some good company one glass would not have been sufficient. On my own I might have been tempted by the Warwick Pub and the midday football match and where on offer for £2.95 or £5 for two there was eggs ham and chips, or a chicken curry and rice, or traditional seaside fare of fish and chips. When I passed by the second match of the day has just ended with Chelsea whacking Arsenal on their home turf. Talking of being whacked Durham played Gloucester Bristol who scored over 300 runs in their 50 overs and Durham were all out for half the amount in 40. This makes a win against Sussex tomorrow essential to both sides. I will go but without expectation.
In the evening I walked the streets again but in the reverse direction, along the promenade and then back through part of the shopping centre. There were even less people about than before. Those hotel and bars which had outside seating were deserted and several had packed up the seating and umbrella although it remained early evening. I had the impression that local people, even the younger ones no longer went promenading and there was a distinct out of season feel and I wonder if there was ever an in season anymore. True there were two pubs in one area of the high Street were some of the outside tables were occupied as the later afternoon football relay had just ended. One advertised a girls night in at eight.
I cannot now remember when I eat what but I remember tucking into some coleslaw later night before remembering it was needed for the second half baguette the following day. I had one carton of the grapes and I think some rice pudding about midnight. I enjoyed hot mackerel with hot in sense of spicy crackers after some spice soup, I think in the evening.
Of interest on the TV between 8.30 and 10 was Inspector Gently set in 1960’s Newcastle and the interaction between an American and his female partner who operated a bunny girl cocktail casino, opps they were called Foxes to get around being sued and a God’s squad marching outside condemning every Sunday and where the leader took photographs of the men and the girls which were sent to the local paper. The programme was full of twisted early sixties moralising which loosely covered the prejudices and bigotry of everyone including the police. The Inspector’s assisting sergeant was outraged at the contraceptive pill being issued to women who were not married (remember that phase) and at a doctor who performed abortions yet also took off his wedding ring to go to the club and drink champagne he could not afford in order to get into the knickers of one the foxes he fancied and who fancied him until she discovered he was a copper. The plot was the death of a star Fox laid out in the local church and where the blame was centred on the leader of the God squad when in fact the murderer was her husband who had raped the girl after she had led him on and he could not see this was part of the business for which he acted as its lawyer. Anything about this era in Newcastle fails miserably after Our Friend’s in the North, Get Carter and documentaries on the role of T Dam Smith and Poulson. I have written about my meeting with T Dan Smith haven’t I?
It had been excessively hot in the room during the night. The room heater had been switched on before my arrival and the single room become claustrophobic and I was too tired to work out how to open a window. Nevertheless, tired, I was asleep before midnight
Waking, getting myself up, and writing, I had to stand on the bed to open one window and allow the fresh air into the room. It was welcome and the outside looked inviting
I had planned to go out around 9.45 believing that no much would open before 10 when the first objective was find Wilkinson‘s for black display folder with 40 pockets. But it looked so good after the freezing day before that I decided to test the temperature by going to the car , taking some stuff no longer required down and bringing other items back. I could not find the key.
I remembered that on arrival I was so pleased at finding a free space nearby that I had fitted the vehicle in and removed the essential luggage and crossed the road with the intention of returning to ensure the vehicle was secure, but then had become caught up with problems getting into the room after checking in that I had forgotten the security check.
Until the budget the car was scrap without trade in value. Now is was worth £2000 and a good thief would have access to false documentation to comply with the entitlement regulations.
Great News, The car was there and the keys were on the front seat. Either that was where I had put them or some caring passer by had seen them and placed them on the seat. What a relief. I wanted the carry bag and the haversack as in addition to the Wilkinson visit I needed food for the next three days.
After getting the carry bag and returning to my room for the haversack, and telling two other residents about the escape, I went out by the back door of the hotel and the short walk into the shopping street, Rowlands Road which seems to run for a quarter to half a mile, parallel to the sea front of West Parade and Marine Parade. I did not get far before finding a café reminiscent of the 1950’s milk bars in décor but what a bonus in addition to a warmed up pan au chocolate and coffee laced with plain hot milk there was a stool seat at the window and free copies of the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday to read and a nice female assistant to chat with who appreciated the early morning company. What a good start.
It was after ten and opening time when I made my way further in search of Wilkinson’s and came to British Home Stores offering breakfast for £2.99. That might provide and early lunch later. Wilkinson’s is located within a small under cover shopping centre with and large open space outside and a North South Road leading to the front open at this point only to buses and emergency vehicles. Two fire engines with warning alarms sounding heading down towards when Debenhams is located, passing the other large store called Beales on its way. A band was setting up in the open space and at that point there were several unoccupied benches. I would do the shop and find a space to sit, write and listen. I had the premonition they would be good, unaware that I had heard the group before.
There were three black display books, par for previous visits to Jarrow, Gateshead as well as Shield’s and Sunderland. I also bought some notebooks and pens.
The space outside Wilkinson’s cannot be described as a square or even a circle although half a dozen benches were situation in a circle. Nor can be described as a Piazza as there are no café’s with outside tables. It is therefore an open spaces with benches where once there was roadway. All the benches were now occupied except one, tucked away to one side close to some street workings. I stayed for at least an hour in warm sun writing about my experience to Brighton and the cricket. This was not the first time I had encountered the group who I remembered briefly seeing perform at Shoreham Market on a visit last year. They announced they would be appearing at Shoreham, the airport, I think was said, in June. Simon Buck 01903 813960 www.sheanigan.co.uk.
It was quickly evident that group are professional standard musicians who have adapted into a party entertaining band and can transform into a pure Irish band, a country and western band, as well as pop rock and I suspect some bluesy jazz if there is demand. They started off with the volume lowered for sleepy Sunday midmorning but soon livened up the space although the number of people coming and going, some stopping for a short while, including those who like me found a seat but did not stay for more than a number of two, one mother sat on the stones of the square, most stood, but encouragingly most also donated 50 pence or a pound.
One of the first numbers took me back to 1961/1963 at Ruskin College Oxford where Jay Blumner, an American who was my political theory tutor in the first term of the first year setting essay assignments on Hobbs and Locke, formed a choir creating a extend play record with on one side Dirty Old Town, the group called themselves Jay’s Rooks. First year students lived at the college premises at Headington Hall, Headington Village and where sixteen of us had cubicle rooms in the former stable building called the Rookery. Another number, also on the disk is 500 miles. The coincidence confirmed the circular nature of self aware experience.
The party sing song mood was created by Aint got a barrel of Money, Side by Side and You are my Sunshine. A new number for them was Rocking all over the World which opened Live Aid, (I was there man) together with Shake Rattle and Roll with my favourite Dancing the night Away. Such was the entertainment from them and from those listening or passing by that it was difficult to concentrate writing about two days before. I stayed an hour as food called and the Spanish Grand Prix but regretted doing so for an experience never likely to be repeated. When I went up to make a contribution a member of the band asked what I had been writing about so feverishly, and I wish I could have said the Brighton Argus or the Melody Maker but confessed to my Blog and to having a handful of readers, mostly in the USA. I will send them a copy of my note nevertheless.
The government is keen to raise morale of the people during the recession and one idea is that money should be used to sponsor Shenanigans and similar bands to entertain shoppers, those picnicking in parks or on the sea fronts through the summer. In South Shields we have local bands playing twice a week on the sea front and then the free concerts on Sundays in Bents Park with mainline entertainers, and there is now the new bandstand in recreated original South Marine Park. There are also buskers and street musicians in the town centre, including at Christmas. Problem is that the politicians are too busy fiddling their expenses to care too much about the hundreds of thousands made unemployed because of the greed of the bankers and financial speculators.
I am impressed by Worthing. Everything about it is rapidly disappearing elsewhere if not already vanished. Miles of beaches, shingle but sandish when the tide goes out, acres of whitewashed or pastel coloured housing, Pubs, Inn, bars, posh, hotels and apartment blocks but all adding to a relaxed spread out feel and lots and lots of shopping, no sign of recession closures on my walks. There are also facilities for the family. The Lido encloses a small amusement park for the young; there is a good pier walk with the theatres at the entrance and another show place, the assembly rooms with a concert that evening. The cinema alas is now a large restaurant, tea room with banqueting facilities. There is beachside pool and a bowling alley. I was not sure if the night club disco at the end of the pier was still functioning but those frustrating machines which are about to tip silver and pound, notes, gaudy watches but never do, the contemporary gambling one armed bandits and the high priced digital games were there but with a few customers and a sign saying the management will exercise the right to ask you to leave if you misbehave or appear to be spending too long.
It is difficult to know where Workings begins and ends Just as between Brighton and Hove. The end of Hove beachside is marked by the beginning of the extraordinary Shoreham Port although it extends for at least a mile with Portslade, and Southwick with its annual beer festival before Shoreham town centre and the bridge over the river Adur. The waterway is wide enough for large ocean going vessels to tie up on either banking. The seaward end of the waterway is an artificial creation although wide enough for works, storage and plant.
There is several miles of open shingle beach between Shoreham and Worthing and this includes lancing. There is no parking on either side of the road with a narrow pavement before the shingle beach and pleasant villas and family housing on the other.
At one point before entering the west side of Worthing there is a row of properties beachside. These have no front gardens to speak off and part of the house fronts are below the beach level such is the banking.
In this part of Hove it is possible to take the car to the beachside but the road is one way. There is open air pool and gardens spied between the main road and the beach side road. On my way to the hotel I turned left into the Steyne which is a two way system with gardens, kick about play area at the end of which there is a war memorial. One now reaches Marine drive which commenced near the Pier, with the former cinema on the right and the Lido a little way along
The beach is a high bank of shingle so that it is not possible to immediately see the sea. When the tide is out as it was later in the evening there is the appearance of sand as the tide goes out some distance. Over recent years there has been improvements to the lighting and the planting of palm trees.
Disappointed that I was too late for the brunch breakfast and finding nothing at the M and S café I opted for the Food hall where I bought to 3 for £5 offers. One comprising smoked trout, smoked peppered mackerel and poached salmon flakes and the other Ham, grilled chicken and chicken breast sliced, together with two half baguettes, two cartons of Black grapes, tradition coleslaw, some reduced butter croissants, two large apple turnovers and a pint of semi skilled milk. This was all much more expensive than I been used to over the past make do week but the bill was still under £20. Only missing was the wine.
Had I not wanted to watch the Grand prix which Jenson won, I would have gone to Rioja wine and champagne bar a short distance from the hotel on the sea front. Here I would have found it difficult to chose between scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and French Bread with a glass of champagne for £9.75 or a Mediterranean meats and cheese platter with the champagne for £11.95 although with some good company one glass would not have been sufficient. On my own I might have been tempted by the Warwick Pub and the midday football match and where on offer for £2.95 or £5 for two there was eggs ham and chips, or a chicken curry and rice, or traditional seaside fare of fish and chips. When I passed by the second match of the day has just ended with Chelsea whacking Arsenal on their home turf. Talking of being whacked Durham played Gloucester Bristol who scored over 300 runs in their 50 overs and Durham were all out for half the amount in 40. This makes a win against Sussex tomorrow essential to both sides. I will go but without expectation.
In the evening I walked the streets again but in the reverse direction, along the promenade and then back through part of the shopping centre. There were even less people about than before. Those hotel and bars which had outside seating were deserted and several had packed up the seating and umbrella although it remained early evening. I had the impression that local people, even the younger ones no longer went promenading and there was a distinct out of season feel and I wonder if there was ever an in season anymore. True there were two pubs in one area of the high Street were some of the outside tables were occupied as the later afternoon football relay had just ended. One advertised a girls night in at eight.
I cannot now remember when I eat what but I remember tucking into some coleslaw later night before remembering it was needed for the second half baguette the following day. I had one carton of the grapes and I think some rice pudding about midnight. I enjoyed hot mackerel with hot in sense of spicy crackers after some spice soup, I think in the evening.
Of interest on the TV between 8.30 and 10 was Inspector Gently set in 1960’s Newcastle and the interaction between an American and his female partner who operated a bunny girl cocktail casino, opps they were called Foxes to get around being sued and a God’s squad marching outside condemning every Sunday and where the leader took photographs of the men and the girls which were sent to the local paper. The programme was full of twisted early sixties moralising which loosely covered the prejudices and bigotry of everyone including the police. The Inspector’s assisting sergeant was outraged at the contraceptive pill being issued to women who were not married (remember that phase) and at a doctor who performed abortions yet also took off his wedding ring to go to the club and drink champagne he could not afford in order to get into the knickers of one the foxes he fancied and who fancied him until she discovered he was a copper. The plot was the death of a star Fox laid out in the local church and where the blame was centred on the leader of the God squad when in fact the murderer was her husband who had raped the girl after she had led him on and he could not see this was part of the business for which he acted as its lawyer. Anything about this era in Newcastle fails miserably after Our Friend’s in the North, Get Carter and documentaries on the role of T Dam Smith and Poulson. I have written about my meeting with T Dan Smith haven’t I?
