LOCAL HERO

The Argus
1880
 
The Argus was launched in 1880 with advertisements on the front page and no pictures. The leading article said the Argus would present all the best features of a well-conducted evening paper. It added about the choice of title: What better name for a modern newspaper than that of the watchful personage who had 100 eyes? The man who wrote those words was the first editor and proprietor, Henry John Infield.
The paper was produced by the Southern Publishing Company, formed in 1888, and was split into the Morning and Evening Argus. By 1918, the price had increased to a penny and, in 1926, the two papers combined to form the Evening Argus. At this time there were few telephones in Sussex and the company used pigeons to relay information around the county. Reporters would carry baskets of them when they were out on assignments.
After the Second World War there was a change. Gently the balance tilted from morning to evening papers, perhaps because of competition from Fleet Street, and in 1956 its main rival, the Sussex Daily News, closed. This left the way clear for the Evening Argus. The circulation steadily in-creased from around 25,000 in 1944 to more than 110,000 in 1974. Advertising increased enormously, too.
The Argus was based for many years at North Street in Brighton and retained an office there until the building was sold in 1976. But a decision to print the paper on a large island site between North Road, Robert Street and Kensington Street proved wise and eventually, all departments were moved there. Other papers were acquired, including several weeklies, but the Argus remained under the control of the Infield family for 85 years.
In 1965 the company accepted an offer from Westminster Press to buy the business, providing financial stability and money for investment. Many changes took place at Robert Street, including the end of hot metal production in 1987, but it was eventually decided to move to a site that had better access and more space. In 1992, the Argus relocated to its present headquarters in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, where a new press was installed. The company was taken over in 1996 by Newsquest, publisher of the largest number of regional newspapers in England. The circulation stabilised and the company diversified into other forms of media.
Today the Argus is devoted first and foremost to producing local news and acting as a local market place. It is a much-loved part of the community and will no doubt remain at the heart of Sussex for many years to come.

Simon Franshawe
26 Dec 1956, Wiltshire
 
Simon Fanshawe fell in love with Brighton as a student at Sussex University. He studied law and says he chose Sussex because coming from an army family, pubic school and all that, Oxford was too obvious.
A stand-up comic for ten years, winning the Perrier Award in Edinburgh in 1989, Simon has settled into a career as a writer and broadcaster, presenting program-mes on BBC Radio and writing features on politics and the arts for the national newspapers.
He describes Brighton as his spiritual home and lead the successful campaign to gain city status for Brighton & Hove in 2000. He also chairs the cityís Economic Partnership, has served as a school governor, and is a patron of the Brighton Dome and Komedia, two of the cityís theatres. He was co-founder of the local commercial radio station, Juice 107.2, and of the national campaign for lesbian and gay equality, Stonewall.
Commenting on himself, he says, ëI am a Capricorn, make great mayonnaise and live on Brighton seafront where I shall probably eventually die. I hope Iím wise enough to love and embrace the change as the city grows.í

Jack Howe
16 May 1916, Yorkshire
 
A local character, known and loved by Brighton locals and visitors Jack Howe founded and starred in The Uncle Jack Show at the Peter Panís Playground on Brighton seafront for over 25 years. Although he was born in Yorkshire, Jack moved to Brighton in 1944 and lived here until he died.
His day job was as an Education Welfare Officer but he is remembered by hundreds of children and adults alike as ëUncle Jackí. His popularity and fame was such that thousands of postcards from all over the country found their way to him even when addressed to just ëUncle Jack, Brightoní.

Emergency Services
1880, 1968, 1995
 
Sussex Ambulance Service, formed 1995
Brighton is served by the sussex Ambulance Service which employs 550 paramedics and technicians, has a fleet of 100 ambulances operating from 25 stations and responds to 500 emergency calls every day. Itís a long way from its origins over 100 years ago when the first horse drawn ambulance provided transport for injured soldiers and people suffering from infectious diseases. In addition to emergency medical help the service maintains high standards of training for its staff to help retain their status as health professionals and works closely with ten primary care trusts and seven acute hospital trusts.

East Sussex Fire Brigade, formed 1880
The first semlance of a Brighton fireservice was established in 1831. It had 28 members and was staffed mostly by local fishermen. Bystanders were often asked to help out at fires by working the fire engines, demolishing buildings and carrying water supplies. By 1880 the first official Brigade was formed and early in the 20th century their headquarter were est-ablished at Preston Circus. In 1910 a bell was installed at each firemanís house so that they could be ëon callí. Today the fireservice is crewed 24 hours a day 365 days a year and employes nearer 70 firemen.

Sussex Police, formed 1968
The police service in Brighton has undergone many changes in its history. Brighton originally had its own force which was replaced in 1968 by a single body called the Sussex Constabulary. The Sussex force pioneered innovations such as the ëPandaí system of policing which helped ëbeatsí or areas to be policed 24-hours a day. Today Brighton & Hove is being policed more like a city than part of a county with officers allocated to inner and outer city areas.

In 1984, when the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel, intending to wipe out Margaret Thatcherís government, all three services were put under pressure to not only play their part but to cooperate in dealing with the crisis.