In his Brighton Marina office, David Courtney, the founder of the Walk of Fame, has trouble containing his enthusiasm. He's a local boy, and has toured the world with stars from the pop world, but returned to his roots to make his mark on the city, single-handed turning his dream into reality.

One Hundred Plaques span the walkway the length of the Marina, each one dedicated to the great and good of Brighton & Hove that have made a contribution to the city's colour. "It's the people's Walk of Fame," David Courtney is quick to tell you. "All the names on the plaques were voted for by the local community, which makes them a true reflection of the city's greats."

Plaques range from the Prince Regent, the founder of decadent Brighton, to contemporary stars like Fat Bot Slim and Chris Eubank. The list includes celebrities with links to the city too, such as Winston Churchill, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick and writer Lewis Caroll. A new book on the full history of the Walk of Fame launches this month, with a free guide also available, but the stories behind each star provide fascinating insight into the people and places that have shaped Brighton & Hove over the decades. David told Life Magazine "We're living in the Hollywood of England. The fact that Brighton has a history of attracting celebrities, and continues to do so, speaks volumes for the atmosphere of the city. There isn't anywhere else in the country with this calibre of celebrities in one place accepted as part of the local scene."

The Walk of Fame office bustles as much today as it has done from it's outset, making it very much an ongoing project, which will see the Brighton Belle train honoured this month at Brighton Station, with plans for the return of the carriages for a commemorative journey. There will be an annual Walk of Fame Award ceremony adding a further ten plaques to keep the walk moving forward, with ongoing support for local children's charities as it progresses.

Regional groups interested in re-creating a little Brighton magic of their own have approached David. "I'd love to see the Walk of Fame go national," he says. "We've had interest from Wales and London's West End about doing something similar too. It would be great to think that Brighton launched the concept across the country". It's the fact that the walk is people-based that has made it so popular an idea with locals and celebrities alike. Each plaque is a result of local votes, with celebrities keen to support a scheme that sees them publicly honoured.

David comments: "The Walk of Fame has always been about people, and the celebrities that came along to our launch party all said how their nominations had meant to them. To be part of a city that you have such an association with is a tremendous accolade for them, and I hope the Walk continues long beyond all of us and for generations to come".

Life Magazine