The Brighton Babbler

Taking a natural, community based approach to funerals has been the founding principle of Arka since it was set up in Brighton's Surrey Street more than 20 years ago. Now happily relocated in Islingword Road, we talk to Cara Mair, its founder and sole owner, about the company's past, and the likely challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. To kick things off, we asked... why 'Arka' as the company's name? 

Photo by Martin Shelley

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

For our first (and possibly last) 'out-take', here's a passing cat's somewhat rude interruption during Cara Mair's recent interview with the Brighton Babbler. Photo by Pedro Cunha on Unsplash.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

The fate of the Brighton General Hospital remains uncertain, seemingly destined for redevelopment as housing. But a re-energised community campaign is determined to keep the site in public hands, incorporating social housing and living rents as well as NHS services. The Babbler talks to former Green Party councillor David Gibson about the aims of the campaign – and begins by asking him about its structure.

[To contact the Community Campaign for the Brighton General Hospital site, email: [email protected]]

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

The bodies of 4000 mental health patients are buried, mostly in unmarked graves, in the grounds of St Francis Hospital, formerly the Sussex County Asylum. The last known address of nearly half of those patients was in Brighton. In this episode of the Babbler, historian James Gardner talks to Kevin McDonnell (pictured), head of a team painstakingly uncovering the personal stories of some of those patients, and later catches up with one of Kevin's research team to focus on one particular case study – George Aquila Dubbin, who lived and worked in the city.

If you'd like to know more about the Sussex Asylums Burial Grounds Project... visit https://sussexasylumsburialgrounds.org/

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

The ongoing US economic blockade of Cuba rarely makes the headlines these days, but a dedicated group of Brighton activists is still raising funds to help this Central American country, as they have been doing since the 1960s. Ann Hallam (pictured), chair of the local arm of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, talks to The Babbler about the group, and explains how she first got involved...

If you'd like to know more about this campaign, visit cuba-solidarity.org.uk, or check out the Brighton Cuba Solidarity Campaign page on Facebook. 

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

Garry Dodd runs a flooring business out of a landmark, double-fronted site – formerly home to the family-run carpet shop where he’d spent most of his earlier working life – in Hove’s Blatchington Road. In this interview about the shop, Portslade-born-and-bred Garry fondly recalls a time not just of deference and smart attire, but also of police stake-outs, dead bodies and naked neighbours, when famous authors and rock stars regularly featured among the clientele.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

In the second of our series on George Street's independent traders, The Babbler talks to 80-year-old Julian Pelling (pictured, proudly holding some rare Primal Scream vinyl), the proprietor of Fine Records for the past four decades. Sharp-eared listeners will notice the interview took place outside, in the shop's back garden, hence the occasional squawk from passing seagulls...

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

AI looks set to finish off many high streets across the UK, but for now George Street in Hove remains a refreshing 'blast fom the past', attracting shoppers from Brighton and beyond. In (hopefully) the first of a series on the thoroughfare's traders, The Babbler chats to local biker Matthew English (pictured, standing in the doorway), the driving force behind one of the street's more characterful shopfronts – tattoo studio Nine Lives – alongside his younger brother (apprentice and fellow biker) Ash... and starts by asking them to describe a typical day in the shop...

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

Feeding a worrying fascination for all things motorcycle-related, this week the Babbler talks to fellow Brighton biker Paul about unhappy Harley riders, law-breaking escapades to Paris, and whether it's really necessary to have more than one bike when you're in your late-70s. And... just as importantly... about whether Brighton itself is a good place to be... and a good place to be when you're old?

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

The Babbler returns after a short break to quiz budding theatrical impresario and Brighton resident Tommaso di Vincenzo – a contortionist, circus performer and occasional stuntman – on the development of his new stage show ‘Oh! Darling’. But first, some questions about his career so far...

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]