Viva Lewes Issue 117 June 2016

COLUMN
Lewes Out Loud
Plenty more Henty
As a former member
of the British Guild
of Travel Writers,
I happen to know
that several of my
fellow journeymen
and women have
chosen to live in this
area over the years.
I only mention the
fact because it does
suggest that, having
travelled extensively
‘away’ from Sussex as part of their enviable jobs,
they must know a thing or two when it comes to
calling a place ‘home’.
They must also have – as I do – firm views on
what is their preferred form of transport and
for me, today, it has to be feet, or walking! Air
travel used to be fun when I worked for BEA in
the sixties. Airports were less security-conscious
then and aircraft less crowded. The same can be
said for motoring. I find motorways now verging
on the maniacal, and there are just too many cars
constantly on the move 24/7.
Trains? Chocker when and if they do turn up on
time. Fancy a cruise John? What - with 2,000
people aboard and two other mega-boats trailing
closely around the Mediterranean? Not for me.
Thank goodness then for ‘Daisy’. Yes – I know
what people say about geeks who give names to
their cars but with a registration plate offering
‘DSY’ and a bright yellow vehicle, ‘Daisy’ it had
to be and currently, she’s looking very good.
This is largely down to the young people who
work for Zest car valeting in the grounds of
County Hall. Zest is a community interest
company which supports and trains adults with
learning disabilities and autism to deliver a professional
car valet
service.
Meet, as I did
recently, Sophie,
Paul, Sam, Kieran
and Arran together
with their mentors,
Kerry and Martin.
Martin told me
that the work
allowed individual
members of his
team to experience
having a job, engage in banter and relate to customers
in a friendly way. This they do with great
enthusiasm and the end product is sparkling.
The service, supported by East Sussex County
Council, is also available in Eastbourne.
Naturally, I’m now reluctant to venture out in
my dishy ‘Daisy’ and the thought of attempting
Southover Road – or ‘Pothole Passage’ as I call
it – is a daunting one. Then there’s the hazard
of negotiating the ‘Weak Bridge’ at the railway
station. The warning sign is hardly reassuring
and what do the letters ‘MGW’ mean? When I
suggested ‘Might Give Way’ to a local taxi man,
he grinned and said it stood for ‘Maximum Gross
Weight’. Phew!
Bill, from Whitehawk in Brighton, prefers the
bicycle for his transport, he told me when we
chatted at the foot of Keere Street. He’s 75, has a
stent fitted, and relishes the “peace and quiet of
Lewes”. Splendid bloke!
I’d also like to mention Shannon from Seaford
who was busking on Cliffe bridge one morning
and really knocked me out with her powerful
singing and personality. At 20 she has a bright
future ahead. John Henty
zestsussex.org.uk
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