The Argus, Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Achiever of the Year

PAUL KEMP
JUST 18 months ago the future of Brighton Pride was in doubt. However, thanks to the hard work of a dedicated team, this year saw one of the best events to date. Heading that team was Paul Kemp. Reporter Ben James, who was at the event, said: The crowds on the parade route were incredible and that good natured atmosphere continued into Preston Park and then St James Street. We are incredibly lucky to have such an event in this city and it is thanks to people like Paul that it is still going strong. The event has three main goals. Firstly they aim to provide the best party of the year. They also seek to educate and inform on LGBT matters and break down barriers which still exist. Thirdly, they aim to raise thousands of pounds for good causes. This year those three boxes were well and truly ticked, thanks in a large part to the work of Paul Kemp.

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EXETER STREET HALL

SANDY AUSTEN
THROUGH her work as the chairwoman of the Friends of Downs View School, Sandy Austen has helped countless youngsters with severe learning difficulties. She took over the role in 2004 and has thrown herself into the job. As well as being in charge of events such as the leavers prom and school discos, she has also played a key role in organising the schools Brighton Marathon team. Her efforts have ensured the school has benefited from the likes of a new minibus, playground, sensory equipment, bikes, hoists and more. This year she retires from the role leaving the school in a far better place than when she first started. In fact it is estimated she has helped raise a staggering 230,000. Work colleague, Amanda Wells, said: I have worked in the same school as Sandy for 20 years and she has gone above and beyond the call of duty and spent many hours of her own time tirelessly fundraising and helping our students.

CAMPAIGNERS proved community spirit is very much still alive after grouping together to buy an under-threat church hall. In total they raised some 150,000 to save Brightons Exeter Street Hall. The venue dates back to 1884 when it was used as a Sunday school. In the 129 years since it has seen everything from funerals and fundraising fairs to Zumba classes and yoga. Residents have worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure its future with an innovative share scheme launched. Reporter Bill Gardner followed the story. He said: It is quite an achievement and one which a number of people said would never happen. It is evidence community spirit is still alive in 2013.

Teacher of the Year

HEATHER FENSOM
THIS recently retired teacher has been a cut above the rest for more than four decades. In June, hairdressing teacher Heather Fensom put down her scissors for the last time after 41 years.She gained her teaching qualifications at Brighton College of Technology and started her job in 1972 at City College Brighton and Hove. She taught there for 25 years, and for the last 16 has also passed on her skills at Central Sussex College. Many of her students have gone on to work in top salons throughout Sussex and many now own their own businesses. Ex pupils Mark Burnard and his business partner Tony Wheeler own Master Wheeler Hairdressers in Brighton. Mark said: Where would Brighton hairdressing be without Heather Fensom? Over the years she has been responsible for equipping a vast number of the countys students with the skills to make a successful career in hairdressing. Former student Louise Channon, who studied at City College Brighton in the late 1980s, said of her former teacher: A truly lovely, inspiring woman, who encouraged me to be the best I could be.

ANNA AL BEZRA

MICHELLE STOKES
FARMER mum-of-five Michelle Stokes decided she wasnt busy enough back in 2008 so went back to university to study to become a Religious Education teacher. She joined the team at Steyning Grammar School in September 2012 and has thrown herself into the new role. Her classes have spanned year seven to A level students and her first set of results were outstanding. So enthusiastic and passionate about her role, she even built an office in her garden to carry on her hard work at home. Mark Warwick, who nominated the teacher, said: After just one year in the job, having shown organisational skills in arranging a school visit, undertaking additional training in her own time, and buying extra resource books at her own expense, she is clearly ready for leadership responsibility. If only all teachers were like Michelle. How did she come so far so fast? What does the future hold? All we know is that her journey will be interesting, and we will all benefit from it.

THE nomination for Anna Al Bezra is a very personal one. Lelia Drew, a student at Queens Park Primary and Nursery school, contacted us to tell her story. She said: She has inspired me and the rest of my class and is a great example of a student-teacher who came to us to complete the last part of her course. She believes everyone in this class should aim high and achieve good levels and marks. A studentteacher being imposed on a class working t o w a r d s exams is normally a parents worst nightmare. But not this one. L e l i a added: The children who struggle with learning are always supported by Ms Al Bezra and we have all made a massive academic leap. We are finding it much easier to understand and cope with trickier challenges. Im not saying she lets us do easy work, she pushes us to do the best we possibly can and is always there to help us. She is always ready with a slightly rubbish joke to cheer us up when we have had a bad day. She understands our problems, and always makes things better. She also has a great attitude and congratulates us when we do well.