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Concerned about your home being sold to fund your future care fees? The Issue
You probably own your home as joint tenants if you are a couple and solely if you are single. For couples this means you own it wholly, jointly and severally. Ultimately therefore you do not own it 50:50 as you might have assumed. You actually own all of it together and when one partner dies the surviving partner owns it solely and absolutely. It is sole and absolute ownership that enables a property to be taken into consideration as an asset by the local authority and puts the property in danger of needing to be sold to fund care.
The Reality
The Law (C.R.A.G - charging for residential accommodation guide) allows local authorities to assess your assets to determine if you need to pay for your own care. Currently if you have assets above £23,250, you are on your own and require care, you will probably have to pay for it all - currently averaging around £800 per week. Savings, cash and income would be used first and then your property would need to be taken into consideration. You would be expected to pay for all of your care until such time as your assets were depleted to below the £23,250 threshold. You would then pay for a proportion of your care until your assets were below £14,250 - at which point all your future care would be paid for.
The Solution
For couples, simply by changing the way you own your property well in advance of any care considerations i.e from joint tenants to tenants in common and by setting up two Trusts within a properly structured Will at the same time will in most cases, prevent your home from being taken into account by the local authority altogether should you ever require care in the future.
The children and/or whoever else is also nominated as Trust beneficiaries for that particular Trust will subsequently have access to that half of the property when the surviving partner dies. The first half of the property then is 100% securely in Trust for the beneficiaries and will not be at risk. As a result of this simple strategy the survivor is protected from having to sell the property to pay for their care should they need it because it is not possible to sell just their half of the property and the Crag guidelines clearly state that the market value of half a property is £0. The second half of the property will then ultimately go into Trust for access by the nominated beneficiaries when the surviving partner eventually dies. The beneficiaries will at that stage have both halves safe and secure in Trust and will be able to share and dispose of the property according to the wishes of the settlors (the original owners of both halves). By leaving 1/2 the property into Trust on first death, the surviving partner can still sell the property to downsize if they wish and are not restricted in any way with regards to what they wish to do to or with the property - it simply means that it is safeguarded and therefore will definitely be able to be appointed to the chosen beneficiaries when the time comes. For sole owners immediately conveying at least half of your property into Trust well in advance of any care consideration and becoming a Trustee and primary beneficiary of the Trust with others nominated to become beneficiaries after your death is usually enough to take away the risk of the property being considered as an asset to be sold if care is required as the property is not absolutely owned by yourself anymore and again it is not possible to sell half a house or force a Trustee to do something that is not in the ultimate best interest of the Trust beneficiaries. Call us now on 01273 911142 for a friendly chat about how this strategy could be of real benefit to you and your family.
For sole owners the process is simply to set up a Trust now and convey at least 1/2 of your property into it which will produce the same result.
The Reasoning
When you own your home as tenants in common you actually own half each. When the first partner dies, they leave their half into their trust. The surviving partner is the Trustee of that Trust and also the primary beneficiary which means that they have complete control over the property and what happens to it.
www.thywill.co.uk
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Welcome...
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Welcome to the June edition of Queens Park Living!
Welcome to the first Queens Park Living of what we hope is a long, hot Summer! And Summer is such a great season to live in Queens Park! Not only are all the amenities the park offers available to enjoy throughout the Summer but the season also brings several popular annual events to the park. The annual community picnic takes place in June and includes a Bake -Off!! The usual outdoor theatrical performance takes place in early July with The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the grounds of the Royal Spa....get your tickets as they won’t last too long!
Another significant local event we feature this month is the centenary of the clock tower in Queens Park. We feature this on page 9. Have a great month. Queens Park Living
info@queensparkliving.co.uk www.queensparkliving.co.uk
Photo credit: Friends of Queen’s Park.
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Contents Page 5 Old Photo Page 7 Queen’s Park LAT Page 8 Riverford Page 9 Clock Tower Centenary Page 11 Picnic In The Park & Bake Off Page 12 Magic in The Park Page 13 Election results & Local news Page 14 List of Advertisers
Publisher: Sussex Magazines 10 Hollingbury Road, Brighton BN1 7JA info@queensparkliving.co.uk Printer: Gemini printers Distributors: Mandy Distribution
The views expressed by individuals in any letter or article included at the discretion of the publishers are not necessarily the views of the Editor. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this magazine and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers of this publication will not hold themselves responsible for any inaccuracies. Inclusion of advertisers in this magazine is not necessarily a recommendation but we do hope they give a good quality service. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and contributors We take complaints you make about our advertisers seriously. We have the following policy on this: First complaint about an advertiser is logged here in our offices, if we receive another complaint we write to the advertiser concerned and notify them we have had two complaints and if we receive another complaint we will no longer accept their adverts. If and when a third complaint arrives we will verify that all complaints received were genuine and inform the advertiser that we will no longer be promoting their business and inform them why.
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Videostar
Queens Park Rd, Brighton • • • • •
Magazines Pay zone facility Groceries National lottery Confectionery
Your friendly local newsagents! 01273 623464 To advertise e-mail info@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
Old Photo...
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Queen’s Park Past...
This is a photograph of a lithograph, from an original photograph taken in 1863 to illustrate the Particulars and Conditions of Sale of Queen’s Park. The entire estate was sold to George Duddell for £2,000. The house known as the Italian Villa was designed for Thomas Attree by Sir Charles Barry, in 1830. The other house, to the left, was known as Pennant Lodge and was then let to Charles Freshfield, after whom Freshfield Road was named. The building we know as the Pepper Pot was originally a water tower constructed to supply the houses with water, but by 1863 it was no longer being used for that purpose and it became an observatory. There was then no lake, but instead, on the same spot, an archery ground. The estate was approached by three entrance gates and lodges, and surrounded by a substantial wall.
Thanks to the Regency Society for this image from their photographic archives, The James Gray Collection. You can see thousands of more historic pictures of Brighton and Hove at www.regencysociety-jamesgray.com
Holiday HEALTH!! Top Tips for going abroad and at home SUNSCREEN - ensure it has BOTH UVA and UVB filters and apply after sun lotion. Use a block for children/babies. Keep them out of the sun and lightly clothed - why not keep sun block/aftersun in the fridge for an extra special cooling effect AVOID wearing perfume/hairspray to keep bugs away. Use a good insect repellent with DEET AVOID 'Delhi belly' by not eating anything washed in tap water. Avoid ice made with tap
water. Always wash hands before and after eating and dry with a clean towel. Carry wipes DRINK lots of fluid to avoid dehydration and heat stroke especially with children/babies and if you are a diabetic CONDOMS are still the best way to avoid bringing back Sexually Transmitted Infection or pregnancy. Carry your own condoms with a British standard kite mark Ensure you carry all your prescription medication. Put in a prescription request early.
Do you need Malaria prophylaxis or Vaccinations? Medicines are best bought at home before you go on holiday as you may not understand the patient information leaflets abroad and may end up with something unsuitable. And don't forget to pack basic holiday meds like antihistamines , anti diarrhoeals, paracetamol. Come and see us and we will help you put a pack together. FOR TRAVEL ADVICE, INFORMATION AND NEEDS COME AND SEE US
O’FLINN pharmacy 77-78 Islingword Road, Brighton. BN2 9SL
01273 681630
info@oflinnpharmacy.co.uk www.oflinnpharmacy.co.uk Please send your local articles to editorial@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
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ADULTS TENNIS @ QUEENS PARK TENNIS CLUB
RUSTY RACQUETS Every Saturday 11.00am - 12.30pm
Drop-In session for those who have played before and need some ‘Summer Top Up’ coaching. £10 pp per session. No need to book.
BEGINNER SESSIONS Just thinking of starting and want to learn how to play ? Forehands Backhands Serve Volley Singles Doubles tuition. In fact everything to get you playing this Summer. Friendly Coaching. Racquets provided. £10 pp per session. Please call for information on next course
INDIVIDUAL LESSONS What ever your standard from Beginner to Club Player Lessons from £15
CONTACT: Mel Bowden 07850 717352 coaching@qpltc.co.uk To advertise e-mail info@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
Queen’s Park...
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With details of the ‘Safe in the City’ initiative...
Do you feel Safe In The City?
Asks Geoffrey Bowden, outgoing Chair of the Queen’s Park Local Action Team I wonder how many residents of Queen’s Park know about the ‘Safe in the City’ initiative. I suspect not too many. It’s one of the many partnerships that work in the background in Brighton & Hove bringing a number of agencies together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Apart from the Council, the initiative includes local probation, fire and rescue, police and health services. While those statutory authorities are essential, what should make the initiative of interest are the partners in the community and voluntary sector – in particular the Queen’s Park Local Action Team (LAT). In the good old days a local community Bobby would attend a LAT meeting at the start of the year and together with residents agree local policing priorities. In subsequent meetings a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), or, if you were lucky, a real McCoy police officer, would attend and report on incidents in the area and describe the action taken to deal with them. Importantly, those local community police and support officers made themselves available to listen to local residents’ concerns
and have a constructive dialogue about how to make our area safer. OK, Queen’s Park is not exactly Sodom and Gomorrah but crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) does take place. In the main, it is classified by the police as low-level crime. However, from time-to-time there are incidents that cause alarm. A knife wielding low-life being chased through the back gardens of Queen’s Park or a serious assault in the park are alarming and sufficient to make some feel unsafe about leaving their homes. Luckily such cases are rare and, if you are to believe the statistics, crime is falling in the city. So in the ‘good old days’ Queen’s Park residents would get a chance to talk about crime and ASB with a police officer or a PCSO at a LAT meeting. More recently though, so rare has the presence of a police officer or PCSO become at a LAT gathering, the mere sighting of the species is enough to trigger a letter to The Times. According to Police Inspector Brian McCarthy, who’s responsible for local community policing, cuts of 30 percent in the budget are forcing tough decisions on how to prioritise officer time. Sadly, attending LAT meetings appears to be way down the pecking order. This calls into question the continued role of LATs in the Safe in the City Partnership initiative - a rather sad note on which to sign off as chair. Geoffrey Bowden
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Please send your local articles to editorial@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
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Activities...
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Local operator of Riverford, Stephen Spears proves his commitment to healthy eating for children...
Riverford Sponsor the Children’s Parade This year Riverford Brighton sponsored the Brighton Festival Children’s Parade and what an amazing day we all had. Having worked frantically for the weeks leading up to the big day I had not really imagined what it would be like leading such an amazing party through the streets of Brighton.
I was humbled by the boundless talent, creativity and imaginations shown by the children, their teachers and assistants in the costumes and models they had made. We spoke to hundreds of people about Riverford and our ethical approach to chemical free organic foods. They could see our fresh veg and fruit boxes, try our tasty apples and discuss how a veg box would work for them. We are a local business, with all our drivers and admin staff living locally, which means we can provide exceptional service with a personal touch. I have always wanted to promote healthy cooking, recipe ideas for our wide and sometimes unusual range of veg, while promoting food events and local places to my customers. The easiest way to follow us locally is to Like our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/RiverfordBrighton. Helping fund an opening highlight of Brighton’s Festival calendar has been great fun and hugely rewarding. Stephen Spears Riverford Brighton
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Clock Tower...
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Here we feature some activities going on locally in the Queens Park area...
Centenary of the Clock Tower This June marks a significant centenary for a popular local landmark as we celebrate the 100th birthday of the Clock Tower in Queen’s Park.
The area of land we now call Queen’s Park, including the Spa and the Pepper Pot, was bought from private owners by the Race Stand Trustees in 1890 for £13,500 and donated to the town. It was formally opened as a public park on 10 August 1892. Twenty years later local businessman William Godleye left £1,000 - about £85,000 in today’s money - for a clock tower to be built in the park. He made the bequest, he said, because his children kept asking him the time whenever he visited the park. Work on this iconic structure, by architect Llewellyn E Williams, began in 1914. The tower was officially declared open on 24th June, 1915 - not a happy date in British history. London had just suffered its first Zeppelin attack, the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign was under way in Turkey, and British forces were bogged down on the Western Front. You could hear the sound of the guns in Brighton. A century later, there is peace in Europe and the clock
tower still stands, now a Grade II listed building, “of special interest warranting every effort to preserve it.” “It’s in good condition,” says FQP’s Chris Lowe. “It had a major repair about five years ago, including a new clock face. A lot of damp was removed. It’s a beautiful structure inside, the way the timber joists are constructed to support the cupola. I once saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker use the metal spike at the peak to drum out his territorial call. It sounded like a hammer drill.” The Woodpecker has moved on and the cupola has been fitted with swift boxes to welcome these most delicate of birds to our park. The guns of war are a distant memory. By Conrad Brunner
Style, design & innovation in tiles & bathrooms Huge collection of tiles, mosaics and bathroom products
25% off selected tile ranges with this voucher code SM2015 Biggest stockist in the area | Free local delivery | Free parking Eurotiles & Bathrooms, 6c Freshfield Business Park, Stevenson Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 0DF Email: brighton@eurotilesandbathrooms.com Phone: 01273 605445 Other branches in Braintree, Guildford, Rustington, Stevenage and Twickenham. www.eurotilesandbathrooms.com
Please mention Queens Park Living when responding to adverts
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Landlords! We want your properties Guaranteed rents for landlords with no commission, or management and renewal fees. Up to ÂŁ63,000 over five years* For further information, please call 01273 292213 or 292164 or email guaranteedrents@brighton-hove.gov.uk
* based on maximum rates for an upper range three bed property
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Activities In The Park... Here is a definite for the diary...
Picnic in the Park: Sunday 28th June 2015 The Friends of Queen’s Park will host Picnic In The Park on Sunday 28 June from midday. Brighton’s favourite family day out will feature a heady mix of live music and fresh food stalls, together with a wide variety of games and kids entertainments.
On the main stage, the headline act will be Seeker, a soul-pop-acoustic duo based in Brighton, promising lush covers of your favourite soul classics. Their version of Blame It On The Boogie is a gem. Listen out also for the Sussex Jazz Orchestra and the We Bop Choir, both back by popular demand. “We’re thrilled to have so much local music talent represented on stage this year, with Seeker giving us the perfect end to a sunny summer afternoon,” says FQP’s Johnny Webb. The main stage will be hosted by guitar man Tim Barton, returning after last year’s lively turn behind the mic. Kids fun will include children’s entertainer Al Start, a Punch & Judy show, bouncy castle, gymnastics exhibition, and coconut shy. Nicky Bullock and her team of helpers will be on hand to manage The Great Brighton Bake Off, our favourite self-raising baking competition. “We are delighted to announce that Jo Cole and Clement Jacquino from Real Patisserie, Kemp Town, will be once again judging our cakes,” says Nicky. “It wasn't easy for them last year, as all the entries - from the youngest, to the winner of the adult competition were consistently delicious and imaginative.” This year the competition will be refined to include three separate competition categories for Adults, Teens (12-17 years old) and Under 12s. Prizes will be given for first place and runner-up in each category.
July 23rd to August 28th
Connoisseurs of fine patisseries are invited to form an orderly queue at the conclusion of the judging for an opportunity to sample the winning cakes. Schedule: 1pm: Deadline for entries to be delivered to the Bake Off tent in Queen’s Park. £1.50 per entry. Please pay at the Bake Off tent. 1.30pm: Judging starts 3.30pm: Results announced on the main stage at Picnic In The Park 3.45pm: Cakes go on sale for public consumption, available from the Bake Off tent.
Applicants: All contestants are requested to apply in advance via info@fqpbrighton.net, putting ‘GBBO’ in the subject line. Please supply name, age and ingredients. Check out the FQP website for all the latest news and updates: www.fqpbrighton.net
Children love the huge range of wonderful activities on offer and the project really makes full advantage of the beautiful park. The children will be playing games and sports, making camps, having welly throwing competitions, cooking and gardening, making and doing, creating lots of noise and mess and most of all having lots and lots of safe healthy fun! Book now – 01273 679900.
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Queen’s Park News...
Here is another definite for the diary...
Magic In The Park: Saturday 4 July 2015 We are excited to announce that this summer’s outdoor theatre in Queen’s Park will be The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a fun and magical production for all the family.
The performance takes place at the Royal Spa, Queen’s Park, at 7pm on Saturday 4 July 2015. Tickets are £12.50 adults, £6.50 children.
The show, presented by the brilliant creative team at Illyria, features eye-popping magical illusions designed by the world famous magician Paul Daniels. Yes, that’s right, the massive TV star of the 80s has personally overseen the magic effects for this production. We must, however, warn all parents and children hoping to attend that this is a splashy-splashy performance in which everything promises to go quite disastrously wrong. Illyria are anxious for visitors to be aware that “the show features a HUGE amount of water.”
Guests are invited to bring drinks and picnics, plus cushions and blankets. And maybe an umbrella. And flippers.
Last year’s outside performance at The Royal Spa
Tickets:
You can buy tickets at Picnic In The Park on Sunday 28 June, from the Friends Of Queen’s Park control tent. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets online at fqpbrighton.net, or contact us via email, subject line MAGIC IN THE PARK.
To advertise e-mail info@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
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Queen’s Park News...
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New MP and Councillors The Royal Spa Nursery School Open Day & Summer Fair in Queen’s Park Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown
Simon Kirby was re-elected on May 7th as the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown.
You can email him at simon.kirby.mp@parliament.uk Telephone: 01273 589178 Website: www.simonkirby.org Councillors for Queen’s Park ward
The new Queen’s Park ward councillors are:
Karen Barford (Labour) Email:karen.barford@brighton-hove.gov.uk Tel: 01273 291096 Daniel Chapman (Labour) Email:daniel.chapman@brighton-hove.gov.uk Tel: 01273 291353 Adrian Morris (Labour) Email: adrian.morris@brighton-hove.gov.uk Tel: 01273 291806
Are you looking for a nursery place for September 2015 and beyond? The Royal Spa is a local authority nursery school in Park Hill, Queen’s Park, offering high quality nursery education in a bright, spacious, well resourced school with an extensive outdoor environment.
Open day on Wednesday 10th June from 4.30-5.30pm. We also welcome visitors at other times - please contact the school. Our Summer Fair is on Saturday 13th June from 11am to 2pm Everyone welcome! There will be stalls, food, music, children’s entertainment, bouncy castle and lots more! Email: admin@royalspa.brighton-hove.sch.uk Tel: 01273 607480 www.royalspanurseryschool.co.uk
Music and Wine at St Luke’s Summer Series We have two concerts this month. The first is on Friday 5th June when pianist Zachary Deak returns with ‘Visions of Inferno’. The recital will explore religious themes and includes Haydn’s Sonata in C minor, Prokofiev’s “Suggestion Diabolique”, music by Debussy and Schubert, and Liszt’s “After a reading of Dante”.
The next concert is a gala concert on Friday 19th June. Expect a wide variety of instruments and music, offering something for everyone. All money raised will go to the Neighbourhood Care Scheme. Both concerts start at 7.30pm and wine and refreshments are served. Tickets are available on the door priced £7 / £5 concessions / £3 under-12s.
Free estimates 01273 686404 (workshop) 07756 893950 / 07754 112425
For more information: www.stlukesconcerts.webeden.co.uk, email musicandwineatstlukes@gmail.com 01273 510595. Venue: St Luke’s Church, Queen’s Park Road, BN2 9ZB.
Please send your local articles to editorial@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021
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At your service...
After School Club Tarnerland............................................................................11 Artist Lisa Holdcroft......................................................................12 Bathrooms Eurotiles & Bathrooms.........................................................9 Blacksmiths Anvil Ironworks..................................................................13 Building Services Hanover Building Solutions................................................3 247 Maintenance...................................................................7 Estate Agent Bonett’s...........................................................................Cover Bott & Company..................................................................16 Education St Johns School......................................................................6 Food/Vegetables Riverford Organic Fresh....................................................8 Landlords Required Acquisitions Landlords.....................................................10 Local Attraction The Royal Pavilion...............................................................4 Locksmiths Lee’s Locks.............................................................................4 Loft Ladders Loft Ladders........................................................................10
Newsagents Videostar.................................................................................4 Osteopath Brighton Osteopath.....................................................Cover Painting and Decorating Pantones..................................................................................3 Pet Services TOTO Cat (Cat Feeding)..................................................12 Pharmacy O’Flinns...................................................................................5 Public House The Round Georges...........................................................14 Tennis Queen’s Park Tennis ...........................................................6 Tiles Eurotiles & Bathrooms.........................................................9 Transport Breeze Up To The Downs................................................15 Veg shop Hilly Laine..............................................................................4 Will Writing Thy Will be Done................................................................2
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p u e z e bre to the Downs o g s d i
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fl See lea ails for det
You can now breeze up to Stanmer Park and Devil’s Dyke by bus seven days a week, and up to Ditchling Beacon at weekends.
Or visit www.traveline.info/se to plan all your journeys.
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For times, fares, leaflets and walk ideas, go to www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/breezebuses or call 01273 292480
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To advertise e-mail info@queensparkliving.co.uk or call 01273 551021