Becoming a generous friend and wise mentor wasn’t on the job description when Hugh Burnett became the High Sheriff

(This item first appeared in the Brighton Argus on 10th April 2024)

I had no idea what to expect when I went to meet the High Sheriff of East Sussex. I didn’t have a clue what a High Sheriff did. I later discovered that the High Sheriff is the Monarch’s judicial representative in the county. They have a ceremonial role in overseeing judges, magistrates and others. It is a non-political role and is appointment by the Monarch for one year and is unpaid.

And so I met Hugh Burnett, that year’s High Sheriff. He was waving off charity walkers who were raising money for advice and legal services in Brighton and Hove. He and I went for a coffee while waiting the walkers’ return, and thus began a friendship that has lasted to this day.

Tessa and Hugh Burnett

Hugh has had an extraordinary life. He was born in Monte Carlo and lived in Marseilles until his family were evacuated back to Britain at the outbreak of war when he was six months old. After the war the family returned to France before he was sent to school in England.  Later he qualified as a chartered accountant but never worked as such, finding a niche in early computing where he worked as a salesman and trainer. He worked for various companies in Brighton including Gross Cash Registers and Cash Bases where he was part of a management buyout. In business he specialised in taking companies with a £2 million turnover and building them to have a £15 million turnover.

He has twice been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the first time as part of Cash Bases and then in a personal capacity. In 2001 he was made an Officer of the British Empire for his services to the community in Newhaven. He was a member of the Newhaven Economic Partnership and was vice chair of Lewes Tertiary College.  After his year as High Sheriff, he became a Deputy Lieutenant for East Sussex where he assisted the Lord Lieutenant and his friend, Sir Peter Field, in his role. It is the duty of the Lord Lieutenant to arrange visits of members of the Royal Family. They also seek to promote and encourage voluntary organisations and charities, and to take an interest in the business and social life of their counties.  Both Peter and Hugh excelled in these duties.

The Hugh Burnett I know is a most generous man, giving his time freely and has shared his wisdom with a number of charities, including BHT Sussex where he was a Trustee for almost a decade. He  became my unofficial mentor and I have many reasons to be grateful for his encouragement and wise counsel.

When he became a BHT Trustee it was in response to an article in The Argus.  I explained to him that there was a process that had to be followed, including an interview. He seemed delighted, saying that he hadn’t had a job interview since 1964! At the interview itself, we were assisted by a friend from London, Brenda, a large Jamaican-born woman with an infectious laugh who was a trainer in equalities. In response to an equalities question, Hugh said that in business “one would be foolish not to appoint the best man for the job.” Hugh and Brenda then the most delightful exchange of views. After Hugh had left, Brenda said that we had to appoint him, saying: “That man doesn’t have an ounce of prejudice in his body.”

Hugh has no time for consultants, saying: “Why pay someone to steal your pocket watch so that they can charge you to tell you the time?”  He also was outspoken on the ever-increasing trend of boards to focus on process rather than on entrepreneurship and outcomes, a view with which I wholeheartedly agree.

They used to say that behind every successful man is a strong woman. In Hugh’s case there is Tessa. When my wife and I first went to their home for dinner, we expected the raconteur Hugh to dominate the evening. But we hadn’t accounted for Tessa who kept us royally entertained while Hugh looked on, adoringly. Tessa herself has served the community as a dedicated charity trustee and a longtime volunteer at Citizen Advice. The last year hasn’t been easy for them but they have been sustained by the love and support of their two daughters and their grandchildren about whom both Hugh and Tessa speak with such joy, love and pride.

So when I met the High Sheriff, I didn’t expect to meet such a generous friend and wise mentor. Hugh Burnett was truly the best man for the job! 

BHT at 50: My speech at our anniversary event

It is BHT’s 50 anniversary this October.  This is the text of the (short) speech I gave at the anniversary event at the Brighton i360 on Tuesday 6th October 2018).

“Lord Lieutenant, Madam Mayor, Colleagues and Friends.  Thank you all so much for coming this evening.  I am delighted to welcome some special guests.  First and foremost, our Life President, Patricia Norman.  Also here is Alice Renton, one of the first chairs of the BHT Board.

Over the years we have had three strong women leading the organisation: Alice, Pat Norman and now Joan Mortimer.  You would not believe what a hard time Joan can give me, but only behind closed doors!

Rob Stephenson was a member of staff in the very early seventies.  He has provided us with some photos, the earliest showing BHT’s first house, in Islingword Road.  Outside are parked an ambulance and two police cars!  We have come a long way since then.

I am delighted that my predecessor, Jenny Backwell, and my former colleague, John Holmstrom, are here, both of whom were central in developing BHT over many years.

With Patricia Norman (BHT’s Life President) and the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, Peter Field. Peter helped set up BHT in 1968 and Pat has been involved in our work since 1969. I have been employed by BHT for a mere 33 years!

Pat Norman once told me that she went to the founding meeting of the West Pier Society in 1969.  She said that she felt it was a very worthy cause, but she was more concerned about those sleeping under the Pier.  The next day she joined BHT.

At our fortieth anniversary event, Pat said: “That we are still needed is no cause for celebration”.  That is equally true today.  It is a scandal that in one of the richest countries in the world we still have people sleeping on our streets.

In my 33 years at BHT we have witnessed inequality, where some don’t have enough and struggle to get by.  We saw the emergence of poverty where some lack the basics to participate fully in society.  We are now witnessing destitution where some struggle for the basics for survival – food, shelter, warmth.

The truth is that BHT’s services are needed more than ever.  Last year BHT worked with 7,946 clients and tenants. We housed 514 tenants and their households.  We accommodated 126 people in our specialist mental health services, 115 in our addiction rehabilitation services, 53 people under the age of 25 in our young people’s service in Hastings, 136 in our homelessness services such as the Phase One Project and the Accommodation for Work Project.

4,430 people received a service from our three advice centres in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings, and from our Immigration Legal Service.

1,130 people used the rough sleepers service at First Base Day Centre.  432 took part in activities at the Whitehawk Inn, and 431 people received support and help from the Mental Health and Wellbeing service, including 151 women from Threshold Women’s Counselling Service.

BHT changes lives, and BHT saves lives, through our amazing range of services, and in partnership with so many other fantastic organisations in Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, and Hastings.  Many of our partners are here tonight.

Through First Base we helped 222 people move off the streets and into accommodation, and through the advice centres, we prevented 817 households from becoming homeless.

Imagine what it would be like without BHT and our services?

I cannot imagine BHT being able to do what it does without our supporters, our funders, our staff (past and present), our Board, volunteers, interns and peer mentors.

And in particular I would like to pay tribute to our clients, who on a daily basis show courage and determination to bring about change in their lives, by taking advantage of the opportunities BHT provides, so that they can combat their own homelessness, mental ill health, addictions, poverty.

One such person is Donna.  At our 40th anniversary Donna spoke with courage and eloquence about her journey through addiction and into recovery.  She spoke about her aspiration that, one day, she might work for BHT.

10 years on it is an absolute honour to introduce our next speaker, my colleague, Donna.

 

(To read the speech by the Lord Lieutenant, Peter Field, follow this link).

BHT at 50: The Speech by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field

Yesterday Brighton Housing Trust celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding.  Over 300 guests – tenants and clients, members of staff (past and present), Board members, supporters and partners – joined us for a celebration.

The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, Mrs Margaret Field, and Andy Winter, CEO of BHT

The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, along with the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr. Dee Simson, and BHT’s Life President, Patricia Norman, were our special guests.  Peter Field is, we believe, the last surviving founder of BHT.  This is the text of the speech he gave at our anniversary celebrations:

“Madam Mayor, Distinguished Guests

Next month we commemorate 100 years since the cessation of the first world war.  A war to end all wars they were told – except it wasn’t.  Millions died, and many more have died in conflicts since.

It is right that we honour those who gave their lives for freedom, but it also vitally important that we keep working for peace, that we stop the killing and try to develop harmony, and a more equal society.

Sometimes I think about homelessness as a war.  Andy in his podcast last week asked me, if I were prime minister and Monarch all rolled into one, what single thing could I do to stop homelessness and I thought – that’s a bit like asking what single thing could I do to stop wars.

I answered truthfully that I don’t think there is ONE thing that can be done – for either.

50 years ago, when we developed BHT there were probably no more than 20 people actually sleeping rough.  They were mostly ‘Gentlemen of the road’ who used to move on a circuit around the country.  We had no women.

Chair of the BHT Board, Joan Mortimer with the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Dee Simson

The Government had a series of Reception Centres, in Brighton called ‘the spike’ part of the old workhouse which became Brighton General Hospital in Elm Grove.  It was run by the notorious Captain (Stan) Philips.  It had 30-40 beds as far as I can recall.  Men used to queue from 4.00pm to get in, those that didn’t slept rough and we picked them up on the soup run.  Most of the men on the circuit didn’t like to go there anyway because of the regime.  You’d get a bowl of soupy type stew, a large chunk of bread, and in the morning you had to do some menial task like sweeping etc.

We had some hostel accommodation in the town through Brighton YMCA at the Old Steine.

Many street homeless were ex service personnel – usually with a drink problem (there were no real drug issues then) or they had mental health problems, which meant they couldn’t adapt to civilian life. Remember a lot were teenagers in the second world war and would have seen some terrible things and were suffering from what we now call PTSD.

If you listen to the podcast you will hear how I became involved about 50 years ago. There were a lot of characters who we saw on the soup run quite a few who we didn’t see again for a month or two.  We used to make the soup, first in someone’s house then in the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, and take it to the same place under the arches in Madeira terraces close to the Pier.  It wasn’t obvious but those that wanted it knew where to go.  Almost from the start it became clear that we were attracting single people who were lonely, often living in inadequate housing on little or no income.  They would turn up – sometimes just to chat.

Sadly, things didn’t get better, they got worse.  I can’t remember when we supported our first street homeless woman but over the years the complexity and the numbers just got worse.

Andy Winter (CEO of Brighton Housing Trust), Patricia Norman (BHT Life President) and Peter Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex

I have never had any social work skills, but I said to the original volunteers and trustees I do have some property skills and I think I can help build a base of facilities and housing to help out.  And that’s how I, along with the likes of David Blake-Standing, Irene Parry, Penny Christian and Pat Norman helped establish what has become the pre-eminent service for homelessness in the City.

There are so many people who have lent a hand and helped over the years.  I stood back to help other homeless and housing activities probably some 20 – 25 years ago, but BHT has grown and supported so many, and fought to provide vital services for the disadvantaged, that I want to say a massive thank you to all past stakeholders and all of you here who have done so much.

Andy seems to have been with BHT forever.  I remember interviewing him for his first appointment – can’t remember when or what that position was Andy, but it was many years ago – so that shows you how long he has stayed committed.  Others, but he in particular, have steered this organisation through good and difficult times, but he and all of those past and present staff, trustees and volunteers over the last 50 years have never lost sight of the objective – to support the most vulnerable in society, recognising how quickly you can become single homeless and anonymous  and, if at all possible help them gain self respect and the wherewithal to get housed and a way to re-enter society.

I and the local community are, and will remain, deeply indebted to you for your commitment and the work that you do.

It is clear homelessness and the issues facing clients of BHT are not going away any time soon.

As Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant I am required to welcome all of our new citizens into citizenship of the United Kingdom and Her Majesty asks me to remind them of their responsibility to become involved in our community and society.  Some of these new citizens have had an easy route.  Maybe coming via, say, Australia having married a partner here.  But some have had a really tough route through asylum from a war-torn country or repressive government. By whatever route they came, they are now part of our community and part of our society and we welcome them with open arms as they will play their part in the diversity and richness that is the United Kingdom.

However, for years our society has been fragmenting.  I lay no blame, but for years successive governments have taken away front-end community support and laid great stock on the individual. In effect this has encouraged isolation which means the breakdown of community and caring.

I urge all new citizens to volunteer, to get involved, because this is a great way of making friends and helping us all help others – developing a real community where we help each other and maybe avoid the breakdown that has gone on for many years.

100 years ago, the war to end all wars came to an end.  But we still have wars.

50 years ago, all of those volunteers who formed BHT thought homelessness could be sorted in a few years.  Sadly, today it looks as far away as ever.

I told Andy that I thought the answer to homelessness was a jigsaw.  Until we address all of the pieces that make up the problem you will not be able to close down BHT.  We need to address social housing, but we need to address private housing to let as well, we need to address drug and alcohol addiction.  We need to support those with mental health problems and most of all we need to develop support networks through community and family work.

We need all of this – if we get these components working well then, hopefully, we will do away with the need for agencies such as BHT and have a real celebration, but until then I ask you to carry on the magnificent work that you do.  Provide that immediate help – that help that any compassionate person would give, and please can I ask everyone here to keep giving your support, and encourage your friends and family to give Andy and his team all the support and help that you can.

If we build back strong community links and help BHT and others provide the services clearly needed we might just turn the corner.

Thank you.”

 

BHT is joining with the Choir with No Name to launch a new choir in Brighton and Hove

I am so thrilled that this morning Brighton Housing Trust and The Choir with No Name launched a new choir for homeless people in Brighton and Hove.

The launch took place on the British Airways i360, with sixty invited guests belting out Primal Scream’s ‘Moving on Up’ as they ascended.

Sixty people attended the launch including the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, accompanied by Mrs. Margaret Field, Deputy Lieutenant Juliet Smith JP, Brighton and Hove City Councillors, and clients and staff from Brighton Housing Trust and from the Choir with No Name.

You can watch a video from the launch here.

The Choir with No Name has for the past ten years been running choirs for people who have experienced homelessness. They currently run choirs in London, Liverpool and Birmingham. All their choirs rehearse weekly followed by a hot meal together, performing regularly at a wide variety of venues throughout the year.

The Brighton choir will offer some of the most marginalised members of the community the opportunity to make friends, grow in confidence and sing away their worries in a safe and non-judgmental environment, empowering them to flourish as individuals and move away from homelessness long term.

Marie Benton, the founder and Chief Executive of The Choir with No Name said at the launch: “We’re delighted to be coming to Brighton and also delighted to be working with Brighton Housing Trust.  As well as the choir manager and choir director roles we’ll be looking for volunteers to help with the choir and also local businesses who want to help out and get involved!”

The partnership will see Brighton Housing Trust employ a part-time Choir Manager to run the day to day management of choir rehearsals, performances and volunteers. This role will also provide choir members with direct personal support, signposting and access to services provided by Brighton Housing Trust and other organisations.

The Choir with No Name will continue to do what they do best – the music. They will be looking to employ a talented freelance choir director who will lead the choir at rehearsals, gigs and outreach singing workshops, ensuring members reach their full musical potential.

This is such an exciting opportunity for marginalised people, for Brighton and Hove, and for Brighton Housing Trust.  We are so pleased to be working with The Choir with No Name whose work I have admired for many years.  Most importantly, this gives clients of BHT and other organisations the opportunity to get together, sing and provide each other with support.

Many thanks to the wonderful people at the British Airways i360 who donated the flight for this launch and for helping to make this event such a success.

Charlie Jordan: remembering a community activist extraordinaire

Charlie Jordan

Time Out Argus published a photograph of Charlie Jordan standing under one of Brighton’s piers and asked who he was (13 February 2018).

Charlie was a community activist extraordinaire and, in spite of being an atheist, was the first director of People and Churches Together (now Impact Initiatives).

He was a leading light in the Emmaus movement, helping to establish both the Brighton and Hastings Emmaus projects.

A South African by birth, he had a passion for social justice, and was influential in shaping the charity sector in Brighton.  He encouraged others and gave others opportunities that then led to further opportunities.  In around 1981 he gave me my first formal role in social policy, asking me to write a report on unemployment in Brighton.  I am forever in his debt.

Many years later (by which time he had kicked his 40 a day habit) he invited me to meet visitors from Emmaus Paris.  After the meeting, we walked home together, parting at Preston Circus but not before Charlie held forth of a range of topics, for well over an hour.  Charlie could talk!  The next morning I heard the shocking news that Charlie had died overnight.

There were many people in the voluntary sector who, around that time, helped to make Brighton a better place, people like Jenny Backwell, Peter Field (now the Lord Lieutenant), Selma Montford, Bruno Crosby and Patricia Norman.  Charlie Jordan was one of the most influential and he is someone I still miss today.

(There was a moving tribute to Charlie by Terry Waite published in The Independent shortly after Charlie’s death in 2009)