28 reasons not to shut this home

These residents have faced months of uncertainty with the prospect of a traumatic move constantly hanging over them. Yesterday they celebrated news the building had been awarded Grade II listed status. Although it is a huge victory for the thousands of people across Sussex who have supported the Argus' campaign, the battle continues to keep the home open and grant the residents their wish to stay.

1. VERONICA BURKE, 83

A former professor of languages Veronica taught in universities in Australia, New Zealand, and France, and is fluent in four languages.

She met her husband Stewart in the early Thirties on board a ship travelling to New Zealand where he was due to take up a diplomatic post. During the war she served as an air raid warden in Coventry and was slightly injured in a bombing raid.

Veronica was married for 36 years until Stewart's death in the Seventies. After her retirement she settled down in Brighton and moved into the home 14 months ago.

2. BOB GASTON, 84

Born in Hurstpierpoint, Bob trained as a butler and served in country homes across Europe.

His employers have included VIPs and royalty, but Bob says he is still sworn to secrecy concerning their identity. During the war he served in the infantry in North Africa and Malta where he also worked as personal servant to Field Marshall Lord Gort. Unmarried, Bob lived in Grand Parade until he moved into the home four years ago.

3. MAY STANDBRIDGE, 81

Brighton born and bred, May was brought up in a pub by her aunt and after school worked as a domestic helper in various homes in the area.

She married George in 1938 and they lived together happily until his death in 1970. During the war she served in the NAAFI.

She has a daughter, Valerie, who lives in Moulsecoomb and two grandchildren. May has been living in the home for two years.

She said: "I'm so pleased the home has been saved. It was a real worry."

4. EDDIE CORTHINE, 77

A former Metropolitan policeman, Eddie served in the Navy during the war. He lived at home in nearby Findon Road with his wife, Win, until ill health forced him to move into the home in March last year. Married for more than 40 years, Eddie's wife visits him every day. They have no children.

5. VIOLET BOXALL, 89

A regular sight at the convalescent home is Violet, sitting down with her head buried in a book.

She moved into the home in August last year. Married to a former RAF pilot, she ran her own hairdressing salon in Hove.

6. FRED TOWNSEND, 88

A former plumber and fitter in Brighton, Fred was admitted into the home in February last year together with his wife, May. Married for 54 years the pair were devoted to each other until her death three months ago.

7. FLORRIE HARTRIDGE, 90

Florrie has been living in the home for three years, ever since her daughter was no longer able to look after her. Registered blind and unable to walk, Florrie needs a lot of help from staff.

8. ROSE SPEED, 91

Rose was one of 22 residents forced to move out of Miles Court - the Church Army residential home in Kemp Town which closed down last summer.

She moved into the French Convalescent Home in May with her best pal Ivy Hughes.

Rose met her husband Will at the fish and chip shop where he worked in Baker Street, Brighton. After their marriage the pair ran a greengrocer's shop, first in Sydney Street and then in Eastern Road.

The couple had a son and daughter and were happily married until Will's death 20 years ago. Rose has five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

9. IVY HUGHES, 91

IVY moved into the convalescent home in May with her close friend Rose Speed. The pair have since become inseparable and always watch television together.

10. MADELAINE GAUTHIER, 86

Madelaine, a French national, worked at the Savoy Hotel and still has shares in the prestigious hotel.

She moved into the home five years ago and is known by all for her wonderful sense of humour, often keeping staff in fits of laughter.

11. OLIVE RIZZO, 90,

Olive is another French-born resident who worked as a nurse in Canada and later became an English teacher in this country.

These days she prefers to speak solely in French, despite having lived in England most of her life. Her daughter, Elinor, lives in Brighton.

12. EILEEN MURPHY, 77

Eileen was admitted to the home in April last year.

13. DORA WHELAN, 94

A devout Catholic, Dora moved into the home in May last year and is one of the oldest residents. Dora has no children and no surviving family.

14. FRANK GUILE, 82

Frank moved into the convalescent home four years ago with his wife Peggy Rossina. The couple were devoted to each other and Frank used to cook for her in their shared flat.

Last year Peggy died leaving Frank on his own after 53 years of marriage.

He served with the Navy for the duration of the war and worked as a stoker on ships throughout the Middle East, including the battleship Bahram.

After the war he worked as a grave digger, a milkman, and as a stoker at the Grand Hotel for 17 years.

Frank's two children, Peter and Linda, live in Brighton and Frank also has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

15. LUCY SOUTH, 71

Born and bred in Brighton, Lucy met her husband, Arthur, while both were serving in the Army during the war.

She worked in a variety of jobs around Brighton and spent many years living in Whitehawk. Her three children, Jean, Linda, and Michael, still live in the area. Lucy moved into the home four months ago.

16. JACK SWAIN, 86

Jack served in the Navy for 20 years, travelling all over the world. When he quit he became a journalist and worked on a variety of publications including the Argus, The Daily Sketch and Women's Own magazine.

Born in Arundel, Jack has always lived in the Brighton area. His wife Emily died four years ago after 57 years of marriage. Their son, Howard, works on the trains in Brighton.

Jack said: "They can't close this place down. If this place goes I will be sleeping rough."

17. MARGARET GOFF, 54

Margaret once worked as a care assistant at the convalescent home before becoming a resident herself in August last year.

Originally from Kent, she first came to Brighton to look after her mother in 1965. Her husband, George, died in November after 20 years of marriage. They had no children.

18. DAVID TOLMAN, 90

David will celebrate his 91st birthday on Monday at the home where he has been a resident since May last year.

During the war he worked on the ground staff for the RAF in North Africa. After 1945 he resumed his career as a carpenter and moved down to Brighton. Eventually he became self-employed and worked across

Sussex. He retains a strong interest in aviation and his room is decorated with model planes.

His wife, Eileen, died three years ago at the age of 91 following 50 years of marriage.

19. PAULA JONES, 94

Paula is the home's oldest resident and celebrates her 95th birthday on Sunday.

She was a foster mother for around 50 children, many of whom still visit her at the home where she has been resident since 1997.

20. BARBARA FISHER, 92

Barbara has been living at the home for just over a year.

21) MOLLY HAINE, 89

A former Tiller girl, Molly started working on the stage at the age of 14 - a profession which took her all over England.

During the war she and her husband, George, worked at Gatwick airport before moving to Brighton.

Molly moved into the home 18 months ago. Her only son Martin lives in Brighton and works as a taxi driver.

22. LOULA MASMANIAN, 87

Loula speaks around seven languages and spent a long period of her life living in Egypt.

She moved into the convalescent home 11 years ago.

23. MURIEL LAVENDER, 77

Born in Lewes Road, Brighton, Muriel has been living at the home longer than anyone else. She began working at the home as a cleaner in 1973 and moved in permanently soon after.

She carried on working at the home until her retirement 17 years ago and has continued to live

there as one of the residents ever since.

She said: "It's a lovely place here and I have been ever so worried about what's going to happen. The staff are doing a really wonderful job trying to keep the place open."

24. PHYLLIS NEATE, 91

Phyllis is one of the home's great characters. A keen motorist all her life she was still driving her car right up to the time she first took up residence at the home in July last year and only stopped then because the car's MOT had run out.

Originally from Bristol, Phyllis moved to Brighton "for the sea" and in her younger years would regularly go for a 7am dip before work.

Phyllis taught domestic science at Moulsecoomb Secondary School for 40 years and when she moved into the home she was surprised to find one of her former pupils already a resident while another worked as a member of staff.

After her retirement from the school she worked as a voluntary driver for the Red Cross.

A keen traveller she went to Germany last year on her own and is planning another trip this summer.

25. JOE BOWEN, 84

JOE moved to the Brighton area with his wife, Mary, 16 years ago following his retirement as a ship's manager exporting motorbikes from Wolverhampton to destinations across the world. Despite his job he never learned to ride a bike himself.

A keen amateur actor in his younger years, Joe served with the Pioneer Corps during the war.

He moved into the home just eight weeks ago. He has a son and two daughters.

26. LOUISE CHAPMAN, 94

ONE of the home's oldest residents, Louise moved in 15 months ago having already spent eight years in another nursing home. She loves singing and still entertains residents now and again with one of her songs.

27. MARIE BEALL, 86

Married in 1932, Marie's husband Harry died just four years later. She never remarried. Born in London she moved down to Hastings just before the war.

Marie moved into the convalescent home just after Christmas from her own flat in Woodingdean.

As a former matron of nursing homes throughout Brighton it is a strange experience for her to see things from a resident's point of view.

She said: "I am very worried about what will happen to this home. If it closes, what are they going to do? They can't put everyone here on the street. This is their home.

"I have done every job in an old people's home and now I know what it's like from both sides."

28. FRED WINN, 91

Although he has only been living at the home for four months, Fred was at the forefront of the campaign to keep it open until a recent stroke.

Originally born in Yorkshire, Fred was a sales manager in

London. During the war he served with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers and survived battles in Belgium and at Dunkirk.

With two children from a previous marriage, Fred has been with his second wife Rosemary for 35 years and she is a regular visitor to the home. He has five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

His son, Malcolm, lives in Brighton while his daughter, Beryl, lives in Pensylvannia, USA.

Rosemary said: "Fred has been campaigning since Day One to keep this place open."

Other residents at the home are Robin Chambers, 77, Wendy Griffiths, 58, Anastasia Papamicolaou, 89, Betty Howe, Frank Willis, 93, Elizabeth McMillan 86, Constance Madden, 91, Mary Henley, 78 and Theresa Graham, 89.

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