Last night, when I was in the Neptune on Kingsway in Hove, a fellow pointed a finger vigorously at the Opinion page and exclaimed: "There's a bloke here who says that we're now on the world stage, if you please!

"Hove on the world stage, I ask you. What are they saying in Tokyo or Barcelona about Hove?"

I was about to say, "Don't you mean West Brighton?" but he looked like one of those Hove types who explode when taunted with that phrase.

Try it some time, it's great sport!

-Jerry Sutton, Albion Street, Southwick