The Peace Statue

Sunday morning walks with Dad

I was seven when my Dad died, and the greatest recollections I have of him were of Sunday morning seafront walks. I remember particularly the bizarre Guinness clock; the fantastic model railway and Meccano-built Eifel Tower at Railwayland; and the Aquarium’s sea-lions.

A focal point on the seafront

So I’ve always enjoyed Brighton and Hove’s seafront, of which the Peace Statue is a focal point. Indeed, I like a walk along a promenade wherever I am as there’s no such thing as an “identikit” British seaside resort – all are unique.

Halfway race point

When I run the Brighton 10k race, “The Angel” marks the halfway point; and on the way back it means there are two kilometres to go – less than ten minutes’ of running and pain. I enjoy using the seafront cycle lane, which has been greatly improved on the Brighton side recently.

Blurred boundary between Brighton and Hove

The Peace Statue also marks the increasingly blurred division between Brighton and Hove. It sounds peculiar, but I like boundaries, the usually invisible lines that mark the limits of places. I like to note where they become visible – perhaps a change of road surface, a fence line, or maybe even an ancient boundary stone. I always look out for the boundary stone in the Western Road pavement by Boundary Passage.

Tragic reminder of the ‘Great War’

So the statue, erected in 1912 in memory of Edward VII, has several significances for me. But how tragic that the Angel of Peace should arrive on the Sussex coast just two years before the county’s young men were despatched to the Western Front.