To celebrate the first anniversary of Sussex Bylines’ inaugural issue, we asked some of our key contributors to write a short piece on the subject of “What Sussex Means to Me”. From memories of being a student at the newly built Sussex University in the sixties while living in shabby digs in Brighton, to the enduring ancient magic of bonfire night in Lewes, our writers have submitted a wonderfully eclectic mix of mini personal essays…
Sussex became home many years ago when I started at the University of Sussex as a young student. I walked onto the Falmer campus and was instantly entranced by the unique combination that life here brings…
Country walks just a short distance away with the Downs surrounding us; beach life when the sun shines, heading along the coast for more peaceful seaside scenes; eclectic shops, restaurants and pubs wherever you go.
But it was the rich mixture of people scattered about the place that quickly made it feel like home. And like many Sussex uni graduates, I never really left here for long. Even now, when I travel anywhere, I breathe a sigh of relief as I drive back through those Brighton gates.
It’s still the wonderful variety of people here that I value the most. Over the years I have been lucky to meet curious internationalists, campaigners for social justice, party animals, festival fiends, pub goers, writers, musicians, artists… all forming such a heady mix of types that you’d rarely encounter together elsewhere.
Being involved in Sussex Bylines since day one has shown me that there is another way; that there are so many of us out there who want to see a different, better world. And from our little corner in Sussex we are all pushing to make that happen. Onwards and forwards!
