The 'Grand Dame'By Robin Tulley
A little tired and lacklustre after all these years It’s witnessed so much laughter and the occasional tears Four years in the building until its inauguration in1864 The good, bad and the mighty have passed through its door Then, Brighton’s tallest building, far beyond compare Built of York and Portland stone with Italianate style and flare Boasting all ‘mode cons’ of the day and luxury at its best Its fame soon spread and it was soon put to the test Napoleon111, President Kennedy, Ronald Reagan too Were among illustrious visitors to mention just a few Prime Minister Harold Wilson held a cabinet meeting there A favourite party conference venue in full media glare Once horse drawn carriages deposited the gentry Later ‘Roll’s’ and Bentleys made their elegant entry In World War 11 the military entered its doors They were billeted on all of its nine luxurious floors In 1984 it became the focus of international fame The IRA bombed it when Margaret Thatcher came Unshaken, like a phoenix it rose from the ashes Rebuilding took place and erased the ugly gashes Reborn anew, in 1986 it once more opened its doors It had survived that outrage and two World wars Grand by name and grand by nature it still prevails today An hotel of glitz and elegance, it will always remain that way A Brighton icon adjacent to the crumbling West pier Its majestic presence is what the city holds dear. Robin Tulley 06/02/20012 Published 'The Argus' 24th February 2012
This page was amended on 16/07/2012 | 
