your paper, your voice lutontoday.co.uk talk to us facebook.com/heraldandpost @lutonnews Wednesday OctOber 26, 2016 90p OR 72p if yOu subscRibe see page 2 Murder helping youngsters hunt: See See Woman page find themselves page 4 3 named Artist Steve Dillon ‘will be sorely missed’ Tributes to comic book Steve Dillon, far left and, below, Comic book legend character Judge Dredd His brother glyn, who wrote and lived here through his layers’ arms pub By Stewart carr 01582 798512 @Stewcarr the graphic novel The Nao Of life. He started his career by for over 20 years [email protected] brown, confirmed on Twit- drawing Nick fury for Hulk and scores of ter that his “big brother” and magazine when he was 16. friends have paid trib- Tributes have poured in for “hero” had died. He went on to become a ute to “New bloke” – his Luton comic book genius He wrote: “sad to con- much-loved artist to genera- nickname. Steve Dillon – best known for firm the death of steve, my tions of comic book fans all Landlady alison his artwork on Judge Dredd, big brother and my hero. He over the world. Taylor said: “To many passed away in the city he but despite that, he never he was a great friend, Preacher and The Punisher loved (NYC). He will be sore- forgot his roots and contin- confidant and didn’t – who has died at the age ly missed. cheers x.” ued to live in Luton. He was a of 54. Dillon was born in Luton regular at High Town’s brick- turn to page 2 Bmds p10 letters p12-13 leisure p22 property p29 Jobs p52 motors p54 sport p64 GOURMET FOOD &LUXURYGIFT FAIR 29TH & 30THOCTOBER - 10AM-5PM The Conservatory at the Luton Hoo Walled Garden Rock Chorus Choir -Goody Bags Demonstrations -Gift Wrapping Book now www.focusonevents.org 4 Luton news www.lutontoday.co.uk Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Luton news Feature Bar’s new owner backs gender cause that’s so close to her heart Juxtapose photography: scott WigglesWorth er children, this may surface cate. they were very much into pro- By Jo Gravett [email protected] with boys playing with tradi- At school, Tina was badly moting debates. The teacher 01582 798505 tionally female toys, or girls bullied; her biological sex was asked whether it was better to refusing to wear dresses. male, so her parents took her be a boy or a girl, so I raised my Tina said: “Mermaids is a to doctors and psychiatrists hand and said I would rather An ambitious Luton business- little know charity support- because she would question be a girl – my teacher looked woman is ensuring her new ing the parents of children her gender identity, asking terrified! LGBT bar supports young and teenagers who are scared ‘why am I a boy?’ “Psychiatrists back then people experiencing gender to say how they feel about their Tina said: “I probably out- were looking for a ‘cure’ – gender. ed myself aged six. At school, there is no ‘cure’. At the age of dysphoria. “The charity have been 14, if I opened my mouth all I After relaunching the busi- around for 21 years and if we ended up with was pain.” ness in July, Tina Haynes, 58, can support them and help Thankfully, after going is hoping punters at the Cali- save the life of just one kid it through a transitional period, fornia-Inn, Chapel Street, will will have been worth it. Mermaids Tina is confident in her own help donate to Mermaids, a “I was born in 1958 when skin and the California-Inn charity close to her heart. the term ‘transgender’ wasn’t pays homage to her journey . Tina is celebrating 25 years even used – but since then The Cailfornia-Inn has a collec- There is a chess board post-op and wants to support there’s been a tectonic shift tion box at the bar for Mermaids painted on the ceiling with children and teenagers who in attitudes.” and staff and punters have so heels and champagne bottles are struggling with gender Tina is a transgender wom- far raised in excess of £200 for as the game pieces. dysphoria, something she an, becoming Tina 29 years the charity. Tina said: “The chess board went through herself when ago and four years later hav- On December 17 the bar is hold- is on the ceiling because going she was younger. ing an operation to create a ing a comedy sketch night to through a transitional period The condition sees a per- vagina. raise further funds. turns your life upside down. son feel discomfort or distress The adjective transgen- Visit Mermaids at: http://www. “The pink divisional lines because there’s a mismatch der describes a person whose mermaidsuk.org.uk/ represent the transitions and between their biological sex whose gender identity dif- To find out more about the squares are grey and white – and gender identity, for ex- fers from the sex the doctor California-Inn, visit: http://cali- not black – nothing in life is Tina at the California-Inn ample, sometimes in young- marked on their birth certifi- bars.co.uk black and white!” 5 day coach break 5 day coach break to scotland - £158 to scotland - £215 Thursday 24th November Thursday 31st January Loch Tummel Hotel Perthshire Loch Awe Hotel Argyllshire tour includes: Winter tour includes: Mountains & Mistletoe Warmer 4 Nights Half Board 4 Nights Half Board A five day break staying Nightly An early season 5 Nightly entertainment entertainment at our Loch Tummel day coach break, Excursions Excursions Hotel. This attractively offering exceptional priced holiday is a value for money celebration of the festive pickup from: pickup from: staying at our Loch period to get you in the mood for Christmas and St Albans, Awe Hotel. There St Albans New Year.There will be Harpenden, will be an excursion Harpenden, an excursion everyday Luton, Luton, everyday including including entry to Blair Dunstable, Dunstable, Oban, Fort William, Castle, Pitlochry, Red Bedford Bedford Rannoch Moor, Deer Centre, Dundee & Discovery Point, along Glencoe and a cruise with a wonderful party on Loch Lomond. atmosphere in the hotel. Holidays are fully bonded. Holidays are fully bonded. School Road, Gartocharn, School Road, Gartocharn, G83 8RW G83 8RW lochs.com 01389 713713 lochs.com 01389 713713.