5a_haile_pier1The Emperor of Ethiopia visited Brighton & Hove whilst exiled in Britain. During Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia between 1936-1941 Haile Selassie was forced into five years of exile in Britain, during which time he made several visits to Brighton and Hove. However, Haile Selassie’s connection to St Paul’s Church on West Street is that the Emperor made a donation to the church in 1947, and a plaque in the church commemorates this act. It reads: This plaque commemorates a generous gift towards the repair to the tower of this church in 1947 by H.J. M Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia as a mark of appreciation for the five years spent in England, by his Granddaughter Princess Aida Desta.