Vera Bartram
A Nostalgic Reflection A friend lent me a copy of your
Lancing Village Memories, which I found very interesting.
Early Life in Lancing
My family moved here from London in 1931 when my father opened a barber shop on Brighton Road by Chandler's Corner called "Bob's". I have lived in Lancing ever since, except for the period when I was working at Bletchley during the War.
School Days
I went first to a little private school called Viking House School run by Mrs Old in Kings Road, but when my sister started school a couple of years later, we went to South Lancing Primary, which in those days was the only primary school in Lancing. Seniors went to North Lancing in what is now the St.James the Less church hall, where the hall was divided into two classrooms by screens. I remember the school in Irene Avenue being built, and that is where I went at 11 years old. Many years later, when I had two sons, they went to the new North Lancing primary at the bottom of Mill Road, and Miss Humphrey was still headmistress and Miss Tait still there. Miss Humphrey retired while my sons were there.
Wartime Memories
We lived at my father's shop until 1940 when we moved to a flat along the Widewater.
From there, we often saw dogfights during the War as German planes came across the Channel, making their way inland, and the Spitfires fought them off. I remember seeing a German have to bail out, and his parachute didn't open.
Lancing's Cinemas and Shops
I also remember first a little cinema being built in Penhill Road called the Regal and later the Odeon, and also the Luxor being built. As my father displayed posters advertising the programmes, we got free tickets every week, so saw a lot of films!
There were not a lot of shops built North of the railway until after the war, and although Lancing is still officially a Village, it is much bigger now.
Familiar Faces and Businesses
I remember so many of the businesses mentioned by your correspondents. I went to school with Vera Gardener and Kathleen Scardifield, whose parents' shop was mentioned, and I also remember the Melhuish's store, and I think one of that family was in my class at school, but I can't remember the name. We, too, had Dr.Alexander until he retired and then Dr.Collier.
Connections and Friendships
I remember Derek Gorham, who has written because at one time we lived four doors away from his parents, and I was friendly with his mother, and Derek was at school with my son Peter.
A Heartfelt Conclusion
What a lot of memories this has brought back - very enjoyable reading, thank you.
From: Mrs Vera Bartram (nee Murray)
