Early School Days at South Lancing
I was born in Lancing and attended South Lancing Junior School, where the Headmistress was Miss Cates. I didn't dislike school, but the only thing that bothered me was my eyesight. My desk was always in the fron,t and then I couldn't always see the small writing on the blackboard.
Wartime Memories and Family Fundraising
I do remember some very cold winters with the school milk popping out of the bottles, so that we tried to thaw them out on the school hot pipes. In that freezing weather, we all wore homemade clothes, which luckily our mother could always manage. She was very good at knitting and sewing, so that in 1944 my sisters: Averill, Frieda and Veronica Gascoyne, our cousin Peter Voice and his friend Derek Denyer went out to sell tea cosies, bed socks, kettle holders and anything Mother had made to raise the princely sum of £21 for the Red Cross. Anything over went to the hospital. A newspaper cutting of 1944 has a photograph of the six children and reports that they sold dolls, toys, iron-holders, flannels, lucky dips, brooches, powder-puffs, shoe-polishers, bath salts and other articles in their third sale. The unsold toys were sent to the Hospital, and they received a letter of thanks from Sister Foster of Ward 1. Peter and the Gascoynes have an aunt, uncle and two cousins who interned in China.
Post-War Entertainment and Secondary School
After the war, my sisters and I would go to the Regal Cinema along Penhill Road for Saturday matinee. Then I went to Irene School, which was nice and near home.
Early Working Life - The Wool Shop
After leaving school, I worked in a lovely wool shop in Chapel Road, Worthing called Evelyn's. At this time, in the '50s, there were another three wool shops in the town.
Railway Works and Cycling Culture
On my way home each day to Lancing Station, I would call in to buy my Dad the Evening Argus. No way could he leave his bike to shop when the Railway Works emptied. There were hundreds of bikes along North Road. You wouldn't dare cross the road.
Singer Sewing Machine Company
Then I worked for Singer Sewing m/c Co. in Worthing, and again there were three other m/c shops. Now there is only one left. How times have changed.
Marriage at St Paulinus
By the '60s, I was married to Derek in the Cokeham R.C. Church of St Paulinus, with Father Quinlan officiating. Even this church is now gone.
Working for Walter Bros
For a short time, I worked for Walter Bros, who were a well-known Worthing family, who had been trading for over 100 years. All the family were most friendly and approachable, not stuck up at all. Mr Leslie Walter was a well-known councillor and alderman, and when I asked him if he would have liked to have been mayor, he laughed his head off - "not likely", he said.
Mary Lou Fabric Centre
As time went by, they sold the business and my husband and I purchased the lease to the Lancing branch, calling it 'Mary Lou Fabric Centre'. I spent nearly 30 happy years there and never forgot a customer's advice: "always smile".
Musical Evenings with Dr King
My mother and father lived in Lancing, so it was very convenient to meet up when Dr King had his symphony concerts with a small group of passionate musicians. It was a perfect musical evening and we all loved it.
North Road Neighbours and Local Shops
Next door to us in North Road was a Co-op shoe shop, soon taken over by Mr and Mrs Lyons. We all got on famously, dressing up for the late-night shopping. In those days, Lancing had three shoe shops.
There was Mrs Mitchell, a florist, on the next block who had been in business when I was a child. Mrs Mitchel always remembered your name.
Also, we had a fruit and veg shop owned by Mr Boulter, who became so busy he opened three shops, and always called out at the end of the day, with his bargain prices.
Commuting and Friendships
I used to travel on the train home with one of the girls who worked at Woolworths. What a shame when that closed. I still see Olive in Worthing occasionally and recall when we walked home to Worthing in the snow when the trains had failed.
Reflections on Lancing
Lancing has treated me very well, and I consider myself so very lucky to have been born and bred here.