In Part 1b, we looked at the heavy industrial heart of the Lancing Carriage Works through the Philip Fry Collection, documenting the high-precision world of the Wheel Shop and the 'Steel Ring' workforce.
In Part 9, we follow those same men out of the factory gates. Armed with their Friday Payment Tins, we trace the transition from the shop floor to the social life of South Street. Using newly discovered evidence, we explore the building's journey from the private Green Turtle Club into the official BR Staff Association, eventually leading into the legendary nightlife of the 70s and 80s.
The "Lancing Club" Origins
According to the Worthing Herald on 13 January 1939:
The Value: It was built around 1928 at a cost of £6,500, which was a massive investment for the time.
The Facilities: It was state-of-the-art, featuring a dancing hall, billiards room, and a fully licensed bar.
The Scale: It had over two hundred members, including Parish Council members, making it the social "Centre" of the village.
Jenny Sampson wrote about the Railway Association Club
"The Railway Association Club, I believe it was called, was a social club for the families of railwaymen to go to. On Saturday nights in the 50’s, there was a pianist and drummer who played dance music for the patrons. I was allowed to go with my Mum and Dad, and I could do the Boston Two Step with my Dad. Also, for three years running, I was the “ New Year Fairy”, so that after a man dressed as "Old Father Time" left the dance floor, and the last stroke of 12 o’clock sounded, I would run in and say Happy New Year to everyone. I think the last time I did that, I would have been about 10"
The Railway Association Club was the true heart of the ‘Colony.’ It was here that the rigid hierarchy of the Works dissolved into the rhythm of the Boston Two Step. Jenny Sampson vividly recalls the 1950s Saturday nights, where a pianist and drummer provided the soundtrack to village life. Perhaps most touchingly, Jenny served as the ‘New Year Fairy,’ a role that saw her welcome the future just as Old Father Time left the floor—a symbol of the next generation growing up in the shadow of the great sheds."
The Human Side of Change: The Lance Era
The frequent rebranding and structural shifts of the Sussex Pad Hotel weren't always down to commercial whims; often, they were forced by fate. One of the most significant physical "rebrands" followed the devastating fire of October 1905, which left the original 15th-century inn a smouldering ruin.
The fact that Lancing College staff sent a floral tribute to his funeral confirms the close-knit tie between the school (the freeholders) and the hotel. It reminds us that behind every "Grand Reopening" or name change, there were families like the Lances navigating the challenges of the trade.
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| See the transcription below. |
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| The end of an era: The moment the private Green Turtle became the official home of the Lancing Railwaymen." |
THE EDINBURGH GAZETTE, JANUARY 18, 1952.
Alan John Leslie Ridge, trading as The Lancing Club, who carried on business at 20 South Road, Lancing, in the county of Sussex.
THE GREEN TURTLE South Street, Lancing
"THE FINEST OF ITS SPECIES"
SPECIAL NOTICE To the many young people from Brighton, Hove, Worthing, etc., who have asked how they can join: The answer is—by becoming an Associate Member! Subscription 2/2/0 per annum.
FACILITIES INCLUDE:
Excellent Dance Floor
Table-Tennis, Billiards, and Darts
Meals served until 11 p.m.
DANCING EVERY TUESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY to the PETER SCOTT BAND
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME
Christmas Day Lunch: 25/-
Boxing Day Gala Dance: 10/6
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This is how we see the transitions of stewardships
The South Street Succession: A Social Shunt
"While some recall the 'Green Turtle' as a high-society detour, Jenny Sampson’s memories remind us that for the families of the Carriage Works, 20 South Street was always 'The Association.'
Long before the disco lights of the 70s, the 1950s club was a place of formal ritual. Jenny recalls playing the 'New Year Fairy'—waiting for the stroke of midnight and the departure of 'Old Father Time' to welcome in the year. It was a world of the Boston Two Step, where a pianist and drummer provided the soundtrack for railwaymen and their families. This wasn't a high-priced private lounge; it was the social heart of Lancing's biggest industry."
- The Assembly Hall in Shoreham.
The Post-Industrial Era: Shoestrings, The Place, Keystones
After the Works closed in 1964, the "Railway" identity eventually faded. The building moved into its modern life:
Shoestrings: The gritty, intermediate nightclub phase.
The Place: The 80s/90s rebrand into a more "polished" venue.
- Keystones: The final stop in our timeline.
From Swing Standards to "The Last Smooch"
As the decades turned, the atmosphere at 20 South Street shifted from the sophisticated "Society" vibes of the Green Turtle to something much louder and more energetic. By the time the venue was known as The Place in 1979, the resident jazz bands were a memory, replaced by the thumping bass of the disco era.
Local witness Richard Thorpe recalls that by 1979, the music was almost exclusively DJ-led. It was the era of the classic British disco ritual: a circle of girls dancing around their handbags in the middle of the floor, while the boys propped up the bar, watching and waiting.
The night always followed a predictable choreography—the high-energy hits of the charts eventually giving way to the "last smooch," that final slow dance that signalled the end of the evening. It was a world away from the two-guinea subscriptions of the 1950s, but it was exactly where Lancing’s youth wanted to be.
"Richard Thorpe remembers the dancing and the 'bar-propping,' but the names of the DJs at The Place remain a mystery. Was it a local lad from the Carriage Works with a good record collection, or one of the travelling 'Mobile Discos' from Brighton? If you remember who was behind the decks in 1979, let us know!"
The 1979 Shift: Handbags and Bar-Propping
Richard Thorpe recalls that by 1979, the music was almost exclusively led by a DJ. The dance floor was dominated by a classic British ritual: groups of girls dancing in tight circles around their handbags, creating a "sacred space" in the centre of the room. Meanwhile, the boys—Richard included—followed their own tradition: propping up the bar and watching the floor with a mixture of hope and hesitation.
The night always followed a predictable arc. The fast-paced disco hits would eventually fade, the lights would dim, and the DJ would announce the "last smooch." This final slow dance was the signal that the night was over, a far cry from the New Year rituals of the previous generation, but just as essential to the social fabric of South Street.
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This was the social sanctuary for men like W. J. Knight, H. R. Lowman, and A. E. 'Bert' Pelling—men we’ve identified from the 1936 Toolroom and the 1914 Firemen rosters. For them, the 'Running Man' over the door wasn't just a sign; it was a badge of their trade.
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| Courtesy Philip Fry Collection |
From the 'Running Man' to the 'Midnight Snack'
In this latest look at the South Street site—variously known as the Railwaymen’s Association, The Green Turtle, and The Place—a tiny detail on the front porch has helped us unlock a whole new timeline.
The Clue on the Porch
If you look closely at the hanging insignia over the entrance in this B&W photo, you’ll see the silhouette of a slender running man. This is the classic "Mercury" (or Winged Messenger) emblem of the British Railways Staff Association (BRSA).
Its presence dates this photo to the pre-1965 era. This was the social sanctuary for men like W. J. Knight, H. R. Lowman, and A. E. 'Bert' Pelling—men we’ve identified from the 1936 Toolroom and 1914 Firemen rosters. For them, the 'Running Man' over the door wasn't just a sign; it was a badge of their trade.
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| Philip Fry Collection The Barman is Bert Jasper, Mrs Jasper sitting, Ron Tout in the blazer and Norman Dixon I expected a velvet-lined lounge, but I found a no-nonsense hub of railway life instead—which probably suited the men of the Steel Ring just fine. |
The Upstairs/Downstairs Split
By the early 1970s, the "Running Man" had been replaced by a new professional energy. We now know the building was owned by the Steele family, who managed a fascinating dual-purpose venue:
Upstairs: A restaurant run by Ann & Fred, used for "big gatherings" and respectable dinners.
Downstairs: The high-energy club managed by local legend Tony Hills.
The 'Legal' Chicken in a Basket
A brilliant detail has emerged regarding the nightlife of the 70s. To stay open late, the club had to navigate the strict licensing laws of the time. As Lucy Lastic recalls, you had to have a "snack" to keep drinking! This explains the famous "Chicken in a Basket"—it wasn't just a meal; it was your legal ticket to stay on the dance floor until the early hours.
Title: A Tale of Two Floors
"As our community research has revealed, the venue was a true 'double-decker' of Lancing social life. According to Lucy Lastic, the building operated on two distinct levels:
Upstairs: A high-quality, 'proper' restaurant famous for its amazing food—likely the heart of the Green Turtle’s reputation for weddings and formal functions.
Downstairs: The high-energy club floor, where the 'Basket Food' was served as a clever legal necessity to maintain that all-important late drinking licence.
This explains how the building could host a dignified wedding breakfast upstairs while a packed dance floor was in full swing below!"
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The 'Rocket Dance' Era
The memories of the 70s and 80s are still vivid:
The "Eshmans Girls": Dawn Clift remembers Saturday nights with "the girls" from the Eshman Brothers & Walsh furniture factory.
The "Rocket Dance": Sean Mckeown and others recalled the high-energy stomps to glam-rock hits like Mud’s The Rocket.
The End of the Night: The ritual walk to the Chinese takeaway just along the road before the journey home.
From a respectable railwaymen’s guild to a "Midnight Snack" disco hub, South Street has seen it all.
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| Courtesy Margaret Sear When the Club in South Street was called Keystones |
The Mid-80s Pivot: Shoestrings
While many remember the glitz of The Place in the 70s, the building underwent a brief but memorable rebranding in the mid-1980s as Shoestrings. This era served as the 'bridge' between the Steele family's tenure and the final years of Keystones.
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| courtesy John Wood By the 1970s, the industrial graft described in Part 1 had blossomed into a vibrant social scene at 140 South Street. This menu cover, kindly shared by John Wood, represents the 'Fine Dining' era of the building—a far cry from the sawdust and steel of the workshop, yet built on the very same foundation of railway fellowship.
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It’s a far cry from the building's strict beginnings. As Steve Bray recently uncovered, the venue's move toward public life was strictly regulated; in November 1966, you couldn't just walk in—you had to apply via the Worthing Gazette, pay an annual subscription, and formally agree to the house rules!
Supper and a Side of Footballers
Life at The Place wasn't just about the music; it was about the 'substantial meal' required to keep the bar open late! As Martin Greenfield recalls, the late licence depended on a Vista curry or the classic Chicken Supreme. It was clearly the spot to be seen, as it wasn't unusual to spot Brighton & Hove Albion players rubbing shoulders with the Lancing locals on the dance floor.
| Era | Known As... | The "Vibe" & Key Details | People & Connections |
| 1930s - 1950s | Railwaymen’s Association | Professional sanctuary for Carriage Works staff. The "Slender Runner" (Mercury) emblem on the porch. | W.J. Knight, H.R. Lowman, 'Bert' Pelling. The Toolroom & Firemen "Old Guard." |
| Early 1960s | The Association | The transition era. Traditional club atmosphere but with dancing to jukebox records. | Valerie Miller & the early 60s "fond memories" crowd. |
| Early 1970s | The Green Turtle / The Place | The "Dinner & Dance" years. Upstairs restaurant and the famous "Late Night Snack" legal loophole. | The Steeles (Owners), Ann & Fred (Restaurant), Lucy Lastic (Waitress). |
| Mid-1970s - 1980s | The Place | The Disco powerhouse. Saturday Night hotspot for factory workers and out-of-towners. | Tony Hills (Manager), Max Eichenhofer. The Eshmans factory girls and the "Rocket Dance." |
| Late 1980s | Keystones | The modern era. A sophisticated alternative to the Brighton nightclub scene. | Bob Potter, David Taylor (Worthing regular). |
| Name | Connection | Memory / Detail |
| Toni Brown | Weekend Regular | Linked The Farmers as the "packed" starting point before The Place. |
| Jean Holloway | Regular | Recalled the food hatch being "out the back" of the club. |
| The Farmers | Pub (Lancing) | The go-to "pre-club" pub for the South Street crowd. |
The South Street Magnet "While the 'Sheds' were silent at night, South Street came alive. Local resident Paul Carter remembers the crowds lining up outside The Place, with queues stretching right down to the pavement. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the venue was 'chocca' until the 2am chucking out time. It is a stark contrast to the quiet village we know today—a time when 'little old Lancing' was a genuine hotspot for the entire region."
What started as a single photograph of a porch has revealed a 50-year social history of Lancing. From the precision of the railway engineering shops to the stomping rhythm of the Rocket Dance, South Street has been the stage for it all. A huge thank you to everyone who shared their names and memories to help build this record of village life.
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Part 1b Images from the Philip Fry Collection Part 2: The Bofors Gun & The War Effort
Part 2b: The Secret of the "Hush Hush" Shop- Part 8 : The Final Reveal – The Skeletons in the Garden
- Part 9: From the 'Running Man' to the 'Rocket Dance'
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