Story 12 from Karen Foster

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Karen Foster

I found your website by accident, it was such a delight it was to read everyone's memories, that I thought I would write some of my own.

Life in Tower Road and the Veranda Classroom

Just the word Lancing conjures up pictures of my childhood.
I was born in Tower Road at No.84, moving to No.80 (the one with the steps) in 1967. My first school was South Lancing Infants in North Rd in 1958, the classroom with the veranda must take a photo of it one day before it disappears. I can remember the air raid shelters, as remembered by Paul Bridle, and woe betide anyone who went near them. I believe the headmistress was Miss Birch, she had a large jar of sweets in her room, don't know how I know that one!

The Great School Migration: From North Road to Irene Avenue (

 We were told one day that we had to move schools, so we packed up our books and pencils and walked up to The Unit, which is now Boundstone Nursery School. Mr Teacher was Mr Juleff. We soon settled there until we did the same thing again and walked around to Irene Avenue for our last term before Boundstone.

Felt Badges, Beatles Clubs, and Playground Games

I spent many happy playtimes in those schools, playing marbles, etc. Does anyone remember standing tea/gum cards against the wall and flicking other cards to knock them down, winner takes all? We had lovely tea parties at Christmas in the school hall, with food provided by our parents. We also had a Beatles club there when I was older, it cost 3d, and we received a small daisy-shaped badge made of felt!

Chalk Pit Adventures and "Cheese and Sand" Sandwiches

School holidays were filled with trips up the downs, playing in the chalk pit, and plenty of room to use a child's imagination; you could be anything up there. other times spent on the beach, building the proverbial sandcastles with moats, drinking orange squash and cheese and sand sandwiches!

Paddling Pools and the "Eel in the Mine" at Brooklands

I remember the Brooklands paddling pool opening. There were lots of animal-shaped pools for us to play in and rocks to climb, what fun! Fishing under the bridge that led into Brooklands for sticklebacks and minnows. Someone told us that there was an eel living under the bridge, hidden in an old mine that was buried there. You believe anything when you are young.

Cinema Trips and Local Shopkeepers

My friend Sheila Haite, who lived next door and I used to go to the Luxor together to see Walt Disney and Cliff Richard films. The first film I saw was Bambi, it cost 9d. We used to look for which films were on, on posters in Sompting Rd, just outside the knitting wool shop, which was next to a grocers shop owned by the Street family, then owned by the Brown family. This was next to Mr Jones, the chemist. 

I remember Paul Bridle's grandparents' shop on the corner of Myrtle Rd, my mum Lilian Wingfield used to shop in there but worked in the other grocer's shop. She later went to work at Woolworths. My dad Reginald, worked in the railway works but left in 1963 before it closed, to go to Solarbo in Commerce Way. I remember Dr Alexander was my dad's doctor, but us children saw Dr Whiting; he was a lovely man.

I could go on forever, but will stop My parents and sister still live in Lancing, and although I only live in Rustington, I still think of Lancing as my home.
Karen Foster, nee Wingfield.

Story 10 from Paul Bridle

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Paul Bridle

Summary

Paul Bridle shares memories of his childhood in Lancing, England, including his family's business, Melhuish's Stores, and his attendance at Lancing Infants School. He remembers a DUKW vehicle that took people onto the sea and a cargo ship that may have been bound for Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Paul Kidger adds to the story by recalling steam trains and providing details about the Bridle family's general practitioner, Dr. Alexander, a World War I fighter pilot

Story 10

Childhood in Lower Boundstone Lane

I was born in Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by-Sea, on 8th November 1951 and lived with my parents in Lower Boundstone Lane, Lancing, from then until later in the 1950s. My father was an architect and my mother a housewife. I attended Lancing Infants School and recall an air raid shelter in the grass playing field at the back of the school. I, along with the other pupils, was too afraid to go down the steps to it.

Melhuish’s Stores and the New 'Top Road'

My grandfather owned and ran Melhuish's Stores until he retired and moved to 25, Upper Boundstone Lane, where he lived until the early 1970s. I can remember the building of the school in Upper Boundstone Lane and the A27 'top road'. My great-grandfather, who lived with my grandparent,s used to walk from their bungalow each morning up to the top road and back for exercise.

The DUKW and a Glimpse of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Does anyone else remember the ex-army DUKW vehicle, which used to take people out onto the sea?
At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, I and my family were at my grandparents' beach hut when we saw a large cargo passing along the channel out to sea. It would seem that it was being shipped to Cuba by the Russians. I was blissfully unaware of the fear of war that so many people had.
Reply from Paul Kidger

Battle of Britain Steam Trains at the Crossing

I still remember the excitement of seeing a Battle of Britain class steam train going over the level crossing in Lancing. Magnificent and a change from the electric trains.

In addition, Paul writes...

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who remembers my family in Lancing - My grandparents owned Melhuish's Stores in Sompting Road, which I think was called something like Myrtle Terrace or Parade. The shop was on the corner of Myrtle Road and Sompting Road. It was converted to a house, possibly in the 1970s.

Dr. Alexander: The Pilot with the Bullet Wound

Our family GP was Dr Alexander (called "Dr Alec"). He had a crease in one cheek from a bullet wound in WW1 when he was a fighter pilot.

Paul Bridle