A compilation of Lancing Village memories

 

Lancing Memories: The "Lost" Tapes & Stories Rediscovered

Compilation 1

The Village Ecosystem

• Focus: How Lancing functioned after the war—the market gardens, the railway works, and the "Ducks" on the beach.

Compilation 2

Life Through George Forrest’s Eyes

• Focus: A personal, biographical look at village life, featuring George’s "quite a lot to say" on everything from smoking to school days.

Compilation 3

Gossip, Mischief, and Hidden Scars

• Focus: The legendary local characters like "Lord Lancing," the "autopilot" coal horses, and the touching hidden histories of our teachers.
  

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• George Forrest: Our "leading man" for this series. Whether he was jumping over gates onto giant snakes or experimenting with "gutter tobacco," George’s memories are the heartbeat of these new recordings.
• Sid Lisher & His Horses: The ultimate Lancing "autopilot." Sid could catch a nap on his coal cart while his horses perfectly navigated the Sompting Road, even knowing exactly where to turn into the stables.
• The Mysterious "Lord Lancing": A man who brought a touch of the West End to West Sussex. Dressed in a boater hat and striped blazer, he was a village fixture that everyone remembered.
• The Teachers (Miss Humphrey & Miss Lappham): Behind the strict classrooms of North Lancing and Irene Avenue were deeply human stories—from secret crayon drawings of rabbits to the quiet, lifelong shadows of the Great War.

It has been a bit of a labour of love lately at the Lancing Memories project. After discovering that 55 of our precious audio and blog files were accidentally "Restricted," I’ve spent the last few hours unlocking the vault. Every single file is now set to "Anyone with the link," making our village history more accessible than ever.

But I didn't want to just reopen the doors; I wanted to bring the stories to life in a new way.

A New Way to Experience Our Past

Using the latest technology, I’ve created a series of "Community Deep Dives." These aren't just readings—they are vibrant, roundtable discussions that piece together memories from across our entire collection.

What you’ll hear in this new collection:

• The Schoolyard & The Classroom: Tales of the strict (but deeply human) teachers at North Lancing and Irene Avenue, from the much-feared Mr Russell to the rabbit-drawing Miss Humphrey.

• Wartime Lancing: The "mushrooms of dust" from the 1941 air raids, the "Ducks" (DUKWs) on the beach, and the secret signals of the Home Guard.

• The Characters of the Village: Meet the legendary George Forrest—a man who always had "quite a lot to say"—and the "autopilot" coal horses of S. Lisher that knew the route better than the driver.

• Mischief & Mayhem: From the "Great Tobacco Experiment" (which ended in a lot of coughing!) to the boys dodging chores to watch the steam trains at the footbridge.

Why It Matters

These memories capture the transition of Lancing from rural farmland to the bustling community we know today. It’s a nostalgic look at the Luxor Cinema, the Railway Works, and the local shops that defined our lives.

Whether you remember the smell of the coal carts or you're a new neighbour curious about our "Centre," these stories are for you.

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"Did you know Sid Lisher’s horses could navigate the Sompting Road while the driver was fast asleep? You can still see the 'dip' in the curb today where they turned for home. Listen to the latest 'Deep Dive' to hear George Forrest tell the full story!"

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A Final Note on the Lancing Memories Project

This collection represents more than just a series of recordings; it is a digital preservation of the "chaotic humanity" that defined our village from the 1930s through the 1960s. By bringing these 53 sources together, we have uncovered a unique "social ecosystem" where every memory—from the market gardens to the railway works—is interconnected.

Through these "Deep Dives," we have rediscovered:

• The Resilience of a Generation: How the quiet shadows of the Great War shaped our teachers, and how the village mobilised everything from saucepans to pennies to support the effort in the second.

• The Spirit of Childhood: The freedom of the chalk pits and the Widewater, balanced against the strict discipline of the classroom.

• The Local Legends: The "autopilot" coal horses of Sompting Road, the eccentric "Lord Lancing," and the endless mischief of George Forrest and his friends.

While the landscape of Lancing has evolved from rural farmland to the bustling centre we know today, the spirit of the people remains captured here. We hope these conversations offer you a nostalgic window into a bygone era and remind us all that the most valuable history is often found in the smallest, "meaty" details of our neighbours' lives.

Thank you for listening and keeping these memories alive.

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Troubleshooting Tip: If you are listening on a mobile phone and the audio doesn't play immediately, try opening the link in Google Chrome. If it still feels 'restricted,' simply long-press the link and select 'Open in New Tab' to join the conversation!

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Help us preserve the past If you enjoyed listening to these vibrant personal memoirs, please leave a star rating below. Your feedback helps us understand which historical anecdotes from the 1930s to the 1960s resonate most with the village today. It is a simple, quiet way to honour the legacy of contributors like George Forrest and others who shared their stories to keep the spirit of Lancing alive.

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The "Identify a Detail" Invitation: "If you recognised a specific face in a story or remember a shop name we might have missed, please leave a comment. Your 'meaty' details help us keep the Centre of these memories accurate for the next generation."

The "Family Connection" Prompt: "Was your father or grandfather one of the Railway Works or Market Garden workers? A simple 'My Dad worked there' is a wonderful way to honour their legacy."

The "George Forrest" Tribute: "George had 'quite a lot to say' to keep our history alive; we’d love to hear your own small 'cheeky' memory of Lancing life too."

Story 12 from Karen Foster

Hear Karen's story

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.