Lancing Village Memories

Hear Malcolm's Story Those Were The Days My Friends . . Malcolm G Hill's Memoirs of Lancing Life 1947-1963 Introduction and Early Origins Like many of the people whose reminiscences of Lancing life appear here, I too came across this fascinating website by pure chance whilst trawling references on the internet to the Lancing/Sompting/Worthing area. So I trust my few recollections of growing up there will prompt further reflections among those of us scattered around the globe, and of course, those of you still resident in the area, and also prompt others to write accounts of our early lives and even perhaps engage in mutual correspondence whilst we still have time before our all too soon inevitable demise. My name is Malcolm Gerald Hill. I was born in 1940, not in Lancing actually but in Hayes, Middlesex, but within a few weeks of my birth was taken to live with my grandmother, Mrs Gertrude Perkins at her home in First Avenue, Lancing on account of my mother's premature deat...

Dear Ray, [Re:] Post 15 Alan John Marshall Hear Gary's Story I have just found your website and was very interested in Alan's Post, particularly regarding his experiences at the South Lancing Primary School, which I attended for a short time in the immediate post-war period. The headmistress was Miss Birch, who was a strict disciplinarian and who wasn't averse to administering the cane to any pupils who committed a misdemeanour. My situation was a bit special as my aunt, known as Miss Gardner, was a teacher at the school, which I interpreted as meaning the school rules didn't apply to me! One day, I climbed on top of the grassy air-raid shelters which as Alan rightly pointed out, were strictly out of bounds. I was duly dragged off to face Miss Birch, from whom I got a severe reprimand from her, culminating in her bringing her cane down on the arm of a rather old upholstered chair, which resulted in a cloud of dust flying into the air. My response to her asking me what I...

34. Barry Ruffell A quick note to say I was pleased to come across the ‘Lancing Memories’ website, which included some items about (or from) people I remember. I lived in Lancing Manor House from 1950 – 56, where my dad was a caretaker working for WRDC, and subsequently in Berriedale Drive, Sompting (‘56-’59): I went to N Lancing Primary School from ’53 – ’59, and recognise some of the names mentioned and/or pictured on the website. Some of the names that come to mind from my year are: Terry Stacey (subsequently a musician and music shop owner (Approximate Music, Worthing), and father of folk artist Cole Stacey) Margaret Hogben Christine Marshall Derek Shoulders (whose dad ran an electrical retail business) Peter Clist (who emigrated to Australia, I think) Derek Gorham Ian Ralph Philip Norton Jamie Wrench (of the Red House, North Lancing, and whose dad ran the Boy’s Brigade) John and Anna Caulfield (twins: moved into the area around 58.) Amanda Walker (lived at the top...

Hear Maureen's story I am the Maureen Clarke in Derek Gorham’ s list of classmates. Daily Walks to School I lived, and still do live, just over the border in Sompting, so the walk to North Lancing School was about a mile; 4 times a day, as I came home for lunch most of the time I was there. I used to call in at Fircroft sweet shop on my way to or from (was it a Mrs.Middleton who owned it?) If I bought a small gobstopper, I could get it finished before I got to school, but a big one lasted too long! When I was old enough to walk on my own, I sometimes went on the footpath between Berriedale Drive and Boundstone Lane (which eventually became part of Boundstone School playing field) despite my mum telling me not to! Teachers and Memories I remember most of the teachers Derek mentions, although not in quite the same detail. However, I still have my autograph album with Miss Humphreys’ drawing of rabbits in it! It was quite scary moving up to Mis...

Derek Gorham Thank you to Derek Gorham for sharing this photo  This picture is the staff at North Lancing on the retirement of Miss Humphrey in 1955 after 40 years at the school. Back row : [Mr Durrant] [ Miss Curzon] [Miss Goby] [ ? ] [Mrs Jones?? but I am sure she was the school Secretary][ Mr Steer.] Front row : [Mrs Thomas] [Mrs Jones] [Miss Lapham] [ Mrs Craig? who played the piano] [Miss Taite] [ Miss Humphrey] [ Mrs Horne] [ Mrs Barnes] [ Mis Higgins]

Bob Brown Lancing resident and Pastfinder group member Bob Brown has kindly sent these two pictures of Staff and pupils of South Lancing School from the early 1950s courtesy Bob Brown (L&S Pastfinders) It would be interesting if any of our readers could name any of the sitters for these group portraits.

Ted White Ted has kindly sent a picture of his family for an article about Penstone House  and also enclosed the picture below... He writes:- My Time at South Lancing School (1941–1947) I went to South Lancing School next to the Main Post Office from 1941 to 1947 and I have attached a photo of the teachers who were there in about 1946/7. I think that the one with the flowers in her lapel was the headmistress, Miss Kates, and in the middle was Miss Alexander. On the right is Mrs Curd of an old Lancing family. Who were the others? Life During Wartime  I really enjoyed my days at the school, except of course that these were the years with frequent visits to the Air Raid Shelters.  Classmates Names such as Jackie Jasper, Daphne Chamberlain, Brian Vincent, Mike Smith ... were some of our classmates. courtesy  Ted White