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."

47. Those Were The Days My Friends . . . Malcolm G Hill's Memoirs of Lancing Life 1947-1963

Malcolm G Hill

Those Were The Days My Friends . .

Hear Malcolm's Story

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 death from that scourge of early 20th century Britain, tuberculosis of the lungs.

Within a year I had been adopted by the Hill family, Mr Malcolm Thomas William Hill and his wife Eva Mary, who at that time lived on Crabtree Lane in a house called White Gates, a lovely detached home now replaced by an apartment block, opposite The Crabtree Inn and on the other side of the road to a row of shops, among which I remember a greengrocer's with the memorably evocative name of Hibdidges. The Hills had a daughter, Barbara Jean, eleven years older than myself, who unfortunately died in 2014 in her eighty-third year and lived with her husband Peter, also deceased this year, 2015, just outside Norwich in Norfolk.

45. Jenny Shackley (nee Charman) writes about life in Lancing from 1947

Jenny Shackley.

I have just read all the memories of people on your website.

Hear Jenny's story

Early Life in Lancing

I was born in Lancing in 1947 at 8 Tower Road. My Dad used to work for Frank Lisher and, in fact, looked after the shire horses referred to in one of George Forrest’s comments. My sisters (of which there were 4) used to go to the stables to watch the horses being fed or mucked out, or get ready to go out. My dad loved these horses dearly, and whilst I don’t recall, he must have been heartbroken when he did not look after them any more.

School Days

I went to South Lancing School, both infants and juniors and then on to Irene Ave for one year and then on to Boundstone Comprehensive when it was brand new. Oh, how privileged we did feel with that school. I had Mr Jones as my first form teacher, and he said to me, “Are there more of you Charmans at home?” as apparently, he knew the rest of the family.

I stopped on for an extra year to do GCE and was sad to leave the school to go to work. I then got married after a few years and finally ended up in Bristol, where I still live.

Fond Memories

I have a sister who still lives in Lancing and was an usherette at the Luxor, and I do visit about three times a year. I still remember fondly the sweet shop in North Road where we used to go on the way to school, the bread shop opposite South Lancing school where we used to buy a crusty roll for a farthing and eat all of the insides, leaving only the shell to eat on its own.

In the summer holidays, I had friends who had one of the beach huts and we used to spend many happy days on the beach. I still like to go down to the beach whenever I visit.

All in all, your website has brought back many happy memories.

Jenny Shackley (nee Charman)

jenny.shackley@blueyonder.co.uk

32, David Nicholls ~ wartime Lancing

David Nicholls

Summary

This text is an excerpt from a personal website, written by David Nicholls. He describes his childhood growing up in Lancing, England, during World War II, recounting memories of school life, air raids, and the presence of military personnel in his town. He also remembers daily life and common places in the area, including the 

local cinema, his paper route, and a nearby manor house. The excerpt reveals the impact of the war on his everyday experiences as a young boy.

Hear David's  story 

AI-Generated Overview Podcast

I found this website by chance, and it certainly triggered off some
Memories of Lancing for me.

Memories of Lancing.

Early Days in North Lancing

I grew up in North Lancing.  In 1939, my Dad bought a small bungalow at
Lewes Road off Fircroft Avenue. I remember the cost of our home (just
five hundred pounds). Then, Fircroft Avenue was an unmade road lined
with almond trees which shed their blossoms like confetti. The Downs
up to Lancing Clump were a playground to us, kids. (It was always
called Lancing Clump locally, although the proper name was Lancing
Ring).
As the war progressed, the fields above North Lancing became an Army
battle school. Trenches were dug around the Clump, and defensive
positions were manned by the soldiers during the time of an invasion was
expected.  Bren gun carriers towing field guns were everywhere, and
soldiers camped in the fields above Derek Road.  Fascinating for small
boys!  Though forbidden by our parents, we boys scoured the fields for
any bit of military hardware left behind.

Military Presence in Lancing

Many of the houses on Ring Road were occupied by the military.
Canadian soldiers who used to march down Mill Road in their Scottish
Canadian kilts led by a bagpiper.  The chalk pit at the top of Mill
Road was used as a gunnery range.  The crackle of small arms fire
alerted us boys, and although we couldn’t go there while the troops
were firing, we would scrabble in the chalk for spent bullets and brass
cartridge cases at the end of the day.

School Memories

I went to school at the local primary school.  It was in an old
Victorian building at the bottom of Mill Road, opposite the Corner
House as the pub was named then.  Classes were held in one big room
divided up by screens.  Not the best learning environment, as the noise
of the other classes made it difficult to hear what the teacher was
saying.

Then one day, all pupils were assembled in the playground and marched
up to the newly completed School.  I think the year was 1940. What a
palace. Big classrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, wide corridors
and a big hall for assembly and PT.  We had only been in our new
school for a few days when a gang of workmen arrived and sprayed the
windows with a plastic stuff that smelled like pear drops. This was to
prevent the glass from shattering and flying in all directions if a bomb
landed nearby.  Other windows were plastered with crisscross sticky
tape for the same reason.  We soon settled down in our new school.
Miss Humphreys was Headmistress,  Miss Tait was second in command, and
I remember my class teachers were Miss Dawson and Miss Allman.  (I
don’t know if I have spelt the names correctly - but it is a long
time ago).

Air Raid Experiences

It was the time of the air raids.  When the siren sounded, we all left
our classes and were led to the brick-built air raid shelters on the
south side of the school grounds.  As we trooped down to the shelters,
we sometimes heard the far-off rattle of machine gun fire and saw the
condensation trails made by the aircraft high in the sky.  We didn’t
know it then, but history was being made above us as young men fought
in their Spitfires to defend our country. In the semi-darkness of the
shelters teacher would attempt to carry on the interrupted lesson.  I
remember that Horlicks tablets were handed out too, and some teachers
would try and get a sing-along going.  When the single note of the All
Clear sounded, we returned to our classrooms to resume lessons.

Over half a century later, I visited my old school in my work as a
Press Photographer to photograph a child who has won an award. I
mentioned to the head teacher that I had been one of the first pupils
in the school. I was then invited to have a tour.  I saw again my old
classroom, but how small it all seemed after all the years.  Gone were
the serried rows of little desks, and in their place were individual
tables scattered about the classroom.  The air raid shelters were long
since demolished, and no one remembered them

.

Discipline and Memories

I had a coffee in the staff room, which in my day was Miss Humphrey’s
study. More memories.  In this room, I was caned for misbehaviour by
Miss Humphreys using a long whippy cane on the palms of my hands.
There were three china ducks on the opposite wall, and I kept my eyes
on these to try and not to cry at the pain of that punishment. My crime
was to be seen running irreverently across the churchyard, jumping
over the graves during some juvenile game.

Friends and Local Families

A few names from my school days.  There was a family of Ripleys and
Johnstons in Fircroft Avenue. My own best friend, Kenny Baker, lived on
the corner of Lewis Road and Fircroft.  Further up Lewes Road lived
the Ayling family, and opposite us was the Wellbeloved family.  I
wonder where they are now?

At the bottom of Lynchmere Road was the Post Office run by Mr Martin, 
and next door was the Fircroft News Agency, where later I had a paper
round to earn my pocket money. My round took in Firle Road, Derek Road, 
as well as Rossiter, Lynchmere and Fairview.

Local Places and Activities

The main road A27 ran along past here and on past the church and the
Corner House to the junction with Boundstone Lane and onto Shoreham.
Now there is a bypass, and where the roundabout is now stood a small
general store called the Stormy Petrel. (/Anyone remember it?)

The Regal cinema in Penhill Road was my Saturday morning treat, and the
programme was all for children.  Cowboys and Indians, Cartoons and
Tarzan films were greatly enjoyed.  Later, I used to go to the Luxor
when I could afford it.

I often walked to Lancing Manor, past the manor house and up to the
lane leading to Hoe Court. Lancing College was then occupied by the
Royal Navy and called HMS King Alfred.  From here, I would continue to
the Sussex Pad and watch the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lysanders
landing and taking off from Shoreham Airport.

The Reality of War

One night, the war became very real and serious to us.  The siren had
sounded, and there were lots of low-flying aircraft overhead. Our
family took shelter in our Morrison Shelter, a steel cage supplied to
householders and intended to protect them if the house was destroyed.
That night, the anti-aircraft guns were firing, and suddenly, there were
thunderous explosions coming nearer. Bombs were falling on Lancing, and
we were terrified as the detonations came closer.  In the morning, we
found that one bomb had hit a house on First Avenue and another had
partly destroyed a house on Grand Avenue.  The sight of these homes
with the outer walls gone and the interior exposed made me realise
that the war was deadly serious.  Another bomb had fallen on the
ground above Firle Road, making a deep crater in the chalk.

Towards the end of the war, the military presence increased.  Fairview
Road and many other side roads had tanks parked nose to tail.  Then
one day, they were all gone.  D-Day had started the long-awaited
Invasion of Europe.

Reflections

It all seems so long ago now.  Boundstone School had not been built, 
and there were acres of glasshouses growing tomatoes to the south of
the A27 road. There were more glasshouses and nurseries to the west
of North Lancing. The area of bungalows there was called locally
Mickey Mouse town to the annoyance of the residents.
There are then a few of my recollections of Lancing in the years 1939
to 1945.  I had a happy childhood, and although I no longer live in
Lancing, I have many happy childhood memories from that time. David

28. Vera Bartram recalls..

Vera Bartram

A Nostalgic Reflection

A friend lent me a copy of your Lancing Village Memories, which I found very interesting.

 

Hear Vera's story in her own words 

Early Life in Lancing

My family moved here from London in 1931 when my father opened a barber shop on Brighton Road by Chandler's Corner called "Bob's". I have lived in Lancing ever since, except for the period when I was working at Bletchley during the War.

 

School Days

 
I went first to a little private school called Viking House School run by Mrs Old in Kings Road, but when my sister started school a couple of years later, we went to South Lancing Primary, which in those days was the only primary school in Lancing. Seniors went to North Lancing in what is now the St.James the Less church hall, where the hall was divided into two classrooms by screens. I remember the school in Irene Avenue being built, and that is where I went at 11 years old. Many years later, when I had two sons, they went to the new North Lancing primary at the bottom of Mill Road, and Miss Humphrey was still headmistress and Miss Tait still there. Miss Humphrey retired while my sons were there.

 

Wartime Memories 

We lived at my father's shop until 1940 when we moved to a flat along the Widewater.
From there, we often saw dogfights during the War as German planes came across the Channel, making their way inland, and the Spitfires fought them off. I remember seeing a German have to bail out, and his parachute didn't open.

 

Lancing's Cinemas and Shops 

I also remember first a little cinema being built in Penhill Road called the Regal and later the Odeon, and also the Luxor being built. As my father displayed posters advertising the programmes, we got free tickets every week, so saw a lot of films!
There were not a lot of shops built North of the railway until after the war, and although Lancing is still officially a Village, it is much bigger now.

 

Familiar Faces and Businesses 

 
I remember so many of the businesses mentioned by your correspondents. I went to school with Vera Gardner and Kathleen Scardifield, whose parents' shop was mentioned. I also remember the Melhuish's store, and I think one of that family was in my class at school, but I can't remember the name. We, too, had Dr Alexander until he retired and then Dr Collier.

 

Connections and Friendships 

I remember Derek Gorham, who has written because at one time we lived four doors away from his parents, and I was friendly with his mother, and Derek was at school with my son Peter.

 

A Heartfelt Conclusion 

What a lot of memories this has brought back - very enjoyable reading, thank you.

From: Mrs Vera Bartram (nee Murray)

19.Memory from Jan Baker-Freeman

Jan Baker-Freeman sent us this memory

This story was originally posted as a comment below another story in May 2010

I should have done it more justice and given it a full placing in these stories. I am correcting this here.

Hear Jan's story as an audio file

Jan writes..

 ..I, too, just came upon this site, and it brings back all the memories of my 7 years of growing up in Lancing, all the people I remember, all the people I would love to know how they are doing now.

This brought so much pleasure; it is amazing. 

All this started with a need for school records for a job with the Dallas Police Department, which at 65, I eventually withdrew from.

 My name is Jan(et) Baker-Freeman, I moved from Grange Hill Essex, a council house exchange by my Grandparents, William and Alice Baker, to 177 Tower Rd, next to the Messers, Linda, David and I think Christopher, I remember Diane Bacon, Barbara Gorringe, her Father was the rent man, then there was Mr. & Mrs Tom Reynolds the postie, and they had a son who's name I don't recall, he must not have lived there, as I was close as an only child to these people.

 I remember Brenda and Richard Pitt, who emigrated to Australia. I think their Dad had the greengrocers on South St. It's people I remember, as well as places. I am recalling the people I used to see in the places you mention. 

 I remember the Betteridge girls, Patsy Leggit, Frances Martin, Jennifer Cook, Lillian ? from Bushby Close, Susan and Janet Shepherd who went to Beverley House on Penhill Road, as did I, after I came out of hospital after contracting polio.

View Larger Map 
Huss and chips at the chip shop on Penhill, great pickled onions and gherkins.

 I remember Saturday morning pictures, I was on the committee, not sure I ever accomplished anything.

 I remember schoolmates, Frances Shapland, Maureen Singer, Barbara McGuiness, Carol Mason, Sheilagh Churcher, Margaret Deacon, Margaret Cheetham, Ivy Sullivan, Avril Barraclough, just so many girls..

 The "rec", biking to Arundel, is most likely a difficult feat today, with many cars on the roads.

Carolyn Holden, Mary Goldsmith, Christopher Riddle, Jennifer Wintle, Honnie Marshall, Carol Burchet, her mother, was the restaurant manager at the Odeon. Just 7 short years, to know and remember all these names, what a great place for a child to grow up.

When I returned, I worked for Tesco in Worthing, then SPD and Solarbo, A C Draycot part-time, such a small world. Lovely memories of the ocean, rough and green often, the downs, Devils Dyke, Brighton Pier, Worthing Pier where I spent my pennies in silly games.

 What a delightful trip down memory lane.