33. Dorothy Yeates

Dorothy Yeates commented on Memories

 

Milk Delivery with Jack the Horse 

 
I also have just found this site and reading through made me remember the milkman delivering milk with his horse, that was when we lived with my grandparents in Annweir Avenue. I believe the horse was named Jack, not too friendly. My grandmother collected what he left behind for the roses, as did other residents, cleaned the street up nicely!

Grandparents’ Sweet Shop in Wembley Avenue

For a while, my grandparents ran a sweet shop in Wembley Avenue, I don't remember the dates exactly, would have been during the 1950s

Shops in Crabtree Lane
Someone mentioned the shops in Crabtree Lane, I remember Hibdiges, also, I believe the coal was delivered by Lishers.

My Father’s Land and Boot Repair Shop

My father had a piece of land behind the Luxor where he kept chickens. Before that, he had a boot and shoe repair shop, I think, in the High Street in Worthing, I remember the Phillips stick-a-sole metal sign outside. Years later, he used it to 'draw up' the open fire, having attached a handle made from some sort of very strong metal spring, which worked like magic.

Coronation Day Memories

 On the coronation day, I went to a neighbour to watch on the television, we had moved by then to Griffiths Avenue, and I started at North Lancing Primary. The milk would freeze in the crates and push the tops off, ice would coat the slope to the top part of the school, and the boys would love sliding down it. And I wonder how many hundreds of children have sat on the low branch of that famous tree up the clump?

Remembering Mr Rogers, the Schoolteacher

Does anyone remember a schoolteacher whose name I think was Mr Rogers? I can't remember if he was in North Lancing or Boundstone, but he was affected by the war, it was probably called shell shock back then. I always felt very sorry for him.

Thank you to those who have jogged my memory somewhat.

32, David Nicholls ~ wartime Lancing

Hear David's  story 

David Nicholls

Summary

This text is an excerpt from a personal website, written by a man named 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.

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

26. North Lancing school marks retirement in 1955 ~ Derek Gorham

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]

21. Derek Gorham recalls North Lancing Primary

Hear Derek's story

Derek Gorham 

Derek writes his Lancing memory about North Lancing School

Like so many of your contributors, I stumbled on your site and the memories just flowed. I hope some of this will be of interest. There could be more if I really thought.

I was born in 1948, having come down the big chimney at Southlands [maternity hospital] as Nurse Paddy Hatley used to say, she and her colleague "Bon" were the district nurses for the village; the latter was also the "nit nurse" at North Lancing School. Bon was quite short, and by our last year, she needed a stool to reach. Doctor Betty was the doctor. There were no appointments or an intercom to call you in. Patients sat around a big room with a grandfather clock in the corner, waited their turn, and then the door opened, and without fail, a tremendous cough erupted from behind it. Doctor Betty had a "foreign" car and acknowledged everyone he knew as he drove around. Since he seemed to know everyone, his hands were seldom on the wheel.

School on Google Maps

Miss Humphreys, who had been at the school since World War I, left a term after I started at North Lancing Primary. If you left your autograph book with her, she would draw beautiful pictures of rabbits in crayon in it. Then Mr Cox arrived with his cane. Mrs Barnes did the dinner money; Miss Goby, with her big Wooden Record player and 78 of 'The Stars and Stripes', ideal music for marching around the room too, was the Reception teacher. Then came Miss Lapham, who taught us to read using Chicken Licken books in which the sky fell on the unfortunate bird. I managed to avoid Mrs Horne/Miss Orman, who was severe of dress and much feared. Mrs Thomas used to arrive on her bike, which had a plastic guard over the back wheel to protect her dress. Mrs Jones also had a bike and we learned our tables by writing them on little pieces of paper, which were then thrown away. Mr "Pop" Steer was the cub master. He had a car, Uncle Clem. He also was in the choir at St James and organised musical evenings; I can still remember much of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin", and he ran a recorder group. We used to play people out from assembly. 'March in Scipio' seemed to be a favourite. Raffia mats and basket work were his specialities; there always seemed to be rolls of cane soaking in water. Mr Nutter had his own cane and taught in the original school. Finally, there was Miss Tate with her very sensible hairdo and measured walk.

Miss Curzon taught us country dancing; Mr Durrant was there, as well as Miss Higgins, whom he married. They used to sit in the sun at the back of the huts and chat. Miss Waite arrived and, I think, taught drama. Mr Wood, the caretaker, had a droopy moustache and wore thick corduroy trousers. He was always on hand with a bucket of sawdust if someone was sick.

As for my classmates, there was Philip Norton, who was my friend until his death two years ago, Jamie Wrench, David Coker, Peter Clist, Maureen Clarke, Angela Bayley, Janice King, Lynne Sandford, Neil Furze, Lynn Tugnett, Christine Marshall, Steven Blackledge, Colin? Bishop, Freda Voak and Alvin Vordregger (who could forget that name?). Then there are the people I can see who are nameless.

Chuff Chuff Charlie Elphick was not in my class, but we all used to watch him endlessly "playing trains" at playtime.

The Eleven Plus arrived; those of us who passed went on to Grammar school. The girls disappeared and so did the pupils who were not successful, but we had all had a safe childhood, been well taught, and had the good fortune to have the Downs and the beach as our playground.

20. Sue Sutherland's North Lancing Memories

Hear Sue's story

Sue Sutherland's Nostalgic Memories of North Lancing

Summary

Sue Sutherland shares nostalgic memories of her childhood in North Lancing, England. She recounts vivid details of her primary school, piano lessons, and interactions with local businesses, including a Tythe Barn and Pat Barton's stables. Sutherland fondly remembers her time in the Girl Guides, where she learned traditional skills like digging latrines and cooking on a wood stove. She also reflects on the community events she attended, such as the annual fete at the manor and the horse-drawn carts used for milk delivery and coal transport. Sutherland expresses her gratitude for growing up in such a unique and enriching environment.

Childhood in North Lancing

I came across your website by sheer accident and was delighted to find it.

Even though I am thousands of miles away, I often think of North Lancing.  I lived there during my childhood and went to North Lancing Primary School. I remember so clearly sweet Miss Humphry and the sometimes intimidating Miss Tate.  Miss Tate was my teacher, and Mr Stears was also my teacher and piano teacher, to whose house on Penhill I dutifully went every Saturday morning.   The only thing I can remember was that his front room was extremely cold, and my forte was not playing the piano.

I remember the Tythe Barn and we used to buy our eggs there (it's so sad it is no longer), our veggies either came from the garden (my mother was in the land army) or from a house which was just down from the end of the manor and next to the Corner House.

Adventures in the Woods

Someone had also mentioned the path through the woods at the back of the manor.  We used to play in those woods all the time, and there were two cottages which were the old woodsman cottages leftover from when the manor was a fully functioning estate.  Next to the cottages was an air-raid shelter which no one ever went into.  We thought it was haunted.  They are probably gone now, too.

Time at Pat Barton's Stables

I worked at Pat Barton's stables, and for a day of mucking out stalls, I got a free riding lesson. In the summer, we collected the hay from the top of the downs between the end of Mill Road and the Clump.  Some weekends, John (son) and I would take the donkey and cart over the downs to Steyning and sell manure.  Pat Barton also let me come to the point-to-point races and even let me use a pony and paid for my entry into a race at a gymkhana we all went to.  I remember him as a very proud gentleman who fought incredible pain from a hunting accident in Ireland.  Although the farm was run down, all the animals were well looked after.  Those days were, in retrospect, probably the happiest of my entire life.

Memories of the Girl Guides

I was also in the Girl Guides.  I have forgotten the name of the Captain, other than she was a Miss and had been a captain forever.  She did not believe in any modern conveniences, and we dug our own latrines, made our own furniture, and all cooking was done on a wood stove (if you didn't get dry wood, you did not eat). William Baden-Powell would have been proud.

Annual Fete and Community Spirit
I also remember so clearly the yearly fete at the manor.  We did country dancing, and there was also a parade where the coal company still had the horse-drawn cart.  Our milk was delivered by horse and cart (South Coast Dairies), and occasionally, a rag and bone man would show up with his pony and cart.

I was very fortunate to grow up in such a wonderful environment.

Best Regards
Sue Sutherland

Update.. Sue wrote this footnote: FYI, I was talking to my cousin today, who still lives in the area, and she remembered the name of the captain of the Girl Guides, and it was Miss Norris. 

   Regards, Sue Sutherland.