41. The Brooks by George Forrest

Tower Road Memories

When the war ended, my father returned from his army service, and a short while later, we moved back into Tower Road, a bit further up the road this time. This changed my area of play, new friends and neighbours, new places to explore and things to learn. 

The Brooks and Cokeham Lane

The area we knew as "The Brooks" was close at hand, a way into the countryside. The brooks started at the end of Tower Road, where Carnforth Road now begins, no more buildings, just fields. The boundary to the open fields was Cokeham Lane, and this had a long line of large elm trees, sadly now gone. Cokeham Lane at the bottom end was no more than a track which ended with a solid white gate at the railway line.

 

On the south side of the railway line on what has become a much larger industrial estate were a couple of businesses, I can recall Solarbo, Lancing Packers and I believe Manhattan kitchens, I believe the correct name was Robinsons, A number of people from Tower Road worked there and rather than take the long way round, illegally crossed the line by climbing over the gate. I know a number of people with a criminal record, having been caught trespassing by the British Transport Police, were taken to court.

Fields and Streams

The Brooks consisted mainly of fields, some of which were planted, but mostly because of the streams crossing them, not suitable for crops. I believe there were two streams, one I know would have been the Teville Stream, not sure about the other. It was a new world to me, and I spent a lot of time there just meandering, catching sticklebacks and frogs in the streams, and watching nature. Many happy days and memories.

The Snake Encounter

One such memory I recall was on a bright, warm summer's day, three or four of us were just wandering, doing nothing in particular, walking down beside a hedge and came to a gate, originally a five-barred gate, a little dilapidated, but still substantial enough. Anyway, me being me, showing off decided that I would try to vault the gate. I was fitter then and managed it.

Over the gate and in mid-air, I looked down at my landing spot, the grass flattened by other people using the gate had become the ideal spot for a huge snake to do a bit of sunbathing... It was the largest snake I had ever seen outside of a zoo. 

A while ago, a newspaper cartoonist named Styx drew characters running in midair. That was me. 

Gravity being what it is, though, I managed to land astride the snake and was immediately making haste to get away. The poor snake was probably just as startled. I ran. The other lads caught me up but were still laughing. I was told later that it was undoubtedly a female grass snake and probably pregnant. I was not waiting to find out; it was a big snake that was enough.

The Snake Encounter

Most definitely a case of look before you leap. It didn't deter me from going down to the brooks, and I spent many more happy days there. Hope you can laugh at this as I now can.

40. George Forrest talks about steam trains

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George Forrest

Playing With Trains

One thing about being 7 - 8 years of age, living on the south side of the railway line and going to school on the north side of the line meant having to cross the railway line four times a school day. It didn't matter whether the gates were open or closed, it was almost obligatory that we, that is, three or four of us, went over the footbridge. 

We waited for a steamer to come through in order that we could become enveloped in steam and smoke. If a train wasn't due, we would wait. To our minds, it was essential that we smelled of smoke. Often this made us late home for dinner ( we didn't have lunch then), only posh people had lunch. I can still hear the tellings-off that I got from my mother to this very day. And the occasions that, having finished my meal,  my wrist was grasped and I was hauled back to school at a rate of knots.

Roger Price and the Luxor Cinema

One of my friends at the time was Roger Price; his father owned a small grocers just below the Luxor cinema. If you stand facing the Luxor, you will see to the right a gap, next was a very old cottage, it might have been two, next was the grocers, then a shop I can't really recall, the third shop was Newberry's, a tobacconist and confectioner.

Very few shops had window displays, but one warm sunny Sunday afternoon, our family was out for a stroll and happened to pass said grocers. There in the window were two sacks of rice, these were being attacked by about 8 - 10 mice. They had gnawed a hole and were busy eating. We watched for some minutes, they were far too busy eating to notice us. We left them to it, didn't wish to disturb them. Though from that day on, my mother never bought anything from Mr Price that wasn't in a tin. .

Building Memories

The next two buildings were detached dwellings, now offices. My father was employed as a trainee bricklayer on the site nearest the Farmers Hotel, and my mother lived in one of the thatched cottages opposite. She spotted him and as they say, "The rest is history".



Enough for today ATB

George Forrest

39. George Forrest tells a story about the men at the Lancing Railway Carriage Works

 

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George Forrest

 

The Lancing Railway Carriage Works

Whilst the Lancing railway carriage works was probably the largest employer in the area, I personally did not have a lot to do with it; some of our friends and neighbours worked there, and some of my school friends did on leaving school. It was said, tongue in cheek, that it was always possible to tell where a carriage worker lived because the house was painted green and cream, i.e. the colours of the old Southern Railway.

Early Morning Work at the Paper Shop

My only real contact with some of them came early in the morning when I worked for an hour in the paper shop now occupied by Garretts on North Road just above the railway station. At that time, it was owned by a man named Briggs. Later sold to a Mr Forshaw.

Carriage Workers and Their Routine

Anyway, the carriage workers had to clock in by 07.45 or they lost 15 minutes of pay. I worked from 06.30 until 07.30, although I rarely got away before 07.45 because of the late workers. Usually, all went smoothly until about 07.30, there was ample time to make up three paper rounds for the boys delivering them. 

Morning Chaos

The late-running workers would throw their bicycles onto the pavement, run into the shop, almost throw their money onto the counter and become quite impatient if their paper and cigarettes were not immediately forthcoming. It was always the same ones; they never seemed to learn. I think this was when and where I learned to swear. The swearing was increased when it was realised that the railway level crossing gates were closed and they would have to carry their bicycles over the footbridge. The situation was not helped by Mr Briggs and me being amused by this and showing it.

The Shop and Sorting Office

The shop was, or at least the back half of it was, the main Lancing Post Office at that time, and the sorting office was in a detached building to the rear of that.

38. George Forrest .. further memories - the war years - buying a spitfire

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George Forrest

Memories of the War

Bearing in mind that I was only 4 years old when war broke out, I can only really recall snippets of memories about the war, little fleeting snapshots, so to speak.

The Crabtree Rec and Sugar Beet Fields

I remember the railings on the wall of what I have always called the Crabtree Rec being cut down. When I last looked, the stubs were still there. The whole of that field was ploughed and sown with sugar beet.  My grandfather dug up by far the largest half of our front garden and sowed spring onions.  I recall seeing other vegetables in people's front gardens, things like lettuce and beetroot instead of flowers; the leaves were colourful anyway.

Penny Collections for a Spitfire

Another thing was the seemingly endless street collections of pennies to buy a Spitfire. Lining up pennies on the kerb, to get a mile of pennies was another way of collecting cash, can't imagine Lancing ever achieved a mile, but we tried......    Any old scrap metal was collected, including old kettles and saucepans.  I remember the lorry collecting all the scrap metal loaded with old bikes and, well, almost anything.

Tanks and Armoured Cars on the Main Road

We lived on the only north/south main road through the village, and closer to D-Day, lots of tanks and other vehicles would pass our front door. We sat on the front wall writing down the numbers and nicknames of the tanks and other armoured cars. We watched as some of the drivers attempting to turn the corner by The Farmers misjudged it, and the tracks chewed up the kerbstone.

 As I said, mini memories  

37. George Forrest continues...danger of living under a thatched roof

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37._George Forrest

Early Family Life

Shortly after I was born, our little family moved to Lancing, into a house in Myrtle Crescent, I am sure it was next to the Prior family, and Roy, who you have interviewed, was one of them. My sister was born at this address in 1938. I can't give you dates, but shortly after we moved to an address at the station end of Tower Road.

War Efforts and Relocation

When war broke out, my father was not enlisted into the army; he was a bricklayer and was wanted in the Midlands and North Midlands to do bomb repair work in places like Coventry, Nuneaton, Warrington and others.

 My mother, who was concerned about being on her own with two small children, decided to move in with her parents in one of the two semi-detached thatched cottages opposite "The Farmers", roughly where "The Pantry" is now.  

Fire Risks and Precautions 

Being thatched, the roof was highly combustible; just the thought of an incendiary bomb was worrying.

 During the early part of the war, when the German bombing was at its height, my grandfather would do his fire picket job, i.e. standing at the door, just watching...   I can recall him standing just outside with a lighted pipe turned upside down in case the German pilots should see the glow. We had a large blanket draped over the inside of the door, 1) to stop any light escaping when Grandad popped in to get warm, and 2) to stop any draughts.

Mother's Concerns and Moonlit Nights

My mother's main concern was on moonlit nights, the light would be reflected off the very shiny glazed roof tiles of "The Farmers"  hotel. They were much shinier then, and let the enemy pilots know where we were.

Anti-Aircraft Defences and Air Raids

During that time, there was an anti-aircraft gun on the south side of what would become the road bridge at the bottom end of Grinstead Lane. When there was a raid on it could get quite noisy. 

Memories of German Doodlebugs

Another thing I remember at this time was the German doodlebugs. They made a very distinctive sound. We didn't get too many this way, although I think one did drop on the farm just north of  Lancing College. Whilst in school, if one was heard, the whole class, the teacher included, would be silent except for little soft whispers of "Keep going, Keep going, Keep going".

36. George Forrest

Hear George's story All George's messages in one

George Forrest's Story

My name is George Forrest. I was born in 1935 in Worthing but moved to Lancing before my third birthday. I moved out to live in Brighton for 50 years. I now have Parkinson's, hence the reason for returning to Lancing. It is flat. Parkinson's makes me tire very quickly, so I hope you will bear with me.

Chesham House and Lancing Village Memories

I have recently been visiting Chesham House and have acquired a copy of Lancing Village Memories (edition 2). Some of the stories took me back. During the war years, my mother, my younger sister and I lived with my maternal grandparents in the thatched cottages opposite the "Farmers", roughly where the "Rainbow" is now.

Grandfather and Rosecroft

My grandfather was a market gardener employed by Frank Fuller, whose ground was on the north side of Sompting Road. where "Rosecroft" is now. Rosecroft was the name of Frank Fuller's house. Almost opposite was Lisher's coal yard and stables for his cart horses. We always had to be lifted up to see over the bottom half of the door of the horses in their stable. I believe it was Sid Lisher, but I could well be wrong

Lisher's Coal Yard. 

Lisher's coal yard was a small siding which held about 6 - 8 coal wagons. There, the Lishers' men would weigh and bag up the coal and put it onto the cart ready to be delivered. The horses would be fetched from their stable and hitched up. Sid would climb up onto the cart and, with his cap with the peak at the side, would start his round.. When all the coal was delivered, Sid would get onto the cart and fall asleep (or at least appear to). The horses would make their own way back to the railway siding and stop. It didn't matter where the round ended; the horses knew their way back. My memory tells me that the horses seemed to ignore the rest of the traffic. Goodness only knows what they would make of it today. 

The Horses' Stable

Back home, they were taken back to the stable, fed and watered. Of course, the stable is no longer there, but it can be positioned exactly. Walk along the south kerb of Sompting Road, and just before it starts to bend slightly to the right, there is a little dip in the kerb line; this was to allow the horses to walk straight through the stable door.

My fingers are getting tired, must sign off if this is of interest. I will see what else I can recall.

Editors note... I will be writing to George to say 'Yes, please, for more marvellous memories

35. Graham Franklin

Graham.Franklin

My Time on North Rd

I lived in North Rd, number 55, which was a grocery and pet food shop. ( I think it sells fish and chips now!)

School Days

We moved there in 1961, I was 5 and went to South Lancing School, almost opposite our shop. Then went on to Irene Avenue School and finally Boundstone. I moved away from the area in 196,9 aged 13, to Bournemouth.

Magical Memories

I think it is a magical place. I have fond memories of all my old school friends. Lancing Rec, he manor where I attended Sea Scouts, tennis at The Manor with Susan Collins, whom I admired from afar!

Adventures and Fun

The Chalk Pit, great fun to be had.  Evening football training with Lancing FC under floodlights, wow, such great memories.

Getting in Touch

Any old pals who want to get in touch I am on Facebook, or graham.franklin@jewson.co.uk

Great pages, thanks.

GRAHAM FRANKLIN

34. Barry Ruffell

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 of the hill near the chalk pit)
Susan Scardifield (of the hardware shop family)
Doreen Ball
Roden Bridgewater
Gavin North
Molly Gunn (also emigrated, I believe)
David Fulford
Peter Yould(s)


And a few teachers. . .
Miss Humphrey (Head)
Miss Tait (final year teacher)
Mr Cox (subsequent head)
Mr Durrant
Miss Higgins (did she & Mr Durrant get married?)
Miss Horne
Miss Goby (1st year teacher)
Pop Steer (who got us singing some fairly tricky pieces by Grieg. also ran 5th Lancing Cubs.


Cheers
Barry Ruffell

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,y 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