22. Derek Gorham sends old photo's

Derek Gorham

Thanks to Derek again, here he has sent three photos and is hoping a reader of this blog will be able to add some information regarding the people in the photos.
[click the images to enlarge]

The Home Guard picture is my Dad, Bill Hendy, ??,??.

courtesy Derek Gorham

The other picture has been dated 1944 and was taken in the Carriage Works. Miss Hawkes is the lady and my Dad is on the left but why this group?

courtesy Derek Gorham

The third picture is the1950s darts team at the Legion; my Mum, Mrs Payne, Mrs LLoyd,?, Mrs Monery, ?,?, Mrs Parker, Mrs Trixie Payne.

courtesy Derek Gorham

21. Derek Gorham recalls North Lancing Primary

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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

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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.  

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.

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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.

18. Memory from Jan Barwick (nee Stonley)

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Audio Overview

Jan Barwick (nee Stonley) writes:

Summary

Jan Barwick, a former resident of Lancing, shares her childhood memories of the village in the 1950s and 1960s. She describes the changes in the landscape, including the development of new housing, the demolition of Lancing Manor, and the transformation of the once-wild area behind her home. She also reminisces about local landmarks, such as McCurdy's shop and the dew pond, and recounts her experiences at Lancing Prep school. Her memories offer a glimpse into the life of a child growing up in a rural village during a time of significant change

I saw your site and had to put down these memories from my childhood in Lancing. I hope you can use them.


I lived in one of the semi-detached houses opposite Lancing Manor Park in Old Shoreham Road, just along from Manor Road. The other half of our house was occupied by the Weeburs, and the Grovers were in the house next door on the other side. Bart Grover was a nurseryman up in Manor Road and his children, Susan and Diana were in between my brother and me in age.
None of the bungalows in Old Shoreham Road or behind our houses had been built then. Instead, there was a wilderness rank with nettles in which we used to play, through which a stream passed. This had a downside. In winter, the water table rose and springs used to appear in our garden and flood our garage, sometimes up to a foot in depth.

Story 17 from Brenda Grover

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Brenda Grover

In Reply to Alan Brenda sends this story..

Reading your Lancing history, I have just come back to live here, and I saw that your parents were friends of my Uncle Pearce and Aunty Mildred. I love being back here and just walking around, it brings back so many memories of such a wonderful childhood, and what a wonderful place to live.

 My sons, who are 35 & 37, grew up here, and they are always saying thank you for a wonderful childhood. With as you say, the beach and downs. I went up the Lancing Ring after the storm and cried as my great-grandfather helped to plant those trees, and I knocked at the door of the church villa and asked if I could look around the old family house, wonderful, so many memories. I love Lancing, it has got a bit larger, but in a way has not changed at all. Thank you again for your write-up.

 I live in Penhill now, but used to live in North Lancing, and went to North Lancing primary school with Miss Tait and Miss Humphries. I remember Mr Stear.
 Thank you again for a nice and good read.

See this and other stories on the Tithing Times website (Not presently being updated)
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Story 16 from Rose (Marg) Moloney

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Rose (Marg) Moloney

This lovely recollection has just been sent in. We thank you, Marg

Childhood in Ring Road and Local Characters

I was a neighbour of Paul Kidger in the 1950s and 60s in Ring Road and remember the family well – Lyn was in my class at N Lancing Primary School. I also remember the dog-walking old lady who would bleat ‘ Kiltie, Kiltie ‘, which the dog ignored.

I was part of the St James the Less Players, a church drama group, which started my career on the boards.

The Downs, The Manor, The Park, The Clump, The Chalkpit..The Woods and The Beach..were all special places in our wonderful Sussex childhood.

Our teachers were dedicated – I am sure Paul will remember Pop Stear, Miss Tait, Miss Laugham, and Mr Cox!

Vanishing Farm

Hill Barn Farm, which Paul mentions, had utterly vanished when I went for a look in 2005…odd because though it was a wreck in the Bartons' time, it had been the Lancing College Shepherds' farmhouse and was a sturdy ancient house. In a way, I was relieved – it was a place that featured in bad dreams for me, as a teen, I had seen horses in dark barns on filth there. But…a landmark gone…………everyone has gone now, what a migrant generation we were…

In a folk club in Somerset, I met a comedian who had grown up in Lancing pre-war till 1950.