Everyone looked out for each other

Early residents of the estate

I lived in Lintott Ave from 1944 until my marriage in 1965. We were a family of five children. My late parents were Bill and Connie Matthews who moved to Whitehawk with three of my siblings; Marjorie, Duncan (both now deceased) and Derek when the estate was first built. Brian was born 1937 and I came along at the end of the war. We all attended the various schools at Whitehawk, and I later went on to Westlain and then Brighton Art School.

Remembering the neighbours

I do remember so many of our neighbours. They were – The Streeters at number two; the Betteridges at number four, followed by the Longs; we were number six; the Boxalls were number eight, and the Axes at number ten were followed by the Laughton family. The Harris family was next door, and then on the corner, the Blighs were next door to the Divalls. Mrs Sully ran the grocery store, with John on the bacon counter; Mr Novis was the chemist. We also had a sweetshop and newsagents/post-office and a butcher/greengrocer at the top of the road.

Deliveries to the door

Robby the greengrocer used to call several times a week and also had a shed in his back garden where we could buy things, particularly on a Sunday morning. The Co-operative baker used to deliver bread, and a fishmonger brought very fresh fish. Mrs Robinson from Whitehawk Road used to make wonderful toffee apples and toffee pokers for sale for the local children.

A carefree time

We all played in the street swinging from lamp-posts, hide and seek in the dark running in and out of the local gardens, sliding down Race Hill on bits of cardboard, and generally having a carefree time. Our neighbourhood was great. Everyone worked hard and looked out for each other. Most women stayed at home and cared for the house and children. We had large gardens which were put to good use, providing much to supplement the weekly wage packet.

Children had respect for their elders

We had great respect for our elders, which of course included our teachers and the policemen who walked the estate. I also remember a Park Keeper who looked after the football pitches and the Pavilion, which was situated at the foot of Race Hill. We would walk to the top of the hill to catch the trolley bus 44 to London Road, and the No 3 or No 1 bus into the centre of Brighton .We walked a great deal, cutting along the track at the back of the gardens in Whitehawk Road and along to Manor Farm. On the way there was a wonderful chip shop where we bought chips or scrapings from the fish fryer, for a few pennies. Happy days.