An important part of my early years

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Black Rock swimming pool: click on image to open a large view in a new page

Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton and Hove

Playing on Volks carriages

Brighton seafront was major to my early years. We moved into a tiny terraced house in Whitehawk Road towards the end of WWII and if my memory serves me well, access to the seafront at that time was somewhat restricted; I was told that Dukes Mound was actually mined. I do recall going with some older lads on two or three occasions down to Madeira Drive and playing on the Volks carriages that were parked under the arches, presumably for safe keeping during the hostilities. Each time we were chased off by someone who I suppose was the watchman.

Black Rock reopened

When Black Rock swimming pool was re-opened after the war it was a big event for the family. Living in Whitehawk Road meant it was just a short walk to the pool, which was an absolute sun trap. I remember that after one visit my teenage sister’s back turned into one huge blister after sunbathing there and she was pretty ill for the following week. Nobody seemed to worry about skin protection in those days. If you got sunburn you slapped on loads of calamine lotion which didn’t seem to help the situation one little bit.

Watching the racing cars

When the Brighton Speed Trials started again along Madeira Drive, I recall going with my dad to the bottom of Arundel Road watching the racing cars return to the starting line near the Palace Pier. Most were at a more leisurely pace via Marine Parade and amongst the normal traffic. I suspect that some returned somewhat less leisurely and that could be why this practice did not continue.

Rides on the miniature buses

The Johnstone buses were perfect replicas of Southdown coaches, my guess would be about 1/10th scale. They sat three in line, one child in front and one child behind the driver. Before they moved to Peter Pan’s Playground they were run at the north end of The Level. Sometimes when Mum and I went to meet my father from work midday Saturday, I’d be treated to a ride. Dad worked in the Nissan huts situated on the Level and part of R. E. Records office.