Content over the years

Image in the public domain

What type of content has been published on this site? Anything to do with life in Brighton and Hove, past or present. It has included:

  • an old photo of Brighton and Hove
  • a new photo recording some aspect of the city today
  • memories of life in the city
  • information about some aspect of the city

Look round this site to see what other people have added. Most people just add one photo or one paragraph of text. Others have added whole photo galleries or sections of the site.

Any questions?

Please email jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk

Comments about this page

  • This atmosphere continued in my experience, the early 50s. I have written a book about it: A Mother to Kill a Son -available on Amazon.

    By Ross Martin (12/12/2009)
  • I was on the teaching staff at Hollingbury Court 1949-50 after military service and prior to entering college. Morgan was the Head at the time and the Robertsons were heads-in-waiting. I remember well the young Mr Robertson practising for a performance of Grieg’s A minor concerto. Other staff included a Mr Anstruther. I had a very happy time there but the only pupil’s name that comes to mind after all these years is van Moppes.

    By Alan Brignall (21/02/2010)
  • I hope it is the same Hollingbury Court. I was a pupil there from 1942-1945. In fact the school was evacuated to Dauntseys in Wiltshire. We then went to Haywards Heath in about 1944 Certainly we were there when the V1s were coming over. (I remember them well!). The Morgan’s were in charge. I went on to St Edward’s School Oxford, then the army for National Service. Then to Oxford University to read zoology, and have had an academic career since. I am presently an emeritus professor at the University of York. Not of much interest to anyone, I daresay, and possibly the wrong shool!

    By John Currey (27/05/2010)
  • Hi Alan, I remember a Cuthbert and Leslie Newland who lived in Grove Street off Southover Street. I think they are second cousins.

    By Doug Newland (05/10/2010)
  • Hello Doug – is this the Les Newland who plays the organ for our meetings at the Masonic Temple?

    By Maurice Brice (11/10/2010)
  • Who on earth allowed the Palace Pier name change? Brighton has two Piers – not just one – even if one is just a wreck!

    By Maurice Brice (11/10/2010)
  • Having lived in Brighton all my life I wonder if anyone remembers me from Ditchling Road Infants and Junior schools, Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School, Brighton Art College, Brighton Jazz Club or Falmer Secondary where I was teaching for a while?

    By Maurice Bricem (11/10/2010)
  • Does anyone still survive from The Compton Players who used to meet at St Michaels?

    By Maurice Brice (16/10/2010)
  • I am a former Lourdes Convent schoolgirl. I attended from 1966 until the school’s closure in 1971, I believe there were insufficient funds to remain open and the pupils’ families were unable to raise sufficient funds. I left the school at age 16 and started work at the Bank of England in the City. My closest friend was Sylvia Harris.

    By Angie Welton (nee Symondson) (05/12/2010)
  • I remember Maurice Brice. He was in my class at Ditchling Road. As I remember a dark red-haired kid who would probably not remember me. As an infant I was always called Alma but my first name was adopted by the school when I moved into the Juniors and I was called by my hated first name Dorothy, or Dot, or Dolly, until in the confusion, because there were several Dorothys in the class – I became Steve or Stevie which I am to this day! I’m now 81 and have many memories of my childhood which I hope to add to this wonderful site.

    By Dorothy Hobbs (nee Stevens) (12/02/2011)
  • Hi Dorothy. You are right – I don’t remember you, but nice of you to comment. To be honest I don’t remember many of the children except the Stenning girls whose dad had the bakery in Havelock Road and the Stoner boys of Waldegrave Road who I still see occasionally in Patcham. However I do remember Mr Urquhart and Miss Porter who used to teach us.

    By Maurice Brice (09/03/2011)
  • Anyone remember the Brighton Jazz Club who used to meet under Ted Ambrose at the Norfolk Arms? I was the secretary while at Brighton Art College.

    By Maurice Brice (09/03/2011)
  • Does anyone remember the big pub at the bottom of West Street called the George? I remember it well. My mum used to work there. I used to wait at the bottom of a rather big flight of stairs that had one of those banisters that you could slide down. My friend and I used to have great fun while waiting for my mum. The George was where the Odeon picture house now stands. I think it was about 4 or 5 stories high.

    By Kathleen Catt (10/03/2011)
  • I agree with Maurice - who gave them permission to change the name of the pier? It will always be called the Palace Pier by people who are Brighton born. I have lots of memories of the Palace Pier. When I was growing up my dad used to work on there indthe bar at the end of the pier where they had the opendair dance floor. My dad said that in the summer on a clear night you could see the lights on the Isle of Wight. Not sure if that was right but I believed him. Also when I was 14, I worked in the kitchen and I always remember the man who cooked the fish for the restaurant which is still there today. His name was Ernie and he was about 6ft tall or seemed it. Also there was a lady who was in charge of the restaurant – her name was Mrs Priory. At the end of the pier there used to be a place were people could go fishing with rods and also where some men would go diving in those great big suits with the helmets that were attached to the suit. Alan Purton’s (who has had lots of comments on your site) father was one of these men and I think his uncle. Not sure what they were looking for - maybe Alan would know. His mother and father lived in our house at 37 George Street.

    By Kathleen Catt (nee Cornford) (10/03/2011)
  • Does anybody have any photos of the street party in Mighill Street [off of Edward Street?] I don’t think I have spelled it right. It was where the Amex building is now, it was the Queen’s coronation. I remember that there was a man dressed as Al Jolson, he sung his song Mamie. All the children were in fancy dress and half way up the street they had made a stage by the pub called the Black Horse I think. What fun we had that day, so if anyone has any photos I would love to see them. This site is great, I have been in contact with old friends that I haven’t seen for about 50 years or more. Carry on the good work.

    By Kathleen Catt (31/03/2011)
  • I remember the open air dancehall at the end of the pier. I used to go there quite frequently. Must have been crazy. Even the summer nights could get very cold. It was always busy and I met a lot of people staying in Brighton for their holidays.

    By Iris Gilman (01/04/2011)
  • Would the Les Newlands mentioned earlier be the same one who worked on the railway?

    By D Gillam (02/04/2011)
  • I joined K&T in 1939 at 14 yrs. The war started two weeks after leaving school. I have a gold watch for 20 yrs service.

    By george lovegrove (13/04/2011)
  • Wondered if anyone ever knew of a Harry Bryan professional trumpet player from Rottingdean I believe. I had the pleasure of working alongside him at The Congress Theatre in Eastbourne with The Black and White Minstrel Show in the early Seventies. Outstanding Trumpet player and all around great guy.

    By David Miles (15/04/2011)
  • Hi I recently purchased some school badges and Mansfield College Cromwell Road Hove is one of the items I have on sale on Ebay at the moment (listed 27th May). I would be happy to contribute the digital free of charge if you would like to add this to your site. Just drop me a line – you can see the item on my site “golfbinkie” – all the best Steve

    Editor’s note: Nice offer Steve. Maybe you could email me.
    jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk Thanks

    By Steve Medway (28/05/2011)
  • I was looking at one of your entries – there is a map of the Edward Street area of Brighton and looking at the map, due to redevelopment over the years, there are 6 streets gone between the bottom of Edward Street up to White Street. I wonder if anyone remembers them? I know Duffy will. Sun Street, Henry Street, George Street Gardens, Riding School Lane, Bosses Gardens and Mighell Street.

    By Kathleen Catt (04/06/2011)
  • There was a Sherrys dance hall and bar in West Street at the bottom on the left going down, opposite the Sports Stadium ice rink, which had the Paris Lounge bar. Brighton Tigers ice hockey team played here – mostly Canadians who stayed here after WW2. S.M.Tidy had a depot here at Edward Street before the redevelopment, the divers at the pier were rewelding the piles and recoating the tar protection. I was born in Islingwood Road in 1942, went to Fairlight primary and junior School then to Moulescombe Secondary as it was only secondary girls at Fairlight.

    By Graham Ingram (04/07/2011)
  • With all the schools listed surely Margaret Hardy County Intermediate School for Girls should be listed. It was in York Place and joined the Fawcett School for Boys. It was a separate School from the Boys and only had girl pupils and female teachers. I went there from 1947 until early 1952. I believe it is no more having been demolished. Miss Fairhurst Scott was the Headmistress at that time.Surely someone must remember the School and have it listed.

    Editor’s note: Clearly you remember it very well Jennifer. If you write up a piece on the school I will happily publish it for you. If you have some photographs – all the better.

    By Jennifer Goddard nee Norrell (24/08/2011)
  • My dad and Grandad Joe and Charlie Hawkins rented a part of Hove beach for their boats, when the war began all craft had to be removed, our boats went up to a park, Marine Park I believe. After the war we had lots of happy times on the beach, also in and on the water,often rowing to the Palace Pier. My dad’s beach was just West of the King Alfred, behind the bowling green. Do any readers remember?

    By Ann Singleton nee HAWKINS (27/10/2011)
  • Hi Ann, I definetly remember your grandad’s boats on the beach between the King Alfred and West End Cafe. As a teenager in the 1960s with my mates we would often hire a boat for an hour or two. The boats were easily pulled down the beach, then off into the surf was great fun for us. It was always best to row east, the current always pulled you back westwards. In an hour we could row up to the Median Groyne, tie the boat up and have fun diving off it or the groyne, it was then easy to row back to the beach. I remember Joe, we often spoke to him, and envied the young lads that seemed to work with him. As we arrived back at the beach they would run down and place greased timbers on the stones, then the boat would be winched back up the beach, using the timbers to reduce the friction. Occasionally if the mackerel were “jumping” we would take a boat out to try and reach the fish, but it was always impossible, as the boats (us rowing) were too slow. Great fun though.

    By Peter Groves (28/10/2011)
  • There are several questions I would like to ask. Does anyone remember the building called Dunns? It was on the corner of St Georges Place and Gloucester Road. The cinema just past Gloucester Road where they had a huge organ which used to rise up out of the ground in front of the screen and an organist would belt out popular music until the film started. And lastly, was there a pub around that area called The Basketmakers arms or something like that. I used to go and visit a friend who lived there in the late 40s early 50s? I moved from Brighton in 1952 when I was 9 but have never forgotten it and still have very fond memories of that most wonderful place.

    By Sandra Waite (21/11/2011)
  • Sandra, the Basketmakers is very much still there. I’ll try and get a photo of it for you if you like?

    By Carol Homewood (22/11/2011)
  • To Ann Singleton, I remember your grandad used to work as a bricklayer for Stone the builders when they built the estate at the back of Graham Ave, Mile Oak. I also hired a boat from him from the beach about ’79. He was working for Stone in ’61 he had retired when I hired the boat and told me that he was the only one left hiring boats and was packing that up soon.

    By Terry Hyde (23/11/2011)
  • I’m trying to help a friend of mine in Woodingdean. He has a ghost in the flat above him and we are trying to find out about any deaths or unsolved missing people/child of anytime. The flat is in Stansted Crescent and would really like to hear from anyone with any help.He has had Chillproductions around and they have said there is something there.

    By Elly Covey (16/01/2012)
  • Hello Cavan. Your posting is very unclear. Are you having a problem posting a message on the site? 

    If you require any help, then email Jennifer Dury at jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk who will help you out. Best wishes, comments’ editor

    By Cavan Adolphe (25/03/2012)
  • I have benn trying to locate a friend – his parents ran a takeaway in the 1970s – bit exotic for the time, compared with fish n chips: it was called Spaghetti Junction and was located in Blachington Road, Hove.  Chris, or importantly John, where did you go? It all folded up. Would love to know where this Italian taster in the cold 1970s went to?

    By Evie Cozens (05/04/2012)
  • I remember dancing at the end of the Palace Pier – shame about the name change. I also went to the Regency Ballroom with its magnificent sprung floor. Then there was the jazz club in Montpelier Road – those were the days! Nowadays, I am just finishing a children’s novel entitled Rings Around Time, and trying to find a photograph to illustrate it of Hannington’s removal van pulled by two horses. Has anyone out there got such a photo?

    By mary Parker nee Andrews (14/05/2012)
  • You’re right, Brighton does have two piers and there’s everything in a name – referring to the Palace Pier as “The Palace Pier” confirms this unique feature of the city, so maybe we should all continue to call it this! On Brighton Jazz Club in The Norfolk – does anyone remember the regular spot with the great tenorist Bobby Wellins and Spike Wells on drums on Tuesday nights (?) during the seventies?

    By David Blundell (20/08/2012)
  • I cannot find my comment anywhere in the my Brighton and Hove. My comment was I remember way back to my childhood how the Peace Statue used to shine in the sunlight. Now it is all green. Please who can I write to about having it restored to its famous self.

    Margaret: Here is a link for a page on the council website where you can ask a question. Best wishes Jennifer

    By Margaret Shuttleworth (07/10/2012)
  • Does anyone remember this? About 1968 there were several houses standing where the Phoenix art place is in Lewes road opposite the junction of the level/St Peters Place. When they started to build the current building there for G.R.I.P which was part of Watney Mann, one of the house owners, an old lady refused to sell. So the “Shored” her house up with large prop like pieces of wood which went from the front of her house to the kerb in Lewes Road. They then built two separate buildings with her house in between. It was not until she died that they were able to complete the construction and join the two buildings, If you stand in front of the building you can see the different width of black expansion lines. I’d love to see a photo of it with the old cottage still in the middle. Well done to that old lady. It reminds me of poor old Mrs Weight at the bottom end of North Road, she owned the little newsagents. The council did a compulsory purchase on her shop for a redevelopment in the area. She was so upset having recently lost her husband too. What really angers me is, that was back in about 1970 and that shop is still standing.

    Hello Rich – looked into this for you and have published a page here. Best wishes – Jennifer Drury:Website Editor

    By Rich (08/10/2012)
  • Would anyone have a contact number for ……?

    Dear Mick -Sorry but we have had to edit your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.
    Comments Editor

    By mick hussey (09/12/2012)
  • I remember Les, Cuthbert and Zed Newlands, they were antique dealers. Les lived in Queens Park Road, Cuth over Whitehawk and Zed in Maresfield Road, mind you that was over 20 years ago.

    By Mick Hussey (10/12/2012)
  • I was staying with my grandparents at their newsagents shop in Russel Street in 1939 when war broke out. I was 13. I remember the meat market, after my paper round I would help the drivers deliver the meat. Also I remember a bakers shop on the corner of a road further along Russel Road, where a very pretty girl used to serve. In 1941 I dated her and took her to the Regent cinema, her name was Jean Shuff, she is now 86, a famous film star named Jeannie Carson living in Los Angeles and married to William Mcguire also a film actor.

    By Richard Morris (03/03/2013)
  • Yes, I’d like to know about Brighton during 1962. I’d like to know how big Brighton was in 1962, what life was like in Brighton in 1962- the atmosphere, feeling, flavor and vibe of Brighton that year. I only want to know about Brighton during 1962. Anyone who lived in Brighton that year if you can help,I’d be thrilled. (I’m from California and don’t know anyone from Brighton at all.) Thanks again and let me know what you can do.

    By Ross Hampton (13/04/2013)
  • Just found this site. This is a trip down memory lane, I was born in Brighton, 1946, lived at Denmark Terrace opposite a large girls school or collage. Moved away in 1964 to Norfolk, can remember my time there well. Went to Fawcett boys school in 1958 and left in 1962. Friday nights played snooker in the Lanes, Saturday nights went to see the wrestling. I remember Clicf Richard and Shadows on stage in cinema near the Clock Tower. I think a lot has changed since I was there. I was looking at some photos of the Seven Dials, 1958. I  remember going to the bakers and newsagents there, just rememberd my first school it was in London Road, I think I was about 5. Then next it was St Mary Magdelen school near Western Road, that’s where I first met Douggie Cunningham, his father was the Great Omani and they lived in a small flat near the school, later moved down near the West Pier. Often saw him at the end of the pier doing his stunts, times were hard then, they didn’t have a lot of money but got by. Good memories of summers of 1958/59/60/61/62 . My first job at the Grand Hotel as commie waiter, £2/10 shillings weekly 1960. I often think how many of the lads I was at school are about today? Will leave comments another time. M C.

    By Michael Cramer (13/06/2013)
  • Message for Patricia Candlin 24/12/2007. I am the other Patricia Candlin b.1940 (now Hughes). I have just seen your comment of 3/7/2008 and apologise for the delay in replying. I am looking through my research to check for a connection. Could you let me know if you are still available on this site? Regards Patricia Hughes.

    By Patricia Hughes (26/06/2013)
  • To Richard Morris (posting 04/03/2013). I think Jean was born Jean Shufflebottom in Pudsey, Yorkshire, but I can understand why she shortened her name. I had not realised that she ever lived in Brighton. When I mention “Hey, Jeannie!” to my friends, they all look blankly at me. It’s good to know it wasn’t a figment of my imagination!

    By Alan Hobden (27/06/2013)
  • Does anyone remember the South brothers, all footballers. Alex went on to play for Brighton & Hove Albion. Ted died some time ago, but Bill, Alex and Eric are fine.

    By Betty Hagger (14/07/2013)
  • I was born in Brighton in 1943 during the Second World War, I was born Stewart John Bristol at 84 Trafalgar Road and was adopted immediately by Neil Webb and Jessie Mansbridge. My natural mother was Dorothy Bristow and natural father was Cliff Gates. I moved to Canada in 1946 as the son of a war bride but have been back to Brighton on occasion, it is a awesome place.

    By Stewart John Webb (17/07/2013)
  • I have looked at ‘My Brighton’ many times with nostalgia of better times past. We were generally poor after WW2 but growing up in the town then educated us for later life. My mother worked in Eltingtons the Grocers and my dad was a conductor on the buses – Brighton Corporation Transport as it was then. After the war we lived in Ashton Street until the slum clearance programme when we were relocated to the new estate built at Woodingdean. My wife and travelled back to Brighton for a break last week. The town that I grew up in has sadly gone. Hanningtons, the dance halls and cinemas now taken for other use or demolished. People say that you should never go back to a place you have enjoyed and loved. How true.

    By Bob Munro (27/07/2013)
  • Hi Bob how are you? I haven’t heard from you since your first contact. Why not join my new group contact with ex pats no longer living in Brighton. I’m sure you will see names you know on it you can reach me at mickhussey41@hotmail.com

    By Mick Hussey (07/08/2013)
  • I would love to know more about Osborne Villas, Hove. I know quite a lot as I have lived here for over 23 years: about the brewery that was built under the street in the 1850s and that apparently some Irish builders built this road, and that the large house next to my flat was the builder’s house. But I would like to know more about the people that lived in my road and especially at 53 Osborne Villas which is the block I live in. Hope to get some feedback!

    By Claire Bourdin (15/08/2013)
  • I have just been looking into Osborne Villas Hove again and find that in fact it was a David Mocatta who built Osborne Villas – “Italianate Villas” – and that they were an Anglo Jewish family. He apparently designed a lot of this type of architecture around Brighton & Hove.

    By Claire Bourdin (16/08/2013)
  • My father was born 27/10/1945, his name was Michael Hyams, his mother was Sarah Hyams from Lansdowne Place, Hove. His grandmother wasn’t Jewish but she converted (reform) to marry his grandfather (Mr Hyams – don’t know his name). If anyone knows any more details, please can you contact me, my email is elissamia@hotmail.co.uk   Thanks

    By Elissa Fishbaum (03/09/2013)
  • When I lived during the war years in Preston Drove (very happy memories of Preston Park, my second home), I was friendly with Mary, Pat (Paddy) & Keith Stenning whose parents had the bakery shop close to the junction of the top end of Beaconsfield Villas. I wonder if either of them still survive and remember me? I still remember being in the scouts at St Augustine’s church and attending ‘Ditchling Road’ school (later known as ‘The Downs County Secondary school’). I would love to hear from anyone.

    By John Starley (09/09/2013)
  • Just read through all these ‘memories’ I so enjoyed them. I was born in Brighton in 1942 and left when I married in 1964. I began my schooling in 1946 (and finished it 12 years later) at Lourdes Convent. I enjoyed Graham Ingram’s mention of the Ice Rink. My boyfriend and I went skating there most lunchtimes in the early 60s. I don’t remember the cost of admittance but it included a stick of chewing gum, two cigarettes (were they Batchelors?) in a little box and a cup of tomato soup! I have many happy memories of Brighton as it was – cannot get used to it being called The City of Brighton and feel quite upset at the Palace Pier being renamed.

    By Janet Welch (nee Hiscock) (22/10/2013)
  • I went to Lourdes Convent in 1954. I remember a friend called Linda Steed and there were only two boys in our class, Graham Rumsey who was very shy, and Billy Catchpole. I remember Mother Elizabeth who taught Religious Knowledge, Mrs Rogers who taught Geography, another teacher whose name I have forgotten, she taught English and refused to let us read any Enid Blyton books, there was also an awful teacher called Miss Lamb who taught Maths and once chased me round the classroom and hit me. That wouldn’t be allowed now!

    By Monsieurpoe (07/01/2014)
  • My family lived in Woodingdean. Ted and Brenda Parsons lived in the prefabs in Lockward Crescent before being rehoused in Heronsdale Road. Ivy and Jim Bradshaw lived at 131 The Ridgeway. While Eva and Harold Littlejohn lived in Vernon Avenue. I believe Ted and Brenda might still be alive. My cousin was Jill Parsons. She will certainly still be alive. Does anyone know where they are?

    By John Parsons (08/03/2014)
  • Hi, Katherine, I was born in Eastern Road Brighton in 1923. My name was Ruby Young. The streets that you mentioned off Edward Street were demolished when they built the Police Station. One of the roads at the bottom of Edward Street housed a group of donkeys. Knowing the owner, a Mr Charlie Spicer, I occasionally walked them down to the beach and when the tide was out, they gave the children donkey rides on the sand. Each donkey had their name printed on a band round their head. I hope you find that information interesting. From Ruby Maynard (nee Young) 

    By Ruby Maynard (08/06/2014)
  • I was on the staff at Middlesex C.C.C. during the 1974-5 season having played most of my cricket in Sussex with Brighton and Hove and coached for the county during the 1974 to 1979 seasons with Chris Waller, slow left arm bowler. I saw the blog regarding odd match days. Having played in the Christmas Day match in Preston Park in 1975 thinking on how Sussex CCC have grown since then, we took part in a 24 hour cricket fest to raise monies for the heating in the Arthur Gilligan Stand and the old tea rooms, I believe Allen Green ex-opening batsman also took part – amazing what a few championships and cups and a benefactor like Carl Reece, ex-chairperson, did back then. Fantastic and wonderful memories

    By Roly Willows (20/10/2014)
  • During my ten or eleven years as a milkman in Brighton and Hove from 1976, I met quite a few interesting people. One old chap who approached to buy a pinta in a residential street in Hove stayed and chatted for five or ten minutes. I was fascinated to learn that he had won the Isle Of Mann TT in 1931. His name was Percy (Tim) Hunt.

    By Joe Reid (07/11/2014)
  • I met Dally Duncan in the late seventies – as with many interesting encounters, he approached to buy a pint of milk from my float. Some of you may know that he ran a guest house in Brighton. Old football fans may know that he was a football player and manager who was born in Scotland but spent most of his life in England. That he managed Luton and Blackburn with some success is commendable, and playing for his country even more so, but to an old man like me, his outstanding achievement was playing for Derby County when I was a schoolboy. Old Dally Duncan is long dead and gone, but he left a fine legacy, as well as a pleasant memory for a little ex-milkman, Meeting the fiery old chap, who told me that my FA Cup Final hero Charlie George ‘wouldn’t have been fit to lace Peter Doherty’s boots’ is a memory that will stay with me till my dying day.

    By Joe Reid (02/12/2014)
  • Dear Sandra

    Sorry but we have had to edit your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.

    Comments Editor

    I wonder if anyone remembers two schools I attended between 1948 and 1952.  One was Pelham Street School, and the other was Central School.  The latter may be spelt differently.  All I can remember is, we didn’t have a playground, or not much of one, so we used to go and play down on a grassy area behind the pavilion.  I do remember the names of two girls though -  Diane Fashom (not sure if that is the correct spelling).  I think her father was the landlord at the Basketmakers Arms.  The second was Anita Moonlight.  It would be lovely to hear more about the schools.

    By Sandra Waite (23/11/2015)
  • I lived at 5 St Georges Place as a child until, unfortunately, in 1952 we moved away.  Just along the road, on the corner of St Georges Road and Gloucester Street/Place, there was a building called Dunn’s. Does anyone know what they did there?  In Gloucester Road was a blacksmiths, I’d stand at the doors and watch the sparks fly. And there was Mrs Mantle’s shop which was dark and always smelled of parafin. She was a little old lady, always dressed in black and she lived at the back of the shop. When you opened the door, a bell would ring and out she would pop.  Opposite  was an old man who made coffins, I’d sit for hours watching him, I remember the white satin he lined them with and the smell of varnish.  And then the Dairy where they used to bottle the milk.  At Christmas, they would give us yards of the foil with the holes stamped out, they made lovely decorations.  No Health and Safety then as the cut foil was very sharp. Just down at the bottom of the street, just round into St Georges Road was a church.  We used to go there on a Sunday.  I remember the white tiled pool where people were baptised.  I suppose it was a Baptist church.  The cinema just along the road once had a cage of monkeys in the foyer advertising some film or other.  Lastly, the lady on the other side of St Georges Road sat behind a glass window and mended the ladders in nylon stockings.  I can imagine how irritating it must have been to have a small girl standing outside with her nose pressed against the glass, just watching.  It was fascinating. I have been away from Brighton for so many years but still have vivid memories.  Does anyone else have memories of these places and people?

    By Sandra Waite (23/11/2015)
  • A previous mention of St Augustine’s church reminded me that Canadian soldiers were billeted there during the war. On my way home from Ditchling Road school I used to pass by and beg the soldiers for “Sweet Caporal” empty cigarette packets which contained an aircraft recognition detail on the back. These were numbered 1 to 44 and were much sought after by the local lads. I managed to acquire a complete set, alas long gone after all these years! Does anyone still have any of them?

    By Christopher Strick (02/02/2016)
  • We used to have the pub Marine Tavern, Broad St, off St. James St. I spent many happy hours at the YMCA in the Old Steine. This used to be Mrs Fitzerbert’s House, she had “royal connections”. Played all sport at the YM: soccer; cricket; snooker; table tennis. This was approx 1948 and onwards. Very popular for a good value holiday. Many came from the North to stay there. Steine Gardens a lovely spot, especially the fountain in the centre which lit up night time and was immediately opposite the YMCA.

    By Brian Leach (25/07/2016)
  • My great great grandfather was a fireman based at 3-4 Duke Street in 1901 and 1911. I was wondering if anyone had more info.

    By Sharon Webb (23/04/2017)
  • Dear Nigel, sorry but we have had to delete your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try social media websites if you want to track old friends or neighbours.
    Comments Editor

    By Nigel D Buxton (15/10/2018)

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