Brighton Girls' Club

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“Some of the most enjoyable times were spent in Brighton Girls’ Club which was in Claremont Row. It was run by Miss Peggy Prior and I stayed there until I was 18. I can remember dressing in a pale blue knitted jumper with the club badge on and a short navy blue skirt to take part in exercises on a Sunday morning on top of the Aquarium to advertise the club activities.

We also made and sold paper flowers for the club funds. I was conscious that Albion Street was considered to be better than Claremont Row, which my mother considered a slum. She didn’t really like me walking along there but I wanted to go to the club. The houses didn’t look any dif­ferent from ours. After attending the club we would sometimes go to Edward Street to buy pease pudding.

As we walked back along Claremont Row we would flick some of this onto the windows of the houses. I can remember Richmond Buildings having many shops including Croydons the newsagents and Marshalls the sweep. It was bombed during the war, and Mrs. Ming, who lived near us was blinded.”