Memoir of Bill Thurley, 1930-1950

Frontispiece of William Thurley's typed memoir

Bill Thurley was born Clarence William Thurley at 32 Stoneham Road, Hove, in 1930 and spent his entire life in Hove.

Bill attended West Hove School and then Knoll School after which he held a number of jobs, including working as a cinema projectionist at various cinemas in Brighton and Hove, before doing his National Service in 1948.  He recorded his life during this period in his memoir: “Home Town Thoughts, Hove 1930-1950”.

A bomb in Shirley Street

“Mr Heath has vivid memories of war-time Hove, including being machine-gunned in Blatchington  Road and of a bomb which dropped in Shirley Street close to where he then lived at number 52. This was a small newsagents shop with accommodation. Running home, Derek found his mother safe in their Morrison Shelter. ‘Derek’ she called, ‘I forgot to close the shop door…’ ‘Mother,’ he told her, ‘the shop door is in the middle of the street!'”.

Bill’s memoir was comleted in 1999 and was shared with the Letter in the Attic project by his wife, Margaret Thurley.

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Comments about this page

  • I used to live next door to Bill when he lived in Portland Road, just prior to his marriage to Margaret and at the time when he was a traffic warden. He and his parents ‘Pop’ and Mrs Thurley were extremely nice people and a delight to have as neighbours. My mum and dad (both passed away now) liked them very much and Mum would speak of them all in her latter years as recently as 2008. I would like to read the entire ‘Memoir’ but can’t see how to on here. Any help would be much appreciated.

    By Geoff Stevens (12/02/2011)
  • Hi Geoff, it’s Margaret. Have just read your message re Bill and his parents, regarding his memoirs. I live at 23 St Aubyns Road, Portslade BN41 1AB. Please can you write or phone 01273 382799, as I do not have a PC. I look forward to hear from you.

    By Margaret Thurley (24/07/2011)

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