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Wolseley Road

Growing up in the 1960/70s

By Liesa Saunders

I am Liesa Saunders nee Gohmann; I think some of you may remember my brother Karl and sister Maria. We grew up from 1962, in Wolseley Road Coldean. I think that you might remember my dad; he is still there, at 87, in the same house.

Remember the fireworks nights?

Do you remember the fireworks nights we would have? The bonfire was prepared weeks in advance, and the boys would lure girls into a den in the centre. Some names I remember, Mark, Tony and Pete Parslow, Ray Pollard, Tony Long, and Cliff Wake. I hung around with Tracy Collings, brother Durun, Anne Sutton, Jean Mcnab and Denise Sutton. We had some fun times. We used to hang around the bottom of Beatty Avenue at the library when it was being built. We used to climb over all the scaffolding at the Varley Halls before they were built up.

Church every Sunday

We would go off for the whole day and build camps. One we built near to the old Downsview School when it was in Coldean Lane. We went to church every Sunday and joined Mrs Merryfield’s ‘Crossbearers’. I remember Mr Hutchings, a nice man, also Owen, Robert and Ian Wilkins, John Wooton, Dave Pettit, Lynne Hayden Sue Leeson, Bob Phillips and John Phillips. I remember Wendy Wakely who would have parties at her home almost every week, and we always went. We camped out at the Highfields; naturally we all told our parents we were staying at different friends houses.

The Childrens' Home

We had the Children’s Home down the road from us, made friends with lots from there; I remember Mandy Weaver, she was later adopted by the Strachans who lived opposite the shops. I have memories of Mr Oliver; I fell over once really badly on the way to the shop, they sat me in the shop and cleaned my leg up and put big plasters on it, they were lovely people, Graeme Trot’s mum used to work in there.

I loved school

I remember Dr Waters in Ingham Drive; I wasn’t keen on her. What about Kevin Hawkes’ sisters Lynda and Christine, Juliet Archer, Sally Ratcliffe. And of course there was the school; I loved it! We loved Jazz Club on Wednesday afternoons. One awful time, Joanne Gorringe choked on peanuts as she was running around. It was very sad as she died, I have never forgotten her.

Unforgettable happy days

I remember fondly, Mrs Ransom who lived in the Kenwards; she was so special to me, used to walk around holding her hand every lunchtime. do you remember the Palm Sunday procession we used to have? It started at the top of Hawkhurst Road, right down to the church. We had a donkey and we all dressed up. They were amazing days and happy days I will never forget.

This page was added on 05/07/2011.

Comments about this page

Hi Lisa, I remember you, and Karl particularly, from the church choir - if I remember rightly he was friends with Stephen Mintram. When you mentioned Robert and Ian Wilkins did you mean my two brothers, surname Wilkin? If so, Ian still lives in the house in Middleton Rise where we grew up.

By John Wilkin (08/07/2011)

Hi John, I remember you and both Robert and Ian. I remember you in the choir, it was the 'done' thing to go to church every Sunday - funny thing don't remember my mum going! I think we were all friends with everyone, Karl did hang out with Steve and they were in the choir together. I remember the house where you lived with you mum. I have seen Ian twice I think.. you know when eyes lock... then you move past and it suddenly dawns on you where you know them from. You should've come to the reunion we had at Coldean School John, older and younger faces there and a tour of the school was really nice. Nice to hear from you.

By Liesa Saunders nee Gohmann (11/08/2011)

Hi Liesa, I remember you, Maria and, of course Karl. Happy days and I still have family in Coldean although I now live in Bevendean and my Mrs was a Gorringne and related to Joanne. Thanks for jogging some memories with those names, hope you and yours are all well. Cheers Ken.

By Ken Valder (03/09/2011)

Hi Ken - I remember you so well... always trying to swing off your arm... such a nice fella. Often remembered you along with the Coldeaners... nice to know you remembered us. Happy Christmas.

By Liesa Saunders (nee Gohmann) (22/12/2011)

Hi, I remember a family of Gorringe's who lived in Middleton Rise, I believe. At that time there were two children Andrew and Valder. Their dad worked in I think a butchers, I can't remember the mum and dad's names but think they moved to the Roundway. My sister Margaret used to babysit for them. We also lived in Middleton Rise, dad worked at Allen West as most of the men from Coldean did, mum also worked there for some years till she retired and worked in the Hikers' Rest. My daughter married a Gorringe from Moulscombe but is no relation to the ones from Coldean. Keep this wonderful page going.

By Janet Lee (nee Deacon) (17/01/2012)

Growing up in Park Road from birth till 18 years old-ahhh, happy times. Running under the subway to catch the no 13 bus- if we'd missed it in Coldean Lane, walking to Coldean School then Falmer with friends: Gill Turner, Victoria Haden, Lynda and Anita Burford (twinnies as they were called) Estelle Jarman and many more. I lived next door to The Dargonnes, so was in Brownies/Guides then helped at cubs, delivering Link magazine for my mum who edited it. My mum along with a few others set up Coldean WI, going to Church, dancing classes in the Church Hall- happy memories.

By Claire Townsend (nee Pearce) (20/01/2012)

Just a little correction to my daughter Claire Townsend's message of 20 Jan. - I didn't actually edit the Link magazine but I did type it out ready for duplication (no-one had computers at that point!). Don't want to upset all the editing team who worked so hard to produce it! By the way I was born in Coldean in 1938 in Park Road. The houses were built about 1935 and my parents (the Hutchings) moved into a new house.

By Margaret Pearce (02/02/2012)