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.

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.

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!

Hi Alan, I remember a Cuthbert and Leslie Newland who lived in Grove Street off Southover Street. I think they are second cousins.

Hello Doug - is this the Les Newland who plays the organ for our meetings at the Masonic Temple?

Who on earth allowed the Palace Pier name change? Brighton has two Piers - not just one - even if one is just a wreck!

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?

Does anyone still survive from The Compton Players who used to meet at St Michaels?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Would the Les Newlands mentioned earlier be the same one who worked on the railway?

The cobblers in the Broadway, a tiny shop next to the postoffice in Whitehawk, the front room being the shop, so tiny. It is still named The Cobblers (situated in Whitehawk Road number 1 ) and it has a plaque outside in rememberance. Smith Bakers - always a great one to warm up on the way to St Mark's school in the morning. The pet shop in Bristol Gardens run by a couple of chaps with the parrot who said rude things. Skirting aroung the rocks at Black Rock to get into the swimming pool where a whole day would be spent sunbathing and swimming, until the brown shrivelled chap who seemed to lived there would tell the lifeguard you had sneaked in without paying just 'cause he could. Many a day would be passed with jam sandwiches in a sunblest bread wrapper and bottle of diluted orange juice at the Black Rock Open Air swimming pool.Who was that guy some said was an olympic swimmer - so good at diving - who always caught us bunking in, I would love to know!!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

MODEL SHIPS c.1949: I wonder if I am the only person who remembers the post-war night-time displays of model ships actually sailing in Black Rock Lido Swimming Pool itself? My family had the top flat of the centre house on Arundel Terrace and naturally I was taken to the pool many times as a 6yr old; straight after school (St. Marks Primary on the corner of Eastern Rd. and Arundel Rd.) At around 9 o'clock on some summer evenings the Lido hosted model boat shows. I believe these craft, some about 6 ft long, were radio controlled but in the 1940's could that ever have been a possibility? Maybe the models were had control lines attached; I can't remember. The whole show was spot lit and was like a Gala Evening. Most of these mini-ships were Royal Navy destroyers, frigates, etc. and painted 'battle ship' grey. I think there was a commentary over the 'horned' Tannoy. By the way, I remember the whole of Brighton beach at that point was closely scattered with anti-tank traps. Made of concrete and the shapes of pyramids. There were hundreds of the things! I also remember the occasional weekend 'Midget' racing car trials. They were run from just outside the Aquarium, along Madeira Drive, up the hill and back along Marine Parade. Without not too much effort I can still smell the Castrol Oil belching from these car's deafening engines. Bliss! As a Post Script, I certainly recall at that post war period a live show at one the theatres on Brighton sea front. On the stage was a vast glass fronted water tank, where scenes of underwater war time heroics were re-enacted for the pleasure and wonderment of the audience. The auditorium was in total darkness save for the sea-green glow of the 25 ft wide aquarium. In it were real frogmen, two-man torpedos and mines. A man at the side of the stage dressed in full naval uniform gave a very detailed account of what was being portrayed. Right at the end of this spectacular show, to the sounds of parrots and bird songs, the lights came on, and we all gasped at the sight of Jane being rescued from the jaws of a crocodile (plastic) by none other than the real Tarzan himself! Fantastic!

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.

Sandra, the Basketmakers is very much still there. I'll try and get a photo of it for you if you like?

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.

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.