In the late 40s on returning from Clapham Junction with my mum, I lost a train under a train. Let me explain. I had a model steam train about 2 foot long including the tender, which was painted in the colours of Southern Railway. I was shunting this train along the platform when I shunted it a bit too hard and it went under the train we had just alighted from. This scared me a bit, probably for fear of getting into trouble for the accident and also the loss of my toy train as it disappeared into the depths. My mum must have said something to somebody, because the train was shunted out until my train was visible. Then a rail worker jumped down and retrieved it for me. I had a feeling of well being having my train back. I can remember the man shaking my hand and my mum saying to me to thank the man which I did. I was so pleased that I had gotten my train back. Then on to a number 7 bus and home, with my mum holding the train.

I remember going to Brighton Station (when I was 4 years old) with my two sisters and my Mum and Dad. We went to visit my Uncle Jim (my Dad's brother). I had a game of chess with my Uncle Jim in their flat above the cafe he owned by the train station. My cousin, Anne Annets, became a dancer at the Palladium in London.

The 'siding' was removed some time in the late 50s when demand for Race specials declined, but the hooks that anchored the two wires onto the station facade remained for many years. This removal predated the closure of the 42/44 trolleybus route.

Jim was my father-in-law. They had a cafe at Brighton Station from 1947 to 1974.

Regarding Anne Annets: quite correct she was a dancer, but it was her sister Pam who was at the London Palladium.

Jim was my grandfather and both Pam and Anne Annets are my aunties. I've been pulling a family tree together recently and would be pleased if either Jeff Annets or JT could get in touch with me at philip@annets.fsnet.co.uk to help me fill in the Annets side in more detail.

...and you could buy a tiddyoggi at Divalls across the road from the station.

I remember the tiddyoggies at Divalls Cafe. I worked in the cafe across from the station. The bus drivers and conductors used the cafe and were a smashing lot. I think it was about 1959-69. We also used a pub over from the cafe end of Sussex Street.

Hi Sandie - did you actually work in Divalls? My husband does not remember you -his parents had the cafe from 1947 until 1974.

Tiddyoggies at Divels Cafe! I always wondered what they were, then my dad Charles Kite told me they were Cornish pasties.

No Julie, I didn't work at Divall's, I worked at a cafe opposite the station, I think called the Railway Cafe! Divall's was over the road on the left as you looked out. I remember a bakers up from Divalls that sold gorgeous lardie cakes - yum. I never ate a tiddieoggie as I didn't know that they were pasties.

My Great Grandmother, Ellen Sherwood (known as Nellie by many), ran the Newspaper stall outside Brighton Station for 50 years. Intitially she ran the stall with my Gt Grandfather, but he was tragically killed outside the Station in 1944. She continued however for a further 30 years, retiring I believe in 1974.

Re Divall's coffee shop: I am trying to get some info about the background of Divall's Cafe as we (me and my mate) are taking over the lease of the shop. The first thing is that I didn't know that it is that old, as I am not that old  (I am 30 years old).  It is a bit funny for me to own a shop which is probably three times older than me. Does any one know what Divall's means or refers to? Also does anyone know more about the history of the building?
By the way we just decided to keep the name of the shop as it is, so Divall's stays Divall's :-)

I'd like to say that I remember Divalls with great affection as I met the lady who has that SPECIAL place in my heart there and if it hadn't been for Divalls then, I might never have met her. I only wish that I could have got 2 of the mugs from there so that I could give one to my love so that we can drink from those mugs thinking not only how we met but, of the best cafe in Brighton.

Rama, after reading on this site, it's great that you are keeping the name Divalls, as in 1947 my parents had the pleasure of taking on a tradition of eating houses that were one of the backbones of eating houses in Brighton. My family had many years of unforgetable memories, providing a good respect with the public and giving them value for money ect. I wish you well and hope that you have many happy memories that I have had in the past. Forgot to say, my family and I were there from 1947-1974. I think we had the good years

Oh dear! Today, 60 years after this picture was taken, despite new technologies the time it takes to travel from Brighton to London is still the same! So how do the rail companies justify their outrageously steep ticket prices?

Does anyone remember Johnsons Photographic shop along Queens Road? It was my grandad's and I have never been able to find any pictures of it.

You are right about the time of the fast train Leo, but I wonder if the early morning milk train still runs. My pal and I in 1956, when we got our bonus from Allen West caught the milk train, about 4.30am I think. The fare was cheap, 4s.6d (22.5p) return ticket. The train was full of workmen and it stopped at every stop to Victoria. It took, in my memory 2.5 hours. We enjoyed our day in the smoke shopping and at Battersea Funfair and came home on the last train.

Tiddyoggies! Yes, I remember them. I was about four or five years old (early 50s). I went down to explore the kitchen in the cafe. I would have preferred to go down in the dumb waiter, but I wasn't allowed. I watched an old lady, with long grey hair and a long fag hanging out of her mouth, she was making something with her hands, Tiddyoggies! Yum.

Remember the 1/- meals in Divals, 1/3 if you had either a rice pudding or steamed pudding. Happy days.

Re Divall's cafe; as I recall I have a school friend whose Aunt owned the cafe back in the late 50s early 60s, surname Divall. The friend now lives in Shropshire.

It has been great reading about the 'Divalls' memories. I am tracing the family tree of Winifred Alice Divall who married John Arthur Edge in Brighton and had a son, John, in 1924. She was apparently part of the family that owned the Divalls cafes. They lived in the Lewes Road area. Does anyone have any information? Thanks

I remember Brighton Station in the fifties very well. My favourite aunt used to travel down from London every second weekend to visit her parents and the rest of the family. She was quite well to do and I recall meeting her at the station and riding in great luxury I thought in a Standard Vanguard taxi. I think I was about 9 or10 years old at the time. Those were the days indeed. I well remember the cantankerous barber just round the corner from the station where I got my first Tony Curtis haircut. He was a cranky bugger but a good barber. I was only 13 at the time and boy did I cop it when I got home. I remember opposite the station there was a grill bar, and coming from a very religous family I often wondered what went on in there. Loved Brighton, best place in the world to grow up, unfortunately I was dragged off to Oz in 1956 and have never been back since.

Could someone please help me? I'm trying to trace Mr Paul Annets formely of Ace. I remember dining in Dival's -JFK got shot, then on to the milky bar Queens Road. Paul get in touch.

I lived in Mount Zion Place which was close to the station. During the 1950s the circus used to come to Brighton on the train and parade down Queens Road. I remember one year, at the age of about seven, I tried to 'stroke' an elephant as it walked past and ended up with no skin on my knuckles.

Concerning Richard Elms, contact me on paul.annets@ntlworld.com. Often wondered what was happening with you.