I remember gong on a little fairground ride when I was a child (we visited Brighton and Hove regularly). I have never been sure whether the ride was in Brighton or Hove. Is it the same one you mention - primary colour trains going round on a small track and I think each train had a bell you could ring? They were very happy memories.

Yes, I remember the train ride. It was a special treat to go on it and the boats too. The smaller lake had row boats and the larger lake had motor boats. That was the best lake to go crabbing in. We would dangle in string with bait (usually apple cores) on and pull out some fairly large crabs that we would save in our buckets until we went home. I seem to remember a kid's fairground roundabout as well. It would be nice to take my children there now, but it has been taken over by windsurfers!

I took my grandchildren to the lagoon a couple of weeks ago. Alas, the smaller lake is now almost drained with not a boat in sight. The location of the trains in the 60s is now grass, which was a shame as Molly, at 3, would have adored a ride. The two small buildings (identical on south and north sides) at the Shoreham end of the lagoon are now falling to ruin. My husband asked me what they were used for when I was a child but I could not remember any use at all - we just accepted they were always there! The children's play area is good though - plenty for little ones to do. The cafe looked the same as it did when I was a child and in desperate need of a refurbish. Is it not time the lagoon had a face-lift?

I well remember as a young lad (about 6) being in a boat whilst my grandmother waited at the side of the lagoon. 'Come in number six' was the command which I duly ignored. Finally a man in big wading boots came out and towed me back to the edge. Grandmother asked me in a worried tone if 'anything was wrong?'.  I replied 'no' whereupon she gave me a clip round the ear! No supper and an early bed followed my 'maiden' voyage.