The Hove Lagoon was a special place to us on a Sunday morning in the fifties. Believe it or not we would roller skate from our house in Bennett Road to the lagoon to watch all sorts of model boats. Later on the boats were radio controlled and more sophisticated. On the way home our legs were killing us but we made it in time for Sunday dinner.

We lived on the corner of St Keyna Ave from 1942-51.We were of course barbed wired in from 43, a pass to come home from school etc. When the preparations for D Day were on to my surprise one morning a convoy of trucks drove right through the Lagoon and out the other side.I remember saying "Mum look at what they are doing. All the tiles will be broken!it was a waterproofing test of course and vitally important.The saddest memory was that one night in 1942. All the Canadians billeted at the corner of St Leonards, a large house now gone. They were so friendly and would save their Sweet Caporal cig packets for me. On the reverse were the aircraft recognition pictures. I never managed the set though.Their dissappearance was because of the ill-fated Dieppe raid. I did not find out for years but does so sadden me when I pass and see the site of the old house.

Oh, what memories! Yes, Mick, those Sunday mornings in the fifties were very special. My dad was one of the model boat enthusiasts that belonged to the club and held regular regattas. I particularly remember one Christmas when Santa brought him a "Taplin Twin" engine for one of his new models and he danced around the dining table with joy! I have many photos of those times and will endeavour to get some onto this site, if someone can tell me how! Dad (Fred Neale) is now 85 and still potters about making sure his boats and planes are in working order. Please let me know if anyone remembers him.

Hove Lagoon, yet another part of my childhood. I remember the playground at one end of the lagoon and the two lakes at the other with the boats. I don't think I ever took out a motor boat on the big lake but took out loads of rowers on the little one. I can remember "come in no. 5 or whichever, you're time is up!"

I was a member of the Hove and Brighton Model Yacht Club from about 1933 when I was 13. I sailed a 302 restricted Class built by my father. I also sailed a 10 rater that belonged to Colonel Keyworth; it was called Divine Lady and was designed and built by Brookes, a professional model maker. With it I won a trophy at Eastbourne and at the Round Pond Kensington. The Commodore of the Club was Mr Tansley. It started my sailing life dinghy sailing and finally a 33 foot yacht that I built and sailed for years in the Mediterranean. I was recently sorry to see the neglect of what was the Club's club House.

Back in he mid 70's I lived in Burgess Hill I had built a scale plank on frame model of a Scotish Type Zulu Fishing Vessel drawn by Harrold Underhill. It had a full galley and fish pens as original. I brought the boat down to the Hove lagoon on a sunday morning for its maiden voyage. Now the original had a balast of shingle, I opted to use bird cage sand [scale] well the inevitable happened and a gust of wind came across the lagoon and my boat listed to one side before the decks were awash, although in a new suit I immediately waded in and rescued my creation. I have no idea what ever happened to my boat if I gave it away or sold it, anyone know? Just curious. FYI I am currently scratch building a Riva Super Ariston in 1/4 scale.

This may help someones memory - another model built from the same plans but bread and butter construction that was set in a diorama setting, won the model engineers and was featured on the front page of the magazine. I believe that builder came from the Brighton area. I did meet him at the club meeting in someones house. The overall size of the model was keel to mast 5' 4" and from sprit to stern was also in the 5' range.