I spent lots of time hanging round the meat market in the 1950s as a kid. My guardians Jim and Molly aCroix ran the shop at 33 Russell St. Does anyone recall them?

I recall Jim and Molly la Croix very well as I did their delivery of groceries for them as a young boy of thirteen. Many of the guys from the meat market came in for her rolls and sandwiches and tea - Molly always chatty and Jim with his bright red/ginger hair! Jim died of cancer and the business was pulled down with the redevelopment of Churchill Square. On the opposite corner was Bardsley's fish and chip shop,where in those days you were hard pushed to carry six pence worth of chips let alone eat them! Further down the road was a small pub with an original Turkish baths in the back.

I had the pleasure of working in the meat market for a year or so in the early 1970's after it moved to Upper Hollingdean Road. If I am not mistaken the porter at the front of your photograph is one of the Gunn brothers who worked on the stalls there. Despite what it might seem to the casual observer, (particularly vegetarians), I had a very happy time working with an amazing group of men who could display a sense of humour I have seldom encountered since, even at 3.00 am in the morning whilst 'pitching' beef on a freezing winter's day. On my first day I was introduced to my fellow workers namely, 'Chunky', Wishbone', 'Spider' and 'Bang Bang' (Gunn). Geddit? Those that had worked at Russell Street all spoke fondly of their days at Russell Street much preferring it to the more impersonal atmosphere of Hollingdean.

Does anyone recall James Willis who ran the Boatman public house at 52 Russell Street in the 50s?