My parents, Ada and Samual Mori and I, lived at 6 Middle Road from 1940 - 1975. I have fond memories of Mrs Durrant, Mr and Mrs Ambrose, Preston Bakery and all of Preston Village. Milly, the wife of Fred Saunders who had the shoe repair shop, was my auntie (sister to Ada Mori.) I can smell the bread from the bakery now. My husband and I were married in Preston Church March 1963. I would be very interested in Jaqueline Pollard's book of the area.

I have been sculling through trying to find something regarding "Johnson's Midgets", the minature busses that were built at the old Preston Forge in the village. Peter Johnson, the son of the proprietor and I went to Preston Infants School together and after school we spent a lot of time at the forge especially with Mr Craig, the bodywork builder.
Also, can I remember Pamela Mori from those distant days?

I live on Edburton Avenue and know there was a dairy on the lower half. Does anyone know any more about the avenue or the shops on it?

Excited to hear Raymond Bird still remembers me, I have a picture of us and most of the children from Preston Old Church, circa 1945 in a Nativity Play. Anyone remember Vivienne Poole who lived at 4 Middle Road, as we were always together and Jean Brinkley who was also our friend.
Have remembered some of the names, Ann Healey, Peter or Anthony Johnston  son of the bus maker), Elizabeth Keith, Jeffery Ballard, Madge, Madeline, Valerie, Roy?

Pamela Bennett -I was very interested to read your comments. Fred Saunders, boot repairer,was my uncle so I remember your Auntie Milly very well. I have a picture of her with me and my mum and dad, who was Herbert Saunders. I am trying to piece together the Saunders family and wondered if you ever see Roy,their son at all? Also what a coincidence, my grandad William Luke was head porter at the Old Ship Hotel in the early 1900's!
He died in 1936 so perhaps your father succeeded him.

My family lived in 45 and 47 North Road, then 46 Middle Road owned by Mr Cummins; mother Vera, father Fred, brother Fred and sister Patrica. I left the village to marry some fourty years ago and the rest of my family in the late sixties when the houses were demolished. I can still remember my news paper rounds for Mr Newington, butchers round for Mr Ambler then Mr Baker. Delivering perscriptions for Inskips on Wednesday and Saturdays. I can recall things as if it were yesterday. When I tell my children and grandchildren about my childhood they just do not believe me. Playing in Snakey Lane, camping in the meadow in Cherry Woods, roaming for miles totaly free. Barn Rise for blackberrys and Sweet Hill for damsons. Twenty or more kids going to the Dukes or down the beach always someone looking out for you, a real community. When I see Fred or Pat we still feel that the village is home.

During the late forties to early fifties I lived at 6 Robertson Road and wondered if anyone remembers me from then? I went to Stanford Road School before going on to Fawcett in York Place. Names I remember are Brian Blackford, Tony Watts, Bob Wadey, Jean Lillywhite and Vera Botting. I was interested in cycle racing at Preston Park track and took part. I also remember Boswood's paper shop and Billy Mills' barbers shop in his house. Also Bill Nichols' bike repairs at the top of South Road. Can anyone else remember any of this?

During the time I lived at Robertson Road, in the late forties to early fifties, I remember some of the following things. We lived next door to the dog's home and my parents were friendly with the vet and his wife, a Mr and Mrs Gardener. I used to do a paper round for Mr Boswood across the road from me. I also in the mornings, used to fill an old barrow up with papers, and take them up to Preston Park Station to sell. We had a trestle table that was kept in a room up on the station and I used to set it up outside the entrance at the top of Clermont Road. The commuters used to come running up the road as the train was coming in and just throw their money on the table, grab a paper and not wait for their change, I made a lot of pocket money doing that. In the winter if we had any snow, we used take our sledges up to the top of The Drove, or Black Hill as we called it and come zooming down and under the arch in South Road, you couldn't do it these days. I remember doing my mum's shopping at White and Wilsons grocers shop and Terry Turnbulls butchers also. There was also Soft Water Laundries that had a shute for the baskets to slide down, we boys used to slide down there too. These are just a few of the things I remember about living in Robertson Road. Is there anyone out there who remembers any of these, or any other things from about this time?

My maiden name was Bowyer and my four brothers and I lived at the very top of Black Hill. My brothers were Brynmor, Euan, John and Roy. They did paper rounds for Boswoods and up until the mid-80s, Iris Boswood used to pick my mother up for church on a Sunday morning. Your correspondent wanted info on Riddleston. I knew a Peter Riddleston who also knew my older brothers. He worked for Brighton Parks and I believe he was related to my mother's good friends Mr and Mrs Brockman who lived one door down from Boswoods. Mr Brockman worked in the Pullman car and the Brockmans were very [kind] to my younger brother John who was mentally challenged. I remember Vera Botting. She lived almost beside the bombsite on ?? Road. I shopped at White and Wilson during the war and also at Mr Turnbull's butcher shop. My brothers were friends with the Thornton boys whose parents had greengrocery shops in Robertson Road and up off the Dyke Road(?) Crescent. There were a couple of houses my mother and I used to visit on Roberston Road, both on the side of the dogs' home and just one or two down. Unfortunately I cannot remember the ladies' names. I do remember the Pococks from the end of the terrace on Kingsley. My mother, Mary Bowyer, lived to be 96; my father, Arthur Bowyer, died in 1986. Our house at 125 Compton Road was unique being both in Compton Road and the Drove. I am told that a somewhat modern house has now been built in what used to be our backgarden.

I am very interested in the history of 45 Surrenden Road and would be grateful for any information.

I know Iris Boswood, she still lives in Brighton and I believe that her father owned the paper shop. She looked after my late husband and his brother and sister for years.

As a family, the Bowyers, we knew the Boswoods quite well. They had the paper shop right at the foot of the Drove but known to us as Black Hill. That was in the days when the traffic went both up and down the hill not like today which is one-way only. Anyway, both my elder brothers delivered papers for Mr. Boswood and I walked down every Friday for my weekly comic. That was also my way to walk to Varndean School each school day. I take it from your message that Iris is still living in Brighton. Like my family Iris was also connected to Clermont Church. Please give her my kind regards.

I lived at 48 Kingsley Road, up on the terrace, from the early 40s to early 60s when my sister Coral and I emigrated to Australia. In hindsight very brave for two girls on their own. When I come back on holiday and have a look around the old place, I am always gobsmacked by the number of cars parked in the street. Wendy Freeman was my sister's friend and she had a sister Jasmine and lived in Robertson Road opposite the end of Kinglsey. I remember Scarborough Road, the two missing houses, Guy Fawkes bonfires and the Knight Sisters; there was Barbara, Celia and a younger sister. Black Hill when the black ice was about, now that was fun, at least if going to South Road you could take the easier path around Robertson Road and past the PDSA. However getting up the hill that was another story only one way to go. Pat Mills was at 25 Compton Road we started at Vera Garbutt's together, after a year she left and I went for 15 years. Best thing my mother ever did for me. How brave was that young spark that used to toboggan down Black hill and under the bridge. He obviously didn't have my mother for a mother. I also remember the Pococks.I went to Stanford Primary and then moved on to Varndean. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. If not thank you all for contributing some wonderful memories.

I live on the terrace on Kinglsey Road on the corner by The Drove (I always remember my parents calling it Black Hill). My mum and dad used to work at the printers and bookbinders in Scarbrough Road. Kingsley is a great road.

I live in one of the cottages that were converted from the gothic looking building in North Road that used to be Preston Church of England infant school. I was just curious about when the building was first built. Does anyone know?