Steve and I and our 6 children have lived in the avenue for the last 21 years. Couldnt think of anywhere else I would like to live. The whole area has changed much over the last 10 years or so, it's now students paradise. No young families playing on the green, for me it's sad there are no families around here anymore (there are some but not many). Incidently, Steve Dollimore died a few years ago, he was our friend, great man much missed, have seen Ian Niblett many times over the years, nice chap.
My husband Steve spent many happy times in the avenue as he was growing up as his grandparents and aunts lived at 44, (we are at 40 strange) his parents worked and he was looked after by the family, he has many fond memories of many people around here, i came down from Coldean,
oh to be a kid again.

I drive the 49a [10] (Bus)  up here every day and have to say I love this estate. Ok the cars speed a bit but eveyrone says hello It's a real pleasure

I lived at 34 The Avenue, with a lovely family called Redhouse when I was six years old in 1965. I went to the Bevendean Primary school and have great memories of the area. I remember playing in the woods just before school and walking home after school. I left in 1967 to live with my father in Nigeria. I am now married, have a lovely family and live in the US. I would love to re-connect with the Redhouse family, and especially give my gratitude for their looking after me at a very vulnerable point in my life. I remember David and Gloria Redhouse who were the children of Mr and Mrs Redhouse. I believe at that time Gloria was 19, she was very kind to me.

I visited Brighton in summer 1984. It was a kind of exchange of students, I was 15 and visited a private language school during this weeks to improve my English. I guess it didn't help. All students lived with local families and 'my' family had their small house on Manton Road (I remember it was blue and my host father was a painter - never asked if he painted it by himself). It was a wonderful family, I loved Brighton and I still remember this holiday. Every morning I had to take the bus to school and so I had to wait on the Avenue. I recognized the pics and had to smile. So I write you this comment and maybe I can visit Brighton again. I love this town and will never forget it. Thanks for the memories Mr. and Mrs. Kelly
Editor's note:
Hi Alex: maybe you could write down some of your happy memories of Brighton and we will publish them? If you need help contact me:jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk

I grew up here from 1968 until I got married in 1982. We lived at number 68, Mick Wilson, at number 69, was my best man. Also I remember Rob Thorpe was at 65, and the Norths further down by the path. It was the best street in the world to live on with football and cricket on the green every day of the year and building camps in the woods behind our house. Does anyone remember the dry grass slope behind the old people's home in Heathill Ave? A bit of cardboard box and away we go! Kids today are missing out big time. Can't wait to finish that time machine...

How great to read all these memories. I too have some real memories of the Avenue where I lived at 65 after Robin Thorpe untill I married in 82. I am now divorced but getting married again in September to my childhood friend and neighbour Ian Niblett whom I live with. He shares lots of happy memories and sees Robin all the time whilst working as a cabbie in brighton.

That first comment above regarding the aeroplane landing also takes me back to that time. I'd heard about it before schooltime commencement and decided to dash along and have a look. It was a large (to me) silver coloured passenger biplane and I just stood and gawked! Never before had such a huge monster from the sky been so close. Sequel - late for school and usual strap punishment.

Just realised. Where is that promised pic of the aeroplane?  I'd love to see it. From later experience I'm guessing it was a DH passenger aircraft.

I did not live in the Avenue but I knew a Kelvin Healey and spent some time working with him and played a lot of football on the Green as I was growing up (its all at the Co-op). Remember me Kelvin? Darts got any better?

Further to my earlier comment regarding the De Havilland Dragon Rapide that landed in the Avenue on 16th May 1939, I raised this subject with the staff at Shoreham Airport whilst enjoying a visit there some two years ago. Whilst they had no immediate knowledge of the incident they later contacted one member of their staff who apparently is an aviation historian. He delved into the details of the flight and kindly telephoned me to advise that he had established that the aircraft was owned by a company 'Air Dispatch', it was on loan to the military and on that date it was on a night flight from Doncaster to Croydon. In the relatively poor weather conditions it missed Croydon and found itself at the coast. Apparently the pilot, a Mr J.H. Chappell, initially attempted a landing on Hove lawns before flying to the Avenue where he managed a brilliant landing, only damaging the wing tips on one side where he clipped a tree at the end of his landing run. Like Mr Spicer above, I too managed to view the aircraft before arriving at Moulsecoomb Infants School, but, unlike Mr Spicer, I managed to avoid the 'strap' or 'tawse' as it was often called.