I live on the road at the moment and Trafalgar Road is the place to be. It has everything from rats to pollution and even the home of Curry Zam Zam Tandori.

I also remember both of the plane crashes. The Southwick crash I remember from being in the playground at Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Denis School, Vale Road, Portslade.  At this time my family were taking telephone calls at home for television breakdowns for the television company Family Television. At the time of the crash an aerial rigger, whose name I believe was John Harris, was blown off a roof by the blast of the plane crashing and unfortunately ended up wheelchair-bound because of it.   As regards Madeleine's comments about the Catholic Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Denis, I could not agree more. This was a wonderful church and my brother and I were altar boys and served at the 8am mass every Sunday. Father Henry McCrae Lewis was the parish priest most of this time and he was a wonderful man. He was ordained later in life, and sometimes he bumbled his way through some services but I will always remember him for being very kind and dedicated. Also another priest I remember was Father Albon; a very quiet and sincere man. It really was terrible to see this church that held so many memories for me demolished. I also went to Our Lady Star of the Sea School which was right next door to the church. I remember the air raid shelter within the school grounds. Once a week we went to singing classes in a hut next to the church and we were taught by a Mrs Cuthbert, who always before lessons would insist that we all showed our hankies, which we did by holding them aloft and shaking them. I bet that used to spread a few germs. Some of my school chums which I remember were John Smith, John Hurst, Kathleen O' Shea, Christine Shilling and many more which would probably bore you if I wrote them all down. Those were really happy days for me and, since reading these pages, memories keep flooding back. What a wonderful site.

Hello David Broad, I like you remember both of the plane crashes. As for the Southwick crash, I remember being at home and my dad who worked at the Power Stations ring my mother to tell her of it. I remember him having a piece of the plane.
I, like Madeleine married at Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Denis and never thought it would go. I Googled the area to see what was there now and what a shock! I remember when it was redecorated inside and I remember making my First Communion there. We had to stand outside the door in the cold and wind. I dared to put my hands in my pockets. I was chastised by a lady that I did not know and told that I did not enter God's house being disobedient. I wasn't being disobedient. I was cold and seven and just want to warm my hands. Yes it was as you say David, a wonderful church. Like you, both my brothers were altar boys there. Do you remember Seán? I also remember Father Henry McCrae Lewis He was lovely I remember his anniversary do in the hall, a good night. As for Fr Albon, I have a few photos of him. Do you remember Fr O'Byrne? A young priest, he come from Co. Waterford not far from where I live now. He was drowned whilst on holiday here.

I agree it was terrible to see this church demolished. Later on my sons went to Our Lady Star of the Sea School. When you I saw the names mentioned it brought back memories. I also remember John Smith, John Hurst and Christine Shilling and like you, many more. Do you know where they are now? I was in contact with Maureen Rockford until a few years ago. I know she went to Dorset with her husband's job but I have since lost her address. I used to visit her mother when I was in England. As you say happy days and yes this is a wonderful site. I often pop in to catch up with what is going on. Drop me a line@ catym_e@hotmail.com as I'd love to catch up with what's going on now.

Hi Caitlin. Thanks for your email address and I shall contact you soon, my email is dvd_broad@yahoo.co.uk. Well I think you must be the girl I remember as Kathleen O'Shea. I remember you as having long black hair and, if that is you, then you were my first school boy crush. I haven't seen John Smith or any of the others for years now. I would be most grateful if you could send me a photograph of Father Albon, he was really wonderful when my mother was dying with cancer and a great support to all the family at that sad time. I was only 17 when she passed away. I do indeed remember Fr O'Byrne, in fact he joined our church after Fr Albon and Fr Lewis. I had not realised that he had died by drowning, which is very sad as he must have been quite young. After your communion did you go to the shed-like building and have a breakfast, which I believe from memory consisted of a boiled egg, cooked by Mrs Maynard? Do you remember on a Wednesday we had to go just before the school finished for the day to benediction in the church? The May Day procession crowning Mary with flowers. Palm Sunday processions. I remember clearly the coke fires in the school and in winter warming up the milk that we had each morning in front of the fires. Caitlin, if you want any photos of the area let me know I would be quite prepared to take them and send them over the email to you. There is so much to recall and I shall keep putting my memories on here hoping to jog a few more memories. I shall contact you soon via email and chat about the old times. Where have all the years gone?

I'm pleased that my picture raised memories for people. At the time I lived in Victoria Road, I had a passing interest in local history but could have had no notion that the picture would be on the internet in the next millennium! The above contributors' names Luxford and Kirby are familiar, members of the families where known from my school days. I now live in Lancing.

My family lived at 85 Trafalgar Road. My great grandparents were the Hobbs and my nan was Joan. We lived in the flat downstairs for a while when I was a child before moving to Leek in Staffordshire and then to Canada before finally coming back to England. My dad is Barry and he has fond memories of growing up there as a child/teenager. Sadly, my nan passed away in June this year. We are taking a trip down to Portslade in the new year in her memory.

Carole Newell was my name then and I went to the Star of the Sea school in 1947. Made my first communion and Confirmation at the church. We lived in the prefabs in Vale Road then EastHillPark then Mile Oak then Gladstone Road; it was just after the war. If anyone remembers Me I would love to get in touch. My class mates would be pensioners now. I have several class photos. My mum went to the school in the 1930s.

I didn't go to the church school but in the early 1950s did go to the square dancing in the hut in the school grounds.  They were run by Gordon Brooks and his family and we had lots of good fun there. Then came rock and roll so it was goodbye to square dancing!  I agree it was a scandal that the church was demolished.

Does anyone remember Cripps Manufacturing Chemist that was in Portslade? I worked there packing drugs and the like for Chemists.

Cripps, the manufacturing chemists that used to be located in Portslade, were on the bend of Denmark Road, next to Vale Road Park. My Auntie Jean Martin (nee Smith) used to work there in the early 1960s and I was an apprentice around the corner at M.B. Metals Ltd., in Vale Road.

Can anybody remember the bus that got stuck under the bridge? It was sometime in the the 1980s.

Elizabeth, I remember myself and Don Goldsmith giving a girl named Carol the bumps at St Peter's infants school. Was it you I wonder with fair hair? Plus, I thought she lived in Vale Road. This would be the early forties as I was born in 1938.