Churches were built on hills as they were considered to be the most important buildings. They could be seen from all around and going up a hill brought you closer to God.

I remember as a little girl, around 1940 I believe, a plane crashed into the church yard at St Nicholas Church. There was a lot of commotion in the morning and we had to walk the long way to school. I had some shrapnel for years afterwards and glass from the plane. Does anyone remember that incident? I also remember that the beaches were mined and we couldn't use them until after the war, then they were demined. It was then that the people flocked to the beaches in the good weather.

My mother and sister were out shopping, the siren went and a little later they were blown out of a store they had been in, fortunately they were just shaken up and not hurt. Maybe I will remember more next time I write.

Hi Evelyn, I've found your air crash, on the internet at Aircrew Remembrance Society. The plane you saw was a Messerschmitt 410a Night Fighter, it was shot down by a Mosquito from 96 Squadron, on the 19th April 1944 at 12.50 am, both German pilots were killed, one was hanging from tree branches, he was wearing an Iron Cross 1st class and he is buried in Bear Rd cemetery.