Brighton Sorting Office in the 1950s and 60s employed over 1000 casuals at Christmas. The bulk of these were employed sorting the primary and roads. On the 24th of December the Postmaster would come down on to the floor, give us permission to smoke, tea and cakes were supplied free of charge. Then the Salvation Army band would arrive and every one joined in singing carols until it was time to go home.

My favourite evening was a visit to the Regent Ballroom which looked fantastic. Even the toilets were posh and us girls loved sitting doing our hair in such plush surroundings! The music was ace and the main band and the small group all played the pop music of the day and we danced non-stop. Great memories for so many and I was shocked when the building was demolished to be replaced with Boots the Chemist!

I remember the beautiful decorated lights that were strung up all along Western Road, magical. One evening whilst sitting on the top deck of a bus one of the lights came crashing down  - very exciting at the time. I don't think anyone was hurt. I think the lights came from London's Regent St, this was about 1959.

I remember the christmas of 1967 as a mod great times.The building directly behind the clocktower was opened as an american style automat. You could buy anything you wanted out of a machine. Straight out of the Regent Ballroom into the automat (great).