I can remember West's Farm at Coldean in the early 1930s. Effluent from the buildings would flow across Coldean Lane and the smell was exceedingly strong - but nobody objected to what was seen as a necessary function for humanity.  Cattle from the farm were regularly driven down Coldean Lane, left up Falmer Road, then diagonally right along the lane at the rear of the houses in North Moulsecoomb abutting Woolards Orchard. They carried on under the railway arch to the fields beyond on the left and further up the valley where there was what we called the Dew Pond. To the right after passing under the arch was Bates Orchard. There were no fences between the lane and Woolard's or Bates's Orchards. Often the bull could be seen by us children servicing the cows and nothing untoward was thought about such a natural function....   On one occasion, the haystack that always appeared at the corner of Coldean Lane and the main Falmer Road was set alight and burnt down. Quite a loss to the hardworking farmer; and I was one of those interviewed by the local Bobby, seeking any possible information.  Fairly regularly the farmer would take his tractor from the farm, along the main road and down the lane I've mentioned, to the fields beyond the railway arch. It had large metal teeth around its wheel rims for gripping soft ground and to traverse the public roads the farmer would fit metal rims around the toothed section to present a smooth surface to the road. The main reason for travelling to the fields with it was for haymaking.  I learned how to drive a tractor at the age of ten! I also learned that money could be earned by doing potato picking after the main crop had been picked up by adults who left considerable amounts behind in their haste!  There's more - but I'll leave it for now.

My family moved into Hawkhurst Road when it was built and I was born there. In those days, large families were not uncommon, I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters but there were larger families. I remember how our house was always unlocked, the back door often open for us kids or our dogs to come and go. I remember playing football on the green outside our house or on the road, where there were few cars. As we got older we'd move up to the swing park off Haig Avenue and we'd have some great Sunday afternoons playing out in all weathers. We did have a good bus service, the No.13, and it always seemed that as one bus left the terminus at Haig Avenue, another would appear. I've been gone many years but Coldean will always be 'home'.

My family, The Mohns's moved into Saunders Hill over 50 years ago. The estate was new and our house number 174 had only just been built. My Dad Doug brought the house in the seventies and it's still in our name today. Does anyone remember or know us? Or do you know anyone who may have pictures of the school, shops, old swing park, scout group etc back then?
Do you remember the yearly pancake race? Mr Olver the Chemist? Pam McCenna in the post office, and what about dear old Tommy Vine? The trade vans that used to run on the estate? What ever your memories, I would love to hear from you. I now live in Hollingbury and work for the Argus.

Hi Paul, how strange that when I moved to Bevendean I should end up two doors away from your brother, Chris, and that my son and his were close friends until they moved away. Some of those old names, from the shops, bring back memories and Dr Herzl Sless also took the surgery, a surgery which hardly changed for many years.