Colin, this may be a long comment, but I enjoyed your posting very much. I was born in 1922 and I lived at 7 Firle Road, just at the top of the hill from Whitehawk Road. I remember Manor Farm when it was mostly allotments and pigsties, and I was about 10 years old. My dad was a tram driver and he took me with him to Whitehawk bottoms, as we called it, when the houses were to be built, and started to dig up a small pear tree, when the "owner" came along and asked him to pay for it, which he did, about half a crown, I believe.
I courted a girl from the houses near where you lived, named Rene Fairhall, in about 1938 or 1939. I think the Fairhalls also lived in an end of terrace house. Did you know the Fairhall family, or what happened to them? Rene would be about my age now (84), if she is still around? My friend George Whiting (now dead unfortunately), and I, used to walk over to the Brighton dump and rescue bits of bicycles from which we would construct whole bikes (called bitsas) and ride around Sussex on them.
I went to St. Luke's Senior Boys School, and every week we were taken to play football on the pitches at the top end of Whitehawk Road. I had three sisters and our greatest satisfaction was to climb over the wall at the Black Rock pool (we had no money) to spend the day at the pool, where I learned to swim from a man sent round by the News Chronicle newspaper.
During the war I was a flight engineer in the RAF, flying on Liberators with Coastal Command, and after the war I emigrated to the USA, where I now live in New Jersey. Please add some more memories of Whitehawk and Brighton in the 1950s.

My name is Suzanne, I am the niece of Rene Fairhall, my own mum, Maureen, was Rene's younger sister. Unfortunatly Rene died about 21 years ago, her sister Freda died three years ago and we lost my mum Maureen earlier this year. This only leaves Ray, the baby of the family. You're right Bob, the Fairhalls lived in an end of terrace house opposite Whitehawk Junior School. It was the opposite end of the same terrace that Colin lived on. My brother Steve and I remember Colin and his family well. My dad and brother still live in Whitehawk Road but nowhere near the football pitches. My other grandparents, Fred and Nancy Green, actually lived next door to Colin and my dad was their first foster son.

Hi Colin, Reading your comments has brought back many happy memories. I too remember the summer months spent cleaning coaches. If I remember correctly Jimmy Taylor's dad was an attendant at the coach park. Jimmy lived at the bottom of Manor Hill, Number 10 as I remember. Our family used to live in the prefabs in Wiston Close. I can vaguely remember when the Cooke family emigrated to Australia. We then moved to Whitehawk Crescent, I went to Whitehawk Infants and Juniors and passed the 11-plus exams and went on to Varndean Grammar. You also passed the exams and went to Falmer School as I can remember. My mum, Lily Hale, used to work in the school canteen at Whitehawk School for many years and, regarding the filming of "Oh What a Lovely War", I remember this very well as my dad Richard (Dickie) Hale was employed to dig many of the trenches and bomb craters with his JCB. We lived well for a few weeks courtesy of the film catering crew. Sadly Mum and Dad have both passed away but I have many happy memories of them and the wonderful start to life in a great place - Whitehawk.

Hello Terry.  This is Eric, the youngest son of the Cook family you refer to. We lived at No. 7 Wiston Close. What number did you live in? It's great to see that so many commentators refer to their childhood living in Whitehawk as wonderful and happy times, I know it was for me. Do you remember the Coronation street party they held in Wiston Close? I have a number of photos of that event and in particlar the fancy dress competion for us kids, I was dressed as a sugar cube. What were you dressed as? I'd love to catch up via email and I would be happy to send you some of the photos I have, you are no doubt in some of them. My email is eric.cristina@yahoo.com

Wow, What a wonderful response. It is really strange when you get older, because you forget bits of the picture then someone else fills that part of the jigsaw. Hello Bob, Terry and Suzanne. Sorry for the delay in responding but I have been trying to find this website for some time. Suzanne, I remember you because of your Mum. She was such a lovely lady and used to look after me sometimes. You mentioned Ray. If I am not mistaken, Ray lived next door to me for some years at 129 with Fred and Nancy Green. Ray was a great guy and I remember he used to let me borrow his racing bike and I used to go for miles on it. I can remember chasing a bus full of Roedean school girls on their weekly trip by bus into Brighton on a Saturday and I nearly hit the back of it, so I hit the brakes and skidded on the newly applied double yellow lines outside The Home and Colonial Stores halfway into town. I went up the pavement into the display outside the shop. They had tins of broken biscuits for sale for weeks! Mr and Mrs Green used to keep chickens and Mr Green used to despatch them in time for Sunday lunch with an axe. That was how I learnt the expression "running around like a headless chicken". My Mum said that once the poor headless bird ran straight at Mrs Green and ran between her legs straight in the open back door into their kitchen. She screamed "Oh Fred" and promptly passed out. I was walking my dog Trixie one night on the racehill at the back of the houses and I lost her. I went home and got a torch and was shining it around the race hill to find her. The light must have woke Fred up because the the next minute he was hanging out of his bedroom window, yelling into the darkness "I know you're there, Nancy get my gun, I'm going to shoot a burglar". Terry we were at school together. Do you remember David Sallis Ian Upton, Sandra Breeds Gary Field and Marion White. Did you go to the football at the Goldstone. Do you remember Mr Robinson, Mr White, Miss New, Miss Markwick?Was our childhood so unusual that we never seemed to have a care? It is wonderful to share these fabulous times. Bob, I was also in the Royal Air Force for 22 years. I was just trying to remember who lived where on Whitehawk Road, 130 was Chitty's, 129 was Green, 128 I think was a Mrs Bartlett was 127 Maureen? 134 was Alan Gray and 135 was the Knights family. I remember Ronnie Knights quite well. Have I forgotten how many houses were in each block? Was it 4 or 5? I remember going to Tony Brazil's boxing Club twice a week. Did any one else go? I remember "Oh What A Lovely War" because the transport manager was Joe Driscoll, my Brother in Law, Ted's, Dad. He used to get us on set.

Colin - there are four houses in a block, when Mrs Bartlett moved out of 128, Eileen and Ken Ogle moved in with Susie and Philip. Mrs Shaw lived at 126, the Cliftons at 125 and Mrs Decatchit at 124. Fred Green was never backward in coming forward and Nancy was great as my dad was one of their foster children.  We grew up with them as grandparents and they were real colour characters as was our own Nan who went by the name of Fairy (Mrs Fairhall). The Knights are still in Whitehawk Road, as is Eileen Ogle and my dad and brother. You're right Colin - Maureen and Al, Steve and myself lived at 127.  My brother Steve thinks you might remember the Kents from 130, the Kirby girls (we still see them), David Tharme and the Greenlands.

Hi Suzanne,  Great to hear from you. If I remember when you were little you had very blonde straight hair?  The Kents lived next door to us at 131 and the Kirbys lived at the end of the next block down from you, and David Tharme lived at the end of the next block down from them.  I am still in touch with David who lives in East Anglia and he still goes fishing like we did when we were kids.  I remember Robert Greenland and the Akehursts on the corner by the alley that used to go up over the hill to the shops.   There was also a family called Morrell who lived next door to the Kirbys. Was it Sandra?  If I remember, she was hit by a car when she was playing in the street and she was catapulted up into the air.  She hit the lower branches of the big trees outside the Junior School and landed on the railings.  Her Dad came running out and picked her up and took her indoors to wait for the ambulance. She was very lucky to survive.  I remember Eileen and Ken very well, but I had no idea their surname was Ogle. I remember Suzie and Philip.  I also remember helping Ken, who was a milkman, delivering milk in the snow.  My God, it was really very deep one year and it was gone midday before we got finished.  I remember the sea froze that year and the pebbles all stuck together.  Do you remember a family called the Coombers?  I think they may have lived next door to the Kirbys at one time. There was a Christopher Coomber, his brother Glen and a sister Jean or Jenny, can't remember which. There was a boy called Alan Gray who lived next door to the Knights. They were at 135 and Alan lived at 134.   Anyway, must close, will write again soon. Can we get a list of all of the tenants from Akehursts to the Boxing Club do you think?  Best wishes.

Hi Colin and everyone, I just happened to stumble on this page whilst doing a search for my father's father ,anyway I was shocked to see the name Coomber as my father was a Coomber before his mother got married then the name was Abberley. I don't however recall any of the names you have mentioned, but there are a hell of a lot of Coombers lol. My father's mother (my nan) was Bertha Coomber, known to most as Dolly; other names I know are George, Alfie, Stan, Pat, Gary, Debbie, Peggie, and Stella and oh so many more I could mention. It has been really interesting to read all these posts

Hi Colin, I just read about your family. How interesting you say you have a brother Derek. Is he a lot older than you, and did he have ginger hair? Was he a great roller-skater and did he spend a lot of time at the open air rink near Peter Pan's Playground? If you don't know, perhaps you could ask for me as I remember the name so well. If it was him, he taught me to skate.

Hi Pam,

Yes that was my brother Derek. He was also a brilliant swimmer. When my Dad died Derek changed his surname to Spencer, I think. I lost contact with him 40 years ago and have no idea what happened to him. I know he married and had loads of kids. His wife was Margaret and he had at least six kids, but I can't remember their names. Gary, Janice Nicola, Sandra, I think and two others.

He spent a lot of time on the seafront along with some of my other brothers doing the deck chairs and I think he was a lifeguard too. He taught me to swim by throwing me off the Banjo Groyne and telling me to swim to shore. I had two choices, sink or swim.

Thanks Bruv.

Hope this clears it up for you.

Thank you for letting me know if was Derek my roller skating teacher. It was when I got to 14 I started going to the Ritz Roller rink and went there always at weekends thanks to Derek.
Do you think you could tell me his exact age as I'm now nearly 67 and he was taller than me, and I'm sure a lot older? He used to hold my hand and skate for ages. His hands were big and I'm sure they were covered in freckles
Did you know the Jarvis Family at 54 Hervy Road? They are my cousins. They are Joan, Reg, Ross, Maureen and Carol.
It was great to hear about your story.Thanks again.

Hi Colin, the message above was for you. I didn't put your name on header. I hope you are well.

Hi Pamela, Sorry for the delay in replying. I have been into hospital for major surgery and am not long back on my feet. My brother Derek, must be in his 70s if he is still alive, maybe 74-75. Yes he had big freckle covered hands and was about 6 feet one tall. I don't remember your family, but I tended to stick to Whitehawk Road. Will write again when I can. Best wishes.

Hi Colin. Thank you for your reply. I guessed there was something wrong. I would just like to wish you a very speedy recovery and all the best to you and your family.

Does anyone remember Sheila Wheatland of 8 Findon Road, Whitehawk, an address which has since been demolished I understand. Sheila was a gorgeous, most pretty girl, with very dark auburn hair and matching beautiful figure. She remained my sweetheart for a number of years from 1945 until 1948 when I ended the relationship. I've been happily married to a wonderful 'girl' for 56 years now who would have no objection to my getting in touch, simply to hear of Sheila's life over the years.

Hi Colin, I remember you from Whitehawk School. The names of those living near me from the bus request stop in Whitehawk Road opposite the steps to Wilsons Avenue:
No. 76. Kitchen
No.77 Buckles
No. 78 Lower
No. 79 Macdougall
No.80 Moons
No.81 Woolgars
No. 82 Stapletons
No. 83 ?
No.84 Barbers
No.85 Washingtons
No.86 Dunks
No. 87 Bluey Reynolds?
Not really sure after that. I'm sure the Gorringes, Tharmes and the Lewseys were in there somewhere. I'm sure you could fill in the blanks to the Akehursts!  Whitehawk was a great place to live in the 50s/60s. At that time people weren't afraid of the streets and shared the little they did have, and we didn't have to lock our doors because nobody had anything worth nicking!

Hello all. Dorothy (Dolly) Greenland still lives in Whitehawk Road, she is my mother in law (I am married to Robert).

Hi Keith - your comment about open house and nobody having anything worth nicking possibly contributes to the total lack of security shown in those times but, as a boy born at North Moulsecoomb where the same attitude prevailed, I'm more inclined to the idea that there was much more respect for everyone by everyone combined with a level of honesty which is absent today. Honesty and respect prevailed wherever one was, as opposed to today when even the police are subjected to extreme measures of disrespect and occasionally violence. I often wish we could all return to those days of complete safety on the streets and general happiness, even though it was accompanied by much more poor circumstances. The 'crime' of scrumping, with disapproval and corporal punishment from one's parents as well as maybe a policeman's cape lashing to start off with was easily borne with a mental state that helped tremendously in the maturing process.
I know what circumstances I would prefer out of those prevailing today and those of yesteryear.
Thanks for the reminder of those particular times.

Hi Colin: just a note to hope you are keeping well and on the road to recovery. All the best to your family

Hi Colin,I lived in 84 til 1956 and 85 were the Freemans, 83 was the Normans and 'Bluey' Reynolds was Phil Reynolds. I was Bluey! After my mother just up and left, and lost the house, I lived with the Freemans next door to me until I was 18. They were good to me.

Hi Pamela, I remember Mrs Jarvis. I used to be frightened of her. I used to be a delivery boy for the Co-op and one day when it was raining, I took her groceries down and one of the bags split, and I spilt the contents and she whacked me round the ear! I went out with Rhona Standbridge, who lived a couple of doors up.

keith. you missed out the Pumphreys. Remember ginger?

Hi Colin, my Nan and Grandad lived at 131. The Kents, Queenie and Jim had four kids: John, David, Doris and Violet. My Mum and Charlie my Dad are now both dead. I'm Peter, I left Whitehawk in February 1989. I also remember the battle field. Do you remember Dr Who as well? They filmed there too. I have great memories of growing up there and we still pop down to visit. I can remember the school canteen across the road from Nan's and how nice the smell was. You made me feel old! Hope you're OK.

Hi Harry, I remember Ginger, going down the ways, can you remember the Thwaites, Polards and Easons? Do you know if WhitehawkSchool ever have reunions? I live in Cambridgeshire now but would certainly travel if it happens. Do you remember Bluey Reynolds? we followed each other around in the army for a few years.

Hi Ron, unfortunately we can't turn the clock back to the good old days, but we sure can cherish our memories of a great place to live with people who thought of others not only themselves.

We lived at 77 Wiston Road from1943, near the top of Lintott Avenue. Any news of Bert Pentecost, Bill Romain, Ernie Woolgar, Roy and Colin Ambler? I 'm now living in Redcar, Yorkshire.

Hi everyone, I have been a Whitehawk boy now for what seems a really short time (40 odd years) compared to you all, but my family have lived in Whitehawk for absolutely years. Does anyone remember my Dad Ron Walls, I believe he lived in either Whitehawk Crescent or Manor Crescent back in the 1930s or 40s; he had 4 brothers, Alfie, Fred (caretaker at St Mark's school for years), Roy and Ray and 4 sisters, Daw (Dorothy), Pat, Jean & Shirley. My dad used to box for Whitehawk boys club. I am now living in the Manor and fast approaching 50, we also lived in Rifle Butt Road when I was a lad and I went to Whitehawk School, oh happy days. I have lived in Rifle Butt Road, Wiston Road, Maresfiel Road, and Upper Chalvington Place. I remember getting the number three bus from Arundel Road to Lintott Avenue in the early 1970s when all us boys fancied the big blonde bus conductress, oh very happy days. I remember many names if anyone is interested.

Keith - There is no longer a secondary school in Whitehawk, all the children travel out across the city once they leave primary school. Whitehawk Juniors was knocked down in the late 1980s, the Infants and Junior schools were merged in 2000 and are in the old secondary school and the old Infants school is about to be knocked down to make way for a new children's centre.

My mum was a teacher at Whitehawk Infants in the 1970s. Does anyone remember her?