Hove Lagoon which was opened as a boating lake and is now used to train people to do various watersports.

Hove boating lagoon,was used for small rowing boats and canoes, sailing model boats, and "crabbing" too dirty to swim in! It still there today and used mainly for windsurfing.

I think it was more of a boating pool!

In my experience, from the 1950s through to at least the 1980s - the two pools had separate functions. The one to the east was a boating pool, where you could hire canoes etc. The western pool, which was larger, was used for sailing model boats mainly. I also remember taking part in canoe races on that pool but that was not a frequent occurrence - as far as I remember. I am not sure when it started to be used for windsurfing training but possibly at some point in the 1980s. The smaller boating pool was not open all year round and both pools were frequently drained during the winter, but I am not sure if that happened every year. However, the play areas were open all year round, with the exception of the mechanised rides, which were seasonal. The cafe didn't open all year either and I think the open season was from Easter to September. I must emphasize that this is just to the best of my recollection. I spent many a happy hour at the lagoon throughout my own childhood and that of my children and grandchildren, but my last visit was in 2000.

Nice memories Helen. Your "best recollection" is about correct, I remember it as you say. Another memory is the third pool - yes third pool. This was much smaller, off the big main pool, where the windsurfing building now is. It was used to house motor boats used on the big pool when the day was done. There was a wooden walkway that separated the holding pool from the main pool, with steel railings that I remember well. I was fascinated by boats and often went in the canoes and peddle boats, but the motor boats must have cost more, and I can't recall ever going in them. I remember standing on the wooden platform watching them, then twisting round on the railings and falling in the water fully clothed!

I spent many happy hours at the Lagoon. The larger pool had motor boats that you could hire, these were moored on the southern side in two small harbours where the operators hired them out. I think you had about 15 minutes a time, dreading the "No 22, your time is up" call from the blokes in charge. The smaller pool had the canoes and paddle boats for hire. Model sailing boat competions took place in the larger pool, usually on a Sunday. The competitors took things very seriously, often wearing naval caps etc. The yachts were superb, most of them had no direct control, relying on a wind vane contraption on the rudder.

I remember that walk way too - Wasn't there a paddle pool over near the shop? Played 'golf' in the next sections towards Brighton.

I used to hang out at the lagoon as a kid in the 70s-80s – skateboarding down the slope towards the cafe. In1978 with a freshly plastered broken arm (not acquired skateboarding), and whilst fishing crabs out of one corner of the larger lagoon, I tripped and went in head first. Had to get my cast reset at the hospital!

There were only ever two pools at The Lagoon. The smaller one was used for small rowing boats and Red Indian style canoes. It had a hut at the southwest corner from where you bought a ticket, for 30 mins or an hour, I think, although it could have been 15 mins and 30mins. The larger pool was used for small, varnished, clinker built sailing boats and motor boats. The "third pool" was in fact no more than a recessed area of the main pool that was separated by a wooden walkway with hinged sections to allow the boats to be locked away in there at night. There was also a hut built onto this walkway where you bought tickets for boats on the larger pool. The boathouse for the surfing club is built over this now but the recess was identical to, and directly opposite, the one on the north side of the pool that you can still see today. The trains used to be on the grass just above the northern recess. The larger pool has always been used by enthusiasts for model sailing and power boats. Sunday afternoons at the western end in particular were the most popular day for them but the small pool, too, was used by many boys with plastic hulled yatches. The larger and smaller pools were separated, then as now, by a strip of paved walkway that has a protuberance into the smaller pool about halfway along its length. On this used to sit a large brown marble drinking fountain which was removed sometime in the late 1950s / early 1960s. The paddling pool is quite a recent addition to The Lagoon, I would say within the last 15 or so years. Before that there was sand pit which often smelt of dogs. The childrens' swings and roundabout etc. used to be just to the northwest of the cafe building and the pools were usually drained once a year or so to clear out the sludge. If I remember correctly, both pools are filled from the harbour by a pipe below ground. As a boy I spent many many hours at The Lagoon or just over on either the Hove Deep Sea Anglers beach (The "First Beach" as we more commonly called it) or the "Second Beach". From the age of seven or eight we used to go to the beach all day by ourselves in the summer. Apart from getting home covered in tar (which our Mums would take off with butter), I don't recall anyone coming to any harm at all. Today, our parents would have been locked up for neglect.