Thank you for those lovely memories, Joan. We grew in the 1950s at the top of Hollingdean Estate, with Downs on our doorstep. I think we were so lucky back then, being able to roam - as long as we stayed together.

Hi Joan. I moved into Birdham Road in 1947. Do you remember the two horses called Roman and Pedler who were often loose in the wood behind Moulsecoomb Way where the rope swing was? I remember long sunny days building straw houses from the corn blocks. All very poor and having to make our own entertainment.

Hello Bob. I too moved to Moulsecoomb in 1947. I remember very clearly two horses, Roman a dapple grey and Gipsy (I thought she was called) a chestnut brown. In those days Halland Road ended with a field at the bottom, built on now, and I remember the two horses sliding for fun or so it seemed to me, on the snow. Yes we were poor but free to roam as were the horses!

I lived at No.30 Halland Road from the mid 50's and remember it well. There was no University, only fields stretching, unbroken, past Falmer village and on to Lewes. There was a long, low flint wall stretching from Coldean Lane to the end of Stanmer Park and Woolards field which, to us football fanatics, was Wembley Stadium. The name Oram rings a bell, did you know Johnny Oram?

Hello Robin. Johnny Oram is my brother! I don't think I remember you although I do Tony Trigwell, Johnny Newman, Geoffrey Lewis and Tommy Fogarty. If you are the same age as them maybe you do too.

Hi Joan, Johnny,Geoff and your brother were the older, more grown up lads that we held in awe, even though they didn't speak to us. My generation was more the Brackpools (no 26) being Roy, David etc. Do you remember Gaffer Groom?

Hello Robin. I have spoken to my brother Johnny and he does remember you. He tells me you lived next door up Halland Road to the Newmans. He remembers your older brother Brian and your sister Carol. It seems my nephew Mark (John's son) has connections with your sister by marriage. I can't remember exactly what - sorry. I do remember Gaffer Groom. John tells me, Gaffer whose proper name was Michael died last year.

Hi Joan and Robin. I moved to Staplefield Drive when it was first built in 1955. Robin, you were in my class at Moulsecoomb Juniors. I remember Roy Brackpool too, also John Webb, Kenny Dean, Paul Spencer, and many others. I loved the freedom of being able to climb over my garden fence and walk all the way across the Downs to Falmer. I'm sure it never rained either!

Hello Joan.Your articles brought back many memories of my childhood and when I lived in Halland Road. In fact we lived next door to you at no 38 - my mum & dad, sisters Stella & Marilyn & my brother Roy. We moved in in 1949 and before that the house was occupied by my Uncle Stan Silsby and family. Other people who lived in the area were:- No.40. the Scivyiers, No.42. the Ballards and when they moved out came the Martins. No.44. the Emerys, No 83 were my grandparents Mr.& Mrs Silsby. Opposite you lived the Mastersons (in fact my sister Stella is still in contact with Lorraine Masterson) & opposite us was Mrs Field and next door to her lived the Dawes.The last house on the odd numbered side at the bottom of Halland Road lived the Lewis's.The first house in Ashhurst Road lived the Huggets and a few doors up lived the Bolingbrokes. Before the parade of shops was built in Moulsecoomb Way, there were 2 small shops, one at the top of Halland Road and one in Shortgate Road. I remember playing in the field at the top of Ashurst Road, particularly using old bits of tin to toboggan down the hill in summer and also playing in the woods in Ashhurst Road. As there was very little traffic we could also play games in the road. We used to go blackberrying in the summer over at the Wild Park and mum would bottle some for the winter and also make blackberry and apple puddings or pies. As well as telling the time by the trains we also could tell it by the hooters from Allen West in the morning, lunchtime and evening. There was very little crime and we could leave our doors open or unlocked during the day - mind you in those days most people had very little of value to steal - not like now.

Hello David how nice to hear from you, I remember you all. You, if my memory serves me correctly, went to Brighton and Hove Grammar school, your Dad worked in Allen West and Stella went to Varndean a year later than Marion Lewis, Jean Edwards and me. I remember the Silsbys too, weren't there four boys? - Eric and Tony (the boxer) I can recall. Didn't they go to live in Northern Ireland? You say the Huggets lived at the first house in Ashurst, I remember the Challens lived there. The Dad ran the Sea Scouts. I can't remember where the Mum was but Ann the eldest of several children (5,6 or 7) ruled them with a rod of iron. The Allen West hooters I remember very well, one at 7.25am and then 7.30 and again in the evening at 5.15pm.

Hello Joan, good to be in contact with you after all these years. You certainly have a good memory. Yes I went to Brighton & Hove Grammar school. My sisters Stella & Marilyn both went to Varndean and my brother Roy went to Moulsecoomb Secondary. Actually my dad worked at Underwoods Typewritwers (remember those?) and then Gross Cash registers. Yes my Uncle and my cousins (4 boys) did move to Northern Ireland and there a 5th child was born, Sandra. However I am sad to report that Eric, Peter and Allan have all died and so only Tony and Sandra have survived and they now live in Wales. Yes you are right about the Challens living in the first house in Ashurst Road but cannot remember much about them. When they moved out the Huggets moved in. Can you remember who lived next door to you at number 34?

Hello again David. I cannot remember the Huggets at all and Rita, my sister, cannot either. Wasn't Roy the same age as Rita, born 1942? Mr and Mrs Mac and their partially blind daughter Ruth lived at number 34 and next to them, in Moulsecoomb Way, lived the Edwards girls, Margaret, Eileen and Jean (who was my age). Above them on the bend were the Swallows. Do you remember the Trigwells? They lived in the last house, same as ours, on the other side of the road going up Halland, before the flats.

Hi Joan. Thanks for the information. Yes it all comes back now - Mrs Mac, the Edwards and Trigwells. Roy was a little younger than Rita, being born in 1943. It's amazing how time has flown and we are now all retired with our bus passes.

Hello Joan, it's lovely to read all about Halland Road. I was born in no. 12 in 1943. My sister was June Poore and brother Barry Poore.  I was good friends with your sister Rita. The Tucknotts lived at no.10 and the Coppings at no.16 and the Standens at no.18.  I went to Moulscoomb infant and juniors and Stanmer secondary the first year it was built. We used to put a thick rope across the road to play skips outside my house and the bus drivers would stop the bus to tell us off. I live in Worthing now and I last saw Rita in M&S Churchill square about four years ago. Give her my love when you see her.

Hello Linda glad you enjoyed reading about Halland Road. I spoke to Rita and she was so pleased to receive your message and returns your love. Rita says our Mum often saw you in Western Road. Rita also tells me you were in her class every year in Moulsecoomb Juniors. I have class photos of the two years that Mrs Briggs was your teacher and keep meaning to get them on this site. I'll get down to it and then you can let me know which one you are.

Hello again David, delayed reply due to me moving home. I think Roy was in the same school year as Rita, she was born in December 1942. You say in your comment dated 20/1/2011 that the Dawes lived next door to Mrs Field, if my memory is correct, it was a large family, 8 children I think, called Orr.

Can any one remember the Martins at no. 42?

It's lovely reading all the comments. I'm related to the Emerys and wonder if anyone can please tell me anything about the Emerys that lived at number 44 Halland Road, such as names and dates?

Are you the David Johnson who worked at the Alliance Building Society in the 1950s/60s/70s in Princes House and then at Hove Park?

Hello Sarah Wake, sorry for the long delay in letting you have info on your relatives. The Emerys were: eldest Dennis, then Marion and youngest Janet. I remember Marion most who had ginger hair. My sister, Rita, recalls Janet. They were a very private family and rarely did the children play in the street. I remember Marion saying she couldn't come out until she "had done her chores". I can't remember the Mum and Dad but I think they both worked, unusual for most women in the 1940s. Their neighbours looking onto the green were the Ballards, two very boisterous lads and on the other side were the Challens, a large family. Hope this is of interest.

Hi David Smith, yes I started work at the Alliance Building Society (Princes House) in August 1956 earning £3-15 shillings a week and then later at Hove Park. I remained with the Alliance until taking voluntary redundancy and early retirement in April 1990.

Hi Joan Cumbers, yes I also remember the Emerys but I agree they were quite private. I also remember the Ballards, I know one son was called David and when they moved the Martins moved in. There were several children in that family but cannot remember their names. Regards to you

Hello David Johnson, it's good to hear from you after all these years. We were close colleagues in those days at the Alliance Building Society and I remember visiting your home in Halland Road. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days. It would be good to catch up if you would like to, maybe by separate correspondence so as not to clog up this website. I retired in 1997 and live in the South Midlands.

I see some of you remember my family, Newman. It was my uncle George and Auntie Beat, and the kids were Bobby, Johnny, Peggy, Janet and the twins Richard & Lynn. I can't remember the house number. I lived there for a while with my brother Alfred when our parents had split up in 1956. It was a horrible time for us. My Dad (Ted) used to visit us, usually on a Friday. I went to the local school, I was 7 at the time. I remember playing in the woods at the bottom of the road, one day I saw a snake or something very similar that frightened me. I played in the garden which was quite big and on a hill, my Uncle grew gooseberries. I expect it's all very different now. I live in Nottingham now. We lost touch with the family as they moved from Brighton when they won the pools years ago. I did hear that my uncle had died and my Dad died in 2003. It was all quite different for me living there as I lived in the town before, at Preston Circus.

Hi David Smith. Good to hear from you after all these years. Yes we must make contact but not block up this site. You can find me on Facebook. I'm away the week after next for 4 weeks. Regards Dave.