Hove memories
Here are memories of Hove and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hove or a Hove photo.
The Churchyard
I attended St Andrew's school in the 1960s (next to the church), I sang in the church choir when we had school assembly at the church every Wednesday and Mr Brooked played the fabulous organ. We also played in the churchyard too as it was for a long time our playground. We went on nature walks in the churchyard with our teacher, and loved the countryside we found there. Once we lost our class guinea pig inside a grave tomb, and several of us got into big trouble about that, the boys got the cane but not us girls. I don't remember if we got the guinea pig back though! One year I planted raspberry bushes that my dad gave me in the churchyard and our class ate the raspberries that grew.
The Fire And Before
I was a child at Avondale College at the top of Wilbury Road in 1955 and was 'made' to perform The Teddy Bear's Picnic as a teddy bear (I can still smell the costume!) on the stage of the old Town Hall. In around 1959, I attended a sale of work fair which was opened by the film star Michael Wilding. For a raffle prize I was awarded a stuffed and mounted fox head - a moth eaten old thing which gave my mother kittens when I took it home. From my bedroom at 43 Brunswick Place I could see the tower of the Town Hall clock and on the morning after the fire, woke to hear the news on BBC Light Programme, rushed to the window to see the tower still intact but a vague whisp of smoke. Later on, we went along Church Road to see it but the Police had cordoned off Tisbury Road and Second Avenue. Years later I worked at Gamleys both in the old... Read more
I, Too, Was A Choirboy at St John's
I first attended St John's in around 1958 as a Cub Scout and attended the children's Sunday service at, ISTR, 9.40. The 'grown-ups' service at 11.00 seemed very serious to me as an 8 year old! I can't remember how I got to know about the choir, it would have been my Father chatting to someone, but I joined as a choirboy around 1960. Mr Clifford Roberts was a charming but very serious man and a brilliant organist and choirmaster. The range of pieces we sung as anthems was truly amazing, and the choir of about six ladies, four boys, and about six men took on and performed every Sunday a different anthem as well as psalm chants and all the hymns (in full harmony, of course!). We used to practise every Friday evening, and Mr Roberts had laid out all the music for the coming weeks on chairs in front of the chairs that the choir would sit on. Each chorister had their own hymn book and psalter with... Read more
Hove Town Hall Fire
I think it was 1964 that the Town Hall burnt down. I remember it well. I was about 11 at the time. I do remember that at the back of the TH, was the Police Station. My brother and I got in some "trouble" and the two of us were taken into the Cop Shop, and given a serious reprimand...I think they threatened to put us in the cells for an hour!!. Didn't deter us, still managed to get into trouble, kids stuff.
We moved originally from Glasgow to Bognor Regis, then to Livingstone Road, where my Mum operated a VG corner grocery store. We then moved to Hove Park Villas, and the house is still in the family.
Wonder if anyone remembers the store. Next door was the dry cleaners ( I think) then Hopkins the Greengrocers. We had another Grocery store right next door to us, but that was the way it was back then...baker across the... Read more
Wrestling And The Fire.
My earliest memories of the old Hove Town Hall are of a massively impressive red brick building opposite which was a 'Gamleys' toy shop to which I'd be taken by my mother whenever we had enough money!
There used to be professional wrestling bouts held there (the Town Hall, not the toy shop!) and I can recall being taken to see them on occasions by my father as a treat for a birthday or something similar. All of this would have been during the early to mid 1960s.
I can remember the night the old building burnt down quite clearly. I went along the following day to have a look!
I cycled, then motorcycled past that way for some time and can recall the new building seemingly rising from the ashes of the old, the site surrounded by hoardings with holes cut in them so that the public could watch the progress. I spent many happy hours glued to those 'windows', sometimes with a camera, and though I'd love to... Read more
Yards From Home!
I grew up in Hove in the 1950s in Connaught Terrace, a small, seemingly insignificant road of terraced houses just around the corner from this church. The structure behind the church spire in this photo is a gas holder. The streets where I and my friends played are directly behind it. My mother used to take my baby sister and I to this churchyard in the afternoons and would sit in the sun whilst I played amongst the gravestones. We lived there until I was seven when we moved to Hangleton, a council estate on the north side of Hove and right on the edge of the South Downs. Our house was (quite literally) a stonesthrow away from open countryside. Living there was a little boy's dream. But that's another story!
St, Johns Choir
Things are a little hazy, but, I think the year is about right, providing that this is the church on the Church Road before the gardens going towards Brighton. I used to sing in the choir under the direction of the Organist and Choir master Mr. Clifford Roberts, who also tried to teach me to play piano from reading music, but gave up when he realised that I was playing by ear.
Have many memories of my Home Town and the Goldstone Ground, and my senior school Hove County Grammar, am in regular touch by Email with several Old Boys (now of course in more than one sense)
Used to live in Blatchington Road above the Chiropodist and my late father was the Co-op manager near the corner of George Street. He passed away this New Year age 101.
Would be happy to hear of any similar recollections I am now living in sunny Norfolk.
Memories of East Sussex
ROWING IN THE CANAL
I vividly remember the day when as an eight year old, along with my mate and neighbour, Billy Sturmey, we "borrowed" 2 shillings from my mothers purse and hired a rowboat from the Portslade foreshore and rowed around among the cargo vessels tied up on the seaward side of the "canal" as we called the harbour. We spent the whole morning enjoying what we thought was an amazing experience. The only downside to the day was that crossing the main road and rowing on the canal were prohibited by my parents so the consequences of doing both and with "borrowed money" were not pleasant. The memories of that exciting day are not soured by the discipline I received even though sitting was not easy for a day or two.
On another occasion Billy, along with my brother and I, borrowed from my mother again and caught the train into Brighton one Saturday morning. The goal was to enjoy a cornish pastie (tiddyoggy?) from the workers cafe across the road... Read more
The Canal, Portslade
As a young lad born in Shelldale Avenue, and having lived all my young life in Portslade, I used to spend many hours down by, and on the canal at Portslade. I loved seeing the ships, mainly coal-boats moored at the gas works and the old power station. There were timber boats, and various other vessels too, but I just loved the atmosphere and the smells of the then bustling harbour! I used to be thrilled if my dad - my mum wouldn't go on the water - took us for a trip on the rowing boats from the 'Jolly Boatman' opposite the gas works. The times I got a hiding, or other punishment for going down to my favourite place without permission, became too numerous to count, but I still went. I still do, as it is one of my favourite places on this coast of East Sussex. Perhaps it all contributed to my joining the Merchant Navy when I reached 16? I have fond memories of my dad... Read more
Summery
I wonder how many people remember the Jerry planes that came over Portslade on their way to Croydon & London. I was out with my brothers taking a lame dog home to its owner in Foredown Drive when a large German plane flew overhead (we saw the swastika), doors flew open everywhere & we were dragged inside to safety, just in case. I was luckier than my brothers cos I was on the side of the road where I could see my house in the next street & Mum at the window with my little sister, I was about 9 I think. My brothers weren't so lucky, the family who took them in had their kids down with Chicken Pox, guess who ended up with it!!
I also remember the canal at Fishersgate, as a Sea Ranger we learned to row on it. I was 16 then. The chimneys came down soon after this pic was taken, I think. I got married in May 1955, had 7 kids, moved from... Read more
Does Anyone Remember ?
does anyone Remember a pub called the prince albert in portslade or southwick, it must have been near the docks, and also does anyone remember a george who worked at the docks, i am not sure but think his wife may have been called jessie and he had a firend who was married to a lady called vi, these were friends of my gran who was called vera harvey , george was quite short with dark hair and was quite outspoken , he often played darts and drank in the pub , i think the pub was called the prince albert
if anyone can remember any of these people could you email me please
many thanks
C murphy
Childhood
I remember playing in the park as a child. There were two sides to the park, Easthill House stood in the posh part of park. I remember beautiful trees and a palm tree which I thought was exotic. We used to sit on a tree stump and wonder who lived in the house and we were told by the park and house-keeper it was haunted by a man in a blue cap.
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