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Little Common memories

Here are memories of Little Common and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Little Common or a Little Common photo.

Summer Holidays

Wheatsheaf Inn c1960
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My grandparents lived in Little Common for as long as I can remember. My family spent many summer holidays at Grandma & Grandad's. In the early sixties we would take the train from Letchworth to King's Cross, a taxi to Victoria Station, then a train to Cooden Beach and a taxi to Grandma's. We would often walk to Cooden Beach to swim or sometimes catch the 259 bus to Bexhill. In the mid to late sixties, when we had a car, we would drive the 112 miles for our summer holidays. There was a toy shop on the large roundabout in the centre of Little Common, it was called Tommy Tuckers. Although under age I did manage a pint of cider at the Wheatsheef Hotel once. Grandad passed on in 1967, Grandma moved up to Letchworth, and we migrated to Australia in 1969.

Memories of East Sussex

NATIONAL SERVICE

National Service

As a 71-year old now living in Macau (China) I still retain the warmest memories of Bexhill in the 1950s. At that time I was a National Serviceman stationed at RAF Wartling (Upper Barnhorn) and courting a local Bexhill girl who lived in Downlands Avenue.

My most vivid memories relate to our regular attendance at many performances by the Penguin Players at both the De La Warr Pavilion and the little theatre in Egerton Park. Many residents will remember that Richard (Dicky) Burnett and his wife Peggy Paige managed the company and acted in these weekly productions. The company also included many other actors and actresses, some of whom went on later to become familiar faces in TV dramas. I recall the players in the 1950s (1956-58) included James Irwin, Honora Burke, Adele Strong, Pilton Wilson, Anthony Cornish, Ron Pember, Edgar Metcalf, Clyde Pollit, Richard Simpson. The very first play we attended was "Captain Carvello", followed later by "The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse", "Separate Tables", "Uncertain... Read more

Ninfield Primary School

I used to live at Thorn Farm Lunsford Cross Ninfield, from when I was 7 years old for about 3 years. I went to school in the village of Ninfield. I was in Miss Parr's class and then the top class with the headteacher, Mr Tweniffery (I think I have spelled that wrong). Does anyone remember me? My friends were Jenny Allen who lived on a farm down the road from me, Heather Johnson who lived in the village, and Jane who lived in a pub, The Squirrel, a few miles away. My maiden name was Pickering. Please contact me if you remember me.

Long Walks

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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When I was a little girl in the early 60's I often used to take long walks along here, and I used to visit the farm to watch Peter Jenner milking the cows. I also had a crush on Peter but I was only 6 and he was 14.  I wonder what happened to Peter.  My late mother went to the school in the picture and was born in Hermon Cottage in Catsfield and that is where my auntie Violet lived for most of her life until it was turned into a doctor's surgery then my auntie moved across the road into one of the cottages.  I have wonderful memories of holidays here as I lived in London.  Catsfield will always be close to my heart.  My mother's maiden name was Saxby and there have always been Saxbys in Catsfield for centuries.   When my mother died my sister and I had her ashes interred in the old church yard in Catsfield up on the hill together with my father's.
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Mummy's School

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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My mother Doris Saxby attended this school.

My Place of Birth

Thatched Cottage And School c1955
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I was born in the cottage behind the school (Woodlands Cottage).  I attended the school in 1958 untill going to secondary school at Battle in 1964.

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