Mile Oak memories
Here are memories of Mile Oak and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Mile Oak or a Mile Oak photo.
Mile Oak 1938 To1950
Hi Roger Dale, thanks for adding to my memories of Mile Oak, you need to check your dates! We still lived at 222 in 1949, a year I can never forget as my father died in the front room of 222 on New Year's Day 1949, in October 1948 my grandfather died in the back room. I am not sure when my mother sold to move on to Shelldale rd Portslade. Most of my memories of Mile Oak before those few months were good, I hope you enjoyed your time there. Take a look at mybrightonandhove.org.uk Good place to read and post memories. Kind regards Frank
Left And Forgotten
I am now 66 and my memory of beautiful Mile Oak is as clear today as it was 55 years ago. Sadly I was one of them naughty boys (as you villagers branded us). My crime was taking 2/6p off a windowsill back here in Folke stone, one of many misdemeaners our local magistrate had to put up with unfortunately. In fact it was a care and protection order that sent me to lovely Mile Oak and I was the longest serving boy. I was there so long I ended up working with Fred and Mr Minter in the boiler house. My passions were the few hours of freedom, let out on a Saturday afternoon, that was if I had good markings that week and most of the time I did. I was in the Portslade A C F and took my Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme for life-saving at the King Alfred swimming pool at Brighton, but all this was just a pittance to the Sunday tea I used to... Read more
Mile Oak Portslade 1938 to 1950
Hello, I was one of the few children who lived in Mile Oak Road and and also played on Broomfields Farm, we lived at no 222 which was the second to last house before the road dropped down the hill to Mile Oak. The old wagon mentioned used to be the shepherd's hut that he moved around the fields with his sheep, which were kept in pens made of woven hurdles, we spent many hours with the shepherd when the sheep were moved around the field at the bottom of our garden, having mugs of tea and he often shared a piece of cake with us kids. The naughty boys school, as it was known to us, over looked our house, my mother often had some of the boys home for tea on Sundays, I think the masters used to use tea with us as a reward for good behaviour. It was a nice surprise for me to read Bonny Cother's memories, which certainly rekindled a lot of my happy... Read more
Mile Oak Revisited
My mother was a land girl, she worked daily on Farmer Broomfield's farm Some of my earliest memories are of playing with other kids around an old black caravan, more a hut on wheels, provided as a shelter from the weather. Piles of wet weather coats made a comfy sleeping bed for me, while mum worked and the older kids played. Maybe I was getting too big for my pram, cause I remember it being around, until the day my brother put his feet through the bottom drop down section, when fooling around with his friends. The end of my pram days.
The field was at the bottom of Beechers Road, opposite the "jumping field" as the horses field was known, next to Chalky Lane. This was a field which covered a lot of space, and uphill towards the two storey houses on Mile Oak Road.
Mum complained often of back problems, but no doubt all the women involved in bending and weeding the rows of vegetables had back pain.
Memories of East Sussex
Lock Gates
My grandfather (H.Orman) was the harbourmaster when King George IV or V visited Southwick to open the new lock gates named after him. I look forward to seeing if the plaque with his name on is still in place when I return to England in June 2007 for the first time in 50 years.
Memories of A Childhood in Southwick
I went to Southwick Primary School. I remember being picked as a 'flag flyer' and welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh when he opened the new lock. I think it was in about 1955. We were unable to use the locks whilst the new one was being built and we were ferried across the canal in little rowing boats when we wanted to go to the beach on the other side.
The REC
Living in Old Barn Way (#14) I attended Southwick Primary School in Manor Hall Road. A memorable day was in 1956 when a Valiant bomber crashed into the "rec" spewing its body parts (and sadly three of its crew) into the surrounding area including the school grounds.
How I used to love the privilege of assisting the scorers at the Saturday afternoon cricket games by changing the metal numbered plates on their scoreboard.
Playing on the ice of the frozen reservoir beside the "old barn" that gave our street its name was great fun. In the summer months it was a great source of newts and tadpoles for young boys to take home much to mum's delight.
Valiant Bomber Crashing
I also remember the Valiant bomber crashing. We were in the playground and the plane went overhead. It was on fire and looked like something out of war movie.
I remember the loud bang and flames as it hit the REC. I think also some of the parts landed on the railway line. I believe there was one survivor who parachuted out.
Vickers Valiant Crash
As a pupil at Manor Hall Secondary School I also remember the Valiant crashing and the plume of smoke with the explosion as it hit the railway line by Southwick Recreation Ground. As it was lunch time no members of the public were hurt.
A locally run Website 'This is Findon' by Valerie Martin has more information on that day from other people. There is included, an extract of the crash investigation report
which concludes the fire and crash was caused by a civil scientist aboard the plane who overrode an electrical trip switch during an experiment on board the Valiant.
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