Northchapel, West Sussex

Growing Up

added yesterday
my memories of growing up in Ferhurst go back to the 30's & 40's.
I was born in one of the small cottages on the edge of the green in 1932 My parents were Victor and Harriet Larbey & I had 2 sisters Pat & Joan both older than me. Next door to us was man with the name as Joshua Bicknell and next door to him was Mrs Selby. My memories of Mr Bicknel was one of beer consuming a fair amount at the Red Lion, I know this because at the age of 3 years I became his drinking partner sitting in the bar at dinner time with my little glass of beer no doubt listening to the local gossip. On the other hand Mrs Selby stayed home & from what I remember made copius amounts of bread which had the most wonderfull smell. My dad worked on a farm milking cows and selling the milk around the village. My mother cleaned for different people around the village including the church I loved beating the hassock and making clouds of dust.
At the age of four I started school I was four in the August and started school at the beginning of September which I remember cramped my style a little to say the least as there was not going to be any more trips to the Red Lion but on the plus side there would be less trips down Chapel Street to make endless visits to see what now seems to have been many aunts & uncles .
I didn't like school I remember hanging on to the railings & refusing to budge even when Mr Dumbrell appeared apparently it was his first day too . I didn't know this for years after when Mr Dumbrell reminded me of the whole episode he said he was as nervous about the situation as I was.
We left Fernhurst shortly after this untill 1940 when we returned the village seemed a compleatly different place . Even so I love the place . r

My first job

I started work at this farm in 1946 my first job at 14 yearts old. On the left hand side if the house was a garage the farm was owned by Mr Suthered and his son-in-law Sid Dibbin had the garage. Sid had one other man working there a chap called Perce Quinnell with me as the grease monkey. There use to be a man come from London and stay in a sort of caravan out in the farm yard one of my jobs were to carry him buckets of water in the morning for him to wash in and make tea, he would give me 2 pennies and tell me to buy a new suit. 2 pence came in handy my pay was £1 per week.

Kirdford during the Second World War

My cousin and her brother were evacuated to Kirdford for the duration of the Second World War. They lived in a property rented by their parents which was called Clark's Farm. When I tried to trace the house a few years back I was told it was no longer in existence.  My cousin will be 70 in 2010 and I have a friend willing to do a painting for me - is there anyone who might have a photograph of Clark's Farm which we could use as a base for the picture?

Juliet Baxter

KIRDFORD in the '20's

Born at Halfway house in 1917, attended the school Jan 1922 to Dec 1931. Joined the army, Royal Horse Artillery, Jan 1932.  Served in India Feb 1933 to Dec 1939. War, Desert, Normandy, retired because of wounds.

Worked in London (Unilever) 1946 -1950. Came to Australia 1950. Diplomatic posting to London (Australian) 1958 - 1962. Returned to Australia.
Last motored through Kirdford in 2002, could find none remembering me.

Is there anyone today who can remember Tony Matthews?