Pagham memories
Here are memories of Pagham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Pagham or a Pagham photo.
Church Farm Caravan Site 1975-1979
I have just booked a holiday to Church Farm Caravan Site for May 2011 and the reason for this is I used to holiday there every year from 1975 to 1979. My parents had a caravan on the Saltings I think it was number 11. We used to driver there in my dad's Ford Zephyr car and I can still remember the registration and the long front seats in red plastic made to look like leather. Our caravan had candles for lights which you lit with matches and blew out at bedtime, it had no loo and I remember all the spiders lurking in the communal toilet at the end of the field. We used to have a bucket to pee in through the night and I always used to laugh when my dad put the tea cosy on his head when he made the tea in the mornings. We collected water from a big tap and the gas man came around with a bottle when you ran out. It... Read more
Church Farm
I too have lovely memories of Church Farm, we used to take our daughter there in the 1980s, staying in a friend's caravan in the Salting. We made some good friends. My daughter had such fond memories of the place that she continues to visit there, and in fact this year my daughter, myself and my beautiful new granddaughter are taking a week's holiday there. I hope my granddaughter will fall in love with the place just as we did.
Memories of The 'pedaloes'.....
As a child in the fifties I remember staying at 'Elasrofton' on West Front Road and getting very tired pedalling the pedaloes shown around the lagoon. For a small boy they definitely had 'windage' and the Lagoon often had lots of wind.
I like the fact that the name of the bungalow I stayed in has not changed and I wonder how many people have understood the name (read it backwards).
We now stay at the family bungalow on East Front Road.
Pagham in The Sixties Continued
Following on to the mention of Jessie Booth and husband who lived at Waverley in Lagoon Road - I had the pleasure of knowing husband George Booth (the General) as also called, whilst serving my apprenticeship with the Electricity Board at the Bognor depot, 1963 to 1968. George was a really nice guy, so easy going, we used to cycle miles around the area going from one job to another. He was so well liked that customers would ask if that nice Mr Booth would be coming. I can remember a rewire at one of the converted railway carriages on East Front road, where all of the wiring was surface clipped and George carefully cutting the wire nails so that the skin of the ceiling was not punctured, thus keeping the rain out! Not too far away, in Sea Lane, another Electricity Board employee Charlie Major and wife, long associated with the Pagham Chestnuts group.
17th Century Murder Replayed at Church Norton.
The more I think back on this incident, the more bizzare and terryfying it seems. In 2001, around Oct/Nov, myself and a friend drove to the car park at Church Norton church at about 11:00pm. We were at a bit of a loose end, as 19/20 somethings can be, so decided to visit this quiet, south-west corner of Pagham Harbour with the aim of checking out the story of the grey lady. We'd heard various tales about a ghostly grey figure seen in the churchyard and that it even floated alongside cars as they left the car park.
We drove slowly into the car park, the stones crunched loudly under the tyres and we discovered that there were no other cars parked up. It seemed we were alone. We parked on the left with our bonnet pointed at a line of trees and our rear window facing the old castle mound. The entrance to the churchyard was about 30 feet away as we looked out of the driver side window.... Read more
I Fell in Love With Pagam in 2008
I fell in love with Pagham last year, I would move there tomorow if I could, I love the place! We came upon it by looking for somewhere to hire for a week of relaxation and thanks to good old Daltons Weekly we were able to hire a bungalow on Pagham beach, the extra benefit being the owner allows well-behaved dogs. So we stayed there on peaceful Pagam beach and had the most lovely time, the bungalow we hire is on West Front Road, smack bang next to the nature reserve. We walk for miles and in the evening sit on the decking facing the sea, it's just beautiful. I love walking along looking at all the bungalows, there are so many, all in one huge long row along the beach. A lot of them have been beautifully modernised, and some of them still have their old character, even with the original railway carriages attached or sitting idle on the back lawns, it's fasinating. When it's very windy in Pagham... Read more
Pagham Reviewed Opinion
I spent my teen years during the late 1970s and early 1980s at Church Farm Caravan Site. We spent our days wandering the site or walking to the Crab and Lobster Pub at Sidlesham. That was before the harbour wall was put in, and you would have to check the tide times or risk a very long return journey. My brother Robert spent far more time at Pagham than I did, thinking it was a pretty uncool place to be until I met Tony Hadley, who was to become the lead singer of Spandau Ballet. His parents had a caravan on the site. My brother was very good friends with the Fox brothers, Will, Joe and Jim, who resided at Millstone Cottage with their parents, Shirley and Frank, and my mum used to caretake their house and sons! when Shirley and Frank went to Spain. My mum used to rent a bungalow on the beach during the winter months and eventually moved to Pagham permanently.
Robert my brother also decided... Read more
Head Receptionist ~ Church Farm
I can see the roof of my parents' old house in the background on this pic. I used the be the Head Receptionist at Church Farm Holiday Park, just behind the old Clubhouse from 1983 - 1987. I worked with Joyce Aldridge in the beginning, Alan & Nancy & their daughter Julie, Bill, Cocker, Buster & old Tom the drunken gas man. I was the tall blond girl in the office. I lived on site with my husband in Ballast Hole. Many a night was spent propping up the bar in the club and crawling into work the next morning ready for all the holiday makers stampeding in from Essex and London...those were the days!)
I made some wonderful friends like Doreen Wood - who took over from me when I left. Doreen sadly passed away a few years ago now and I miss her still...
I got married at St.Thomas a Beckett's Church up the lane in 1986 - but the rat abandoned me in Australia 23... Read more
Peter Tayman ~ In Loving Memory...and Also A Haunted House.
My parents bought an old railway carriage bungalow at 66, East Front Rd, on Pagham Beach in the early 1990's. The place was a total dump, so they burned it down on the beach! This was allowed by Council back then, if below the tide line - what a waste of the antique railway carriages that were hidden inside layers of plywood and plaster boards! We did save some of the old fittings, but they are since lost.
They built an ugly brick L-shaped modern bungalow with too many steps, that was always damp on one side, even though the footings were massively deep & the damp course was fine! I know, because I helped build that house and even built a retaining wall that is still standing, or it was the last time I looked and that was in 2004. Not bad for a female Undertaker!
My Dad found a whole heap of Molotov cocktail type bombs buried under the old footings which were left... Read more
Childhood Memory
Holidayed on Pagham beach as a young child in the late 1950s. Somewhat dilapidated bungalow with outside toilet called Sand Toy (now vastly different). Remember going to the amusements and paying 3d to ride on Muffin the Mule, and put pennies in the one armed bandits (some still there). Rode on trays down the dunes behind East Front Road (now houses). Happy happy memories. Have since returned for 25 years with my own children and now my granddaughter.
PAGHAM FROM THE 1960S TIL NOW!
I first came to Pagham in 1965, we used to holiday at Church Farm Caravan Site and in those days it was run by John and Shirley Romaine. I have fond memories of Buster and Cocker from my Church Farm Days and I remember old Tom the gas man and the Jack, the guy who used to hire out the Social Cycles! My parents brought a train carriage in Well Road, Pagham around 1971 and we moved down from Mitcham, in fact my mum, Maureen, still lives there now, as does my brother Steve. I didn't move too far away though, I live on Pagham Road, just along from the caravan site! I remember the Botten family, who used to own the amusements by the beach and the old guy with missing fingers, who used to rent out the deckchairs on the beach...think he was a Ted or Tom? Then there was Nelson, who used to have the bakery and tearooms on the second parade at Pagham! I remember the... Read more
My Time at Church Farm
I used to go to Church Farm from 1975 to 1980, I was 14 in 1978, what great memories of those great holdays, always last two weeks in August, the varied activities, the ramble, the darts and pool competition, the women versus men's footie match, the venue for the match was always Ballast Hole, much thanks to a great entertainer Barry Lindsay, I went back with my wife and children in the late 1990s, after Buster sold it to British Holidays, there was no atmosphere, very money orientated, mostly private now, no working class families there, maybe shouldn't have gone back (like an old girlfriend, lol), still that hasn't detracted from some of my best childhood memories, if I have helped rekindle anyone else's memories then I am very happy...
What do I Miss About Pagham
What do I miss about Pagham? Everything!!
My love affair with Pagham began around the mid 1960s when my parents Marlene and Ray used to take me to stay at my great aunt's bungalow on the East Front Road - the second one in from the end. Eventually this was sold and my nan and grandad Grace and Stan Yates bought a caravan on the Church Farm Caravan Estate. The field in those days was called The Saltings which backed onto a corn field and many a happy hour was spent making fortresses out of the hay bales.
The site was much more basic in those days with only communal loos (and a bucket for night time!) and stand pipes for collecting water to drink and wash in. But those were the best days.
We used to love walking along the sea wall and ending up at the Crab and Lobster which in 2009 doesn't look anything like it did way back then. It apparently used... Read more
Happy Days
I remember very well the local people of Pagham as a child growing up on Pagham Road, from the bakers in Nyetimber, George Marchants to Mr Warner the post master, the following down the road to Church Farm we had Simon and Andrew Grout (his dad was an electrician) to Donna and Paula Chuter. We had lots of fun playing football over the road with Robert Smith, my brother Robert and the Lambourns further up the road. Next to me was Mrs Jenkins of 100 Pagham Road with Mrs Bunning next door, you dared not walk on her grass for fear of a good telling off. Then next door was a girl who I have not seen for 45 years, her name was Elizabeth Beal who I believe moved to a warmer country. I would love to hear from her again. Moving down the road, my grandparents lived at 96 Pagham Road, the Clarks. Next door was Mrs Hadler, a nice old lady who looked out for us if we... Read more
More Memories!
Prompted by Marcus's comments: Derek Bell had his garage behind Church Farm, together with John Watson, who in turn was helped by a chap from Midhurst called George Brown. Other garages there belonged to Ross and Derek Barrow.
The Quinnell brothers were Richard, Brian and Graham. Other people from Lion Road were Mr Smith the builder, Mr Green.....(something) who looked after the football and cricket pitches. The local bobby was PC Barry Pescott, together with Sgt Boar (daughter Jackie) and they lived in the Nyetimber Lane police houses, opposite what was The Knife and Fork restaurant, where Keith Clarke worked at one time. The Watsons and the Coakers lived at the end of Lion Rd. Derek Bell still lives at Little Wellborn where the donkey drowned in the swimming pool many years ago. Buster Lloyd died approx 8 years ago, his funeral service in St Thomas A'Becket Church was packed.
PAGHAM LAGOON SLUICE?
I'm not a Pagham local but have visited the place many times over the last 20 or so years. I've always been intrigued by that old concrete structure at the southeast tip of Pagham Lagoon but have been unable to find a definitive answer as to its age or purpose.
The most likely suggestion I've received is that it was a sluice built around 1876 when Pagham Harbour was reclaimed and sealed off from the sea (although as we all know, this reclamation only lasted until December 1910 when the sea broke in again).
My understanding is that the Lagoon was originally the entry channel between the sea and the rest of Pagham Harbour, with the seaward outlet being at what is now the northeastern tip of the Lagoon. This means that prior to 1876 the Lagoon and Harbour were not separated as they are now, and small vessels used both to reach the quay at Sidlesham in the days when its Mill was still operating.... Read more
Pagham
I remember the 'Clarks' mentioned by Sue, the sons' names were Robert and Keith. Keith being the oldest. I don't recall the bell though. I lived in Lion Road, Nyetimber, from about '58 till about '78 ish, my parents still live there, they were heavily involved in the early days of the Pagham Pram Race along with Dickie Lewis [landlord of the Lamb], Derek Bell, Frank Fox who lived in Millstone Cottage next to Pagham church] and many others. Back in those days Derek Bell used the old garage next to church farm in his early days. I remember the old mill, Nyetimber burning down, the tithe barn club on the Aldwick Bay estate and the security people who manned the barriers. So many lovely memories of long hot summer holidays playing on the sand dunes that are now housing estates, unfortunately. We used to play in the sunken tennis courts and I remember a family called Quinnell who lived in one of the carriages, one of the bros' was... Read more
Pagham Beach
I lived at No 92 Harbour Road, Pagham Beach from 1955 to 1967 when I moved to Nyetimber. Our bathroom was the railway carriage and the only access was by carefully dropping the window using the leather strap with holes and opening the door from the outside. My childhood friend from those days, Elizabeth Paula-Beale, visited recently from Australia and we thought we would make a joint effort to add names and memories to this wonderfully nostalgic page. We remember: Mr and Mrs Colquhoun (daughter Jean-m- Elwin) who had the PO and newsagents on the old parade, then John Tricket the butcher (died in approx 1969), (his wife Alisa then married Major Birch and lived in Pagham Road), with her daughter Zoe. The Leamans took over this butchers in approx 1969. Then came the hardwareshop, then the hairdressers, run by Mrs Wiggins from the early 70s, with a daughter,June. Grace Blackman had the wool shop, she and husband John are both buried in nearby St.... Read more
East Front Road in The Sixties
My Grandparents, George and Ella Ashford, had retired to Pagham in 1958. They lived at number 12 East Front Road. Their bungalow was very comfortable with a great view out over the channel. The original railway carriage houses were still all intact, and Pagham Beach had a quiet secluded charm, with a mixed population of holidaymakers and retirees.
There was a boatman, Eric, who ran the "Pagham Queen' on pleasure cruises. There was also an older fisherman on the beach, I believe his name was Ted. My Grandad took me for my first pint at the Kings Beach Hotel. He also took me to the harbour to fish with an Otter Board in the fast incoming tides.
The beach was a huge sloping shingle drop to the high tide mark, and in winter the storms would hurl pebbles at the bungalows. My Nanna somehow maintained a beautiful garden in spite of salt spray and winds.
The Pagham Store was run by Ted Buswell, and there... Read more
Pagham Fisherman
I was born in 1972 and lived with my Parents and younger Brother on Pagham Beach where my Father Chris Dodd was the local Pagham Fisherman...he is still fishing with his mate Don and my father is now 62 years in 2006. Lots of the train carriages which my parents still live in, although they have added a pitched roof to it, have now been demolished and brick built buildings have replaced the traditional carriages. I now live myself with my husband and children in Pagham Road - Pagham Beach will always hold many special memories for all of my family and we hope that it will be continued to be respected and not too built upon.
Memories of West Sussex
Summer at Dark Lane
I remember that we had some wonderful days at Dark Lane on the beach when we should have been at school! And how wonderfully clear the water was, and diving off the pipe there!
Stocker Road And All That.
Growing up by the sea in the 1950s and 1960s was non stop fun and excitement. A fair amount of time was getting into all sorts of mischief, the humble pea shooter was bought out at opportune moments to pepper just about anyone or anything that moved. Being chased along the sea front by a policeman and irate motorist whose car we had targeted was just one example of our mis-spent childhood. My good friend and partner in most of these escapades was Sean Gates, we both lived in Crewkerne, Stocker Road. There used to be a guy that dossed down in one of the shelters on the sea front (opposite Mill House), he was Polish we believe, calling him the `mad polensky`, he was always about the Aldwick Road shops, swearing and cursing and stinking of meths (now would be vodka), anyway he got our attention and suffered a horrendous bombardment of stones onto the roof of the shelter. He crept out shouting "One of you two boys threw stones",... Read more
Not so Green Rose Green.
The shop, Oakmere pet and garden supplies, 9 Rose Green Road, was a small electrical, radio and TV business back in the early 1960s. I worked there as a young lad in 1962/63 (the cold winter), the people renting the shop were Barry Marney, Doug Ball and the TV repair man Gerry Warboys, they came from south London and Hatfield respectively. In the back garden was a small workshop where TV repairs were carried out. One job I shall never forget was to gingerly release the vacuum of redundant cathode ray tubes from the TVs by tapping away at the glass seal at the rear of the tube until a loud hiss was heard. Once safe, the solution to recycling was no more than dumping the tubes into a large pit and smashing them with a hammer!Every time a walk takes me past that shop I still wonder if they have ever been discovered?
Can Anyone Help Me?
The origin of my family is in England. Lando Lagnese went in Italy in 1100. I want to know the etymology of Lagness. Can anyone help and contact me? Also in France and in Norway are little towns named Lagness.
Atkins Charity Football Match at Sidlesham FC
Driving through Sidlesham , I noticed the village football club had floodlights. My son Steven was looking for a ground for a Charity Football Match, as we were staying at our chalet at Church Farm Holiday Village. I suggested that we should look at the ground, having ruled out Selsey in the meantime. Being impressed at what we saw, we asked if the chairman was at the match. It turned out that he came from Dartford, our home town! Small world isn't it! We all got well after that and Company Charity Day raise over 2000 for The Treehouse Charity . Some of the directors stayed at the Crab & Lobster and were very impressed, and wanted to know when the next charity day would be, and it must be in Sidlesham!
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