Rustington memories
Here are memories of Rustington and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Rustington or a Rustington photo.
At School in Rustington
I went to West Preston Manor school in 1959, first as a boarder and then as a day girl. It was a fine old manor house where the dormitories were and on the ground floor, the classrooms. In the basement was the dining room and the kitchen run by Alice. There was a country lane on the right of the main entrance, Pigeonhouse Lane which was very dark and overgrown with large trees. I lived in Park Drive, then not even asphalted and used to cyce to school. While I lived there, Churchill Parade was built perpendicular to Broadmark Parade. There was a dry cleaner, a smashing sweetshop, a supermarket and a bakery which belonged to my schoolfriend Marilyn´s parents.
Wonderful Holidays at The WTA Holiday Camp
The photo of the main building and swimming pool brings back wonderful memories of the summers spent at Rustington. The TT competitions, childrens activities.. I even remember the Springfields playing island of dreams. Sadly the camp has been demolished and houses built. I'm so grateful to my Mum and Dad for arranging the holidays there.
The Lido, Mallon Dene
I stayed at the Lido, Mallon Dene when I was 5 in 1955 with my Mum and Dad. It was run by the WTA - Worker's Travelling Association. We booked the holiday quite late and had to have 2 separate rooms; one with one bed and one with two beds. I was too scared to sleep on my own so I slept with my Mum and Dad slept on his own in the other room. The chalets were in 2 floors and we were upstairs. My Dad worked out that he could knock on the wall of his room and that we could hear it in ours. Dad's wash basin had a small chip in it, so I remember he filled in the gap with a piece of his red Lifebuoy soap! I loved the camp as I could hire a horse styled bike for 6p a go. I was very lucky and was allowed 2 goes. I had a gold gathered... Read more
Zachary Merton Maternity Hospital, Rustington.
We moved to Rustington in 1949 as my Mother Dr Mary Higgs was the M.O.H. at Zachary Merton and was the doctor there until her retirement. Zachary Merton was a lovely hospital to have a baby, all the staff were so friendly. The Matron I remember was Miss White, with Sisters Mingay, Cole and Mrs Smith and later Matron Cynthia Grose and Sister Gray to name but a few.
On Christmas Day in the afternoon there was always a tea party to which lots of people came and Father Christmas with presents for everyone. We listened to the King's Christmas message (with great impatience in the case of us children as we were keen to get our presents!) and later we were able just to peep through the doors to see the babies in their cots and the special Christmas Baby.
Jo Berryman (Higgs)
People in This Photo...
My mother has a copy of this photo on her wall. She remembers a photographer asking to take the photo and then sent them a copy that was printed as a postcard (She still has the original card which I enlarged and printed for her many years ago). I am told that the 2 ladies pushing the prams are my grandmother (Peggy Prebble) and her twin sister (Elsie Cheshire). The girl in the middle is my mother, Patricia Margaret and the girl in the pram is her sister Joyce.
Memories of West Sussex
Holidays
We used to go on holidays almost every year to Littlehampton, so far as I can remember. We took the train there. Then we walked - lugging our suitcases. There was a butcher's shop on the way and it had a little statue of a pig outside. We always looked out for "Wally Pig" as we called it.
We stayed at a boarding house - Mrs Wyatt's at 34 Pier Road. So far as I can remember I shared a bed with one of my sisters. In the morning there was a china jug of hot water outside the door; this was for washing in! Then we went down to breakast with the other guests.
After breakfast we got ready and took the ferry across the river to the other side. At that time the ferries were little row boats. I don't know why we went to the other side of the river, I think we preferred... Read more
Littlehampton
I remember gong to Littlehampton on coach outings each year from about 1950. There would be about 40 charabancs full of children from London and Greater London descending on Littlehampton, from memory the children were aged from 7 years up. The trips started some time after the war. They would have packed lunches for us in boxes and envelopes with tickets for rides and 1 shilling each. We would have a ball at the funfair, my favourites were the Mouse House, and the dodgem cars. We would sing all the old songs like 'Ten Green Bottles', 'Luverly Bunch of Coconuts' etc on the coach going there and coming back, and people along the route would come out and wave at us. Truly memorable days for us kids.
Those Were The Days
I first saw Littlehampton when my primary school made an end-of-year trip in 1963, and my memories were dominated by the figure-of-eight dodgems at the amusement centre, and some intrepid soul getting stuck in the river (God knows where the teachers were), and a furious coach driver who took exception to someone letting a live crab loose on the coach.
In 1969 my parents purchased the Old Friars Kitchen restaurant opposite Lloyds bank and since then I have always returned at least twice a year until O moved to Australia.
How things have changed, whether for the better or not I don't know, but here a few points which some may remember:
In 1969 there was a W H Smiths at the High sStreet end of the arcade, opposite Gamleys toy shop, later became a Jobcentre - one of the first in England.
Littlehampton was more of a town then with individual shops like Ockendens, Cosh and Hammond, R & A Television, Floyds cycle shop (which was haunted as I... Read more
I Lived And Went to School in Clymping.
I lived and went to school in Clymping and I was choir boy at Clymping church. I went into the RAF. I worked on a farm at Clymping and most of the Hasted family also lived at Clymping. Then I married Pauline Hasted from Littlehamptosn and we have been married to each other for
A Day at The Seaside - Littlehampton C 1955
I cannot remember how old I was when we started going to the south coast of England for a Sunday trip, but it was when my father sold his Norton motorbike and bought a Golden Flash with a sidecar attached. We lived in Mitcham, Surrey, just ten miles from the centre of London. It was probably when I was about eight years old, my brother Robert was three, and my sister Valerie was twelve. Mum was the pillion passenger, Valerie sat in the front seat and my brother and I squashed in the back. We all looked forward to our trips to the seaside as it was a special treat for us. Littlehampton was one of our favourite places as it had a sandy beach where you could build castles or imaginary boats with sand. Mum always made the sandwiches the night before. The flask of tea was made a few minutes before we took off at what seemed like the crack of dawn. When you are young time goes... Read more
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