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Sompting
Sompting maps
Historic maps of Sompting and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Sompting maps
Sompting area books
Displaying 1 of 19 books about Sompting and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Sompting
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Sompting.
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or of a photo of Sompting.
The Sompting General Supply Stores.
I have a photocopy of a photograph of the General Supply Stores, Sompting, dated around 1913, showing the owners, J and A White, proudly standing outside, one with a little dog at his feet, the other holding his bicycle. They were my grandfather, Walter John White and his brother, Alfred. My father, John Alfred Kelsey White, was born at the Stores in 1913. The photograph shows the Stores very much as it was in 1955, although the part next to the wall on the left of the shop has not been built yet. There is an advert for the Worthing Red Book in the window and a sign for Nectar Tea hanging outside.
Going to The Post Office, Atterburries And Salvation Army on Sunday
My memories are of going to Mr Atturberries (the spelling of name may be wrong) to buy sweets and also just next door I think was the Salvation Army Hall, which a lot of the village children attended on a Sunday afternoon. Also in the picture is the Smugglers restaurant which is where I gained my first employment after leaving school but sadley it didnt quite work out. My Dad wouldn't let me go because the hours (he said) were to long for a 15 year old! Just further along West Street was and still is The Gardeners Arms where my friend Sally and myself would sit and pretend to like lager and lime but when nobody was looking we threw it out of the window - the money we wasted! I hope you enjoy reading this, one of many happy memories of living in Orchard Cottages West street. Linda Milburn (nee Reardon)
West Sussex memories
Teenage Years
I was born in Worthing in 1938 and lived in Sompting so grew up in the area until I was conscripted in 1958, and subsequently stayed in the Army but removed to Andover in Hampshire on leaving the Military, although I still have family in Lancing.
I spent a very happy teenage from leaving school until call up, in Lancing.
My happiest memories were being a member of the Lancing Repertory Players for about 4 years from 1954 to 1958. I had a good few friends there and although not a very accomplished performer I had a few appearances with them.
I had a very good social life with the members of the club, also some workmates, but as we were all of the same age we all ended up in one of the services.
I still come back to visit family but the change in the area with new buildings and the vast amount of traffic I do not like, after living in rural Hampshire it is like going... Read more
The Second World War C/w Training For RNVR Commission
My time at Lancing was during the Second World War. Royal Navy, HMS 'King Alfred'. The final several weeks before commissioning to RNVR. I was then transferred to the Indian Army with 12 colleagues. I served with the Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles until partition in India.
Thank you Lancing College for a lovely return visit about a year ago with a complete tour of the college. It was good to see the Chapel again. It is so impressive.
Mick Stuart.
Stents
My great-grandad, George Stent, ran the livery stables in Ann Street, shown on the right-hand side of the Town Hall, until the motor car put him out of business. His brother, John Stent, operated as a 'fly proprietor' from 4 Alfred Place, Worthing. When motor cars came along he sold his business to Wortax.
The Home of English Bowls
Beach House Park in Worthing is the home of the EBA and I first went there in 1983 to watch a tournament featuring the legendary David Bryant. It was and still is very popular with the locals and tourists to come and watch a few ends of bowls and to enjoy the wonderful floral displays.
I now live within walking distance of the park and go there several times a week on my many walks around Worthing.
Grandparents' Seaside Vacations
My grandparents would take their annual holiday in Worthing with my father in the 1950s and subsequently we moved down here from up north to be by the sea.
