Southwick, the Harbour c1965

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Many years ago

My grandfather Kennedy Larbey and his family came and lived in Southwick in 1896 where he was a blacksmith. My grandmother sold fresh fish at her kitchen door. My father Victor was born there in 1897 and done most of his schooling there untill they came back to Fernhurst in 1910.