Ye Olde Six Bells

A Memory of Horley.

We moved to Horley in 1952, when I was 10. (Dad worked for Mr Coutts repairing radio's & TV's.) Mum, Dad, & 2 brothers, Robin & Colin. A third brother Crispin Allan (after pub owner) was born there in 1953, after we found him in the long grass whilst searching for our football??? I have the movie to prove it!!! We lived in an 18' caravan in a field behind the Inn. The owner Mr Allan gave us permission, after Dad had seen another caravan at the back of the barn. This belonged to Mr Allan's Daughter & family. We had to use the pubs toilets which are visible on the RHS with sloping roof. We also bucketed water from the ladies to our caravan. This toilet block is no longer there, and in discussions with the managers some years ago, they had no idea that these toilets ever existed. There was an orchard between the river & the track up to the field, and an Air raid shelter half way up. Half full of water & full of frogs! It was dark & spooky. When going to the toilet in the dark, I would walk to within about 10 metres before the shelter, and then run like hell, to get passed it as quickly as possible. In winter we had to sometimes take a candle to thaw out the tap. The sign on the Inn said AD 827. This sign is no longer there, but on research some years back, I read that some pylons had been sunk along the river to support a landing in 867. Sometime around the 11th century, the pub was built on top of these pylons. Robin & I sang in the choir at St Bartholomews. If we sang at a wedding, we got 2 shillings & 6 pence. We went to primary school in Lumley Rd, then I went to Balcombe Rd sec. School. Dad & I joined Horley Town Band, where I learnt to play baritone / euphonium. The conductor was a Mr. Cooper, and a few of his family played in the band also. We moved to Melbourne,Vic. Australia in August 1956. I went to Melbourne High School where I played Euphonium in the army cadet band. On leaving school after 3 years, I joined the Royal Aust. Navy band. I still play in a town concert band, and 2 weeks ago, I played my first ever 'Solo' with band. Friends from those days, included Michael Ansell, Graham Harman, Robin Stapleton, Colin Daniels, Christopher Parsons, Carol Dolling, & Peter May, and many others I remember. John (known as Jack) Musgrove