Nostalgic memories of Lee's local history
Share your own memories of Lee and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 12 in total
I remember me and my school friend walking from Rowner to the Tower in the school holidays. When we went in there we found a mate we both knew from school who was working the lift to the top of the Tower (the steps were unsafe) and he took us up to the top for free and allowed us to operate the lift. This was about 6 months before it was all knocked down.
I remember the Tower Cinema in the late 1940s, the Saturday afternoon kids' show. Later in the early 1950s I went three times a week, as there were three programes each week, Monday to Wednesday then Thursday to Saturday and old films on a Sunday. We did not have a TV until the mid 1950s. Once I had left school I went to the Tower Ballroom on a Saturday night and to Bert Sharp, also once a month on ...see more
Although I used to take my two children to the pool from Stubbington when we lived there in the 1960s my memory is of the 1940s when it was an adult pool with a high diving board. A swimming gala was put on by the Navy and we sat on the bank facing the sea. At one point a uniformed Navy chap stood on the end of the diving board and made some sort of announcement. To my horror he suddenly pitched forward and fell ...see more
I went up the Tower sometime in the '50s I think. I paid all of sixpence at the little kiosk just inside the entrance. A lift whisked us up to the top. I am so glad now that I did as I have a wonderful memory of the view from the top. It was a beautiful day so you could see for miles. What an attraction it would be today.
I can't remember when Pier Hotel ceased to be an hotel but in 1965 it was already a Residential Care Home run by Hampshire social Services. When we moved from Stubbington to Lee in 1977 I went to work in Pier House and stayed for 20 years retiring in 1997. The site hasn't changed much although it had many alterations to the inside over the 20 years I worked there.
I was born in Lee-on-the-Solent and so was quite young when I first went to the cinema. I loved going down the sloping floor to the auditorium. It was almost underground, although we went up steps at the end of the slope. Every Saturday afternoon saw us queuing to get in. The only film I can remember seeing though was a war film after the V E Day street party. My eldest brother was so disgusted (he was all of ...see more
My Dad was also in the Phil Douglas Band that played at the Tower Ballroom. His name was Les Campbell and he played the accordion. He and Ron played together for a great number of years. I remember being at one of the band do`s and running into one of the big pillars and knocking myself out. Didn't get any sympathy from Mum, she said "Thats what you get for fooling about".
stationed at hms. ariel (radio school attached to hms daedalus)in 1953 went dancing in the Tower ballroom every wednesday night...wonderful place! met my wife there ! at that time she lived at sarisbury green and had to leave the dance early to catch the local bus connection.to sarisbury green via titchfield I used to wonder where she vanished to!! took weeks before I could eventually see her home....
My Dad also played with Bert Sharp at the Tower Ballroom. He was Ron Eames and played the drums, this would have been in the 50's as my parents were living at Fareham at the time and they would cycle to Lee as my Dad kept his drums at the tower. Bert Sharp played the double bass and then carried on playing with my dad for many years to come ( approx 25 years) and the band was called The Phil Douglas Band.
Interesting seeing the comment about Lee Tower Ballroom, I also have many memories as my Dad played in the Tower Band. The band was Bert Sharps Band and my Dad was Harry Weston, Tenor Sax and Clarinet. If my memory serves me well, the drummer was an ex-Marine bandsman called "Nobby" who I sometimes sat with as a lad, pianist was Jack Grist and trumpet was Danny Deveraux whose son by a great coincidence, I served in the army with in 1963.