As older generations have said for many years, kids today have never had it so good.
For some of us, a trip to Blockbuster Video to peruse the large VHS cases was a treat – now, everything’s there on a screen, just a tap away, with no need to worry about fiddling with the tracking controls on the video player.
And Brooklands Park in East Worthing – who can forget the boating lake, train, golf centre and go-karting, which meant it could easily make a whole day out for families. Mind you, the new children’s play park there would have been great 30 or 40 years ago.
Blockbuster and Brooklands as it was were just two of the staples for children who grew up in Worthing in the 80s and 90s but there were many more.
Below, we take a look at 12 things that might spark some memories of childhood and adolescence – 11 of them fun, one perhaps less so.
Honourable mentions must go, too, to the late Horace Duke, who waved to countless children with his white-gloved hand while out and about in Worthing and Shoreham, often with his bicycle and wearing a straw boater, and to attractions like the boating lake and Peter Pan’s Playground.
1. Gamleys
For children of the 80s and 90s, no visit to Worthing town centre was complete without a stop-off at Gamleys in Portland Road to look at – and beg parents to buy – the Scalextric, Lego, action figures and much more Photo: Worthing Herald
2. A trip to Blockbuster Video
A trip to Worthing's Blockbuster Video – which seemed huge – was always a treat. Endlessly scrolling through shows on streaming services just isn't the same. Photo: Worthing Herald
3. Woolworths
Woolworths was around long before the 80s/90s – it first came to Worthing in 1920 – and, of course, was a fixture until the late 2000s. But 80s and 90s kids will perhaps best remember the joys of pick 'n' mix before it became widespread. Not to mention the train that ran round the ceiling! Photo: Worthing Herald
4. Southlands Hospital
Southlands Hospital will be well-remembered by many children of the 80s and 90s – but many more will have entered the world there, with the hospital having a busy maternity unit until its closure in 1997 Photo: Shoreham Herald