Memories of Chichester in the 1950s, from street games to community celebrations

Our article about a unique underground bunker and family life in Kent Road during the Second World War proved popular and sparked more stories from the past.

Sheila Turner told of growing up in Chichester and shared a picture of a post-war charabanc trip for the neighbourhood. She said she was able to name some of the people but did not remember when it was and would love someone to confirm the year.

Pamela Fitzsimons wrote to the Observer to say: “I found your pictures very interesting and thank you for them. Alice Bray is on the front left, holding the baby. I knew her at the Central School, in Chapel Street.

“Mary Russell, born 1941, is in front of the mums on the left. She had red hair. I cannot see her sister Joan or her brother John. The girl second in on front row I think was called Grantham.

“I estimate the year to be 1953ish but I’ve been wrong before!”

Sheila could also pick out Alice Bray and Mary Russell, as well as Mrs Grantham and her daughter Margaret.

She named her friend Georgina Cole, siblings Judith and John Cole, and their parents Mrs and Mrs Cole, who she said was 'a dear mum'.

Other people in the picture included Pat Slade, Ann Day, Peter Day, Peggy Parks and Ray Richards.

Sheila could remember the corner shop, Mr and Mrs Welch with Dorothy, Patricia and their brother, Mr and Mrs Goodall with twin daughters, and Mrs and Mrs Phillips with Bobby, John, Roger and Howard.

These tales of childhood in Chichester resonated with Christine Rossiter, too, who wrote to say she 'really enjoyed' the article.

Christine said: “It showed just how much Kent Road was a real community, one of many in the parish of St Pancras.

“My thoughts went back to my childhood in Castleman Road on the Orlit Estate. In those days, children played outside, in the street, the green or the pits, where we would cut branches from the trees to make bows and arrows.

“Today's children miss out on so much, as there are so many cars parked in the streets. They are not being able to mix together, all ages, and play games together like hop scotch, hide and seek, cricket, skipping, marbles and many other games.”

The Orlit Estate was a post-war development of 150 houses built with prefabricated concrete panels. Fifty years later, they were plagued with structural problems and were in desperate need of remedial work.

It was decided that the homes would be demolished and the estate was redeveloped in 1999, becoming part of the Swanfield area.

New road layouts were planned and some of the roads named after previous mayors of Chichester were lost after consultation with residents.

The road names affected included Castleman Road named after 1540 mayor John Castleman, Blandford Road named after 1545 mayor John Blandford, Chatfield Road named after 1586 and 1599 mayor George Chatfield, and Manning Road named after 1600 mayor Edward Manning or his son 1655 mayor Richard Manning.

Greenfield Road named after 1602 mayor Richard Greenfield or 1633 mayor John Greenfield, and Story Road named after 1478 mayor Bishop Robert Storey survived.

The Residents Redevelopment Association had sought the views of the families and the changes were approved by Chichester City Council.

Christine remembers the street party that was held to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation.

She said: “I have two lovely photos, the children of all ages enjoying the lovely food all the mothers had worked so hard to produce. Such lovely jellies and cakes, and sandwiches, of course, many of the parents looking on.”

Many street parties were held across Chichester to mark Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, including one in Greenfield Road, where sports were arranged by Mr R. Granger and Mrs E. Redford, while Mrs A. Elliott and Mrs R. Westgate served tea, according the Observer reports of the time.

The Observer also told of parties in Kingsham Avenue, Whyke Lane, Cleveland Road, Kent Road, Swanfield Drive, Castleman Road, Little London and Parklands Estate.

There was a special ringing of Chichester Cathedral's bells and a procession of more than 30 vehicles and military bands in the evening.

The Observer reported that the procession was ‘so long the Chichester City and military bands were well on their way to the City Cross before the last vehicle had left the Cattle Market’.

Other events included a tree planting in Jubilee Park and a pram race. The race started at The Chequers and finished at the recreation ground, via The Four Chesnuts, The Star and Garter and The Victoria.

Contestants had to drink half a pint of beer at each pub while scrupulously observing the Highway Code, signalling at junctions and stopping at halt signs.

Christine left the Orlit Estate and moved to Lewis Road as a teenager and still lives there to this day.

She explained: “My mother died when I was 15 in 1962 and my future mother-in-law offered me a home with her in Lewis Road – another lovely community. I have several photographs of the VE Day party, which Mr Fred Gardener from no.8 took.

“My mother and father-in-law moved into Lewis Road 100 years ago, when their only child Joan was about six months old. They went on to have another six children, all born at home, my husband being the youngest.

“I still live here, which means the Rossiter family have lived here for 100 years and are the only original family still here. In the nearly 63 years that I have lived here, I have some interesting and funny stories about life and the people in and around Lewis Road.”