More than Punch and Judy

WITH reference to Ray Worsfold's old photograph (Gazette, March 11),"Uncle Charlie" Speller, who used to live in the eastern part of Western Road, beyond Norfolk Road, operated his Punch and Judy Show usually on the sands at low water or on The Green if high water, between Banjo Road and the river.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Mar 2010, 14:39 BST

Should the wind be blowing a bit, then he set up on The Green behind the Beach Hotel, (now where Beach Crescent has been built), because it was below the level of the promenade and protected.

Uncle Charlie was also the agent for selling tickets for trips on the paddle steamer "Brighton Belle", which used to run from Brighton Pier along the Sussex coast and coming into the River Arun, bringing visitors into Littlehampton town and the seafront entertainments.

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It then took residents and town visitors out for a round trip along towards Bognor then around the Owers Lightship, stationed some six or seven miles out to sea, before returning to pick up those people from Brighton, for their return journey.

In about 1935/36, with my friend Alan Marshall, we used to distribute leaflets from Uncle Charlie, showing details of the "Brighton Belle" visit and fares to people along the beach and promenade, getting in return complimentary passes for sailing on her trips.

Uncle Charlie`s son Leslie was a prominent member of the Littlehampton Amateur Dramatic Society, which shared his initials L.A.D.S.

Bill Kelsey,

Chaucer Avenue,

Rustington

Editor's note: there will be a special feature on "Uncle Charlie" in next week's Gazette.

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