Right about wounds

My parents, myself and two brothers originally came from Ashtead, Surrey, via Wick in 1939, moving in 1940 to East Street. Each morning we could hear the sound of many children happily playing and chattering at the convent three doors away, until the bell was rung and silence descended, ready for them to form into groups to walk to their school in St Catherine’s Road.

One of my main recollections is of Berry Lane, which was just that, a lane, and apart from the convalescent home barely a house could be seen north or south of the land. A little to the west stood a few houses, including Surrey House, which was pulled down after the war.

Further west stood the Beach Hotel, which many years later was another property that was allowed to be demolished, after the Kingmere block of flats had been built on the old tennis courts. Surprise, surprise, they are now talking about building another hotel on the seafront – why?

A further large open area which existed then was beyond Clun Road, which ended where the Wickbourne Centre now stands.

E. Benham

Gloucester Place

Littlehampton