Here is the forward.
I am very pleased and privileged to be invited to write this forward to Colin's latest book.
Like Colin, I spent my first 34 years (including the war years 1939-45) in the area about which he has written, and have many memories of the area. Not least my schooldays at Pevensey school, when it was not unusual to seek shelter in people's houses while walking to school because bombs, or later, "doodle bugs" were falling close too. This book does not attempt to record the history of the area as generally perceived, but the recent history and people of the area that is so often overlooked by the many conventional books on the area. The inclusion of the photographs brings it all to life Colin has here used many local expressions and sayings that may not be familiar to those not brought up here in this period. I believe it is interesting, even important, to keep these expressions alive. This is the sort of thing that brings character to an area.
I believe it will make fascinating reading, not only to locals, but also to the wider public who will gain an insight into village life in Sussex 60 or 70 years ago.
To locals like me it brings back many childhood memories of activities and people of the time. The portrait of Horace Field being especially evocative, a real character. I was lucky that when I left Rattle road to live in nearby Hailsham, I was offered a job working for one of the families mentioned in this book, the Winwoods at Stone Cross.
My father having worked there for some years. I worked there for over 20 years and still regard it as the most worthwhile job I have had, and also the one that I have enjoyed most. It was while working there that I became re-acquainted with Colin, although I had actually known him since nineteen- forty-something.
I hope and believe that this book will give pleasure to all who read it, and that maybe they will learn something from it. I wish Colin every success with his latest venture.
Peter Brook
Wallsend crossing Pevensey 1974
William "Bill" Costick M M
"Looker, Horace Field" A true man of the marsh.
Front row left to right. Eric Chapple. John Ridley. Fred Jupp. Bill Pragnell. Back row left to right, Gordon Bridges. Ron Putland. Charlie Reed. Val Bray. Roy Tanner. Fred Hafferden.
Betty Wenham and nephew Colin, reunited with the tractor in 1998.
The words in the shop window read, "support your village shops", why did we all not heed her request?
"Stone Cross" Tower Mill has been a beacon since 1875.
Photo Sandy Donald.