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… As you know we have recently sold Limes. We wanted to say thank you for all the support that you have given over the last few years, you have been instrumental in helping Limes grow into the business that it is. The service we received has been fantastic and I am sure we will be using Sussex Living in any future business. Chris and Jo White Limes of Lindfield
Dear Sussex Living… …I enjoyed your editorial piece on Roman roads and digs in last month’s Sussex Living. I give talks on Anglo Saxon history myself. I turn up dressed in all the garb, spear in hand – great fun! Mak Norman www.brightfm.net
… I was interested to read your article on Chailey Airfield in the November 2012 issue. I grew up practically alongside the aerodrome as it was being built. Although you show a photograph of the old Plough Inn, you do not mention that it and the cottages had to be pulled down to clear the end of the runway. Between the two buildings you can just see the old wooden WWI army hut that was also taken down and moved up to the new site at the Crossways, where it served as a pub before the present Plough was built. The side of the hill was excavated opposite the Plough, to form a steep bank, although it has now been levelled off. The bank can still be seen at the edge of the woods on the other runway. The runway was of formed a kind of giant wire netting, under which was laid rolls of hessian to simulate the line of hedges from the air. There was a small, arched corrugated iron hanger on the east side at the Chailey end of Bersford Lane (Bower Lane in those days). The brick remains of the petrol pump house can still be seen at the foot of Polecat Hill. The guard house with a pole across the road was set up outside our house and as children we rather annoyed the guards when we climbed our favourite tree on the wrong side of the barrier – ”but this is our garden.” We had a very suave officer, who claimed to be a Polish Count, billeted on us. We have since learned he never was a Count! After they left, it did become an emergency landing ground. I remember seeing a Wellington there once. A flying fortress blew up after the crew had managed to get out, and I once saw a ‘twin boomed’ Lightening up-ended in what is now the council dump. Later on, a Halifax crashed in the woods to the west of the North-South runway. You can still see bits of aluminium scattered about if you know where to look.
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SuSSex Living April 2013
… Thank you for promoting our St Andrew›s Day Quiz back in November. We had a very successful quiz with over 20 teams of 4. The money raised goes to church maintenance. Christine Wooldridge St Andrew’s Church, Edburton
You ask why this upheaval did not leave more of a mark on the surrounding villages? You must remember that we lived in a restricted zone, which stretched approx. 10m inland along the South Coast and communication was limited. There was a police post outside the Fox and Hounds in Haywards Heath and the Birch Hotel, where all cars and buses were stopped and you had to show your identity card to prove you lived in the area. For us boys, they were exciting times without realising the greater implications. Rather like people playing war games on their computer, except this was for real. Ian Clayton, Hassocks
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