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About Findon
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The Findon Valley Residents' Association is a charity registered in England and Wales: 267009
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Anecdotes from The Worthing Sentinel 18 August 2010 In 1955 a new stand for three taxis was sited, as an experiment, next to the Old Town Hall in South Place, where it remains to this day, the most popular pick-up point in Worthing. In the same year the Town Council discussed plans to declare eight acres of land adjacent to Bost Hill, Findon Valley, a public open space. Also a horde of brass axe heads, almost 3000 years old, were presented to Worthing Museum. They were found by workmen building a house in The Ridings, East Preston. In 1857 West Sussex Police Force was formed. Each divisional superintendent was paid an allowance for the maintenance of a horse and cart - the first patrol vehicle. In 1932 it was announced that as an experiment men would be "permitted to indulge in sunbathing and sea bathing while wearing only slips or trunks south of the public bathing screens at East and West Worthing." The experiment was supported by the Men's Dress Reform Party. In 1968 a new book on Findon by Major HL Reeves cast doubt on the legend that King Harold made his last communion before the Battle of Hastings at Findon Church, but he may have visited a year earlier before sailing from Bosham to Normandy. In the same year the Government rejected plans on appeal, to turn Salvington Mill Stores, High Salvington, into a pub. In 1941 Worthing had just one female 'milkman', Miss Ruby Peters, who pushed a trolley laden with bottles on her round. In the same year a Worthing League football match between West Tarring Boys' Club and St. Andrew's (Portslade) ended chaotically after the referee punched the St Andrew's goalkeeper, having allegedly mistaken him for a spectator who was constantly heckling him. In 1905 a man was fined five shillings by Worthing magistrates for being drunk in Montague Street. He told the court he had fallen in with an old comrade from the Afghan War some 30 years previously and had consumed "a glass or two". Two years before, in 1903, pioneers aeronauts took part in an international kite flying competition which attracted considerable attention from European military observers. It took place on West Hill, near Muntham Court, Findon, and featured the designs of SF Cody, who championed early man-lifting hang gliders. In 2009 Worthing kite surfers Lewis Crathern and Jake Scrace became worldwide Internet sensations when they jumped over Worthing Pier. In December 1944 seven Lancaster bomber crewmen died when their aircraft crashed and exploded on the beach off Heene Terrace. It is claimed that the pilot steered the Lancaster, which was laden with bombs, away from the town. There is a plaque on the pier recording the crew's sacrifice and streets in West Durrington were named after them. The crew's surnames were Thomson, Bourne, Callon, Essenhigh, Moore, Rees and Varey. In 1916 Major Lance George Hawker VC, a First World War fighter ace, was killed during an aerial duel over France with the famous German pilot called the Red Baron. Major Hawker's brother, Lieutenant Colonel TM Hawker, became a well-known Worthing estate agent based at 2 Rivioli Buildings, Chapel Road. Two years before, in 1914, Jerry M, the famous Findon racehorse which won the Grand National in 1912, was destroyed after breaking a leg. The horse was buried on owner Robert Gore's Downland gallops - the spot being marked be a headstone but is it still there? In 1932 Hunter's Library, 31 Chapel Road, described itself as 'the largest fiction-lending library on the South Coast'. It had more than 3000 popular titles, which could be borrowed for 2d a week. 4 August 2010 In 1962 Worthing Rural District Council held discussions on whether a caravan site should be permitted at Keepers Plantation, Muntham Court, Findon. In the same year Jon Pertwee was star of the Pier Pavilion summer show 'Let's make a night of it.' He later went on to become Doctor Who. In 1940 High Salvington and Findon Valley residents complained they did not have an adequate air raid warning siren. Also in 1940 the names 'Worthing', 'Findon' and others were removed from tradesmen's vehicles, shops signs and estate agents' boards, but the authorities forgot to take away the Worthing boundary stone in Findon Road, opposite Bost Hill. In January 1964 Worthing experienced its heaviest snowfall in 30 years with nine inches lying on the ground. In 1936 a Railway Approach shopkeeper was fined ten shillings by Worthing magistrates for selling a tin of salmon during Wednesday half-day closing. In 1924 it cost 2d to bathe from the east side of Worthing pier's landing stage and 2d per rod to fish. 2001 saw dozens of riot police called to Tarring Road after football hooligans clashed following a match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Cardiff City. In 1999 Worthing FC manager Sammy Donnelly led Worthing to a 3-0 victory over Hastings Town in the Sussex Cup Final at Crawley's Broadfield Stadium. In 1890 Worthing waterman Christopher Newman drowned off Goring when his sailboat capsized. He was the son of the eleven fishermen drowned off Worthing in the gallant attempt to rescue the crew of the Lalla Rookh during an 1850 storm. Click here to Sentinel Anecdotes Index Click here to top of page.
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