HORSCRAFT FAMILY PHOTOS

Its great to see these pictures. I virtually grew up with the Horscraft family. In fact I was born in their house in South Road.
I well remember Horace, Rupert and Vivian also Theresa, who in fact I am told taught me to walk as a baby.

I worked as a child on Saturdays and School holidays with Theresa on their mobile shop which was a converted Bedford OB coach. The car pictured with the accident damage was repaired at Newhaven coach works. At that time Raymond, Rupert's oldest son worked there.
At one time we lived at the rear of their South Road shop.
Its good to see these pictures of what must be the best known family in town.
There must be hundreds more family photographs out there, keep them coming.

The last picture of the taxi with front end damage -I was driving it at the time. I was just about to drive up into Elm Lodge off the Denton Road when a motorbike came round the bend with nowhere to go except up and over the top via the bonnet. An unfortunate set of circumstances that led to a court appearance for driving without due care and attention. It was thrown out of court for lack of proof of the charge. I wonder if the poor motorcyclist is still around, I can't remember his name. I actually ended up taking him through to the Sussex County Hospital in the same taxi. I think that that junction is probably just as dangerous today - I must go have a look.

Thanks for sharing this piece of history Jim - any idea of what year that would be? Jackie - Editor

Re: Jim's photo of damaged taxi. I remember the incident well, the motorcyclist was Alan Riggs on his recently rebuilt Matchless 350. We worked together at A&M Fells factory in the old Hatchery. We had been working overtime and he had left for home to watch "Steptoe & Son".

Thats the chap Martin, at the time he lived in the convent flats on Church Hill. I felt so sorry for him that day, perhaps you can remember the year, I'm only guessing at about 1964. Do you know if he is still around. Thanks for your input Martin. Cheers.

Jim, I reckon the accident you had with Alan was around 1966-68 though cán't be certain. Haven't seen him for 20+ years as I now live in South Africa.
Regards Martin

Horace ran the taxi firm for the most part from his bungalow at the bottom of Denton Drive.  The junction with Denton Road is still a nightmare; as it was then.  I lived at the top of Denton Drive during my early years, I even went to work for Horace answering the phone calls and directing the taxis for a short while from his office in the town.

The Horscraft family bring back many fond memories to my family. I lived with my mother at the end of the war in South Road. Old Mrs Horscraft played the piano at Sunday School, Methodist Church, in Chapel Street. She made an imposing sight- a very large lady with a huge fancy hat on her head. Horace's taxis was the firm I used for my wedding in 1961. My brother Mick went to live in the same flat when he was first married approx. 39 yrs ago.

Can anyone else remember when Horace played Norman Wisdom in one of the carnivals in the late 50`s or very early 60`s?

I remember Horace very when he did a lot of shows at the Christ Church Hall in South road. I was a member of the Boys Club and we did a lot of shows with him and his gang of entertainers.

I well remember Horace taking off Norman Wisdom in the carnivals. Also the amateur dramatics, as my brother John was a great friend of his. Vivien & I were in the same class & great friends. Does anyone know of her whereabouts as we lost touch soon after leaving school.

I remember Horace well. He gave me a good piece of advice once when I was looking for a new car, saying don't buy new, let someone else pay the purchase tax. Good advice at the time, he was a great chap.

I also worked for Horace and Theresa on their veg round which took in Mount Pleasant. Weighing out potatoes when I was just 8 years old. Many years later I went on to drive one of Horace's taxis. Good old days remembered with great fondness.

I lived in Hillcrest Road for years with my parents Nan and Harry Parker, and Horace was known to me most of my life. He used to sing "Saleeeee...pride of the alley". I previously lived in New Road and then Gibbon Road.  I worked with a Horsecraft at Currys in Lewes for a while - very funny man...with Horace's sense of humour. Would love to hear back.

Not only did Horace drive us to church in his taxi on our wedding day, he also took our wedding photos (with our camera). I also helped out in the shop, loaded the van up Saturday mornings, and then went on the round with Theresa. My pay was 2/6d and a packet of Royal Scot biscuits!

Hello all.

Nice to have you 'on board' Ben. Have you any information that can help complete the Horscraft family story? Andy, Editor.

Well its nice to see some old pictures of the family that I have never seen... Uncle Robert please post some more as they are interesting....and a part of Newhaven's history

Hi,  don't know if I am related but my Dad was Reginald Horscraft born in 1918 in Hackney, London.

My Grandad was Harry Horscraft and my Nan was Gladys Horscraft

I am trying to establish whether my Uncle Max L Horsecraft is part of your family. My father, Morris Smith, had a sister Lorna who married Max Horscraft who was a brilliant aircraft engineer and died at Thornlie, Western Australia. He was a great friend as well as relative. Aunt Lorna visited me in Staffordshire some years ago but we have lost contact. If this is of interest, and we are related, please contact via email. John M Smith

NOTE from editors. We do not publish e-mail addresses so if you do wish to respond, please contact the editors for his address.

Max Leon Horscraft was my uncle too. I note your interest John M Smith and would like to make contact with you. My father Rupert Benjamin Horscraft is still going strong and was one of Max's younger brothers. He is the only surviving one of that generation left.

Hello I'm looking up my family history and was very suprised to see all the comments. I am trying to reseach my family tree but there are so many of us. My grandad was Ivan Horscraft who was Horace's brother. I came across a family video of Ivan's wedding today which also has Horace showing off his taxi. Granny Win, her husband, Stephen as a baby and Rupert Horscraft.

When I was in the Newhaven ATC, one of the Horsecraft brothers was in the Royal Aux Air Force, and on serveral occasions in the late forties he would take two cadets in his car up to Rochester airport for flights in Tiger Moths. I remember once we flew down over Newhaven and on the way back lost our way, until we found a railway line to navigate back by. We just got back to the disposal point when the engine stopped, I didn't know this until the refueling chap went bonkers because the tank was empty. Result, a black mark in the pilots log book. Lovely family specially Horace. 

Amazing finding your wonderful Newhaven site ! My second contribution - Horace H was of course Newhavens show bizz personality, his Salleeee was world known (in Newhaven). I did sketches with him at small shows (should have warned me already then to get out of show bizz) lol, but he was a very generous guy who sang Salleeee for pensioners homes all over Sussex giving great pleasure to all. I remember he entered a big talent show in Brighton for TV, was it Hughie Green maybe?. He even drove the H craft bus which delivered shopping to your door, I thought it was great fun to sit with him driving around, must have been 13-14? Yea Horace was a larger than life character bless him, thank you so much for the memory's, I remember his mum too, God what a trip down memory lane ! I'll never forget them hugs to all. Tony Walter.

I remember Horace appearing on a television programme, it was shown on a Boxing day in about 1954 or 1955.  In 1964 he drove the taxi when I married my wife Brenda and the South Road shop I remember very well as I worked in the dry cleaners in the same road and often brought vegetables for my mother in there.

The younger man in the photo with the gypsy caravan is Andy Horsecraft ! This photo was taken at the bottom of Valley Road, where Viv had a yard ...(now built on ).

Remember Horace well, I was in the same class at school with him, he always seem to be in trouble with the teachers, could never stop laughing and joking, what a character, lovely chap.

I remember the chap with the glasses sitting at the front of the caravan. His surname was Dennis and he worked for Southern Water at Poverty Bottom. He used to do a bit of 'ducking and diving' with Viv Horsecraft. I spent many a fun time in the Denton yard messing about with the old cars in my school uniform after school. My mum was not amused!

Man on the left in the gypsy caravan is my dad Mick Baker by the looks of it! I've just shown my daughter and we both had a good laugh!! Alot of memories from the farm down Valley Road, used to go there all the time with my dad, great memories!!

My mum and dad lived in Newhaven for most of their lives - Hazel and Wilf Hills.  My gran, Daisy Richardson, lived with them for too many years.  Daisy would often hire Horace to take her in his taxi for a tour of the countryside.  She would sit in the taxi as though she was the Queen being driven down the Mall.  

On one occasion, Daisy hired Horace to take the whole family to London for the day.  That would have been in the late 1950s/early 1960s.  What a day that was and Horace was as entertaining as he ever was.  Wonderful memories.

I also remember Horace having a couple of donkeys called Jenny and Nicky I think.

Yes, we also enjoyed his fish and chips and I have also seen his performances in the Christ Church Hall.  I remember one well when Horace sang a two part song acting as first the man and then the woman and singing in a very high voice.  We loved it all.  

Does anybody remember Barbara Lynch who used to put on shows with the local children.  My friend was in those and how I envied her.  I went to Jean Cantell's Ballet Dancing School and it was so much more serious than greasepaint and taffeta dresses.  I did enjoy my ballet and went for quite a few years.

I hope this brings forth some more memories.  I would love to read them.

I remember Horace, Viv and Andy Horsecraft. My parents bought me a horse from Andy and I kept it for years at Viv´s stables. I remember that Horace had a son, who was a savant and I believe read and remembered the Newhaven area telephone book. Most of all I remember Viv and how he let my brother myself and a few friends do just about what ever we wanted at his stables. We treated the place and all of the animals that Viv had there as if they were ours. Viv was a jolly and funny man. It is great to see some pictures of him after so , so long. I probably last saw him 35 years ago. Some of the best days of my life were spent at the stables along the end of valley road.

My grandfather was Maxwell Leon Horscraft. I currently live in Australia, but I will be in UK sometime this year, would love to catch up with list relativesz