CURRENT EDITORS
Find out about our volunteer editors
Editors 22 may 2011
reg woolford
Training New Editors 3 March 2008
Sylvia Woolford
There are currently 7 volunteer editors. We are:
Joanna Balcombe: I have always lived in Newhaven, apart from some time in Hollingbury, Hove and Hailsham. I went to college in Gloucestershire, since which time I take a few evening courses at the adult college, locally.
Three of my grandparents were Newhaven-born, as are my parents. We first had a house in Lawes Avenue, then moved across the Brighton Road to be near both nans.
Richard Beckett: Retired BR structures examiner. I consider I am an intruder in Newhaven as I have only lived here since 1960. I was born and lived in Kent until I was 21, then Surrey until I was 25 and finally settled here in 1960. My main interests are : History of Newhaven and surrounding area : Family history.
Andy Gilbert: I was born in Gibbon Road in 1956, raised in Newhaven and, apart from a brief flirtation with Worthing, have lived in the town all my life. My mother was also born here, in St Lukes Lane, and though my father, Capt. Frank Gilbert of the tug Meeching, was a Cornishman by birth, he lived in Newhaven from the 1950s onwards. I went, like so many of my generation, to the 'original' Southdown School and then to Tideway.
Although my work as a concert organist involved a lot of globe-trotting over the years, it's always Newhaven that I've called home. I'm now a music teacher and writer, and hobbies include photography, amateur radio and radio controlled model boats.
My area of Newhaven 'expertise' (their word, not mine!) is the harbour and its shipping since the 1950s.
John Hills: My ancestors great grandparents John & Mary Hills, together with their two sons and all their worldly possessions, arrived at Newhaven in 1874/75, onboard a coastguard cutter from Dungeness, where John had been working as a coastguard. My father Harold Hills was born and raised in Church Hill, Newhaven and married Mary, the only daughter of local fishmongers Charles & Mary Collington, in 1936. My late parents Harold & Mary Hills first lived in 9 The Rose Walk and then moved to 18 Second Avenue in the late 1930's where my late brother Martin and I were brought up.
On leaving secondary school I joined the newly formed full time Lewes Technical College for a further two years, then worked as an apprentice with my father and brother in the family electrical contracting business.
I have been happily married to Mary for over 48 years. We first met when Mary moved from Brighton and joined our class at Newhaven Secondary School for our last term - love at first sight! When I first took Mary home to meet my parents Dad could'nt believe it - another Mary in the family! He said I will call her Sue, which he did bless him. We have two sons David & Paul, David is a fully qualified Electrical Engineer ( trained by Hills Electrical ) and Paul an Electronic Engineer is working on electronic microscope equipment.
I am now retired after 50 years working as a Electrical Engineer.
My hobbies include golf, amateur radio, family history, local history and also enjoy editing pages on Our Newhaven!
Laurie Stonehouse: I'm a local resident of Newhaven and have worked and lived here most of my life, I am employed at Searchlight Workshops.
Carol Walton: (nee Eager): I am Newhaven born and bred. My parents lived in Meeching Road, where I was born, and we moved to Gibbon Road when I was three. I married Terry Walton in 1963 and we gradually drifted to South Heighton and then to Denton where we have lived for the past 17 years. I have a younger brother Paul who now lives in Spain. I worked for 15 yrs in IT and Export at Parker Pen, but due to the 'restructuring' was made redundant in 2008. I am now working part time for a coaching academy. I have two grown up children and three grandchildren.
Sylvia Woolford: (nee Turner): I was born in 1959 and I have always lived in Newhaven. As a young child I lived with my family in a cottage in Lower Place (behind Woolworths), until these houses were demolished as part of the new road development. We then moved to Gibbon Road in the late 1960's (my parents - Kitty (nee Graves) and Ray Turner still live in the same house today). I have 3 sisters, they are married and they also live in Newhaven. I married Reg Woolford in the early 1980's and we have 2 sons.
If you think that you would be interested in joining our team then please email: enquiries@ournewhaven.org.uk