Hi William, I am Jack Bray's Daughter and I remember you came to stay with us when your dad died.

Sadly my Dad died in September.

Hi Jill, I certainly remember you, Jack, Nigel & Trish. Your Mum & Dad were very good to me and I believe your Grandad, Tom Bray, was my godfather.

Sorry to hear of your Dad's death. He was a very good man and my Dad had a few tales of the scrapes they got into together, and your Dad's wicked sense of humour which had us in stitches.

I will always remember your father with affection William. He was the one that first got me interested in boating. He, Jack Bray and Tommy Bray his father used to have access to a very old sailing boat owned by the Sea Scouts. They used to go out fishing in this boat and would take me with them, (I was then only about 8 or 9.) It did not have an outboard in those days, they simply rowed out of the harbour and then put the sail up. They even provided me with my first fishing line.

Eventually Jack and Tommy got a boat called The Clematis which was a small motor craft with a cuddy, a luxury in those days. Dick had for a long time had contact with Bern Wheatley, the scrap merchant and pursuaded him to have a boat built. (It was named Ethel and I think it was built by Bob Lower.) I often went out with Dick in this boat which he moored at the North Quay, and it was here that I had my first experience of trawling. Good times, never to be forgotten.

Hi William

I knew your dad well.His parents lived in South Lane.My family also lived opposite in School cottages, we were at the end of a row, and seperated from the infants school by a brick wall upon which our bath used to hang.

Dick and my sister Joan spent quite a lot of time together,and were seen as going out. However things were different in those days, and my sister suddenly decided that she was going to wear trousers on her date, which did not go down well with Dick or his parents, so unfortunatly it petered out.Things changed dramatically in the 1939 period. War was beginning. Joan joined the Wrens and moved away and eventually married a naval man and moved to Shrewsbury (Salop).She is still alive and registers a total of 86 years.

Dick had a Steam engine manufactured in Germany, which he gave me. I was delighted to have it and later passed it to my son, who still has it,but sadly he has no children to play with it.

Hi Ken, Many thanks for the insight into my Dad's younger life and another story to add to my growing list of Dick Stovell anecdotes. I'll certainly pass that one on to my lad. I am trying to collect memorabilia from Dad's side of the family and thanks to the Newhaven Museum, I have copies of a couple of photographs of Dad as a very young lad at school. I also have a copy of his father's handwritten request for his WW1 medals, sent from  Alma Cottages, together with his War record. (That makes quite harrowing reading.) Are you Ken Attrel the photographer? If so, I can remember looking at examples of your work, which were posted inside a display case, between P.R. Gray's (opticians) and the old telephone exchange.

Hi William.

Pleased to hear from you regarding your dad. I have been on the telephone to my sister and she remembers him well, and I have asked for any info she might have regarding that time. My wife asks what is your mother's name, she wonders if she knew her at Newhaven Girls school Her name was Jean Combs, living in Lewes Road,she also had a sister named Joan. Yes I am the local Photographer, and the firm was E.B.A.Studios in South Road. I only last year sent a load of negatives to The Museum of the Newhaven area. Unfortunately I was not aware of this Web Site then. My wife and I have been living since retirement in Spain 23 years ago, the weather suits us very well. All for now. Ken & Jean

Yes I have the table lamp I made with your Dad, and a little hardwood box .

Hi William, Do you remember hanging round your dad's neck to get down the ladder for us to be taken out fishing on The Ethel II with your dad and mine, George Brandon? My dad and I both worked at Oxley and Bennett with your dad. Although I was only an apprentice plumber at the time I remember your dad as being a first class craftsman. I do have a photo of your dad taken at a weigh-in after a fishing competition with the Newhaven Deep Sea Anglers. I am a real novice on computers but I will try to get someone to help me get a copy to you somehow. I may be able to find some further information for you.

I too worked with your Dad at O and B's. I was a painters apprentice though and worked with Gary and Trevor Bennett. I remember one day having lunch in the carpenters shop and the newly built coffins were leant up against the wall for the tar interior to dry. Robin Hatcher, who's nickname was Chicken, (for obvious reasons) who was an apprentice plumber leant back into one of the coffins in a joking manner to see if he would fit. Your Dad sneaked up on him and screwed the lid on. Just at that moment, old "Fab" Bennet came in, the company patriach. Robin had to stay quiet until he left. We were all in stitches. Poor Robin died quite young. I remember EBA studios and you Ken. Glad to see you are with us. I live in Canada now with my wife of 50 years, Jacqueline the dental nurse, (nee Kennard). 

Hi, me again, Chicken left Oxley  & Bennett just before I started. Another tale regarding Dick, Alan Downs was an apprentice carpenter in the early 60,s and like many other teenagers suffered a "spotty chin". Dick, would notice them and when the time was right, he would say to Alan, "look at that spot on your chops" and at the speed of lightning, his hand, complete with a bit of glasspaper, would connect with the offending Zit, "Whoosh", spot gone. Dick would have many tricks up his sleeve and had a whacky sense of humour. I also was given the coffin treatment. Shame he died so young, was a good bloke.