HOPE INN / SANDY BEACH - c1958

The picture of the sandy beach is just the sort of information required in the fight against the closure by the port owners which could be used to convince the courts that it is a "village green".

One of many such views, probably! And what better way to spend a sunny summer's afternoon, than to be on that beach, just waiting for one of those oh so 'dangerous' waves from a steamer like the Londres pictured here. I much preferred the look of the Hope Inn when it was like this, before the 'conservatory' was added to the balcony.

Does anyone know/remember Sandra Maclean?

I can't imagine that the 'tramway' was in use in the first picture as there appear to be a couple of vehicles parked on the line.

Interesting to note that the cars are parked at the back of the hardstanding area, unlike today where (if the beach were open) they'd park up against the railings. Presumebaly we are more careless these days and would fall on to the beach frequently if it weren't for the railings.... or did people just bounce easier in the 50's?

I would say that people had a gift in  days gone by, which they don't seem to have today, it's called common sense!

Yes, Sandra Maclean. Thin ginger girl went to Southdown, with her in Mrs Axford's class,

I remember the Ice Cream Kiosk was manned by Dick Mussel. We used to gather there on a Sunday afternoon and listen to Alan Freemans "Pick of the Pops". Is my memory faulty or was the sun always shining.

Oh the memories of that wonderful place. The kiosk used to sell a most beautiful cup of tea and the ice cream and cornets tasted out of this world. I remember the beach used to be regularly visited by boys from a local orphanage, accompanied by a lady teacher or carer. She used to drag an enormous green painted wagon containing all their swimming togs and sandwiches down onto the sand; manhandled by some of the older boys over those steep concrete steps. It was like watching a Royal Naval Gun team practising for the Royal Tournament. The construction workers from the gangs repairing the sea wall used to throw their loose change to the kids and the lucky ones used to collect enough to buy an ice cream. A few years later, the Hope Inn became a comfortable watering hole when visiting by motorcycle, but the beer was a bit quaint to say the least. It came from a Portsmouth brewer called Brickwoods and was guaranteed to run straight through you. I had some wonderful times camping under the cliffs and fishing up on the sea wall or on the rocks under the Western arm lighthouse. The wrasse used to run fast and furious on light float tackle and occasionally a nice bass would grab your bait and give rise to much excitement. Whenever I now catch a whiff of methelated spirit and paraffin I am immediately transported back to those wonderful, halcyon days of camping at Newhaven!

Brings back some fond childhood memories of the 'sandy beach'. Pictures could be c1962 as light coloured van in front of Hope looks like a 307E Ford Anglia which launched in June 61, and bottom picture has construction of the Buckle Bypass under-way which opened in 63.

Memories!!! We used to spend the whole day on the Beach and Mum would bring the picnic basket down to us at lunchtime. I have memories of having to be rescued from the cliffs after getting 'stuck' halfway down, ( in fact I have written a story about that day) Also remember releasing a seagull from a water tank it had got caught in on the cliff tops. Then there was the day I dropped my brothers bucket into the water when the tide was ebbing but still against the wall. My brother made so much fuss mum made me wade into the sea amongst all the seaweed floating on top and retrieve the bucket, I still 'feel' that seaweed swirling all over me... Oh and so many more memories of Newhaven beach times. Treasured and loved memories.

Oh memories memories, I was a doctor barnadoes boy and the home I stayed at always spent summer camp in tents just above the quay. I always got very exited traveling down in the coach seeing the old cranes, at a distance, knowing that we did not have long to go before arriving. We were free to go out every afternoon to explore and to watch the ferries leave and arrive and to get down to the beach to see the waves made by them, often getting our feet wet!, climbing cliffs, no silly health and safety rules in those days, we were free to roam back in the early 1950's. I still revisit Newhaven today and find it sad that the sandy beach is closed and hope that you are successfull on the grounds that it is your village green to reclaim it for all to enjoy.