Sign of the times II:

Here are a few more of the signs I’ve photographed from around Shoreham. Most, possibly all, are from Shoreham beach - along where the house boats are.

Andrew

The Rude Mechanicals, in full flow (see below)

Sign of the times:

This is my first time in Shoreham. I was fascinated by the number of sometimes quite weird signs I saw as a walked around. I’ve put more of the same kind of thing on Flickr (you should be able to find the link).

And, if you have any of interesting pictures of your own, please reply with a few more.

Andrew

(Source: http)

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Jenny Shepherd has run the Shoreham Flower House for 22 years. First she took over a jeweller’s shop and then expanded by knocking through into a neighbouring estate agency.

To start with half of the shop was devoted to flowers while the rest was full of plants.

But about ten years ago she opened a grocery in one side with fresh fruit and vegetables on display.

Jenny said she was very busy when she first opened her shop but when Tesco came to town trade plummeted overnight by about 50 per cent.

She has noticed many of the old specialist shops disappearing over the last few years. “We don’t have quite as good a range of shops as we used to have,” she said.

She fears that within five years all the small shops will have disappeared.

“The trouble is people are bypassing Shoreham and going out of town.

“I have worked out that if everyone who lives here spent just £1 in each shop once a year we would all survive.”

Jenny said her business was just ticking over and that was because even in recession people had to eat.

Also having been in town since 1988 she had regular customers who came back each time they needed flowers.

Jenny is fascinated by Shoreham’s history and would like to know more about smugglers tunnels in the town.

She has heard there is one from the old town hall but doesn’t know where it leads and she’s heard about another from St Mary’s Church which goes up to the Downs.

On the steps of the Ferry Inn there is mention of a tunnel too.

“This town was full of smugglers,” said Jenny. “I hear lots of stories from old residents who come into the shop but I can’t remember them all.”

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Shoreham Beach and harbour - another great old photo from Sue’s family

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The old Shoreham-by-sea lifeboat, another of Sue’s old family photos

Will is shopping for algae eaters

Young Will Calderbank is shopping for goldfish and algae eaters today with dad David and his next door neighbour and schoolfriend Immy Lane.

He’s replacing lost goldfish and the algae eaters will help keep their tank clean.

The trio live at Shoreham Beach and while in town also plan to visit the butcher, baker and grocer.

The children attend Shoreham Beach Primary School and said their favourite place to be is the seaside.

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One of Sue’s old photos of Shoreham - this one from 1968

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Four-year-old Jasmine Tang has just been to a ballet lesson so is enjoying being pushed around Shoreham in her brother’s pushchair by mum Helen Pratt.

Brother Jasper is being carried by his dad Wai-Wah Tang.

The family has lived in Shoreham for about six years and they are very happy here.

They started out living in the town centre and then moved to North Shoreham.

Helen said: “We have got most of the things we need here, plenty of things for the children. We go to the park and the family centre.”

Wai-Wah works in London and so the town’s rail link is important and they are close to other family members.

“This is a lovely little town,” Helen added.

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Just afternoon and staff are busy at Truffles Cafe where tasty-looking cakes are on display.

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Sue sharing old time Shoreham photos with Sarah.

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Peter Spoor grew up in Downside, Shoreham, but now lives in France.

We caught up with him today on a visit home. He was with a family from Minnesota who he met 35 years ago when on an exchange visit there.

Peter’s family moved to Steyning from Shoreham when he went to Steyning Grammar School and it was while he was in the sixth form that he went on the exchange trip.

Peter has happy memories of the 3rd Shoreham Sea Scouts: “We spent more time on the water than off it”

This is one of the reasons he loved Minnesota, home of about 10,000 lakes.

In the picture, centre, is Peter Spoor. He has his arm round his ‘American mother’ Arliss Liebel. Her brother Neil is pictured left with sister Donna. Right is sister-in-law Jan.

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An artist at work on the Adur estuary

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The sun is shining on Shoreham this morning as journalists and bloggers take up residence in the empty Agora shop in New Road and start recording a day in the life of the town. Do call in and see us.