Peoples Stories - Bevendean History Project
Paul Simmons Memories of Coldean
My family moved from North Moulsecoomb to Coldean in 1962, I was 10 years old and my late brother Roger was 13 years old.
We moved into to an end of block, two bedroomed house. This meant that my brother and I were forced to share a bedroom. Fortunately, in those days, we didn't have much in the way of belongings. My parents had been lucky to obtain a 25 year Council mortgage.
Sharing a room with my brother wasn't great fun, but fortunately it soon became a much loved home.
My brother was already a pupil at Stanmer Secondary Modern School, now the car park for BACA. My parents decided that I should remain at Moulsecoomb Junior School as they felt that as it was only going to be short term solution as I was due to, also relocate to Stanmer School.
In those days, there were plenty of young families with school aged offspring, so it didn't take long to make new friends.
Some of our new friends decided to join my brother and I, and joined the local Boys Brigade Company at St Andrew's.
During the interval between moving schools, I had a serious accident which meant regular visits to Hospital to have my dressings changed. So, my first day at Senior school meant that I arrived looking like I'd been partially "mummified".
Not being an academic, I had to struggle and work very hard to keep up with my classmates. After being at school for a fifth year, I did manage to obtain 7 CSE qualifications. Then, on leaving school in 1968 I followed my brother into an apprenticeship with "Segas" as an apprentice fitter.
In 1971, my brother moved out after getting married, thus, I finally got the room to myself for 5 years, until I moved out after I married.
The house remained our family home till the mid 1990's, when my father sold up after my mother had passed away. He didn't want to live there on his own.
The home was in Hawkhurst Road, and we had 21 steps from the pavement to the front door. I was much fitter in those days and would rush around at top speed, so I managed to fall up and down the steps on a semi regular pattern.
These days, now being in my 70's I don't run anywhere. I'm glad to say that I have many happy memories, as well as a few sad ones of Coldean. I feel, although, no longer a resident, that Coldean is my spiritual home, made extra special by being a Church Warden at St Mary Magdalen's Church, and being reunited with several old friends from my child hood.
God Bless you all
Paul Simmons
May 2022
My family moved from North Moulsecoomb to Coldean in 1962, I was 10 years old and my late brother Roger was 13 years old.
We moved into to an end of block, two bedroomed house. This meant that my brother and I were forced to share a bedroom. Fortunately, in those days, we didn't have much in the way of belongings. My parents had been lucky to obtain a 25 year Council mortgage.
Sharing a room with my brother wasn't great fun, but fortunately it soon became a much loved home.
My brother was already a pupil at Stanmer Secondary Modern School, now the car park for BACA. My parents decided that I should remain at Moulsecoomb Junior School as they felt that as it was only going to be short term solution as I was due to, also relocate to Stanmer School.
In those days, there were plenty of young families with school aged offspring, so it didn't take long to make new friends.
Some of our new friends decided to join my brother and I, and joined the local Boys Brigade Company at St Andrew's.
During the interval between moving schools, I had a serious accident which meant regular visits to Hospital to have my dressings changed. So, my first day at Senior school meant that I arrived looking like I'd been partially "mummified".
Not being an academic, I had to struggle and work very hard to keep up with my classmates. After being at school for a fifth year, I did manage to obtain 7 CSE qualifications. Then, on leaving school in 1968 I followed my brother into an apprenticeship with "Segas" as an apprentice fitter.
In 1971, my brother moved out after getting married, thus, I finally got the room to myself for 5 years, until I moved out after I married.
The house remained our family home till the mid 1990's, when my father sold up after my mother had passed away. He didn't want to live there on his own.
The home was in Hawkhurst Road, and we had 21 steps from the pavement to the front door. I was much fitter in those days and would rush around at top speed, so I managed to fall up and down the steps on a semi regular pattern.
These days, now being in my 70's I don't run anywhere. I'm glad to say that I have many happy memories, as well as a few sad ones of Coldean. I feel, although, no longer a resident, that Coldean is my spiritual home, made extra special by being a Church Warden at St Mary Magdalen's Church, and being reunited with several old friends from my child hood.
God Bless you all
Paul Simmons
May 2022
