Felpham

When Don's parents retired they moved from Aldershot to Bognor. We spent many happy holidays with them especially when our children were small. Grandad would rent a beach hut at nearby Felpham. [Pictured left, Roger with his big cousin Ian, on Felpham beach.]

We would walk the couple of miles to the hut carrying all our impedimenta in the pram along with the babies. We went every day no matter what the weather. We had a small methylated spirit stove. We cooked soup. potatoes, eggs, sausages etc. We made tea and Grandma would give us home made cake and biscuits. The only facilities were a cold water tap and some loos.

[Roger aged 5 took this picture of Don and me outside our beach hut in 1958.]

Between the rows of huts and the beach was, and still is, a grassy lawn on which we played cricket. When the tide was in our children would join others playing on the grass. When the tide was out we made magnificent sand castles and looked for crabs in the rock pools, we went swimming and paddling and had a lovely time. Ice creams from a small shop were our only expense.

Sometimes we were joined by Grandma and Grandad and other members of the family or friends from London who would come for the day. If it sounds idyllic that's because it was.

This is why a couple of years after his death Amanda and I went to Felpham to scatter Don's ashes. A place of happy memories!