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Barbara Greenfields (nee Jupp) started life in 1924 in the Britannia Cottage, part of the Britannia Inn in Littlehampton. She was the oldest, having three younger brothers, David, Brian (known as Peter) and Michael. Their parents were Edith and Horace. Barbara shares a few childhood memories here with us.
'We liked going to Swanbourne Lake at Arundel. Not far inside the gates a large horse chestnut tree stood on a bank, its roots spreading all round it. They formed a natural staircase to the top of the bank and this was a favourite place for children to play. Many small feet (and some big ones) have scrambled up its roots. I was glad to see it still there when I was last in the park and no doubt today's children continue to enjoy this pursuit.
Sometimes we walked down Norway Lane and across the meadows to Poling. One day we went into the church there, but didn't stay long because Nan (Auntie Hilda) seemed anxious to go outside again. Some time afterwards she told me she had heard monks chanting. I hadn't noticed it. Mr brother, Peter had been with us and I don't think he had either. Had Nan heard ghosts?
On summer evenings my brother, David and I would take our hymnbooks into the garden and install ourselves as comfortably as possible in the branches of the apple tree. From here we could see over the wall and watch the people going along the footpath to St. John's Church next door. Most of them said 'Hallo' to us as they passed by and we returned their greetings. Then came the real purpose of our presence there. We could hear the playing of the organ quite clearly and, if it was a tune we recognised, hurriedly looked up the hymn number in the index and joined in the singing.'
Swanbourne Lake has changed quite drastically, even in my lifetime. The lake itself has shrunk, due to many water shortages in past years and after the hurricane of 1987, a great many of the beautiful trees, tragically, are no longer there. It is still a delightful place to visit, however; popular with all ages, especially the young who like to feed the swans and ducks, many of which visits from the local Wildfowl Trust.
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