Poverty - Hardship but Happiness: Those were the days 1903-1917, by Albert Paul, published December 1974 (66 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733009 & ISBN-13: 9780904733006) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502497][Lib/504090] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:It tells the story of a working class boy's life in the years between 1903 and 1917, from his childhood through to adolescence. It looks at the hardships of life before and during the First World War and examines the ways that children's lives changed as a result of the Great War. Albert Paul was a retired carpenter who lived all his life in Brighton, and he describes in vivid detail the life of a boy brought up in poverty and his struggle against adversity.
The Town Beehive: A young girl's lot in Brighton 1910-1934, by Daisy Noakes, published 1975 (88 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Brightonian, Daisy Noakes, tells her story from the age of fourteen, when she went into service. She gives us an insight into the life of a woman born and brought up in Brighton. Daisy documents - with humour - her inevitable trials and tribulations in the often physically demanding world that she inhabited during her working life.
The autobiography covers her childhood, as one of a family of ten, living in Prince's Road and Vere Road, and her working days in service in different parts of the town. This is a special insight into Daisy's world and is a shining example of true grit and fortitude!
The autobiography covers her childhood, as one of a family of ten, living in Prince's Road and Vere Road, and her working days in service in different parts of the town. This is a special insight into Daisy's world and is a shining example of true grit and fortitude!
Always a Layman, by John Langley, published 1 December 1976 (67 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books with the Sussex Labour History Society, ISBN-10: 0904733033 & ISBN-13: 9780904733037) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This fascinating personal history describes John Langley's childhood in poverty in Hove before the First World War, his apprenticeship at the age of 13 on the railway in Brighton, the progression of his career as a railway carriage painter and the good and bad times of Brighton family life. The account of the harshness of working lives at the time and the grinding poverty in which many people were brought up in Brighton and Hove make this an important autobiographical document, dating from 1976.
Shops Book Shopkeepers And Street Traders In East Brighton 1900-1930, by Neil Griffiths, published 1978 (Brighton: QueenSpark Books) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502499] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
To be a farmer's boy, by George Noakes, published December 1978 (46 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733041 & ISBN-13: 9780904733044) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502596][Lib/504085] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This was first published in 1975 and was so popular that it quickly sold out. Brightonian, Daisy Noakes, tells her story from the age of fourteen, when she went into service. She gives us an insight into the life of a woman born and brought up in Brighton. Daisy documents - with humour - her inevitable trials and tribulations in the often physically demanding world that she inhabited during her working life. The autobiography covers her childhood, as one of a family of ten, living in Prince's Road and Vere Road, and her working days in service in different parts of the town. This is a special insight into Daisy's world and is a shining example of true grit and fortitude!
Faded Rainbow: Our Married Years, by Daisy Noakes, published 1 August 1980 (56 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733076 & ISBN-13: 9780904733075) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/504089] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This autobiography gives a poignant insight into the life and expectations of a working class Brighton girl, who from the age of fourteen, was in service from 1910 to 1934. It describes her life as a young wife and mother, and the isolation she felt living in the countryside surrounding Gatwick Airfield. Daisy examines the early years of her marriage in 1934 to George Noakes, when she comments that there was 'no honeymoon period for us', as her employers would not allow such a luxury and it was like getting 'blood out of a stone' even to get a day off to get married. In her twilight years Daisy bravely recalls how she coped with her husband's terminal illness, when she was left alone to keep her family going.
Hard Work and No Consideration: 51 Years as a Carpenter-Joiner 1917-1968, by Albert Paul, published 1981 (136 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/504087] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This is the sequel to Poverty, Hardship but Happiness. Brightonian, Albert Paul, left school at the tender age of fourteen and began work as a carpenter, rising from the position of apprentice to that of master craftsman. Albert remained in his job throughout his life, in an era when people usually continued to work for one employer throughout their working lives.
This second book vividly describes how he supported his family during his working life as a carpenter/joiner in Brighton from 1917 to 1968. His hard work and commitment throughout his career, which lasted fifty-one years, is an example to us all. This book was written in 1975, one year before the author died.
This second book vividly describes how he supported his family during his working life as a carpenter/joiner in Brighton from 1917 to 1968. His hard work and commitment throughout his career, which lasted fifty-one years, is an example to us all. This book was written in 1975, one year before the author died.
Brighton on the Rocks: Monetarism and the Local State, by QueenSpark Rates Book Group, published 1 January 1983 (192 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733084 & ISBN-13: 9780904733082) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:This book was intended to be the first of a new series, but is the only one that was eventually commissioned. It incorporates a collection of interviews, photographs and statistics, which are used to analyse how monetarism affected the economic policies that were pursued by the city's local authorities in the 1980s.
When local councils imposed financial cuts from 1980 onwards, they argued that the cuts were necessary because of overspending. This text takes the view that monetarist policies are implicated in the decline in public services and critically evaluates the effects of monetarism on working people's lives, organisations and throughout the welfare state. It poses the question as to whether a different kind of economics was needed that was geared to need rather than to monetarist philosophy?
When local councils imposed financial cuts from 1980 onwards, they argued that the cuts were necessary because of overspending. This text takes the view that monetarist policies are implicated in the decline in public services and critically evaluates the effects of monetarism on working people's lives, organisations and throughout the welfare state. It poses the question as to whether a different kind of economics was needed that was geared to need rather than to monetarist philosophy?
Growing up in Ditchling, by Doris Hall, published 1985 (88 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733122 & ISBN-13: 9780904733129) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
The Other Side of the Counter: The Life of a Shop Girl 1925-1945, by Marjorie Gardiner, published 1 January 1985 (39 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733130 & ISBN-13: 9780904733136) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This autobiography looks at the working life of milliner, Marjorie Gardiner, from 1925 to 1945, including an account of her working life during the Second World War. Marjorie's story is told in a lively and evocative manner, and describes her experiences as a shop assistant working in a Brighton hat shop, where she met all manner of elite customers.
Those were the days when women were particularly fashion-conscious and there was a huge variety of different types of hat styles available. This first-hand account provides a fascinating insight into shop life during the first part of the twentieth century.
Those were the days when women were particularly fashion-conscious and there was a huge variety of different types of hat styles available. This first-hand account provides a fascinating insight into shop life during the first part of the twentieth century.
Backyard Brighton: Photographs and Memories of Brighton in the Thirties, published 1988 (75 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733165 & ISBN-13: 9780904733167) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:The collection of photographs and reminiscences was based on material gathered by Brighton Borough Council with the intention of creating a record of houses that were scheduled for demolition during the 1930s.
One Camp Chair in the Living Room: A Woman's Life in Rottingdean, by Margaret Ward, published July 1988 (53 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733157 & ISBN-13: 9780904733150) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Born in 1916, Margaret Ward describes her life as a 'winding lane' because of the many twists and turns it has taken. Her autobiography describes her childhood in Rottingdean, growing up amongst a loving family in the picturesque Sussex seaside village. For Margaret, 'nowhere in the world is there such a lovely place' to grow up.
Her story moves from childhood, through adolescence and working life to her eventual retirement. She recounts the inevitable good and bad times that she experienced, in her story of family life in a close-knit community of a trusting bygone age, when villagers knew and trusted their neighbours, and could leave their doors open or let their children roam freely outdoors.
Her story moves from childhood, through adolescence and working life to her eventual retirement. She recounts the inevitable good and bad times that she experienced, in her story of family life in a close-knit community of a trusting bygone age, when villagers knew and trusted their neighbours, and could leave their doors open or let their children roam freely outdoors.
Back Street Brighton: Photographs and Memories of Brighton slum, published October 1989 (69 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733378 & ISBN-13: 9780904733372) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Produced in collaboration with the Lewis Cohen Urban Studies Centre, this is a sequel to Backyard Brighton incorporating photographs taken by the Environmental Health Department in the late forties and early fifties of houses in Brighton that were scheduled for demolition in the fifties and sixties.
Each photograph is accompanied by reminiscences of families who lived in the houses which, unlike the narratives in Backyard Brighton, are generally positive - with many people expressing fond memories of the era and viewing the demolitions as a beneficial experience for the area.
The book provides an interesting historical account of 'slum' clearance for residents of Brighton and any other readers who might be interested in the architectural and social history of the city.
Each photograph is accompanied by reminiscences of families who lived in the houses which, unlike the narratives in Backyard Brighton, are generally positive - with many people expressing fond memories of the era and viewing the demolitions as a beneficial experience for the area.
The book provides an interesting historical account of 'slum' clearance for residents of Brighton and any other readers who might be interested in the architectural and social history of the city.
Moulsecoomb Days: Learning and Teaching on a Brighton Council Estate, 1922-47, by Ruby Dunn, published 1 May 1990 (74 pp., Brighton: QueensSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733351 & ISBN-13: 9780904733358) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library & West Sussex Libraries
Brighton Behind the Front: Photographs and Memories of the Second World War, edited by Michael Corum and George Heffaran, published 7 December 1990 (65 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733408 & ISBN-13: 9780904733402) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Produced in collaboration with the Lewis Cohen Urban Studies Centre. It brings together a collection of Brighton wartime reminiscences and documents how ordinary people were affected by the war.
This was a challenging time in British history, giving rise to moving accounts of individual lives set against a society undergoing profound changes. Using personal recollections, contemporary photographs, letters, a logbook and diaries, Brighton behind the Front vividly portrays what it was like to live in this south coast town during the Second World War.
This was a challenging time in British history, giving rise to moving accounts of individual lives set against a society undergoing profound changes. Using personal recollections, contemporary photographs, letters, a logbook and diaries, Brighton behind the Front vividly portrays what it was like to live in this south coast town during the Second World War.
The Town Beehive: A young girl's lot in Brighton 1910-1934, by Daisy Noakes, published 7 October 1991 (new edition, 60 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733459 & ISBN-13: 9780904733457) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/504088] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Brightonian, Daisy Noakes, tells her story from the age of fourteen, when she went into service. She gives us an insight into the life of a woman born and brought up in Brighton. Daisy documents - with humour - her inevitable trials and tribulations in the often physically demanding world that she inhabited during her working life.
The autobiography covers her childhood, as one of a family of ten, living in Prince's Road and Vere Road, and her working days in service in different parts of the town. This is a special insight into Daisy's world and is a shining example of true grit and fortitude!
The autobiography covers her childhood, as one of a family of ten, living in Prince's Road and Vere Road, and her working days in service in different parts of the town. This is a special insight into Daisy's world and is a shining example of true grit and fortitude!
Blighty Brighton, published December 1991 (60 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733556 & ISBN-13: 9780904733556) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502551] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This book (produced in collaboration with the Lewis Cohen Urban Studies Centre), is all about memories of Brighton during the First World War. Through an examination of ephemera such as posters, photographs, pictures, songs and personal recollections, it portrays a collective memory of the city. Photographs are central to this work; for example Brighton Museum, Preston Manor and Brighton Reference Library are all featured pictorially. This book provides a valuable and important source of local history - a must for all those passionate about the city and its historical roots!
Daring Hearts: Lesbian and Gay Lives of '50s and '60s Brighton, by Brighton Ourstory Project, published 1992 (124 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733319 & ISBN-13: 9780904733310) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This is a collection of life stories of people who are members of the gay and lesbian community in the Brighton area. The book is based on taped interviews with forty lesbian and gay men who spoke openly about their lives in and around Brighton.
In the fifties and sixties the town enjoyed a national reputation as a haven for gay people and it was viewed as a relatively tolerant place for people to visit and live. Lesbians and gay men came from all over Britain for holidays and to settle down. Brighton was considered a type of 'Eldorado', a promised land, and this tradition remains today, where its thriving gay community is one of the largest in the country, outside London.
In the fifties and sixties the town enjoyed a national reputation as a haven for gay people and it was viewed as a relatively tolerant place for people to visit and live. Lesbians and gay men came from all over Britain for holidays and to settle down. Brighton was considered a type of 'Eldorado', a promised land, and this tradition remains today, where its thriving gay community is one of the largest in the country, outside London.
Pullman Craftsmen: Life in the Pullman Car Company's Preston Park Works, Brighton, by Don Carter, Joe Kent and Geoff Hart, published 1 May 1992 (76 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733505 & ISBN-13: 9780904733501) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This work records the reminiscences of three craftsmen who were employed in the Preston Park Works of the Pullman Car Company during the fifties and sixties. As well as giving the reader a flavour of life in the engineering industry in those times, it also provides a fascinating post-war history of the automobile.
The authors record the rise and fall of the company, from its heyday in 1948 to its decline and ultimate bankruptcy in 1963. In its day, it was a successful and valued company in the Brighton area, and it supported the local economy to a great extent. This knowledgeable account provides a testimony to a craftsmanship of a bygone era!
The authors record the rise and fall of the company, from its heyday in 1948 to its decline and ultimate bankruptcy in 1963. In its day, it was a successful and valued company in the Brighton area, and it supported the local economy to a great extent. This knowledgeable account provides a testimony to a craftsmanship of a bygone era!
Memories of Rottingdean, by Margaret Ward, published 1993 (40 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733394 & ISBN-13: 9780904733396) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Deckhand, West Pier, by Arthur Thickett, published 1 December 1993 (42 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733246 & ISBN-13: 9780904733242) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508088] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This is a fresh and often humorous look at a young man who came to Brighton in the summer of 1970, full of hope and optimism - his goal was to find adventure and ultimately love. Written in a witty prose style, we learn that on his first day he found digs, on his second day, he walked into a job, but cupid's arrow was to prove more elusive! Haunted by memories of the Second World War, Arthur Thickett tried to reconcile himself to his past and find friendship and laughter. He describes a town that behind the bright and lively holiday facade was full of lonely people.
Her Story: Life of Phoebe Hessel, by Ruth Moorhouse and Chris Randall, published 1 August 1994 (28 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733599 & ISBN-13: 9780904733594) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library & East Sussex Libraries
Phoebe Hessel nee Smith (1713-1821), born Stepney, disguised herself as a soldier in the British Army, probably to be with her lover Samuel Golding. She lived in Brighton in old age and is buried in St Nicholas churchyard.
Brighton Boy: A Fifties Childhood, by Andy Steer, published 1 November 1994 (35 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733742 & ISBN-13: 9780904733747) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This autobiography takes as its subject matter the local areas and geography of post-war Brighton, seen through the eyes of Andy Steer. It includes descriptions of institutions in the city that were important to Andy such as Stanford Road School, the now defunct Brighton Cycle Club and the Shiverers Swimming Club at the King Alfred swimming pool in Hove! The book also brings alive those boyhood times when he and his friends played in Cherry Woods, near Withdean Stadium. Here they spent timeless hours on their endless games - lost in their own joyful, imaginary world. In short, Brighton Boy is a schoolboy's tale of Brighton in the fifties which is sure to bring back memories of forgotten times for many local people.
Jobs for life, by Joan Parsons, published December 1995 (72 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 090473384X & ISBN-13: 9780904733846) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
Oh! What a lovely pier, by Daphne Mitchell, published 1996 (43 pp., Queen Spark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733513 & ISBN-13: 9780904733518) accessible at: R.I.B.A. Library
Abstract:Working on the West Pier from 1956 to 1970, Daphne Mitchell's story evokes the atmosphere of the seaside in bygone times. Daphne recalls seaside shows that featured acts, such as the Great Omani, floating by on a bed of nails. She describes scenes with dolphins basking in the sea and aerial displays by the Red Arrows; all things that made the West Pier 'the pier of piers.' During the season, it was so hectic that Daphne comments `you didn't know whether to laugh or cry'. In this account, the life of the West Pier is vividly brought to life for the modern reader, who today can only view a ghostly wreck that echoes to the seabirds' sad songs. The subject is of particular relevance in view of the current debates that are taking place over the future of the West Pier.
Catching Stories: Voices from the Brighton Fishing Community, by Brighton Fishing Community Project Team, published 1 May 1996 (144 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733467 & ISBN-13: 9780904733464) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This comprehensive account of the fishing industry documents how it has changed since the beginning of the century. At that time, fishing boats landed on the beach and the fish market was actually on the seafront. On a more personal level, Catching Stories is a living record, told in their own words, of the individuals who made up Brighton's fishing community.
Their past is remembered with humour and honesty, as are the bygone traditions and lifestyles of their families. This unique and valuable document of social and oral history reveals the details of a traditional profession in an informative and enjoyable way. Listen to 'hidden voices' that clamour to be heard!
Their past is remembered with humour and honesty, as are the bygone traditions and lifestyles of their families. This unique and valuable document of social and oral history reveals the details of a traditional profession in an informative and enjoyable way. Listen to 'hidden voices' that clamour to be heard!
Snapshots: Childhood Memories of Southampton Street 1942-55, by Janis Ravenett, published 1 September 1996 (68 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733998 & ISBN-13: 9780904733990) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:In this autobiography, Janis Ravenett recalls her memories of Southampton Street, situated in the Hanover area of Brighton, during the years between 1942 and 1955. Janis includes many vignettes of family life, recalling a childhood that was happy and full of fun, and recounts the inevitable good and bad times that she experienced, especially in the transition from childhood to adulthood.
The stories reveal a child's vivid perception of the love, excitement and disappointments that are all part of the growing up process. These memories cannot fail to touch the child in all of us. They are presented as self-contained snapshots of Janis's life, woven together to form an overall picture that represents her life's experiences.
The stories reveal a child's vivid perception of the love, excitement and disappointments that are all part of the growing up process. These memories cannot fail to touch the child in all of us. They are presented as self-contained snapshots of Janis's life, woven together to form an overall picture that represents her life's experiences.
Flying Sparks, by Tim Wren, published 1998 (56 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733653 & ISBN-13: 9780904733655) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This autobiography depicts the trials and tribulations experienced by a hard-working apprentice electrician, as well as documenting times of laughter and fun. Tim Wren was fourteen when he left school and started work in wartime Brighton. In time, the opportunity arose to become a full apprentice and 'go out on the tools'.
Tim's work took him to many different places, including the Royal Pavilion, when it was converted into an army hospital for Indian soldiers and an Italian prisoner of war camp in Billingshurst, West Sussex. However, if the truth be told, Tim seemed to spend most of his working hours with his colleagues, frequenting the teashops of Brighton!
Tim's work took him to many different places, including the Royal Pavilion, when it was converted into an army hospital for Indian soldiers and an Italian prisoner of war camp in Billingshurst, West Sussex. However, if the truth be told, Tim seemed to spend most of his working hours with his colleagues, frequenting the teashops of Brighton!
Ha'porth of Sweets: A Child's 1930s-40s, by John Knight, published 1 April 1998 (75 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733661 & ISBN-13: 9780904733662) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
Moulsecoomb Memories: Growing up in North Moulsecoomb in the thirties, by Sheila Winter, published 1 April 1998 (56 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733602 & ISBN-13: 9780904733600) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:This personal history features the growth of the community of North Moulsecoomb in Brighton. These are the reminiscences of Sheila Winter, who was born, raised and married in the community, and who narrates the story of her life during the years between 1929 and 1950. Through her eyes, the reader learns of the pleasures of childhood, despite the hardships and restrictions brought about by the Second World War. Sheila shares with the reader her personal hopes, fears, struggles and achievements as she describes her life's progression. Above all, the resilience of the human spirit shines through this honest and reflective account of one woman's life history.
A Life Behind Bars, by Marjory Batchelor, published 1999 (93 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733750 & ISBN-13: 9780904733754) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Born in 1908 at the Marquess of Exeter public house, which was run by her parents, Marjory Batchelor spent her working life as a barmaid and pub landlady in and around the Brighton area. Marjory recalls her experiences of the licensed trade through two World Wars up to the present day.
From the days of spit 'n' sawdust and horse-drawn drays, to the arrival of fruit machines and 'pub grub' - Marjory remembers it all with humour and affection. Her account documents the many changes that have taken place in pub life in Marjory's lifetime, and provides an interesting social history of the industry, through first-hand experience.
From the days of spit 'n' sawdust and horse-drawn drays, to the arrival of fruit machines and 'pub grub' - Marjory remembers it all with humour and affection. Her account documents the many changes that have taken place in pub life in Marjory's lifetime, and provides an interesting social history of the industry, through first-hand experience.
A Working Man: A Century of Hove Memories, by Ernie Mason, published November 1999 (76 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733718 & ISBN-13: 9780904733716) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:One winter in the 1980s, Ernie Mason was at a loose end, so he bought a notebook and began to write his autobiography. This story encapsulates a working-class man's journey through life over the course of the twentieth century, documenting the many changes that took place in the local environment and in social conditions.
Born in 1906, Ernie lived all his life in Hove, except for a short period spent in the Navy during the war years. His childhood was spent in a neighbourhood that was full of market gardens, orchards and fields. Ernie recalls vivid memories of growing up, of his working life and finally of retirement after sixty years of work, having begun his working life at the tender age of eleven. The narrative not only provides a unique personal history, but also depicts a largely forgotten way of life in a bygone era.
Born in 1906, Ernie lived all his life in Hove, except for a short period spent in the Navy during the war years. His childhood was spent in a neighbourhood that was full of market gardens, orchards and fields. Ernie recalls vivid memories of growing up, of his working life and finally of retirement after sixty years of work, having begun his working life at the tender age of eleven. The narrative not only provides a unique personal history, but also depicts a largely forgotten way of life in a bygone era.
The Church round the corner: St Anne's, Kemp Town, by Maurice Packham, published 14 December 2000 (96 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733815 & ISBN-13: 9780904733815) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:This book examines the social and religious history of St. Anne's Church, which was located in the heart of Brighton. Maurice Packman, the author, was a choirboy at St. Anne's in the 1930s and he takes a gently humorous look at the community of his fellow worshippers. The church has been demolished, but memories of the trials and tribulations of its parishioners live on through the eyes of the author.
Write from the beginning: special childhood days, edited by Jackie Blackwell, published 2002 (36 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733955 & ISBN-13: 9780904733952) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
An anthology by writers belonging to QueenSpark, a community writing and publishing group based in Brighton.
School Reports: Past Pupils' Memories of St Luke's, edited by Jackie Blackwell, published 5 July 2003 (120 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733173 & ISBN-13: 9780904733174) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
Abstract:This book contains reminiscences and anecdotes from past pupils who attended St. Luke's School, in the Queens Park area of Brighton in the years between 1908 - 1983. It contains an eclectic mix of anecdotes that express both fond memories and less happy recollections of pupils' schoolday experiences and the reality of belonging to a close-knit community. It also provides the reader with valuable first-hand accounts of the changing education system during that period, covering the First form through to the Sixth form.
Who was Harry Cowley?, edited by Jackie Blackwell, published 5 July 2003 (2nd revised edition, 47 pp., Brighton: Queenspark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733181 & ISBN-13: 9780904733181) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
Harry Cowley was a Brighton born social activist, born in 1890. He worked as a chimney sweep and became involved in grass-roots social activism from the 1920s until his death 1971.
Missing the Nile: Experiences of Sudanese People in Brighton, published 2005 (28 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 090473322X & ISBN-13: 9780904733228) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:This book examines the customs and culture of the Sudanese community in the Brighton and Hove area.
The British and Sudanese cultures are very different to one another and the narrative includes comparisons of the two cultures, as well as giving first-hand descriptions of festivals, celebrations including weddings and funerals, and food.
Missing the Nile: Experiences of Sudanese people in Brighton is written in both English and Arabic, making it accessible to the widest possible audience and will be especially enjoyed by the second generation of the Sudanese community, living in the Brighton and Hove area. It also fulfils the function of recording a culture's history for future generations.
The British and Sudanese cultures are very different to one another and the narrative includes comparisons of the two cultures, as well as giving first-hand descriptions of festivals, celebrations including weddings and funerals, and food.
Missing the Nile: Experiences of Sudanese people in Brighton is written in both English and Arabic, making it accessible to the widest possible audience and will be especially enjoyed by the second generation of the Sudanese community, living in the Brighton and Hove area. It also fulfils the function of recording a culture's history for future generations.
Bangla Brighton, published 1 March 2006 (64 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733327 & ISBN-13: 9780904733327) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:Here, for the first time in print, is a celebration of Brighton's Bangladeshi community. The stories and essays presented in this book were written, gathered and selected by members of the community and have come from men and women, young and old, and people from a wide range of backgrounds and viewpoints.
The Faith Project: Faith Communities in Brighton and Hove, edited by Peter Oakes, published 1 March 2006 (50 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733521 & ISBN-13: 9780904733525) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & British Library
Pebble on the Beach, by Tony Diamond, published 23 October 2006 (248 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733629 & ISBN-13: 9780904733624) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:"Back in the 1950s and 60s what the man in the white coat said, stood . ."
Pebble on the Beach is the true story of one boy's ability to survive. Growing up in Brighton, England, Tony was subjected to a childhood of physical and mental abuse - including electric shock treatment at the age of ten - abandoned by his family at fifteen, and sent to Australia to fend for himself.
Unable to settle, wandering from place to place, he plotted his return to England, but an ill-fated attempt to stow away led to imprisonment in New Zealand and his eventual deportation. Having visited four continents, survived four brushes with death and a journey of 30,000 miles, he arrived back in England profoundly changed - but were things at home any different?
Pebble on the Beach is the true story of one boy's ability to survive. Growing up in Brighton, England, Tony was subjected to a childhood of physical and mental abuse - including electric shock treatment at the age of ten - abandoned by his family at fifteen, and sent to Australia to fend for himself.
Unable to settle, wandering from place to place, he plotted his return to England, but an ill-fated attempt to stow away led to imprisonment in New Zealand and his eventual deportation. Having visited four continents, survived four brushes with death and a journey of 30,000 miles, he arrived back in England profoundly changed - but were things at home any different?
Roofless: Homeless in Brighton, edited by Peter Oakes, published 15 January 2007 (92 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733726 & ISBN-13: 9780904733723) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:Roofless is a collection of photographs, essays, stories and poems by homeless and ex-homeless people from Brighton. It is about survival, about battling poverty, rejection, ill health and loneliness. There is anger, sadness and rebellion, but also instances of hope and solidarity and writing that, whilst often raw and uncompromising, possesses a surprising generosity of spirit. Roofless attacks many commonly held prejudices and provides not just a window on the world of the homeless, but a valuable insight into the society that so often lets them down.
Deckchair guide to Brighton and Hove, by the people who live here and edited by Tim Lay, published 1 August 2007 (160 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Publishers, ISBN-10: 0904733289 & ISBN-13: 9780904733280) accessible at: British Library & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Brighton & Hove is a multi-faceted city and it is possibly its trendy, cosmopolitan side most people recognise. Local residents however are familiar with a much more fascinating, diverse place. What is it really like to live here? Is it just 'London by the sea' as the media portrays? Or does it have its own unique identity? Hundreds of local people shared their knowledge and opinions in this guide book and many others volunteered their time to poll local people, source images, and write about why they love this city (warts and all).
The Tale of a Boy Soldier: Memories of the Great War, by George Parker and edited by Anne Morrison, published 25 September 2008 (72 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733432 & ISBN-13: 9780904733433) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:George Parker was born into poverty in Brighton in 1898 and joined up to fight in the First World War at the age of just 15. He fought in the trenches in both Ypres and on the Somme and, although wounded, survived the horrors of the 'war to end all wars'. In 1969 George wrote this memoir which provides us with a first-hand account of life in Brighton before the First World War and, in particular, of life for a young soldier in the trenches.
Back Row Brighton: Cinema-going in Brighton and Hove, edited by Sarah Hutchings and John Riches, published 30 September 2009 (70 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733637 & ISBN-13: 9780904733631) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Back Row Brighton transports us back to the heyday of cinema-going in the company of those who were there. Alongside evocative archive photographs, names such as the Astoria, the Granada, the Continentale and the Regency are recalled in touching and humorous stories of romance, excitement, grandeur and, occasionally, fleas.
Some of these recollections are drawn from QueenSpark's rich archive, others are the recorded reminiscenses of elders of the city asked to recall cinema-going in Brighton & Hove in the 1930s and 1960s.
Some of these recollections are drawn from QueenSpark's rich archive, others are the recorded reminiscenses of elders of the city asked to recall cinema-going in Brighton & Hove in the 1930s and 1960s.
Lost Cinemas of Brighton & Hove, edited by Sarah Hutchings, published 2010 (Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-13: 9780904733686) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508796] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Backstage Brighton: Theatre-going in Brighton & Hove, published 4 October 2010 (100 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733734 & ISBN-13: 9780904733730) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:In 1900 Brighton had more theatres than anywhere in the UK outside London. Backstage Brighton from QueenSpark Books celebrates theatre and theatre-going in the city, past and present.
If you ever wondered what once stood on the site of the Brighton Centre or why the Sallis Benney Theatre is so-called, alongside first person memories of venues from those who were there, then you'll be enthralled by the book's fascinating journey through the history and heritage of Brighton & Hove's many theatrical venues.
'The Grand was cheaper and more working class than the Theatre Royal. You could get a seat and entertainment for about a shilling. There were about 300 seats, and there were some real characters playing there, like Max Miller. The most expensive seat was one and six, but up in the gallery used to be nine pence. All the yobs used to go up there because it was so cheap. They used to throw sweet wrappers and everything down on people.' Bill Richards (Local resident)
If you ever wondered what once stood on the site of the Brighton Centre or why the Sallis Benney Theatre is so-called, alongside first person memories of venues from those who were there, then you'll be enthralled by the book's fascinating journey through the history and heritage of Brighton & Hove's many theatrical venues.
'The Grand was cheaper and more working class than the Theatre Royal. You could get a seat and entertainment for about a shilling. There were about 300 seats, and there were some real characters playing there, like Max Miller. The most expensive seat was one and six, but up in the gallery used to be nine pence. All the yobs used to go up there because it was so cheap. They used to throw sweet wrappers and everything down on people.' Bill Richards (Local resident)
Teatime Tales: The Pavilion Gardens Café Interviews, published 30 April 2011 (64 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733645 & ISBN-13: 9780904733648) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:The Pavilion Gardens Café, like the Royal Pavilion across the Gardens, is a unique Brighton institution. Throughout the last seventy years, it has offered refreshment, relaxation and a certain kind of charm to tens of thousands of visitors from around the world.
The Café also attracts a fascinating clientele of local people who are regular visitors to the venue. It is some of their 'Teatime Tales' about lives and Brighton and Hove's history, that are featured here for the very first time
The Café also attracts a fascinating clientele of local people who are regular visitors to the venue. It is some of their 'Teatime Tales' about lives and Brighton and Hove's history, that are featured here for the very first time
The Brighton & Hove Photographic Collection I, by John Riches, published 1 August 2011 (75 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733831 & ISBN-13: 9780904733839) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:A selection of 50 images submitted by the general public for the launch of our new online collection. Featuring the quirky and funny, the book is a testament to the diverse people and history of the city.
The Brighton & Hove Photographic Collection II, by John Riches and Stella Cardus, published 8 November 2012 (72 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733882 & ISBN-13: 9780904733884) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books
Abstract:Magnum photographer Mark Power's curation; JJ Waller's collection of images taken around the closure of the Open Market; the late Leslie Whitcomb's documents of the past; and Peter Chrisp's evocative photos of shops and people in the 1980s - as well as asking QueenSpark Books associates to select their favourites.
Brighton Trans*formed, published 2014 (95 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733939 & ISBN-13: 9780904733938) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508715] & The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Trans identities are often neglected, re-written or even erased from formal histories. Brighton Trans*formed features, in their own words, the rich variety of Trans lives in Brighton & Hove today; it preserves previously untold stories for future generations, and is a much-needed exploration into the diversity of gender expression within the city.
It's contributors ranged from 18 to 81 years old with very different life experiences. All of their testimonies have in common an absolute honesty and openness: contributors shared their joys and tragedies; adversities faced, and a display of strength and resolve to be themselves.
It's contributors ranged from 18 to 81 years old with very different life experiences. All of their testimonies have in common an absolute honesty and openness: contributors shared their joys and tragedies; adversities faced, and a display of strength and resolve to be themselves.
Brighton's Graphic War 2016, edited by John Riches, published 11 November 2016 (200 pp., Brighton: QueenSpark Books, ISBN-10: 0904733335 & ISBN-13: 9780904733334) accessible at: The Keep archive of QueenSpark Books & West Sussex Libraries