I was born and bred around the Withdean and Patcham area 71 years ago.

One of our main enjoyments as children was cycling. You hardly saw a car in those days so it was quite safe and parents had no need to worry at all.

London Road started at the end of Patcham as a single road leading out of Brighton. On the right-hand side was the Robin Hood garage and, opposite, four small terraced cottages where I had friends.

We used to cycle to the pylons, which then seemed like 100 miles away from our homes.

Just before the pylons, I remember a little old man in what I can only call half a small shed located in a small cut-out in the road. They weren’t called laybys in those days.

Here you could buy the best cheese roll and cup of tea in the world for sixpence.

This used to go down very well indeed – a real treat for us kids, and a real adventure.

Just past the pylons on the left- hand side of the road were fields and, viewable from the road, an old Army tank abandoned there for many years. I often wondered what happened to it.

We used to play on it – it was probably very dangerous.

I believe during the Second World War there was some sort of camp there. We used to scout round the nearby shrubbery and find bullet shells and even hand grenades and bombs. It’s a wonder we are still here.

Another thing I remember one time was a sort of trade fair-come- fete in front of Patcham Place youth hostel.

I can especially remember a real Spitfire being on show, which I sat in and had my photo taken with. Alas, it was lost long ago.

There were many stalls and one, being a young lad, interested me a lot. It was one of the first selling plastic kits of cars, planes, boats, etc. The main theme was American cars and we were amazed at how detailed they were.

And one last thing – does anyone remember Withdean Zoo?

That was another fun place with its wild animals and small train which you could ride on. It had bears, monkeys, tigers, lions, snakes, birds – the lot.

On leaving we used to go to Ralph’s grocers for a bottle of lemonade and Strong’s for an ice lolly before going home.

They were good memories. Do any other readers of The Argus remember these things?

Roger Lee, Firle Road, Peacehaven