I really enjoyed reading E C Bacon's article on the Richmond Buildings area (The Argus Weekend, August 31). I lived in Ashton Street, Jersey Street and Claremont Street when the houses were owned by landlords and the rent about 15 shillings a week.

Harvey Holford had a barbershop in Richmond Buildings. I went to Brighton Intermediate School, York Place, at the same time as Harvey. He was sent to prison for killing his wife. I would like to know if he is still around. The last time I heard of him, he had changed his name.

John Marshall the chimney sweep also repaired and sold motorbikes in the workshop under their house. I bought my first motorbike, a BSA, from John for £35 and then a Royal Enfield for £50.

Harry Croydon's son Leslie had a newsagent's shop at the top of Jersey Street. Croydon's had a very good cricket team made up entirely of relations. Ernie and Bill Croydon played for them and played football, too, for Shoreham FC in the Sussex County League.

F James & Sons was a grocer's shop on the corner of Claremont Street. The window was always full of eggs. My uncle, Tom Pannett who lived in Claremont Street, would give me a shilling to go to James's to buy 20 Players cigarettes, costing 11 and a half pence. I would have the halfpenny change.

I went to Sunday school at the Ebenezer Chapel in Richmond Street. As soon as it finished, we would rush to the Court Cinema in New Road because, if we got there before 3.30pm, the entrance fee was only 3d. We used to sit in the balcony on bench seats and enjoy the films with Gordon Harker, Alastair Sim, Will Hay, Moore Marriott, Graham Moffatt, Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. Perhaps Gordon Dean could write about these British actors?

Also at the weekend, a man would come around selling sweets and another would sell watercress. We didn't have much in those days but were happy and satisfied and enjoyed life.

-Alf Godfree, Old Roar Road, St Leonards