Adam Trimingham's most interesting article "Grand finish on the front" (The Argus, June 15) brought back many memories from my younger years. I lived in Kemp Town until 1925, when my family moved to Hove.

However, there are one or two things Adam appears to have missed. Peter Pan's Playground was, in fact, developed on the site of Jack Shepherd's Concert Party. They mostly played in the open air, with deck chairs inside the enclosure, and in bad weather performed in the "shelter" now used by Concorde 2.

Immediately to the east of Jack Shepherd's site was a bandstand and between that and the Banjo groyne were three, maybe four, beautifully-maintained bowling greens used, I believe, by a rather exclusive club. On the north side of Madeira Drive, between the Aquarium (roughly) and the shelter building, was a series of flower beds, each surrounded by flowering shrubs. The whole length is now a car park.

Volk's Railway originally ran from the Palace Pier to Black Rock. The west-end station was adjacent to the Palace Pier but was moved eastwards when the esplanade was repaved and widened in the Thirties, I think. The eastern terminal was wider and the railway started when the swimming pool was built, again, I think, in the Thirties.

I'm afraid the beauty and charm of Madeira Drive have been lost forever. It is now a racetrack every day. The only races I remember as a boy were motorcycle races held once a year and organised by the Brighton Light Car and Motor Cycle Club. My brother raced there and, on occasion, rang a very large bell hanging on the railings above the shelter building (the finishing line). This was to clear the course for the next race or speed sprint.

What very happy memories from long ago, when Brighton was a peaceful place.

-R J Sharpe, Sunnydale Avenue, Patcham