I remember the Guinness Clock which was situated on the North side of Kings Road, between the Grand Hotel and the Palladium (long since gone) Cinema. The clock was a replica of the one displayed at the 1951 Festival of Britain. It was extremely colourful and every fifteen minutes it played a tune: but that wasn't all it did:
Above the clock face a Zoo Keeper would appear under an umbrella ringing a bell. At the same time double doors would open to show a roundabout with marionettes dancing around. Below that (the clock was some twenty feet high) was a tree trunk with two Toucans (the Guinness logo) pecking at it in time to the music. A window opened and the Mad Hatter appeared with a fishing rod. He caught a large fish which disgorged a smaller fish which disgorged an even smaller fish etc. until a tiddler appeared. The Hatter was just going to grab the fish when the clock struck and all the fish swallowed each other up, the Mad Hatter disappeared and so did all the other features. This took about four minutes and then all was quiet for quarter of an hour.
Janice Greenwood

Brighton & Hove Albion - Ups and Downs - Alan Israel

They had a player called Adrian Thorne who wasn't normally that brilliant but on this occasion he 'got lucky' five times and scored five goals in a six-nil victory.

In the Argus on Monday morning there was a huge picture of the crowd and I was right in the middle of it.

At the time of the next match, I was in Broadstairs with my father while Brighton & Hove were playing Middlesborough. On Sunday I read in the paper that they had lost nine-nil to Middlesborough. At first I thought it must be a misprint but then I saw that five of the nine goals were scored by a guy called Brian Clough

Frankie Vaughan at the Hippodrome - Doris Levinson

What I found terribly embarrassing was that all the women who were near the stage ran up and surrounded him and nearly tore him apart! I'd never seen anything like that before.

Brighton during the war -Alma Caplin

I also remember that, in Portland Road, a British plane was shot down and the pilot unfortunately killed. The block of flats that now stands there, Noland Court, is named after him

Jam for the Synagogue Fete - David Schaverien

Me, my aunt and the Second World War - Liz Posner

I was not only worried - I was terrified!

Some time later, she came and released me and gave me some tea. I immediately forgot everything that had happened to me that morning, enjoyed my tea and later that day was collected by my mother - by train - and returned home.

Little did I know that, soon after Hannukah, I was back down in Brighton at boarding school in Rottingdean and there I stayed till 1945.

Oh what a lovely war!

Chief Rabbi's visits - David Schaverien

My Brighton family - Rochelle Oberman

Both my grandfather and that of my husband Gerald came down here for the sake of their health - because the air in Brighton was better for them than that in the East End of London

In the summer time during the 1930's , they also took a stall along Brighton seafront and there is actually a picture of it, together with my father and an aunt, in the Tate Gallery London

During the war, my mother took in refugees from London

For several years they also had a shop by the Arches by the pier but this regularly got washed out by the tides, so they gave it up. They did, however,also have a restaurant by the Aquarium where the big fish and chip shop is now

Lou Gold aged 87

In 1968 I came to Brighton with my wife Marlene Steel. We lived in Montpelier Road and then Brusnwick Terrace.

During the war I was in the army for four and a half years. I served in Egypt and luckily was not injured.

Primary School - Sydney Levene

I walked past a woollen mill with a Jewish owner. Hundreds of people worked there - mainly women. At 8.50 the first hooter sounded and then at 8.55 a second one at a much higher pitch. When I heard the second siren I knew I had to run the rest of the way to school.

At school we wrote on slates with a slate pencil. Our writing was rubbed out by the teacher using a small wet mop. We didn't get exercise books until we were seven or eight years old.

At 5pm all the mill workers came out the factory and walked home. Most of the women wore metal clogs and had shawls over their heads

Eveylyn Evans

After she was married they came to Brighton and she taught in a couple of Cheders because she already had family down here

She opened her first corset shop in Gardner Street, Brighton

Estelle Rothstein - aged 88

After divorcing her first husband, she met her second husband Sam at Ralli Hall. She married him three months later. Sam died just over 15 years ago

She loves dancing and is self taught. She knew Edmundo Ross who came to visit Brighton in 1967

Diana White aged 89

I went to Southdown College which was a Jewish school in 1928. Then I went to Varndean

I am now vice-President of the Progressive shul

My husband came to Brighton from London after the First World War and was circulation manager for the South on the Daily Mail. I worked as a secretary.

Her parents lived in New Steine Mansions and she went to Middle Street shul every Shabbat with her father.

In those days there were wonderful youth groups and she knew Sally Crook and Stanley Jackson. She also knows Aubrey Cole who is her contemporary.

Hazel Rubin

She didn't think there was much chance of getting permission for my husband's 90th but applied anyway and was overjoyed when she received it. However, just before she was due to leave, there was trouble in southern Israel and her leave was cancelled.

She was so upset and her mother, my daughter, contacted the Army Ombudsman on her behalf. Nothing was said, but on the day of my husband's party we received a phone call from her. We assumed she was in Israel but, just then, the door bell rang and there she was! It was the most amazing and wonderful surprise!

Jo Benjamin aged 100

I also remember an old aeroplane being pulled along Western Road

We went along the seafront in a horse drawn carriage but couldn't go beyond Rottingdean as it was open country

Vera Silver - memories

Marion Rose

My father was Polish but never became naturalized. However an Italian family coerced by mother t let me stay with them and then she did

Those were the happiest days of my childhood.When the war was over my foster parents asked my parents if they could find them accommodation to be near me. Well we did have Italian people next door and so they moved to Forest Gate, London E7

Elizabeth Bex

It was my mother's birthday and I recorded "I'll be loving you always" for her

Muriel Marcus

I was married twice. My second husband was a squadron leader in the airforce. He was stationed in Germany after the war.

I have a son, Gerry, a grandson Robert and a stepson Dennis

Sheila Morris

I also married during the war and there was no petrol so we had both the chuppah and reception in a hotel so people didn't have to travel. My brother had got married only two months before and all the same guests were there so I didn't get as many presents as him!

Waiting for the ceremony, my face covered in a veil, I was shaking and everyone thought I was nervous. However the reason was that there was a bluebottle under my veil and I was laughing!

Freda Bisbar

I also remember another act at that time called "Old Mother Riley" where a man called Arthur Lucan played "Old Mother Riley" and his partner Kitty O'Shea played the daughter Kitty.

Memories from Lily Kotler.

I was in the in the Reform Shul in Palmeira Avenue with my husband and children for the service being taken by the late Rabbi Erwin Rosenblum, when my husband, Harold Kotler suffered a severe coronary attack.

Dr Arthur Curtis immediately went to his aid and he was taken to hospital where he later died.

My husband was a member of the Board of the Synagogue.

Memories from Marylin Fisher

Our first show was Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Leslie Lewis. Jonathan was in charge of the music; Don was in the chorus and I had the part of Yentl, the matchmaker. However, I have to point out that I was the matchmaker only in the show itself - I never took on that job for the rest of my life!

We all had a lot of fun with this and many other successful Ralli Hall shows.

Connie Tresman

She explained that she was only able to visit the West Pier because her father used to do fishing there as it was otherwise closed. She had a photo of 'The Old Regent' in Queens Road which she explained was the meeting place to go in the old days. She also showed us another photo of a cinema which is now Waitrose along Western Road and a photo of Kemp Town station.

She also recalls the Athena B ship being brought up from the sea-bed in Brighton in 1980 and showed us some photos of that. Also the Grand Hotel when it was bombed. She used to enjoy taking photos around Brighton and Hove and has quite a collection.

Vivien Harris.

Angela Davis.

Often on our walks we would stop to watch a stuffed bird in a cage outside a shop in the Lanes. Sometimes, if I was lucky, a passer-by would put money in the slot and the bird would sing! I would stand with my Grandpa watching it with delight!

Gerald Burkeman.

Gerald's sweet bag reminded him of going to his granny's sweet shop, which "sold joys hard to describe... trays of toffee apples, chocolate beans and buttons and liquorish ribbons".

Gerald has written a short history of BHRS and an autobiography and is now putting the finishing touches to an anthology of all his writings for sharing with his family.

Beatrice Koslova

It was a great sense of achievement, pride and joy when we drove into the front forecourt of a lovely house in Hove with everyone there to welcome and greet us and the new bus. I am so proud and pleased that, especially wheelchair-bound passengers, now have a method of taking part in community activities due to the Helping Hands community bus.

Myrtle van Buren

Her husband Leo served in the Queen Victoria Rifles and had been a Prisoner of War in Germany and Poland .He fortunately survived the war

He was an accomplished artist and there are several of his paintings on display in the house.

Her father Daniel Gitlin visited Brighton as a boy and always wanted to return. He was a Kosher Butcher in Notting Hill.

Bobbie and Louis Silver

Although she knew his mother and sisters she had never really met him until they met at a charity dance. Louis said 'she captivated me right from the start' and they hit it off very quickly. At the end of the dance he asked for her phone number. He said it was easy to remember as it was one digit different from his friend's phone number ! Nevertheless they both remember he didn't phone for about 2 - 3 weeks and they laughed about how he kept her waiting.

They were married in 1950 at Dollis Hill shul, when he was 32 and she was 28, and she wore a beautiful dress made by Louis' mother, which was covered in sequins and lace.

Another memory she mentioned that was very sweet for them was that last year, to celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary. They went on a Baltic cruise with their daughter and partner.

Revelations of an Outside Ox! - Adrian Gold

Miss Cox's class of 20 or so five and six year olds were to stage something called a nativity play. After the storyline was explained to us I had set my heart on the star part I wanted, particularly as Tamsin Olivier was playing the mother -very Julie Andrews

Confusion set in when the class was introduced to the top billing - a somewhat battered doll covered with rags, shattering my ideas of instant theatrical success

Not all was lost. I was given the prestigious part of the inn keeper (years later they would say 'how apt!) This superb casting for the 5 1/2 year old 'token Jewish boy' was to be somewhat shortlived. During rehearsals I took it upon myself to change the storyline. When asked by Mary and husband if I had any room at the inn, I thought it an excellent idea to change the storyline. and replied "Yes, come in!"

Somehow the whole class stopped in their tracks and burst into tears. I had just made about 15 of my class totally redundant and duly lost my star part. "Adrian - you are now the outside ox"

I was to be responsible for all the animals outside the barn - all two of us!

Performance morning arrived. This outside ox was ready for his West End debut. There was rather a lot going on in the barn, especially fuss about the doll. So I made my move. I was not to be beaten.However, not being entirely sure what an oxen was, my version was a cross between a cow and a sheep.

So the Outside Ox started his cow/sheep mixture oxen impersonation - somewhat loudly! With the best intention 'boo ... boo' bellowed across the hall, to the amusement of the audience. Next the 'boos' were the Outside Ox's tears - now offstage being cuddled by Miss Cox

Of course, given my surname (and intelligence?) I should have been cast as one of the alleged 'wise men', preferably profiteering gold . But that's show business.

My miscasting - why? Was this my first experience of anti-semitism - Adrian Gold the Outside Ox? That obviously one would experience later. Never at Windlesham. It was pure diplomacy.

Thank you Miss Cox. You were very, well, diplomatic. But you still couldn't keep me quiet...

Mrs Mary Kent

Also we had a donkey had a mind of its own. Us children got its back, he didn't want to carry us, then threw us in the nettles.

We got stung all over. This is all very true. End of story.

Shirley Moss

the day of my wedding, a perfect sunny day and the day that my darling grandson was born.

He is the light of my life, and just seeing his beautiful face has seen me through some very hard times.

Bill Neville

I went home later that evening and said to my parents - I've just met the girl I'm going to marry. My father burst out laughing and my mother burst into tears! That was 59 years ago!

Essie Lowenthal

Myra Winston

We all get on well together. Quite a blessing!!

Sarah Main

Unknown

watching the stall holders chopping fillets of salt herring very finely at great skilful speed and sharpening their knives on the curb stone.

I lived in Hackney - Chatsworth Road market - and waking up to the sound of horses hooves on the cobble stones and the stall holders shouting out their wares.

The local boys used to take our skipping ropes, tie them together and climb trees to make swings for us girls - no posh swings for us in those days.

In the evenings - following the lamp lighter up the road watching him lighting the street gas lamps.

I remember the 'pea-souper' fogs where you could not see a hand in front of your face.

Yes long long ago, though it now seems absurd.

We could walk out in safety, and allowed to feed a bird. We were young. We were happy.

Ceska Abrahams

Many people were flying from the German invasion but we stayed put because of the promise.

The Polish army capitulated and the men were returning home but not my father.

Mother decided to walk to the nearest town to look for him. She searched the hospitals, but no sign of father,

She was returning home. Somebody walked beside her. She turned around. It was father making the way home.

It was the happiest time in my life to see both my parents returning together.

Alan Lever

Unfortunately Alec steered us into another boat and we capsized.

I was ok until they schlepped me onto the bank and my Dad took my clothes off to try and dry me

. I was so embarrassed I shrieked so loudly a policeman came and nearly arrested my dad for I am not sure what!?!

Alan Hershman

Ann Packham

Rosalie Hershman

Roberta Spink

Renee Phillips

Helen Spector

Stephani Neville

Renee Scott

Estelle Simon

Greta K Woolf

Kitty Norman

Daphne Joel

Jean Coates

Kitty Arscott

they couldn't speak English so there were no conversations but a pinched cheek and a big hug.

There were always potatoes in the black oven which Buba kept immaculate, and her lockshen pudding was heavenly.

When she stayed at 13 Teesdale Street, Bethnal Green, when Mum & Dad were at work, we all slept together in the sofa bed

- my brother, two cousins- one I wanted to marry but he was a first cousin!

How I'd love to see the house again but no doubt it's been completely changed.

However, the memories aren't changed and they're with me forever.

Hazel Berg

Phillip Linke

Morris Hirschfeld

Valerie Green

Suzanne Collins

I was 4 years old, saw him and apparently said to my mother when he approached 'is that my daddy?'

Micky Fuller

Linda Gordon

Unknown

… I helped with the last first and then I sent out of town.

The farmers liked me so much that I stayed for 3 years instead of one. After that I reported to the job centre and was looked at as if I were a ghost!!!

'You hear, you must disappear immediately! They are looking for you.'

Where was I to go to? 'We have an address of a countess who would like to have you.'

Next day I went to see the gracious lady the Countess Von Bothmor.

The SS found me, but the wonderful lady Grafin von Bothmer sheltered me behind her hands and with a voice of thunder said, 'not this child, this girl stays with me in my home.'

I was saved from going to the KZ Praise God.