Worthingite Keith Downer, born 1927, often visited Arundel with his parents before the war and subsequently over the years and has consistent fond memories of the Cathedral town on the River Arun fortified by its ancient castle.

'Arundel, famous for it's Castle, the home of the Duke of Norfolk was always pleasant but later, in the 1960s, was being ruined by the roar of heavy lorries etc. driving to Portsmouth or Southampton, before the bypass was built. The Castle stands proud at the top of the hill, looking like something straight from King Arthur or the days of Robin Hood. It is, of course, part Norman but a large proportion was destroyed in the Civil War and then fell into disrepair until the present Duke restored it. For glory is what it is, a part of the English scene.

The Castle standing there overlooking the town, its magnificent companion Cathedral 'Philip St. Neri' alongside. The River Arun flows down from Pulborough and beyond, through the town and on to Littlehampton and finally into the sea. Arundel has a certain something about it. I suppose it is the Castle and the lovely park with its Swanbourne Lake.

The visitors stand and stare at the windows of the antique shops, full of treasures of a bygone age: silver, pictures, pot-lids, maybe an old flintlock pistol. I have even seen for sale the old Victorian flat iron that Gran would use. An old pub wrought iron table and, of course, what antique shop would not have for sale the pictures 'A Stag at Bay', 'When did you last see your Father' or 'Highland Cattle'. One man's rubbish is surely another man's treasure or, as they say, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'.

The tea shops are full as car loads of eager folk from nearby towns settle down to 'Home made cakes', jam and scones and a huge variety of sticky fancy cakes. Yes, certainly a part of visiting a small town or village, 'Pot of tea for two please Miss'.

At the far end of the road past the Castle and its park, along an avenue of glorious beech trees, we come to the once little Inn named 'The Black Rabbit'. Then, of course, as time moved on it had to change its face and so it provided teas and during the evenings in the 1960's it became a Mecca for people to visit and enjoy the pleasure of dining out.

Yet I remember sitting outside that Inn in the 1930s on a seat facing the river with Mum, Dad and my brother Roy having eaten our sandwiches of fresh ham, slaked down with a nice glass of lemonade. Dad had a small whiskey bottle and, downing the contents, he wrote a little message that said simply 'Jim Downer, Black Rabbit Arundel. Send you back to me'. Putting the message inside the bottle, he threw it into the old river.

I often wonder to this day what did happen to Dad's message, did someone pick it up on a distant shore or did it smash itself against some rock? Or is it today still drifting its way across far off oceans. Well, we shall never know now. Dad has long since passed on and things are forgotten.

Arundel has seen many things in its lifetime, not least Armies. I remember when the American Army hid its guns and lorries etc. along the road beside the park, safe from the eye of the enemy planes prior to the invasion of Europe 6th June 1944. How did our American friends see Arundel I wonder? Hardly like little old New York. Yet I suppose a little of its peace and tranquillity must have been noticed.

In the 1970's even sleepy old Arundel that has seen so much in its lifetime, was changing further. A fine by-pass was in the course of construction, a welcome relief and a change for the better. New lamp standards pointed their elegant shapes skywards; and there were plans for a new Mini-Supermarket and a new Police Station.

In spite of this, Arundel stands proud and erect as we start our approach down the road from Worthing. The best time to see it at its most beautiful is early on a summer's morning, the sun striking the Castle walls as the mists rise from the fields around Burpham, and the cows are sent out after milking. They lift their heads as we pass, chewing away on the cud and looking a trifle sad.

Yes, Arundel is one of my favourite towns. Keep out! Developer, keep out, you who would change her face. May her heritage be passed on for future generations to gaze upon and enjoy. Guard it well, lest we loose it'