This article was first published in the West Sussex Gazette on March 26th 1998.

The late Maurice Hedworth Williams who died on 31 August 1997, during the same night that Princess Diana was killed, was a well known character who lived in Tarring and held a keen interest in its history. Best known perhaps in his latter years as the champion of the fight to save Tarring's ancient fig garden the 84 year old gave me his memoirs not long before his death.

His fascinating reminiscences, reproduced here in full, were hand-written under the heading 'Down Memory Lane.' His writing was not easy to read but I have done my best to decipher it. Having been born outside the county in 1913, before the first world war, his remembrances begin from his early infant years at Worthing.

'I was brought to Worthing from Coulsdon for my health in my early years, stretching back to 1914.

'My father first rented accommodation in King Edward Avenue. Our neighbour was a Dr Nockolds, son of Dr Nockolds, the village doctor for Tarring - of that, more anon.

'Our next stay was in Montague Place in 1919 when the property was mostly private houses with gardens on the other side of the road (like Ambrose Place). Our window to the east looked on to the back of the Theatre Royal in Bath Place, where I saw 'Yeoman of the Guard' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of being Ernest'.

'I was allowed extra rations of meat and sugar and my Mother and I collected them from the depot which was the Methodist Church in Chapel Road North of the Holy Rood Convent. [The Methodist Church stood on the corner of Wenban Road, a site now occupied by a bedding centre. The convent was in Stoke Abbot Road where Blockbusters video shop and Stoke Abbot Court are now.]

'Chapel Road I remember well. At the foot of Broadwater Bridge (east side) was the I.K.C. Warehouse and on the west side was Beaumonts (Coal Merchants), Frost (the Chemists) and the famous Pie Shop (Greens).

'On the east side of Chapel Road was Bunce's (North corner of Lennox Road where it is today). - I went to school with young Bunce - also Osbornes Stores (South corner) a cut price Grocer where I was sent to get sugar because it was one penny cheaper than that on Tarring Broadway. Going South was the Rivoli Cinema (corner of High Street), then Davison School, The Tabernacle followed by the Naturalists Shop (Mr. Wells) - where I sold my pet stick insects for one farthing each - and P.W. Mitchell (Bakers). The latter two took a direct hit in the war.

'I also recall that south of Union Place was the Picturedrome Cinema, with Blundales Estate Agency at the entrance. Above that was the Connaught Theatre with Eric Ross and Ida Williams' Concert Party currently running.

'Further down the road was Loders (Photographic Shop) and on the corner of Market Street the General Post Office, then Watts (Shoe Shop) and F.W. Young (Optician). On the west side then was Webb's (Tailors) - where my first suits were made, with waistcoats, for £6.00! Other well known shops were Chadwicks (Boot and Shoe Makers) and Duffield (Ironmonger);.

'Here I must mention the Public Library and Museum, also Miss Marion Frost (daughter of Alderman Frost) who was the first woman in the Country to be appointed to the position of Curator. I knew her well and used to play Bridge with her at Clarendon House, in Tarring (home of Dr. and Mrs Ryan). The other players were Dr. and Mrs Wilshaw (Dr. Wilshaw was the Medical Officer of Health for Worthing), Dr. and Mrs. Crabtree (Dr. Crabtree practised in Liverpool Road), and a Mr. and Mrs. Knight who lived on the south-west corner of Mill Road and Downview Road.

'At the north end of Chapel Road (west side) was a hairdressers where I had my hair cut for sixpence.

'In South Street, Worthing, opposite the Old Town Hall (which I feel should have been saved from demolition) was the Penny Bazaar, Crawfords (Newsagents) whose son and I were together at the same school. Lyons Tea Shop (Cup of tea threepence), The Nelson Public House, Smith and Strange (Drapers). Next Kinch & Lack (which we as school boys called 'pinch and stack') and Lacey the Stationer. The young Lacey brothers were the friends of my brother and myself.

'Remembering 'Khongs Cafe' - How we loved the smell of the coffee which was ground in the front window - and at the end of the road Walter Brothers, (dear old Sidney Walter acting as doorman), and the lovely Marine Hotel facing the Pier with the two kiosks at the entrance. No Pavilion then.

'On the west side of South Street was a large hoarding (later replaced by the Arcade) with Masons' Wool Shop on the corner of Montague Street.

'In Montague Street the places I well remember were the Winter Garden Cinema ( a real flea house), St. James' Hall where Tarring Boys Club and the 3rd Worthing Scouts staged a show 'Ali-Barber and the Forty Thieves'.

'The Tarring Boys Club after the war (WWII) gave a gymnastic display at Gifford House in front of the Princess Royal and also performed on the stage at the Odeon Cinema, the Pier Pavilion and at the Plaza Cinema.

'Some of the shops in Montague Street were the Home and Colonial Stores, Feests (green grocers) and then came Holders (costumes), Mansfield's (Music Shop), Clarks (Cake Shop & Tea Room), Craggs (Shoe Shop) and Isted (Corn Merchants).

'I went to school (Kindergarten) at No. 1 Morrison Villas in South Street, Tarring where we were taught by Mrs. Bregatsha. Later to Shelley House School, Shelley Road where Mr. Furrell was the Headmaster.

'I was taught in a wooden hut in the garden by the Misses Lidbetter who after the school moved to Gt. Bookham taught from their residence in Queens Road.

'From there I went to St. Michael's School in Bath Road which had recently moved from Park Crescent. We did our physical training in the basement of Heene Road Baths.

'In about 1928 we moved again to Charmandean into the large house formerly a Girls' School, run by Miss West. Our Headmaster was a Reverend Talbot Hindley. When he retired Mr. Johnson from the Portsmouth area took over and the Charmandean school became part of Seaford College.

'During the war, Seaford College moved from Seaford to Wykeham Road, Worthing and later to St. Rowans in Mill Road and after that to Lavington Park, West Sussex. Mr. Johnson's son Charles was at Charmandean School and he and I shared a desk. 'Charley' later became Headmaster and Governor of Seaford College.

'I was a 'day boy' at Charmandean and we now lived at No. 2 Morrison Villas 'Otterton' in South Street Tarring, (1920 - 1930) and I cycled to school. There were no street lamps (gas) between the Thomas A'Becket Public House and Broadwater Green and of course, only oil or acetylene lamps on our cycles. Woe betide you if the wind blew them out as they were always impossible to re-light on a cold wet and windy night!

'I kept rabbits (as well as stick insects, already mentioned above) and found their food around the allotments off Ethelwulf Road.

'Now I will relate some Tarring Memories. In 1920 it was a very different place to what it is today. When I came to Tarring there were no houses west of Tarring Church or east of South Street Tarring. The only roads going east were Shady Lane (now Poulters Lane) and Becket Road. The only roads made up as far as I remember were South Street and the High Street (Rectory Road did not exist).

'Opposite the church there was a farm and going west I enjoyed the walk through cornfields to Goring, passing Chippers Castle Cottages and a large pond which contained great crested newts.

'My Mother always had a stall at the village fete in the grounds of the old Rectory in South Street (where Tarring Gate flats are now built). The Rev. Charles Lee was Rector and to help I used to pump the water (no mains water, only well water).

'Our family rented a pew in St. Andrew's Church just in front of Dr. Nockold's (previously mentioned). I can see now in my mind the arrival, just as the church service started, of Lady de Gex from Offington Hall with her companion. She arrived by horse carriage with a very smart coachman. The old stables still stand to this day in Offington Park.

'At an early age (when the Rev. John Godber was rector) I became a Server at the Church and also a sidesman, retiring from the latter after 53 years. I was elected to the Church Council in 1935 and resigned when I was called up in 1940. I have continued to worship at this Church.

'A panel in the Sanctuary of the church is in memory of my Mother and the large engraving of the Lord's Supper which belonged to our family now hangs in the old vestry.

'I was a founder member of the Fellowship Group and of the West Tarring Boys Club (which had church support) in 1937. I regularly contributed articles to the Parish Magazine.

'From 1933-1936 I was Secretary of the Tarring Reading Room for young ones which was given to Tarring by Mrs. Clarke of Clarendon House in 1891. It was taken over by the Home Guard and A.R.P. during the war and is now in the hands of Trustees.

'After the war I continued as Secretary/Organiser of West Tarring Boys Club until 1976, (a period of 39 years) and have continued to assist until this day (60 years by March 1997).

'In 1968 I was honoured with the British Empire Medal for 'Service to Youth.'

This article was first published in the West Sussex Gazette on March 26th 1998.

Next week the memories of the late Maurice Hedworth Williams continue when he looks at his business career and the many personalities he knew.