Eve Farrant (nee Lisher) born in 1917, tells us this fascinating story of a time shortly before the start of World War II, when was working for Draycott's Estate Agents in Lancing
'I arranged for Ruth Baverstock, a girl from the Methodist Church to come and work at Draycott's. On one or two Bank Holidays we would cycle to Houghton Bridge near Amberley, with our tent strapped on to the bicycle and packs on our back. I would borrow blankets from an uncle of Dad's who lived at Houghton to save the weight of carrying.
The tea house by the River Arun at Houghton where the girls helped out.
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Teas were served on the grass by the river and on two very hot, busy days, we assisted the café in serving teas. It wasn't a set menu and took quite a lot of concentration remembering orders and returning them to the right tables, but we found it most enjoyable and received quite a number of tips.
We would swim in the river, but the tide was very strong and I found it easiest to go with the tide, down one lot of steps and climb up others further down the bank. One Bank Holiday we palled up with other campers and this started a romance with 'Brownie' (Yves Browne). He was camping with two other fellows.
I remember a surprise visit from Bernard (my current boyfriend and work colleague) on his motorcycle. I didn't want Brownie then and was off into the countryside with Bernard.
The George & Dragon Inn where Eve and her pals had a merry time.
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One evening we all went to the local inn, a most attractive place where Charles II was supposed to have stayed when making his escape to France via Shoreham. We got very mixed up that night and I remember sleeping between Bernard and Brownie in one of the tents.'
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