“We had Canadian troops in Brighton from the beginning of 1942. I did a paper round and I would call on Canadian billets with left over papers, and be invited into their cook-house at St John’s church hall in Knoyle Road for flap jacks and maple syrup, a new treat for me. I attended their weapon training instruction, and at the age of thirteen could strip and reassemble a Bren gun blindfolded.”

On this spot at 76 West Street was the location of the SS Brighton Ice Rink and Sports Stadium. Opened in 1934, originally as a sea-water swimming pool, it was soon converted to a famous ice rink.

“The Canadians were very attractive to the girls, and attracted to the girls; this was because they generally had things which the local population did not have. They had cigarettes, sweets and confectionery of various kinds, they had chewing gum, which was considered a desirable commodity. As a boy, like many others of my age, I used to follow them round and say, ‘Have you got any gum, chum’, the standard phrase used. They were extremely keen on ice hockey, almost their national sport, and this had a spin off on to the local team of Brighton Tigers, famous then, and for a long time after the war, at the SS Brighton, the sports stadium, at the bottom of West Street.”

Continue down West Street to the seafront and cross over Kings Road using the pedestrian crossing to the promenade. Watch out for cyclists as you cross the promenade cycle lane and turn left towards the Palace Pier, stopping in front of the Old Ship Hotel.