Crumbs! The baker's boy has resigned

Who of today's younger generations says 'Piddenoo', or 'Arlston', or 'Furrel'? 'Seafudd' is heard almost everywhere; you are likely elderly or pedantic if you bother to give full stress to the second syllable of our own town's name!

Most of the reported speech in these pieces was passed on to me in the old dialect, likewise stories about boys some 70 years ago, employed to deliver newspapers, or goods ordered from local shops.

Errand boys worked for butchers, bakers, greengrocers and other suppliers, some using 'trade bikes' '“ bicycles with a small front wheel above which was a square metal frame on the handlebars. Into this the delivery boy would fit his large basket, full of packages individually wrapped and marked with their destinations. From the crossbar of the bike a board with the tradesman's details served as a mobile advertisement. One of my informants was employed (Saturdays) by a local baker. Once, riding down Blatchington Hill with a load of fancy cakes in boxes, he decided to try some trick cycling (no hands, no pedals). Inevitably he crashed, with little damage to himself but total disaster to his cargo. He scooped the mess back into the basket, rode hell for leather to the shop '“ and gave in his notice!

I have no note of how much he lost in earnings, but do know that, almost a century earlier, nine-year-old Fred Howell was given one penny, 'for taking a man and his wife's luggage to Newhaven, they were going to Australia ... He was employed by an old Seaford man to drive a cart which he took the luggage in'.

Not all those employed by local newsagents needed bicycles. If their early-morning or evening rounds were near enough, they walked, with the steadily lightening load of papers in a great canvas bag slung over one shoulder. Occasionally they were allocated more than one route, not necessarily adjacent; then, the newsagent might do a ferry service between the two.

In 1896, Mr and Mrs Frank Thomas Winser had opened a small newsagent's shop in Brooklyn Road, moving to East Street and thence in 1914 to 45 High Street. Two further generations continued the family business till it was sold 17 years ago, building up a clientele that required a 30-strong team of delivery boys, most of whom are seen here on their coach trip to Southsea. These outings were an annual event in the 1950s.

Last word on the old trade bike: one popular variation was that of the ice-cream man - The 'Wallsie', the 'stop me and buy one' mobile cold box. Who remembers that most welcome sight and sound, heralding the summer? Ah, funny old times indeed!

PAT BERRY