Bohemia Village Voice

Born in Bohemia (written by D T Necklen)

I was born in Bohemia Road in 1918, over a music shop owned by Tyldsey – they sold pianos, etc. We later moved to five doors from the Wheatsheaf, in the good old days when beer was 4d a pint in old money, and Woodbines were five for tuppence.

I was also in St Peter’s choir in the days of Bishop Andrews, who showed us lantern slides in his vicarage in Cornfield Terrace, all about his life in China. The vicar then was Rev Tarrant. In your mag a few weeks ago he was not mentioned, but with Bishop Andrews you named a man called Stapley. As I recall, Stapley was a sidesman and ran a shoe shop, near the Bohemia Post Office.

There must be some oldies in Bohemia like me, who remember Rev Tarrant. He was well-liked and the ladies loved him; my mother thought he was great and that he gave a good sermon. I have many happy memories of Bohemia Road.

D T Necklen, Marline Road, St Leonards.

[Originally published as a letter to the editor in issue 75, June 2010]