WESTBOURNE
A village history in West Sussex
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In addition to the scouts and church there was the Boys' Club to keep the lads amused. It was run by Len Butt who was well liked. We met in the Church Hall, that then was a corrugated tin hut seen in the photograph. A request to parents and friends for games provided chess, draughts, dominoes, a dartboard and a table-
As a bell ringer it was my duty to open the belfry on a practice evening; thought to be on a Monday. Sometimes while waiting for the others to arrive I would climb the extra steps, to the parapet at the base of the spire, to sample the evening air and enjoy the panoramic vista. In the photograph can be seen white patches on the church spire. These are the replacement cedar shingles when the spire was refurbished. To do their work the steeplejacks had fixed ladders all the way to the top of the spire.
On one occasion in a moment of bravado a notion came to climb the ladders. It was thought no one would see me as it was at dusk. Perhaps it was to get a unique view of Westbourne or to see my home by Lashley's Corner. Half way up my courage gave way to second thoughts with a return to safety with more caution. However, the top of the spire was reached. Inside the church, the steeplejacks had also secured a series of ladders from the floor to the inside of the spire. This time with less trepidation the long climb was made until my shoulders would go no further. My penciled initials may still be readable. Looking back it was youthful foolishness, as a fall to the stone floor could have proved fatal.