It is some months since long-term resident of Guildford Road, June McCullough, died and we could not let her passing go unmarked in the pages of The Whistler. These memories of June were originally written in 2003 by another West Hill stalwart, Pam Bean.
June grew up in Southsea and always knew that she wanted to work with dogs, helping out at a dogs’ beauty parlour while she was still at school. The business was bombed so the owners moved to Hove. June joined them when she left school. Just before she was 18, June went to the Oddfellows Hall in Queens Road, Brighton, to volunteer to join the RAF, but only if she could be a driver. The recruiting officer said she was too short, and she should come back in 2 years (having grown taller?). However, June’s persistence and enthusiasm persuaded the officer that she had grown three and a half inches, and the next week she as a WAF. Continue reading June McCullough MBE→
Brighton resident, Peter Batten, writes about another time, another place…
In the spring of 1952 the normal progression of my life was interrupted. I had just secured a place at University, so I decided to leave school and begin my two years of National Service.
I was enrolled in the RAF and on 19 May I travelled to Padgate in Lancashire to begin my basic training. This was not a pleasant experience, but, as a promising cricketer, I was able to get several days off to play for RAF teams. About two weeks before the end of the training period I was told to report to the officer in charge. He told me that the Air Ministry staff had looked at my records and noted that I had A levels in French and Latin. They were recruiting airmen for a new course in Russian because it was expected that we would soon be at war. They would like to add me to their list. I agreed. Thus began a strange period in my life. Continue reading Strange Interlude→
Everything you ever wanted to know about life in Brighton (OK, and Hove)
June grew up in Southsea and always knew that she wanted to work with dogs, helping out at a dogs’ beauty parlour while she was still at school. The business was bombed so the owners moved to Hove. June joined them when she left school. Just before she was 18, June went to the Oddfellows Hall in Queens Road, Brighton, to volunteer to join the RAF, but only if she could be a driver. The recruiting officer said she was too short, and she should come back in 2 years (having grown taller?). However, June’s persistence and enthusiasm persuaded the officer that she had grown three and a half inches, and the next week she as a WAF. Continue reading June McCullough MBE 
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