THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE FINDON TRANSPORT CAFÉ

In September 2002, Pam Stepney told me that she remembered there being a transport café in Findon. She thought it ha dbeen a long, low wooden building with a pull-in in the front of it. It was situated on the east side of the Horsham Road just to the south of the entrance to Homewood. Eventually it fell into a state of disrepair and was empty for a long, long time (obviously not destined to become a Listed Building!)

I was not unduly surprised, therefore, when I received the following e-mail....

31st December 2003.

During the late nineteen forties to early fifties my father was a truck driver for j.vinnicombe and sons littlehampton, agricultural merchants.

during school holidays i would travel with him.

we would often stop at a transport cafe on the A24 at findon.this was run by an ancient couple known to all the drivers as ma and pa.

have you heard of this,where exactly was it,how long was it thereand who were ma and pa.?

Mike Small, Littlehampton, West Sussex.

I was delighted when Charlie could tell me a little more about it...

31st December 2003

The Transport Cafe referred to was situated in Horsham Rd between what now is known as Lime Green and Downview Rd on the eastside.

The couple who ran it were Mr and Mrs Langabeer, Mr Langabeer had, as I remember a very hunched back and Mrs was affectionatley known as Andy.

When my Dad was building our house in School Hill between 1953 and 1955 he always used to go there for his meals. He would often take me if I was with him and I remember tucking into a boiled Goose or Duck egg laid by the birds that used to be kept behind the Cafe
.
Another memory I have of Andys Cafe (as it was known) was seeing a Foden Steam lorry in there on several occasions which suggested it was in regular use for haulage still in those days.

Charlie Costello

Charles Costello, Findon Village, West Sussex.

Another little segment of Findon's rich past to go down in history.

Continue if you would like to read Findon Policemen of the Past.

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This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com