9th September 2006

Dear Valerie,

Memories of Cissbury

I just stumbled upon your words and pictures about Cissbury. I intimately recognised every scene in the photos as if I was there yesterday.

Even though I have lived in Canada since 1979 my memories of Cissbury have never faded. I was born in Worthing in 1962 and spent most of my youth exploring the Downs immediately north of Broadwater. Cissbury Ring became a very special place for me and my dog and on every occasion I have revisited Sussex I have always made a pilgrimage to Cissbury to pay homage to my favourite place in the world.

My feet last trod on the rabbit-nibbled turf of Cissbury in 2004 and I hope to return again soon.

I have so many stories about the Ring - maybe you would be interested in hearing about them. Got quite a few pictures too.
Best wishes.
Andrew.

Andrew Miles, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Cissbury Ring in August 2006 from Rogers Farm.

10th September 2006

Dear Valerie.

So glad to get your reply. I'm five hours behind Findon so you might be enjoying a noon-time walk on Cissbury while I'm just getting out of bed.

One of the funniest stories I have involves the yellow lab I had as a boy in the 1970s.  Her name was Sally and she had a particular love of finding golf balls which she would then drop at my feet as if to say "look what I found!".

As my daily after-school hikes to Cissbury took us across the golf courses south of the Ring Sally always collected a few balls along the way and my pockets were soon bulging.  The problem was that some of the balls she picked up had just landed on the fairways from golfers some distance away.

Sally and I soon developed a crafty system whereby I would hide behind bushes on the path and she would dash out, retrieve a ball and then dash back to me - carrying the ball in her mouth as gently as if it was an egg.

I would often hear the yelling and swearing of the dismayed players and I would laugh merrily as Sally and I made it safely to the Ring.

On the way back down I would then sell the golf balls back to the golfers (not the same golfers of course) and march home with coins jaggling in my pocket.

My dad was always playing golf at Hill Barn and one day he said to me

"There's a big yellow dog that's pinching balls from the fairways. That's not Sally by any chance?"

"Of course not dad" I always said, but secretly I knew the game was almost up.

From then on I disciplined Sally to abstain from her ball-snatching pastime - at least for a few weeks to let things cool down.

When I think back now I shudder at the danger there had always been of Sally choking on one of those little golf balls - but such are the careful days of youth.

When I left for Canada in 1979 to join my mum I actually insisted on taking my dog with me - which I did!

Another story I have involves a bizarre accident I had at the old rifle range - which features an ambulance racing up to the Cissbury car park and a week off school (this is the good bit).

I have more stories dealing not only with Cissbury but also Lychpole Hill, Chanctonbury Ring and other key places. And, as I mentioned, some pictures - including a couple of shots showing the flattened beech trees at Vineyard Hill after the 1987 storm (very sad scenes). I've yet to get these email-ready.

All the best Valerie.
Andrew.

Andrew Miles, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

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For the record here's a picture of me - taken in 2004 near Ditchling Beacon.  On the skyline are paragliders.