PRE-WAR DANCE

Mid 1930's

By Andy Gilbert

This is a photo of a dance in Newhaven. My Dad is kneeling at the centre of the front row, with his arm around my Mum - his girlfriend at the time. From his hairstyle and the suit he is wearing, the year is 1935. (We have other dated photos with the same suit!)

We think the venue was the Drill Hall in Fort Rise, but what was the event? Were there regular dances held there, perhaps?

Photo:Pre war Newhaven Dance

Pre war Newhaven Dance

Gilbert Family private collection

This page was added by Andy Gilbert on 11/01/2009.
Comments about this page

My late father in law Jim Strudwick is kneeling front row left. I think it is Dick Sayer second from the left standing, wearing glasses. Fred Martin? centre back row. The men are all wearing badges on their lapels, Auxilliary Fire Service perhaps? The venue? I cannot remember a room this size there, it looks to me more like the Convent or the Sheffield Hotel.

By Colin Holden
On 26/10/2008

I inherited all of Jim Strudwick`s albums & photos, including this one, and in the album this photo is dated as 1939.

By Colin Holden
On 15/01/2009

Too small for the Drill Hall or Fort Gymnasium and it is unlikely that it is either of the Hotels or the Convent (You can just see the pitch of the roof on the right hand side.) It could possibly be the Drove Hall which was on the eastern corner of Railway Road and later became the VACCO factory.

By Trevor Bennett
On 12/02/2009

I think this is the Aux Fire Service (AFS later NFS) dance in 1939 as my father Harry Scott is third row from the front, second right. The young lady sitting in front of him second right is my mother Grace Vass. Lovely to see them looking young, this was the year they were married.

By Ann Scott
On 01/10/2010
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