Nostalgia: Bluebells and Spitfires book tells city's story

The book, entitled Bluebells and Spitfires, has been printed by Chichester’ s SRP Design and Print.

Roger said: “It is not a history book as such although it is alight hearted look at the beginnings of Chichester, growing up in Chichester and episodes with local people.”

The book covers many different aspects of life in Chichester and features several personal or family recollections.

One of the chapters in Bluebells and Spitfires is dedicated to the West Sussex County Council’s ‘ Woodlands Children Home’ that no longer exists, documenting the sites history along with photographs of life there from 1935 to 1966.

There is also a chapter on an RAF mystery at Westhampnett that has never been brought to light, as well as tales of Roger’s father, who grew up in Chichester and was inprisoned by the Japanese in Singapore and on the infamous railway.

Roger said: “I am very glad that I was born a ‘ Chiddester’ boy, to have lived in such a fair city situated between the rolling downs and the shimmering sea.

“To look down from the Trundle to see the Cathedral spire rising from a hazy carpet of greenish blue, to reminisce of Chichester past, and what the future holds.