Local People

This page of the website features stories and photos of local people that involve Denton Gardens. If you have any stories and old photos of the gardens that you don’t mind sharing, please contact us.

1. Fran Bourne

Dear Friends,
I attended the picnic yesterday and had a lovely time thank you. I was talking to JP and showed him some photos I had of when my sister’s and I were looking for fish in the pond when we were children! I am about two (60 years ago!) and my sister about 5.

The one with my Mother hanging on to me for dear life so that I didn’t end up in the pond was taken by the Worthing Herald and appeared in the local paper.

The third photo is of my Grandparents who married in 1933, this photo was taken before they were married, they obviously did some of their courting in the gardens! Hope they are of interest.

Thanks again for all the hard work you put in to make yesterday’s picnic in the park a great success.
Best wishes
Fran.

2. Hayley Willett

Dear Nadine,
Please find the pictures I promised to send you of my Nanny Betty Bonser taken around 1929 – 1930 in Denton Gardens, one of them with her mother May Bonser.
See you soon from Hayley and Elsie from volunteering.

3. The Woolgar Family

Dear JP,
These family photos, taken in Denton Gardens, Worthing are probably taken in 1930, with a caption of ‘Snaps taken during our holiday’.

The two children are my mother and uncle, Betty (Elizabeth) Woolgar, born 1919 and Harry Woolgar, born 1921. With them is their mother, (Thirza) Lottie Woolgar nee Kilham, born1876, and presumably taking the photos was their father Isaac Thomas Woolgar, born1872, who does appear in one picture.

I like the fancy parasol! They would have been living in Heathfield at the time but later in the 30s they returned to living in Shoreham-by-sea after a few years in Heathfield.

With best wishes, and well done to the Friends for their good work,

Helen

If you have any stories and old photos of the gardens that you don’t mind sharing, please contact us.