HE has been a stage, screen and voice actor for more than 55 years and was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to the arts and charity.

Brian Blessed, 81, is best known for his booming voice and roles in Z-Cars, Blackadder and Flash Gordon.

He is pictured staging a fight in a judo gym in Brighton in 1964.

Actress Carol Cleveland, famous for her appearances in the Monty Python television series and films, is pictured at the same gym. Carol has lived in Sussex for years.

Brian is also pictured here in July 1979, with what appears to be an inflatable marine creature on his back. He is pictured again in a portrait taken in 1992.

Carole Quinton, former track and field athlete, was born in Rugby in Warwickshire in 1936. According to this photo caption she was, and perhaps still is, a Hove resident.

Carole competed in sprint and hurdles events, and won the silver medal for the 80m hurdles in the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome.

Double Olympic champion Chris Carter is pictured here in 1966 at the Brighton and Hove Coffee Pot Club.

Chris competed in the 800m after joining Steyning Athletic and Hove Athletic Club when he was younger. He is pictured here with Brian Joseph-Horen, Sir Harold Abrahams and David Rutter.

Dave Bedford is a former long-distance runner, who held records for 10,000m, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m.

He is pictured visiting The Cliftonville as part of a 600 mile run raising money for the British Olympic Team. With him are landlord Ray Clarke and Colin Howes, Albion Taverns assistant director and general manager.

To see more of our fantastic pictures from yesteryear go to theargus.co.uk/photoarchive.