With all the furore over playing football on Hove Lawns, I wonder what those complaining about noise and damage to the grass would have thought of planes landing there?

In about 1911/12 planes used to land on Hove Lawns following short flights from Shoreham Airport. It is recorded that a plane also landed at Roedean.

One of these flights was a cargo plane delivering a consignment of Osram light bulbs.

Pifford Hummingbirds were built at Shoreham and were the first powered aircraft with a 45ft wing span. These also landed on Hove Lawns.

I personally have no complaints about the playing of football on the lawns, not that I understand the game. I enjoy watching the players and the activity is less harmless than dog excreta deposited on the grass.

Perhaps complainers would like to see players take up archery as, in the Middle Ages, the game was banned by law. This was in favour of longbow practice (and giving a 'V' sign to the French at the time of the 100 Years War) and could be considered a little bit more hazardous.

-Geraldine Curran, Hove