A PROUD son is determined to not let his father’s history slip through the city’s cracks.

Thomas Novis was born in Brighton during the First World War and spent most of his life running a fruit and vegetable market in Circus Street.

He left the city to fight in the Second World War during which he defused a bomb and was awarded the George Medal for bravery.

His son, Richard, noticed Circus Street is currently under development for new flats and commercial buildings.

He said: “My father used to run his business there for years and he was a true born and bred Brightonian and was well-known in the city.

“It suddenly occurred to me it would be nice to have his name written somewhere in the new development, perhaps on a sign in an alleyway or on one of the new buildings because he had such a presence there.

“It would be nice for people to remember what used to be there. He was also a true war hero. The Evening Argus covered him being awarded his George Medal.

“He went down a 12 foot hole with a trowel uncovering the bomb to defuse it. He said a guy turned to him and said he’d be completely stuffed if the bomb started ticking.”

Thomas Novis was born in Castle Street in Brighton.

Later he had a house built at number one Whitethorn Drive just off Dyke Road, where he and his wife, Beryl Florence, a seamstress, had Richard.

They already had two other boys Tom Junior, now 67, and William, 65. All three brothers live in Shoreham and their sister, Jane Sim, 70, lives in Worthing.

Their father worked as an accountant before starting his grocery market after the war in 1948.

He also worked for Brighton Council from 1959 to 1975.

Richard said: “He was an amazing man. He was so dedicated to his work.The only time he left was when he went away to war, during which he managed to defuse a bomb which is just incredible.”

In 1984 the war hero had a stroke and died ten days later aged 66. Richard said: “He had a bit of a hard life, fighting during the war, and he lost his wife when I was about 16. He worked really hard and I just thought it would be nice if he was named there so that people don’t forget about what he did.”

Richard, 59, has two children, Richard Junior, now 29 and Katie Jane, 27.

He is now semi-retired but still works for a fruit and veg delivery business.

A spokesman from U+I Plc, the company in charge of the development where the market used to stand, said they do hope to help now that Richard has told of his hopes for a tribute.

The spokesman said: “Circus Street has a rich history which we explored during the planning and design of the development we are building here.

“We are delighted the Novis family has got in touch and will see where we can provide a fitting tribute.”