I read with interest the article about Brighton under attack during the Second World War by Adam Trimingham.

However bad these attacks were, they pale into insignificance compared to the one attack that he did not mention, the one on the Odeon cinema on the corner of Paston Place, Kemp Town.

This cinema was filled with children on their regular Saturday morning matinee.

They made up the majority of the fatalities and gave Brighton the dubious honour of being at the top of the country's list of fatalities.

We were only replaced at the top when cities like London and Coventry were blitzed.

Yes, Ivory Place was a bad raid, especially as I was a regular visitor to the children's clinic but fortunately not on that day.

He also mentions the bomb on the viaduct. My auntie, Alice Johnstone, who owned the paper shop at 132 Ditchling Road, watched the explosion from her window. Adam states that "the repair was quickly carried out" which infers there was hardly any damage.

Turn up the Evening Argus photos of the incident and you will see the rails hanging down and a complete arch destroyed.

I shall never forget the sight when standing in London Road at the corner of Argyle Road with my dad, looking up at the damage.

There was no modern day scaffolding and the supporting structure built to effect the repair was mainly of wooden poles.

It was repaired in record time but if my memory serves me well, it was several weeks before the railway line was reopened. For many years the change of colour of the brickwork stood out as a reminder, now like our age it has blended into the background.

It would be interesting to see the Argus article of those events republished for today's readers to view.

  • Ivor Levett, Carpenters, Billingshurst