I can throw some light on Alan Mackenzie's letter (July 15) about Mr Sheppard of 78 Stanmer Villas, Brighton.

Our family moved in August 1927 to the newly-built number 68, five houses below Mr Sheppard's house at number 78.

Mr Sheppard was a retired police officer. His property extended at the rear to Harrington Place, at that time undeveloped except for the four garages he had built.

In about 1930, at the south end of Stanmer Villas, the land previously deemed unsuitable for housing was developed with the aid of a magnificent pile-driving machine.

Fourteen houses were then built on the now-safe ground and 28 added to each of the even numbered houses.

Sixty eight became 96 and Mr Sheppard's Sunnybank 78 became 106.

He was irascible and not at all keen on little boys, particularly those who liked to climb the tree opposite his house on the south corner of the Stanmer Park Road and Stanmer Villas junction.

He did run a car hire service at that time and on one occasion we made use of it to take a relative to Brighton railway station.

He knocked a man off his bicycle and continued driving despite our protestations. We kept clear of Mr Sheppard's car hire service after that and took the train instead.

-John Sparks, Shoreham