I must protest at Adam Trimingham's article and his mention of the "Fishersgate slums" (The Argus Weekend, June 29).

I lived in these so-called slums from 1933 (in West Road and then in Fishersgate Terrace, Southwick) until 1951 and I can assure him they were in no way slums.

The housewives of the time took great pride in keeping their homes in as clean and neat condition as they could and without all the labour-saving aids that are commonplace now.

The front doorstep was regularly scrubbed, as were the floors, and the stove blackleaded at least once a week. It was very hard work but, in the main, the ladies never complained and would have been horrified to be told they lived in a slum.

The houses were old and without the luxury of an inside toilet and were, no doubt, unlike the palace in which Mr Trimingham lives but they were home and were the pride and joy of those who lived in them.

They had a character and homeliness that the bland - dare I say ugly - blocks of flats that replaced them completely lack.

I hope Mr Trimingham would have the decency to apologise in print to all

the hard-working housewives and families upon whom he has cast a slur.

-Colin Wadey, Ridgeway Close, Southwick