150 years of village life told at exhibition

Sir Robert Woodard Academy was host to the display of photographs and newspaper reports that covered all aspects of life in Lancing and Sompting.

This included the impact of the First and Second World Wars on the area.

Part of the exhibition was specially devoted to former resident, John Davey.

The great great uncle of Sompting resident Angela Turrell, John was 24 years old when he was killed in a gas attack during the evening of August 8, 1916, near Potijze, Belgium.

He is buried at Chateau Wood Cemetary on the outskirts of Ypres and commemorated at St Mary’s Church, Sompting.

Student Oliver Chenery, 13, said: “It has been sad but also very interesting to find out about John, and also to see the photographs of Lancing and Sompting in the old days.

“I have learned a lot of things I didn’t know about before seeing this.”

Another student Beth Steer, 13, added: “Finding out about this history has made me much more interested in the place that I live in.”

The exhibition was mounted by two sixth form students, Aidan Colwell and Ben Jones.

Following requests from members of the public, it is being opened after the Easter holidays in the academy’s reception area, and the public are invited to come and look.