Father’s efforts marked with a plaque

FURTHER memories of Southwick Urban District Council have been sent in by East Preston reader Janet Rogers, following articles on this 1953 photograph taken in the Town Hall council chamber.

Janet said: “My sister (Jennifer Whittaker) and I spotted our father Mr A.R. (Jack) Shott in the photograph.

“He was clerk and solicitor to Southwick Urban District Council from 1949 to about 1969, during which time the council undertook the redevelopment of the old houses in Albion Street and fronting the A259, and the redevelopment of the old egg field into what is now Southwick shopping centre.”

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In the picture, Jack Shott is sitting third left on the top table, on the left of the council chairman, Ernest E. Thornton, who was proprietor of Central Garage.

Janet also recognised councillor Ron Voice, a market gardener who lived in the old cottage on Southwick Green. He is fourth right as you look clockwise round the table of councillors.

She spotted councillors George Penny (right of Mr Voice), David Loader (front right of the picture) and Jim Marsh (far left).

Janet added: “I was eight at the time. We moved to Southwick from Torquay, where my father was deputy town clerk.

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“We arrived on a snowy January night and stayed at Mr Voice’s cottage on the Green. We then moved to a house in Southwick Street and later to Croft Avenue.

“There is a plaque in the garden of the Manor House council offices in memory of my father and there was at one time a wooden bench in Southwick Square shopping centre with his name on it.”

Both Janet and Jennifer live in East Preston now.

The photo is part of a collection owned by Shoreham historian Ted Heasman, who is writing a four-part series on Southwick Urban District Council for the Shoreham Herald. Part three will appear at the end of April.

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