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Cuckfield Connections
A personal journey of discovery





1957: Cold War spy seen over Cuckfield
When the Russian earth-circling satellite passed over Britain at about dawn today, it was on its 110th world circuit, with a total of...
Jul 9, 20232 min read
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1936: Artillery invades Ansty
On two days of last week the presence of military here [in Ansty], in Butler's Field, gave a warlike aspect. On the first night five...
Jun 29, 20231 min read
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1909: Mutiny veteran celebrates 50 years of marriage in the Workhouse
Weekly Irish Times - Saturday 13 February 1909 VETERAN'S GOLDEN WEDDING. Francis Furlonger, Crimean and Indian Mutiny veteran, and his...
Jun 26, 20231 min read
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1915: Queen's Hall at risk from enemy aircraft
Sussex Agricultural Express - Friday 15 October 1915 AIRCRAFT RISKS. The Urban Council has decided to insure the Queen's Hall, now in use...
Jun 20, 20231 min read
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1941: Home Guard in action at Queen's Hall
The funds of the South Section, Cuckfield Home Guard, benefited to the extent of £3 11s 4d as a result of a dance held at the Queen's...
May 26, 20231 min read
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1914: Attending to the wounded
Off to the front A large number of Cuckieldians assembled in Broad-street on Wednesday and gave a hearts send-off to Mr HM Bridgman, MD....
May 24, 20231 min read
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1945: Child abandoned on train
A boy aged about 18 months or two years, was found abandoned in a train at Lewes station on Tuesday afternoon. Attached to the child was...
May 3, 20231 min read
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1942: Women cut down 'gate of the curse'
Gate with a curse goes for scrap BBC Mobile unit at Butler's Green. Demolition by ladies of HM Works Department Butler's Green, Haywards...
Apr 25, 20235 min read
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1915: Death of Able-Seaman on board 'Aquitania'
Sussex Agricultural Express - Friday 15 October 1915 DEATH OF ABLE-SEAMAN H. SMITH. — lt is with regret publish the news that Able-Seaman...
Apr 18, 20231 min read
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1940: Cuckfield's hidden public shelters
In a recent issue helpful advice was given in our columns under the heading of 'What to do in an Air Raid'. In past editions we have...
Apr 3, 20232 min read
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1917: Letter from the front line in Baghdad
Mr WE Mitchell, relieving officer, of Cuckfield has received the following newsy letter from his son, Corporal E Mitchell R. E. We have...
Mar 26, 20233 min read
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1921: 'Hidden' tragedy of the Great War ... a Brook Street father
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 08 March SAD STORY OF DEPRESSION CORONER AND A CLUB RULE. A sad story of man's depression and suicide mainly...
Mar 15, 20234 min read
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1916: From lorry back to horse
A carrier the only one between Cuckfield and Brighton, acting as his own carter, sought an extension of his certificate. He had...
Mar 14, 20231 min read
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1917: Lantern Lecture entertainment for wounded soldiers at Cuckfield V.A.D Hospital
Sussex Daily News - Friday 19 January 1917 CUCKFIELD V.A.D. HOSPITAL. The wounded soldiers in the Cuckfield V.A.D. Hospital, at the...
Feb 1, 20231 min read
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1938: Telegraph wires prevent sirens being heard
From eleven o'clock to 11.15 on Wednesday morning the four sirens in the Cuckfield urban area, which would be used during wartime to warn...
Jan 31, 20232 min read
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1865: Death of Cuckfield's oldest tradesman
Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 15 August 1865 CUCKFIELD. Death of the Oldest Tradesman.—The oldest established tradesman in this place...
Jan 11, 20232 min read
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2017: Tubby survived 199 depth charges
Obituary: Cuckfield-born Captain Michael Tubby’ Crawford Unflappable submarine captain who survived 199 depth charges, sank four ships...
Nov 23, 20226 min read
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1943: Cuckfield Home Guard on display
Mid Sussex Times - Wednesday 26 May 1943 CUCKFIELD HOME GUARD ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES We are indebted to a correspondent for a detailed...
Nov 14, 20222 min read
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1900: Cuckfield Soldiers in South Africa
Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 13 March 1900 CUCKFIELD SOLDIERS IN SOUTH AFRICA The following appears in the current number of the Cuckfield...
Nov 12, 20224 min read
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1945: Seat in churchyard to honour Canadian War sacrifice
Mid Sussex Times - Wednesday 27 June 1945 A SEAT FOR HAPPY MEMORIES. TO BE ERECTED AT CUCKFIELD. Near Cuckfield’s War Memorial, which...
Oct 17, 20223 min read
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