This web page is a record of some of the local men and women associated with Lancing & Sompting who are/were famous or have distinguished themselves in their respective fields.
Lancing
Lord Alfred Douglas ~ Oscar Wilde’s “Bosie” lived towards the end of his life at Monks Farm
House, North Road, with Sheila Coleman and her husband.
Anna Sewell ~ Lived at Fircroft, Manor Road. Wrote Black Beauty.
Ronald G P Kerridge ~ Local Historian lived in First Avenue, Lancing.
Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE ~ from local "rewind boy" at Lancing Luxor Cinema
he rose to high positions in the film industry.
Jack Greenhall ~ Cartoonist. His first "Useless Eustace" cartoon appeared in the Daily Mirror
on 21 January 1935. He died in Lancing in July 1983.
Sir Henry Cooper ~ As a child, heavyweight boxer was evacuated from London to Lancing,
along with identical twin brother, George.
Reg Kidger ~ Talented artist and musician and North Lancing resident.
Sir Henry Ralph "Harry" Ricardo ~ One of the foremost designers and researchers of the
internal combustion engine. Lived at Penstone Park, which hosted the Basque Refugees.
McCarthy family ~ Famous photographers and postcard makers.
Hertha Ayrton ~ Born Phoebe Sarah Marks, distinguished woman designer of fan or "flapper"
to push the gases out of the trenches......the flapper gas mask.
Harold Piffard ~ Pilot of first flight from Shoreham Aerodrome.
Harold Annison ~ Olympic Swimmer lived at Brown Gables, Mill Road.
Ted Walker ~ The writer was born in Lancing in 1934 and grew up at 186, Brighton Road, by
the Widewater. His autobiographical work, The High Path is named after the footpath at the
Widewater.
John Jabez Edwin Mayall ~ Lived at Storks Nest, which was on the Brighton Road just east
of The Terrace. He was a Victorian photographer to the rich and famous including Queen
Victoria.
Charles Austin ~ Comedian and Music Hall entertainer and six times King Rat of The Grand
Order of Water Rats. He lived at "Charleigh" which was on the corner of Western Road and
Brighton Road (now demolished and under the Tower Block). He built several properties at
Lancing Park erecting the two iconic entry pylons.
Jack Waller ~ He was part of the pre-war entertainment community at Shoreham & Lancing and
associated with the successful London Musical "No! No! Nanette". His home (and adjacent "Music Room")
was situated on the south side of Brighton Road near Brooklands, which he named "Nanette".
Henry William Doll ~ Lived at Faust House (once opposite Lancing Library and Health
Centre), Councillor & one time owner of the Railway Hotel.
The Terrace, opposite Beach Green, Lancing was home at various times to the
following:
William Chorley ~ Of former Homes of Rest/Bell Homes. He lived sometime at The Terrace.
Algernon Charles Swinburne ~ National Poet, stayed regularly at The Terrace.
Isabel Jay ~ Famous Opera Singer. Lived at the Terrace.
Edward Vaughan Hyde Kenealy ~ Barrister and Q.C. famous for the “Tichborne case”. He lived at The Terrace.
Sompting
Charles A Morris ~ Artist, painted many local scenes, of which Worthing Museum have
several. He lived sometime at Myrtle Cottage, West Street, Sompting.
Bill Lindfield ~ Last Cowboy of Sussex ~ see sub-page:
Harriet Finlay-Johnson ~ Avant guard Educationalist.
Edward John Trelawny ~ Poet and Adventurer.
Montague Shadworth Seymour Moore VC ~ The Montague family lived in Sompting until some time after the 1901 census.
Arthur Pullen Bury ~ Progressive horticulturist and inventor moving greenhouse.
Thomas Henry King ~ who was born in 1869 and died in 1952 was co-founder of the Trebor Company (Robert backwards).
He lived in Trebor Cottage (No. 40 Cokeham Lane) for some twenty years. The property was immediately south of Fig Tree Cottages and before Holmcroft. His second wife, Marion King stayed on in the home and died 25 April 1960 in Worthing, aged 90.
Alma Mater
Boundstone:
Stephen Love ~ Former Headmaster was at Boundstone School for 27 years and a teacher for 40 years all over the world.
Alan Strong ~ was Head of Drama at Boundstone from 1971 to 1986 when he died sadly aged 56. A most energetic and passionate teacher, who truly cared about his students and left an everlasting impression.
Aeden Kerney MBE ~ Teacher and Head of Music for Boundstone Community College throughout the duration of the school 1967-2009.
Katie Sushila Ratna Ghose ~ was born 1970 in Shoreham by Sea, Sussex, to an Indian father and English mother.
She attended Boundstone Community College in Lancing, Sussex and Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College.
She is a campaigner and lawyer and Chief Executive of the Women's Aid Federation of England.
Robin Driscoll ~ A British actor and writer, best known for his Mr Bean sitcom with Rowan Atkinson, which became a worldwide hit. He has spoken of the profound impact of his Sussex upbringing. Robin lives in Hurstpierpoint but grew up in Lancing, where he attended Boundstone Community College. He believes it was his time here that allowed him to forge his career in entertainment. “We had some truly inspirational teachers – art teachers and English teachers" , reserving particular praise for former headteacher, Steve Love. His debut novel is "Rough Music".
Chris Payne ~ is best known as being a long standing member of GARY NUMAN’s band between 1979 to 1990.
Paul Johnson Rogers ~ Composer, Songwriter, Producer & Arranger.
Richard Jackman PhD, CEng, MIEE ~ Professor UCL, Electronic and Electrical Engineering London Centre for Nanotechnology,
South Lancing:
Edward Woodward ~ Actor & Screen Star, known for "The Wicker Man" among many others. Attended South Lancing School. Family were bombed out of their home in Croydon three times during the Blitz. He may only have been evacuated here for a year or two but thought Lancing was a "seaside idyll" for a London kid. He finished his schooling in Surrey.
Lancing College:
Nathaniel Woodard ~ Founder of Lancing College
George Shaw ~ Local Historian and Teacher at Lancing College lived in Mill Road.
Basil Handford ~ Author & Local Historian. Lived in the Street. Studied and taught at Lancing College, man & boy.
Although perhaps those listed on the memories page do not fully qualify as local "worthies", most are folk having connections with our area: Click Here: