Mrs C. wrote:As that`s the only point where the railway runs near the school grounds............ where else would there be a railway crossing on school land???
The present first XV pitch used to be the colts XV pitch. The first XV pitch being further round the mile, just past the Bird Sanctuary on the right hand side. It was use for hockey pitches during the summer.
Memory may fail a little, but in the days when the Brighton slacker was still running, I seem to remember that the line divided just past the level crossing where the accident took place. It was possible to go through the Bird Sanctuary, over the fence and down on to the Brighton Line, up to the middle part and then down and over the Littlehampton line. I can't remember whether there was a proper gate and crossing, but I must have been across there more than once. It was also where we "reclaimed" fencing to be used in the assualt course the RE was supposed to constructing in the Bird Sanctauary.
With respect to the Morbid topic, I remember getting back to CH after a summer break to be told that one of the master's teenage son's had had an accident going across the asphalt behind Barnes on his bike, and smashing into the fives courts wall.He hit his head but whether it was fatal or not, I cannot recall.