WHISPERING SMITH: We won't forget our good friend, Graham

Eggy, a childhood sobriquet he hated and which was never used by friends, was a great decorator, or rather restorer, and a dealer in antique brass, about which he knew a great deal.

He died peacefully at his River Road home, where he lived alone, without television, telephone or central heating and was happy with his lot.

He had a cellphone that he was reluctant to use but was thinking of getting a computer.

Graham had a great gift of recall and was happiest when talking about the Littlehampton of the 1950s and 60s. He was gentle, and had a great sense of humour and of self-awareness. Any difficulty that presented itself was observed with a laconic “it’s not a problem”.

As a youngster, he sold his marbles to you, rather than give you the chance of winning them and he rented out his comics.

He was a child of The Top Hat, The Mermaid and The Clifton Café.

Folk say “Sorry for your loss”, as if you have put a friend down somewhere and cannot remember where, but he has not gone from our lives and he will be remembered as our very good friend.

Graham has moved on and yet is still around, he will be greatly missed but the circle will not be broken.

AS THE metal signs advising against cycling in the pedestrian precinct of the High Street have long since vanished, I enquired of one of the community police support officers if the rule regarding a ban on cycling still stood or had it been abandoned?

I was told in no uncertain terms that it did still stand.

It appears that the majority of offenders ripping through the busy shopping centre, weaving in and out of the pedestrians, are not youngsters but adults who should know better and that the £30 fine is no great deterrent.

New signage would go some way in supporting the work of the officers, but I suspect cycle confiscation or crushing after a couple of warnings are the only real deterrent.

A tad extreme? Well, of course I am referring to crushing the bike and not the rider…