First Mr Peter Burton, formerly Rural Studies Organiser, encouraged me to take the M.I.Biol. and I am very grateful. Then I fell under the umbrella of two excellent tutors, Miss Archard and Dr. U. Scott, who had coached 2 students to win the National Prize.
A good neighbour, Mr Frank Rose, showed me the article on hedge dating and I deeply regret that he did not live to see the outcome.
Mr Lionel Philips, the leader who started the Hurstpierpoint Historical Society, told me of the 1343 licence date. He organised outings to Ripe and Novington Lane and was extremely helpful. Mr Hugh Standing gave me photocopied maps to “play with”.
Librarians and the East Sussex County Records Office were invariably helpful. Miss Hobbs, Librarian at Brighton Technical College, provided references and photocopies. Mr. Speke, County Planning Officer, sent very useful maps.
My 3 daughters took an increasing share of the family chores during the three-year course, especially Penny who developed a love of cookery at the weekends and the washing up in the last few weeks.
Dr U. Hamilton Paterson, a neighbour and pharmacist, was a very keen photographer and on reading my project offered to help me take slides of maps but took her own Black and White photographs.
In 1993 Mr Jack Morley, helped considerably by checking land measurements at Washbrooks Farm and with new problems that arose.
As a 1994 Xmas present my daughter Glynis gave me a BBC computer and printer, and son in law Dave was very patient with an elderly learner. For the new Millennium the family bought me a colour computer. Colour printing tempted me to print this work Andrew and Danny, technical wizards, repeatedly mended the computer! Glynis, Dave and Arthur have advised, encouraged and finally put the work on to the Internet for me. Garfield Haines gave enthusiastic support, too!
Lastly, my wife Brenda, who for 48 of our 52 years has had to suffer the vagaries of a yo-yo diabetic and has made great efforts to keep me on course.
To all of these I express my grateful thanks. S. Trevor Davies.
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