The A-List

Gorse Fox noticed a visitor had reached this blog search for "celebrities in Kingston Gorse". This is a subject the GF has never really discussed, and discretion would prevent any disclosure of current residents (if any were indeed celebrities).

Historically, however, Kingston Gorse is built in the parish of Kingston within the Poling Hundred of the Rape of Arundel in the County of West Sussex. Kingston’s existence is recorded as far back as the 9th Century.

Kingston Gorse was the home of several well known people. During the intra-bellum, Le Touquet was seen as very chic, however, for celebrities who needed frequent access to London it was inconvenient. This area of the Sussex coast was seen as an alternative - with trains providing regular access to the West End.

The first houses were built on Kingston Gorse in the late 1920s. Among the early residents was George Black - the impresario who controlled the London Palladium. This was a time when the Crazy Gang were popular - Flanagan and Allen moved into the area (though not KG itself) - and the stained glass windows of George Black's house featured various characters from the Crazy Gang.

When George Black died, his house was bought by Billy Butlin and became notorious for its parties.

Jack Hylton, the band leader, lived just behind where the GF lives today.

Teddy Knox (of Nervo & Knox) lived just behind GF's neighbour's house

Dame Myra Hess was often heard practicing on her piano.

During WWII most of the houses were empty and used as billets for the Canadian military.

From the Evening News, September 8, 1953:

SQUADRON Leader Neville Duke yesterday broke the world air speed record in his Hawker Hunter. He did it on both attempts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. The figures were achieved on the second flight over the three kilometre course off-shore between Rustington and Kingston Gorse, Sussex.
The average was 727.6 mph. The speeds on the required four runs over the course were: 716.7 mph, 738.8 mph, 716.5 mph, and 738.6 mph.

There have been a number of famous visitors to Kingston Gorse. On Tuesday, 5^th Sept 2000 Mrs Clare Poupart of Kingston upon Thames wrote:

“On my way back to the UK from Canada in the thirties, I met Ray, a young man who had been given a trip to Europe as a reward from his bosses at MGM Studios. He put me in contact with Joseph Barbera and William Hannah, who were also working for MGM.

Joseph and William spent a weekend with me at a house my parents had rented in Kingston Gorse. We bathed in a very cold sea, played leapfrog on the beach and danced at the local club. Who’d have thought they would have gone on to become the famous duo “Hannah Barbera” creating cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones”

So, there you go, history and celebrity all in one posting.