Sad loss of Saltdean's Gordon Tucknott

It is with deep regret we report the sad loss of Gordon Tucknott, Saltdean's longest serving resident.

With great sadness we report that Gordon Tucknott passed away on the 1st March 2020 at the Sussex County Hospital aged 91.

Gordon was born in Saltdean in the 'Old Coastguard Cottages', where Teynham House flats now stand by the, then new, A259 Coast Road, in 1929.

At the age of seven he moved to a new house in Bevendean Avenue where he lived all his life, probably making him the longest living Saltdean resident!

He grew up in times witnessing the growth of Saltdean, as a young boy the quiet South Coast Road and the then sandy beach were his playground, he watched the Undercliff Walk and Saltdean Tunnel being built, he swam in the new Saltdean Lido when it first opened in 1936 and remembered when the Butlins Ocean Hotel (now the Grand Ocean apartments) was just a field!

Some of Gordon's wonderful memories have been well documented in local historical works such as the celebrated publications ''The Saltdean Story'' and ''Saltdean From Old Photographs'' by Douglas d'Enno. 

In 2016 Saltdean Zone's Darren had the great pleasure of chatting with Gordon in his home. We hope to share Gordon's memories from those meetings in the coming months, alongside many marvellous old images of not only Saltdean but Brighton and the surrounding areas which Gordon had lovingly collected and kept. 

'' I found Gordon to be kind and humourous gentleman, who welcomed me into his home. Gordon was never too far away from a fascinating or sometimes gruesome local history story or an opinion on football!'' - Darren (ZoneZine).
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Gordon's funeral will take place at St Martins Church in Saltdean at 11 am on Tuesday 24th March.
     
Thank you to Robert Tucknott for informing us and our thoughts go out to you and your family at this time. 

Below is an image of Gordon's birthplace the Coastguard Cottages circa possibly late 1920s/early 1930s.         

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