Enquiries About the History of the Sports Field and Sports Club
Endowed by Sidney West

Requests for informaton similar to that shown below were sent to:

 - theMiddlesex Government
 - David Harper, Sport Field Manager, and
 - The Burgess Hill Library
 - Mr D Harrow (name of Sidney West was on site:  http://www.dharrow.freeserve.co.uk/gp245.htm)
 - TheResultsService.com (there's a soccer competition named after West)


Enquiry:

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From: R H Neergaard
To: <richard prokopowicz. >
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2004 10:13 PM
Subject: Sidney West Field; History

Mr Richard Prokopowicz; St Andrews Cricket Club

Dear Mr Prokopowicz,

I have been referred to you by Mr David Harper, Senior Leisure Facility Manager of the Sidney West Sports field.

I'm doing research on the life of Mr Edward William Treadaway Hoare, ~1866 - 1927. Both Mr Hoare and his wife died young, leaving their seven-year-old son an orphan. In 1933, a Mr Sidney West of Park Road, Burgess Hill, Sussex offered to adopt the boy.

This research is on behalf of that boy, now a man of 80, who would like to learn more about his father. There is a strong possibility that there was a familial association between that father, and Sidney West.

Can you tell me anything about the man after whom the Sidney West Field is named? We would truly be most appreciative.


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A typical response was:


Subject: Re: Sidney West Field;  History


 Dear Mr Neergaard
 
 
 I am aware that a trust was set up to manage the Sidney West Field and
 buildings. I seem to recall that the Trust comprised four main local
 sports Clubs , Burgess Hill Boxing Club, Burgess Hill Squash Club,
 Burgess Hill Target Shooting (Rifle) Club ? and St. Andrews Cricket
 Club.  It would be well worth exploring the history of these clubs
 through club officers to get more on the setting up of the trust and
 presumably about Mr Sidney West , himself.  I regret I do not know much
 more about the acquisition of the site by the Council, but you may wish
 to drop a line to the Council's  Corporate Property Manager Vicki McKay
 , if the date is of importance.
 
 Good luck with your research.
 
 David Harper
 Senior Leisure Facility Manager
 11th December 2003