A woman who has lived in Addiscombe for 70 years is pouring out her memories to the authors of a new history book about the town.

The Addiscombe community has been invited to help write its own history.

Steve Collins and Anne Bridge have requested submissions as they research Volume Two of their hugely successful The Book of Addiscombe.

And one of the first residents to help was Ivy Ayling, 87, from Cheyne Walk. It is hoped that Ivy, who used to live in Black Horse Lane for many years, will be one of many to come forward with memories and pictures of the past.

She told the Guardian: "I'm glad to help. When I look back and think what a difference Addiscombe looks today, I'm glad I had these memories and it's a shame if they aren't put down."

Volume One was a sell-out following its release before Christmas last year, and the amazing feedback has prompted the sequel, which intends to cover the same period, up to 1970. Ivy came over from Canada aged 17 and worked in Kennards, opposite Allders, then Roffey and Clarke stationery next to Grant's. She married Ernest, who died 23 years ago, and had one daughter and one son, who lives in Brockenhurst Road.

During the Blitz, Ivy can

remember her doctor's car being shot at while it was parked in Colworth Road.

Her father was in the choir at St Mary's in Canning Road, where her uncle was organist.

She said: "My grand-daughter gave me the first Book of Addiscombe as a Christmas present and it was very interesting and so nice.

"I'd thought for a few years how great Addiscombe used to be with the shops, we never had to go to Croydon for anything because we had the lot.

"It's disappointing today because there aren't many of the same shops, only a few like Page's (James Page Hardware and China). It was a real community and everyone knew everyone."

Steve Collins, of Canning Road, said the response has already been good from Guardian readers.

He said: "Elderly people in particular can say quite a lot about their upbringing and their memories, and they really enjoy it.

"They interview beautifully and generally speaking, the information they have is brilliant." In researching Volume One, some contributions were "clues" directing Steve and Anne to another source.

"It's a treasure hunt. Volume One was like doing a jigsaw puzzle upside down. We knew what shape it was but we didn't know what the picture was."

October 25, 2001 09:30