Richard Percy Challen was born at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex in 1898, his birth recorded at Cuckfield in the December quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a two year old living with his parents at Stonecot, Hurstpierpoint.  Percy Challen, head of the household, was a 39 year old Findon-born farmer.  His wife Clara, aged 36, had been born in Brighton.  There were also a boarder (Richard M Hill, a 39 year old wine and spirits merchant from Nantwich, Cheshire) and a general domestic servant: Alice Westgate aged 17 from Hurstpierpoint.

 

Richard Challen’s connection with Chailey is unknown but he appears in the magazine for the first time in January 1919 where he is noted as Challen, R P, 3rd A[ir] M[echanic], RAF.  This information is repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983
• Chailey Parish Magazine