Discovering the Tunnel

by Ros Barber (Brighton)

The tunnel was dug in the war and used by the Navy. Mariners stored their equipment and oil skins there. Chris, Nels and Ants were 12 and bored in Brighton. Wanted to find this tunnel through the cliff to the sea. So: Roedean School at night with torches.

There were no fences then, just signs: Beware of the Dog. They were brave; on a mission. Three nights spent searching round the school grounds, crawling by torchlight, hunting under bushes. They couldn't find it anywhere. They considered breaking in.

But on the third night, they found it, by the front gate. They went into the tunnel in pitch black, torches barely casting any light, down and down until they got to some steps. Over a hundred steps, deeper and deeper they went into the cliff.

Finally a glimmer of light at the bottom: the moon rippling off waves, the crash of sea. They ran towards it – met by a huge iron gate, railings so thick and strong they couldn't get through, over or under. Clung to the bars; looked out like prisoners.

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What Ros Barber says about Discovering the Tunnel:

Chris told this story to a friend, who e-mailed it to me. Chris would prefer to be known only as Chris!