The start of the year was an unhappy one for
fans of DIY in Mid Sussex as Haywards Heath saw the closure
of Lee's, one of the town's great institutions.
Lee's Do It Yourself Centre, to give it its full title, was
a slice of the old school staffed by knowledgeable old timers
who anyone would have been proud to call 'Grandad'. With its
distinct smell of wood and tools, Lees represented a safe
haven for anyone in DIY strife. Age, sex, race or level of
experience was of no consequence in Lees with the DIY novice
being made as welcome as the experienced home builder.
My own Lees highlights include the first time I bought my
Dad a Christmas present with my own money, a wooden handled
gimlet that he still has today. The following year I purchased
a long nose pliers and wire cutter set. Lee's also supplied
us with some wood to make a skateboard ramp.
Our original entry for Lee's Do It Yourself Centrecan be
found below. |
