What has happened to our one-beautiful city?

Chichester was once described by Eric Gill 'as human as home and as lovely as heaven'.
All who love the city will know immediately what he meant – its small-scale intimacy, its well-ordered pattern of streets lined with fine houses under the gaze of the cathedral and its soaring spire.
Gill would now be appalled if he could come back and see what was in prospect for his cherished city.
He loved looking at the bell tower from Tower Street – the two are intimately connected both visually and in name, they are inseparable.
But now, if Chichester District Council's plans go through, the bell tower will never again sit comfortably with the northern end of Tower Street.
They will be wrenched apart by an act of civic vandalism that has seen no equal since BT's monstrosity was dumped on neighbouring Chapel Street some years ago.
The plans for the proposed new museum in Tower Street were rejected by the district council's development control committee last October for referral back to the architect.
The structure was too high and bulky – between 50ft and 60ft; the city council objected to the overpowering and oppressive impact it would have on the street scene.
Its cladding was inappropriately made up of large industrial-like panels of reconstituted stone out of keeping in scale and texture with the natural stone and brick used elsewhere in the city.
Geoffrey Claridge, representing the Chichester Conservation Area Advisory Committee, commented the museum would look more like a 1930s cinema in the London suburbs and would compete with the cathedral spire. Views from North Walls would be compromised.
And so we have been waiting for the architect's new proposals, and what have we got? Exactly the same as before but for the derisory concession of a reduction in height – by less than 2ft.
The architect compares the proportions that give 'elegance and beauty' (his words) to his building with those found in Renaissance architecture in Florence and Mantua as though this were some justification for his massive box of a building.
Sadly, the plans are supported by planning and heritage officers of the district council. Hopefully members of the development control committee will think otherwise and save the city from this horror.
Chichester might need a new museum, but not at the cost of damaging the very heritage it seeks to celebrate.

Kim Leslie, Sea Drive, Felpham

One hears about unitary authorities where all services are delivered by one council, what is called a one-stop shop delivery. If only that were so here.
Who is responsible for the state of the roundabout at the end of West Street, in a tourist area?
Surely there should be well-kept grass and a tree or two. It's no good ripping everything up and hoping it grows over.
Who is responsible for cleaning the bypass? Not of litter – that is bad enough from feral drivers – but cones, car parts and other rubbish.
Could we not run to seeded grass verges and a monthly cut and clean of verges around the edge of our historic and pretty city?
As for other roads... I give as an example the Selsey road. Along its route you can find left-behind contractor signs, lumps of concrete,
a pile of concrete, cones, sheets of chipboard – all have been there for six months or more.
On this route, many places have hedgerows that have huge gaps or hundreds of yards ripped up or missing.
Is there encouragement or grants from whoever is responsible to maintain or plant so we do not end up with an empty, windswept landscape?
There are farm roads better maintained than this one.

G Clements, Selsey Road, Selsey

What will happen to the very large area that was Woolworths?
I think my husband may have the answer.
Move the stall holders from the Cattle Market, thereby freeing it for parking. The stall holders will be dry at all times, not dependent on the weather.
Also the farmers' market, the French market, etc could go there.
No more standing around in the cold and damp.
Just a thought.

Pat Ahern, Alandale Road, Birdham



Please don't forget what St Wilfrid's really stands for

I would be very dismayed if goodwill for St Wilfrid's Hospice has been lost because of the closure of the Furniture Shop (letters, last week).
It should be remembered the exercise is not about Southbourne or the shop, but those people who are unfortunate enough to need the services of the hospice because of terminal illness, and who, with their families, are able to avail themselves of the excellent care and support it provides.
This is only possible if the hospice manages its income in the most responsible and efficient way.
As chairman of the Southbourne Support Group raising funds for St Wilfrid's for the past four years, I am aware of the hospice's need to nurture its income.
In my experience, they are not an uncaring institution and must have felt they had good reason to close the shop.
The Southbourne Support Group, in its own small way, has raised nearly £5,000 so far this year.
We are very proud to be associated with the hospice and to help it in its work, and we would love to have members of the Southbourne community join us in our fundraising efforts.

Hilary Gilson, Prinsted, Emsworth



Perfect day at the car boot for charity

I don't usually go car booting at Fontwell but I did on Saturday – enticed by the fact it was well advertised and it was for charity.
I queued up in the road beside the racecourse in the dark (and before the appointed time for entry), paid my £10 and was directed to a spot just near the toilets.
Unpacking and setting-up takes me a time, I then awaited the punters. There weren't many people about and although it turned out to be a bright and sunny morning, trade was slow.
I finished up taking just £13, covering the cost of my entry and petrol, but I thought it was fun.
At about 11am an Observer photographer appeared and asked myself and a next-door car booter to pose for a photograph along with adult and children customers. This we all happily did.
Then it came to packing up time and the large, heavy camper van next to me got stuck in the mud and needed help to move off.
All proceeds went to the charity, the racecourse had given its ground for free and the stewards were all volunteers.

Barbara Brown, Oaktree Close, Pagham



Our roads are a disgrace

When is the council going to repair our roads properly?
The roads around Selsey, Sidlesham, Hunston and Donnington are worse than third world countries.
Countless times they have been repaired but as soon as there is a big downpour of rain, all the repair work that has been carried out breaks up, leaving large craters.
It seems the work that is done is only make do and mend. If the roads were repaired properly, surely this would not happen.
As I, like other road users, pay taxes to use my car on the roads, is it to much to ask our roads are maintained properly?
Anyone who lives in Selsey and has to use Manor Road will know you have to slalom along the road to dodge the large potholes that have appeared again.
All this cannot be good on any vehicle, so if damage is caused to your suspension, are we as tax payers allowed to claim damages from the council or whoever is responsible for the roads?

Ken Mitchell, Mountwood Road, Selsey



After all we've been through, this is nothing

I've been a state pensioner now for over five years and the interest on my meagre savings has fallen to 0.1 per cent – in other words, zip.
But frankly I don't give a damn about the recession, cold weather, flu epidemic or anything else.
The way I look at it is – so long as I can keep reasonably warm and prevent the house from freezing over, treat myself to the occasional square meal, pay all my bills and have a supply of good books to read, I'm fine.
When I think what this country went through in the 1940s, especially the bitter winter of 1945 when it seemed as though the war was never going to end, the country was tired, nearly bankrupt and with shortages and the Germans were firing their V1s and V2s at us, and how everyone still saw it through to the flags of VE Day, I feel I should never complain. I'm sure we can do it again – no sweat.

David Chainey, Kestrel Close, East Wittering



Thanks so much

We would like to send our sincerest and grateful thanks to everyone involved who gave us their invaluable help during and following our disastrous house fire in Bosham on New Year's Eve.
We cannot speak too highly of the fire and other emergency services which arrived so promptly and carried out their duties with quiet, professional efficiency.
Especial thanks are due to the very alert near neighbour who first raised the alarm in the early hours and ran round the roads to wake us and without whose prompt action the situation could have been even worse.
Our other neighbours immediately came to our help and offered so much comfort, care and assistance.
There appeared to us to be around 50 firefighters and seven appliances at the height of the blaze. They went about their business in a most professional manner, containing the fire to the roof and thus saving nearly all of our possessions intact.
Nutbourne Construction, at our request, attended immediately to make the place secure and arrange for a temporary roof.

Brian and Betty Fitzpatrick, Harbour Court, Bosham

Thank you to the gentleman who stopped his car and went out of his way to help my aunt when she fell and broke her hip when about to cross the road to Chichester crematorium on Monday, January 12.

Rose Mellows, Trent Drive, Wareham

I would like to thank the kind people who, on New Year's Eve, picked me up and looked after me when I had a fall on that little stretch of road and pavement between the back of M&S and North Street.
Somebody got me a chair and provided a stack of tissues for the cut over my eye, and another gentleman phoned for a paramedic and contacted my husband, who was waiting for me near the library.
I am so grateful to everyone and to the paramedic who came out to patch me up and take me to A&E. I do thank you all.

Patricia Nicholas, Lake Lane, Barnham

I am writing to say a big thank-you to all the readers who took part in this year's Candle of Hope appeal.
We had a great turnout with many local people paying tribute to loved ones lost to cancer at the special Christmas Eve memorial at Chichester
Cathedral.
At World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) we are so grateful to everyone who came along – it was a very poignant and touching tribute.
A special memorial candle was lit in memory of those lost to cancer. The candle burned from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night.
As well as giving people the chance to remember lost loved ones, the money raised from our Candle of Hope appeal will help us continue with our research and education work.
Anyone who wants to make a donation or find out more can call 020 7343 4205 or visit www.wcrf-uk.org/candle. To make a telephone donation, call
0800 970 1461.

Teresa Nightingale, head of fundraising, World Cancer Research Fund



It's just too late to moan about Butlins hotel now

Once an outline set of drawings of Butlins' Spa Hotel have been submitted to the council, the local authority invites the public affected in that area to visit the council offices and view the drawings, and put forward any concerns so the items are raised at the planning committee meetings.
After all, the council is there to represent the public and their concerns.
I have watched every move of the building being erected and, yes, it could have gone towards the Hotham Park area a few yards.
As for the popular trees, they will form part of a screen once they are in full leaf for a period of about seven months.
And yes, the external finish could have been a very light green to blend in with the surrounding area.
We moved down from Surrey and in my opinion the Spa Hotel makes a good retreat.
I do feel sorry for any retired people living close to the building
but it is rather late to make any changes or move the building.

C Glue, Outerwyke Gardens, Felpham

I don't think the Spa Hotel is an eyesore, but it is not beautiful. I think it will have a limited effect on the local economy as the ethos of Butlins is to make the visitor stay within and spend money with them.
However, it will provide important if only mainlylow-paid jobs (the so-called regeneration of Bognor is mainly low-paid job creation as well).
The detrimental effect of the Spa on local residents' lives and the prices of their properties is very real.
The comments from the planning officer regarding the visual effects on local people are not made with any evidence. They seem to be an 'objective' view of someone who does not have to live there.
The planners could have asked the Butlins group to create a full-sized mock-up of the part of the hotel nearest and adjacent to local people, similar to a film set, and positioned it for public comment. More importantly, this would have enabled the planners to see the visual impact of the hotel and plan accordingly.
Maybe they would have sited the Spa better to lessen the impact on local people.
It is easy to be wise after the event, but we pay planners to be wise before the event.

R Thomas, Bognor Regis

Did the story about the 'new Butlins eyesore' really need to dominate the front page?
Can we remember the residents who live opposite an all-year holiday park, which brings in millions of pounds in to Bognor Regis, chose to live there?
Butlins had been open well before the houses in question were even built.
Mrs Ramsay and her neighbours will soon look over a beautiful hotel instead of that awful prefab building that dominated the landscape prior to it being demolished. I would like to congratulate Butlins.

Nichola Mullan, Felpham, Bognor Regis

Please, can somebody tell me what is going on with Arun Council. The council has given permission to Butlins for a hotel with 200 bedrooms that will cater for 720 guest.
So where are all those people going shopping?
When they look for M&S and all the other big shops, it will be Chichester and Worthing - anywhere other than Bognor Regis, because there are not enough shops.

Norma Hayes, Haywards Close, Felpham

I am not against regeneration of Bognor Regis, having waited more years than I care to remember for it to happen.
I feel sorry for the residents who will have to look out on this eyesore, but that is only the beginning.
According to the Butlins masterplan (Bognor Regeneration) they will build (subject to planning) an additional three blocks in a semi-circle to the west of the current one in the medium term.
The photo below shows what the current block looks like when driving to Bognor.
Mr Wheyway says there are other tall buildings on the Butlins site. That I cannot disagree with, but the skyline is well away from residents' homes and does actually make an interesting view as you approach from Felpham.
But when the other three blocks go up, as no doubt they will, you will not be able to see it.
The five-storey hotel on the seafront does enhance the the view from the seaward side, being very reminiscent of a liner. The new block from the back look like an overloaded container ship.
Felpham Parish Council organised a public consultation evening with Butlins, who failed to turn up through 'sickness'.
This letter is my personal view and may not be the view of any organisation I belong too.

Graham Matthews, Rife Way, Felpham

I note Mr Richard Bates, the managing director of the Butlins Spa Hotel, says the hotel will look breath-taking.
Certainly does already – but not in the way he means it.

Heather Howell, Felpham



We want an Asda store

I have been following the saga of Asda from the beginning.
Sainsbury's had their chance, they were in Bognor years ago but left. What is different now?
I really want to see Asda come to Bognor.

Mrs Madigan, West Meads, Bognor Regis

I was not surprised at the council's rejection. I think the next news will be they have approved planning for Asda at Littlehampton.
I support anything councillors do to stop this terrible starving of Bognor of assets.
Our town centre is already a mess with nothing to make anyone want to visit, but with the out-of-town stores not being far from the centre, people might wander
into the centre or seafront.
If the area is prone to flooding, how did Lec make such a success of their business?

Moira Minns, North Bersted



Gun club shooting is not helping us protect birds

In response to the letters concerning Midhurst Gun Club from John Baron and B Reed and the many points they raise, I write as a trustee and former chairman of the Sussex Wildlife Trust who was closely involved in the trust's acquisition of Stedham Common.
I am also the person who, with a colleague, has conducted the annual surveying and mapping of the bird populations on the common every year since 1993 using strict scientific methodology.
I think any reasonable person would agree that having a gun club operating on any nature reserve, let alone a small one, is hardly compatible with the aims of conserving wildlife and promoting quiet enjoyment of the reserve by the public.
The trust could, and some would argue should, have given the gun club notice to quit when it first acquired the site in 1987.
Nevertheless, because the gun club were very co-operative and were long-standing users of the site, we agreed to let them continue.
However, circumstances have now changed as a direct consequence of our management of the vegetation on the common.
We now have several nationally rare or threatened species breeding on the site which we have a duty to protect, including the woodlark, whose song many regard as being as evocative as the nightingale's.
This is why we have reluctantly asked the gun club to move to another location, and as a gesture of goodwill have given them three years to find another site.
Mr Baron suggests the shooting does not bother the birds, but the hundreds of maps recording every species over many years demonstrate the shooting zone is simply not used by any species except those flying overhead.
On the other hand, rare species are now nesting dangerously close to the range of the guns.
Some of these maps were shown to the gun club in 2007 and all are still available for inspection.
The trust certainly has no intention of discouraging visitors.
Sadly, the reason why the 'threatening' notices with police insignia have been posted is that a few individuals, despite warnings, have been illegally harvesting rare fungi from the reserve for commercial gain.
Mr Baron bemoans the fact he has never had the opportunity to influence policies and directions of the trust but the truth is he has, through a number of meetings that took place with trust staff in 2007.
The fact the trust looked at the evidence and concluded shooting is not compatible with Stedham Common's position as an important bird breeding site is no doubt frustrating for him, but should not come as a surprise.
The trust welcomes contact with local people. At Woods Mill there is a member of staff whose specific role is to respond to the hundreds of inquiries from its 31,800 members and the general public.
There have been many open days and day courses on both Iping and Stedham Commons and lectures open to the public (I will never forget one I gave when I was approached afterwards by someone who complained there were far too many trees, promptly followed by someone else who muttered there was far too much heather!)
Local parish representatives and individuals are also on the Iping and Stedham Local Nature Reserve management committee.
Finally, Mr Baron suggests the trust 'is not conserving the countryside as it has always been'.
Unfortunately he does not appreciate heathlands only exist because they have been managed by man for thousands of years, with local people regularly cutting the heather and bracken for fodder and bedding, digging for peat, grazing their livestock, gathering timber and occasionally burning patches of the heather.
Without management, heathlands quickly revert to dense birch and pine woodland.
Conservationists everywhere are doing their best to reinstate the last surviving heathlands with a mixture of traditional methods and modern technology to save and enhance the rich array of wildlife that live exclusively in this glorious habitat.

Robin Crane, Carron Lane, Midhurst



We take issue with National Trust's version of events

In response to the article regarding the Dangstein Estate 'Bitter workers and tenants lose homes and jobs' in last week's Observer.
The statement by the National Trust is not right.
The National Trust did not notify us 'the purchaser would not require staff and would not renew assured shorthold tenancies' until December 20, at the point of sale, and not, as stated, in May, 2008.
We also consider the statements '...the executor and the trust deeply regret the long-standing uncertainty for staff and tenants' and '...regret they feel communications were insufficient' are shallow and insignificant considering that on three separate occasions we contacted the National Trust and the executors to the will, to be fobbed off with the same platitudes as in their response to the Observer.
We must reiterate there has been no communication whatsoever by either the National Trust or the executors of Miss Quennell's will regarding these particular issues.
We feel the National Trust has a duty of care to the staff and tenants of the Dangstein Estate.
It is not good enough to simply say they deeply regret their lack of communication. This is an issue of people's livelihoods and homes.
The National Trust was quick enough to take advantage of Miss Quennell's generosity but less keen to accept responsibility for the future of the people whose lives have been so deeply affected by their handling of this legacy.
Their apparent indifference to the future of the estate, its workers and tenants and its effect on the wider local community is, frankly, lamentable. This whole episode must surely put into question the integrity of the National Trust.

Richard Price, Dangstein, Rogate
Alice Spencer, Village Street, Petersfield



Let's see some commercial thinking in our parish

I regularly read the frequent comments of our parish council chairman, Colin Hughes. His work is much to be admired, but I feel he sometimes shows a lack of commercial acumen.
This is not surprising as most of our elected representatives have experience only of spending other people's cash, ie rates and general taxes.
As both a tax and rate payer, with sadly no way to offset against a business, I am always concerned with how my pension is spent.
Firstly I note Mr Hughes' pleasure at receiving cheap fuel from the new Gillhams Garage. Perhaps he would have a different view if he owned the post office shop in Easebourne. Life was hard enough for this shop, with the loss of the post office business. Now it must be impossible.
Equally the hard-pressed cafes and food stores in Midhurst hardly need more lower-priced competition on their doorstep.
So much for encouraging local firms!
When the other petrol stations are forced to close, I hope fuel will still be so competitive.
Another matter raised by Mr Hughes was the poor state of the pavement outside the convent in Petersfield Road. His wish was for the Chichester authorities to resurface it – again at ratepayers' expense.
Surely the convent could be persuaded to perhaps re-grass the site, thus improving the area.
After all, much of the damage has been caused by cars delivering children to the school, and any resurfacing will simply mean continued use as a car park.
Perhaps the stretch could be a no-parking area – after all, walking from the nearby free car parks must be possible for some children.
My mother walked more than one mile with myself and my brother before we went alone,
as I am sure was the case for other people.
Of course this should all have been done when the extensive/ expensive building for the convent was carried out, but better late than never.
No doubt our chairman can use his strong influence with the relevant people to at least try this option rather than the usual easy one.

A Morrison, Midhurst



Good deal on the buses for OAPs

Having just read the Observer article on Miss Burdett and her bus pass, I must write in support of the 9.30am deadline.
This enables the fee-paying public to use public transport to get to work, college and school.
My husband and I are regular travellers on our bus passes and find no difficulty in starting out at 10.30am – after all, there is
no restriction on return times and you can stay out as long as you wish.
I consider we are extremely fortunate to have this facility, and can see no reason why it should start at 9am.

Mrs J Wegg, Cowdray Road, Easebourne

The OAP bus pass used to give half-price travel after 9am; most OAPs say they were satisfied with paying half fare.
OAPs now get absolutely free travel after 9.30am and if they travel before that time they
pay a single fare only; thus they are still travelling half price at that time.
Is there not a little bit of Victor Meldrew creeping in?

L Bos, Poplar Way, Midhurst



Post Office solution

I am sure there are a lot of people who miss Sadlers Walk Post Office.
In some parts of the country, instead of closing they have been relocated to local churches.
Some churches are under-used during the week and providing they have a suitable space and the vicar is in agreement, it does sound a very sensible solution.
I feel sure we could have eased the pressure of those queues before Christmas.

Vera Wood, Henty Gardens, Chichester



Saving energy perhaps - but what about lives?

Following up the report in last week's Observer about the street light in Pinewood Way that got going again on January 20, goes out at midnight and comes on again the next morning at 5.30am for two hours.
Last week I noted a write-up in The Daily Telegraph by its transport editor, with the headline 'Turning off street lights to save energy will put lives at risk'.
The Highways Agency and the Local Government Association defended such action while research published in a scientific journal and the head of road safety at the AA had views to the contrary, relating to crime and accidents as well as road safety.
Several local authorities have apparently either started switching lights off at night or are considering doing so, and West Sussex was named as one of them.
Our street light was out of action for 12 weeks and the resumed service is mainly evening only, so how fortunate our home lighting has nothing like the same problem.

Dennis Chandler, Pinewood Way, Midhurst



Name and shame the pond vandals

Those mindless vandals whose actions destroyed the enjoyment of the Midhurst pond by many should be exposed. Someone knows who they were – please let the authorities know then have them 'volunteer' to action a clean-up.
In 1976, when our family spent the autumn term at Midhurst Grammar, I, 'assisted' by pupils for whom the classroom was a constraint, cleaned the pool and its adjacent area. The kids took pride in what they achieved, as did I for their willingness to get down and dirty.
Miss Evans (the principal) supported the kids being out of class as this enabled the more committed pupils to study with less in-class disruption.
It was a win-win situation – the vandalism was not. If people front up with names, the situation is retrievable. I hope to read it has been.

David Cox (boarding pupil early 1950s, janitor/(wife cook, children pupils) world traveller mid-1970s)



Briefly...

Do any readers know what happened to the cannon that was on the mound in Priory Park?
When, where, and why it went?

J Hood, John Arundel Road, Chichester

The article in the Observer about lights in the sky reminded both my husband and I of the occasion some 18 months ago when we had a similar experience.
It was about 10pm when we saw from our bedroom window flickering orange lights crossing the sky from west to east, in small clusters, at approximately wind speed.
We looked at them for about ten minutes, and must have seen about 40 in all. There was no sound or indication as to what they might be.
Has anyone any ideas?

Betty Sheppard, Church Lane, Oving

Thank you very much, Rita and family, for your kind words on the demise of Batemans opticians (Observer letters).
Cynthia, Claire, Pat and Kaye are all devastated at their redundancies after a combined 35-plus years of dedicated service.
We were all very sorry not to be able to say goodbye to our many friends and loyal clients we had the pleasure of seeing over the years, and would like to send our thanks, and very best wishes to you all.

Cynthia Mays, Claire Croft, Pat Cocksedge and Kaye Cowtan, Fareham

I lost a silver bangle on January 9 somewhere between Lloyds No1 bar and the top of South Street. It is solid silver with a figure-of-eight design on the front and a clasp on the back. It has no significant value but has great sentimental value.
I wondered if anyone has found it. If they could hand it in to the Observer, they will return it to me. Many thanks.

Melissa Clements, Baxendale Road, Chichester

I am sure there are a lot of people who miss Sadlers Walk Post Office.
In some parts of the country, instead of closing they have been relocated (approximately six at present) to local churches.
Some churches are under-used during the week and providing they have a suitable space and the vicar is in agreement, it does sound a very sensible solution.
If this had been general knowledge before the closure, I feel sure we could have eased the pressure of those queues before Christmas.

Vera Wood, Henty Gardens, Chichester

Mr Chapman (Observer letters) is right in all he says regarding the tragic death of Kellie Taylor.
As a result of this death, I wrote to the chairman of the Sussex Police Authority regarding the lack of traffic police.
After a follow-up letter, it would appear my initial letter 'had got lost in the post'.
How many more lost lives will there be as we all know that there is virtually no policing carried out on our roads? Maybe I (or you) will be the next victim of an incompetent driver using a defective vehicle.

John Hutchings, member of the IAM, Chichester

While watching The Secret Life of Animals on television, I was amazed to see a village in the middle of the African bush had more shops open than the the town centre of Bognor.
How therefore can the tourism operators be optimistic Bognor will attract overseas tourists to a town which, I regret to say, is dying on its feet?

JJ Frame, Felpham

I am horrified to hear of the closure of Mothercare in Bognor Regis. This shop has been in our town for years and is going to be sorely missed.
I dread to think how our town is going to look soon.
Good luck to the Mothercare girls.

Mrs Smythe, Southwark Walk, Aldwick

Roseby, Woolworths (Bognor, Chichester, Rustington, Littlehampton) Hamleys toy shop in Bognor, MFI, the Officers Club and Wittards – all closing down with many local people being made redundant.
And here we have Asda offering to come to our area to create employment and their application is refused. Where's the sense?
Come on, Arun planners, wake up before it's too late and our area becomes a place for retired people only.
Our youngsters will have to move away to obtain employment.

V Greenaway, Pagham

Further to my letter asking for a ramp to the rear of Boots the chemist in Bognor Regis, a big thank-you. I think it was done within three weeks.
Nice one for the council for that! Any chance of some lighting, then?

Mr Lemuel Griffiths & Miss J Perryman, Bognor Regis

On behalf of the Local History Society, I am gathering information on fishing and fishermen, both past and present, in Bognor and the surrounding area with a view
to producing a booklet for Bognor Museum.
If anyone has any memories or photos which they would like to share, please contact me.
I would particularly like to find out more about Henry Allen, the smuggler.

Mrs Sheila Smith,
Thistledew, Lagoon Road, Pagham
Telephone: 01243 262646

May I say a sincere thank-you to the lady who found and handed in my handbag to the staff of The Trading Post in Barnham.
I must admit I found the experience extremely distressing, so to all concerned my very sincerest thanks for their thoughtfulness and especially their honesty.

Mrs Harrison, Littlehampton

To the kind person who handed in my keys last Saturday, thank you so much, I am very grateful.

Mrs J Smith, West Street, Bognor Regis


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