From good ol' days to the bad

The trip into the past has opened for its latest year and presents a mixture of the good and bad of Bognor.

The infamous side of the town's history is shown by special exhibitions about its leading role in Sir Oswald Mosley's fascist movement, the Blackshirts, in the thirties.

A more modern form of infamy is depicted in the lives of some of the town's more disreputable daughters such as brothel operator Cynthia Payne.

But anniversaries such as the 80 years since the Regis title was granted and the 25th anniversary of the first clowns weekend have also been featured.

Bognor Regis Local History Society's 30th anniversary, and the 25 years of the museum, receive coverage as well to make for another informative visit by those who journey through the decades within its walls.

The High Street museum was opened for its latest season by curator David Jennings. He was nominated in a surprise gesture by local history society chairman Kay Fall as a thank-you for his hard work during the summer.

Bognor's deputy mayor, Jeanette Warr, and the chairman of Arun District Council, Ashvin Patel, were also present.

Mrs Fall said: "We are desperate for more space. It's the biggest problem we have. We just need somewhere we can display our information better.

"When we moved into the High Street premises 12 years ago, they were ideal.

"But we have outgrown them now."

However, she said the society wanted the museum to remain a 'homely' place run by volunteers rather than an attraction run by professionals.

The museum will stay open until the Saturday after the October half-term holiday.

Its opening times are 10am until 4pm Tuesdays to Sundays, plus bank holiday Mondays.

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