I would therefore like to thank the Observer for giving me the opportunity to write this weekly column which has enabled me to increase my knowledge of our town, but more importantly, allowed me to meet so many interesting and informed people.

I would like to repeat that without you, the reader, I could not have managed so many diverse and interesting articles.

I will continue with my research and will be delving into our religious heritage and hope to produce my next book within the coming 18 months.

I hope that you will also continue to be aware of our historical surroundings and keep recording and retaining events and artefacts for future historians.

Thank you again for all your support and hopefully we will meet again when the climate is right.

It became quite difficult to decide what this last article should cover and it then became obvious that we should take a final look at the history of our town.

I wonder what Sir Richard Hotham would make of his seaside resort, which he planned in the 1780s. Like so many people, he retired to the area, where he aimed to produce a second Brighton, to which Royalty would travel and enjoy his newly-constructed resort.

As we know, this did not occur during his lifetime, however today students from all around the world arrive to be educated in his buildings, occupied by the Bognor Regis campus, within the University of Chichester. Who knows what these students will become in the future?

It is still possible, of course, to view Sir Richard's home – Hotham Park House, situated in the newly-renovated Hotham Park.

It was actually named by the local historian, Gerard Young. While plans for a public park were being discussed, Gerard always referred to the area as Hotham Park and eventually the council agreed the name should stay.

Changes

Since Sir Richard's death in 1799, the aspirations of councils, planners, visitors and residents have changed considerably.

Sir Richard's dream of this purpose-built holiday resort gradually became real as visitors started arriving by rail from 1864 when our local railway station was opened.

The construction of the pier the following year in 1865 – said to be the 19th constructed across the country – also helped to encourage people to visit Bognor for their holidays or annual Sunday school outings.

I have met so many people over the years who first made a trip to the town via these Sunday school outings (although not in the 1800s, you understand.)

Royal visitors

Sadly, Sir Richard did not see the influx of royal visitors for which he had planned, but much later in 1929 a king did arrive, of course – King George V to recuperate at Craigweil House in Aldwick.

His stay here with Queen Mary we presume would have thrilled Sir Richard.

The king's visit, however, changed the town considerably, especially after the proclamation that Bognor could use the suffix Regis and from then the town became known as Bognor Regis.

Sadly, not everyone used the full title of the town, either in conversation or written communication.

In the 1930s, following the recuperation of King George V, the town began a major promotion of its facilities with the slogan of a 'Royal Key to Health', which extolled the virtues of our sea air and the benefits of a relaxed environment, which is why so many people have moved to this area purely because of its location.

The next influence on the town also occurred in the 1930s, when Billy Butlin arrived to open his seafront entertainment business with amusements and a small zoo on the Esplanade.

These were surrounded by shops and kiosks selling trays of tea, candy floss, buckets and spades waiting to entertain the now regular influx of both railway passengers and charabanc trips.

Butlins arrives

It was not until 1960 that Billy Butlin moved from the Esplanade to construct one of his latest holiday centres in his empire on the seafront.

There has been much discussion on the worth of his arrival in the town.

But the centre is here and still being developed, with a new hotel offering facilities in line with a 21st-century resort, a long way from the holiday venues of the 1700s.

At the start of 2009, what do we have? More holiday makers returning to more traditional local seaside resorts.

I once remarked in a radio interview that Bognor Regis would still be here long after Torremolinos, and so it is.

The town has had many major seafront plans, but we will have to wait and see what materialises with today's regeneration plans.

As many of you know, I came here to work at Butlins in the late 1960s and moved away only to return in the mid-1970s when I decided it was the place I wished to live.

I have never regretted that decision, but I would like to see more positivity from residents rather than the comments I receive all the time like, 'there is nothing left'.

Life is local

We all need to use our local facilities to the full and promote what we have. Our heritage left to us by Sir Richard Hotham is still here, but we have to look for it and promote his seaside resort.

I have met so many people over the years who first made a trip to the town via these Sunday school outings (although not in the 1800s, you understand.)

Sadly, Sir Richard did not see the influx of royal visitors for which he had planned, but much later in 1929 a king did arrive, of course – King George V to recuperate at Craigweil House in Aldwick.

His stay here with Queen Mary we presume would have thrilled Sir Richard.

Bognor by another name

The king's visit, however, changed the town considerably, especially after the proclamation that Bognor could use the suffix Regis and from then the town became known as Bognor Regis.

Sadly, not everyone used the full title of the town, either in conversation or written communication.

In the 1930s, following the recuperation of King George V, the town began a major promotion of its facilities with the slogan of a 'Royal Key to Health', which extolled the virtues of our sea air and the benefits of a relaxed environment, which is why so many people have moved to this area purely because of its location.

The next influence on the town also occurred in the 1930s, when Billy Butlin arrived to open his seafront entertainment business with amusements and a small zoo on the Esplanade.

These were surrounded by shops and kiosks selling trays of tea, candy floss, buckets and spades waiting to entertain the now regular influx of both railway passengers and charabanc trips.

It was not until 1960 that Billy Butlin moved from the Esplanade to construct one of his latest holiday centres in his empire on the seafront.

There has been much discussion on the worth of his arrival in the town.

But the centre is here and still being developed, with a new hotel offering facilities in line with a 21st-century resort, a long way from the holiday venues of the 1700s.

At the start of 2009, what do we have? More holiday makers returning to more traditional local seaside resorts.

I once remarked in a radio interview that Bognor Regis would still be here long after Torremolinos, and so it is.

The town has had many major seafront plans, but we will have to wait and see what materialises with today's regeneration plans.

As many of you know, I came here to work at Butlins in the late 1960s and moved away only to return in the mid-1970s when I decided it was the place I wished to live.

I have never regretted that decision, but I would like to see more positivity from residents rather than the comments I receive all the time like, 'there is nothing left'.

We all need to use our local facilities to the full and promote what we have.

Our heritage left to us by Sir Richard Hotham is still here, but we have to look for it and promote his seaside resort.