Booklet records how tide has been stemmed at Felpham

Derrick Brewerton has written A History Of Felpham Beach, the 40 pages of which feature many historic maps and photographs.

Mr Brewerton, of Davenport Road, Felpham, explains how the area has developed and the coastline has changed since the Stone Age. And he brings the story almost up-to-date by detailing the work of the Felpham Sea Defence Committee.

During the last decade, its members battled to secure the best possible future for the beach.

In his introduction to the book, Mr Brewerton wrote: "This booklet is dedicated to every member of the Felpham Sea Defence Committee.

"All of them were incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable, attending almost 50 meetings from 1992-99 at which they analysed, debated and rejected ten options for coastal defence at Felpham, as well as organising publicity, fundraising and other activities.

"The members included a research engineer specialising in fluid dynamics, a civil engineer who had been involved in the building of the Thames Barrier, a marine biologist and two scientists experienced in research.

"There was also a quantity surveyor, a former harbourmaster and ship's pilot at Littlehampton, a coastal defence contractor, a sub-aqua diver, archaeologist and geologist with unrivalled experience of our coastline, an estate agent, a few politicians and a banker.

"It was one of my responsibilities to collect as much relevant historical information as possible.

"Now, looking back after ten years, I decided to put some of this material in order and make it available to other people.

"The history of Felpham Beach is complex. However, it is essential to understand our beach in order to plan for a future in which the sea rises and storms become more frequent and more violent."

Despite his fears of future trauma from bad weather, Mr Brewerton and the committee have been able to put their feet up and enjoy the view since they secured a shingle solution ten years ago.

He said: "Since the coastal defence work in 1999 vulnerable areas of Felpham have been protected from flooding.

"Before then houses near the sea shuddered with every storm wave, and sea water and shingle were thrown high into the air.

"Now the energy of the waves is absorbed by the shingle, and sand has increased as waves do not rebound from the wall.

"In the end, most of our work was preventing schemes that would have ruined Felpham Beach.

"The best compliment that we have received came from a lady who said 'I don't know what the fuss was about. It looks exactly as it did before'."

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