Anniversary of great importance

THIS year, 2012, is of course of great national importance with the rare opportunity for the country to stage the Olympic games as well as the almost unique Diamond Jubilee of the Queen's reign.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Jan 2012, 14:32 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:07 BST

But there is also another anniversary of local interest, particularly in Bognor Regis, which seems to be going unmarked.

Having just re-read Gerrard Young’s excellent History of Bognor, I realised January 18 is the 225th anniversary of the day Sir Richard Hotham began his first building project.

This was the conversion of an old farmhouse in the parish of South Bersted, in the area now known as Hotham Park, which he named Bognor Lodge (long since demolished and replaced by a much-grander building) which in effect was the founding of the town of Bognor.

By coincidence, it is also the 25th anniversary of the time when Mr Singer bought and began the renovation of what is now Hotham Park House.

Are these moments of local history to be totally ignored by the people of Bognor Regis?

Ken Strudwick

Chichester

Queen History