Keeping the family business one of town's trademarks

One of these vehicles was on loan from Mr F W Jenkins of Longford Road and this was commandeered during the first world war and left abandoned in a ditch near Petworth.

The company's successful estate agency formally started in 1877 with the first sales of property by auction when five cottages were sold at Sidlesham by Samuel Reynolds' business.

This part of the business expanded to such an extent that an estate office was established which continued until 1989 when recession forced it to close with this part of the business. Over the years, it offered insurance and had a plaque on the wall from the Phoenix Assurance Company to note their connection.

Reynolds was ultimately presented with a bronze plaque to celebrate its 100-year association with the insurance company.

In 1918 Charles Reynolds' three sons, Alfred, Gordon and Donald, went into the business, with a cousin, Frederick Roberts.

Each of them was responsible for an area of the business. Alfred was in charge of storage and removals; Gordon worked in furniture, Don drove the removal vans and Frederick managed soft furnishings.

At the rear of the store in Belmont Street there were a number of cottages of which number 13 was previously occupied by Samuel and Eliza. Subsequently numbers 13, 15 and 17 were converted into workshops and stores with number 13 retaining a flat above the store. During the 1970s, these properties were compulsorily purchased by the council and subsequently became part of Mountbatten Court.

Business continued to flourish and in 1928 another floor was added.

Charles died in 1935 during the time when the store was being modernised. An 'electric passenger lift' and a new central heating system were installed and by 1939 the tall sweeping art deco-style facade was added to the front of the store.

One of the new features comprised 10 furnished rooms to give customers ideas for room layout. These rooms were knocked down during the last major refurbishment in 2005 to provide the contemporary, light and spacious open plan show floors we know today.

When war broke out, decisions had to be made as to the way forward.

Frank Reynolds cancelled all outstanding orders for furniture, against the advice of his nephews. He was concerned that they would have stock no one would require.

During the war, the cottages and the rear of the store were classed as a defence area. Thus access to the premises from Bedford Street was denied. Consequently, it was difficult to run the business properly and a request was made for a rate-revaluation. The war placed a great burden on the store but the company was able to survive due to the funeral, auction and storage departments.

Two specimen rooms were converted into bedrooms for firefighters and there were facilities for snooker and darts to provide relaxation for them. Both Norman Reynolds (the current chairman) and his brother Patrick enjoyed many hours there.

Staff were expected to engage in firefighting a number of times a week and there were Bren guns mounted on the roof.

A room was also used by the War Office as an emergency food store '“ you can imagine what the penalties would have been if this had been broken into.

By 1953 with continued expansion, Reynolds bought number 31 High Street for 6,000.

This had once been Bognor's town hall. These new premises became the estate office and later the funeral department.

More Reynolds premises were at 38 and 40 London Road. This comprised a sale room and furniture warehouse and was known as Victoria Hall.

It was located opposite St John's Church and today is the site of Boots and WH Smith.

It was here that the local historian Gerard Young would return from time to time to buy items for his Flansham home.

These premises were auctioned on July 15, 1964, by Reynolds and Tregears when Reynolds ceased to have a need for the property and to provide funds for store improvements.

These improvements included an arcade, electronic doors and a concave mirror, which many people will remember fondly from childhood.

The company records are still safely retained.

In 1953 Norman Reynolds joined the company starting work as an office clerk, working up to the position of director in 1962. His time with the company covers a variety of changes in the town's history.

Norman was known for his interest in local history and the family collection of images of the town's development have always been of great interest.

Sadly some records have been lost in fires and wartime bombing, but much of the family collection is now with the West Sussex Records Office, which holds copies of the images to be retained for future generations.

Certain aspects of Reynolds have changed. Over the years the company has consolidated its activities on the furniture store, funeral service and storage businesses.

There are now no china and ironmongery departments, haberdashery, auctioneers, appraisers, removals or estate agents.

Advertising in the past was published in street directories or newspapers. Today there are printed colourful leaflets and the website in addition to the newspapers which are all required in an aggressive marketing world.

The range of goods is of a high standard, necessary in an increasingly competitive market.

Changes continue and in 2001 the current generation of the family bought Bobby's on the corner of the High Street in an attempt to expand the business. The store was redeveloped and renamed Seasons, but the venture was not sufficiently busy to be viable. Consequently, in 2004 the premises, which had been built in 1914. were let to Bonmarche.

Today the company is run by Dominic, James, Stephen and Matthew Reynolds, all direct descendants of Samuel Reynolds and, similar to all the previous directors, they are each responsible for specific areas of the firm.

What of the future '“ who knows? In an aggressive marketplace, the personal and individual service offered is perhaps the reason for the longevity of the company. The involvement of directors in the town and the forward thinking of each generation have also helped.

Is this the end of the story? Not quite! Next we will look at the other major part of the business, that of the funeral service.

If you have any stories, photographs or bills, do please let me know and maybe we can include some in the final part of the story of Bognor's biggest family business '“ founded by a 19-year-old when the town was just beginning to be established.

For more history of Bognor Regis click here