Ten years of raising funds for illuminations

A fundraising event in aid of the summer seafront illuminations in Bognor Regis is celebrating its tenth staging. The garden fete is again taking place at Chestnut in Ellasdale Road where it has become a firm favourite with many visitors each year. It is a highlight of the volunteer team's annual calendar.

The afternoon '“ between 2pm and 5pm on July 1 '“ will feature all the firm favourites. Stalls, tombola, cream teas, crafts, games and sideshows will tempt visitors to part with their money.

Cream teas will tempt their taste buds after Morrisons donated the scones once more.

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Bognor's town mayor, Cllr Don Eldridge, will open the fete. The town's MP, Nick Gibb, will draw the raffle.

All proceeds from the event go towards running the 101 coloured displays that brighten up the seafront from Hotham Park to West Park. They were switched on the week before Easter and continue each night until the end of September.

As well as events such as the garden fete, the lighting group sends out appeal letters to nearly 500 businesses around Bognor.

Seafront Lights chairman Jason Passingham said the team had been overwhelmed by the response so far this year.

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'Each year we top the previous year, receiving 1,945 each year. We only launched the 2007 appeal three weeks ago and it has already totalled 1,250. So, it would be great to top 2,000 this year.'

He stated: 'Our investment in new cabling and other improvements this year is certainly reaping rewards as they are never more than about three displays out which is very good. It is not always just about quantity of lights, quality is also a must.

'The replacement, by popular demand, of the Starburst displays down Gloucester Road with the palm trees has been very well received.

'It really does look stunning and complements the adjoining landscaping very well.'

Mr Passingham added that the group had begun to develop ideas for next year's displays.

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