Tributes paid at duck pond anniversary

The leadership of Peter Waters in keeping the oasis of peace and quiet thriving has been remembered by nearly 1,000-strong Aldwick Preservation Society members.

About 80 of them attended an informal ceremony last Saturdayat which the far bank of the pond was named Waters Edge in his memory.

The bank has been reclaimed by being built up with oak beams and wrought iron. Twin willows have been planted on it to replace a large weeping willow which died last year.

The area contains a plaque marking 30 years of the society of which Mr Waters (81) was chairman for six years before his death in January 2006. The plaque was carved by Aldwick resident Paul Bignell from a macrocarpa felled in Aldwick's Bluebell Woods.

Mr Waters's widow, Meriel Waters, was among those present at the water's edge for the occasion. She said: 'I feel the trees are the real tribute to Peter. He thought the pond improved the neighbourhood and he realised it needed people to keep it going. I'm proud of what Peter did for the pond.'

John Covell, the society's current chairman, said it was worth recalling the work of the pioneering members in 1977 when the pond was set to disappear under a housing and road development.

'This small group of people took on the planning system, had a road diverted, had the design of a roundabout changed, purchased the pond and the copse which it is part of and put in place the initiatives which were the foundation for the beautiful environment that we see here today,' he said. 'That was not an easy task.'

Those initial members manually dug out the pond as the first step to creating an attractive public spot.

He praised current life president Penny Knowles for her work in forming the society and preserving the pond for posterity.

MP Nick Gibb, who lives close by, formally unveiled the plaque and new bank. He paid tribute to the work of the society's founders for having the foresight to create the wonderful surroundings of the pond.

He stated: 'It was a great honour to know Peter Waters in the ten years before he died.

'He put a lot of energy and time into the preservation society during his retirement years keeping the pond as an attractive area.'

Mr Waters died at the age of 81 after spending 16 years in the Bognor area. He came across the preservation society at a fete and was enrolled by the then chairman, Jim Briggs. He enthusiastically attended committee meetings, coffee mornings and fetes.

He had been the director of education in the London borough of Richmond and Twickenham before his retirement in 1989.

The anniversary ceremony followed a garden party the previous Saturday which raised about 770 for the preservation society.

l The 30th anniversary work has also included the replacement of the damaged bench given by the Barnado's boys home of Margaret House in 1977 and the installation of a new metal stairway into the pond to enable safer maintenance.