VIDEO: 1930s on film - capturing a different world

Sussex on Film recalls the town at a time still within living memory but seemingly as distant in time and tempo as ancient history.

No mobile phones, no computers and certainly no Wiis '“ not even any colour, but the joyousness of the images still shines through.

The scenes feature what was arguably Bognor's golden age of the 1930s.

It was a decade of sun, sea and endless sand '“ topped by the blessing of a royal visit.

All were captured by the redoubtable Harry Guermonprez, or Gomey as he was popularly known, the son of the natural historian '“ Henry Guermonprez.

His profession as a photographer led Gomey to take an interest in cinematography.

Those reels have now been brought back to life for 21st-century viewers to indulge in some time travelling.

They can sit back and wallow in a different era with a series of treats in store as the cameras capture the life and rhythms of a seaside town glorying in the priceless publicity of King George V's stay at Craigweil House.

To watch some footage, courtesy of West Sussex County Council, click on the green button.

Assistant county archivist Alan Readman said: "Gomey set up the Bognor Regis Film Society in the 1930s and, until war intervened, produced a succession of amateur films to a high standard.

"Local actors and dancers were recruited and starred in thrillers such as Murder at the Theatre Royal and comedies such as Where was George?

"These were presented to packed audiences in the hall on the pier and in the Theatre Royal itself.

"Their programmes also included newsreels entitled Regis Review.

These featured local events such as fetes and carnivals and views of everyday life in the town.

"It is from these fascinating newsreels that extracts have been selected for the DVD.

"At the time, the town produced no promotional films of its own, so Gomey's work is virtually all we have for our movie material of Bognor in its 1930s heyday."

Gomey's film captures a time which starts with the arrival of King George V in early 1929 and his departure three months later.

He was quickly followed by an influx of tourists all keen to sample the town which attracted the monarch of a large part of the world.

Gomey's work shows the effect of this bonanza on Bognor and its newly-acquired suffix of Regis.

There's the deckchair man, there are donkey rides and there are pleasure boats.

And there most definitely is the star attraction '“ a sandy beach packed with trippers and holidaymakers.

"A point of interest is the film reveals there was then a 10ft drop from the promenade to the sands," pointed out Mr Readman.

"That is a gap which has since been filled in with shingle by sea defence works."

Once the holidaymakers were in town, there was even more to keep them amused. They can be seen being entertained by fashion models posing outside Goodacres Toy Bazaar on the corner of York Road and dancing girls dispatched by the Daily Express performing their routines on the beach in front of the Kursaal.

One of Bognor's biggest social calendars can also be seen on the DVD.

The carnival of 1936 saw the beautiful 18-year-old Barbara Morrison crowned carnival queen by Lady Cobham, the wife of the famous aviator Sir Alan Cobham.

The film also shows the Tiny Tots fancy dress competition at the western bandstand won by Jill Bone as the Doll-in-the-Box.

Then there is the grand carnival procession of ingeniously designed and imaginatively decorated floats parading the length of the Esplanade.

And then it's 2008 again as soon as the disc ends. Not the same somehow, is it?

SUSSEX ON FILM

Bognor Regis has pride of place in the DVD. It is the first on West and East Sussex to be produced by the Regional Film Archive and covers the period from the 1890s to the 1950s.

The archive is based at the West Sussex Record Office whose staff have worked with Screen Archive South East to release the footage in the modern format.

It also contains early views of the West Pier and the Devil's Dyke by pioneering film-makers from Brighton. There is colour footage of Chichester's celebrations of the royal silver jubilee of 1935.

There are documentaries on downland sheep shearing and

trug-basket making, a day in the life of Shippam's factory in the 1930s and travel films of the county shot 50 years ago.

Sussex on Film is available on DVD at Bognor Regis, Chichester and other main libraries at 15.

It can also be bought from the West Sussex Record Office, County Hall, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RN plus 1.50 postage and packing.

Online orders can be placed through the e-shop on the www.westsussex.gov.uk website. Further details from 01243 753602.

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