Mayor of Bognor Regis' Weekly Briefing: Plenty of reasons for us to feel proud

Following some unfavourable and, at times, unbalanced reports in recent months, I wanted to begin this week’s column with a positive press story about our Town. It was very pleasing to discover that Bognor Regis was amongst six coastal towns in Sussex, and just three in West Sussex, to appear in the top 20 list of the ‘best seaside towns in England and Wales to move to in 2027’.

The new research was undertaken by My Home Move conveyancing, in which 108 coastal towns across England and Wales were analysed, including data from average house prices, the number of available properties, maximum summer temperature and how the region ranks for happiness and life satisfaction, to come to their conclusions. This is a wonderful endorsement for the direction in which Bognor Regis is headed, with so much funding, investment and opportunity being created, with visible progress being made. Many of us of course already know what a great Town Bognor Regis is to live in, but it’s always lovely to hear from an unbiased source!

Our Town Crier, Jane, has given us another reason to feel proud within the last week, having been elected as the first ever lady Chairman of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers (AHGTC). The Guild, of which Jane has been a member since her appointment to the role nearly ten years ago, and has in recent years served in a secretarial role, is the largest body of Official Town Criers in the world and Jane becoming the first Lady Chairman is an important milestone for the Guild and a very proud moment for her personally, for the Town Council and Bognor Regis as a whole, who she continues to be honoured to represent.

It was a privilege to be invited recently to join the Bognor Regis Veterans Breakfast Club as they welcomed a visit from the Royal Hospital Veterans, hosted at The Waverley. Stories and experiences were shared over refreshments, and it was humbling to be present to witness this coming together. We even enjoyed some live music courtesy of their band. A very big thank you to the Bognor Regis Veterans Breakfast Club for extending me an invitation, it was an absolute honour to be amongst you all.

With Remembrance Sunday approaching next weekend, I would like to invite residents to join us for Bognor Regis’ annual Service of Remembrance, which will take place at 10.50am at the War Memorial in Clarence Road.

This important occasion gives us the opportunity to come together as a community to remember and honour all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. Working alongside the Ex-Service Associations, St Wilfrid’s Church and The Salvation Army, the Town Council is proud to help ensure that their courage, service and sacrifice are never forgotten.

To facilitate the Service, temporary road closures will be in effect between 10.15am and 11.30am. These will affect Belmont Street, from its junction with York Road to its junction with Albert Street; Clarence Road, from the car park to its junction with High Street; and Sussex Street. We also kindly ask that no vehicles are parked outside the Town Hall from Friday 6th November until the Service has concluded.

Printed copies of the Order of Service will be available on the day. However, to help reduce the need for printed materials, residents are encouraged, where possible, to scan the QR code that will shortly be available on the home page of the Town Council’s website. This will allow you to download the Order of Service directly to your phone.

I hope you will be able to join us for this important act of Remembrance, as together we honour those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.