Bognor Regis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bognor Regis | |
| {{{map_type}}} | |
| Population | 22,555 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Arun |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bognor Regis |
| Postcode district | PO21,PO22 |
| Dial code | 01243 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | Bognor Regis and Littlehampton |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England.
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[edit] History
Bognor Regis was originally named Bognor, and was a fishing and smuggling village until the 18th century, when it was converted into a resort by Richard Hotham. Tourism gradually took off over the next hundred years, and the town visited by King George V in 1927; as a result it acquired the suffix Regis [1]. Local legend suggested the King's last words, upon being told that he would soon be well enough to revisit the town, were 'Bugger Bognor!'.
The nearby village of Felpham, now a suburb of Bognor, was home briefly to the poet William Blake.
The Church of England, parish church is dedicated to St Wilfrid while the local catholic Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
Sir Billy Butlin opened one of his famous Butlins Holiday Camps in Bognor in 1960. The camp later became known as Southcoast World until 1998 and is now known as Butlins Bognor Regis Resort. In 2004 Butlins erected a large pointed roof.
In 2005, a new £10m hotel was unveiled at the Bognor Regis resort.
[edit] Town
The town of Bognor Regis has a large 1980s pedestrianised town centre, which has recently been the subject of some redevelopment.
Bognor Regis lies within the constituency of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the MP for which is Nick Gibb (Conservative).
The town has several areas, and buildings, that still firmly link it with its past. A good example, and a prominent local landmark, is the Royal Norfolk Hotel.
[edit] Transport
- Rail links
- Bognor Regis railway station is situated on a branch line from the West Coastway Line. It has hourly services to London and services to other south coast towns. The 18:34 runs on weekdays, from Bognor Regis to Portsmouth Harbour.
- Road links
- A27 , runs west to east from Salisbury in Wiltshire to Pevensey in East Sussex. This road closely parallels the south coast a mile or two inland as it passes through West Sussex.
- A29. To Dorking to the north, where it joins the A24 to London.
- A259. The Coastal Road running along the south coast from Havant in Hampshire to Folkstone in Kent.
- Bus travel
- The Number 700 bus runs frequently from Brighton to Portsmouth, calling at Bognor Regis
[edit] Birdman of Bognor
The Birdman is an annual competition for human-powered 'flying' machines held each summer in Bognor Regis. Contestants launch themselves from the end of the pier; a prize being awarded to the one who glides the furthest distance. Rarely taken completely seriously, the event provides competitors with an opportunity to construct improbable machines complete with outlandish dress. The spectacle draws a sizeable crowd in addition to the local media. Inaugurated in nearby Selsey in 1971, the Birdman transferred to Bognor in 1978 when it had outgrown its original location. Such celebrities as Richard Branson are famous for taking the leap of faith.
[edit] See also
[edit] Other information
The town is mentioned in the Frank Zappa song "Once Upon a Time". The song parodies the story of Genesis where, "In the beginning", God said he needs a floor to support the giant maroon sofa he just created "...and sure enough, boards of oak appeared throughout the emptiness as far as vision permits, stretching all the way from Belfast to Bognor Regis."
In addition to being mentioned by Frank Zappa, "Bognor Regis" is also the name of a currently unreleased instrumental jam by Zappa.
Bognor Regis was placed at number 28 of The Idler magazine's 'Crap Towns' list of UK towns for 2004.
Duncan Goodhew, the olympic swimming maestro was brought up in Yapton, three miles from Bognor. Rumour amongst Yapton locals is that he lost his hair after falling from a tree. There is a residential road named after the man, Goodhew Close.
Bognor Regis has also been mentioned in the cartoon Cucumbers by the well known website Weebl's Stuff, where it was cited as being "Panda-free" making it safe to plant cucumbers as the pandas and cucumbers are enemies.
Bognor Regis has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the whole of the uk.[citation needed]
