The report talked of the changing face of Bognor Regis with regard to the 'latest example of modernity so quickly establishing itself in the heart of serene and defiant Victorianism'.

The report continued: "It is the start of what the planners hope to make into a British Estoril, Biarritz, Monte Carlo or Las Palmas – svelte, elegant and progressive in the modern trend of architecture."

With such a report, I just had to look further into the development, and was quite surprised at what I found.

The area in question is around the Marine Park Gardens of Aldwick.

It was in 1926 when the Bognor Regis Urban District Council bought 23.5 acres of land with a bordering on the Aldwick Road, the Esplanade and Mill Lane, today known as Nyewood Lane.

Mr W H B Fletcher owned this land and at an auction at the Royal Norfolk Hotel the council paid £15,500. Mr Fletcher retained the rights to the seafront, foreshore and tamarisk hedge, hoping that in future they would pass to the local authority.

The council then proceeded to sell some of the land to developers but the council also retained some land running parallel to the sea to develop it as a public garden.

This became the Marine Park Gardens we know today.

In 1931, there was a brochure produced by developer and builder H W Seymour, with regard to a new development – that of the Marine Park Estate.

The brochure stated: "It was designed with a view to refreshing the memories of those who are acquainted with the district of West Sussex; it is a straightforward statement of fact, devoid of sentiment or stupid padding and will, we hope, create in those contemplating retirement or residence in the south, a desire for further detailed information."

The brochure reported on the climate and vicinity, and advised future buyers about the type of homes, bricks and mortgages available, and continued: "The Marine Park Estate is freehold, and lies immediately on the west of Bognor Regis, but enjoys the facilities offered by the town in respect to electricity, water, gas, main drainage."

Advertising literature still used the visit of the King on a positive note, with comments like, 'the sea front is continuous with that of Craigweil House and Aldwick, and thus offers the sheltered healthfulness and wholesomeness, that was such a telling factor in guiding His Majesty's physicians to select Bognor Regis as the venue for His Majesty's convalescence'.

This estate was finally developed and consisted of the area we now know as Wessex Avenue, Princess Avenue, Selsey Avenue, Kings Parade and Silverston Ave.

No doubt potential purchasers were to enjoy the attributes of this estate as described further in the brochure that the estate was 'so situated that invasion by trippers, charabanc parties and others is indeed a remote contingency.