As people's health improved, the need for these homes declined. The need for people to leave places like London to recuperate declined. It was, therefore, inevitable that the Merchant Taylor's and similar homes closed.

The area occupied by the Merchant Taylor's Convalescent Home was large and had a boundary of high walls. Trees covered a major central area of the town.

Over the years, I have met numerous people whose relatives stayed at the home. I recently met a woman whose relatives were married in the chapel connected with the home.

Demolition took place during the 1950s, at a time of great optimism about the future.

Building projects were taking place throughout Britain and Bognor Regis was not to be left out.

According to the press in 1959, the new development of Fitzleet in the Queensway was going to provide "seaside bed-sitters, 15 storeys high".

In one London newspaper, it was suggested that, in 1960, thousands of people would come to Bognor Regis and find work on 'the new town' being constructed.

It was described as being more than a shopping centre, and provided homes as well.

Situated in this vicinity was the Pavilion.

It was at the northern end of Waterloo Square, adjacent to the Merchant Taylor's Convalescent Home. There was a small road linking West Street and Crescent Road.

At the end of the first world war, seaplanes were no longer required in such numbers, and due to the number of cancelled orders, the Norman Thompson Seaplane Factory in Middleton on Sea, became unnecessary.

As a result, the hangers became available for purchase.

I have acquired copies of a newspaper report in the Observer and West Sussex Recorder for Wednesday, April 4, 1923, which had a detailed report on the provision of a 'Bognor Pavilion Garden Scheme', subtitled the 'utilisation of an aerodrome building as a Pavilion for a coast town'.

The engineer and surveyor for Bognor Urban District Council of the time was Oswald A Bridges.

The report had been reprinted from the Journal of the Institute of Municipal and County Engineers.

The news report records the purchase by the Bognor Urban District Council and conversion into a pavilion, of an aerodrome building which formed part of the Middleton Aerodrome Works at Middleton (situated three miles from Bognor.) The building was built on the edge of the coast line.

The report also states that the urban district council had first considered a pavilion garden back in 1914 when property in Rock Gardens and Aldwick Road, to the value of £6,150 was purchased, with a view to it being pulled down, and the site used for the erection of a pavilion.