Diocese of Chichester

During the ceremony they commemorated the laying of Bognor’s foundation stone and laid wreaths near Sir Richard’s grave. The wreath laying is a long-standing tradition for the Local History Society, and chairman Greg Burt said it helps preserve Bognor’s connection to its past.

“Our role is to remind people and educate people about the history of the town,” he explained. “And this helps us do that. It’s a nice tradition to have.”

“Our affiliation with the church is obviously really strong, and Richard Hotham is an important figure in our locality,” added Noel Goodwin headteacher at South Bersted CofE Primary School. “He’s someone our students learn about. I think for the children to learn about the significance of this event to the town is a really powerful thing.”

Richard Hotham died on March 14, 1799, aged 77, and his remains were originally interred inside South Bersted Church. When the church was restored in 1879, the remains were moved to a vault in the churchyard, which can still be seen today.

Photo: Town dignitaries turned out to pay respects to Bognor Regis founder Richard Hotham. Photo: Connor Gormley.