Ron Whittington

One Sunday recently I sat on the promenade, with a cup of coffee listening to music of the 21st century, behind me was all the seafront entertainment, but from a somewhat bygone age. Amongst the other seafront vendors was a kiosk that announced it belonged to "Whittington and Grandsons" reminding us of the town's own character, that of Ron Whittington.

His story is of an age of innocence, honesty and a total belief in 'giving the public what they want.' He was a family man who provided a service to the public, in a town he loved and wished to serve in so many ways. Ron Whittington was born in 1917 at Merston where his father was head gardener of a large estate. On leaving school he worked in Felpham at a local garage. Eventually, with the arrival of the 2nd World War, and like most of his contemporaries he was to join one of the armed services. For Ron this was the Fleet Air Arm, which he entered after having lied

about his age. As he was able to drive, he was destined for the mechanical side of the service and was given a "broom" to drive as his first task.

Of course he travelled and for a time Ron was to be stationed in Cannock Chase, where he met a young lady called Dorothy who in 1944 was to become his wife and lifetime partner. Eventually their only child was born - Shirley, who eventually had two sons, Heath and Darrel - hence the business was eventually to become known as Whittington and grandsons.

First let us return to Ron, who arrived back at his North Bersted home in 1945 and by 1946 Ron and his brother were spending their evenings helping Doug Arnold in his boat yard in North Bersted. Doug was at that time running the pleasure boats along the seafront. Eventually Ron was offered a job that was to change his life and our seafront forever. Whilst in the service his ship was torpedoed, but he never learnt to swim so it is interesting that he was to devote his life to the seaside.

Eventually Doug Arnold sold the boatyard, which were purchased by another owner. However around 1950 Ron was able to use his demob bounty to obtain a loan, to buy the yard, via a local bank, with whom he remained loyal believing that this bank had believed in him at that stage and therefore he should stay with them. This to me seems to characterise the story of Ron Whittington, a loyal man who remained faithful to his ideals. His vision of the future was quite interesting, because after the war, people did not

have the money for holidays abroad. It took time for people to start to enjoy themselves and for many these started with the "Day-trip to the seaside." His ideals were to pay off; also he had an eye for an idea. If something needed doing Ron was there to help, work or earn money. He was demobbed as a Petty Officer from Yeovil in Somerset so that when he heard the Air Station in Yeovil had three planes named Faith, Hope and Charity to be repaired he was there to offer to carry out the job.

His first main foray into seaside entertainment was to be with the expansion of his boats.

He was eventually to operate a number of sites including one near the fishermen, a second opposite the Kursaal and another at the foot of Gloucester Road. For a number of years he also operated the speedboat from the end of the Pier. Ron's boat was used in the film, "Punch and Judy Man," starring Tony Hancock, another example of Ron's 'eye to any business opportunity.' I am sure that his method of boarding the boats off the beach would today have given Health & Safety regulators a heart attack. To climb into one of the boats you had to walk along a plank, which took you across two lengths of fixed wheel staging this enabled you to climb into the half track vehicles, which would then carry you the final distance to the landing stage.

Ron's empire by now had expanded into two motorboats namely the Sea Hawk and the Bounty, which held 60 and 12 passengers respectively.
In addition he had three speedboats, which were named, Zip, Miss Magic and Miss Bognor Regis. It is interesting to surmise the attraction of this type of entertainment if it were to be re-introduced today.

There was another concession on the seafront at this time, that of the pedelos and when they came up for sale, yes you have guessed it, Ron purchased them, adding yet another string to his bow. At this time Ron was also building boats in North Bersted both for local fishermen and nationally. These boats were known as a "Regis Dorey." He also manufactured pedelos, which were then exported to Malta.

For many years the deck chairs on the seafront were owned and organised by the Bognor Regis Urban District Council but eventually they were to sell the chairs and the concession for 2,500 chairs and Ron obtained this. At this time he also had the concession for chairs in Hotham Park. He then embarked on a variety of concessions including the seafront ice creams. Along came the Children's rides and trampolines next to the fishermen huts where he also had the bouncy castle, which proclaimed "King Ron's Bouncy Castle" alongside rides and a small boating pool. Another innovation was that of the train along the seafront, whilst he also had the train, which operated within the Butlin complex, taking the guests to their chalets.

Other opportunities occurred with which Ron was able to involve himself that of the Car Park on the site of the Southdown Bus Depot. The boats continued and also provided on Tuesdays a regular trip to Littlehampton. Someone was required to repair the Princess Margaret pool in the shape of England, Ron volunteered. There was also to be a film made in the town and he offered to store the equipment required within the Bus station. He was able to make and provide the Billy Bulb mascot for the Illumination Fund, as he was to become a whizz using fibreglass. For 2/3 years he had the concession to run a children's play area on the site today occupied by Mountbatten Court, which includes slides, roundabout and other entertainment.

When you listen to the story of Ron Whittington, it is easy to become tired listening to all that he did. Then just when you think that is the end of the story you find that he was also a Master Mason, a school Govener and for a number of years represented the people on the North Bersted Parish Council in addition to Arun District Council.

I can imagine how he was viewed when he would turn up for meetings in his van, with his overalls and distinctive hat. I understand that on numerous occasions he was actually refused entrance to the council car park - I expect he enjoyed that struggle. His philosophy as to 'take a 1/- today as it may not be there tomorrow.'

He was evidently a people's man who was well known around this town especially with his black poodle in attendance.

Ron felt that if it gave people enjoyment he would do it. He could be seen in his train travelling around the town over the period running up to Christmas, with his Christmas tapes playing, or playing these tapes in his car park. Another venture for a time was the carousel that was situated in the Bandstand until the bandstand was revamped.

Sadly Ron died in 1989 leaving his wife and daughter and of course those grandsons of which he was evidently proud. He was from a different era where daughters were not seen as being so capable as sons. However I am sure that he would be proud of all that has been achieved today by his family, who now operate in Weston super Mare, Littlehampton and Southsea, providing seaside entertainment and services according to "what the people what", which for Ron was obviously his love and aspiration for the town he loved.

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