BOGNOR REGIS ARMED FORCES DAY

BY DAVID HEWINGS, BOGNOR REGIS ARMED FORCES DAY COMMITTEE

Saturday 22 June – Marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day

In June 1944 the town’s people and those from the surrounding area were very much on the frontline of the largest armed invasion in history, conducted by sea, air and land, resulting in the liberation of Europe less than a year later. To east and west of Bognor Regis, thousands of ships left harbours and ports carrying troops and equipment. Thousands of allied troops, particularly Canadians, billeted in the town and surrounding area, left in a matter of hours. Many never returned to their homes and families. Air operations were conducted from local airfields, including RAF Bognor. Hundreds of allied bombers, troop-carrying aircraft and gliders streamed overhead on their way to Normandy.

Our Armed Forces Day will honour the D-Day Veterans who survive in our community today and those who gave their lives in the run up, during and in the aftermath of D-Day. It is estimated around 1.5 million allied troops took part in “Operation Overlord” the code name given to the operation. The Cenotaph outside the Bognor Regis Town Hall records 260 service personnel and civilians from the area who gave their lives in World War Two. We want their stories, particularly at the moment, those who died between 1 April and 30 June 1944. If you have any information, please contact the AFD Committee via the email address below.

Ex-Service men and women, from and since WWII, will be publicly presented with their Veterans Badges and be given a VIP Day out. To applying for a Veterans Badge, please email david.hewings333@btinternet.com by Friday, 3 May

Displays will tell the story of one of the participating units which flew from RAF Bognor in June 1944. Still a frontline Operational Unit of the RAF’s Chinook Force with a strong association with the town to this very day. Our Cadet Units and Scouts will be showing what they can provide for our young people today. Entertainment, food and drink will be on hand in Waterloo Gardens, all there to provide an informative and rewarding family day out.

Flansham Park Health Centre are sad to report that April sees our Practice Manager Susie Devine moving on to new pastures. We would like to take this opportunity to look back on Susie's time at FPHC and recognise her achievements over the last 20 years.

In 2004, Susie embarked on a journey that would shape her career and leave a lasting impact on Flansham Park Health Centre. Starting as a Health Care Assistant,

Susie's dedication and passion for healthcare quickly became evident to all who worked alongside her.

As the years passed, Susie's ambition and leadership qualities became increasingly apparent. She became Deputy Practice Manager under the guidance of Alison Cockburn, and later was appointed as the practice manager, a role that allowed her to utilise her skills in organisation, communication, and decision-making to ensure the smooth operation of the health centre.

Under Susie's guidance, Flansham Park Health Centre has flourished. She has been central to a huge number of changes within the surgery and provided much needed stability during the Covid pandemic.

However, after twenty years of dedicated service, Susie has made the decision to move on to new opportunities. While she will be sorely missed we wish her all the very best in her new ventures.

Susie's legacy at Flansham Park Health Centre will not be forgotten. Her unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassion have left an indelible mark on our surgery and the countless lives she has touched throughout her tenure.

As Susie embarks on this new chapter in her career, she carries with her the gratitude and well-wishes of her colleagues and the community she has served so faithfully. While Flansham Park Health Centre may bid farewell to one of its most cherished members, Susie's impact will continue to resonate for years to come, serving as an insp iration to all who follow in her footsteps.

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