Blue Plaque Spotting No. 6: Tony Hancock.

I was out on a route march, as part of my back rehabilitation programme, striding, well, more lurching toward the Bognor Regis suburb of Aldwick.

On passing the Royal Norfolk Hotel I noticed this plaque:

The plaque really is blue but, after a random shake of Hipstarmatic, I got this.

I've walked past the Royal Norfolk Hotel many, many times before yet not spotted it which worried me a bit because I'm usually quite observant.
Having done a little bit of research it seems that the plaque only appeared late last year.
Tony Hancock was in Bognor during the filming of The Punch and Judy Man.
I can't say I'm a Hancock fan but, although I've seen the film a long, long time ago, I'm tempted to give it another viewing just to see what Bognor Regis looked like in those days.

Blue Plaque Spotting No. 5 & 6...

These two plaques are quite close to each other in terms of location...
One ( Joyce's) on what, I would assume at the time, was as sea-side boarding house and the other (Rossetti's) on, for the period, quite a grand building now a solicitors offices...
I haven't yet had enough spare time in my life to read anything by Mr. James Joyce and the only interesting thing I can think of in relation to Mr. Rossetti is that he had a wombat...

Adventures In Modern Cycling No. 5: East Beach. Selsey

This ride is essentially a reliability trial for the 'Dobson' which I have decided is a sports/tourer bicycle...
I shall dress appropriately:

• White Airtex shirt
• Knee length shorts
• White ankle socks
  
• Cycle shoes
• Paisley cravat
• Sensible sunglasses
• A badge featuring a depiction of Eastbourne's De La Warr Pavilion
• Canvas 'Pippy' bag

After leaving Bognor Regis I join the Selsey road at the village of Hunston.
This road is one of the most dangerously congested in the area. I knew there was a cycle-way that would take me nearly into Selsey but didn't know where it was so took my life in my hands and braved the main road.
This turned out to be a good (?) move as I spotted another pair of feral shoes:
On reaching Selsey I stopped off at Enticott's Bakery for a well earned snack of bread and butter pudding washed down with coffee:
The poor child working behind the counter in the bakery became a little confused when I asked for the coffee and had to consult her colleague on how it was made.
Awww, bless...
On to East Beach and my goal:
The place where Eric Coates stood when, looking over to Bognor Regis, he was inspired to write 'By The Sleepy Lagoon'...
The ride home was uneventful save for having to adjust the gear cable...
I found the cycle-path (route 88) which made the return journey pleasant...
The bike behaves well but the saddle has to go as it puts me to far forward and there's no more room for adjustment...
Close to home I rode up onto the prom and suddenly realised I was riding 'look, no hands!'
This is a reliable bicycle...

Blue Plaque Spotting No. 2: William Blake...

I don't know why I didn't post this earlier as it's, literally, just around two corners from where I live...

From The Inexplicable World of Outa_Spaceman...

Much is made locally of Blake's association with Felpham, mainly by the redoubtably stout ladies of the Women's Institute who become all wistful and dewy-eyed at the mention of his name...
I bet he wouldn't get invited to any of their fashionable garden parties if he were around today...
Blake gets two plaques, the above being on the side of the cottage where he lived and, below, outside The Fox public house (an establishment catering for 'families' and saloon bar xenophobes) where he got into a bit of a tussle which led to him leaving the area...

From The Inexplicable World of Outa_Spaceman...

A vain streak in me wonders if any of the pubs I've been arrested outside of will one day feature a similar tribute...
Almost certainly not...

Blue Plaque Spotting No 1: H.G. Wells

Whilst doing a 'bit of gardening' in Midhurst, I took the opportunity to visit the building (now a tea and nic-nac shop) where that lovable old eugenicist and tip top writer H.G. Wells lodged...I also wandered over to nearby Iping where The Invisible Man has it's beginning. Sadly it bears little resemblance to the Iping described in the book, probably never did...
For some reason, misunderstanding no doubt, I also associate Midhurst with John Wyndam's Midwich Cuckoos though Wyndam lived closer to Petersfield than Midhurst (I think..)