Vehicles abound astraditional floats fade

And the 25-minute journey along the town's seafront brought a first prize to the Dirty Low Down Dubbers.

The entry of classic VW camper vans and Beetles caught the eye of the judges as surely as it attracted the attention of the spectators, who lined the promenade in their thousands to watch Sundaynight's parade. Six of the instantly recognisable campers formed part of the parade along with four equally distinctive Beetles.

All were lit, either inside or out, and many were customised to provide a taste of the 60s.

Characters from the decade of flares and flower power added to the feel of the era on their bicycles.

In all, 16 entries lit up the route to create a sizeable procession. None, however, were floats.

The days when HGVs would routinely trundle along in such community events seem to have faded.

Unwillingness of owners to part with the vehicles, health and safety issues, insurance premiums and a seeming lack of volunteers willing to decorate them look likely to have finished off the tradition.

But all the groups and individuals who took part in the gala, backed by the Bognor Regis Observer and Bognor Regis Town Council, showed that some imagination can make up for lack of giant entries from the past.

All the way, in fact, to the tropics thanks to the palm trees on the side of the Sammy Community Transport bus and the Medittera-nean with the Spanish senoritas of the Antiques Broadshow dancers.

The Alexandra Theatre was following the yellow brick road all the way to the Emerald City with its Wizard of Oz trailer, complete with the tin man.

The Regis Players were following the fate of the rook, the bishop and the pawn as two wheelchair entries, including former town mayor John Hayward, played chess as they were pushed along the road by a pair of nurses.

The 80s were represented by Brian O'Neill in his Back to the Future DeLorean gull-winged sports car.

Bognor Scouts, meanwhile, were sailing with a maritime entry of a boat to a host of countries represented by bunting of their flags.

The parade was led by the 30 or so strong Horndean Marching Band whose red military-style uniforms and white pith helmets resembled the days of the Raj as they marched along.

Closer to home, was the Celtic

tradition represented by the Ramsey Caledonia Pipe Band completing the parade.

Its 12 bagpipes and kilted musicians left no one in any doubt about their allegiance north of the border. This was the first time for many years that two bands had been present.

Both bands had separately featured in the parade in the past two years and returned together by popular demand.

The Raving Roller Crew or about 12 rollerskaters kept up their tradition of taking part with some of their skills on wheels.

A more sombre note was injected into the occasion by the two-strong Pedal Power crew with their St Richard's Hospital campaign balloons and flags.

Using two feet instead of two wheels was Keith Richards in his On the Buses entry of a Southdown single decker in the company's green and cream stripes complete with busman's uniform for him.

The South Coast Astralettes, Regis Troopers and Southern Starlights troupes performed dance routines.