GALLERY: Bognor Illuminations is shining success

The couple spent their first day of married life sitting in a lit-up VW campervan as part of the Dirty Low Down Dubbers Club's successful entry.

They rode along in the decorated 1973 bay-windowed model, with Adrian in the top half of his wedding suit, with a collection of tin cans rattling on the road behind in time-honoured fashion.

Adrian, 31, said: "It's a bit of fun. We got a lot of reaction from the crowd. People were asking if we had really got married. They also wanted to know why we were having a honeymoon in the back of a campervan."

It was the first time Adrian and Louise, 24, had taken part in the annual August bank holiday Sunday night spectacle after following the previous two years' events. The Southampton couple were married at St Mary's Church in Felpham the previous day. Their real honeymoon started in Rhodes in Greece on Wednesday.

The van in which they travelled during the gala parade from West Park to the pier in aid of the seafront lights belongs to Louise's sister, club spokeswoman Vicky Salisbury.

She said: "We are delighted to have won the first prize for the best motorised entry again, after coming first in 2007 and second in 2008.

"Everybody is really happy with our success. It's such a buzz taking part in the gala and everybody's kids absolutely love it.

"It's really good fun decorating the cars and it's good to show them off. We will be back next year, definitely, and bigger and better, I hope."

The club had ten VW Beetles and campervans, plus a buggy, in its entry. All were illuminated and some had added touches such as an inflatable palm tree growing through a roof surrounded by Hawaiian-style dancers.

About 40 people were involved with the vehicles to be one of the biggest collections of participants in the gala.

Another sizeable entry came from the Bognor and district Scouts. Flying the flag were the 1st Felpham Sea Scouts, celebrating their centenary as pirates surrounding a rigid inflatable boat, and the 11th Bognor Cubs as Crusaders.

They were the winners in the gala's best walking group entry. District commissioner Vicky Hennessy said: "We had a good turnout of about 30-40 members from every Scout group in the district. Taking part in the gala raises our profile and shows what Scouting is all about."

It was also their second success in three years, separated by a second place in 2008. Winning was harder this year because the gala had 23 entries. This was more than double the low point of just ten in 2009 and well up on the 16 seen the previous year.

There was plenty for all ages to enjoy '“ both spectating and participating. Antiques Broadshow founder member Phina Gorton, 67, its seven members dressed as ghosts, plus ghostbuster, were aged up to 76.

"We've been taking part in the gala for eight to ten years," she said. "It's just the sheer hell of getting involved and the fun of being complete idiots and walking around dressed like this.

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"It proves there are adults still willing to have fun whatever their age '“ and, of course, it helps the lights as well."

The procession was led once more by the Horndean Band in their red and white uniforms. Behind them came a mass of hundreds of individuals of all ages.

They included the Regis Players, the Magic Show; Mosaic Magic with an Alice in Wonderland portrayal complete with a white rabbit coming out of a giant top hat, a giant dice and playing cards, and the Regis Centre with pirates and Captain Hook portraying the Christmas panto of Peter Pan.

The Regis Troopers, Wonder Girls, Dragonfly Dance and Southern Starlights ensured plenty of dancers and music.

Isis Stage Productions, Westergate Day Nursery, the Antiques Broadshow and Bognor Regis Town Council with an illuminated large crown to celebrate 80 years of the Regis title provided plenty more sights for the spectators who lined the seafront to look at in spite of the drizzle and strong wind along the seafront.

Despite of the lengthy procession, just one traditional float was seen. That came courtesy of the Bognor Bliss group, with its save the Picturedrome cinema banners.

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