Solicitor's staff raise a cuppa to 90 years of Bognor business

Around 20 employees at Chamberlain Martin Solicitors are holding a charity coffee and tea morning on September 23.

The occasion, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, at its Sudley Road offices is part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan cancer support.

It also forms a public celebration of the practice's 90th anniversary

this month.

Wendy Wren, a member of the practice's marketing committee, said: "All are most welcome to come along, have a cup of tea or coffee and a cake

and help raise vital funds for this worthwhile charity."

The firm was started at 27 London Road, in Bognor and led by Henry S Chamberlain who had been a prosecuting solicitor in London before the first world war. His trademark was his stiff wing collar, which he wore even when he was playing golf, as well as a black homburg hat.

He was joined by the recently-qualified Reginald Martin in 1931 at newly-bought premises in Sudley Road. They created their partnership a few years later.

Reginald Martin met Don Spurgeon during the second world war. He became articled in 1946 and the name Chamberlain Martin Spurgeon was introduced in 1950, when Mr Chamberlain retired.

Reginald Martin's son, Christopher Martin, who retired earlier this year, was born in a nursing home just a few doors away from where he spent 45 years of his working life after he became articled to his father. He went on to become a partner in the firm.

The partnership took over and amalgamated with various other practices.

A name change to the current Chamberlain Martin Solicitors took place in 2000.

Several letter ledgers from the earliest years still exist to offer a fascinating insight into the social history of the era.

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