Celebrating Victorian “girl-power”
Chichester actor Vicky Edwards is delighted to bring back to life the embodiment of Victorian “girl-power”, Bognor’s great unsung heroine Mary Wheatland in a celebration of the town’s rich seaside heritage.
The Bognor Regis Time Portal will offer a brand-new, free, innovative arts and cultural experience for the town, using augmented reality to bring the past to life through an initiative devised by Bognor Regis-based artist Matt Reed.
Marywheatlandwasaworking-class swimming instructor, bathing machine operator and life-saver credited with saving more than 30 lives. Matt will make her world available to you fromgoodfriday.abrightlycoloured,futuristiclooking“portal” frame will signpost the location of the augmented reality experience.
Using your mobile phone or tablet to scan the portal, you will get the chance to see Vicky speak and move as Mary in a holographic version accessed throughaqrcode.nexttodecking next to the beach opposite the old Brewers Fayre site, it will beactivatedatnoonongoodfriday, March 29 and run until the end of Sept 2025.
Vicky said: “I became involved because I got a call from Matt.mattwaslookingforsomebody to play Mary. His approach was that he needed an actress of acertainstature.isaid‘i'mshort, middle-aged and round and that's the only stature I have!’ I asked if it was what he wanted – and he sort of said yes!
"Hetoldmeaboutmary.iwas totally ignorant about her and thatwasthereallyexcitingthing.
The more I read about her, the more interested I became. She was Victorian girl power. She was this little woman. I'm not quitefivefootandshewasnotaller but she did this huge physical workofrunningthebathingmachines which were pretty hefty things and she would haul them out to sea with people inside.
"Andeverydayshewoulddive off the pier complete with boots and woollen stockings. And also shewouldregularlysavepeople’s lives. She was decorated for her life-saving.shesavedmorethan 30 people and on one occasion shesavedanentirefamilywhich got into trouble. Mary went out thereandonebyoneshebrought them back to safety.
"She was a really inspirational woman. She was somebody you probably would not reallyremarkonbutshehadthis great physical strength but also thisgreatinnerstrengthandthis great inner goodness.”