reg simpson, played by philip manikum, owns the bed and breakfast in eastbourne where pauline fowler (wendy richard), arthur fowler (bill treacher) and nellie ellis (elizabeth kelly) stay in november 1994. when reg notices arthur's contempt for nellie, he sympathises with him about interfering in-laws. on the day of their departure, nellie goes missing, and reg informs arthur that he had seen her heading for the beach in a sombre mood. the fowlers fear for her safety, but she is only having a paddle in the ocean.