December News Roundup

This month, we were delighted to welcome 725 subscribers to the Friends Newsletter. Thank you for your continued support! Congratulations to our anagram competition winner, Susan Richards, who scored a perfect 10/10.

A special highlight was receiving a remarkable collection of photos, scripts and memorabilia from the family of Dan Denton, a much-loved performer at the Pavilion during the 1930s. Among the treasures were images of Caroline’s Tea Rooms and the well-remembered ice-cream van that once delighted visitors at East Beach. We’d love to hear your memories if you have any to share.

The community spirit was strong at the Christmas Lights Switch-On, where we enjoyed meeting many of you. Our Selsey Academy film project has now reached 120,000 YouTube views, an exciting milestone for the young people involved.

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Restoring the Small Hall: Progress & Challenges

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and an outpouring of private donations, the restoration of the Small Hall continues to move forward at pace.

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Recent Work Completed

One major task has been the repointing of brickwork along the northern boundary. Previous repairs in the 1980s or 90s used cement rather than lime mortar, causing long-term issues, including corrosion of the century-old wall ties.

We’re delighted to report that this work was completed just yesterday. A huge thank you to John Tabb of John Tabb Plastering Ltd, who worked tirelessly through difficult weather to finish on schedule.

Large national grants are often strictly allocated, which means unexpected discoveries. Private donations give us the flexibility to put things right quickly and safely, helping to keep the project moving forward.

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The Pavilion Wish List

To help the community see what lies ahead, the Trustees have created a festive “Wish List” detailing key remaining tasks and their estimated costs.

If you would like to support an item, or simply learn more, please email trust@selseypavilion.org or contact Phil Bassett using the details on the poster in the newsletter. All donations are handled with complete discretion.

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Community Survey

Our recent survey revealed:

• Strong local engagement, with most respondents living in Selsey
• Preference for monthly updates and Facebook communication
• High interest in open days, theatre, film nights and live music
• Timing is the main barrier to attending events
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The full report is available on our website.

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Recent Events‍

Culture Quiz Evening – A Huge Success

Our fundraising quiz night on 22nd November at the Selsey Club was a resounding success. Over 100 people attended, raising £910 through entries and a wonderfully supported raffle.

Our sincere thanks to:
Cove UK, Seal Bay, Goodwood Estate, The Weald & Downland Museum, Manor Nurseries, Chichester Festival Theatre, Fontwell Park Racecourse, Thrive Gym, Country Gardens, Chaplin’s Coffee House, Rosie Neal, John Dickson, and everyone who contributed prizes or volunteered.

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Glancing Backwards: Christmas 1955

This month’s look back in time marks the final instalment in our “year ending in 5” series.

In Christmas 1955, the Pavilion didn’t host a pantomime, but it featured a festive programme of family films, including White Christmas, released the previous year as a follow-up to the 1942 classic Holiday Inn.

Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, White Christmas introduced VistaVision to the local audience and quickly became a seasonal favourite.

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A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

As we wrap up this December update, we would like to wish all our supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for being part of the Pavilion’s journey throughout 2024. We will be taking a short break over the festive season, and we look forward to returning in January with our first newsletter of 2025, filled with fresh updates and exciting plans for the year ahead.