January News Roundup

We are delighted to welcome you to our first news roundup of 2026 and wish all our supporters and subscribers a very Happy New Year.

A Remarkable Start to the Year

We are thrilled to share that our student-led film has now surpassed 150,000 views on YouTube, achieving this milestone in just over six months since its premiere. This level of interest and support was beyond anything we could have imagined as we entered 2025, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has watched, shared, and supported the project.

Supporting the Trust Through Co-op Membership

We currently have 400 Co-op Members signed up to support the Selsey Pavilion Trust through the Local Community Fund. If you are already a Co-op member, selecting us costs nothing, and if you are not yet a member, it is just a £1 one-off fee to join.

Members receive prize draw entries for qualifying purchases, with options including a £500 personal prize and £5,000 for a chosen charity. Please note that support selections need to be renewed monthly, as they do not roll over automatically. The Pavilion Trust will remain an option until November 2026, and it would be wonderful if we could reach our goal of 500 members supporting us in this way. The Co-op app is the easiest way to manage your selection.

Restoration Work Update

There has been limited restoration work to report recently, but we would like to express our sincere thanks to James Scrase for his exceptional carpentry work at the Pavilion. James is currently recovering from cancer surgery, and we send him our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. He has shared his experience openly on the Selsey Pavilion Trust Facebook page.

Outreach and Community Engagement

In December, the Trust was represented at a VAAC(Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester) networking event at St Peter’s Hall. The event brought together a wide range of voluntary organisations, offering a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.

Through outreach activities during 2025, we have now engaged with over 1,300 people, helping to spread the word about the Pavilion and its restoration. Our 2026 outreach diary is already taking shape, with events booked for April and July, and more planned throughout the year. 

A Christmas Carol – A Festive Success

We are delighted to report that the four performances of A Christmas Carol attracted a combined audience of 100 people at Westberry House, kindly hosted by Gillian Plowman.

David Flint delivered a truly memorable solo performance, bringing around 30 characters to life with wit and skill. Our thanks go to everyone who purchased tickets, to Arts Dream Selsey, the Selsey Chamber Choir, and to Gillian for hosting such a wonderful event. We are also very pleased to share that Arts Dream donated £1,000 to the Selsey Pavilion Trust in support of the Pavilion’s restoration.

Supporting Through Individual Donations

The Trustees remain extremely grateful for the continued generosity of individual donors. There are still opportunities to sponsor one of our vintage film posters for £25 to help fund their conservation and framing.

Recent acquisitions include:

• Great Expectations (released 1946, screened at the Pavilion in February 1948)
• Swiss Family Robinson (released 1960, screened in July 1963 and August 1964)
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Please get in touch if you would like to support the preservation of one or both wonderful pieces of Pavilion history.

Glancing Backwards

With the start of a new year, our “Glancing Backwards” feature now turns its attention to events from years ending in 6. We begin with the 1966 SCAMPS pantomime, The House That Jack Built, which was praised at the time as one of the most successful shows since 1950, featuring vibrant costumes, strong performances, and sold-out audiences.