Pavilion Fire – Chichester Observer – Wednesday, 25 August 1926

The Pavilion, Selsey has certainly come into the limelight (or should we say " firelight’’) lately. I refer to the Pavilion fire. It is particularly unfortunate that it should have happened in the season, for the visitors will be bereft of their chief source of amusement. Their loss, however, pales into insignificance before that of Mr. Phipps, who will lose the best month of the season, and I am sure that his many friends will join in condoling with him over this unfortunate occurrence. From Selsey’s point of view, however, there is one "silver lining" to the cloud, inasmuch that it gained a good deal of advertisement, for several of the big newspapers made a special display of it on their contents bills, while all, I think, gave a fairly detailed description. Although the cause of the fire is, of course, not known definitely, it appears to have started in the balcony, which, on the occasion of a dance is used as a gentleman's cloakroom. It is supposed that a gentleman while changing his shoes or coat, put the lighted end of his cigarette on the edge of one of the plush scats. Additional strength is lent to this supposition owing to the fact that three seats in the balcony are completely burnt out.