Fight to save Bognor's Picturedrome Cinema takes a step forward

Since moving to the town several years ago, the projectionist and musician has formed a strong attachment to Bognor Regis's grade II listed cinema. After working there for a spell part-time, he experienced the Victorian building's character first-hand and said it was something the town was rightly getting behind.

He is now appealing to the Projected Picture Trust, a national organisation preserving historic cinemas and their equipment, in the hope it will back the town council in its bid to retain the building.

Mr Taylor said: "I think the Picturedrome has a right to be in the town as part of its heritage. It's a classic cinema, its foyer reeks of just what a cinema should be all about, unlike the often-soulless modern venues.

"It's a quality cinema with real character which is very well laid-out and has a good sound and projection system," explained the avid film enthusiast, who believed there was a strong wave of popular support for the cinema within the area.

His own passion for the silver screen began as a child growing up in London, where he became fascinated by projectors screening educational films.

"I was a lot more interested in the machines than the films and by the time I was 11. I became a 'rewind boy' working on reels of film at the local cinema," said the retired electrician.

In recent years he has become a familiar figure in the Bognor Regis area for being part of a Cliff Richard tribute band called Simply Shadows which he has greatly enjoyed.

He has also been kept incredibly busy starting a new monthly classic cinema night at the Barnham Bridge Hotel which begins on Wednesday.

As for the Picturedrome, earlier this week he raised the issue of its fate at the Bognor Regeneration meeting at Butlins.

He quizzed Arun District Council leader Gillian Brown on the issue of what the authority is doing for the venue.

She responded it was not in a position to offer financial assistance for its preservation, but it had 'always supported the town council' in its work '“ which now includes a bid to buy the cinema.

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