Presentation to the Chichester Harbour Rotary Club

The latest event in our outreach programme took place on the morning of 12th July. Keith Batchelor and Christian Skelton, representing the Selsey Pavilion Trust, addressed the members of the Chichester Harbour Rotary Club gathered at the Chichester Park Hotel for their weekly breakfast meeting.

Keith began the presentation with a whirlwind overview of the historical significance of the Selsey Pavilion, looking back at the last 110 years, including famous faces such as R.C. Sherriff and Bronislava Nijinska. This was followed by the fire of 1926, Mosley’s Blackshirts and ending on lighter notes such as the popular festive pantomimes and Arts Dream Selsey’s productions of “The End of The Journey” and “Journey’s End” to commemorate the start and end of the Great War.

The Selsey Pavilion Trust’s vision is to transform the Pavilion into a thriving community hub. Christian spoke passionately about preserving the venue’s architectural heritage while ensuring that the Pavilion becomes a model of sustainable development within the community. The proposed renovations and expansions aim to provide a versatile space for hosting various events, including cinema, concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, indoor markets, and more.

The presentation left the Chichester Harbour Rotary Club members inspired and excited about the future of this underutilised community landmark. Time constraints restricted the number of questions that could be answered. Consequently, they expressed an interest in visiting the Pavilion once it is restored.

The next event in our outreach programme will be held at the Selsey Centre on 28th July. Keith will speak to U3A on “High Street Highlights”. This will cover the heritage of Selsey High Street with a particular focus on the pivotal role played by the Selsey Pavilion. The Trust is delighted to work alongside the Selsey Photo Archive thanks to the strong link between heritage-based groups. Joe Savill will represent the Selsey Photo Archive at this event.