Cinema is still 'best in west' (From Gazette Series)

Cinema is still 'best in west'

11:39am Friday 6th October 2006 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

VOLUNTEERS from Wotton-under-Edge have narrowly missed out on taking first place in a national competition.

The Electric Picture House, Wotton's community cinema, represented the South West last Thursday, September 28, at the Market and Coastal Towns Association awards.

The awards, held in Evesham, were part of a Market Towns Conference and marked the achievement of community projects across the country.

The Wotton cinema won a place in last week's national final in July when it won the South West Region Market Town Awards Scheme for social and community.

Despite not taking the top prize those who attended the special award dinner said the competition had been an enjoyable experience.

Janet Walshe, from the Electric Picture House's committee, said: "It was a great evening. What was so wonderful was the feeling of community. All the projects that were represented at the awards were community projects everyone was in it for the same reason their community.

"We might not have won but we are still the best in the west.

"It has been a great experience to be put forward to represent the South West."

The Wotton community cinema reopened last November after a group of local people joined together to save and refurbish the facility. The cinema had stood empty for three years.

Almost 12 months after its opening and the cinema goes from strength to strength. Last week the cinema received its new outdoor sign, donated by Active8 Signs in Kingswood and the cinema is also in need of more volunteers.

Alex Alliston-Greiner, chairman of the Electric Picture House's committee, said: "We have many opportunities for volunteering, the main ones being on the teams running the shows, however, a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes. Whilst from the outside we may look like a 'normal' business, we are run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers."

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Electric Picture House, Wotton's community cinema, call Alex on 01453 842849 or Janet on 01453 843060.