Staff and volunteers at Ropetackle paid a grateful tribute to long-time volunteer Joan Moore who stepped down from chairing the Film Committee in May. What started as a favour to a friend on the Trust who needed help “putting on some films” in the early days of the Centre became a ten-year commitment to getting film and cinema very firmly back on the Shoreham-by-Sea map.*

Under Joan’s leadership, cinema not only came back but took off and diversified to become a vital part of the Ropetackle programme, serving all members of the community. Over tea and a delicious celebration cake (pictured below), Joan said: “When I started, in 2012, we had about two or three people in the audience, but we persevered. The first film that sold out was Liberace – we were so happy that day!

“I have really loved being involved. As far as the Committee was concerned, I wanted to make sure everyone had a role and therefore ownership and it seems to have paid off.”

Trustee and film committee member Louise Durrant, who replaces Joan as chair, said: “Joan has been integral to the success of Ropetackle’s Film Club and cinema. She was a founding member of the Film Club, helping to set it up and encourage individuals, who she knew had the right skills to develop the club, to be part of the committee. Her vision and guidance has overseen 11 Film Club seasons and the expansion of Ropetackle’s film programme to include matinées, family film, evening, relaxed viewing and my first cinema. A job well done!”

* From Sussex Film Office: “In 1857, Shoreham fort was built and in 1914 converted to a film studio. Shoreham later became the seaside equivalent of Hollywood, with major productions like The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978) and Little Dorrit (2008) filmed at the studio.

Pictured above, l-r: Mark Phillips, Centre Manager; Joyce Willson, Film Club; Anne Hodgson, Artistic Director; Louise Durrant, Trustee; Joan Moore and Martin Allen, Ropetackle Trust Chairman.

Below: Joan’s leaving cake, baked by Rose Petal Café.