Bruce Webb shares this latest update from the Save Rivoli Cinema campaign. Ed
Although the Rivoli Cinema has had a tortured and tragic ending like that of an art house Russian movie, this is not the case of the remaining money raised.
£140,000 returned
The Rivoli funds of £140,000 have been been returned to the investors as we failed to save the building from demolition or reach the asking price which continued to rise out of our reach.
Sadly the cinema is now sitting empty as no one appears to want to buy it and from what we have heard any attempt to look around the building to purchase it is very hard to do now.
£3,500 in unknown donations
Once we had contacted all of our investors we had a pot of money around £3,500 left over which was a result of unknown donations through the Christmas Funday and the amazing tribute concert set up by Miranda Jokel and other events put on by our team of enthusiastic supporters.
There was also money which supporters said we could put to good causes.
The beneficiaries
So we decided as a majority of the money was given by the people of Sandown we would put the money to good use especially as those people who did not want their money back had requested that it go to charity or the local Library (the author Jasper Ford was one whose £200 went to the Library) and we decided on four beneficiaries:
- The Kids Cafe run by the Daisy Chains Charity was given £750 for new sensory equipment which we are told is being built as this is being written.
- £750 went to the Sandown Lifeboat Charity so they could buy new lifejackets.
- £750 went to The King Church Charity for four new computers that can be used by people learning computer skills and looking for work (they also run the local food bank).
- The remaining £1,250 has gone to Sandown Library where I have built a new HD cinema which includes a roll down screen, permanent speakers Bluray player and Amplifier, new seats, a second hand 5000 lumen projector.
Sandown Cinema Club
The new Sandown Cinema Club, which holds its screenings – starting next Friday and then on the second Friday of every month – in the Library will use this new equipment.
