Box office success for East Preston film nights

The East Preston Film Society was founded by villager Paul Amoo in June last year, with the aim not only of providing cinematic entertainment, but to help build up the community and plough back profits into village facilities.

Since the first screening in September, the monthly film shows have raised more than £2,700 for various projects and on Friday, when the final movie of the season, The Great Gatsby, was shown, Paul presented a donation of £621.31 to East Preston Parish Council chairman Joop Duijf, to purchase two new flower planters and the plants for them, which will be placed alongside the jubilee bench in North Lane/Roundstone Drive.

More than 90 people watched the film, screened in the Conservative Hall, Sea Road, and the proceeds from refreshments and a bumper raffle, with prizes donated by village traders, also went towards the money generated by ticket sales.

There was a strong sense of community in the hall, as people helped with the event. Said Paul: “From the outset, the intention of those running the films has been to foster community cohesion and to plough back into the community all the profits they generated.”

The films are sponsored by Cooper Adams Estate Agents, of East Preston.