Honour for Chi cinema founder

Chichester City Council has bestowed its highest honour on Roger Gibson, founder of the Chichester Cinema at New Park and the Chichester International Film Festival.

Rogerwasgiventhefreedom of the City of Chichester at a special ceremony: “I feel very proud and the whole family were there. They have all been involved in various ways. In fact I'm quite overwhelmed by it but I think the important thing is through this honour that the council has recognised the cinema as a subject to vote for. The cinema has always been a Cinderella of the arts so I do find this very encouraging.”

Councillor Clare Apel did the honours at the ceremony: “It is a great honour for me to read the c i t a - tion for giving Roger Gibson the Freedom of the City of Chichester. This is the highest accolade which the city can give to a resident.

“When I moved to Chichester in the late 60s, we had three cinemas. By the middle of the 70s we had just one and shortly after that none. However Roger changed that sad scene. Roger moved to Chichester in the late 70s. He formed the Chichester Adult Education Film Society.

“In the early 80s, there was a big community movement to save the old school in New Park Road from being demolished by developers. It was saved but needed a great deal of work to be done to it. In 1992 Roger set up the Chichester International Film Festival. This has meant New Park, The Film Society and The International Film Festival have been recognised all over the world. During the Festival we have films from everywhere. This has meant Roger has received many awards nationally and internationally.”