Thirty-eight people attended the meeting on Saturday (29th September) in
the Guildhall, Lichfield called by Michael Fabricant to restart the
Regal Cinema – formerly the Kwik Save in Tamworth Street, Lichfield. "I
never anticipated so may would give up their Saturday to attend the
meeting – and all felt the urgent need for a cinema showing specialist,
as well as more commercial, films" says Michael Fabricant. "This huge
response clearly demonstrates the need for a specialist cinema in the
City. This could operate in addition to the multiscreen cinema which is
proposed for the Friary Development in Birmingham Road in Lichfield. An
arts cinema does just this in Derby.

"We discussed the aims of the cinema which would also include
cooperation with the arts community in Lichfield. The Meeting felt, for
example, that it could also be used as gallery space which is so
desperately needed in the City."

A Steering Committee has now been formed consisting of 11 of the 38
attendees and they selected Carol Bache as Chairman. The Group has
been named "Reclaim the Regal". Michael says: "I wanted to be the
catalyst to start the Group and its Steering Committee and I am
delighted that Carol will be chairing it. Other members include a
merchant banker, an architect, and a quantity surveyor so there is
plenty of expertise. I will now bow out though I have agreed to be a
‘semi detached’ ex officio member of the Steering Committee. I will,
however, assist with any requests I receive from the Committee".

Meanwhile, Carol has put out an urgent appeal for any old photographs of
the cinema when it was open. These should be emailed as an attachment
to her at reclaimtheregal@googlemail.com or they can be posted to her
care of Michael Fabricant, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

"If anyone else is interested in helping in any way, they should contact
Carol Bache at reclaimtheregal@googlemail.co " Michael adds.