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BISHOP
BLESSES PIER - 6 DECEMBER 2015
HOLY
WATER - In what be described as one of the finest public
relations exercises yet, the new owner of the pier went
multi-faith on this wet and windy Sunday. Sheik Abid Gulzar is
of course a Muslim, but
in a refreshing gesture, the Bishop of Lewes
agreed to come along despite the awful weather (some have said
a sign from above of things to come) and perform a ceremony on
the fire fated pier. Mr Gulzar seems to be spending more time
conducting the publicity campaign than actually working
out all the details of the rebuild of the fire ravaged
amusement arcade. When is this likely to happen?
EASTBOURNE HERALD 9 DECEMBER 2015
- HUNDREDS TURN OUR FOR BLESSING
More than 500 people braved the pouring rain and high winds to witness the Bishop of Lewes officially bless Eastbourne Pier on Sunday (December 6).
The Bishop, the Right Reverend Richard Jackson, said he was delighted to have been invited to conduct the ceremony by the new pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar.
After carol singing and demonstrations from the Stix Drummers of Eastbourne, the Bishop gave a five-minute address to the audience.
Before conducting the blessing, the Bishop spoke about the pier’s importance as a community asset.
He also asked for Mr Gulzar and his team to use their resources and wisdom well in the coming months and years.
Mr Gulzar thanked the Bishop for attending, and then invited the audience to complimentary drinks and snacks in the Waterfront on the pier.
The occasion was recorded by the BBC, and Mr Gulzar said he was delighted by the turnout.
He said, “It was a fabulous occasion. The weather was absolutely terrible yet still the people of Eastbourne turned out to support me and my team, and I thank them very much for that.
“I did wonder if the weather may put people off – but it clearly didn’t. It was an occasion I will remember for a very long time, and it was such an honour to have the Bishop of Lewes present.
“It is important to bring people together from different cultures and to celebrate love and togetherness.
“The Bishop was right in what he said – we do have some big challenges with the pier in the coming weeks, months and years, and I am determined to make it a huge success.
“I think it is great that so many people are talking about the pier, and showing a genuine interest. Yes, there are a few who have been negative, but I believe the town is behind me.
“The blessing was another step forward in the future of Eastbourne Pier.”
THE
LONG AND SHORT OF IT - Atoning for his sins? Having a
Church bless the pier was a super way of getting an assembly
of good Christians to walk the planks. We suspect, emptying
the churches in the area of their parishioners. We wonder if
the ceremony exorcised
any evil spirits and if the rain was sprinkled with Holy
Water. We doubt that was the intention, but what of the 'At
Risk' status of the pier, Surely, that is the most important
thing and perhaps now Abid will repent and state his
intentions as to the former Blue Room.
ITV NEWS 6 DEC 2015
The revival of Eastbourne Pier continued as the Bishop of Lewes performed the official blessing on the structure in Sussex.
The Right Reverend Richard Jackson led the service - joined by new owner Sheikh Abid-Gulzar. The pier was engulfed by flames more than a year ago. It was re-opened in October this year after being bought by the local business tycoon.
THE ARGUS 6 DECEMBER 2015
Bishop of Lewes blesses Eastbourne Pier
AROUND 500 people braved pouring rain and high winds to witness the Bishop of Lewes officially bless Eastbourne Pier.
The Bishop, the Right Reverend Richard Jackson, said he was delighted to have been invited to conduct the ceremony by the new pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar.
After carol singing and demonstrations from the Stix Drummers of Eastbourne, the Bishop conveyed a very simple but powerful message during his five-minute address to the large audience.
He said it was important to pray for the pier to be a success as a community asset, and he prayed for Mr Gulzar and his team to use their resources and wisdom well in the coming months and years.
He spoke of some of the bad in society today, in particular with recent happenings in other countries, and said it was important for communities to pull together, and the pier could be a central focus for Eastbourne.
Mr Gulzar thanked the Bishop for attending, and then invited everyone for complimentary drinks and snacks in the Waterfront on the pier.
Mr Gulzar said he was delighted by the turnout.
‘It was a fabulous occasion. The weather was absolutely terrible yet still the people of Eastbourne turned out to support me and my team, and I thank them very much for that,’ he said.
‘I did wonder if the weather may put people off – but it clearly didn’t. It was an occasion I will remember for a very long time, and it was such an honour to have the Bishop of
Lewes present.
‘It is important to bring people together from different cultures and to celebrate love and togetherness.
‘The Bishop was right in what he said – we do have some big challenges with the pier in the coming weeks, months and years, and I am determined to make it a huge success.
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‘I think it is great that so many people are talking about the pier, and showing a genuine interest. Yes, there are a few who have been negative, but I believe the town is behind me.
‘The blessing was another step forward in the future of Eastbourne Pier.’
CAROLS
& MINCE PIES - The Waterfront bar played host to a
number of damp members of the public, having come in from the
rain.
The Victorian Society is a national charity campaigning for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment.
The music pavilion is an important part of that history that
Historic England and no doubt Eastbourne
Council are looking to bring back as soon as possible..
FIRE
TRAGEDY - It made many people weep to see their beloved icon
reduced to a pile of scrap steel. The tears are still rolling
down the faces of conservationists and well wishers all over
England - as it becomes clear that the newest owner is looking
to charge an entry fee and would rather land helicopters on
the spot where the famous structure above stood, than put the
building back.
EASTBOURNE
PIER - Is a monument at risk. The cause was a fire where
the insurance payout went nowhere in terms of rebuild and the
previous owners bailed out to avoid further losses, passing
the buck to the first open wallet bidder they could find.
FACEBOOK
According
to the Eastbourne Independent there are over 650 postings on
the Pier Memorial Facebook page.
You
can see these for yourself by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/arcadememorial/
OTHER
CONTACTS
Project
address:
Eastbourne
Pier
Grand Parade
EASTBOURNE
East Sussex
BN21 3EL
Local
authority address:
Eastbourne
Borough Council
1
Grove Rd
Eastbourne
East
Sussex
BN21
4TW
Tel:
01323 410000
GOOGLE
MAPS - The above is a satellite view from one of the most
famous search engine companies. The snapshot was taken in
September 2015, but still shows the Blue Room intact.
LINKS
Dailymail-Eastbourne-2million-windfall-fire-destroyed-Grade-II-listed-pier-2014-Prime-Minister-knows-hit-town-hard
IOL
news
world England Hastings pier gutted by fire 2010
Heritage
Lottery Fund
Historic
England
Eastbourne
Borough Council
Big
Lottery Fund Coastal Communities Fund
Twitter
Victorian Society
Eastbourne
Herald UK news hundreds turn out for blessing of eastbourne
pier
ITV
news meridian update 2015 December 6 Eastbourne pier blessed
by bishop of lewes
The
Argus latest news Bishop_of_Lewes_blesses_Eastbourne_Pier
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/hundreds-turn-out-for-blessing-of-eastbourne-pier-1-7107285
http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2015-12-06/eastbourne-pier-blessed-by-bishop-of-lewes/
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14133049.Bishop_of_Lewes_blesses_Eastbourne_Pier/
https://twitter.com/thevicsoc
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/takeover-of-eastbourne-pier-plan-1-6971012
https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ccf
http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/
http://www.hlf.org.uk/
http://www.historicengland.org.uk/
southeast@HistoricEngland.org.uk
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