Ahead of Bournemouth Pavilion’s centenary year, Winton resident Nigel Cox has generously donated an extraordinary family collection to the venue’s archives.
Nigel has gifted belongings from his mother, Mary Cox, and his grandmother, Grace Cox, who both spent many happy years working at Bournemouth Pavilion.
Grace worked at the venue from the 1960s through to the 1980s, first as an usherette and later in the cloakroom, now the café bar beside the Box Office. Mary followed suit in the early 1960s.
For Nigel, the Pavilion was practically a second home. As a small boy, he often spent weekends and school holidays watching matinée shows while his mother worked.
“My mum Mary was working here in 1964 when I was six,” he recalls. “I remember watching Bruce Forsyth in The Big Show. She told me to keep quiet and ‘whatever you do, don’t volunteer to go on stage!’”
Nigel remembers a childhood filled with variety shows, pantomimes and ballet productions.
“My sister and I were fortunate enough to go to lots of matinées. I remember watching The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. My grandmother loved those shows, though I didn’t always understand what was going on. Later, I watched shows on my own and remember seeing Larry Grayson perform.”
“All three generations of us lived together in Winton. I remember my gran coming home late from her shifts because of some of the famously long-running shows!
“The staff were always very friendly to me. I used to run around the auditorium when I was six or seven. I’m flooded with memories every time I go back.”
Nigel’s donation includes twenty signed postcards and photographs of well-known performers*, family photos of staff life at the Pavilion, and two autograph books filled with signatures from visiting stars. He has also donated a second autograph book believed to have belonged to a former member of staff named Diane Vickers.
As Bournemouth Pavilion approaches its centenary in 2029, its dedicated team of archive volunteers is inviting residents and visitors to search their attics, basements, cupboards and collections for items that could help piece together the theatre’s remarkable story.
Bournemouth Pavilion is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live on behalf of BCP Council.
Christian Knighton, who has worked at Bournemouth Pavilion for more than 50 years and joined the theatre as a stagehand in 1975, now oversees the archive and its volunteer team. Together they are inviting residents and visitors to share their own photos, programmes and to help tell the venue’s story.
On behalf of BH Live, Christian said;
“We are incredibly grateful to Nigel for sharing this wonderful family collection. Donations like this help us preserve Bournemouth Pavilion’s unique story, build our archives, and celebrate the generations of local people who have been part of it.
“We would love to hear from anyone who has donations they would like to contribute to the archives.”
Every artefact adds to the story of a building that has entertained generations and continues to inspire pride in Bournemouth. By sharing your treasures, you can help ensure that Bournemouth Pavilion’s legacy is preserved for the next hundred years.
For more information, get in touch with the team at pavilion.archive@bhlive.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
*Performers featured in Grace Cox’s collection include:
Leslie Crowther, John Inman, Keith Harris, The Beverley Sisters, Paul Daniels, Vince Hill, Edmund Hockridge, Evelyn Laye, Val Doonican, Joan Regan, Tom O’Connor, Larry Grayson, and David Nixon.
Mary Cox’s autograph book includes signatures from:
Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Susannah York, Sally Barnes, Millicent Martin, Windsor Davies, and Bruce Forsyth, among others.
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council, Croydon Council, and Southampton City Council.
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn – BH Live
Facebook – @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
Instagram @bhliveuk
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Bournemouth Pavilion
Bournemouth Pavilion is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
This Grade II listed venue opened in March 1929. It has a 1,500-seat theatre and full-sized ballroom. The venue hosts a year-round diverse programme of events and entertainment such as musicals, opera, ballet, pantomime, comedy, and dances. Gala dinners, banquets, receptions, fairs, corporate presentations, product launches, conferences and exhibitions also feature.
Bournemouth Pavilion is home to Pavilion Dance South West and the Pavilion at AUB rehearsal and teaching space for the Arts University Bournemouth.
Bournemouth Pavilion’s South Terrace operates throughout the spring and summer season, serving a delicious range of hot and cold drinks, grab-and-go items, and hot food from pop-up stalls and container bars. The Terrace Bistro serves a seasonal menu, offering an indoor and alfresco dining experience.
- Buy tickets online at co.uk
- Buy tickets by phone 0300 500 0595
- In person from box office – see website for opening times.
For call charges, opening times and more visit bournemouthpavilion.co.uk.
Get social with us:
Facebook, Instagram – @BournemouthPavilion