Project Brighton: Rachel Clark, Chief Executive of West Pier Trust highlights upcoming events to celebrate its 150 year anniversary

When the West Pier opened in 1866, who would have thought that exactly 150 years later a new ‘vertical’ pier would open on the very same spot?

Since its launch in August, the British Airways i360, has ‘flown’ over a hundred thousand delighted visitors to a height of 150 metres above the site of the old pier to experience spectacular birds-eye views of Brighton, The Downs and the Sussex coast.

And in this one hundred and fiftieth anniversary year, what better way to celebrate the magnificent engineering and design standards set by Eugenius Birch’s masterpiece, than with state-of-the-art architecture from the designers of the London Eye?

To further mark the anniversary the West Pier Trust, as landlords of the BAi360 and custodians of the West Pier heritage, is also hosting a series of West Pier related talks and screenings.

In this one hundred and fiftieth year, what better way to celebrate the magnificent engineering than with state-of-the art architecture?

Starting on Monday 10th October at 6.30pm at the BAi360 beach building, architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, in a talk entitled ‘Breathing New Life into the West Pier Site’, will describe their 11 year journey to bring the British Airways i360 to fruition. The evening is to be chaired by the Trust’s historian Professor Fred Gray.

This will be followed on Wednesday 23rd November, at 7.30pm at The Attenborough Centre, Sussex University, with a showing of Richard Attenborough’s famous anti-war film ‘Oh! What A Lovely War’. Made on location in Brighton in 1968 and using the West Pier for many of its sequences, it offers a challenging and provocative representation of the First World War. Frank Gray from CineCity and Screen Archive South East will introduce the screening.

Then on Monday 28th November at 6.30pm, Nick Crane will share his insights and stories from one of the most diverse and beautiful coastlines in the world at the BAi360 beach building, drawing on his travels and his book Coast: Our Island Story. The talk will be illustrated with photographs taken during Nick’s ten years presenting the BBC series Coast.

The West Pier Trust, as landlords of BAi360, is also hosting a series of West Pier related talks and screenings

There is also on Thursday 6th October, the precise date of the opening of the West Pier in 1866, an exclusive complimentary flight on the BAi360 for West Pier Trust members, hosted by its creator David Marks.

Speakers for 2017 include Brighton’s very own international best-selling novelist Peter James. David Fisher, author of Cinema-by-Sea, the history of film and cinema in Brighton and Hove since 1896, will discuss and illustrate how the West Pier has been portrayed on film. And Joan Bakewell, who in her perhaps less well-known role as president of the National Pier Society will share her passion for piers.

Dates, times and venues for these 2017 events are yet to be announced. It’s possible that the Trust’s new, high-profile base in the refurbished arches to the east of the BAi360 might be available. Half of the £25,000 to fit out the interior has already been raised in sponsorship and the Trust is vigorously seeking donations both large and small to cover the shortfall.

Tickets for all talks and screenings are bookable at www.westpier.co.uk/events

To become a Trust member: www.westpier.co.uk/the-trust/become-a-member

Enquiries: rachel@westpier.co.uk
F: Official West Pier
T: @WestPierTrust
Pictures courtesy of Royal Pavilion Libraries and Museums, Brighton & Hove