The Association was very sad to hear of the passing of Eddie Poole, a long-standing member of the Association, most recently at the Pavilion, Galashiels, but with a long and varied career spanning over sixty year across the UK cinema sector.
Eddie was one of the true spirits of our industry, with strongly-held views on most matters, but with a deep and abiding commitment and affection for cinema running through his core.
For that reason, the Association was delighted to be able to present him with a ‘Lifetime Contribution’ award at our conference in 2014. More here.
From starting as a rewind boy at the Ritz, Preston at the age of 14 (when he lied about his age as you had to be 15 to work in a projection room at the time), Eddie’s was a varied but hugely impressive career, including a period in the 1970s running a mobile cinema around the Eastern borders of Scotland (using a 16mm portable projector) to taking on the Regal Cinema in Pitlochry in the 1980s, subsequently working with his family to add cinemas in Dundee, Arbroath, Glenrothes and Kelso.
Eddie took on the Pavilion Galashiels in the 1990s, and even into his 80s was still closely involved in the running of the venue.
The Association, its members and industry colleagues send all best wishes to his sons Andrew and Neil – who now run the Pavilion – and to Eddie’s wider family.