In the summer of 2008 Lesley Mullins approached Peter Clements, Chairman of the MICA (Mersea Island Community Association) about starting a Film Club at the MICA. Unbeknown to Lesley the MICA executive committee had been looking at starting such a club, as it had been requested on many of the Village Appraisal forms which had been delivered throughout the town in 2006. Alan & Bry Mogridge, members of the MICA executive committee, did a field visit to another film club as Jon & Hillary Bower were unavailable, but their findings were not followed up. Lesley had done quite a lot of research and set up a visit to Maldon Film Club. Kevin & Lesley Mullins, Peter & Liz Clements and Hillary Bower visited in late summer. The Maldon Film Club was extremely helpful and gave many useful tips, one being, if you have equipment failure, offer everyone a free drink!! Following this visit it was decided to put on a free taster-film at the MICA to see how much interest there was. We used the West Mersea Yacht Club projector, many thanks to Brian Bolton for organising this.
Adverts were put in the two local papers offering a free film at the MICA on Friday 28 November 2008. If people thought they would like to join a film society they should bring £20 to join there and then. Peter Clements said he had a DVD of a great film called ‘Sea Biscuit’ which could be projected onto the back wall of the stage. We set up the projector half way down the hall and taped down all the wiring. Approximately 200 seats were set out, we were all apprehensive, how many people would turn up? We need not have worried; at 8pm 173 people had arrived.
At the end of the film 100 people signed up and a few days later we had 115 members. The Mersea Island Film Society was born.
We formed a committee Lesley Mullins – Chairman, Peter Clements – Treasurer, Hillary & Jon Bower – Membership Secretaries, John Rann – Secretary as well as Projectionist/Technical along with Kevin Mullins. It was decided to show a film on the last Friday of every month, however not all Fridays were available in the first year 2009 but we muddled through and made sure we booked all the last Fridays for the following years.
Before the first film night we bought very expensive reflective paint and painted the back wall of the stage as we were going to project straight onto it, saving the need to buy a very expensive, very large screen. Hillary produced a black and white programme. It was an A4 sheet, folded into three, for the first 6 month’s films. For the second half of that year the programme was produced with colour pictures.
2009 our first year’s films were:-
30 January – The Duchess. The attendance at this film was 150 with 9 visitors.
We sent a letter to the membership asking for ‘Have your say’ on the genre of the films, 62 came back which gave a very wide choice. The members did say the DVD quality was rubbish and they were looking forward to us getting a better projector!! This was in hand. During the first year Yvonne Rann researched the possibility of obtaining a Lottery Grant for a new projector and sound system which we were successful in getting. We raised £2500 and a donation of £500 from the Strood Charity. The Lottery Fund awarded us £7000. Golding Audio of Colchester were approached to recommend the right equipment. Neil Bentley offered an emergency projector if the Yacht Club one failed or was not available. Yvonne organised the raffle. The MICA bar was open from 7.30 until the start of the film at 8pm and then again in the interval.
27 February – Some Like it Hot. Our second film we offered tea, coffee or hot chocolate at the interval. Also we tried offering Pop Corn but it was not popular.
3 April – Tea with Mussolini ; 1 May – Thomas Crown Affair. The committee drafted a constitution.
29 May – Chocolat At this film John Rann made excellent hand-made chocolates which were offered to everyone before the film and in the interval. This was the first of many ‘Theme’ film nights.
26 June – Casablanca. We decided to not show a film in July or August because many of the committee and members would be away on holiday.
The second half of the year film programme started on 25 September – Mama Mia; 30 October – Breakfast at Tiffany’s; 27 November – Sliding Doors This was also our first AGM; 18 December – Scrooge was our first Christmas film. Throughout the year Jean & Peter Inson sold raffle tickets at most of the films and Pat Marshall and friends served tea, coffee and hot chocolate at the interval.
In 2010 our new projector, amplifier, Sony Blue Ray player and Wharfedale speakers were all installed by Goldings of Colchester. Later in the year we bought a wireless microphone. We proudly displayed the national Lottery logo in the hall and on our programmes. We produced an 8 page colour A5 film programme.
February 2010 reserved seating was offered, an idea from Jon and Hillary’s daughter, Abi.
The first film of the year we had decided on was Venus but it was decided it was not suitable due to the subject matter, so Enchanted April was shown instead.
Christmas 2010 we served mulled wine and home-made warm mince pies made by Jean Inson, as well as a little gift for each member.
2011 John Rann took over the Secretary’s role producing our first full colour printed A5 programme.
2012 Full colour A5 programme. John Rann set up the Film Society Website. This was the first year we asked the membership to vote on the films the committee had chosen.
2013 Full colour A5 programme. This year we decided to add an extra film in mid-February just to break up the long dark winter! We also decided it would be a committee choice as there were so many good films the membership were not choosing and we thought they would really enjoy. The first film we chose was: Young Victoria. It was very successful, justifying our decision; the tradition has carried on since.
March brought our first equipment failure. The technical team were unable to get the DVD to play so we fell back on the recommendation of the Maldon Film Club – we offered everyone a free drink. Quite a party followed and everyone was very understanding
June’s theme film was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Exotic nibbles from Titash restaurant were served in the interval along with exotic Bollywood ‘Belly Dancers’. This was a great success so each following year we chose a film to theme.
In February it was decided to invested in cushions for every member as the MICA chairs were proving rather uncomfortable for our members and it looked as though it would be a few years before they were replaced
Peter Clements stepped down as treasurer and John Spence was voted in.
2014 John Rann tweaked the programme size and produced a large, square full colour programme.
In February this year we decided to re-plaster the back wall of the stage to make it extra smooth and then had the wall professionally painted with special reflective paint. We also donated £1500 to the MICA to help with the refurbishment of the reception especially new sound proof doors to the main hall.
We said goodbye to John Rann who moved away. Peter Duerden joined the committee and took over the production of the programme with descriptions and reviews of all the films to be shown in the coming year. He also looked after the website management.
2015 Pat Marshall joined the committee and took on the role of Secretary.
2016 Jan 2016 we put the Blue-Ray dvd’s into the raffle but so few people had Blu-Ray players they were not popular prizes. So we decide to keep the DVD’s as a film Library for the members who had Blu-ray players.
2017 Julia Bentley joined the committee and took over the Secretary’s role. The themed film was Dad’s Army in April. Some members, as in the past, dressed appropriately and a prize was given to the best of these. In addition a “Stop me and buy one” bicycle type ice cream seller was engaged for this event. Very popular it was too.
2018 April was our theme night, the film was Viceroy’s House and we had many people dress up in exotic Indian costumes. At the interval nibbles from the Titash restaurant were served again.
At the AGM Jon & Hillary Bower resigned as membership Secretaries after 10 years of total commitment and support. Gill Warwick took over their role.
2019 Our 10th Anniversary begins in January with a three film special anniversary weekend event featuring performances of “The Post”, “Victoria & Abdul” “Christopher Robin”.
This article by Lesley Mullins was first published in 2019. In 2026 we are still going strong and looking forward to our 20th anniversary in 2029!