About Us

The Royal: Personnel

Plymouth Royal Cinema Community Benefit Society is the organisation campaigning to save the Royal. The group brings together individuals with a broad range of experience in the built environment and in the arts sector. The board members are as follows.

Chairperson | Karl Parsons

Karl is an Architectural Technologist, a member of the Cinema Theatre Association and has an MA in Architectural Conservation. He is passionate about the built environment and believes that the Royal Cinema is a genuine asset to the city. He has practical experience in the conservation of both traditional and twentieth century architecture, with an understanding of the technical challenges surrounding the management of historic buildings. His MA Dissertation considered the Royal Cinema, which has given him a comprehensive understanding of the building.

Treasurer | Ian Carroll

Ian originally wrote the Official Book of the Reading Festival and is now writing the second volume of the Official Reading & Leeds Festival Book. He has also written over a dozen other music books with Number One bestsellers on Amazon in the UK, USA, Germany, France and Canada and also produced two books to aid the ‘Save the Reel’ campaign.

Secretary | Tim Mitchell

Tim is an architectural designer who wants to preserve an important part of Plymouth's social and architectural heritage. He is keen to explore the integration of a community project with commercial viability.

Board Members

Caroline Blackler

Caroline is a Plymothian who remembers Saturday morning trips to the ABC cinema as a child which was often followed by a visit to the nearby joke shop in Frankfurt Gate. Caroline is a journalist and holds an MSc in Sustainable Development. She strongly believes that historical buildings are essential to preserving the architectural and social memories of a place and help to hold the fabric of communities. Caroline runs Red Velvet Cinema, a community cinema for elderly people who are lonely and socially isolated.

Dr Hilary Kolinsky

Hilary is an active participant in Plymouth's architectural networks, co-ordinating events for Plymouth Architectural Trust and as a Director of local practice McCaren Architecture, where she has worked since 2005. Her academic background includes extensive research into Plymouth's post-war plan and she is an occasional Associate Lecturer at Plymouth University School of Architecture. A keen supporter of community-led development both professionally and personally, she serves on the committees of the Hoe Neighbourhood and Ernesettle Community Forums.

Rupert (Richard) Rundell

Rupert has worked in some capacity in the culture sector of Plymouth for just over ten years in nearly as many venues. Former House Manager at Plymouth Arts Centre, he began the independent event MONDO MONDAY to give a platform for the mad, bad, dangerous and cult films that were too niche for the multiplex and perhaps too “unrefined” for the arthouse. Unfunded and not for profit the event is a labour of love. From zombie musicals, celebrity guests, romance, Kung-fu, Magic shows, & stand-up comedy to the occasional Muppet the event Mondo Monday has been running across multiple venues in Plymouth for over ten years. Find him on Facebook and Twitter as Mondo Monday UK.