GORDON KENNEDY TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS FRASER CENTRES FIRST PATRON

The Fraser Centre Community Trust is delighted to welcome Gordon Kennedy as the Trusts first Patron.

The Trust is aiming to rebuild the former Winton Cinema into a state of the art facility for the community and Gordon has many fond memories of the Cinema.

“I am so honoured and thrilled to be asked to be a patron of the The Fraser Centre Community Trust. I lived in Tranent and am, sadly, old enough to remember The Winton Cinema and more importantly remembering it closing. It is fantastic that The Fraser Centre is rising Phoenix like from its cold ashes, and it is fitting that it is doing this through the hard work, commitment and spirit of local residents lead by Jonny and his team.

Cinema can take anyone, to anywhere to anytime. It moves you to laugh, cry and if I ever appear on screen… scream… but you do this collectively as a community and in a way that can never be replicated at home.

In a world where more and more entertainment is being delivered to you personally it is so important that places like this thrive and become a hub not only for entertainment but for education too. I have no doubt that this will happen and I can’t wait to see a movie there very, very soon.

Good luck. The last film I saw in Tranent in the old Winton Cinema was ‘The Italian Job’… it would be great to see that again on the big screen at The Fraser Centre… except maybe this time folk won’t shower me with popcorn just coz I’m “The Doctor’s Son!”

Chairman of the Trust, Jonny Russell was delighted to attract Gordon as the Centres first Patron: “We are absolutely delighted to have attracted Gordon who has achieved so much and is so well respected in the world of entertainment. To add to the fact he is a local lad who remembers visiting The Winton Cinema makes him the perfect, and a very fitting, choice as our first patron.

We have exciting development plans and this is further evidence of our progress and the support we have to fulfil our vision of bringing a state of the art centre for learning, development, arts & entertainment to Tranent.”

Gordon grew up in Tranent and attended George Watson’s College in Edinburgh. He then went to the Scottish School of PE at Jordanhill College (now part of the University of Strathclyde).

He first rose to prominence in the sketch show Absolutely and presented the ‘original’ National Lottery show, alongside Anthea Turner. He has appeared in several dramas, including the role of Sergeant Bruce Hornsby in the BBC drama, Red Cap. He has also appeared in the BBC Scotland soap River City.

From to 2009 he starred as Little John in all three series of the BBC production of Robin Hood.

Since 2007, Kennedy has narrated the British edition of Kitchen Nightmares.

Gordon is currently playing the role of former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in the West End play, ‘The Audience’, alongside Kirstin Scott Thomas.

The Fraser Centre Community Trust was created in 2011 to rebuild The Winton Cinema into a new hub for the community. Plans are well underway and you can find out more about the project and current events and activities held at the centre by visiting www.thefrasercentre.com.