Chris Strachan

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chris Strachan who died peacefully on Wednesday 7th May. Chris’s tireless dedication and unwavering vision were instrumental in saving the Electric Palace from dereliction in the 1970s. It is no exaggeration to say that, without him, the Electric Palace would probably not be here today.

In 1975 the Electric Palace was in a ruinous condition having been left abandoned after it closed for business in 1956. Although it had been given listed status in 1972, thanks to Gordon Miller and the Harwich Society, it had continued to deteriorate as Harwich Town Council, its then owner, declined to spend any money on protecting it.

However Chris Strachan, together with retired architect Andrew Carden, decided that if the council would not restore the building they would have to do it themselves. Where most people would have said “they ought to do something”, Chris thought “I will do something”. A charitable trust was then formed with the aim of restoring the old cinema. After obtaining a lease from the council work started, initially to stop further deterioration and then to repair the damage already done. Initially Andrew was Chairman of this Trust with Chris as secretary.

While Andrew provided professional knowhow for this project, Chris was the driving force. His energy and enthusiasm was infectious as he recruited others to contribute their time and expertise. Chris, together with his wife Celia, also put a lot of effort into raising the necessary funds to pay for the materials used and professional services for any work for which a volunteer could not be found.

Work progressed as fast as funds permitted until in 1981 the Electric Palace re-opened on the 70th anniversary of its original opening. After this Andrew resigned and Chris became Trust Chairman, a role he held for over 30 years. With Colin Crawford as the new secretary the Electric Palace became a working cinema once more. With Colin dealing with the business side of the operation Chris was free to do what he liked best: promoting the cinema, thinking of ways the building or its operation could be improved and promoting, and playing in, Jazz concerts in the cinema.

Chris and Colin remained at the helm of the Trust until 2018, when the building closed again for repairs. By the time it reopened in 2022, both men had stepped back from active roles. Colin passed away in 2024 and, with Chris’s passing, we mark the end of an extraordinary era.

We are profoundly grateful for Chris Strachan’s leadership, passion, and vision. His legacy lives on in every screening, concert, and moment of wonder experienced at the Electric Palace. He did not just preserve a building—he safeguarded a piece of Harwich’s cultural heritage for generations to come.

Donate to the Harwich Electric Palace Trust in memory of Chris Strachan