The Prime Minister David Cameron has praised a Brighton priest for organising the Hove beach huts advent calendar.
The Reverend Martin Poole, 55, the priest at St Luke’s Prestonville, in Brighton, was recognised with a Point of Light award from the Prime Minister.
The awards are given to outstanding individual volunteers, the Cabinet Office said. They go to “people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others”.
Each day, the Cabinet Office added, “someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”
Mr Poole first masterminded the beach hut advent calendar community arts show six years ago in December 2008.
The life-size advent calendar uses the coloured doors of the beach huts lining Hove esplanade, with each hut showcasing an artistic festive surprise.
The final door of this year’s calendar was opened on Christmas Eve by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove Councillor Brian Fitch.
Each hut represents the door of an advent calendar and showcases an artistic festive surprise.
This year’s calendar included a hut filled with work decorated by local schoolchildren from Deepdene School, art exhibitions, Morris dancers and even a mini pub called The Holly and the Ivy.
The project has attracted hundreds of people to the seafront in Hove and has brought the community together to celebrate the festive season.
Mr Poole set up the project to raise awareness of the meaning of advent and to give people an opportunity to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas together.
He spends at least three hours a day every day in December facilitating the event as well as numerous hours in the months beforehand in preparation.
Although the event takes place in December, preparation and organisation must begin as early as August.
Mr Poole’s dedication has paid off every year and the beach hut advent calendar is now an established tradition on Hove seafront.
He has drawn on the support of hundreds of volunteers who have helped prepare each of the beach huts, provided refreshments and attracted local artists and volunteers to provide entertainment every night.
The event also relies on the generosity of 24 beach hut owners, who open up their huts to the community each year.
The Prime Minister said: “Martin has led the organisation of the Beach Hut Advent Calendar which has become the highlight of festive activities in the area.
“He is providing a wonderful opportunity for hundreds of residents to gather and celebrate the festive period together.
“As the final beach hut door is opened this Christmas Eve, I am delighted to recognise Martin’s extraordinary efforts with a Point of Light award.”
Mr Poole was the 183rd winner of the Point of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the Points of Light programme in America.
Mr Poole said: “I’m delighted that this project is being recognised in this way and I’d like to thank the Beyond team of volunteers who help to make this happen and to the many hut owners, artists and helpers who turn up on the seafront in the middle of winter to make this such a wonderful and spiritual experience.”
Councillor Fitch said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to present Martin with a Points of Light award, particularly as the contribution he is being recognised for is the annual Beach Hut Advent Calendar.
“The hut the mayoress and I will be opening presents the nativity which, in the form of the star that guided worshippers, has its own important ‘point of light’.
“Martin’s innovative idea of using a local seaside icon to bring together the community is worth celebrating as are his endeavours in many other fields.
“He is a star in our city.”
Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: “Martin Poole is a true star of the local community.
“I’m completely delighted he’s been recognised for all the brilliant work he does. It’s so well deserved.
“Martin dedicates so much of himself to bringing others together. One of the wonderful ways in which he’s done that is through the ingenious Beach Hut Advent Calendar, which so many people, including myself, look forward to every year.”
Anyone wanting to nominate a volunteer for a Point of Light award can write to the Prime Minister.
I agree that the beach hut nativity is a lovely idea, but for MP Caroline Lucas to state that ‘Rev Martin Poole is a true star of the local community’ makes my blood boil!
If you live anywhere near Martin Poole and the church he runs, St Luke’s Church Prestonville you might think differently!
Martin Poole regularly hosts loud music events in the church making life miserable for local residents. In fact recently Brighton & Hove City Council have written to Martin Poole after receiving complaints about unacceptable noise levels after a live concert.
He doesn’t listen to his neighbours after pleading with him to keep the noise down.
Caroline Lucas really needs to knock on a few doors of ‘the local community’ to gauge what people really think. And to remind her, Rev Martin Poole lives and works in Brighton and not in Hove where the beach huts are. And Brighton is of course where Martin Poole’s ‘local community’ live.