Guests pack premiere to remember Monika

The guests for the evening screening of Cycle Writer in memory of the late photojournalist Monika Smith arrived to find the foyer of the Hotham Arts Centre decorated with her trusty and rusty two wheeler.

Several large photographs of Monika adorning a display as some model penguins recalled her entry as one of the distinctive birds in the Bognor Birdman rally.

The night ended with a champagne and canapes party. Music was supplied by the Matt Argyle Band to add to their backing track for the 90-minute documentary devised, produced and directed by Stuart McKears.

Some 90 people attended the special occasion for a special individual last Saturday after about 70 people had enjoyed a matinee screening a few hours earlier of the feature which portrayed a year in the life of Monika.

She had taken the chance offered by a job advert for the Bognor Regis Guardian to spend about five years fulfilling her longstanding ambition to make a living through her love of photography. She spent that period turning the newspaper, with contributions to the Bognor Regis Observer as well, into her personal reflection of the world.

Individuals, community events and group occasions featuring young and old all came into focus through her camera lenses and her incisive writing. This was all accurately reflected in Cycle Writer.

Its completion had been put on hold by Stuart after Middleton woman Monika became ill with cancer and died from the illness in January 2006 aged just 55.

Her untimely death added poignancy to one of the most accurate depictions of a local journalist's life ever made. But the documentary also captured Monika's vibrant personality as well as portraying her roles behind her camera and holding her notebook.

Adwick resident Ruth Galloway (47) worked with Monika for four years in the 1990s in the library on the Bognor campus of the University of Chichester. Ruth said: 'The film was really good. It captured Monika's character perfectly. It brings her memory back to life and immortalises her really.'

Rox co-founder and Bognor town centre resident Terry Slade said: 'Monika was an amazing character and the film was great. It was so right for Monika.'

Roy Smith (64), Monika's husband for 30 happy years, said the screenings had gone well after several sleepless nights during during the run-up to the big day.

'It was so lovely to see the film on the big screen,' he explained. 'It showed how much effort Monika put into her job.

'She was totally interested in talking to people and getting their stories. She got involved and really loved the role.'

He told the audiences: 'It's wonderful to think that Monika touched the hearts of so many.'

Most of the ticket proceeds from the screenings will be given to four charities '“ Rox Music and Arts Organisation, 4Sight (West Sussex Association for the Blind), Royal Marsden Hospital in London and the Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre at Sidlesham. The final total is not yet known.