A cinematic tribute to a much loved and dearly missed projectionist will be screened at the cinema he served for more than 40 years.
Neville Parry, known for being the world’s oldest projectionist, will be remembered for his work at Aldeburgh Cinema this Saturday.
Mr Parry, of Saxmundham, who died at 84 in February, was the subject of Suffolk New College tutor Jon Saward’s documentary, A Life Illuminated, which will be shown as part of a double feature alongside Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr – about a projectionist who dreams of being a detective.
Mr Parry retired in 2014 but still worked each Monday at the cinema, where he originally combined part-time projection duties with driving ambulances, before taking a more permanent role in the booth, aged 64.
He had married Jean, an usherette he met at his first job in Felixstowe, following his return from selling jukeboxes in Australia, where he travelled after being told he was too short for the RAF.
Following his death, he was celebrated as one-of-a-kind.
Filmmaker Mr Saward, who spent three months with Neville in 2014, gathering footage and memories, said cinema was an integral part of his being, calling him “the last link in a chain that starts with a film being made.”
The screening, which also marks a curtain call for Aldeburgh Cinema manager Thomas Gerstenmeyer, starts at 7pm on Saturday, July 1.
Aldeburgh Cinema’s content manager, Dan Champion, called A Life Illuminated a loving and fitting tribute to a man who will be much missed by a great many lovers of cinema and good humour.
He said: “Neville was a delight to work with. A consummate gentleman and a constant joker.
“All of us miss him dearly and we are all the richer for having known him.”
Mr Champion also worked alongside Thomas Gerstenmeyer, who will be standing down as manager after five years.
“It has been my great pleasure to work with Thomas over the past three years,” he added.
“He has been a mentor and a friend and, while I’m sad to see him leave, I wish him the very best for the future.”
Go to aldeburghcinema.co.uk, call 01728 454884 or visit the box office – open 10am-1pm Monday to Friday and 30min before each performance – for tickets.
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