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Woolston Cinema

EXACTLY just how many couples in Southampton owe their married life to the old Woolston cinema will never be known, but there must be quite a few. It was all down to the double seats that could be found in the back row of the stalls and in the balcony and which, for some reason, were extremely popular with courting couples.

However, all those Woolston memories could soon be consigned to the history books if the fears of one local cinema expert come about and the old building disappears to make way for new construction.

As a 17-year-old Patrick Hayward, who then lived in Eastleigh, was keen to impress his girlfriend, Diane Warne, on their first date, so he decided they would spend the eveniung at the Woolston cinema.

Now, more than 40 years later, they are married with a family. But the former cinema where they spent their first evening out together remains a passion for Patrick.

It was in September 1973 that the credits rolled on Woolston's silver screen for the last time, ending a career that stretched back more than 60 years.

After a few weeks the old picture house reopened, but John Wayne no longer rode dusty Wild West trails there. Instead the auditorium echoed to the sound of "two fat ladies'' and "Kelly's eye'' as bingo arrived in Woolston.

Then, in October of last year, the venue closed for the second time. The shutters have remained locked ever since, sparking fears that the once family-friendly cinema might be lost to redevelopment.

Ever since he was a boy, Patrick has had a deep interest in cinemas. His knowledge of films and the buildings in which they were screened is encyclopedic. His archive of rare photographs and whole libraries of magazines - some from as far back as 1910 - is constantly updated.

Patrick has launched a campaign to protect what he calls an "important local landmark'' and is appealing to Hampshire Heritage readers with memories of the cinema and, most importantly, photographs of both the interior and exterior to contact him.

For more on this story, see this weekend's Daily Echo

5:40pm Sunday 10th February 2008

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