A FORMER cinema manager is going back to his roots as a projectionist to run Bournemouth’s first community cinema.

Roger Marley, who ran the town’s ABC cinema for 13 years and is now a borough councillor, campaigned to fund the project, aimed at senior citizens in the West Howe area.

The first season of films, at the Henry Brown Youth Centre, will also include a free family screening of the sing-along version of the Disney hit Frozen.

Cllr Marley won the support of Bournemouth council and funding from the Regeneration Partnership for West Howe and the BIG Lottery.

The Henry Brown centre will be kitted out with a 14ft wide screen and a high quality Blu-ray projector.

Cllr Marley said: “It’s got a high-quality DTS sound system on it so you’ve got a bright, clear picture and also a better sound.”

The project was inspired by the success of Moviola, which brought a touring mobile cinema to rural parts of Dorset and the South West.

Cllr Marley said: “That really made me think if we got the money, we could do this for Bournemouth.”

The season of films starts tomorrow with The 100 Foot Journey, the comedy drama about two feuding restaurants, starring Helen Mirren.

Cllr Marley started his career in cinema as a projectionist with the ABC chain in Falmouth and went on to manage cinemas in Basingstoke and then Bournemouth.

He left after ABC was taken over by Odeon in 2000 and went on to work with Bournemouth’s Pavilion.

“It’s back to my roots,” he said of the community cinema.

The centre welcomes families with its Frozen sing-along event on Sunday, February 15, with doors opening at 1.45pm. Tickets are free but only 180 are available on a first come, first served basis from the Inspiring Change Shop on Cunningham Crescent and West Howe Library.

The fortnightly screenings for seniors will cost £3 for a film and a lunch of soup and a roll. Doors open at 11.30am, with film-goers taking seats at 12.45pm. Forthcoming attractions include Effie Gray on February 20, My Old Lady (March 6), Mr Turner (March 20), Finding Fanny (April 17) and Grand Piano (May 1).

For information, contact Roger Marley on 01202 535383 or rogermarley006@btinternet.com, or Annette Kaye on 07979 795462.