Last updated at 20:12, Thursday, 26 January 2012

Cockermouth Film Club is celebrating its first anniversary this month.

Members meet in the town’s Kirkgate Centre on Wednesdays, vote for the films that the club screens monthly and also learn how to use film equipment.

The club was the brainchild of actor and director Toby Gaffney, 39, of St Helens Street. It has 49 members and Toby hopes that 2012 will see a big rise in numbers.

He said: “It’s great to be able to watch a screening, then sit and discuss it with others over a pint or two at our social events.

“We are hoping to attract more members who want to keep retro cinema alive in Cockermouth and who can come up with ideas to push the club forward this year.”

Mr Gaffney, who moved to Cockermouth three years ago after starring as Phileas Fogg in Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake production of Around the World In 80 Days, hopes to bring a ‘secret’ cinema event to the town later this year.

People would buy a ticket and be asked to turn up at a certain time, before being whisked off to see a film in an undisclosed location.

He added: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring something new to Cockermouth. It is still just an idea but we hope to develop it to have something in place later in the year.”

For more information about the club, call 01900 829966.

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 26 January 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk