Film presents a trip down memory lane

Simon Reed premiered his documentary, Memory Lane Dewsbury, at Dewsbury Museum in Crow Nest Park, to 64 people who lined the steps and flooded out of the door to get a view.

Mr Reed said: “It was absolutely fantastic. By the time it started the seats were full and people were queueing out of the door.

“I had to stand on the staircase. I even had to do a second showing, I didn’t expect that kind of response. But it was a great experience, I was really chuffed with it.”

Mr Reed was moved by the positive response to his labour of love, filmed mostly in the warm summer days of 2012.

“People said it brought back old memories. They were shaking my hand. I was a nervous wreck.

“I could hear people making comments when different parts of the town came on the screen. It was exactly what I hoped for but not what I expected.

“I just want to thank everyone who came.”

The film is a comparative documentary that explores the town’s history and focuses on three train stations, several cinemas and Greenwood’s, the oldest shop in Dewsbury.

Mr Reed, who is also the chairman of volunteer group New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery, said he sold some of his belongings on eBay to fund the production.

He also did a talk at the Howland Centre for the Disabled in School Street to explain how and why he made the film.

And a further screening is planned at Scarborough Fisheries in Thornhill.

Copies of the film can be purchased at the Dewsbury Museum or from Mr Reed’s website www.simonreedproductions.com.