Projection Team Of The Year Award 2002

Left to right: Roger Brown, Peter Seagger (Dolby Laboratories), Sir Sydney Samuelson (BKSTS Patron), Tony Cutts, John Cahill and Duncan McGregor. Picture: Duncan McGregor

On 16th December 2002, the projection team from Pictureville Cinema at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford – namely: Duncan McGregor, Tony Cutts, Roger Brown and John Cahill – departed from Bradford taking the early train heading south for London. More accurately their destination was to be the West End and the Odeon Leicester Square. Only one member of the team was absent, Jennifer Beyer, who opted to stay at work and “hold the fort”. It was to be a boy’s day out!

The reason for their visit was the annual Christmas party hosted by the Cinema Technology Committee of the BKSTS - British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society. Here they were to be presented with the award as the BKSTS Projection Team Of The Year 2002.

After a hearty breakfast on the train, upon arrival at King Cross station it was a case of first things first, so we took the tube and immediately headed for Piccadilly Circus and a trip to Tower Records. Here we were able to purchase several film soundtracks in the Tower sale, which did itself justice!

From here we took the short stroll into the West End and announced our arrival at the Odeon. We were one of the first there and said hello to Dion Hanson – Cineman himself – his wife Susan and their daughter Nicola who had kindly put on an array of food and nibbles to keep the famished at bay, which had been sponsored by Bell Theatre Systems

Projectionists past and present, engineers and various bodies from some of the nearby film companies in Wardour Street soon started to arrive. There was plenty to drink to assist with the party atmosphere whilst everyone chatted and enjoyed themselves. After a couple of hours Dion asked for quiet and introduced BKSTS Patron, Sir Sydney Samuelson, who was to do the honours and present the projection team of the year with their award.

Sydney had a been a projectionist himself at the start of his career and has remained in touch with the art of film presentation – his comments, memories and reminiscences of the job were interesting and amusing and he gained a further laugh when looking for the guys to present them with their award. He’d forgotten that we were stood behind him whilst chatting away and relishing everyone’s attention – we on the other hand were sweating and waiting with baited breath – why did we feel so nervous?!

Sydney then did us proud and announced Pictureville Cinema as the Projection Team Of The Year 2002. We were presented with a beautifully engraved clock to ensure we always keep to time and which now takes pride of place in the projection room. Following this, Peter Seagger from Dolby Laboratories presented the team with a cheque, which was gratefully received.