Memories...

A poem by John Lyne of Stainforth appeared in the Thorne Gazette this week. We think it’s great!

Grand Designs

It’s real name was the Kensington, but we just called it the flicks, And now they have ripped it to pieces and they have started with breeze blocks and bricks, To improve it and someone is going in there to live That old picture house in Thorne, over the years has had a lot to give,

It was a place where many local people used to go, And over the years I went a few times so that’s how I know, I was only little when I first set foot in there, And I was fascinated by the large screen and all I could do was stare,

I used to go with my friends, and so did many others, And so did the courting couples, and the young ones with their mothers, Later we were allowed to go into a higher age bracket, And the films were absolutely brilliant, you really could not whack it,

Cliff Richard went on a ‘summer holiday’ with Hank Marvin and Jet Harris, I can’t remember where they went though, but I know it was not Paris, Sean Connery was the first James Bond and he starred in Dr No, And we all lost count how many times we went, when we used to go,

The picture house kept us occupied because there was always something decent to see And all those who used to go at the time, with me they will agree, We were all very sad when they announced it was going to shut, And we all gave out a sigh, and under our breath a tut,

It did stay open for a while, they called it Merlins where they used to dance, Because the owner saw the potential, so he jumped at the chance, But alas it went the same way as our beloved picture house went, And it could not compete with the multi-screens, they really made a dent,

In the history of the picture house, because at one time there was three or four, Which were all local to Thorne, in fact I think there was a couple more, So for a few years it just stood there, empty and decayed, And all we had was our memories of when those old pictures were played,

Memories which we will never forget, and when we were worried when we saw the signs Of the threat of closure but now it is going to be on Grand Designs, So each time we pass by now,we notice how it is being rejuvenated, Which we all thought it would, because that old picture house has always been highly rated.

John Lyne, Stainforth

If you would like to share your memories, please email us! We’d especially like to find any photographs of the inside of the cinema.