Clitheroe cinema stalwart dies, aged 81 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Clitheroe cinema stalwart dies, aged 81

6:24pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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CLITHEROE’S well-loved “Mrs Cinema”, Barbara Rose Pearson, has died aged 81.

At the helm of the town’s last remaining cinema in York Street, then named the Civic Hall, Barbara’s reign is remembered by an entire generation.

Mrs Pearson and her late sister Marie worked at the cinema, now renamed the Grand, following their father’s death. In 1963, it was bought by Clitheroe Town Council for £20,000, and later transferred to Ribble Valley Borough Council’s ownership.

Clitheroe resident of 40 years and MS Society chairman John Bailey remembers the cinema well.

He said: “My wife had a business in York Street and they were excellent neighbours.

“Barbara and her sister kept an old fashioned institution going and it really benefitted the town.

“Whenever you went in there the place was absolutely spotless and the brass was gleaming.”

Barbara leaves stepson Ashley, niece Susan and great nieces Louise and Gemma, is survived by cousin 93-year-old Florence Gloag, of Selby.