A legacy donation from the daughters of a loyal patron of the Alhambra has allowed the Keswick cinema to buy some ‘game changing’ new technology.
The gift from the children of Geoffrey Hayes, – Chinty and Sophie – has allowed for the purchase of WatchWord smart glasses which enables those who rely on subtitles or captions to fully and freely enjoy the cinema experience.
They are designed to be worn over normal glasses and alongside hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. The captions appear on the glasses’ lens, rather than on the big screen, making it possible for the individual wearer to watch the film and read the captions using their own personalised device.
The cinema has purchased two sets of the glasses, at a cost of £5,000, which will enable it to provide a free, ‘on-demand’ service that allows caption users to choose which film to watch based on its title, rather than its time slot.
“This is completely game changing technology” says cinema co-owner Carol Rennie. “I first trialled the headsets a year ago at an industry conference.
“We’re one of the first cinemas in the UK to install the equipment, which is entirely due to Chinty and Sophie wanting to contribute something to the cinema in memory of their father.
“Geoff was a long-standing, loyal patron of the cinema, and stalwart member of the Keswick Film Club, and we are so very pleased and grateful that we’ll be able to remember him through this amazing gift that will allow many, many more people to benefit from the joy of cinema.”
Keswick cafe owner Chinty Turnbull said: “Sophie and I wanted to mark Dad’s connection to the Alhambra. His increasing deafness in his latter years was very isolating.
“He was able to enjoy Keswick Film Club foreign language films right into the last year of his life, as they are always subtitled, and he was most appreciative of the subtitled mainstream films that the Alhambra did put on each week, but those screenings were limited in number, and not always at a convenient time.
“Now, Dad’s legacy will throw open the doors so that someone just needs to put on ‘Geoff’s glasses’ to be able to watch virtually any film, at any time at our local cinema.”
Cinema staff are currently training in the use of the devices. Anyone who wishes to familiarise themselves with the glasses are invited to pop in at any quiet time to have a go in the foyer, and even the auditorium itself, to have a practice at tailoring their personal settings.
Those who wish to book the glasses to watch a film are invited to call the cinema on 017687 72195 or email info@keswickalhambra.co.uk to reserve a pair, and check if the film they want to see does have the requisite file structure – the technology does rely on film distributors providing a ‘closed caption’ version of the film, and while this is now routinely provided for most films, it is not always available with more niche films from smaller distributors.
He settled in Keswick with his wife Freda and two daughters in the late 1960s, working as an art teacher in Carlisle before having the good fortune to be offered early retirement at 50.
He fully embraced his retirement working harder than he did as a teacher – fell walking, travelling, painting, swimming, playing music and enjoying his favourite activity – acting!
