IT is a rare thing to say that you have fulfilled your dream, but through decades of hard work, and a passion for film, one man went from crawling in the rafters of his local cinema, to owning an empire of his own.

A lifetime of hard work and an unending love for film has seen Charles Morris go from working in his local cinema in the Wirral to owning cinemas across the North West, including the iconic Roxy in Ulverston.

"Running a cinema is a childhood ambition for me since I was a boy. I used to help with my local cinema, the Winter Gardens at Hoylake in the Wirral," tells Mr Morris.

Mr Morris also ran film clubs as a boy at school, and participated in clubs during his years at university.

However, life is not like the movies, and his dreams of running a cinema were put on hold when he took up work as an engineer.

But in 1988, he got his first break, when he was given the opportunity to take up the lease on a derelict cinema in Halifax.

"I was in engineering for 20 years, but the ambition broke through. I started in Ellands, in Halifax. I was 38. I leased the building, I renovated it from a derelict state, that was a hard slog."

It took five months for Mr Morris, who was still working as an engineer to transform The Rex cinema into a working cinema again. Although the cinema was open, it took another gruelling 18 months to get the cinema off the ground. A novice in the cinema business, Mr Morris had yet to form any relationships with distributors, or the public he was trying to get through the door.

After a chance appearance on local TV to promote the 75th anniversary of the cinema's opening, it was like a switch was flicked. A showing of the comedy Shirley Valentine packed out the building – Mr Morris was now in business.

He said: "There were four years when I ran that alongside my engineering job."

The opportunity then arose to take on The Royalty cinema in Bowness. Mr Morris took the leap.

"I chucked in my engineering job and was finally in the big outside world. To be perfectly true, I was scared. My job was with the Ministry of Defence at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Blackburn. At that time I really thought I had to earn my corn."

Fortunately, the venture was a success. His reputation as an owner grew, as did his standing among his customers and the always essential film distributors.

His career went from strength to strength as he took on more cinemas, and learned his craft.
The Roxy in Ulverston had been offered to Mr Morris on several occasions, but he had always rebuffed the chance. However, in 2006 he decided to take on the Ulverston landmark.

The cinema was in a difficult financial situation when Mr Morris came on board. This was perhaps one of the biggest hurdles for the new owner.

He said: "The big issue was how to turn it around. I had to make some personnel changes eventually. We introduced regular matinees on the weekend and we started a more eclectic range of programmes. A bit like what we did in Halifax, we chipped away until it came good."

More than 10 years later it would be hard to picture Ulverston without the Roxy. The pictures of Cary Grant and other stars of Hollywood's golden age hanging on the wall, the traditional hand-operated ticket machine, and the interval half way through the performance. All of these quirks have become essential to what makes The Roxy The Roxy, a nostalgic, escapist experience, far removed from the multiplex chains found on our high streets and shopping centres.

"We've now got a local and enthusiastic staff who contribute in their own different way to the cinema. It's like a community cinema," Mr Morris said.

As the Roxy approaches it's 80th anniversary this summer, Mr Morris spoke of his pride of being its owner, and the special place he has for it in his heart.

"I look forwards to coming here, each cinema has their own character. This one has been an achievement in turning it around. The staff are nice, the customers are nice and friendly and really seem to like us here. It's a lovely town to be operating a cinema in."

There are already special events pencilled in the Roxy's birthday in June. The cinema will be transported back in time during which classic films with be screened and collections of vintage cinema artefacts will be displayed. Mr Morris said there will be a "party atmosphere" throughout the celebrations.

Even after more than 30 years in the industry his love has not faded for the job he does. He has no plans to retire soon, though admitted, through a smile that he thinks about the future "from time to time".

Visit www.nwemail.co.uk for more pictures from the Roxy.