"Mr. Fed Lee, of Pocklington, has been granted a kinematograph license for the new Central Hall, Pocklington." sic.

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 13 June 1912

"On Friday last, Mr. Fred Lee instituted a series of kinematograph shows at Pocklington"

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 20 June 1912

"Mr. Fred Lee, who has run a picture show at Pocklington. Yorks, during the past ten weeks, has decided to substitute electricity for gas for his projector"

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 19 September 1912

"New Theatres - Victoria Hall, Pocklington - Conversion. - Proprieter Mr. C. E. Ringstead"

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 26 June 1913

"THE death of Mr. Fred Lee with painful suddenness after a short illness of a few days deprives the thriving market town of Pocklington of one of its most enterprising traders and the Yorkshire Kinema world of a pioneer. Mr. Lee, notwithstanding the nearness to such centres as York and Hull. ventured and won, and his little Cinema has done exceedingly well. Much sympathy has gone out to his widow and his aged mother. The widow with womanly enterprise is carrying on the Cinema."

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 23 May 1918

"We continue to hear good reports from the outlying districts. The kinema at Pocklington, notwithstanding the township's nearness to both Hull and York, is prospering exceedingly."

From: Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 10 April 1919

HULL AND EAST COASTAL NOTES

The Outside Cinema Houses in the surrounding district are making full preparations for to meet the call upon them in the way of extra patronage owing to the presence of the soldiers billeted in many of the villages near, Hessle, Hornsea, Withernsea, Patrington and Pocklington all announce special programmes. The opening of the cinema has given a new vista to village life.

From: The Bioscope, Thursday 20 December 1915

The broad shadow of bereavement which has as recently been cast over Pocklington was deepened on Saturday morning by the death of Mr. Fred Lee, of the Market Place, who passed away after a five days illness from pneumonia. A chill had developed rapidly and an apparently inexhaustible fund of vitality, which had revealed itself in manifold activities, gave out unexpectedly when the crisis of his sharp illness was reached. Mr. Lee has left a widow and two children, and to them and to his mother the full sympathy of the town goes out. Into 42 years had been crowded activities that might well have been spread over a more lengthened period. His boundless energy, his enterprise as a man of business, his thought for the welfare of others were features of his strenuous though comparitively short life, and it was granted to him, as was said at the service at his internment, to do not a little for the town he loved so well. In business he was enterprising without any undue keenness, and whatever success he enjoyed enabled him to do in fuller measure what his generous heart was ever prompting him to do. There are those with whom his memory will reman fresh through some act of kindness which he did, and having done it, gave it no more thought than to wish he could have done more. A man of a genial, and generous disposition his sympathies were as broad as his activities were varied. The second son of the late Mr. J. C Lee. Mr. Fred Lee was for a time associated with his father in business. He then entered the service of a Hull firm as a traveller, and returning to Pocklington he commenced business on his own account as a tobacconist and cycle dealer in Union Street, and from there be removed to premises in Market Place, now used exclusively for the tobacco business, and later he built the Motor and Cycle Works. Always up-to-date and enterprising, Mr. Lee built the Central Hall and introduced Kinematography, his equipment for which was equal to that, of the Picture Houses in bigger towns. The Hall and its suite of rooms became popular for all kinds of public functions. Some of his' business schemes had scarcely been brought to fruition. and granted a longer life he might have settled down to enjoy hs full measure the success to which his strenuous labours entitled him.

The funeral on Monday was largely attended. As a tribute of respect the late member of their body, the Special Constables attended, under the Group Leaders. Mr. C. Procter, J.P., Mr. A. Summerson. J.P., Mr. H. S. Powell, and Mr R. L. English. They walked at the head of the procession, lined the pathways at the Cemetery, and acted as a bearer. The officiating minister, the Rev. C. R. Bower, also wore the armlet of the Special Constabulary. He was accompanied by the .Rev. R. J. Payne. So numerous were the floral tributes that they were conveyed as a lorry, kindly lent by Mr. Wm. Cook, whilst Mr, John Cook's pony, led by Mr. Jas. Giles, drew the vehicle. Mr. John Cook being unable to be present through serious injury to his foot on the morning of the funeral.

The mourners - were: Mrs. Lee, widow; Master Eric Lee, son; Mrs. Lee, mother; Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee, brother and sister-in-law ; Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee. brother and sister in-law; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Fielder father and mother-in-law; Mr. W Fielder and Mr. S. Fielder, brothers-in-law: Miss Harker, Misses Ella and A. Fielder, Mrs H. Hotham, and Mrs. J. Fielder, sister-in-law; Mr, and Mrs. W. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Judson, the Employees (Miss Harrison. Miss J. Hotham, Messrs. H. Topham, Allison. C. and M. Bairstow. Amongst the large company present were Mrs. T, G. Spink, Miss Cundell, Miss Robson, Miss Glaisby (Pocklington), Councillor and Mrs. Slather. Councillor and Mrs. Procter. Mr. and Mrs H. Proctor. Councillors G.H. Fowler and W. Barlow, Mr. J. Butterworth, Councillor H.E. Stubbins (Thornton). Mr. and Mrs. W. Stubbs, Mr. J. J. Moor, Mr. A Bedford, Mr. and Mrs. D. Richardson. Mr C. Turner. Mr. W. Lamb, Mr. Jas. Johnson, Mr. John Robson Mr. W Tinson, Mr. I Everingham. Mr. Jas. Giles, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Wm. Wilson, Mr. A. Moor, Mr. F. Barker (Bielby). Mr. M. Bell (Stamford Bridge) Mr. Tye (York), Mr. J. T. Stubbs, Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Barker, Mrs Walsh, Miss Kendall, (Market Weighton). Mr. H. Bairstow. Mr. H. Meynall. Mr. H. Kendall. Mr. T. Staveley, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mr. W. Hill, Mrs Rouse, Mr. F. Coulson. Mr. H Procter, Mr. W. Spivey, Mr. Dobson, Mr. Legg and Mr. Coupland (Market Weighton), Mr R. R. Young, Mr. T. S. Suddaby, Mr. F. Scaife. Mr. J. A. C. Boyden, Mr. and Mrs. T. Towle, Mr. F. Steel, Mr. R. Gray, Mrs. R.D., Gray, Mrs. Jebson. Mr. W. Stephenson, Mr. Hawe, and Mr. Fratson (East Cottingworth), Mr. W.E. Brown, Mr. Haw, Mr. W. Askham, Mr. F. Slights, Mr. T.C. Grant, Mrs. A.G. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. T. Flint, Mrs. T. Harrison, (South View), Mr. J. Whitehead, Mr. G. Warrior. Mr. J. Easton. Messrs. A. and W. Smith (Warter), Mr. G. H. Bell, Mrs. Harrison. Miss Blacker, Miss Chapman (Warter), Mrs,' J. Scott (Burnby), Mrs. Southcoat, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. A. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. Hesslewood (Thornton), Mr. H. Thomas, Mr. Gautry, Mr. and Mrs. C. Hotham, Mrs. H. Allison, Miss Drake (Barmby Moor), Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. W. Wilson. Mr. and Mrs, Capelin, Mr. J. Lamb, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. G. Beckett, Miss Morris, Miss Coulson. Miss Sugden, Mrs. J. H. Buttle, Mrs. Woods, Mrs. S. Fisher, Mr. P, Hamson, Mr. Swallow, Mrs. W. Coupland, Mrs. A. Ward, Monsieur and Mdle. Mamet, Mrs. T. Scaife. Mrs. Lockerbie. Mrs. Dunn (Feathers Hotel), R. Atkinson, (representing Mr. A. E. Steels), Mrs. Ross, Mrs. W. Warters, Supt. Robson, Sergt. Spriggs, Mr. H. Appleby, Mr. F. Todd, Mr. C. Rowley, Mr. Fred Broughton, Miss Southcoat, Miss Collins, Miss Hatfield. Miss N. Staveley, Mrs. Potter, Miss Grainger, Mrs. J. Stubbs, Mrs. Bedford, (Petersfield), Mrs. A. Appleby, Mr. G. Acey, Mr. A. Wilson, (Millington), Mrs. Gardham and Mrs. Cope (Grimthorpe), Miss Elsie Johnson, Miss Hotham, Mrs. Robson, Mrs. W. Rowley, Mrs. R. Tinson. Mrs. Douthwaite, Mrs. H. Appleby, Mr. R. H. Pickard, Miss Atkinson. Mrs. Jas. Joy, Mrs. G. Thompson and Master W. Thompson, Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. B. Todd, Mrs. Hedley, Mrs. T. Johnson, Mrs. White, Mrs. Dykes, Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Swaby, Mrs. Anderson, and others. The floral tributes were an eloquent, though mute, expression of heart felt sympathy and esteem. Mr. W. Robinson superintended the funeral arrangements, the oak coffin with brass mounts, being inscribed: —

FRED LEE. Died April 27th, 1918, Aged 42 Years Resting on it were a floral harp from "his loving Wife, Mother, and Eric," and a spray of roses "from Jackie." Other wreaths "were:— "To dear Fred, in ever-loving remembrance from Dan and Vi." "A loving token to dear Fred, from Bert- and Lilian." "With heartfelt regret of a good son and brother, from Mr. and Mrs. Fielder and Family." "From Miss Harker, Sheffield." "In kind remembrance till we meet again, from Dick, Mabel, and Ma.", "In affectionate remembrance of Fred, from Jack and Laura.", "With due best sympathy, from Mr. J. J. Moor.", "In deepest sympathy, from Emmie and Joe." "With deepest sympathy and sorrowful remembrance, from Walter and L. M. Stubbs." "A token of sincere regret, from the Employees." "With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Fowler, The Briars." "Mrs. Dunn, the Feathers'' "With sincere regret. Mrs. Jarvis and Carl." "With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. G. Warrior.","With Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Bottomley's deepest sympathy." "With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Haw." "With deepest sympathy from his old Pal Billy, and Mrs. Wilson. Millington Villa." With Mr. and Mrs. C. Rowley's sympathy." "In remembrance, from Mr. and Mrs. A. Moor." "From little Billy Thompson, with deepest sympathy.","With sincere sympathy, from Miss E. Tibbott and Miss C. Brewer.", "With deepest sympathy, from Mrs. Palfreyman and Mrs. Reed.", "The Staff of the Imperial Animated Picture Company. Bradford." Six Special Constables acted as bearers: Messrs. Jas. Cook. Win. Coupland, Jas. Joy. H. Kirby. T. Scaife, and J. Wilson. Mr. J. E. Fielder was the undertaker, whilst the hearse and cabs were supplied by Mr. J. Lister. A Memorial Service will be held at the Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday morning to be conducted by the Rev. R. J. Payne.

Further memories of the cinema were provided to me by the late, Ken Durkin, he said:

"The first cinema in Pocklington was in the Victoria Hall (where Betterton Court is now) it was at the top floor where English's mill was. It was a shilling to get in and in addition a chair was 3 pennies, a stool was 2 pennies, a penny for children on a pouffe, so Jim Beckett told me, and you could stand at the back for a halfpenny. Jim Beckett's mother worked for Mr Lund (or Lunt?)  in about  1900 to 1915. She was his cashier, and he was a fairground man. All his films were shown in tents at this time, but he hired Victoria Hall  to show them in the town.  In other towns, he would get new films to show and about every 5 weeks would come back to Pocklington. He had 2 horses and carts to load his seats on. The films were 20 minutes long, and he would have about 5 reels. They were very amateur.  It was  one shilling and threepence,  one shilling and twopence and one shilling and onepence  and one shilling and halfpence for the different seats and cushions.  You could also stand at the back for a shilling. Papa Swan also told me all about this. The stage Lund (or Lunt) had built for his projector was still there in the 1980s. If you had to go to the toilet, you had to keep well down or you were in big trouble! Clare Evans got free cinema tickets from Mr  Grant,  she also said  the travelling cinema man gave her one penny a seat to carry them down to his transport and the same when he came back with new films.

The second cinema was Central Hall. The heating in there was a big round stove, and it got red hot. My mother told me the third was the Majestic owned by Allisons. It became their joiners shop (where Manor Buildings was). Central Hall belonged to Eric Lee. It held more like 250 then 400.  Then came the Oak House. It held 418 and was full on many  occasions. The queue often went round to Stubbs's in Deans Lane. Mr Robinson was a big burly ex-policeman and was the manager. There was no nonsense with him! Dorothy Richardson was on the pay desk and others who worked there included Anne Ward, Janet Hunter and her sister. Norman Craggs and Vera Kirkbride used to put chairs in the aisle to get more in. Allisons also owned 3 other cinemas at Pickering, Howden and Filey.  The oak house was open for most of the second war. Alf Allison told me it was built in about 1939/40. I worked as a projectionist at oak house." 

There is a 'Lund' associated with early cinema in Yorkshire, In the September 22, 1927 edition of Kinematograph Weekly is the obituary of Coun. George F. Lund of Bradford Road, Huddersfield.
"Mr. Lund, who was sixty years of age, had been ill for some weeks, but was recently reported to be on the road to recovery. The news of his death on Sunday therefore, comes in the nature of a shock. Since 1914 when he transferred his major interests from the woollen business to the kinema Trade, Mr. Lund has gradually increased his theatre interests. He retained his active connection with the Palladium Picture House, Birkby, and devoted much of his own time to the Star Picture House, Milnsbridge. The Palace, Huddersfield, The Theatre de Luxe, Halifax, and the Pavillion De Luxe, Shipley were other halls with which he was associated. For four years he was chairman of the Yorkshire Cinema Exchange at Leeds, as well as a prominent figure at meetings of the Leeds branch of the C.E.A. The Huddersfield Entertainment Managers' Association has come under his wing.". It is not known if this was the same Mr. Lund as remembered by Ken, but it is an unusual surname.

The C.E.A. is the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Asssociation.