The Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (TVCRP) screened a cinematic railway classic in their first partnership with a local film festival.

As part of its growing community outreach work, the partnership teamed up with the Tyne Valley Film Festival to show ‘Oh Mr. Porter!’

The community-led festival brings together rural film clubs and community organisations for a ten-day celebration of film. As part of the programme, the Old Booking Hall at Haltwhistle Station, where TVCRP has its Education Centre, was turned into a cinema and played host to its first event in two years, due to the pandemic.

‘Oh Mr. Porter’ is a well-loved 1937 black and white film comedy starring Will Hay. William Porter, played by Hay, is given a job through his family connection as station master at Buggleskelly, a fictional town in rural Ireland. Determined to make his mark he devises a number of schemes to put Buggleskelly on the railway map, but instead falls foul of a gang of gun runners.

Fiona Forsythe, officer for TVCRP, said: “This was the first time TVCRP have taken part in the film festival. The hope was that if this was successful then it will be become a regular event. The audience reaction was very positive, describing it as a great film that they all thoroughly enjoyed.”

Find out more about Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership on their website here.