A PREVIEW of the film The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, was shown at a Comet country cinema to celebrate its reopening after a £1m refurbishment. More than 200 people attended the black tie event at the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth GC last Thursday,

A PREVIEW of the film The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, was shown at a Comet country cinema to celebrate its reopening after a £1m refurbishment.

More than 200 people attended the black tie event at the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth GC last Thursday, and guest of honour was Violet Ingram, an original usherette at the cinema in 1936.

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation's refurbishment of the cinema has included an overhaul of screen one, a new 50-seater screen, reroofing and exterior decoration.

On Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 1pm, visitors are invited to the Broadway Cinema for guided 30-minute tours, providing a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of a working cinema. Admission is free.

Until October 4 there is an exhibition at the First Garden City Heritage Museum, providing an insight into Letch-worth GC's cinematic past, including memories from the former Palace Cinema.

For more information about either of the above events, call the Heritage Foun-dation's marketing department on 01462 476057.