Widow of the "father" of the cinema in Wellingborough and Rushden Mrs. Ellen Elizabeth Hewitt, of "Studland," Westfield-road. Wellingborough, died on Wednesday at the age of 80, after a short illness.

Mrs. Hewitt was very well known and respected in the district, as she and her husband, Mr. W. F. J. Hewitt, who died in September 1939. were the founder members of Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society in the '90s. and played the leading roles in several of the early productions

Mr. and Mrs Hewitt came to Rushden from London in 1889. In 1910 they moved to Wellingborough, and Mr. Hewitt was co-founder with the late Mr. George Brown of the present Palace Theatre Company.

The name Hewitt has always been svnonymous with cinemas, as Mrs. Hewitt's two sons are both managers of local cinemas. Mr. L. W. Hewitt at the Palace. Wellingborough, and Mr. W. R. Hewitt at the Ritz, Rushden.

There is one daughter, Mrs. Tom Perkins, of Wellingborough.

The funeral will take place at Rushden on Saturday. A service at the house, with Pastor O C Austin, late of the Baptist Tabernacle, Wellingborough, officiating, will precede interment at Rushden cemetery.

The funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mr. George Robinson, funeral director, Croyland road, Wellingborough.