TONY Cutts – dubbed a projectionist extraordinaire – has lost his two year fight against cancer at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford.

In 2006 Mr Cutts was interviewed on the Pictureville stage by Bill Lawrence during the 12th Bradford International Film Festival as he celebrated 50 years as a projectionist, but he went on to complete a further seven years doing a job he loved and was inspired by.

Duncan McGregor, projection manager at the National Media Museum, said: "His passing is a huge loss to the film department here, as the knowledge Tony takes with him is irreplaceable.

"He saw the introduction of widescreen cinema in 1952, the transition to wide gauge 70mm film, the introduction of stereophonic surround sound in cinemas, 3D, VistaVision, Imax, Cinerama – Tony saw and experienced it all first hand.

"He started as a casual projectionist at the museum in 1984 covering Imax shifts, while still a projectionist at the Odeon Bradford and became a permanent member of the film team here in 1992 as we prepared for the opening of Pictureville cinema.

"Tony had a remarkable career and was a wonderful guy with a great sense of humour and was both admired and greatly respected by the projection team, especially his beer drinking ability – we will miss him enormously. Throughout it all though, Tony managed to remain matter-of-fact throughout the last two years of his battle with cancer."