Marjorie Ainsworth obituary

My friend Marjorie Ainsworth, who has died aged 103, was a volunteer for 86 years for Manchester and Salford Film Society, and from 2007 onwards served as its president. She was also the longest-standing member of Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, which she joined in 1955, and an honorary vice-president of the Cinema for All organisation. In 1939, persuaded by her boyfriend, Tom Ainsworth, she attended Manchester and Salford Film Society for the first time. She was 17, and was smitten with Tom and the society. They married in 1942, and both became more involved in the society’s work. Over the years Marjorie took on every role apart from projectionist – which was Tom’s. The society is now celebrating its 95th season thanks in part to Marjorie and Tom’s contribution. When Tom was ill and unable to project, Marjorie purchased a DVD projector, and after Tom’s death in 2007, a student short film award was established in his memory. In 2016 Marjorie was presented with the Roebuck Cup, the highest honour from Cinema for All, for outstanding individual contribution to the film society movement, and was given a standing ovation. “If you go on watching good films, it’ll keep you in touch with the zeitgeist and guarantees you won’t have a mouldy old age,” she advised. A new Ainsworth Cup has now been introduced in memory of Tom and Marjorie. Marjorie was born in Gorton, Manchester, and stayed in the city for the rest of her life, apart from a stint of second world war service in south Wales. She described her father, James Lolley, an unsuccessful bookmaker, as a picaresque character. Her mother, Mary (nee Marsland, and known as Polly) ran a lodging house and later a sweet shop. Marjorie had a younger brother, Jimmy, like her a jazz fan, and an older half brother, Warren. She left school at 14, became a shorthand typist, and then gained her teaching qualification at Manchester Training College. She taught at Newall Green secondary modern school in Wythenshawe, gained a diploma in educational psychology and joined the Schools Psychology Service. She gained a master’s in education in 1966 and was appointed a research associate at Manchester University – her work there, following up on the Plowden report on primary education, was published by Macmillan in 1974. She was senior lecturer in secondary education at Didsbury College of Education, before taking early retirement in 1977. Marjorie embraced modern technology, challenged herself physically and mentally, and completed the Guardian quick crossword every day. She was always absolutely determined in whatever she was doing. Interesting, interested and open minded, she was as happy chatting to students as to celebrities. Marjorie was witty, wise, stylish and modern – I’m Hip, by Blossom Dearie, one of her favourite songs, was the music chosen for her funeral. She is survived by her niece, Jane, and two great-nephews, Max and Magnus.