350 local children from Mandeville Primary School attended a free private viewing of “Paddington, The Movie” at The Odyssey cinema on London Road this week. The trip was a generous offer from the owners of the Odyssey after hearing that Mandeville shared a birthday with Paddington Bear.

Head Teacher, Cathy Longhurst said, “We are so pleased that all the children from Year 1 to Year 6 at Mandeville have had the opportunity to see inside such a beautiful film theatre and experience the ‘retro’ feel of the cinema’s interior. It is so important that all children get to see what St Albans has to offer and The Odyssey has certainly brought something new to the city. I can’t thank the owners of the cinema enough for their generosity. They have made the end of term very special for 350 children and lots of grown-ups too!”

Cinema manager, Anna Shepherd said, “It was a pleasure to be able to provide the children, teachers and helpers with such a unique experience, particularly as a treat at the end of the school term.

Sharing our newly restored building with the whole school was a privilege. Cinema and watching films is an experience that is best enjoyed as a group. For a whole school to see the same film at the same time is quite special. We hope Mandeville School remember their trip to the Odyssey for years to come.

Based on information supplied by Liz Allpress.