Sir David Lean was born in South Croydon in 1908 and spent his early years there. This connection will be celebrated by the David Lean Cinema Campaign at a special Croydon Heritage Festival event on June 24 at 2.30pm.

The audience will see a rare 35mm presentation of Lean’s 1945 romantic classic Brief Encounter, starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, via a print that followed the BFI National Archive’s 2008 restoration.

There will also be a discussion/Q&A on the qualities of Lean's films – and the experience of working with him – with Patrick Cadell, Lean’s Assistant Director on A Passage to India (1984). He might contrast Lean’s remarkable skills with those of Lean enthusiast Steven Spielberg, as they worked together on Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Campaign Chairman Adrian Winchester was proud of the association with Sir Lean

"Together with our Croydon Heritage Festival partners, we look forward to offering this insight into his work," he said.

"A Passage to India had a turbulent production history and yet it was nominated for 11 Oscars, so Patrick should have some fascinating stories.”

Tickets can be booked online via: www.davidleancinema.org.uk