A FILM expert and well-known character around Durham has died, aged 80.

Dr David Williams was an expert on early and silent films and was made an MBE for services to media studies in the North-East in the 2011 New Year’s Honours.

From 1965, Dr Williams was a senior lecturer in the pioneering Film and Television department at the College of St Hild and St Bede, in Durham.

He was a grants panel member of Northern Arts, secretary of the Durham City Film Society, a trustee of Tyneside Cinema and secretary of the North East Film and Television Teachers’ Association.

Dr Williams also worked as a television critic for The Northern Echo.

While serving as a committee member of the North-East branch of the Royal Television Society, he instigated the first Young People’s Video Festival and chaired its operation for 20 years.

In 2000, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society.

In recent years, he ran adult education classes in Clayport Library, Durham.

In 2009, he completed a doctorate based upon his life-long research into the history of early cinema exhibition.

Born in Leicester, he wrote books on cinema and a History of the Durham City Post Office.

Dr Williams, of Wearside Drive, Durham, died peacefully in hospital on Thursday, February 21, following a short illness. He is survived by his widow Rosemary, children Simon and Ann and grandson Matthew. His funeral was held earlier this month.

His son said it had been his good fortune to have been given a front row seat to learn from such a great person.