A raft of plans to build a large monument in Leytonstone to its most famous son Sir Alfred Hitchcock has been revealed this week.

Investment banker and former opera singer Guy Wilson is in discussions with a number of groups about his proposals for a museum.

Among the other ideas on the table are building an old-style cinema, a smaller historical museum, a community-based Hitchock film school and a performing arts complex.

It is hoped the ambitious and expensive project could help spur economic and cultural regeneration in the area.

Mr Wilson, of Malvern Road, Leytonstone, has been in contact with the British Film Industry, the Arts Council, Leytonstone Arts Association and Waltham Forest Council.

He has also been in touch with Leytonstone Festival organisers Tony Philips and Martha Ross, who were both involved in commissioning the Hitchcock mosaics in the Underground station.

Musicologist and arts fundraiser Mr Wilson claims the scheme could be marketed internationally, particularly to France and America.

He said the good transport links with the Central Line also made the plans an economically sound proposition.

In order to kick the project off, Mr Wilson will be hosting a showing of Sabotage the master's autobiographical thriller of 1936.

It will take place on Sunday, January 6, at the Epicentre in West Street, Leytonstone. The evening will be run by the McGuffins Film Club, and the Vestry House Museum's Hitchcock exhibition will be on show.

It is hoped the evening will gauge potential for a series of Hitchcock evenings at the centre and to generate interest in a Hitchock Development Group and to recruit committee members.

The group is contacting the Master's daughter, Pat Hitchcock, Leytonstone-born film guru Jonathan Ross, his brother and television presenter Paul Ross, actor Sir Derek Jacobi and photographer David Bailey as potential patrons.

Mr Wilson said: "The main problem is finding a site, but there are sites available.

"I have an ambition for getting Leytonstone back on its feet. It is a beautiful place but is not commercially prospering. To me it is a very obvious project. So, instead of complaining about it, why don't I do it?"

December 14, 2001 16:00