ALAN Turing, who shaved at least two years off World War Two, is now a household name thanks to blockbuster biopic The Imitation Game – but his connection to Knutsford is not as well-known.

The Imitation Game tells the true story of brilliant mathematician Alan Turing and his race against time to crack the German enigma machine, which successfully encrypted Nazi messages during WWII.

The movie is currently showing in theatres across the globe and has won critical acclaim, being tipped for a host of prestigious industry awards.

Although the film’s main focus is on Turing’s battle to save thousands of Allies’ lives and his subsequent victory over the German super-machine, it also delves into the darker moments of his life.

It explores Turing’s later life, in particular his ‘crisis’. Turing was arrested and came to trial on March 31 1952, after the police learned of his sexual relationship with a young Manchester man.

It was at Knutsford Quarter Sessions that he pleaded guilty to and was convicted of gross indecency. Rather than go to prison he accepted, for the period of a year, injections of oestrogen intended to neutralise his libido.

He killed himself in 1954, two years after being sentenced to chemical castration for his homosexuality.

Turing was granted a posthumous pardon by the Queen in 2013, a decision that left his supporters divided.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who portrays the tragic genius, told Out magazine: “It’s an insult for anybody of authority orstanding to sign off on him with their approval and say, ‘Oh, he’s forgiven.’ “The only person who should be forgiving is Turing, and he can’t because we killed him. And it makes me really angry. It makes me very angry.”

The Imitation Game is currently being screened at Curzon cinema in Knutsford and, to celebrate, the cinema is running a competition.

One lucky winner will get their hands on a prize consisting of The Imitation Game film poster and two DVDs from Studio Canal, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Two Faces of January.

To be in with a chance of winning, cinema-goers need to return their film ticket with their name and details on the back.

The winner will be drawn at random once the film finishes its run at the Toft Road cinema.  

Visit curzoncinemas.com/knutsford for listings.