Sydney Clift served in the First World War in the Royal Artillery and Royal Flying Corp.  By the 1920s and early 1930s Sydney Clift was involving himself with the construction of cinemas. 

An association with theatre proprietor Leon Salberg led to the formation of Cinema Accessories Limited in 1934, which managed the Clifton chain of cinemas.  In the 1940s the chain comprised of over 30 cinemas.

Sydney Clift contributed greatly to the war effort by raising money in his cinemas.   One such collection was for £5000 to pay for a Spitfire, which was remarkable achievement for a relatively small cinema chain.  Spitfire BM240 was christened Clifton Cinemas and flew with distinction until  being shot down in 1943. 

For his charitable and other war work Captain Sydney Clift was awarded a knighthood in 1947.