Stratford Music Centre is saved

Stratford Music Centre has been saved and will continue to operate from its new home at Stratford School.

The centre, which has been a popular fixture in the town for more than 43 years, had been due to close at the end of the summer holidays after failing to come to an agreement with Stratford College over the continued use of its facilities.

Former students and stars such as Kate and Marion Fleetwood were quick to speak up for the music centre saying it would be a tragedy for somewhere with such an artistic focus as Stratford, to lose the music centre.

The situation looked bleak, but in a turn of fortunes this week the music centre announced it that its new home will be Stratford School.

Head of centre Margret Tattersall head of centre, said: “This is a huge relief for us, it’s been a difficult few months but we’ve had so much support and that is what really drove us on to try and find a solution. We can now concentrate on looking to the future as opposed to the past. Soon after we announced that we were probably going to close, the Stratford School came forward and offered us a place, they have been very welcoming.

“Obviously it is slightly different being based at a school now then it was at a college, but moving here means we can leave all the problems that we were encountering behind us. We’re hoping that once everything is settled we can look to make more courses available. Three months ago it was looking like we would close, now we’re looking at a much brighter future and I hope the people who have enjoyed coming to the music centre will continue to come to us.”

Margaret added that the agreement with Stratford School is ongoing and both organisations would benefit through the sharing of equipment.

She added that new lesson information would be added to the centre’s website at www.stratfordmusiccentre.org.uk in the coming days.

One group that uses the music centre are the Stratford Strummers, a 20-strong ukulele band, whose members are mostly pensioners.

Mark Nevill, leader of the group said: “We’re looking forward to working with the music centre at their new venue and I would like to say well done to everyone that has made this happen and helped with the negotiations.”